CH 85

After that, I went around the villages, and when the sun went down, I returned to the lord’s mansion and called Yulis into my office to tell her what had happened.

“Very well, sir. As a matter of policy for the farmers, we will take care of paying them wages through training.”

Surprised by the unexpectedly easy permission, I decided to ask Yulis to do it.

“Oh, please. Yulis.”

“In addition, if they can still get paid for being farmers, we can have some of the people who are working on the construction work cultivate the land, and if we give them some of the farmland there, some of them will want to become farmers, so can we proceed with that as well?”

Surely, some of them would prefer to get farmland if they plan to settle in the long term.

“Okay. Can I ask you to do that, too?”

“Yes. However, until the cultivation is finished and the crops are harvested, it would be difficult to make the Orrards trading company retreat.”

“Would it be possible to extend the construction period?”

“Can we wait that long?”

As long as it is announced as a policy, the Orrards will inevitably notice it. If that happened, it would not be surprising if they withdrew immediately. That was the meaning of Yulis’ words.

“Huh……..I still need to think of something to resolve this.”

“Well, there’s still time to make the announcement, and it might be a good idea to start a rumor and see what they come up with.”

We can see how people react to it.

If they spread rumors and threaten us, we can drop it and think of another way. If they don’t threaten us, we can carry it out while we have the current number of people and manage to surpass them with the funds and food we have stockpiled before they retreat.

However, I don’t want to do the latter as much as possible because it will cost most of our money and food. If we spend it now, we won’t be able to respond when something happens.

On the other hand, if we don’t spread rumors and just wait until a better idea comes up, it may be too late.

“Well, it’s difficult to say. At any rate, it’s not something I can’t talk about openly.”

“That’s right. Well, we haven’t settled the details yet, so I think it’s okay for now.”

“Yeah. You may come up with a better idea in the meantime. Well then, Yulis. The sun has already set, so I’m going to rest for today.”

When I said that and was about to leave the room, Yulis grabbed my arm.

“What are you talking about, Master Chris?”

“What?”

I couldn’t help but let out a dumbfounded voice.

The sun has already set, and the day is already over. No one would blame me if I took a break now.

“Have you been slacking off at school? I’m going to ask Chris-sama to serve the guests at the nobleman’s restaurant.”

“What? You’re kidding, right? Why?”

“Few know how to be polite to noblemen, and we are short on staff. Chris-sama will be working there at night during this vacation. Don’t worry. No one knows your face, and even if they did, it wouldn’t be a big problem.”

“No, I don’t want to! I don’t really care about that! I’m tired today and I can’t do this! Besides, if you’ve been fine so far, you’ll be fine without me!”

Yulis sighed and opened her mouth when I complained.

“If you insist, I’ll go in your place.”

“Sorry! I’ll be there as soon as I can!”

I shook off Yulis’s hand and ran off. If I let Yulis go, who knows what will happen!

＊＊＊＊＊

“Then, Chris-sama, please take care of the entertainment in the room over there.”

I received a plate of delicious-looking food from the chef, and carried it to my assigned table.

The restaurant was more luxurious than my own home, and the furnishings were illuminated by candlelight, creating a stylish atmosphere.

I walked up the stairs past the aristocratically dressed people and their knightly escorts enjoying the bread and wine on the tables, and came to a corridor lined with private rooms used by the more prestigious nobles.

When I opened one of the rooms and entered, I found the nobles and their knights guarding them enjoying their meal while chatting and laughing just like the people I had just met. The only difference was that the knights, even the black-haired noble, had a strong body and the air of a powerful man.

“Here is the roasted veal from Dreschord territory, served with a special red wine sauce. Any leftover sauce should be served with bread.”

As I placed the food on the table according to the manners Yulis had trained me to follow, the black-haired nobleman stopped talking with the strong knightly-looking men and looked at me with a surprised expression.

He had shiny black hair, slanted eyes, and a face I had seen before.

“Please enjoy your stay.”

I had a bad feeling about this, so I decided to put the food on the table and leave right away.

“Can you wait a moment?”

“……Yes! Is there a problem, sir?”

I replied with a smiling face, trying not to let him know that I had reluctantly stayed.

I now understand that I was sent here because there are not many people who can maintain decorum in this business of entertaining.

Satisfied with me, the man started talking.

“It’s a nice place. Even kids like you, who are still about the same age as my daughter, are very polite.”

“Thank you for your kind words.”

Well, only private school students have good manners, so it just comes naturally.

“And the bread is sweet, puffed up and fragrant, and the wine is strong. Besides, the meat of the livestock is generously served.”

I’m happy to be appreciated for my bread and wine. And thanks to Norfolk farming, I’m able to feed my livestock.

“Thank you. With all due respect, are you here in Dreschord territory for a meal?”

I got a little carried away and asked the question in a light hearted way.

“No.”

“What then?”

“It’s a long story, do you mind?”

“……Yes.”

I managed to suppress my disgust and regret my decision to talk.