ALL NOVEL 49: What Should We Give as a Gift?
As a result, there was no surprise visit from Lady Cecilia.
After my eighth birthday, a letter arrived with a gift, informing us in advance that she would visit at the beginning of June this year.
Incidentally, another letter informed us that Brother Ren and Brother Riol would return in late June. Brother Ren is coming back after graduating from the academy in the royal capital!
Though it seems he’ll still study in the capital for another two or three years…
Brother Ren has reached adulthood at fifteen in this world. From now on, he needs to gain social experience as an adult and study politics. He must learn how to deal with (troublesome) nobles and build connections. Proper preparation is necessary to become the head of the family.
I was a bit disappointed, but since he’s working hard for the family, I must support him. When he returns, I’ll make sure he eats lots of vegetables and fruits!
Since it’s summer, pineapple and mango might be good. Maybe I’ll grow some tropical fruits for us to eat at home? It’s exciting!
In colder regions, many roses are still blooming even in early June! It’s actually a good season to see both early and late-blooming varieties at the same time. They last longer if the temperature doesn’t get too high.
When Lady Cecilia arrived, the roses were in full bloom, and she was very pleased. This time, she was escorted not by Lord Leon but by her eldest son, Lord Oscar (twenty-one years old).
Lord Oscar seemed to inherit the best qualities of both Lord Leon and Lady Cecilia. He was tall but lean, not bulky at all. I thought, “This is what a noble prince should look like.” He definitely had a different aura compared to Brother Will or Brother Kyle.
I deeply felt this, and Guri and Poko nodded in agreement with their arms crossed.
During the tea party in the rose garden gazebo, Lord Oscar announced his engagement this year. His fiancée is a young lady from the noble Winser Earl family in the east. The Winser territory is located three domains east of the Ragnard territory, by the sea. It’s a wealthy area known for its active maritime trade.
Lady Cecilia was very delighted to have such a good match for her son. Lord Oscar, too, spoke with a shy demeanor. It seems he gets along well with his fiancée! Congratulations!
The wedding is planned for next summer, and he handed the invitation for the engagement ceremony to Father. Because of the preparations, they couldn’t stay long and left the next day with some regret.
“She didn’t visit the detached building as I had prepared for,” grumbled Mee-Mee, who disappeared muttering complaints. Did I just imagine seeing something dark? All the effort put into the preparations went to waste.
Well, I did think it was quite abrupt this time. Burton explained to me that there were many preparations to be made.
“For the engagement ceremony of Lord Oscar, the future head of the family, it will be a grand event. If it’s held at the townhouse in the royal capital, many distinguished families will attend. It’s not too early to start preparing now. This is a chance for the Marquess’s wife to showcase her skills.”
Wow.
Martha sighed, saying the fiancée’s preparations must also be extensive.
It reminds me of those noble ladies’ fierce battles of pride I read about in light novels!
How much money was spent!
How big the jewels given were!
How cutting-edge the fashion was!!
An intense battle will unfold! It makes my heart race!
“Stop it,” said Yue, hitting me again! Why!?
Huh? Because you sensed a suspicious aura?
What!?
Isn’t that an accusation?
That being the case, it seems we need to give a gift as well.
Even if we’re invited, we can’t just go there to eat and drink for free.
After all, they are relatives!
“What should we give as a celebratory gift?”
Father asked me for advice!
Participants in the emergency meeting were Father, me, Grandpa Al, and the butler family of Burton and Victor. Grandpa Al somehow became a key member of our household!
According to Father, it should be “something that doesn’t stand out too much but doesn’t diminish our dignity.”
Well, in my previous life, just giving a cash gift would have been enough.
Isn’t cash acceptable?
You know, like commemorative coins in a ring case.
Burton sighed and shook his head.
Yeah, it seems cash isn’t suitable.
Since the engagement ceremony will be held at the townhouse in the royal capital, fruits might not be appropriate. We still don’t want Radberries, melons, or white peaches to be known in the central regions.
At least until we can produce them steadily in the village, we should keep them hidden as much as possible.
So, to keep up appearances, we should probably plant more peach trees…
“I believe this is a different matter at hand.”
Suddenly, Mee-Mee poked her face out from under the table!
“Eh! I thought you left earlier! Why are you here, Mee-Mee?”
“I sensed Haku-sama’s bad aura.”
Oh no! That’s harsh!
But maybe I was getting sidetracked!
Ignoring my flustered state, Mee-Mee joined the gift meeting.
“How about a potted Old Rose?”
“Old Rose? Is that different from the roses in the garden?”
Father asked Mee-Mee curiously.
Mee-Mee nodded and began to explain.
“The roses in the rose garden are crafted with Haku-sama’s image. Therefore, they are not common. Old Roses are classic roses and won’t stand out in a bad way. However, if they are grown with Haku-sama’s skills, they will be splendid. If they are set in the Marquess’s townhouse, they will be quite impressive.”
Mee-Mee declared confidently with her chest puffed out.
As usual, she spoke in a way that sounded plausible and convincing!
But wait a moment.
“The engagement ceremony will be held in autumn, right? Old Roses bloom once a season, so they won’t have flowers in autumn.”
When I tilted my head and said this, Mee-Mee gave me a look as if I were a clueless child.
It’s so irritating.
“They can be stored in a magic bag, can’t they?”
“Oh! That’s true!”
Father looked convinced.
Burton and Victor also nodded.
“Precisely because it’s autumn, the luxurious roses, which shouldn’t be there, will attract attention. They will truly enhance the engagement ceremony!”
Everyone looked satisfied as if they had made a clever statement.
Maybe Mee-Mee and I are more alike than I thought?
She did derive from me, after all? Right?
“If you provide several branches of Old Roses, we can propagate them by cuttings.”
My inner thoughts were elegantly ignored!
“If that’s the case, I have a few in my collection I can share.”
Grandpa Al, who had been silent until then, raised his hand.
“A collection?”
Mee-Mee’s eyes gleamed suspiciously as Grandpa Al grinned.
“I have gathered many plants and minerals from my travels around the world in my item box. There should be some rare rose trees in there.”
Saying this, Grandpa Al raised his left-hand bracelet for us to see.
Rare item box, here it comes!