Greeting Rounds (1)
The next day, I went to the manor chapel to dedicate the dishes and crafts we had purchased from the towns and villages. The windows above the three divine statues had been replaced with glass paintings.
Looking at the paintings, it seemed the faces were first sculpted in glass and then painted.
Faces are important. You can’t just half-ass the face of a god.
Assembling parts from colored glass would have been difficult, so this method works well enough.
Just as Grandfather said, the sunlight hits it in places and makes the colors vivid.
I’m sure the gods would be pleased with this.
I placed the dishes and crafts on the table in front of the three statues, prayed three times, and the dedication for this round was complete.
This should keep the demands at bay for a while, so I can organize and address the other issues.
"Thank you in advance.”
Later, I was in the Westland Merchants' Guild meeting room with Rosa. It was just the two of us.
Rosa had officially become my subordinate.
"Your uniform is ready. How does it feel?"
"It’s comfortable to move in, yet stylish. I enjoy wearing it every day.”
"Today, we’re going on greeting rounds to the workshops related to my work and the Westland Merchants' Guild. From now on, you’ll handle the front desk in my place, so please take care.”
"Handling things in your place, Young Master Reinhardt?"
"I’m often moving around the domain with the development of the Great Forest and the new city.”
"I understand.”
First, we went to Carlos’s workshop. We discussed accessories using glass pens and dragonfly beads, souvenirs for the new city, and the glass paintings he was in charge of. Rosa took notes diligently.
"Carlos, a new request.”
"Eh, a new commission?"
"I want you to make heat-resistant glass. It’ll probably take some time."
"Heat-resistant glass?"
"Tea cups that won’t crack even if boiling water is poured in."
"I think it can be done by adding to the usual glass materials. It may take some time to find the right materials, but I want you to try."
"May I ask why?"
I placed a cold matcha latte in a glass in front of Carlos and Shelly.
"Go ahead and try it," I said, but they hesitated.
Both took a tentative sip, looked determined, and then quickly drank it all.
"I thought it might be bitter because it’s green, but it’s a flavor I’ve never tasted before. Delicious," Shelly said.
"Don’t you want to try it hot?"
"So that’s why you want it in glass?"
"Why not? It’s nice to enjoy the look as well.”
"May I do it?" Shelly asked.
"Shelly—" Carlos tried to interject, but I encouraged him to let her speak.
"I’ve made glass cups and glasses before. Please let me handle this.”
"Sure. It’ll take patience."
"It’s fine. I won’t lose to Brother," she said confidently.
Carlos bowed his head in agreement.
"Then it’s decided. Take your time, but don’t overdo it."
Next, we visited the jewelry store. We spoke with the shop in charge of napum rings, book bands, and charms.
"Young Master Reinhardt, I made the hair ornaments you taught me. May I show them to you?"
"Already? You’re as fast as ever.”
First, she had five small flowers made by stringing tiny pearls together and fastening them onto U-pins.
Since Rosa had tied her hair back, I scattered the five pins into her hair.
"Nice. They’re the perfect size for hair ornaments.”
"I made sure they wouldn’t get too big, taking inspiration from using large pearls sprinkled throughout the hair.”
We removed the ornaments and decided that future large ornaments would go on the left side of the head.
"It’s nice that you used other gems besides pearls.”
"You said you wanted an image of flowers decorating the hair, so it was easy to recreate.”
She also made some embedded rings for me.
"I’ll need to show these to the guild, so I’ll borrow them.”
"Yes, that’s why I prepared them.”
Next was Burton’s workshop. We discussed tie rings, scarf rings, knight order emblem badges, and cord-adjusting metal fittings.
"Burton, I’m sorry to keep you busy.”
"No, it was refreshing and fun. Thanks to you, inquiries for tie rings and scarf rings have increased, so I’m busy.”
"Tie rings?"
"Yes, even people without emblems want them.”
"Are there professions in the domain capital that wear ties?"
"... Actually, from the royal capital.”
"Huh? Can’t you ask a craftsman there?"
"They absolutely need to use materials only available in the Westland domain… otherwise, it won’t work.”
"Oh… the sticky substance for skeleton flowers?"
"Yes, currently only my workshop has it.”
Right, the sticky stuff is needed for glass painting, so it can’t be distributed freely.
"Understood. Since the supply is limited, we’ll continue to leave it to Burton.”
"It lasts a long time once made, so it’s only temporary.”
"Any problems, contact me immediately. Rosa is mostly in the domain capital anyway.”
What do you think about this chapter?
