CH 152

We Decided to Sell at a Discount

“In that case, Mr. Sebastian. I don’t mind not being paid for the Ramogi. …Well, just think of it as me paying rent for living here.”

“But…I don’t think that’s necessary… You being here has been a great benefit to the house. I doubt they would deny you your payment…”

“I receive more than enough from the other herbs.”

By selling the Ramogi at a lower price, Mr. Kalis’s store would not be making as much of a profit.

I didn’t think he would object to it, but I’m sure he would feel better if the profits increased… And I didn’t mind, as this would ultimately affect that other store.

So while I would be getting paid less, it would benefit me in other ways.

Besides, I was receiving quite enough already. My savings were just increasing.

It’s not like I had too much of it, but the thing was, I had nothing to spend it on as of now.

“But… That really won’t do. It goes against the contract… And as the butler of the Liebert house, my pride will not allow it.”

“Your…pride?”

I suppose he viewed the matter in a different way then.

Sebastian stubbornly refused this idea that I would not be paid for the Ramogi.

What should I do…?

“In that case, just…lower the payment. That way, it could not be said that I was working for free.”

“…Indeed… I suppose it would mean you were being rewarded, Mr. Takumi. However…”

“It’s fine. This only for a short period, after all. It is not a big deal.”

I stopped Sebastian before he could continue and settled the matter myself.

Otherwise, we might be here arguing all day.

“…Thank you, Mr. Takumi. And all because I consulted you about it…”

“Well, that was in the contract. You are just doing your job. While I’m happy to be paid, I don’t need much right now.”

I said, and the conversation was finished.

In the first place, the contract would not have allowed them to lower the prices without telling me.

So it’s not Sebastian’s fault that I insisted on doing the work without payment or for less.

And so I patted him on the shoulder as he bowed his head, and then we headed to the dining hall.

As we had been talking for a while, Tilura must be tired of waiting… Leo and Sherry as well.

“You’re late, Mr. Takumi!”

“Wuff!”

“Kyau!”

“Sorry, sorry. I had something to discuss with Sebastian.”

When I entered the dining hall, Tilura and the others protested just as I was expecting.

“Is something wrong, Mr. Takumi?”

“No, not exactly. Sebastian will explain it to you later.”

“…Yes, I will tell you everything, Lady Claire.”

“I see. Very well.”

Ms. Claire was curious about what we were talking about, but right now, we had to eat.

Besides, I had a feeling that if we got started, then Ms. Claire would be the next one to argue with me about payment.

And I was hungry, and the children could wait no longer.

Well, Leo wasn’t a child…

“Let’s eat then.”

Said Ms. Claire, and we all began to eat.

Tilura, Leo and Sherry fell on their food hungrily and ate rapidly.

Ms. Claire was about to scold them, but gave up and ate her own food. I too ate the food that Ms. Helena had prepared.

Tilura was starting to resemble her father when it came to eating habits. But that was too rude to say out loud…

“Mr. Takumi. I heard that Sebastian is teaching you magic now. How is it going?”

“It was a little difficult at first… But I was able to do some beginner magic.”

“It’s because Mr. Takumi has the right qualities to be good with magic.”

“Is that so?”

It was while we were drinking tea.

Ms. Claire asked me about how my magic training was going.

While no magic had been activated the first time I chanted, I was able to do it once I learned of magic energy.

Sebastian seemed to think I had potential. I wonder if it’s true?

“I think you have a good ability to detect magic energy. Normally, people cannot do it so quickly after hearing an explanation. Because a lot of it relies on feeling. In fact, when Lady Claire first began…”

“Why, Sebastian!”

“…That was some years ago… When Lady Claire was little. She did not understand what I was saying, and believed that she didn’t have magic energy…”

“And?”

Detecting magic was related to potential… I’d keep that in mind.

But the conversation had now turned to Ms. Claire’s past, which Sebastian related with amusement, in spite of Ms. Claire’s protests.

…He was clearly in the mood to make fun of her.

But I was quite interested, and urged him to continue.

“She then went crying to His Grace. …It was very difficult to console her when she was like that. And yet the very idea of someone not having magic energy is ridiculous.”

“…But I didn’t know such things back then…”

“You must have been a very cute child.”

Indeed, he had said that all humans needed magic energy in order to live.

But Ms. Claire didn’t know this, and had cried off to her father and caused a lot of trouble.

Ms. Claire looked quite embarrassed by this story, but we all laughed and the time continued to pass amidst a relaxed atmosphere.

While Ms. Claire did not appreciate having her past exposed like this, I was glad to have learned a little more about her.