Volume 1, Act 10: Before Departure
In the afternoon after Cordelia had finished her dance lessons, which she wasnt very good at, Cordelia was happily handling tea utensils. Although she wasnt bad enough at dancing to step on her partners feet, she couldnt say that it was her forte either.
She wasnt familiar with triple time 1) when she was Japanese. She should be used to life in this world, but having her memories return early was probably a barrier and, no matter what, she couldnt match herself with the triple time.
She probably had to keep practising every day to get used to the rhythm. She appreciated that she had knowledge of her past life, but if she had a choice, then she didnt want to remember it.
Therefore, she was refreshing herself by making tea. She knew that the tea would be more delicious if she got Emina to prepare it for her, but she also had fun making tea in her past life.
Emina also tried to prepare her tea for her today as well, but she said, I obtained a new herb, so I want to try preparing it myself. Emina then prepared a pot for Cordelia to use in the laboratory.
It might have been difficult for Cordelia to make her own tea in the main building since the other servants were there also, but it seemed that she could make her own pot here.
Cordelia was enjoying her time brewing tea since she hadnt done it in a while, and Ronnie came down from the second floor while carrying a box with both hands.
Oh, Ojou-sama. What are you doing this time?
I obtained a new herb. So I wanted to make herbal tea with it. Do you also want to try some, Ronnie?
Yes, the tea that Ojou-sama makes is definitely more delicious than the tea brewed by the maid over there Oh, gah, this, I dont like this. Its bitter.
I was going to tell you that you can add honey to it since its bitter, but you drank the tea before I could say anything.
Cordelia smiled wryly at Ronnie, who was trying to return his tea with a frown on his face and offered him some honey. She felt like she had an older brother who was a handful No, a younger brother?
Yup, honey is great. So, what kind of effects does this tea have?
This tea was originally drunk in southwestern kingdoms, and its a good measure against hay fever.
Cordelia spoke to Ronnie while drinking her tea without putting any honey into it.
The elder herb was a herb shed found from a research paper on folk remedies. It was a cute herb with small white flowers. The route for obtaining stock had already been established, and she was excited for it to arrive.
However, she had never heard about people in the Royal Capital suffering from hay fever before. She had never seen people of this world use masks before, but their eyes and nose did seem to get itchy She also didnt see her servants develop the so-called easy to tell symptoms of hay fever either.
A survey conducted on the public concluded that about 30 per cent of the population had hay fever This world was probably different. Even if someone had hay fever, there was a high possibility that they didnt notice it themselves, since only a low percentage of people had it.
So if she were to sell it, then she would have to sell it for other uses For example, using it as a measure against the cold, but honey wasnt cheap in this world. It might be hard for people to drink it if they were bad with bitter stuff, like Ronnie.
If so, then she could add lemon juice and make syrup with it Cordelia thought that was good, but there might be people who werent good with sour things, as well.
(Personally, I like it either way.)
Well, its hard to get everyone to like it. Cordelia thought that and lightly clapped her hands.
Well then, lets finish tea time here. The calendulas 2) leach oils should be extracted quite well now. Lets mix it with beeswax.
If I remember correctly, you were going to make a cream to counter chapped skin. The servants, who work with water, are eagerly waiting for its completion.
Ronnie really seemed to like the herbal tea with honey and served himself another cup while he said that.
She was a little surprised by Ronnies actions, because they were a bit awkward, and smiled wryly.
She had started it to verify her own work, but as expected, she was happy that people were anticipating her products.
She ignored Ronnie, who had started drinking his second cup of herbal tea, and went to retrieve the leach oils from the shelf.
However, she was stopped by a knock at the door. The one who appeared was Hans.
Cordelia-sama, the Master is calling you.
Oh my, he is? Ill go right away!
He should be at the castle today, how rare, Cordelia thought, but she knew that she hadnt done anything wrong, so her steps were light.
An inspection of the Fief?
Yeah. I thought it would be fine if I took you along with me next month. Ive already finished my work. Im thinking of staying there for a bit longer.
Were leaving in 5 days. Be ready by then.
There was no room for refusal from Elviss words.
However, Cordelia didnt have any reason to refuse. Cordelia bowed once and said, Understood, and restrained her heart as it beat with joy, and returned to her room. Her pace became visibly quicker.
The first thing Cordelia did when she got back to her room was take out a map.
It was a map of the Pameradia Fief that shed borrowed from Elviss room.
The largest city in the Pameradia Fief, Ertiga, was located where the east-west highway collided with the north-south one. Therefore, commerce prospered there, and it was so prosperous that it was also called the third city within the kingdom.
Marine products from the south, handicrafts from the north, woollen goods from the west and iron and steel from the east. They also had an abundance of edible fruits.
(But This doesnt really tell me anything about the villages that have good quality trees.)
Shed heard from Ishma that the living standards within Parmeradia Fief were relatively high. However, shed also heard about regional disparity; for example, there were problems in regions with a smaller population than the prosperous Ertiga.
Since its Elvis, hell probably tell me about those areas too , she thought and raised her face as if shed snapped.
No, this isnt the time for me to do this. I was in the middle of making calendula cream!
She quickly put the map away and hurried back to her laboratory without losing her elegance.
When shed returned, Ronnie had his legs submerged in a tub full of warm water and herbs and was enjoying the feeling of soaking his feet while reading. Hed said, Ill participate in the experiment! as he pleased, but Cordelia thought he was just having fun relaxing.
No, rather, there was nothing for him to be tense about. The book he was reading, titled Funny Stories from All Eras, also had nothing to do with work. If he had nothing to be stressed about, then I wonder if he needs to relax or not Well, whatever. Its fine as long as hes having fun.
Cordelia lightly coughed to clear her throat and informed him, Ronnie. This is an urgent job. Otou-sama has allowed me to accompany him on his inspection to the Fief. Therefore, I would like to make a gift for everyone at the mansion there.
It was her first time visiting the mansion in the fief, so she wanted to bring some handmade gifts with her, and she wanted them to see the effects of her products. They still didnt know about her plant collections and experiments, and she was anxious to see how theyd react to it.
(Actually, I also really want to test the effects of balm massages as well, but Even Emina is still in the middle of the current balm massage treatment. So I probably wont make it in time.)
Despite feeling a little disappointed, Cordelia cheered up while thinking that her 18-year-old society debut was still postponed for several more years.
Besides, it wasnt bad to attack first with daily goods.
Ah, then this skin chapping reducing cream would be good, wouldnt it? Its a bit colder over there so they might be happy to receive it.
Yes, I also thought about doing that Also, I think Ill be riding the same carriage as Otou-sama on the way there.
I guess.
This research started because I wanted to cure Otou-samas tiredness. So, Ronnie, go do some work that causes stiff shoulders right now!
Ronnies eyes became dots, and he turned his head 90 degrees like a broken machine.
Excuse me?
Otou-samas stiff shoulders probably start from straining his eyes. 3) Im aiming to make a compress medicine that will relieve him off his stiff shoulders. But I dont have any testers. Hans also seems to have stiff shoulders, but I dont want Otou-sama to notice.
Ojou-sama
Could you get stiff shoulders, that are the result of strained eyes? As you wish, Ojou-sama, was it?
Ronnies cheeks twitched as he informed Cordelia, I can see a demon behind you, Ojou-sama.
In the end, Ronnies stiff shoulders were something that wouldnt even take three days to get if he worked as a normal magician in the magicians wing, so Cordelia immediately sent Ronnie back to the analysis magicians workplace.
She pretended that she didnt see the pathetic look on Ronnies face.
After Ronnie left the laboratory, she recalled her own memories.
Warm cloth can be used for shoulder stiffness caused by eyestrain, couldnt it? I can drop essential oils into hot water and dip a towel in to use it Its not difficult. Its not like Otou-sama has muscle fatigue.
Then, she took out her own research book from the bookshelf and turned the pages with a rustle.
I could make a good herbal tea if I had hibiscuses or rosehips, but I havent obtained any of those yet, and this has precedence. However, rosemary is useful enough for improving blood circulation. If the blood circulation improves, then so should stiff shoulders. Lets try it next time.
The things that I could do with herbs are increasing little by little. But its not enough, after all. If I dont increase the variety a little more, then I feel like I wont be satisfied with my experiments.
Cordelia thought while establishing her next goal, Its better to make a peelable type of hot cloth, rather than just using a towel, isnt it? This world didnt have the concept of stickers, so making it wasnt easy, because she didnt have the equipment to make it with; but she wanted to make something easy to use, someday.
Towels didnt take much time to use, but something easier to use would spread to more people.
Besides if I can complete the sticker-type hot cloth, then I can also give it to Onii-sama as a present. Onii-sama probably also gets bruises, and Onii-sama might also need a muscle fatigue compress.
Although she had such thoughts, the tasks right in front of her eyes were making gifts for people in the fief and Elviss present.
She left her brothers gift to the side for now and wrote down the important things that she needed. She didnt have that long to prepare. If I dont use my time efficiently She thought, and Vernoux appeared.
Vernoux, who was being guided by Emina, who was smiling as if she was troubled, didnt know the meaning of the word appointment, as usual. No, he probably knew the word itself, but he probably never thought it was something he should use. Especially when it came to Cordelia.
Yo, Dilly. You look busy.
As you can see. What kind of business do you have today, Vernoux-sama?
Cordelia spoke while telling Emina to prepare tea and snacks.
Speaking of which, are you not changing your hair colour anymore?
Why did he change his hair colour when he went to town with Gille? She thought and asked.
Ah, that, huh. Thats exclusively for the times when Im not alone. Well, its something like insurance. He replied vaguely.
Therefore, the only thing she could do was say what she thought his personality was.
Hes a very modest person.
And also kind.
Also Hes extremely considerate.
Flantheims son?
No!
Cordelia immediately replied with a firm tone. How did those words come about?
Elvis nodded deeply as if he understood her reply If you understand then why did you ask? She wanted to ask him.
(No, I know why he did it. Its because Vernoux-sama visits often, but hes only a friend. It was hard to say that I couldnt not associate with him, I guess?)
However, Cordelia didnt think that the word honestsuited him. Gille being modest and considerate was completely opposite of how Vernoux acted. The Marquis heir wasnt very modest and that, in itself, might be a problem.
Ah, but of course Im thinking of getting a gift for Vernoux-sama as well. I want to get along well with him.
The words shed said earlier were about Gille, so she inadvertently denied it before, but she did want to buy Vernoux a gift. If Elvis found out that shed given Vernoux a gift after refusing it, then he might think that she was hiding her embarrassment.
Cordelia thought over what she said once again while the silence continued.
(But I feel like Im already hiding my embarrassment.)
She spoke about Gille while protecting his identity, then she denied that she would buy Vernoux a gift, but said that she would.
Whether she intended to do so or not, that was probably how a soft Tsundereacted.
(I didnt plan to do that, how annoying.)
It was so hard to get the conversation going while hiding Gilles name.
Her impression of him was apparently optimistic.
( But Ive never given a gift someone of the opposite sex before, and its enough for me to reflect on this for next time.)
In the first place, the allegations of her acting like a Tsuderewere just in her imagination.
But, just to be sure, she said words that would probably halt the damage.
I think that Vernoux-sama will become a great gentleman in the future; but, thats only what I think. No matter how much Vernoux-sama grows in the future, hell never rival Otou-sama.
Its not like Im looking at Vernoux-sama with dreamy eyes, Cordelia tried to connect her words with such a thought in mind and smiled in deception.
The words I said arent lies. My fathers fantastic. Hes astringent and wonderful. A really charming person.
She affirmed in her mind one after the other and then suddenly realised something. No. If I keep going on like this, then well stray from the topic of products. I cant let that happen.
So, mm What kind of items do you think are good, Otou-sama?
Perishables are good. We have sweets and smoked meat at the fief that arent sold here.
Elvis gave an acceptable answer after remaining silent for a bit.
( Indeed, things like food disappear after you eat them. Itll be superficial even if they dont like it.)
Vernoux was one thing, but Gille seemed like the type of person who would be concern over things like that.
If she gave him something expensive, then he might fuss over it. If she thought like that, then choosing perishables might not be a bad choice. She was a woman in her previous life, and she had a feeling that whenever she didnt know what to do, she just gave people snacks as gifts.
(But, sweets and smoked meat? Food is certainly a source of energy so it might be good, but)
Cordelia only had a vague and luxurious image of, Its practical and it wasnt sold in the Royal Capital, so young men like it.
She was also anxious about leaving an impression of function over aestheticsif she gave Gille sweets since hed given her flowers. Vernoux on the other hand, always came over to her mansion to eat snacks, so she had a feeling that hed eat unusual snacks as well. As for the smoked meat.
was it something that young ladies gave to their friends? Elviss suggestions didnt match with Cordelias expectations in that regard.
In the first place, it wasnt like Cordelia wanted an answer that she could agree with. Shed asked because she really didnt know what gifts to get.
Therefore, even if the answer wasnt something shed expected to get, she thought that Elviss answer of, this is for a general noble man, might be closer to his tastes.
She wanted to gift them something they would be happy about, that was why shed asked.
(Well, I might not know whats there, after all, if I dont go to the actual place.)
According to Elviss advice, it was up to Cordelia to pick which sweets she wanted to gift. If she saw the real products, then she might be able to find something better than what she thought was there. Then, Cordelia felt that she could see a pivot point of various sweets.
Of course, she didnt doubt the advice Elvis gave her, because there might be items there that would make her exclaim, This is it!
(But, it was the right choice to ask Otou-sama after all.)
Because of him, she now also considered giving food as gifts, when she hadnt before.
You should ask other people as well. The answer might be similar to mine But no matter what, its always faster to ask the person.
Cordelia nodded at Elviss answer.
Youre right. Then, Ill ask Isma-oniisama too.
Like Elvis said, it was better to ask other people as well. If it were Isma, then hed know the fief well, and he was also closer in age to Vernoux and Gille than Elvis was. So, she might be able to get hints from another perspective as well.
Elvis was amazed at Cordelias thought process.
Youre going to ask Isma?
Eh? Yes.
Is it bad to ask Isma-oniisama?
Are you planning to give Isma a gift as well?
Huh? Y-yes. I am.
Cordelia immediately replied to Elviss sudden words, but the inside of her head was full of question marks.
( Otou-sama, I wonder whats wrong?)
But, Cordelia also didnt go back to that question. She didnt know what was going on, but it seemed that hed covered up the story well.
Isma goes to the fief many times. Theres no need for you to fuss over his gift now.
But
If youre worried about it, then you can bring him back some alcohol.
I see so Isma-oniisama likes alcohol. I appreciate that he gave me a specific item, but it wasnt something that I could give to a child. It wouldnt suit Gille-sama or Vernoux-sama.
Cordelia thought, and Elviss looked at her with a solemn look on his face. Tension ran down her back when she noticed that gaze.
Cordelia, let me teach you something.
Okay.
There are times when you shouldnt use such sluggish words.
If the other party is a man, then you should state his name. Covering it up could lead to big misunderstandings.
Cordelia froze at Elviss words.
(He really does think that Im consulting him about love.)
It was unavoidable since even shed thought in the middle of the conversation. It wasnt strange for Elvis to think so.
Cordelia gave Elvis a smile to remind him.
I can only be attracted to those who really care about me, just like Otou-sama.
So, you dont have to worry, okay? She informed him with that in mind. Unfortunately, she couldnt guess what Elvis was thinking with his teacup in hand, but the misunderstanding was probably solved Or so she would like to think.
She would also like to think that she reminded him that, Because Otou-sama cares about me, you wont marry me off without me knowing, would you? Even if its to His Highness.
However, Cordelia also thought that it would be challenging to ask Isma about this matter if Elvis came to a misunderstanding because of it. She might create a new kind of misunderstanding, and she wanted to avoid that.
( Well, if I really cant find the right item for them, then I can ask them at the fief.)
She didnt have to panic just then. She also got a hint, so all that was left was to find a nice item.
Cordelia once again moved the hand that had stopped moving and ate her breakfast.
References
1. waltz, the minuet, and the mazurka
2. marigold
3. Strained from doing paperwork
Translator: Blushy
Editor: SenjiQ