By the end of winter, I ushered in a new birthday and returned to my homeland at the age of seventeen, together with Ricardo.
In order to fulfill his agreement with Ryuze, Ricardo, who had become my TEMPORARY betrothal, decided to train in Earl Hakusuâs territory.
Because of the shortage of hands, it could be said that Ryuze kept him on a stringâphysically.
(Ricardo, fight! I will also have to work harder and harder.)
For me, My cousin also brought up some new subjects.
Up to now, this was the part where I had to please Ryuzeâto accumulate experience in trading and negotiation.
There were a few aristocratic women who engaged in field service management in the country because others would steer clear of them with good grace in trading and negotiation occasions. In addition, I was just a 17-year-old girl, so it was normal that everyone would ignore me.
The people who were familiar to me would definitely believe in my achievements, while others wouldnât. In their eyes, perhaps I had just provided a little help in the work of Earl Hakusuâs territory.
(I know that itâs impossible to rely on others all the time, but⌠I donât want to mess things up. If everything went smoothly without my progress, it doesnât matter.)
It was good to communicate with Ryuze, while once I made a mistake, he would give me a lesson and so that unnecessary friction would not arise.
In the world I came from, it was also filled with unnecessary frictions in diverse industries, let alone in this developing country.
In order to change my feeling, I brought some comforts for Ricardo.
In the afternoon, he should be Ryuze.
I took the stairs to the second floor and approached Ryuzeâs office. I found these two persons: Ryuze pointed out the mistakes Ricardo made and instructed him how to improve itâas if mother-in-law was strictly teaching daughter-in-law how to do houseworkâRicardo listened to him carefully.
(For me, Ryuze is Sparta; for Ricardo, he shows no mercy.)
For Ricardo who had been treated the same way, I really want to encourage Ricardo.
I waited in in-situ and handed the comforts over him until Ryuze told him to have a break.
</aside>
âAre you all right, Ricardo? You look so tired.â
âNo, Iâm fine. Ryuze is really great. Weâre almost at the same age, but he has already been able to deal with everything in the territory on his own. Itâs different from in my homeland, but there is nothing that I canât achieve.â
Ricardo was unwilling to be left behind, so he was motivated and full of energy.
(How reliable he is! I canât say the words like a spoiled child.)
Now it was not the time to tell him, âI donât want to practice trading and negotiation.â because it was true that there were short of hands.
Cheer up! A strong feeling stoke upon my mind.
(Apart from negotiation, there is still a lot to do. Start working hard on what I can do!)
First, we talked about the plan with enthusiasm during the break. As for Ryuze, his subordinates called him to dispose of something else.
âNow we want to build a new facility in some main locations, then we could introduce Earl Hakusuâs territory to more people.â
They wanted to set up something like ârest stationsâ along the streets, which had been built not long ago. We called it ârest stationsâ in the previous world.
There were numerous products in Earl Hakusuâs territory that they desired to recommend. Therefore, they needed to display these specialties in the form of the durable facility. Ultimately, they planned to make it noted for its hot springs.
(Goalâa sizable amount of taxes!)
Recently, I felt like I behaved like someone, but it must be an illusion.ăă
I should not be a miser.
The technicians in the territory also made great progress, and they had been able to manufacture all kinds of goods that they couldnât finish before. As the land reclamation managed to implement, the farmland became more abundant than before. Then agriculture had achieved remarkable development.
Recently, there have been increased more rice growers. As for the seed, it was Serunya who presented to me.
âHot wine has received receive a favorable response, so this winter we will expand domestic production. Sparkling wine and Sangria will be sold to the South Country. I get along well with his highness Serunya and her highness Emirya, so we can also try to produce beer and Nihonshu. I remember, the way to brew isâŚâ
</aside>
Ricardo paused for a while during the heated discussion.
âBritney, itâs good to be enthusiastic about work, but itâs time for rest. Itâs hard to find such a chance to stay alone. I think we can do something that engaged people should do.â
After that, he bent down a little and stared at my face. My bewildered expression was reflected in his clear green eyes.
âWhat should engaged people do? You meanâŚâ
âYes, for exampleâŚâ
With his head tilted slightly, Ricardo picked up a pinch of my hair and kissed me on the forehead.
âAh!? Will Ryuze onii-sama get angry?â
âHeâs not here right now, so this is fine.â
Innocent Ricardo became a little of âflexibleâ. Maybe he had been influenced by someone. After Ryuze agreed on our engagement, Ricardo became more active than ever.
I had already been accustomed to staying with him, but at the moment, I still couldnât keep calm.
âIâŚ.I am little embarrassedâŚâ
âThatâs a good response.â
(Why is there only Ricardo who speaks like an adult? Itâs clear that Iâm older than him!)
I didnât have enough experience in loveâalmost zero, so I could remain calm and unflustered as usual.
(Well, where did that innocent Ricardo go?)
All I could do was look at him, with my face bright red like an apple.\n \n