Getting to the Point
After arriving in the capital, I was on my way to the family estate by carriage with Brother Gerald, who’d come to meet me.
“You really stirred things up, huh? It’s only been a month since we came to the capital.”
“Well, yes, but who would’ve thought Natalia bringing in Goosh wool would turn into new fabric, which we first thought to use for stuffed animals but then became shoe insoles? Or that the new tea Brother Hubert brought would end up as all kinds of sweets? The head chefs were the ones who kept coming up with things.”
“Still, you’d better have your excuses ready for Father and the others. They were furious.”
I must’ve made a horribly sour face, because Brother Gerald burst out laughing.
Feeling a bit annoyed, I shot back:
“Brother Gerald, I hear you went on a date in the capital with Young Lady Diana. She even sent me a letter, gushing about it.”
“… What?” Brother Gerald froze, laughter gone, and started fumbling excuses about how it was just checking the academy preparations together.
“Sooner or later, you need to decide. It’s not fair to Lady Diana otherwise.”
“I know. Once things settle down with the Southcourt family, I intend to speak up.”
“If it’s going to be a good outcome, you should tell her sooner. It’ll probably be a source of strength for her.”
I don’t like the idea of Brother Gerald marrying into another family, but as long as it’s within the kingdom, it’s not like I won’t see him again.
And besides, Lady Diana is completely smitten with him. If the feelings are mutual, they’ll be happy, and I’ll gladly give them my blessing.
When we reached the capital estate, our parents were waiting in the sitting room to scold me.
It was the longest lecture I’d ever received. I didn’t argue back, just hung my head and listened. It was exhausting.
At last, I got a short break until dinner.
After supper, while we were all in the sitting room eating the matcha roll cake I’d brought as a souvenir, everyone’s moods seemed to have softened. Maybe it was time to get to the real point.
“Please look at this,” I said, placing the hairpin made from rainbow fish scales and the little box resembling mother-of-pearl inlay from Lux Village onto the table.
Recognizing them as new products, Father frowned.
“Hardt, just how many new things have you been creating besides what I already heard from Hubert? Weren’t you just reflecting on your behavior a moment ago?”
So I explained everything—how I ended up in Lux Village, how Grandfather said it would be unfair if only one village got a shop in Newtown, so I suggested holding an exhibition and festival in the capital, where villages and shopkeepers could present their new products, with popular ones being sold in Newtown. And, while I was at it, I added the idea I’d told Raziel about recruiting people.
“So, my attempt to talk you down failed, did it?”
“Hardt, it’s an excellent idea, but somehow I can’t be completely happy about it,” Mother said.
Their reaction was the same as Grandfather’s and Raziel’s.
“Until spring, I’ll be here too. Until the newcomers arrive, Hardt and I will handle this. It’s a plan that’ll breathe life into the villages. Even if some fail this time, they’ll try again next time. Everyone will see the results, so they’ll accept it.”
Wait—Brother Gerald, what do you mean *I’ll* be handling this too?
He caught my look of surprise and said,
“Hardt, this was your idea. Until the new recruits arrive, you’re going to work on it. At the very least, get the framework decided and the notices out to the villages. Maybe then you’ll finally understand some of the hardships Father has to endure, and reflect a bit.”
So here I was, being praised and scolded at the same time. And now they wanted me to do even more work.
Aren’t I already working hard enough as it is?
“Hardt,” Brother Chris said gently, “working to enrich the villages is the lord’s duty. What you’re doing as the son of the lord is right. But things are moving too quickly, and everyone’s close to their limit. That means those who can move must take up the burden. You understand, don’t you?”
With that warm voice, all I could do was nod.
What do you think about this chapter?
