“You’re finally here, Patience!” President Caesar said. “We were waiting for you so we could talk about the Festival of Verdure!”
Oh, right. I forgot that was a thing.
“It didn’t seem like there were very many students stopping by the exhibit last year, so instead of just having inventions on display, I think we should set up some sort of stall to offer refreshments,” I said.
Benjamin seemed disappointed by my idea.
“No one wants to buy anything made by the alchemy club,” President Caesar remarked. “That said... I have heard that the stalls run by the handicraft club and art club have done well.”
I see. I spent all of my morning in the auditorium last year, then I had to help with the student council in the afternoon, so I didn’t get to look around the festival that much.
“Um, what is our budget for the Festival of Verdure?” I asked. My idea required material expenses.
President Caesar’s eyes lit up as he exclaimed, “You’ve got an idea, don’t you, Patience?! You can use however much money you want!”
Absolutely not, President Caesar!
“I think we should sell ice cream during the festival,” I stated.
The two seemed to be unfamiliar with ice cream. There were no mentions of ice cream in the original Patience’s memories either, but I’d assumed that was because the Grangers had been too poor to ever have any.
“What is that?” Caesar asked.
I drew out a diagram of an ice cream maker while explaining that it was a dessert made by freezing and churning a mixture of eggs, milk, and sugar.
“There’s no point in discussing this without first trying this ‘ice cream.’ Oh, by the way, my father said he’d like to meet you. We have those ingredients at my house. Would you be able to make it there?”
I figured I could probably whip up some ice cream using my household magic.
“I can, but I won’t be able to stay with the alchemy club stall for the entirety of the festival. Since this is the alchemy club, we’ll have to create the ice cream maker.”
President Caesar and Benjamin both were in agreement about that point.
“Of course. We’ll think about how we’re going to make it once we try this ice cream thing. So, what is your availability?”
Ugh, it sucks that my Saturday is taken up by the study session.
“I am free on Sunday,” I replied.
My weekend is all gone! I am definitely happy about getting to sell my hot water bottles though.
“I’ll have to check with my father first, but I’m sure that will be fine. I’ll pick you up at noon on Sunday.”
Oh, did President Caesar pick up on the fact that we’re poor because we don’t have caretakers on staff? Or maybe he needs to come over and get my father’s permission, since he’s technically inviting a noble lady over. All these social rules are so annoying. Either way, I’m glad we don’t have to pay to rent a horse.
“I’d like to try the ice cream too,” Benjamin said.
It was decided that Benjamin would visit Caesar’s home as well, and with that we wrapped up our discussion about the Festival of Verdure. President Caesar and Benjamin went back to focusing on the washing machine, and I proceeded to draw my diagram of a bicycle while trying to remember its construction.
“I think this is a good overall diagram. There’s the frame, the wheels, the chain, the pedals, the saddle, and handlebars. I think the brakes worked by squeezing a lever on the handlebar, which pressed a rubber pad against the wheel to slow it down. Oh, also, a bicycle has to have a ding-ding!”
As I mumbled aloud to myself, I continued drawing my bicycle diagram, only for Benjamin to come over and snatch it out of my hands.
“What are you trying to make next?” he asked.
President Caesar came over as well and stared at my diagram while tilting his head in confusion.
“You use these protruding boards to spin the wheels... Is this some sort of golem?”
Golems are basically fantasy robots, right?
“No, this is a vehicle called a bicycle. You sit here, and you press these pedals with your feet. You can use this to move faster than on foot. If I can successfully make this, it may turn out to be more useful than horses.”
They both gave me strange looks.
“How did you come up with this thing, Patience?” President Caesar said with a look of disbelief.
Is he annoyed? Maybe this was a bad idea.
“It’s absolutely incredible!” he gushed. “You sure are talented at coming up with inventions that don’t require magic stones!”
That’s because my family is poor.
From there, they both helped me, so we began working out the different mechanisms of the bicycle.
“There’s a bunch of small parts that we’ll have to make, but I’m sure this is something my father would like to sell as well!”
Benjamin stared at the bell I’d drawn in the diagram and tilted his head.
“Is this necessary?” he asked. “I don’t see why you’d need to call over a servant while riding the bicycle.”
Bells aren’t just for summoning servants, you know?
“This is to warn anyone who may be walking in front of you to let them know that the bicycle will pass them.”
Benjamin and President Caesar both gave me another look of disbelief.
“You haven’t even made this bicycle yet, and you’re already thinking about passing others on the road?” President Caesar commented. “You truly have a vivid imagination, Patience.”
“Shouldn’t you wait to worry about that stuff until after the bicycle is done?” Benjamin remarked.
If you have a bicycle, you gotta have a ding-ding! That’s what I believe, at least.
I used up all of third period coming up with designs for the various parts of the bicycle, and there were still many more parts to be designed.
Oh well, I guess we can save designing the bell for later.
I was impressed with how quickly President Caesar and Benjamin could come up with diagrams for the various parts.
Why are they so much faster than me! They must just be more suited for sciency things, while I’m more humanities minded.
Once they understood the overall premise of how the bicycle worked, they seemed to get a solid idea for how the individual mechanisms would work.
“Sir Benjamin, we need to head to herbology,” I pointed out.
Benjamin was running his fingers through his hair, tousling it while completely entranced by the challenge of designing a bicycle.
“Right, we need to head to the greenhouse...” Benjamin then turned to Caesar. “Please don’t add to my diagrams while I’m gone, President Caesar.”
Your diagrams? That’s my bicycle, you know? Whatever, it’s fine. Boys sure do like tinkering with machines.
At the greenhouse, I harvested the seeds from the remaining minor herbs, as well as my antidotal herbs. I wanted more seeds from them, so I left two plants behind. I’d already gotten plenty of seeds from Ms. Makias, but those were all for growing in the other greenhouse. The seeds I got here were going to be for my personal use.
Next winter break, I’m going to plant these at home and sell them! The price of these herbs will go down during spring and fall, so I’m not going to plant them just yet.
“I’ll buy those antidotal herbs at a premium price, Patience,” Ms. Makias said.
Of course I’ll sell them to you! I wonder how much money I’ll be getting at the end of the term. I’m so excited!
“Okay, I’m done with class. I need to head to the other greenhouse!”
Benjamin was still struggling with his unhealthy minor herbs, and he stared enviously as I rushed out of the greenhouse.
You’ll need to be more diligent about watering your herbs, Benjamin. Otherwise your second round of plants are also going to die.
“Today we’re planting antidotal herbs!”
I once again had to make lots of little balls of mud. After making them, I filled each one with a tiny, thin antidotal herb seed. I didn’t have just the single ridge in a plot like in class, so this was a lot more work. Once I planted all of the seeds, I watered them using purified water. Starting today, I was going to have to visit the greenhouse every day. That wasn’t a big deal on days when I had some extra time, but I didn’t have any free time on Tuesdays.
I would likely get a certificate of completion in sewing once my polka dot gown was complete, but if I could, I would prefer to stay there with Princess Margaret. Additionally, there was still a possibility that I had to make a total of six gowns to pass the class.
“I also have music club on Tuesdays, so I’m busy after classes too. I have no choice but to come in the morning!”
I had no problem with waking up early, because the standard bedtime here was incredibly early. The Grangers went to bed early partially because it helped save on candle usage, but lights out at the dorms was also very early. Since I didn’t have a clock, I didn’t know the exact time, but it seemed like I was going to bed at nine or ten. In my previous life, I usually went to bed at midnight, and it had been completely normal for me to stay up until two in the morning on weekends.
I think I remember hearing that while you’re growing, it’s best to sleep before eleven.
Despite staying up late often, I’d been quite tall during my previous life.
I guess genetics play a part too.