Chapter 26.2

“Hey, Louie. Is there anything you want?”

The next day, the chef uncle called out to me when I was visiting the kitchen.

I often go there to make pastries, so I’m on good terms with the people in the kitchen.

“Yeah, did the people from the eastern foothills come to deliver the vegetables?”

“Ahh, they just came.”

I looked over to where he pointed and saw a young man working.

He seemed to be around 16 or 17 years old.

He was tanned like a farmer, his reddish-brown hair was cut to a degree where it won’t be in the way, and he seemed like a really healthy person.

“Hello, are you from the village by the eastern foothills?”

“…I am, who are you?”

Well, I wouldn’t look like a knight.

“I’m Louie and I’m in charge of the infirmary. I have something to ask.”

“…Sure, but I’m working right now. I’m free after this.”

It seems that the crops are being transferred from the basket they brought over.

They will put it on a scale to check the weight and the price.

I was getting bored watching him so I tried to talk to him.

“Should I help?”

“It’s fine. It’s not that much.”

With that said, the number of vegetables didn’t seem much.

As I watched him work, the chef uncle in the kitchen called him to the side and talked to him.“Lance-kun, there aren’t many deliveries these days. Poor harvest?”

It seems like the young man was called Lance.

As I thought, the number of vegetables for delivery seems to be less.

“Yes, they aren’t growing well…”

I was struck by this remark.

Recent rumors that the flowing water is of poor quality. It may be related to the poor harvest.

Lance, who received the money, looked at me.

He was looking at me, but when I responded with a smile, he snorted and approached me.

“What did you wanna ask?”

“Un. I wanted to investigate the water from the foothills.”

“…Huh? Aren’t you a doctor, why ask about the water?”

“No, rather than interest…it’s for research purposes.”I’m not investigating at the command of someone else.

My current job is to be a doctor at this base…

The research itself can be called a hobby, so I can’t say that it’s a job.

I was evasive and that seemed to make him feel distrustful.

”

”

“Interest, huh…?”

I became a little impatient when I felt him glaring at me.

“No, I’m not someone suspicious! U-uncle! Could you serve us some flower tea!?”

I invited him to the dining room to try to get Lance in a good mood.

Royford brought the flower tea, but it’s a high-class tea used by the royal family and it’s really delicious.

By the way, it was sold at a fairly high price, but the tasty sugar cubes made in the southern country were also very popular.

And the milk tea made from soy milk that I adjusted to my own taste is my recent favourite.

“…D-delicious…”

“Right!”

I smiled at the honest words of the young man.

It was purchased with the help of Royford’s business talk, but it was one of the items that I decided to continue buying because of the deliciousness.

Lance seemed impressed as he drank the tea, so I talked to him using this opportunity.

“I heard rumors that the water flowing from the foothills had deteriorated in quality.”

“…Yeah.”

“If you don’t mind, would you tell me more about it?”

The young man looked away stiffly.

Huh? Am I asking anything weird…?

“You can just look it up by yourself.”

Lance gulped down the tea and stood up.

“I’m going back.”

“Wai-…! Why!”

“Just come to the foothills to do your research. I don’t know anything.”

He took the basket and headed for the exit, and I just chased after him.

“Hey! You could tell me just a little bit about it?”

When I quietly took a step nearer, he looked at me irritatingly.

Isn’t this kid’s attitude too much!?

I’m older than you though!

As he passed the exit of the base and walked along the road, I was surprised and couldn’t help calling out to him.

“Hey, where’s your horse?”

“Huh? There’s no way I have such an expensive thing. I walked here.”

No matter how close the eastern foothills are, it should at least take 3 or 4 hours to reach.

To deliver the vegetables without transportation…I can’t imagine doing that with the strength and milky skin I have.

While I was taken aback, he proceeded to walk even further.

The young man’s leg looks so strong, as someone who doesn’t exercise, mine can’t compare to his.

I raised my voice towards Lance.

“U-uh! I have a carriage so I’ll send you home!”