It was Sunday morning, which I planned to spend with my angels.
I’m not going to let anyone bother us, no matter what it takes!
I helped them study art, music, and dance. From there, we enjoyed some playtime. We went outside, where we jumped rope and raced on stilts. I lost by an incredibly wide margin.
“Let’s head to the greenhouse and pick some strawberries,” I said.
We picked some for everyone at home to eat, as well as some to bring as a gift to Duke Burns’s home. I’d picked some yesterday as well, but I’d given the plants some extra encouragement using household magic, so today there were bright red berries peeking out from the leaves.
“Are you going out again today, sister?” Nassius asked. There was sadness in his eyes, which pained me enough to nearly take me out.
I need to stay strong. I want to sell my hot water bottles.
My desire to sell the invention was partially motivated by money, of course, but I also wanted other people in the world who were cold at night to sleep warmly. It was awful to wake up in the middle of the night during the cold of winter.
“Yes, I am. I’m going to talk to someone about selling those hot water bottles that you use.”
Henry had seemed a bit low in spirits until now, but hearing that made him perk up.
“That’s good! The hot water bottles are so warm!”
“If you can sell them, they’ll help all the people out there who are too cold to sleep,” Nassius said, also excited by this news. “I’m wishing you luck, sister.”
I’m going to do my best!
Our main course for lunch was an omelet. Egg-based dishes were uncommon in our house, and my father also seemed to be surprised by it. We sometimes had them after I visited the royal palace, but I hadn’t been there in two weeks.
“Eva received the eggs as a gift from Countess Northcourt to thank her for her help making the desserts for the study session tea break,” Mary explained.
“It’s so yummy!” Henry said with a beaming smile, which got rid of all of the exhaustion I’d accumulated over the course of both study sessions.
He really is an angel!
After lunch, I figured all that I had to do was wait for President Caesar to come get me. Unfortunately, Mary snatched me and made me change into clothes meant for outings. I’d put on my uniform, figuring that I’d head to the dorms as soon as I got back from the Burnses’ home, but apparently that wasn’t acceptable. Mary also did my hair in a more complicated style than usual. It was still a half updo, but there were several braided sections.
Right as I finished getting ready, President Caesar arrived. This was the first time I was seeing him in clothes other than his uniform, and it was clear that his family was very well-off. Caesar greeted my father, then he asked for his permission to invite me to his home. Once he had my father’s permission, I boarded his carriage with Mary, who was coming as my attendant.
This whole process is so troublesome.
“You look like a normal noble lady when you’re dressed like that,” Caesar remarked.
Don’t say such things! You’ll make Mary worried about what I’m getting up to at school!
“You look like a proper noble yourself, Sir Caesar,” I replied.
We both couldn’t contain our laughter.
“Oh, I just remembered, our housekeeper gave your needle threaders incredibly high praise. My father was also shocked to hear what she had to say. He’d like to sell those as well.”
Yay! Needle threaders really are super useful!
“Also, Benjamin barged in this morning demanding to eat ice cream. He visits often, so his visit itself isn’t a problem, but he shared too much with my father, so we’re in a bit of a predicament.”
It seemed that Benjamin and Caesar had known each other for a while. I guess it’s that high society connection.
“What sort of predicament?” I asked.
“It’s about the bicycle. We haven’t even finalized the design, but my father is already incredibly interested in it. If we don’t do something, he may take the idea from us. I need you to help defend it at all costs, Patience.”
Caesar’s father sounded like he could be quite pushy, and I was weak to pushy people.
“Your father seems quite interested in tools that do not use magic stones, Sir Caesar.”
He commented on that when I showed him the hot water bottle.
“That’s right. He said it’s because not many commoners can afford magic stones.”
Your father is absolutely right! A year ago, we Grangers couldn’t afford them either!
Our conversation made the time fly, and before I knew it, we’d arrived at the Burns home. Just as I’d expected, it was a massive and brilliant mansion. I was about to meet Duke Burns, who was known for being a skilled businessman, so I was a bit nervous.
President Caesar escorted me out of the carriage. Wow, I didn’t know he could act like a gentleman. I’m pretty impressed.
A butler opened the door and welcomed us inside.
“Hey Patience!” Benjamin greeted me. He seemed quite carefree for someone who’d just blabbed about our secret project, but I appreciated his demeanor because it helped me relax.
Once we entered, Mary was led to a separate room. Seriously, is there any point in attendants accompanying nobles?
The three of us headed to the drawing room, where a man was waiting. Is Caesar going to become this dapper and handsome when he’s older? He’s got such dashing salt and pepper hair. Well, I’m a shotacon, so he’s not my type.
“Father, I’d like you to meet Patience Granger,” Caesar said, introducing me. Once he was home, he really seemed like any other upper-ranking noble.
“Welcome, Lady Patience. I am Alois Burns. Please have a seat.”
Duke Burns seemed like someone who would be easy to talk to. It was no surprise that this man had founded his own company. He came off as friendly, but you could tell from his gaze that he could see right through people.
A beautiful upper-class maid of the Burns household served us tea. I’ve heard that wealthy families have pretty and classy maids, but this is the first time I’m seeing it for myself. Though Duke Burns was a businessman, it was undeniable that he was in the upper echelon of the nobility.
The hot water bottles didn’t come up right away. As we had tea, we first discussed academics and the alchemy club.
“Benjamin is actually my nephew,” Duke Burns shared with me. “I believe he spends more time here than he does at Marquess Priest’s home.”
Benjamin angrily puffed his cheeks.
“Please talk some sense into my parents, Uncle Alois! They won’t stop complaining about my enrollment in the mage track. Every single day, they continue pestering me, telling me that it isn’t too late to switch to the civil service or knight track!”
I didn’t know that Benjamin was the son of a marquess. Well, judging from the way other students treat him, I’d figured he was some kind of high-ranking noble. It all makes sense now.
“You must do that on your own,” Duke Burns replied. “So, Lady Patience, I’d like to discuss the hot water bottle and needle threaders you passed along to Caesar. I’d like to manufacture and sell them through the Burns Trading Company.”
The conversation had abruptly shifted from small talk to business. I’ve got to switch gears!
“Yes, Sir Caesar informed me of your interest. Thank you, and I would like to proceed with an agreement.”
Caesar gave me a look of disbelief that said, You’re going to agree, just like that?
“You seem to understand how business works, Lady Patience,” Duke Burns remarked. “You deserve the same trust you’re putting in me. I have prepared a contract. I’d like you to take it home and look it over before signing.”
Since Patience was only eleven, this contract definitely needed to be discussed with my father and Wyatt, but I decided to skim through it on my own anyways.
“Do you have any problems with the contract? I’ll also hear out any demands you have.”
I trusted Duke Burns to handle business, but there was one point in particular that I wanted him to be aware of.
“No, there are no problems. However, I would like the hot water bottles and needle threaders to be priced as affordably as can be managed. The winters in Lawrence are quite cold, and I made the hot water bottle in hope that it could be used by those who couldn’t afford enough firewood. Also, I believe the needle threaders will be very useful for women who’ve given up on jobs that require sewing because of their age.”