Chapter 607: Greeting Everyone

After taking a short break in the salon, it was soon time for lunch.

Today’s meal consisted of sandwiches.

Of course, the ingredients tucked between the slices of bread were all top-class—thinly sliced roast meat, crisp vegetables fresh from the gardens, fragrant cheeses, and sauces prepared by the mansion’s chefs with painstaking care. Even something as simple as a sandwich became luxurious when served at the Heine household.

“I spent the morning explaining what happened in the Raven Kingdom to Baron and Baroness Amber together with Fabienne,” I reported to the family gathered around the dining table. “I believe they properly understood the situation.”

Everyone in the family was present in the dining room, so I made sure to formally share the results of the morning visit.

Proper reporting, communication, and consultation were important, after all.

Especially now.

At the moment, everyone in this household had their eyes firmly fixed on me.

Admittedly, that was entirely my own fault.

Still, precisely because of that, I needed to make an effort to reassure everyone whenever possible.

“I see,” Father said with a nod. “Did you explain everything in detail?”

“No, not everything. I only spoke about the parts that seemed safe to discuss.”

“That was the correct decision. I intend to personally speak with Baron and Baroness Amber properly at a later date.”

I returned Father’s nod firmly.

Perhaps he was already preparing documents and reports for that discussion. Strengthening the relationship between our two houses likely required a careful and official explanation.

“Julius,” Alex-niisan spoke up next, “do you have some time this afternoon? If possible, I’d like you to stop by the Heine Company.”

“Understood. I was planning to start making gramophones this afternoon, but I can visit the Heine Company before that.” I turned toward Rosalia. “What about you?”

“I’m going with Julius-niisama!”

Excellent.

That should keep Rosalia from becoming upset.

She’d been fidgeting restlessly all morning waiting for this, after all.

Naturally, we’d bring Mira along too. If she alone got left behind, she might start sulking.

“What about the gramophone blueprints?” Alex-niisan asked. “If you intend to sell them through the Heine Company, I can distribute the plans to the craftsmen.”

“I’d like you to wait on that for now,” I replied. “I still haven’t decided exactly how we’ll handle it. First, I think we should ask for His Majesty’s instructions. Also… sorry to ask this, but could you prepare a gramophone for the king as well?”

“Of course.” Alex smiled easily. “I’ll make one together with the others.”

Judging from this conversation, it seemed at least some information had already reached the king.

Still, because he hadn’t yet seen the actual gramophone itself, the matter was probably being left pending until one arrived.

Most likely, Giovanni had also reported various things upon returning to the royal capital.

As for how His Majesty would react to all of that…

Honestly, I couldn’t predict it at all.

“I’m sorry,” Daniela, my sister-in-law, said apologetically. “I should have mentioned it yesterday, but the gramophone’s performance was so astonishing that the matter completely slipped my mind.”

She lowered her brows awkwardly, looking slightly embarrassed.

There was no need for her to apologize.

Though now that she mentioned it…

Music had been playing nonstop from Rosalia’s gramophone ever since yesterday.

“I’ll make gramophones for everyone as quickly as possible,” I promised. “With Rosalia helping, I don’t think it’ll take too long.”

“Leave it to me!” Rosalia declared proudly, puffing out her chest.

She looked completely brimming with confidence.

Well, she was probably thrilled at the opportunity to help make gramophones herself.

That settled it.

We’d have to keep the inspection at the Heine Company as brief as possible this afternoon.

After lunch, I headed to the Heine Company together with Alex-niisan and the others.

Inside the workshop, the craftsmen had already begun their afternoon tasks.

“Good work, everyone.”

“Welcome back, Julius-sama!”

Voices calling “Welcome back!” rose from all around the workshop.

Work briefly came to a halt, but that couldn’t really be helped. Everyone deserved to know that I’d returned safely.

The workshop primarily manufactured the magic tools and daily goods Rosalia and I had developed together.

Compared to before, the number of workers had increased significantly. It even looked as though the workshop had now split into separate divisions—one focused on magical tools and another dedicated to ordinary household products.

We walked through each section in turn, checking carefully to see whether any issues had arisen.

But everything seemed perfectly fine.

Apparently, Alex-niisan’s real goal had simply been to personally show everyone that I’d returned safely to the Heine household.

…They must all have been worried.

Honestly, I was grateful.

Along the way, several workers also asked about Fabienne, so naturally I assured them she was doing well too.

The next time Fabienne visited the Heine household, I should probably bring her to the Heine Company as well.

That would surely reassure everyone even more.

Afterward, I checked the potion shelves, observed the customers currently visiting the company, and only then returned to the mansion.

It happened to coincide perfectly with afternoon tea time, so we decided to take a short rest in the salon first.

Nero and Lillie prepared tea for us with their usual impeccable timing.

“Nero, did you get a chance to properly talk with Lillie?”

“Of course.” Nero nodded calmly. “I told her about what happened in the Raven Kingdom. Naturally, I also instructed her not to speak about it outside.”

“I see. Sorry for putting an extra burden on you.”

“Not at all!” Lillie hurriedly denied it, waving both her hands and head energetically. “I only listened because I wanted to!”

Just how much had Nero told her, exactly?

I was a little curious, but I decided to trust both of them to keep quiet.

Though honestly…

Nero’s tongue seemed remarkably loose whenever it came to his little sister.

“I want to hear Onii-sama’s stories too,” Rosalia said eagerly.

“Oh, right. I haven’t told you yet, have I?” I leaned back thoughtfully. “Hmm… where should I even start?”

“Julius-sama,” Nero suggested while flipping through his notebook, “perhaps you should begin with how the gramophone came to be.”

“That’s true.”

Rosalia definitely seemed most interested in the gramophone.

Might as well start there.

…Though now I was suddenly very curious about Nero’s notebook.

I bet he’d written down every single thing that happened in meticulous detail.

Maybe I could convince him to let me peek at it for just a moment?