Chapter 501: A Letter from the Farmer
After Alex, my older brother, and Daniela, my sister-in-law, departed for the royal capital, my days settled into a steady rhythm of abacus making and teaching others to use them. Production of shampoo and conditioner was going well too. What caught me off guard, however, was just how eagerly not only merchants but even ordinary townsfolk with modest incomes wanted these products.
Where they had heard of them, I could only guess—but some quick-witted merchants had rushed to claim them first. Surprisingly, it wasn’t even for resale. They had been coaxed into buying by their wives’ insistence. And now, this trend had begun spreading among the common people as well.
At this rate, I could no longer afford to make only high-end versions. Even for the nobility, the orders were already exceeding expectations, despite our deliberately inflated prices.
Thus, we decided to create a line for the general public as well. By slightly lowering the quality, we could reduce the cost. And the scents wouldn’t be limited to roses anymore; we would introduce other affordable fragrances, offering a variety for people to choose from.
Of course, I planned to consult Mother about the scents. After all, there might be times when she wanted something different—perhaps chamomile or something similar. Personally, I found myself leaning toward that one.
“Looking at it this way, we can make all sorts of varieties,” Fabienne said, her voice tinged with delight.
“Yes, that’s right. If there’s a scent you particularly like, you can take some home,” I replied.
“Thank you very much,” she said, her smile blooming like a rose in full sunlight.
Seeing her so happy, I felt a surge of motivation. I wanted to make her even happier, so we experimented with various types, eager to see her joy grow.
Not long after, the abacus master arrived, and the abacus classes officially began. Around the same time, Alex-niisan and Sister-in-law Daniela returned from the royal capital. Naturally, while they were away, Father and I had managed Heine Trading Company’s operations. And, as expected, Father had become quite skilled with the abacus as well. He never ceased to impress.
“Welcome back. Julius, Mika-chan was very pleased. She said she would be sure to express her thanks if she visits here during summer break,” Sister-in-law Daniela reported.
“Is that so? I’m glad to hear she was pleased,” I said, though a small twinge of apprehension crept in.
Sister-in-law Mika’s thanks… what could it be? I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that it might involve something unexpected. Hopefully, it didn’t mean granting her the right to spar with me every day.
As I pondered, Sister-in-law Daniela leaned in closer, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
“It seems I was right, Julius. The shampoo and conditioner are very popular, and they’re requesting more,” she said.
“I… I see. That’s good news. We’re making various types here as well, so please select whichever seems best and present them to Her Majesty the Queen,” I replied.
As Mother had predicted, the products were gaining traction. It seemed likely that the shampoo and conditioner would quickly spread throughout the royal capital as well. Within our territory, their popularity was steadily growing, and sales of the magical shower devices had begun to rise alongside them.
Clearly, we would need to increase production of the magical showers. I made a mental note to discuss this with my brother later.
The next few days were spent listening to Alex-niisan and Sister-in-law Daniela’s travel stories. Then, one day, a letter arrived.
“A letter for me? I wonder what it’s about,” I said.
“It appears to be a letter of thanks from a farmer in the territory,” Nero said, placing a silver tray before me, atop which lay the envelope and a letter opener.
“What could they be thanking me for?”
Thanks to the proliferation of pencils and glass pens among the common people, more people were sending letters. The increased demand for writing had even led to the emergence of small schools throughout the region, teaching reading, writing, and now, abacus skills as well.
I secretly hoped that this increase in literacy and numeracy would eventually boost agricultural productivity. The future of my territory was suddenly brimming with promise.
The letter, it turned out, was in gratitude for the all-purpose plant nutrient sold by Heine Trading Company.
Its effects had been extraordinary. Not only had crop yields increased, but the produce had also become stronger, healthier, and more resilient to disease and environmental changes.
“So it was that effective… I should show this to Fabienne. Maybe we can even visit the farms. I’ll have to consult Father about it,” I thought.
As usual, I went to the Baron Amber estate to pick up Fabienne and showed her the letter as soon as we returned. Her eyes widened in amazement, then her smile blossomed like a flower.
“I’m so glad the farmers were pleased. It feels wonderful to be recognized,” she said softly.
“Fabienne, I always recognize your efforts,” I said, watching her blush and look down shyly. Adorable, without a doubt.
When I suggested visiting the farms, she eagerly agreed. So, we went straight to Father’s study and showed him the letter as well.
“Hm, I see. I’d heard rumors, but I didn’t expect it to be this significant. Julius is right; it may indeed be best for the Heine frontier family to conduct an official inspection,” Father said thoughtfully.
“An official inspection?” I asked.
“Yes. It would show that the Heine frontier family actively supports agriculture. We’re not the farmers’ adversaries—we’re their allies. Actions speak louder than words.”
I understood. Until now, due to horse racing events, we had emphasized livestock management. Some farmers must have felt neglected. This was the perfect opportunity to show that agriculture was equally valued, preventing any lingering resentment.
Fabienne’s development of the all-purpose plant nutrient had become a bridge between the Heine frontier family and the farmers—a true savior for both sides.
We couldn’t afford to let this opportunity slip away. If we wanted to strengthen this bond, now was the time. I steeled myself with determination.
“This project calls for you, Julius, and the nutrient’s developer, Fabienne. Of course, you’ll be rewarded. Will you help?” Father asked.
“I’d be delighted to help,” I said.
“Me too,” Fabienne added enthusiastically.
Father nodded, smiling warmly. With the horse racing operations stabilized, perhaps he had been looking for a new way to occupy my skills. After all, I had already been experimenting with herbal gardens and greenhouse plant trials. There was no doubt I was the right person for this task.