Rejected
“Hardt is one thing, but I can’t move until summer.”
“If the two of you come during summer break, that’s fine. I also want to tour the entire territory first.”
And Brother Chris said this might be the last chance for the three of us brothers to visit the Tree of Life together, so we should go next time.
Bianca would probably want to see her family too.
I thought Brother Gerald would have trouble because of the academy, but it seemed he had around ten days off.
He would have to rush because of the new-year preparations, but—
“Don’t underestimate the Knight Course’s stamina. I’ll be fine, so let’s go together.”
The next day, Thomas came to see me.
Something must have happened for him to come the very next day.
“Thomas, what brings you today?”
“Thank you for giving me some of your time.”
Thomas asked me if I was serious about what I said yesterday.
“Of course. But it’ll be after I investigate properly.”
“In that case… would you allow me to serve under Lord Chrisford instead?”
I didn’t quite understand, so I had Georges call Brother Chris.
“You were at the Westland Exhibition Report Meeting…”
“Yes. My name is Thomas Mekkel. I’m sorry for calling you here.”
Thomas bowed his head.
I explained to Brother Chris that I met Thomas at a shop in the royal capital yesterday, and that he had been harassed by some people who looked like royal castle bureaucrats. I invited him, telling him that if he ever grew tired of his work, he could come to Westland.
“Why was I called, then?”
“Thomas says he wants to serve you.”
From there, Thomas explained the rest.
Apparently, he was originally from the former Bright Territory and came from a family that had served the Bright Margrave House for generations.
He’d even worked temporarily as a tutor for the previous Bright Margrave when he was young, but later left and became a royal castle bureaucrat.
“I don’t think Lady Emilia would ever treat someone unfairly.”
“No, it’s not Lady Emilia…” He trailed off, unable to speak clearly.
So he must have had some kind of trouble with someone close to the previous Bright Margrave.
Still, he had always been concerned about the former Bright Margrave Territory, and if allowed, he wanted to help rebuild it.
Brother Chris thought for a moment.
“Even if I hire you, I’ll only give a final answer after investigating. If you resign from the royal castle, how long would the handover take?”
“Around one month, I believe.”
We sent him back, telling him we’d give a reply later.
“I’ve wanted a capable administrative right hand. Hardt, thank you.”
Thomas rejected me.
I wanted him and tried to recruit him… but still.
Floria and I decided to return to Westland first.
The day before we left, Raphael brought curry powder and rice.
“Raphael, is it really okay to give us this much rice?”
“Floria is in your care, and it’s a boring gift, but I know this is what makes you happiest.”
“That’s not true. Rice is valuable.”
“Curry rice is very popular in our house too. We plan to expand planting even more this year.”
“What about the other nobles’ territories?”
“Some of them raised their hands too, so I’ll be going to teach them.”
“With more rice, we can make more rice dishes.”
“There are that many rice dishes?”
“I can teach you an easy one right now. Just make Petit-Barley Risotto with rice.”
“Oh, that was good too. Is Petit Barley really regional only?”
“When we return to Westland, I think the reports should have arrived from the other places where it was planted.”
“If it grows elsewhere too, share some with me.”
“Eh? You like Petit Barley?”
“Petit-Barley bread is very popular in my house. My parents liked the obanyaki too.”
“Obanyaki, huh…”
“Did something happen?”
I told him that if we could expand the Petit-Barley fields, I had promised the villagers we would hold an Obanyaki Festival.
“… Hardt, are you alright?”
“Will it become a big event?”
“It will. It’d be strange if it didn’t.”
It seemed I needed to plan countermeasures.
When he asked if I had decided anything yet, I said it would be from now on.
“Let me know when the date is set.”
“My brothers will be coming back, and after we visit the Great Forest, it should be right after that.”
“Around the end of March, then. Not much time, but if I can manage it, I want to go. I’m sure Brigitte and Dianne will want to go too.”
What do you think about this chapter?
