We All Arrived In Ractos
“Oh, Mr. Takumi? You were listening to us?”
“Hahah. Well, Leo moved close and the window was open…so I heard.”
“Mr. Takumi, Leo seems to be in very high spirits today?”
“Leo likes being able to carry people and run. And so she always gets very excited when going to town.”
“I see. In that case, it was a good thing that she came along.”
As Leo ran parallel to the carriage, Ms. Claire noticed that I overheard them.
It was a little awkward, but the others did not seem to mind.
Though, Ms. Anne did shriek a little when Leo barked… But that was fine.
Mr. Ekenhard observed that Leo was in a good mood, and so I explained to him that Leo liked to run.
As she was so large, she could not move so freely when inside of the mansion. And that was bound to be stressful.
She had always liked to run, even in our previous world…so it was no surprise.
“Your Grace, we have been waiting for you.”
The carriage stopped in front of the entrance to Ractos town, and everyone stepped out.
Usually, we would get out in the plaza with the fountain, but since Mr. Ekenhart was with us, we might attract a lot more attention.
Indeed, with such a fancy carriage that was different from any other, people would take notice.
“We were informed by Mr. Sebastian.”
“I see. So you know what business brings me here?”
“Yes! Though, it is a great shame that you have been forced to come here in person. We apologize for not being able to deal with it.”
“That is fine. As it is related to the count, it would be difficult for the people here to act.”
Ten guards were standing in a line at the entrance in order to greet Mr. ekenhart.
Apparently, Sebastian had contacted them in advance.
They seemed to deeply regret that Mr. Ekenhart had to come all the way here in person.
But as Mr. Ekenhart said, it was an important matter…
And since it involved the selling of medicine, it was not something the guards could handle alone.
“Then we shall accompany you…”
“That won’t be necessary. Besides, we are drawing enough attention as it is. I want to get a glimpse of what the town is usually like. So my guards will be enough. And…”
“Leo will be with us.”
While the guards meant to accompany us at first, Mr. Ekenhart refused their help.
Leo tilted her head after Mr. Ekenhart’s gaze turned to her.
He meant that with Leo here, we didn’t need any other guards.
They agreed and stood back.
“Now, what should we do… Sebastian?”
“Yes. We should go to Mr. Kalis’s store first. And from there, Mr. Takumi and I alone will go to the other store…”
“Yes. So we can take the wine to them…”
Sebastian then explained to everyone what would happen now.
Apparently, it was just me and Sebastian who would go first.
“Wouldn’t things move faster if Mr. Ekenhart is there?”
“That is true, however…”
“It will end too soon. And where is the fun in that? They have caused much mischief on my lands… And so it’s only right that we have a little fun, is that not the case?”
“…Father… This is a very bad habit of yours.”
“How terrifying… My father was a fool for ever working against you.”
“And yet you were the one who showed him the way, Anne…”
Apparently, Mr. Ekenhart was amused by the idea that the store could be toyed with.
Both he and Sebastian were grinning mischievously.
…Ms. Claire and Ms. Anne looked a little concerned, and I couldn’t help but feel the same.
“Now, let us go to Mr. Kalis’s store. And there, I will explain the details to Mr. Takumi.”
“I haven’t been to the store in a long time. But Mr. Takumi’s herbs are already being sold, yes? How are things going?”
“Better than I had expected. Of course, part of it is due to the quality, but it also helped that the other store’s offerings were so poor.”
“I see. So the timing was good. …Though, it is a shame that so many people suffered from the illness…”
“But thanks to Mr. Takumi’s herbs…things were not as bad as they could be. At least, there have been no reports of people dying from it. Besides, Mr. Kalis’s store is doing something special.”
“Special? What is it?”
As we walked away from the guards and towards Mr. Kalis’s store, the conversation turned to the herbs that were being sold.
But as there were so many people, and Leo was with us, many heads turned…
Children were especially excited when they saw Leo.
After all, Leo had played with them before in front of the store.
Some of them tried to rush towards her, but their parents noticed Ms. Claire and held the children back.
While Mr. Ekenhard rarely visited, Ms. Claire was well known to the people of the town.
“He lowered the prices of the Ramogi.”
“He did? But did Mr. Takumi agree to that?”
“Yes, of course. He insisted that he be paid less…”
“True. It was Sebastian’s idea, and I accepted. That way, it will be more accessible and curb the spread of the disease.”
“I see… So it was for the people. I thank you, Mr. Takumi.”
“No, not at all. I just wanted the poor to be able to buy it…so fewer people would suffer.”
Seeing the children suffering at the orphanage was also a big part of it.
After all, they had been fooled into using what little money they had on ineffective medicine.
Of course, the money didn’t really matter… I just didn’t want to see children suffer.
As Mr. Ekenhart bowed his head, I answered with a smile, and we continued on to Mr. Kalis’s store.