It Ended in Just a Few Days
For several days, I spent my time peacefully, reading in the greenhouse and such, when my grandfather summoned me to his study. Inside, I found Raziel waiting.
The moment I saw him, my feet froze, and my grandfather chuckled at the sight.
“Raziel, sorry. Looks like I piled more work on you,” I said as soon as I sat down on the sofa.
Raziel let out a sigh.
“Lately I’d been able to relax since things were reported to me in advance. But now, reports about matters I don’t know anything about keep popping up. How exactly does that happen?”
“I said I’m sorry. The matcha dishes are the Garuda family’s responsibility, so your workload shouldn’t increase…”
“The Garuda family has formally requested to purchase either the machine or design plans for producing matcha powder. I knew nothing of this. And then a beastfolk brought me these, saying they were entrusted to him by Lux Village.”
He placed on the desk a hairpin and a small box, both apparently made by Mr. Elm, decorated with rainbow fish scales.
Ah—right. I never reported anything about Lux Village.
I went from Lux Village to Helios Village, then Raphael and the others came to visit, and I completely forgot. I didn’t tell Grandfather about the spies at Varshe Farm either.
I did request the hairpin, but not the small box.
This little box had a glossy black exterior, with a floral design on the lid, its petals fashioned from rainbow fish scales.
Not seashell, but almost indistinguishable from mother-of-pearl inlay—an excellent piece of craftsmanship.
I didn’t pick it up, knowing they’d scold me if I touched it.
Then Grandfather added,
“I heard you spoke with the jeweler about new accessory designs, and even said they could open a shop in Newtown. I don’t recall being told any of this.”
I bowed my head and sincerely apologized to both of them, then explained about Lux Village and the conversation at the jewelry shop.
“Hardt, you say you don’t know about this small box, but it’s well made. Together with the hairpin, they’d make a rare and fine gift. But other villages might complain it’s unfair treatment. What will you do?” Grandfather asked, testing me.
He was right. It wasn’t chosen through open competition, but as a special village product. As lord, I had to act fairly, or other villages would raise objections.
“Then let’s hold a public competition where each village submits a new product made from their specialty goods. If selected, it’ll be sold at a specialty store managed directly by our house in Newtown. How about that?”
“Hardt, you’re piling on more work again?”
“Grandfather, you were the one who told me to be fair. You must take responsibility. Each village will create new products using their specialties, to be sold only in Newtown, at prices affordable to our people. We’ll set a deadline and hold an exhibition in the capital. And while we’re at it, we can invite Newtown shopkeepers who want to open a store to also develop new products. Might as well turn the whole thing into a festival.”
“You’re making this even bigger? And who do you think will manage all this?” Grandfather shook his head in exasperation.
“What if we have the four new recruits arriving next year handle the preparations? Since they’re slated to be assigned to Newtown anyway, it’s perfect training.”
“Hold on, two of them are joining the merchant guild.”
“They can prepare the specialty store while working with the guild. The specialty shop will fall under the guild’s management, and they’ll gain a better grasp of our domain. Perfect, isn’t it?”
“Don’t just declare it’s under the guild’s control on your own,” Raziel retorted.
Grandfather said,
“Raziel, set the exhibition aside for now, but the specialty shop idea is worth using. We don’t know how many products the villages will produce, but we can’t entrust the management to anyone else. Give up.”
Raziel drooped his shoulders. “We don’t have the manpower. And there’s still the matter of the shoe insoles.”
“No manpower?”
“There are many applicants, but we haven’t gone so far as hiring…”
So the risk of spies from outside is high.
Spies here, spies there—everywhere’s full of them.
“Hey, what about talented kids raised in our domain’s orphanages? Maybe sharp with numbers, quick-witted, or good at reading people. We could hire them first as clerks or sales staff in Newtown, and then pull the best of them into the guild.”
“Hardt, since this is your idea, you can convince Alfrecht. He sent you a letter summoning you to the capital anyway.”
“Ugh, but foreign royalty are in the capital right now, aren’t they? If I go, they’ll probably get me tangled up in something. I don’t wanna.”
“All the more reason you should go, and learn who these people are. Go to the capital.”
And just like that, my short break ended in only a few days.
What do you think about this chapter?
