This is Everyone’s Consensus
After returning from the Tree of Life, I spent every day in the greenhouse, reading books.
“Ahh, finally back to my usual life. This is the kind of life that suits me. Father and the others are working a nine-year-old like me way too hard.”
Georges, who was pouring tea, said,
“Aren’t you being a little too lazy? Young Master Chrisford and Young Master Gerald were already doing much more for the family when they were nine. So really, your recent busy life was the proper one.”
“Georges, you’re too strict. I’ll just be Brother Chris’s assistant in the future anyway. After Grandfather, I’ll manage the hot springs town, that’s enough for me.”
“You’re already planning to slack off again. I suppose your real idea is to train the new employees coming in next year so that, when it’s time for you to take over, you can leave everything to those two.”
How does he know exactly what I’m thinking?
“I know, of course. How many years do you think I’ve been by your side, Young Master Hardt? If I don’t keep an eye on you, you’ll immediately try to take a break. Let’s cure that bad habit.”
“I’m not slacking off on studying, training, or magic practice. I do all of it properly.”
“You only do what’s assigned to you. You never take initiative—you leave everything to others when you really ought to be more proactive.”
It’s fine. I’m not the heir. There’s no need for me to step to the front.
“Well, it’s fine. That’s just Hardt.” Lucas said this while sitting at the table eating cookies. “But more importantly—any new dishes?”
Atre was sitting on my lap, and every now and then I popped a cookie into his mouth.
“Why would I need to make new dishes? I’m not a cook.”
“Don’t be mad. I’m not just talking nonsense. This is everyone’s consensus.”
“Hah?”
Lucas explained—he wanted signature dishes named after each of us to promote the hot springs town.
“So basically, like ‘Atre recommends this!’ or ‘Lucas’s top pick is this!’?”
“Exactly, Hardt, you understand well.”
“Atre, is what Lucas is saying true?”
He nodded. Ice cream keeps coming out in new flavors, right? Last time we gathered, Luan said mango was the best, Lucia said strawberry was the best—everyone had a different favorite. So they wanted to do the same thing with food, pick a special dish to recommend.
“But really, I don’t know anything about cooking. Let’s leave it to the head chefs to come up with something new.”
“Then we’ll need to find new ingredients.”
“Atre, you’re on board with this too? But nothing rare that only grows deep in the Sea of Trees, okay?”
“Then let’s go to the marketplace!”
“Wait, how do you even know about the marketplace, Lucas?”
“Luan saw it from the carriage and said it looked interesting. That’s why we should go.”
So I ended up going to the market with Brother Gerald and Miss Diana.
“I wonder what they sell at the Westland marketplace.”
“In Southcourt we had a guide, so we’d like to say we could show you around too—but truthfully, it’s our first time as well, so we probably won’t be much help.” The two of them walked ahead of me, chatting together.
You two could’ve just come on your own. No need to drag me along just as an excuse for a date…
When I mentioned at dinner that I’d be going to the market, Miss Diana got interested and said she wanted to come, so Brother Gerald came along too.
Of course, if I’d said I was going alone, Brother Gerald would have insisted on coming anyway. But still, I feel like a third wheel, so I keep those grumbles to myself.
We were told the best selection is in the morning, so we came right after breakfast.
This is the largest marketplace in the capital for ordinary citizens, close to residential neighborhoods, full of small and medium shops. The streets are lined with buildings where the first floor is a shop and the second and third are living quarters, and there’s also a street with stalls selling under tents.
“Hardt, which way do you want to go?”
“Brother Gerald, I want to see the stalls.”
I’d heard farmers often sell directly at the stalls, so I figured we could see some seasonal produce.
“Hardt, I’m excited to see what’s here.”
“I’m excited too,” Atre and Lucas chimed in happily.
What do you think about this chapter?
