Is There Anything You All Want to Do?
“Are you heading back to your territories now?”
“We’re going to Northtrad.”
“That’s right. Father told us to return to Northtrad once before heading to the Garuda Territory, so Dianne will be coming along too.”
“How about this hand mirror for your mother-in-law?”
“That’s a lovely idea. She likes Westland sweets, but if you tell her no one else has one of these yet, she’ll be thrilled.”
“And for your father-in-law, perhaps the letter rack?”
“He’d probably use it in his study.”
… Bridget, Dianne, are you two planning to buy up all the sample products?
“You’re not giving one to your fiancé?”
“Reinhardt’s making a calendar for me, remember? I’m waiting for that.”
“That’s right. Let us know when it’s ready.”
The Northtrad brothers and Chris and the others all turned curious eyes toward me.
“They requested a wooden desk calendar with the frame decorated using Rainbow Fish scales…”
“”Desk calendar?””
I explained that it was a request from Raphael and Dianne.
“Hardt, once it’s done, I want one too. If you finish it before summer vacation ends, I’ll take it with me to the capital,” said Chris.
Now I have to rush it.
And with all the trouble I’ve caused lately—and the royal family probably preparing a response about the exhibition once we’re back in the capital—it’s not like I can refuse.
“All right. I’ll take care of the order.”
“Reinhardt, sorry, but could you also make me some food to take home? I want hamburg steaks with curry sauce and soft-boiled eggs, plus dorayaki, anpan, and ice cream. I’ll pay for everything.”
… Brother Isaac too, huh.
“Mother loves dorayaki, and Father likes all the varieties of anpan. Hubert’s already bringing matcha sweets, but those two are only available here.”
Guess that means the head chefs are pulling overtime again today and tomorrow. Sorry, as always.
“Raphael, do you and the others want to do anything tomorrow?”
“Eh, are you sure? You’re busy, aren’t you?”
“It’s fine for a day. We’ll be heading home the day after tomorrow anyway—so how about we go somewhere?”
“In that case, I’d like to visit the necktie ring shop.”
“Necktie rings? You want to make those too, Raphael?”
“You say ‘too’—did someone else ask you?”
“Princess Rinaluna, actually.”
“I see. So you just want them to make a sample first?”
“Exactly.”
“We’d like to go to the shop where the female government officers’ uniforms were made.”
“You talked with Mrs. Ayla, didn’t you?”
“Yes. She said she’s been working on a few new designs, and I’d like to see them.”
“Why?”
“Because we’ll be wearing them.”
“Wait, seriously?” I asked, and both Bridget and Dianne nodded.
“We’ll be touring our territories, so we want practical, easy-to-move-in versions of the female officer uniforms.”
“And we’d like to make some for our maids who’ll accompany us.”
“May I come too?” said Young Lady Diana. “I’d like one for when I tour the domain as well.”
“How about you ladies all go to Ayla’s shop together?”
“But I’m curious about the necktie rings too, so I’d like to see both.”
“All right, I’ll arrange things so you can visit both tomorrow.”
“Mr. Barton, sorry for showing up unannounced again—and with such a big group too.”
“I was surprised, but it’s all right. You’re here to pick up your order, yes?”
“Order?”
“Isn’t it? I assumed so since the exhibition ended,” he said, and brought out a tie pin engraved with our family crest.
“It’s already finished? Looks great. Meyer, try putting it on.”
“Me, sir?”
“Yeah, it’s for the knights. Pin it to your collar.”
Meyer attached it to his collar, but the back of the tie pin was bulky, causing the collar to lift awkwardly.
Ah, right—I forgot how long the pin shaft was on the back.
“Mr. Barton, can you make screws?”
“No, that’s handled by a specialist craftsman.”
“Then maybe… a thin screw long enough to hold the crest, about one centimeter tall, with a round disk at the back that you twist to fasten it?” I suggested.
“Ah, like securing a bottle cap—the crest would be fixed that way?”
“Right. It’d mean piercing the fabric, but it would sit flatter than this.”
In my previous life, lapel pins and company badges had easy snap-on backs, but since I couldn’t explain the mechanism properly, I dropped the idea.
This approach, more like an academic badge, might work better here.
“Hmm, yes. Doesn’t the Westland family employ a craftsman who could handle that?”
“I’m not sure. If not, could you ask one of your contacts to handle it?”
“Understood. I’ll wait for your message.”
“Also, a friend of mine would like you to make a sample,” I said, introducing Raphael.
“A d–duke’s son!? Is it really all right for me to make something for him?” Mr. Barton stammered, his voice cracking with nerves.
“Please make about five necktie rings each for the butlers and maids as samples. Same size as the Westland ones,” Raphael said, handing him a handkerchief embroidered with his family crest.
“This one has the largest, clearest version of our crest. If it’s not enough, could you borrow the noble crest directory from the Westland family?”
“I can’t risk losing such a precious handkerchief, so I’ll return it. I’ll go to the Westland estate myself and copy the crest.”
Since Barton refused to take the handkerchief, Raphael gave up on insisting.
“Mr. Barton, I’ll notify the trading company so you can view the crest there.”
“Understood. Should I deliver the finished samples to the company once they’re ready?”
“Yes, that’d be safest. Please do.”
The ladies seemed content after seeing just the necktie ring samples, so we all moved on to Mrs. Ayla’s shop next.
What do you think about this chapter?
