Kays Translations

Chapter 328: Concerns

Business at the Heine Trading Company was booming. Every product on display was new to the people of the territory, so customers naturally flocked to the shop.

Most visitors were residents of the territorial capital or nearby towns and villages, although a few merchants had already appeared amongst them.

Travelling through the snow to purchase goods could not be easy, which proved that they considered the journey worthwhile. Once the snow melted and the weather grew warmer, merchants from across the kingdom would probably gather here. Even the largest trading houses might send buyers.

“Brother Alex, what do you think of the current sales?”

I raised the subject at breakfast. Brother Alex, rather than Father, was overseeing the company. Father's silence on the matter amounted to approval.

Fabienne, who sat beside me, tilted her head slightly.

She spent most of her working time in the compounding room. Although she occasionally visited the shop, she probably did not yet understand the overall movement of stock and sales.

Even I would have struggled to grasp it if I had not been involved in developing almost every product.

The speed at which goods disappeared from the shelves, the amount of material remaining in the workshop, and the comments of the master craftspeople and employees all pointed to the same conclusion: sales were far exceeding our forecasts.

At this rate, we would need to order more materials immediately. Snow had already accumulated outside, so fresh supplies might be delayed.

“Yes, sales are somewhat higher than we expected,” Brother Alex admitted. “I am also concerned that the employees may be working too hard.”

“Some of them remain after their scheduled hours,” Sister-in-law Daniela added.

Brother Alex and Sister-in-law Daniela both stayed at the company until closing. Daniela apparently wished to sleep there so that she could continue working, but she returned to the estate each evening for security reasons.

“When the snow melts, merchants from other territories may come in great numbers, depending on how far word of the company spreads during winter,” I said.

“Quite apart from sales, our reputation is already excellent,” Sister-in-law Daniela replied. “At this rate, merchants from the royal capital may come as well.”

She straightened in her chair, looking more worried than I had expected. I shared her concern.

“If the royal-capital merchants arrive together, they may buy our entire stock,” Brother Cain said.

He frequently visited shops in the royal capital and had probably witnessed the tactics of major merchants there. Perhaps he feared that they would purchase everything before local customers had a chance.

“I doubt it will become that extreme, but…”

Brother Alex frowned. He clearly considered it possible. We might need to spend the entire winter building up inventory.

“Brother Alex, I think we should order additional materials at once. The Hot Cookies are also selling well, so we may need to increase production.”

“Will Lady Fabienne be all right? She is not being overworked, is she?”

I looked towards Fabienne. She nodded firmly, as though declaring that she could manage.

In truth, I could increase production myself if necessary. I merely had to be careful not to make Fabienne feel that her contribution was unimportant.

“Do not worry. Fabienne has improved tremendously since she began working with us.”

“That is reassuring. I will ask each department what it needs and place the additional orders.”

“Thank you very much.”

Fabienne's cheeks turned pink. She looked delighted by the praise.

My future wife was adorable.

After breakfast, we began our usual physical training. The routine applied to everyone in the household. Nobles had to remain prepared to act in an emergency.

“Fabienne, have you been lonely since coming here?”

I asked while she performed warm-up exercises beside me.

“Not at all. Mira sometimes sleeps beside me, and… Lord Julius is here as well.”

Her voice faded at the end. Both our faces were probably bright red. Fortunately, no one else stood close enough to hear.

Fabienne still had not managed to call me simply Julius. She remained very conscious of being a baron's daughter, even though everyone repeatedly assured her that she no longer needed to be so formal.

Sister-in-law Daniela was especially determined to make Fabienne call her ‘Sister’. True to her powerful desire for family closeness, she never gave up. Sister-in-law Meeka took an even more direct approach, which sometimes overwhelmed Fabienne.

I hoped she would become accustomed to us soon, although personality mattered greatly in such things.

“Kyuu! Kyuu!”

Mira flew towards us the moment they heard their name. Their hearing was remarkably sharp; they had been exercising some distance away with Rosalia and Lelie.

“Brother Julius, Sister-in-law Fabienne, is something wrong?”

Rosalia and Lelie hurried after Mira.

“Nothing is wrong. We were only discussing how happy Fabienne is that Mira sometimes sleeps beside her.”

“Kyuu!”

“Oh, I see!” Rosalia said. “Then I will sleep beside you next time!”

“Er… if anyone is going to sleep beside me, I would rather it were Fabienne.”

Rosalia's cheeks immediately puffed out like a pufferfish.

What was wrong? And why did Fabienne look ready to boil? It was not only her face; her entire body had turned scarlet. Startled by the sudden change, Mira clung tightly to me.

“Hmph. So you would rather Sister-in-law Fabienne sleep beside you than me, Brother Julius?”

“What? Wait, no!”

This was a complete misunderstanding. Or perhaps it was not. My words had sounded exactly as though I wanted Fabienne to share my bed.

But if I denied it too forcefully, Fabienne might be disappointed.

“Then… perhaps we could try it sometime. Just kidding—Fabienne!”

I caught Fabienne just before she toppled backwards.

I had gone too far.

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