The Baron Household’s Circumstances
The next day, Georges came to the manor’s salon carrying a wooden box in both hands, with Mary beside him.
“Sorry for asking you to come right after yesterday.”
“No, it’s fine.”
Even though Mary had spoken normally yesterday, today she answered in a small voice and then sat on the sofa, staring down.
“May I see it right away?”
“Go ahead.”
Georges set the wooden box on the table and opened the lid.
Inside were dogs, birds, cats—figures that were three-dimensional and adorably stylized, almost like mascot dolls.
They were firm, but not hard like wood, so they wouldn’t hurt even if they hit you.
They felt similar to Goosh’s felt fabric.
“Mary, what is this material?”
“Wool.”
“Wool?”
“Our baron household raises sheep and Cocotte. If you keep poking sheep wool with thick needles, it becomes firm enough to form many shapes.”
“Are these accessories commonly made in Baron Anderson’s territory?”
“No, a maid at our house taught me, and I make them as a hobby.”
If it’s similar to Goosh’s felt, maybe it can be used for insoles in shoes.
And these little three-dimensional mascots… they’d make great souvenirs in the new city.
First, I should have some wool ordered in the capital and ask Maria if it can be used for shoe insoles.
“Mary, sorry to ask, but would it be possible for you to make our contracted beasts using this material?”
“What do you mean?”
Apparently, the reason her voice had been small at first was because her parents scolded her for showing something like this to the Margrave’s son.
So that’s why she was down.
I told her I wanted palm-sized versions first, and if I liked them, I wanted her to try making larger ones.
“I don’t mind making them, but… what will they be used for?”
I guess it was strange for a boy to make such a request.
“If they turn out well, it’ll become a business discussion. But if I don’t like them, that’s it.”
“Business? My hobby could make money?”
“If I like it, yes.”
“I’ll do it. Please let me do it.” She stood from her seat as she declared it.
“Mary,” Georges warned.
“I am so sorry.”
Mary hurried to sit properly again.
“Do you need money?”
She wanted to save funds for when she becomes independent in the future.
She prefaced it by saying to keep this just between us, then explained:
Because her older sister had married into an earl family, the dowry and the wedding expenses were enormous, and even the dowry saved for Mary and the third daughter had been used up.
They still had enough for her to attend the academy, but after graduation, they were told to work and save their own dowries.
“Mary, you’re eleven, right? Even if you get married someday, you have plenty of time to save, don’t you?”
She said their brother also needed marriage funds, so it wouldn’t be possible for them.
Ah… so they even used the heir’s marriage funds.
“Did the topic of your sister canceling the marriage ever come up?”
Her sister’s partner was a classmate from the academy who was head-over-heels for her. The earl house saw no benefit, so the earl himself opposed it.
When he said that the baron house wouldn’t be able to prepare a dowry anyway, the baron got angry:
“Do not insult my baron house. A dowry is easy to prepare!”
He snapped back, and because of those heated words, they had no choice but to prepare the funds.
“But won’t your sister have a hard time even after marrying?”
“My sister worried about that too and tried declining once, but the man absolutely insisted and, together with his mother, convinced his father…”
Well, if the future mother-in-law is on her side, that’s something… but still, that’s how they lost all their savings.
It was decided that once the dolls were ready, Mary would send them addressed to Georges.
Mary wanted to see the familiars, so Georges took her to where Atre and the others were.
What do you think about this chapter?
