Chapter 23: Festival Guests and the Price of Wheat

People from outside the territory gather for the Midsummer Festival.

Among them are nobles from the west, guests of honor in every sense of the word. 

After finishing the ceremony in the Grand Plaza, we returned to the manor to greet these guests.

“It’s a splendid Midsummer Festival. I’m amazed at such a bountiful harvest.”

“While many regions in the Kingdom are suffering from poor yields this year, here the wheat glistens gold. The abundant harvest and lively festival have left me deeply impressed.”

No doubt some of it is mere courtesy, but the guests all praise the harvest and the festival.

Some nobles even asked if we could sell them some wheat.

I wondered how Father would answer, but he replied that the sale of wheat was entrusted to the Levant Company. 

When did that arrangement happen, I wonder?

When I later asked Father, he explained that it’s customary to leave such negotiations to a merchant company, to avoid sowing discord among the nobility over prices.

I see. 

Still, the Levant Company must be impressive to have earned Father’s trust without me noticing.

After the somewhat stiff interactions with the nobles, we spoke with our close friends from House Cardiff.

“Hey, Teddy, you really saved us this time. Thanks to you, my people won’t go hungry.”

Teddy is Father’s nickname—his real name is Theodore.

The one who bowed his head and called Father by his nickname was Thomas, Count Cardiff, Letty’s father and my father’s childhood friend.

“Raise your head, Tommy. When we’re in trouble, we help each other out.”

Father also uses the Count’s nickname. 

The two of them were classmates at the Royal Academy and are close friends.

“Thank you. Still, William, you’re amazing. That Production Skill of yours holds tremendous potential.”

“I appreciate it. I just happened to succeed in developing a new variety of wheat this time. If it ended up being of use to everyone, I’m glad.”

“William, you’re so stiff. I wish you’d relax a bit more. Who knows—you might end up my son-in-law someday!”

“Father, what are you saying?!” Letty, her face flushed bright red, stomped on the Count’s foot. 

It looked rather painful.

Well, it’s the Count’s fault for making such careless jokes.

Letty and I are close childhood friends, but as the Margrave’s second son with no title to inherit, I’m hardly a suitable match for her.

Letty is not only beautiful and kind, but I’ve heard her Swordsmanship Skill has improved recently. 

She’s sure to marry into a high-ranking noble family someday.

Afterward, we had free time and went to see the festival stalls. 

My little sister Sophie came along.

Farmers were selling homemade jams and simple dolls at the stalls.

Just wandering around and looking at everything is fun in itself.

There were also stalls selling sausages grilled and tucked into bread, or fried doughnuts, so we bought some and ate as we walked.

Normally, eating while walking is considered poor manners, but just for today, it’s allowed.

“Hehe, it’s been a while since I went out together with you, Brother.”

“Has it? You’ve seemed quite busy with your studies lately, Sophie.”

“Yes, Mother is rather strict with me.”

We chatted idly as we walked.

“Oh, Brother, there’s quite a crowd at that stall over there. I wonder what they’re selling?”

Just as Sophie said, there’s a huge throng gathered at one stall.

As we got closer, I saw an astonishingly beautiful girl tending the stall.

When she noticed me, she waved and left the others in charge to run over.

“It’s been a while, Lord William!”

There aren’t many girls as beautiful as this. 

Yes, it’s Olivia.

“Hehe, I came again. Just as I predicted, your wheat had a bumper crop, Lord William.”

“Brother, who is this?”

Sophie looked so shocked she froze. 

It’s understandable.

“This is the son of the Levant Company, a major merchant house in the Capital.”

“What?! But—so beautiful, and a son?”

Yeah, I completely understand why she’s surprised.

“Oh my, is that so? Lord William, you’ve discovered my secret at last. What a shame.”

When Father told me Olivia’s real name is Oliver, and he’s Alex Levant’s son, my jaw dropped.

At some point, he began liking girls’ clothes—he suited them so well, he even learned how to do makeup, and started calling himself Olivia, the feminine form of Oliver.

Now, should I call him Olivia or Oliver? 

For now, I’ll respect his wishes and call him Olivia.

Olivia’s talent for business is outstanding—Alex lamented that, if not for the cross-dressing habit, he’d be the perfect successor.

“Well, I was thinking of telling you the truth soon, Lord William. Lady Sophia, for what it’s worth, I am a man, so I won’t be taking your brother away.”

Smiling brightly, Olivia still looked every bit the beautiful girl, and Sophie could only stammer in confusion.

Sophie has gotten much more clever lately, so seeing her like this is unusual.

Thinking of when my little sister was younger makes me feel oddly nostalgic.

“By the way, my father is probably in business talks with the Margrave right now, but I believe your new wheat will be sold at twice the price of regular wheat, Lord William.”

“What? That expensive?”

“Twice is still cheap, really. This area is just as short on rain as anywhere, so any sharp noble will realize the Fairchild Family’s wheat is drought-resistant. They’ll be eager to buy it at a high price for autumn planting.”

Olivia leaned in and whispered with his beautiful face close. 

Strange—my heart is pounding.

But Olivia is a man, and counting my past life, I’ve been alive for quite a while.

“My cunning father was thinking of waiting until winter to sell at even higher prices. It’s true, if we wait, we could get three or four times the price, but that’s a poor move—the Fairchild Family would only make enemies. Besides, if famine strikes before winter, the Royal Family might intervene.”

Impressive. 

Olivia isn’t just looking to make a quick profit, but is calmly calculating gains and losses from a long-term perspective.

Not only beautiful, but sharp-minded too.

Still, would the Royal Family really get involved?

The Margrave’s lands are distant from the Capital, just as the name suggests—the Royal Family feels like a faraway presence.