Ch.47The Farming Nation of Elves #2

Just because something suits my taste doesn’t mean it has to suit others. But I can’t sell something that doesn’t even suit my own taste.

I was chewing on grapes while wrestling with this untimely dilemma when I sought out Chess, the elder of the household who could provide an answer.

Normally, I should have reported to Helena first, but I was uneasy about trusting my palate, which had been conditioned by my own cooking.

“Taste these grapes. They were grown by Dark Elves…”

Where Chess was, Is was also present. I broke into a cold sweat as I recalled this fact that I had momentarily forgotten.

That loyal Chess wouldn’t have come just because I called him, so in a way, this meeting was inevitable.

“Yes. I’ve already tasted them… and I believe they have sufficient competitive value.”

Chess and Is, the two men, stared blankly at the grapes on the plate with somewhat reluctant expressions.

Though they were quite open-minded, they were still men with deeply ingrained notions, so such reactions were natural.

If they had firmly stated that they didn’t mind Dark Elves, that would have seemed more strange.

“You tasted them yourself… I see.”

Is seemed to take note of the fact that I had taken the initiative to taste them first. After mulling it over several times, he finally seemed to make up his mind and popped a grape into his mouth.

“L-Lord Is!”

Chess was shocked to the point of fainting. Anyone watching would think he had eaten something he knew was poisonous.

While I understood this was a normal reaction for people here, it still felt rather uncomfortable to witness.

They really are quite silly…

Munch, munch. In the silence, only the sound of Is chewing the grape could be heard.

Though he was merely chewing a grape, I felt as if my breath was caught, and even had the illusion that the air had become stale.

“It’s… delicious.”

Is’s expression brightened considerably as he chewed and swallowed the grape. He seemed quite pleased with the taste.

“Is it truly delicious, sir?”

“Hmm. There’s no need to lie about such things. If you still don’t believe me, try one yourself. Then your opinion will change, just like mine.”

“Understood.”

Chess grabbed a grape and swallowed it as soon as Is’s suggestion was made.

His previously furrowed face became as crisp and neat as ironed clothes, and the change in his demeanor as he carefully assessed the taste was chilling.

I almost suspected he had a split personality.

“Indeed… the taste is superior to ordinary grapes. I cannot guarantee it’s the best since I haven’t tasted every grape on the continent, but among those I’ve tried, I would say it’s certainly of the highest quality.”

Chess’s evaluation was exceptionally dispassionate.

While the content of his words was full of praise, his expression and voice while delivering them were extremely solemn.

He could have passed for a professional grape appraiser.

“Well. If you think so too… it would be suitable as a main product going forward. Would you like to sell it at the Altram Trading Company?”

“I would follow Lord Is’s orders, but… in this case, I believe we need Lady Helena’s permission. The idea of having Dark Elves grow crops and sell them came from her attendant, Zion.”

Chess indicated that my achievements were essentially Helena’s achievements, showing a rather polite refusal.

There wasn’t the slightest hint that he disliked taking on grapes grown by “unclean hands”; it seemed he simply wanted to follow proper procedure.

“Hmm… That’s certainly a valid point. It was that child who agreed with Zion’s idea and put it into action, so it’s only right that she should reap the benefits.”

“Zion, did you hear that? Since Lord Is has spoken thus, report your future business plans to Lady Helena before making decisions.”

“Yes. I will do as you say.”

In summary, the conclusion was that Helena should handle it, but I was grateful just to have received the endorsement of the two nobles.

Their evaluation was trustworthy, coming from men who had likely tasted many fine things in their lives.

I gave a light bow and headed to Helena’s room with the grapes.

There was no need to delay, so I intended to go straight to her room and get permission.

“…You’re here now?”

After a light knock, I opened the door and entered, and the first thing I saw was Helena’s sulky face.

From her pouting lips and eyes full of discontent, it seemed complaints were about to fly at any moment.

“Ah… sorry I’m late.”

“You should be sorry! I’m already forcing myself to endure sending you to where those Dark Elves are, and the least you could do is show your face to me first when you return! And…”

Helena’s nagging sounded remarkably similar to a wife pestering her husband to stop gaming.

I’ve never been married, but it was very similar to all those stories floating around the internet.

They used to call them “tales” back then… I’m not sure if they still use that term nowadays.

“So you want me to be more considerate?”

“Yes! You get it!”

Only after I half-listened and summarized her point did her machine-gun complaints suddenly stop.

Her manner of speaking was quite childish, but in a way, I understood her.

Helena didn’t treat Dark Elves as filth, so she could objectively assess their appearance, and as a result, she worried I might lose my head over them.

But I felt no need for that, nor did I have any such intention.

While it’s hard to deny that Dark Elves are attractive, the main reason was that I had no intention of cheating on Helena.

Even setting aside the question of danger.

“Well then, let’s eat these grapes first and talk. I had to visit Lord Is because of these, our first harvest.”

“Father…? I see.”

Helena nodded in understanding and accepted the plate I offered, putting a grape into her mouth without hesitation.

It was such a contrast to the typical reactions shown by Is and Chess.

In a way, this could lead to the conclusion that she wasn’t a person with normal sensibilities, but I thought this was just like Helena.

After all, she was a woman who could contemplate starting a continental war to escape the pressure of expectations.

“Delicious! Really delicious! The taste is so excellent that one could just eat the grapes as they are. With this quality, is there even a need to make wine?”

Since Helena and I had eaten the same cooking for a long time, our tastes had naturally become similar.

So her delight was somewhat expected, but I was still inwardly relieved.

“I think so too… but to sell them widely, making wine would probably be better. The quality will inevitably decrease the farther they’re sold, but because of that, we can expect various other effects.”

“That’s true. Processed wine has a longer shelf life than grapes, and I’m hesitant about installing magic item freezer storage like in Baron Barkan’s territory.”

Helena contemplated that it might be worth trying if they had storage, but I thought that even with freezer storage, it wouldn’t be very effective.

While the roads were fairly well-maintained, transportation was limited to wagons, which imposed many constraints.

And even if we did sell them, they would be limited to within the duke’s territory or very nearby areas at best.

“So wine is the answer, as I initially thought.”

“It can’t be helped. I’ve already arranged for a wine production technician to be on standby at the mansion, so I’ll send them right away. We’ve already prepared oak barrels, so we can send those along too.”

Helena’s decisiveness was quick and prompt.

Given that wine-making was the goal, it was perhaps natural to prepare in advance, but seeing her summon servants and give orders made me think how remarkably efficient she was.

“Now that we only need to wait for the finished product… shall we finish our business?”

Helena, who had been momentarily distracted, began to show that mischievous look in her eyes again.

Though her anger seemed to have subsided considerably, she still appeared determined to see things through.

To this, I feigned ignorance and asked:

“Do we still have business left?”

“No, we don’t. And even if we did, it wouldn’t matter. Scolding Zion comes first.”

I confirmed that using work as an excuse to escape wouldn’t work.

It was the most plausible excuse in terms of both justification and practicality, but since she said there was no work left, I had nothing more to say.

If there had been work remaining, I might have been able to appease her somehow, but that possibility was gone too.

In the end, my only option was to train Helena to follow me, as usual.

“Helena… have you already forgotten?”

“W-what?!”

I narrowed my eyes and smiled slightly as I closed the distance between us.

Step by step… pressing in like a snake coiling around its prey, tightening the noose.

Even as I worried whether I was making a fool of myself, her flustered expression confirmed that it was working.

“That day, at Baron Barkan’s mansion… don’t you remember what you said?”

Even now, recalling that time makes my face burn.

The time spent in that dark bathroom was such a stimulating night, and I knew well that Helena too had been aroused enough to spend a long time there.

“That’s…”

“Do you remember? If you say you don’t, I think I’ll be sad.”

I placed my finger under Helena’s chin, which had somehow drawn closer, and pretended to look sad.

Even to myself, it was an abominable and disgusting attitude, but I tried to rationalize it as a necessary means.

And this innocent Helena fell right for my act.

The woman who had been trying to corner me just moments ago was nowhere to be seen; instead, she clutched my sleeve, showing signs of trying to comfort me.

“N-no! I remember! I remember everything!”

“Then tell me what Helena said at that time. You don’t have to say it loudly. I’m the only one listening.”

As I pressed her for an answer with flashing eyes, Helena slowly parted her lips in a voice as quiet as a mosquito’s buzz.

She managed to utter words that were truly embarrassing to say in broad daylight.

“Well said.”

Though it was unclear whether this was a reward, I stroked Helena’s soft cheek and praised her in a slightly lowered voice.

I was just as embarrassed, but it was a necessary choice to comfort this childlike woman.

“Ah…! I’m happy you praised me.”

At this moment, our master-servant relationship was reversed. I was the master, and Helena was the servant.

No, she was more like a puppy than a servant.

Though she was generally prone to acting spoiled, the degree to which she lowered herself now was different.

I could clearly feel the difference between the whims of a master and the whims of someone in a submissive position.

“Yes. Helena is so good. You’re so admirable for accepting what I say so quickly.”

“Master…”

She seemed determined to be thoroughly submissive now that our master-servant relationship had been reversed.

Calling me “Master” and the way she blushed while acting coy, every gesture was stirring a man’s heart.

Though her intention was obvious without needing to guess, it was still early in the day.

If I were semi-retired and only living to eat and sleep, it might be different, but I couldn’t exhaust myself with such activities during what was clearly working hours.

Moreover, keeping a pet requires the self-restraint to feed it appropriately.

Giving too much out of affection can seriously harm its health, which was quite similar to my current situation.

“So wait until the end of today’s work. You can do that, can’t you?”

“B-but… I long for Master’s embrace right now.”

“You still need to be patient. Understand? Helena is a good girl, so if you endure well, I’ll give you a reward.”

Helena’s eyes sparkled at the word “reward” as she nodded repeatedly. She was like a child lured by candy.