Promise Me a Life With Three Meals and a Nap, Duke

Chapter 4.11

Business Plan

　We ate everything and took a rest.

　I thought there was quite a lot of food, but I ate surprisingly much.

　Is it my imagination that eating outside somehow feels more delicious? No, I’m sure it’s not!

　My husband also ate a lot even though it was early in the morning.

　To be honest, I was thinking that our basket was bountiful, but it didn’t seem to be so.

　When we were somewhat relaxed, my husband started to talk about something serious while pouring more drinks into our empty glasses.

“About last night――”

“Er, last night?”

　My voice squeaked, and I averted my gaze.

　He knew that I was acting suspiciously, but he didn’t point it out and went on.

“I’m talking about the quality of the meat. I’d like to see that done in the north, but how exactly are we going to do that?”

　Ah, you mean that.

　I thought he’s going to dig up where he had left off last night, but it turns out to be something else.

　I mean, I can’t believe we’re even talking about work here…

　Perhaps that’s how bad the coal mining problem is in the north.

“Well, we have to start from the ground up, don’t we? It will take a few years before we can commercialize it, and we have to figure out how to compensate for that…”

“If we build it in the north, it would be favorable because it would provide employment for the current miners, but the question from the outset is, can we trust them? I don’t know if the people my grandfather introduced jobs to, but didn’t stick to them, would accept honestly…”

“I’ve never actually been there, so I honestly don’t know what the situation is like. Isn’t it possible that the older generation is just hung up on it, but the younger generation is surprisingly different? According to the data, there’s a younger generation, too…”

“I don’t think they’re that stubborn…Honestly, I don’t understand why people stick to dangerous coal mines when there are safer jobs. They might have been instigated, but what about once the mine was abandoned? Besides, they were offered jobs they could pursue.”　

　Hmm, I’d like to ask what they’re dissatisfied with after their Lord had done so much for them.

　Would they rather work in the coal mines, where money is earned as they dig, or in a stable job where they are promised a minimum wage?

　If I were them, I’d go for the latter.

　If they have no harvest, they’ll have no income, and they also know from the start that it’s dangerous.

　Even the previous generation of lords knew that they couldn’t mine more unless they got deep into the strata, so they just left mining on the surface.

　So there was no way forward.

　I’m sure there were some explanations, and it’s also very likely that there are very few of that generation left. It could be just that the majority of the population don’t understand it.

　That’s conceivable, but…

　I’m still not fully clear about the status quo.

　Was the situation already complicated at the time when the mine was abandoned, or was it complicated afterward?

　They wanted to cash in as much as they could, so they were forced to mine for coal, and were compensated highly in times of need.

　I must say, they were blessed.

　There aren’t many lords who would go to such lengths when a lord-led project goes bankrupt.

　There are a lot of bad lords out there, you know? Like my father.

“Negotiation is a must. If we start something and fail to get the understanding of the residents, it will soon fall apart.”

　To put it coldly, they’re doing something illegal, and there’s no need to help them.

　On the flip side, it is also necessary to catch those who are doing illegal trade to maintain order.

　However, this time, I don’t want to make a big deal out of it because the previous Chief Steward was involved and instigated it.

　For what it’s worth, it’s terrible that they were deceived, but I think my husband, the head of the family, who failed to control everything, is also at fault.

“At any rate, I’m eager to see the place. It’s important to know what the environment is like for raising livestock there.”

“We’re supposed to be on our way in a couple of days. It’s possible we’ll get there sooner or later.”

“Isn’t it too soon to make a decision?”

“Time is limited, you know. If you could, could you put the research you’ve been thinking about in writing? It can be as general as you want, or it can be the plan you had in mind for the Count of Verdigo’s family.”

　More work!

　But I give up as if I have no choice.

　If the territory prospers, it will bring in money, and I will be able to enjoy my future――…! My hope isn’t for the future, though!

　However, since this is something that I wanted to do, and since I have a husband who is interested in it as a patron, I will submit that much.

　It doesn’t have to be something formal.

　In just a few bullet points or something.

　If I write down a rough outline, I’m positive that it will be shaped by my husband’s brilliant mind!

“How far away is it, by the way?”

“Huh? It doesn’t take more than a day to get there by carriage from here. It would take about half a day by horse.”

　Oh, that might be just the thing.

　As the business planner, I will come back once in a while to see how things are going until things get on track. However, I’m sure that frequency will decrease if the distance is further away.

　If it’s close, I can come more often and let my beasts play as much as they want while I’m there.

　It’s nice for them to run around on the plains, but I think it would be better for them to live in a similar habitat.

　Retzel returned before I knew it, but he seemed somewhat unsatisfied.

“By the way, are you really meeting Rosaliemond today?”

　My husband suddenly asked.

　I’m intending to, why?

“…I’m just curious. What’s going on with you and Miss Rosaliemond?”

　Don’t tell me you had an unspoken relationship with her ―― Did you? No way.

“There is nothing for you to worry about. I dare say she’s my natural enemy.”

　My husband’s face twisted in disgust.

　A natural enemy?

　I didn’t expect that my husband had a natural enemy.