CH 224

Leo Wanted Some Grape Juice As Well

And so I told Mr. Ekenhart about what happened before I returned from Range village. To be precise, what I talked to Mr. Hannes about while waiting for Phillip to arrive with the wagons.

It was a village that relied on its wine. But while it was doing well, the children were often neglected.

We were worried that once bad rumors of the wine started to spread, that people would stop buying it.

Furthermore, now that the relationship between the count and the duke could not be worse, they might not be able to buy grapes. Besides, they could hardly trust any merchants from that side now…

“I see… Yes, there will be some effect from it.”

“Indeed… There will be no way to stop the rumors. And once they spread, they will keep spreading. Besides, I think it will also be impossible to retrieve all of the wine that has already been sold.”

“Well, those with good intuition will realize that it’s the wine anyway…”

Aside from the rumors, it would also be difficult to retrieve the wine that was already out there. 

Even if they were able to track down each bottle, most of it would have already been drunk or perhaps given to someone else.

In fact…I doubted they could even be tracked in the first place.

“It will be sad to lose this flavor… Sebastian. Is there anything that can be done about Range village’s wine?”

“Indeed… I cannot say… But it sounds like the village chief has given up on producing wine. I think it will be necessary to discuss the matter seriously.”

“Mm. Yes.”

“I will not allow something this good to disappear! I promise you now, my house will continue to send a good supply of grapes to the village!”

“…Anneliese… You aren’t even in charge yet. You have no authority. Besides, it’s not for you to decide. It’s up to the grape merchants and Range village.”

“Hmph… Who would do such a…. Who would think of using something so wonderful to spread a disease…”

“You! It was you!”

Neither Mr. Ekenhart or Sebastian could think of anything to do for Range village now.

But they would talk to Mr. Hannes in the near future and decide… I would try to go with them. Though, I didn’t know if there was anything that I could do.

Still, what was wrong with Ms. Anne…? Or was she doing this on purpose…?

But Ms. Claire was forced to remind her repeatedly.

…They were starting to look like a comedy duo.

“I have brought more for you all. And here you go, Leo…”

“Wuff-wuff!”

“More!”

“Kyau!”

As I thought of such nonsensical things, Ms. Helena returned to the drawing room with more juice.

Leo, Tilura and Sherry were overjoyed as they rushed towards Ms. Helena.

And after waiting for their turn, they each acquired their drinks.

Ms. Lyra then came to the table and poured it into each of our cups.

“Leo. Calm down. You’ll make a mess if you drink it like that.”

“Wuff-guff-gubb-gubb… Wuff? Wou! Guff-guff-gubb.”

“Kyab-kyab…kyau…”

“It’s delicious!”

“Tilura, drink it slowly.”

“Okay.”

After telling her to be careful, Leo pulled her head out of the bucket and looked at me with a puzzled expression. But then she quickly started drinking again.

It was delicious, so it was understandable, but… She definitely wasn’t listening to me.

Though, Sherry was now drinking slowly…

Leo was supposed to be the one educating her, but had worse manners… Well, it might also be due to Sherry’s small size.

Tilura was also drinking greedibly, but calmed down after Ms. Claire warned her.

That was fine, but I hoped everyone wasn’t drinking too much?

After that, we talked about our plans for the next day, and then dispersed.

I went out into the back garden in order to train with Tilura.

Ms. Claire was now excited about Ms. Anne’s education, and dragged her away by the collar.

Sebastian must have had other reports to make to his master, as the two went off to his study.

“Ah, I see you two are training.”

“Mr. Ekenhart.”

“Father!”

“Wuff?”

“Kyau.”

After training for some time, Mr. Ekenhart came out into the garden.

Apparently, he had finished talking with Sebastian.

“While I’ve been away for a while, I see that you’ve continued with your training.”

“Yes.”

“Hmm… And you’ve been in a real battle. So, how was it?”

“Uhh… I was so nervous and had to be careful so that my arms didn’t shake. But…”

“Yes?”

“Previously, you told me that I must never stop moving during a fight. But I wasn’t able to follow that.”

Mr. Ekenhart then started questioning me about the battle with the orcs in Range village.

And so I told him honestly of my failure.

“Hmm. I see. And why did you stop?”

He had told me never to stop many times.

And so he looked at me sharply when I told him about it.

…It was a little scary.

“I don’t want to make excuses…but it was Weed Cultivation.”

“Weed Cultivation? You used Weed Cultivation during combat?”

“I wasn’t trying to use it. But I started thinking…if only there was a convenient herb for such times…”

“And then you froze?”

“No. I activated Weed Cultivation on the orc.”

“You did? And what happened?”

I felt like I was being interrogated, but I told Mr. Ekenhard about what had happened.

What I hadn’t been able to say before, because of Ms. Anne’s presence.

Tilura, who had been training with me, looked at us seriously and listened.

And so I told him everything, including what Ms. Isabelle had told me.