The Younger Brother’s Excursion
“...Please excuse . Young mistress, it is almost ti for your eting with Sei.”
While there was an awkward atmosphere in the air, Tanya called out to . ...It’s that ti already. Because of Berne’s sudden arrival, I couldn’t relax at all.
“Mother, I must be going soon. Mother, please take your ti and relax.”
“Yes, please allow to do so. Ah, Iris-chan. Can you take this foolish son with you?”
“...Eh?”
‘This foolish son,’ she’s referring to Berne, right? But why...?
“Please show this foolish son the way you work and shut him for . And if he complains, it’s fine if you beat him up. Tanya, thank you in advance when the ti cos.”
“...I respectfully obey.”
If it’s Tanya, I’m pretty sure she’ll indeed do it. Well, if he starts getting fussy, it’s fine to drive him out... isn’t it?
“If that’s the case... Let’s go, Berne.”
“...Eh? You are... older sister...?”
Berne took a long and hard look at and seed surprised. As I thought, he has completely forgotten how I look like?
“That’s right. Who else did you think I was. Because I’m running out of ti, let’s go quickly.”
I imdiately headed to the study. And Sei was already standing inside waiting. When Sei saw Berne enter right after , he furrowed his eyebrows but he soon took his report out and handed it to .
I once again looked over it.
“...The profits of the confectionery line have decreased a little.”
“It’s because another shop has appeared selling the sa product. In addition, it seems like they are selling it at a lower d to ours.”
“...It is not necessary to lower the price right now. The consur will buy whichever product is more delicious.”
“There is also that idea of lowering the buying price of the raw materials...”
“Rejected. If you look at the stock value, this price is reasonable. If you lower it any further than this, it will deteriorate our relationship with the farrs. So to maintain or build a good relationship with them, we should secure a better delivery route.”
To run a successful conglorate, it is necessary to pursue benefits. However, I do not want to pressure the farrs in the fief in the na of profit. It will be overcharging if it is sold at a higher price, and also, I think it is priced fairly.
“Aside from being lower in price, find out if there’s anything else. Check the line-up of the other companies, and then compare them and do a product review. Also, how is the progress with the cake products we’ll start selling next week?”
“Everything is on schedule, all the preparation has been made and we can start selling them next week. The information about the product called ‘birthday cake’ is being leaked by the common people... but thanks of the cafe originally having cake on the nu, it was favorably accepted by the public. Right now, a lot of inquiries is being made.”
The catchphrase for the advertisent is “a special cake for a special day.” Like a birthday, or a wedding anniversary. When they make a reservation, they could decide the decorations on the cake, the shape of it, and the cream when they order.
“If that’s the case, I’m glad. Please bring the contents of the inquiries to .”
“It is right here.”
I briefly read the docunts handed to .
“...Most of the inquiries are regarding the reservation thod and when it will go on sale. ...When this is up and running, the profits from the confectionery line will increase a little. After that, how will you be managing the inventory?”
“Just like what the young mistress has instructed, we will be selling the leftover designs from the previous stocks little by little at a discounted price.”
“Is that so. ...It will be an ideal to prevent the stocks from running out. But with the current figures and the market, if the drop continues, we will be barely breaking even. Especially those seasonal ingredients, it is best to limit the usage of those because of their scarcity value.”
“I understand.”
“The beauty line is doing well as always. However, we presently... have a situation where the production cannot catch up with the demand...”
“Yes. That product is sold out in all stores...”
“Make a priority to adjust the production of the beauty products. Also, how are the series products doing?”
“That is also progressing steadily. Right now, the Honey series and the Rose series are being sold. Next will be the Lily and Lavender series.”
In this series, for example, the Honey series honey is used to create the beauty lotion, shampoo, and rinse. If it’s the Rose series, a rose is used for all of them. They were placed in their respective containers and packaged together.
“Is that so. Please advertise that depending on the person, so ingredients might not be suitable for their skin, so if they start getting a reaction to the products, imdiately stop using them.”
“I understand.”
“After that, please bring the report of all the stores to . Both financial and periodic reports. I will look at them at night.”
After I said that, Sei said he understood and bowed before leaving the room.
...Now that I think about it, Berne was being really quiet... or so I thought. But when I turned around to look, I saw that Tanya had tied him up with a cloth stuffed in his mouth. However, I thought that it might have been unnecessary. I an, his eyes were wide open with astonishnt for a while now.
When I gave Tanya a look, asking her to take it off, Tanya imdiately understood my intention, and she took the cloth off... albeit looking unwilling.
“What’s wrong, for you to make that kind of a dumb expression?”
“...Older sister, is in charge of the managent of the conglorate?”
“It’s because I’m the one who established it in the first place.”
Right after that conversation, soone knocked on the door of the study.
“...Please co in.”
The person who entered was Moneda. Moneda as well, the mont he saw Berne, he furrowed his eyebrows and imdiately ignored him as though he doesn’t exist.
“There are so things I would like to consult with you. When I asked Tanya about it, she confird that this ti would be all right...”
“It’s all right. And so, what would you like to consult with ?”
“It’s about the prices of the commodities here in the fief. As you can see, we have a situation where the prices are continuing to increase slightly.”
“It is really minuscule. It’s probably because the value of money is gradually decreasing, so the prices are on the rise.”
“Yes. Because of that, I was thinking of increasing the interest rate, but...”
“I think it is not yet needed. Although the prices are increasing, it’s really slight. So right now, the main priority is to stabilize the prices in the market.
The consumption of the town will inflate, the conglorates will ask the bank for a loan, further amplifying the trend. If you increase the interest rates, you will be throwing cold water on the conglorates who has taken so much effort on gaining montum.”
“I see... I heard sothing good.”
“Once more, open the council and discuss it. If you still want to increase the interest rate after the earlier explanation, please give a reason I can consent to.”
“I understand, thank you very much.”
“...Umm, older sister...”
“What is it?”
“If I’m not mistaken, the bank, is the financial institution that has been established in our fief recently? Why is older sister the one in charge...”
“When you think about it, does no answer co to mind? If it’s just this much, even if you were to conduct an investigation on your own, you’ll imdiately find out... With your position, it is unforgivable for you not to know. Seriously, do you have any intention in succeeding the present Duke as the family head?”
When one thinks about it, Moneda’s way of speaking was really rude, but the argunt he made was sound, even Berne couldn’t refute.
“Well, let’s give him the answer to his question this ti. The person who proposed the establishnt of the bank was your older sister... Iris. Therefore, it is natural for to co here and consult with her. ...Now then, Iris-sama. I will imdiately report the contents of our eting to the council, will that be all right?”
“Of course. I look forward to your report.”
After Moneda left, Sebastian appeared and replaced him.
“Young mistress. In this eting, I would like to make a collective report regarding the managent of the fief.”
“Yes, I was waiting for it. First of all, how is the adjustnt of the Finance departnt go?”
“The talk is underway for the reform you want to legislate to lessen the taxes. First, in relation to the product of our fief. Presently, our main products are grain, livestock, cacaos, and various other fruits.
Cacao fruits are strictly produced in our fief, and no other fief is able to produce it. As for grains, thanks to the advance cultivation thod achieved by the High School division’s research, we have secured an abundant stockpile. Thus, even if we lessen the tax, they were thinking that we will not experience a decline.”
“...Is that so. On the contrary, it’s a rit?”
“Our fief’s production line is yet to be put in order. Because of that, we can import them cheaply, and we were thinking that it is a big advantage.
In addition, the young mistress’ instructions of conducting trade via sea are now in operation. And we have gathered a lot of ingredients and products that don’t exist in our Kingdom. Because of this, our fief will profit if the conglorate were to sell these dostically.”
“...I understand. Also, please give the report of the council eting and the inco tax draft. As for when will be the right ti to introduce it, I will give instructions later.”
“I understand.”
“After that, Public Affairs. After they finish making the family registers, ask then to investigate the land. I want them to get clarification on who owns what land. In the future, because the family registers will be a legitimate docunt here in our fief, make sure they are done without fail.”
“Yes. Presently, the Public Affairs have notified various places in our fief to advise the people. ‘This is an official policy that will benefit our fief, please cooperate with us.’ We are nearly done and will be able to proceed to the investigations shortly.”
“That is splendid news. After that, what is the utilization rates of the primary school in various places?”
“It has increased trendously. Besides, one can attend it free of charge. Because there are still so districts that don’t have a school yet, that might prove to be a problem in the future.”
“Let’s have the Public Works undertake that task. What about textbooks?”
“It has been separated into different levels. Currently, the children from ages seven to twelve are in the sa class, but discussions have occurred to further separate them based on their individual ages soti soon.”
“Consolidate the age of entrance to be seven years old. And they will advance a grade each school year. However, an examination will be held at the end of each year, and one will be allowed to skip a grade depending on their results, what do you think?”
“I will imdiately make a proposal.”
“Then, please bring the reports and inco tax drafts we talked about earlier. ...Ah, that’s right. Mother told to show Berne the way we work... So when you go to the Finance departnt to collect the docunts and the inco tax draft, please take him along with you and ask him to calculate the tax revenue of various places.”
Since I’ve been glared at for a while now, I’ve gotten really tired. I’ll have you leave this place without delay. And because he has always been first place in the academy, he should be at least able to do so calculation.
“...Since that’s the case, Berne. Please go do that for . ...Please fully demonstrate the capability of soone who has always been first place in the academy.”
“...Of course.”
With lifeless eyes, he frantically stood up and followed Sebastian.
...Haahh~ I can finally calm down.
“...Was that all right?”
Tanya asked while she poured tea.
“What do you an?”
“To involve that man the in fief’s governnt.”
“There’s no particular problem with it. I don’t intend to control the information of the fief’s governnt. And Sebastian went with him, so he probably won’t do anything strange.
However, when it cos to Azura Conglorate, as expected, I can’t show him too much. And the eting with Sei earlier only touched upon the contents that have been publicly released.”
Although he is my younger brother, I have absolutely no trust in him. For this reason, when it cos to business, I cannot let him touch Azura Conglorate.
...As for the fief’s governnt, other than confidential information and the military, my motto is “Transparent Politics,” so there’s not that much confidential information.
“...Besides, Ryle will be coming here soon. Although they’re called Security Patrol Unit, they are still considered military personnel, so it’s sensitive information. It will be troubleso if that younger brother of mine, being part of his entourage and all, leak this information to the Second Prince. I thought that it was a good excuse to have him leave.”
“That’s right.”
Knock, knock... With perfect timing, I heard a knock on the door.
“Please co in.”
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