CH 264

Words : 993 Updated : Sep 29th, 2025

Mr. Ekenhart Woke Up Early “I thought you dislike waking up early, Mr. Ekenhart? Are you alright?” “It’s because of the herbs you gave to me yesterday, Mr. Takumi. The ones to help me sleep? Thanks to them, I felt very refreshed this morning!” “That father would wake up in the morning when it isn’t even a special occasion…it must be the end of the world.” “Indeed. I have never seen His Grace awake at this hour before.” “You two… I have gotten up early from time to time.” “Hahaha. Well, I suppose it was a very rare thing.” “Wuff-wuff.” “You too, Leo…” When I asked him why, he said it was thanks to the herbs I had given him last night. He had slept well, and been rid of any fatigue. That was why he was able to get up early. People tend to be tired all the time once they get older, which makes it harder to get up… Though, I should be too young to feel that yet. …But I was definitely different during my student days. Regardless, Ms. Anne and Ms. Claire were surprised to see him at the breakfast table. And even Leo was nodding in agreement…much to Mr. Ekenhart’s dismay. At the very least, I had never known Mr. Ekenhart to eat breakfast, so it was indeed rare. But then again, I had not known him for very long. “Hah… So that is how you all see me… In any case, let’s eat then.” “It’s because of the way you usually act, father.” Recently, Ms. Claire seemed rather severe when it came to her father. She hadn’t been like this when I first met Mr. Ekenhart. Perhaps once the matter of the arranged marriages was settled, she was able to talk to her father without restraint. “Now, let’s eat.” “Yes.” “Wuff.” “Kyau!” “…Uh, yes.” With all of the food now on the table, Mr. Ekenhart told us to eat. Ms. Anne looked a little confused when everyone said this, but she followed the others and began to eat. I suppose it wasn’t really a custom here… I didn’t know how things were like at her home. Perhaps she usually ate alone. Or she never talked with her father…? Well, I shouldn’t be making guesses of such things… I might be completely wrong, and it was also rude. “The food here is always so delicious.” “It’s thanks to Helena. …Father, please don’t eat so hurriedly.” “Mmm…gg… But don’t you know that good food tastes best when you eat it quickly?” “Yes, you’ve said that many times… Ha… Very well…” “Hahaha…” “Wuff-wuff… Wuf-wuff-wuff!” Ms. Claire replied to Ms. Anne, who muttered her praises. And then her attention moved to Mr. Ekenhart. While he stopped for a moment at how put off Ms. Claire looked as she sighed, he soon went back to eating hungrily. Perhaps he was right. It was best to eat good food without worrying about how you looked. …Leo was doing the same thing. “Mmm! …Leaving that aside, what are your plans for today, Mr. Takumi?” “Me? I…” Mr. Ekenhart had already finished eating. That was fast… He was now asking me about my plans, but I had a feeling he was just trying to distract Ms. Claire. In fact, both Ms. Claire and Ms. Anne were looking towards me as if they were also interested. …Ms. Anne too? Well, I suppose it was fine. “After breakfast, I will make the herbs for Ms. Kalis’s store, as I always do. I do not want them to run out of stock.” “Yes, that’s true. Though, I doubt they are in any danger of that… But I suppose a steady supply of Ramogi is important.” Said Mr. Ekenhart with a nod. We had removed the cause of the disease, and dealt with the malicious store. As long as there was enough Ramogi to go around, then the disease would stop spreading. Though sadly…it wasn’t something that would happen immediately. “Also… Milina and I have to study to concoct some medicine. And after lunch, Leo and I will go and see the wine that Ms. Helena made.” “Hmm, I see. Good, good. So that means the wine will be drinkable by dinner time?” “If everything goes well…” “Father, are you really that impatient to drink the wine?” “Yes. After tasting the juice… Why wouldn’t I be looking forward to it?” “That may be the case, but…” “Yes, it was very delicious. And so I am also looking forward to drinking it as wine! But why was it turned into juice in the first place?” “It was your fault! Your fault! It was dangerous and made people sick!” Ms. Anne… Did she already forget that it was her idea? Well…perhaps she didn’t know what wine or how it was done. …Or she really was that forgetful. “Huh?” “What is it?” As I smiled and watched Ms. Claire berated her, Mr. Ekenhart suddenly raised his voice as if he had remembered something. “No…about the wine in Range village… It was being sent to the count’s lands as well. Mostly to Barsler himself… But I was wondering why he hasn’t become sick?” “Ah, I see. Yes, one would wonder about such things.” “Do you know something, Mr. Takumi?” “Well, yes.” Mr. Ekenhart was right to question it. The infected wine was being sent to Count Barsler as well… That was what Mr. Hannes had said. While I hadn’t talked about it with Mr. Ekenhart, he was the duke, and must be aware of export from his towns and villages. However, then why was the count not sick… I thought back on my conversation with Mr. Hannes as we waited for Phillip to bring the wagons to Range village.

CH 264

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