Let’s Go to the Royal Capital’s Craftsmen District!
With Mariel-chan guiding me, we headed to the craftsmen district.
Compared to our territory, the royal capital’s craftsmen district was divided into blocks. Occupations with loud work noises, like blacksmiths and carpenters, were placed in sections farther from the residential area. Trades that didn’t make as much noise, like decorative artisans and cabinetmakers, were in the middle. And mostly quiet trades like clothing and tailoring were closer to the merchant district.
Apparently it had all been thoughtfully arranged that way.
The craftsmen district in our territory had felt much more mixed together, so the atmosphere here was different and interesting.
I looked around here and there in fascination as I followed behind Mariel-chan, until we arrived at a certain workshop.
“If we want someone who can meet your request, Cristea-san, I think this workshop would be the best choice.”
The place Mariel-chan had brought me to was a workshop run by a cabinetmaker, located around the middle of the craftsmen block.
Since it would need to be soaked in water and shouldn’t use nails so the tofu’s flavor wouldn’t be affected, she said it would be best to ask a cabinetmaker, someone who could assemble things using only wood and make furniture or boxes. This workshop specialized in that kind of craftsmanship.
“Excuse us! Is Gnon-san here?”
Without any hesitation, Mariel-chan opened the workshop door and loudly called out the name of who was presumably the owner.
“M-Mariel-san. That loudly...”
I followed in behind her and looked around, but there was no one in what seemed to be the storefront area. Then I heard a clatter from beyond the door behind the counter.
That must have been the workshop space.
“... What, isn’t that the young lass from master Mayer’s place. We just finished your delivery the other day, didn’t we?”
“Hello, Gnon-san! We came today with a different job request!”
For Mariel-chan, she was speaking unusually clearly and briskly.
This seemed to be a workshop with a long relationship with the Mayer Company, because even after realizing it was Mariel-chan, his tone wasn’t one used toward nobles, it was the tone of a business associate.
“Huh? Different request? Master Mayer didn’t tell me anything...”
“Ah, this isn’t a request from the Mayer Company. It’s a personal request from this person here.”
“Huh? A friend of yours, Jouchan?”
At Mariel-chan’s words, Gnon-san finally seemed to notice me standing behind her. Hearing it was a request from some unfamiliar child, he looked suspicious.
“Pleased to meet you. I am Cristea of the Ellisfeed Ducal House.”
Since Mariel-chan had hinted that “this person” was someone of higher standing, I decided to make my status crystal clear.
“Huh? E... Ellis...feed... th-the d-ducal house!? What? Why would a Jouchan from the ducal house be in a place like this!?”
His mouth dropped open for a moment, then he immediately flustered and hurried out from behind the counter.
“As Mariel-chan explained, I have something I would like made for personal use, and she recommended this place to me.”
I said that with a graceful noble-lady smile.
“P-personal use, you say? ...Umm, pardon me, but we’re just a humble cabinetmaking workshop. I’m not sure we could make something fitting for a Jouchan’s request...”
Gnon-san stammered as he spoke, while glaring at Mariel-chan as if saying, “Hey! Why’d you bring some highborn Jouchan like this to a place like mine!?”
“But Gnon-san, aren’t you especially good at making boxes? The boxes you make for our deliveries are sturdy and easy to store. They’ve got a great reputation.”
“Yeah, but still! Um, Jouchan. It’s true I’m good at making boxes, but what I make are plain boxes. No decorations, nothing fancy.”
“I don’t need decorations. I want a custom-sized box made without nails. Gnon-san can do that, right?”
“Well... sure, that’s my specialty, but...”
I see now. So that’s why Mariel-chan brought me here.
This really was the perfect place to make tofu molds.
“That’s wonderful! That is exactly what I need. Would you accept the job?”
“Eh? Ah... well...”
“It’s fine, totally fine! This is right in Gnon-san’s wheelhouse, and I’m sure she’ll pay well too! Right, Cristea-san?”
“Why yes, of course. Now then, may I explain the request?”
“Y-yes... understood...”
I felt a little bad that we’d basically steamrolled him into accepting, but for tofu’s glorious future, I wasn’t about to be picky about methods!
For that cause, I’d even pull out the noble daughter moves I normally never bothered with.
Wahaha.
Man, having power really is convenient!
(Minor villain vibes.)
“So then, this is what I’d like made...”
The moment Gnon-san looked at the blueprint Mariel-chan had written out for me, his face instantly became that of a professional craftsman.
“Jouchan, you drew this, didn’t you? ...? Why go out of your way to make holes here?”
“Ah, those are drainage holes, you see...”
After that, I explained the finer specifications, discussed the quantity needed, and confirmed the delivery date. With that, the order was complete.
“Then I leave it in your hands.”
“Yeah, leave it to me.”
“Gnon-san, once it’s finished, please contact the Mayer Company.”
“Yeah, got it. No way I’m delivering directly to the Ellisfeed Ducal House.”
“If I messed something up by accident, I’d lose my head,” Gnon-san said with a shiver.
No, no, we wouldn’t just execute someone over a little disrespect... wait.
There was that precedent where Shin got thrown in jail.
Yeah... maybe not the best counterargument.
Back then, Otousama had absolutely lost it because I collapsed.
Yep. Gnon-san’s judgment was correct.
I also asked that delivery be made through the Mayer Company, and then we left Gnon-san’s workshop behind.
What do you think about this chapter?
