Meeting With The Baron

“Kent-san, do you have time next Sunday?”

Josette asked Kent. Next Saturday, he had a meeting with Baron Frederick, Caro’s father, but he had no particular plans for Sunday.

“I think I should be free?”

“If so, then I would like to ask you about the matter Father mentioned yesterday…”

“You mean the ice cream. Understood.”

“I’m sorry. Please take care of it for me.”

After confirming Kent’s schedule, Josette asked him to handle the renovations.

“Ice cream… when it’s hot, it really makes you want some. It’s a shame I can’t come by the shop, so I can’t eat any.”

“Caro, did you want to eat ice cream?”

“Yes.”

“Big brother, you know what that means, right?”

Rachel said to Kent.

“Yes, yes. We don’t have much break time, so eat it quickly.”

Saying that, he ordered cup ice cream for everyone from the terminal, had it delivered, and handed it out.

“Yay, ice cream. Thanks, big brother.”

“Kent-san, I’m sorry for asking for so much.”

“Being able to serve it while still cold really is an amazing ability as always, desuwa.”

The four of them quickly ate the ice cream and returned to their respective classrooms to attend their afternoon classes.

Then, before he knew it, several days passed, and it became Saturday. Today was the day of his meeting with Baron Frederick, Caro’s father.

“Well then, I’m off.”

“Be careful.”

“Bring back a souvenir.”

Seen off by Marie and Catherine, Kent set out for Caro’s mansion.

“Master. Where are we heading now?”

The Alraune, having returned to her original form, followed along while floating in the air. In this state, she was probably invisible to others, but Kent could see her clearly, which made him a little uneasy.

“I’m on my way to Caro-san’s house right now.”

“Lady Caro is the one whose name comes up so often, your lawful wife, right, Master?”

“Lawful wife? I’m not even married yet, though.”

“Then let’s say in the future.”

They were having a completely normal conversation, but to anyone watching Kent walk down the road, he would look like nothing more than a suspicious person talking to himself.

“Mommy, who’s that person talking to?”

“Shh, don’t look.”

Seeing that exchange between a mother and her little daughter, Kent realized he was being seen as just a suspicious person, and he felt embarrassed.

“Master, go for it!”

Alraune cheered him on for no particular reason.

While exchanging remarks like that, Kent and Alraune arrived in front of Caro’s mansion. The last time he had come to this house, there had been a standing sign outside, and there had been no sign of people at all, but now that its master had returned, there was a sense of people living there again. Unlike Josette’s mansion, there were no guards standing at the gate, and Kent simply entered the grounds as he was.

Kent came to the front door and pulled the bell.

“Yes, who is it?”

A woman wearing servant’s clothes showed her face from the entrance.

“I’m sorry to trouble you while you’re busy. My name is Kent, and I am supposed to meet Baron Frederick today…”

“Yes, we have been expecting you. This way, please.”

Guided by the woman, Kent was shown into the drawing room. It was inferior to Josette’s house, but even so, the drawing room, decorated in a suitably noble fashion, looked luxurious to commoner eyes.

“Kent-san. I’m sorry for making you come here today with such short notice. I believe Father will be here shortly, so please wait just a little longer.”

Caro came into the drawing room and said that. Being a noble lady, she was not wearing the familiar tracksuit he was used to seeing, but rather a beautiful dress. Seeing that, Kent felt once more the difference in status between them, realizing again that she was a noble.

“My apologies. It seems I have kept you waiting. It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord Kent. I am Frederick, Caroline’s father. Well then, please, have a seat.”

“Then excuse me.”

With that, Baron Frederick urged Kent to sit down. Kent sat on the sofa set for guests in the drawing room. Then Baron Frederick sat down opposite him, while Caro sat not beside her father, but beside Kent.

“It seems that you have helped my daughter in many ways this time. In truth, I should have thanked you sooner, but official duties kept me busy, and I could not find the time. I feel sorry for the delay. Let me thank you properly now.”

“Your words are more than I deserve. I too am glad that the false charge was cleared.”

“Now then, Caroline tells me there is something you wish to discuss today. What business is this?”

To move into the main topic, Baron Frederick changed the subject.

“The truth is, I came here today because I wish to be in a relationship with Caroline-san.”

“Oh? You wish to court my daughter?”

“The truth is, we are already in a relationship. Father, could you please grant us your permission?”

“Please.”

Caro and Kent appealed to Baron Frederick.

“You understand that there is a difference in status between nobles and commoners, do you not? Caroline, if you were to join yourself to this man, you would surely face many hardships.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“I see. Without Lord Kent’s help, I would never have returned to my current position. I do feel indebted to him. However, I have no intention of recognizing one who lacks ability. Therefore, let me set you one task.”

“Lord Kent, starting next week, the academy will enter summer vacation, correct? During that period, I want you to act as steward in place of the lord of my domain. Produce results by the end of August that will astonish me. …Of course, in a good way. During that time, I shall assign Caroline to assist you. As for where you will stay, there should have been the lord’s manor. You may use that. During that period, whatever may happen between the two of you, I shall not involve myself. Do your best together so that neither of you will have any regrets.”

“I understand. I will make every possible effort so as to meet Baron Frederick’s expectations.”

“That is a good reply. I am looking forward to it.”

With the matter settled, Baron Frederick left the drawing room.

“Um, Kent-san.”

Caro spoke to Kent.

“What is it?”

“I think the condition offered is quite favorable, but Kent-san, you have remedial classes during summer vacation. What are you going to do?”

“Oh no! I completely forgot about the remedial classes.”

“I’ll go ahead first and do everything I can, so it will be fine if Kent-san finishes the remedial classes as quickly as possible and comes after me. Father also said we should work together, so it will be fine.”

Seeing Kent turn pale, Caro gently drew him close to calm him down. The female servant standing nearby turned in another direction, deliberately pretending not to see what Kent and Caro were doing.

“Sniff, sniff… huh? The smell of earth… and hmm, it feels like a woman’s scent?”

Caro was sniffing the air. Right at the tip of Caro’s nose, Alraune was trembling while desperately trying to erase her presence.

“It really does feel like something is here. Kent-san, are you hiding something?”

“I may not be able to say right now.”

Kent said that while glancing toward the female servant.

“I see, so that means we need some privacy. I’m sorry, but could you step out for a moment?”

“Certainly.”

When Caro said that, the female servant gave a small bow and left the room.

“Will this do?”

“Alraune, show yourself.”

“Yes, Master.”

With a pop, Alraune appeared before Caro’s eyes.

“My, how adorable.”

A tiny object in the shape of a little girl with light green hair, about ten centimeters tall, was floating there in the air.

“Since Kent-san calls you Alraune, you must be a fairy. I feel like I read something in a book before… if I remember correctly, your kind governs plant-related things… was that it? So then, Kent-san, what is this child’s name?”

“It’s Alraune, though?”

“Alraune is the name of the fairy race, is it not? For example, wouldn’t that be the same as calling Emily-san simply ‘shop fairy’?”

“I see…”

Pointed that out by Caro, Kent accepted it. He had already introduced her to other people as Alraune, so this left him troubled.

“Master, I don’t mind being called Alraune.”

“But still… all right, some people are already calling you that, so let’s make your name ‘Al.’”

“Understood. Then from now on, I shall call myself Al.”

Having been given a new name like that, Al smiled happily.

“Then let me introduce myself properly. I’m Caroline. Everyone calls me Caro. Nice to meet you, Al-chan.”

“The pleasure is mine. Please take care of me, Lady Caro.”

After the two finished introducing themselves, Caro turned toward Kent and said,

“So then, Kent-san?”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Regarding summer vacation, would it be all right if I went ahead to the domain first and made preparations?”

“No, this is a task that was given to me, so I think I’ll finish the remedial classes first, and then we’ll head there together. The number of days will probably be tight, but that’s how I think we should do it.”

“If that is what Kent-san says, then I will follow your decision. We’ll need to tell Marie-san as well.”

“That’s true.”

During summer vacation, Kent would no longer be able to help much at the shop. In terms of staffing, Rachel and Patty would be able to work full-time, so he thought it would probably not be a problem. As for procurement, if they handled it through Emily, they would probably manage somehow. There would likely be some inconvenience, but it still seemed workable, Kent thought.