Chapter 72

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Now, I think the strained relationships between Kikunoe's family members, such as parent-child, husband-wife, and mother-in-law-daughter-in-law, are just part of the family's nature or bloodline.

The overly dramatic family stories have worn me down, and as a result, Mr. Romanov's class ended there.

The rest of the day was spent on hobbies and practical crafts, and on reading, writing, and arithmetic lessons with Regulus and Sō.

The next day, the three elves went out, and I, along with Regulus and Sō, started to inventory the materials we would use for sale, counting what we had and recording it.

Regulus can count sets of ten balls of yarn, and Sō, who can write, labels the boxes with their contents and notes in his notebook where and how they are stored.

Sō could only write his name before he started studying with Regulus, but now he has become so proficient in reading, writing, and arithmetic that he can even teach the village children, as Mr. Gensan happily mentioned.

Thanks to this, he was able to spot a price gouging attempt by a merchant from out of town at the market the other day, by checking the price tags.

This was something I heard from Roland, who happened to be called to the scene of the argument.

Sō was scolded for being reckless for challenging an adult, but he was generally praised and told, "Next time, call me first before you expose it," which made him pout.

At least, this incident seems to have convinced the townspeople that being able to read, write, and do arithmetic is better than not being able to.

Sō once asked me if there was anything he could do, but he is now promoting the usefulness of studying admirably. He is a reliable friend.

Start with small things and work steadily.

In my previous life, a comedian who ran for office used this phrase as his slogan, but it applies to politics and everything else.

Small changes eventually turn into big waves. We must aim for that.

"Master, we're done sorting the yarn."

"Brother, look!"

"Sure, can I see the notebook?"

"Here. We put the ones we use a lot in the front and the ones we don't use much in the back. When you use them, look at the pictures on the shelves."

"Wow, great! Thanks a lot!"

"Good, I'm glad. Joseph and Grandpa said they do it this way when they put things away, so I tried it!"

Sō, who laughed and rubbed his nose with his finger, and Regulus, who jumped up and down asserting, "I did it too!"

It's so peaceful and heartwarming.

Now that the yarn sorting is done, we have to sort the fabric, but since Utsumi brought tea, we took a break.

It was just before lunch, so we had a few cookies with the tea.

While watching Regulus eat the cookies politely, Sō shrugged.

"It's also because Sō is small, but he can't eat cookies as neatly as you do."

"You mean they crumble and spill?"

"Yeah. Generally, he's not very neat."

"Regulus can eat neatly!"

Regulus raised his hands like maple leaves and replied energetically.

When I patted his fluffy hair, he proudly flared his nose, which was cute.

"Now you can eat neatly, Regulus. You're trying to be polite."

"Does that mean you couldn't before?"

"Well, of course, because he's small. Holding a spoon or chopsticks is difficult when you're small. His hands and mouth aren't fully developed yet."

"It's normal not to be able to use them well..."

Sō said, thinking with a cookie in his mouth. His eyes moved between his own hands and Regulus.

Seeing him in deep thought, Regulus and I exchanged glances. Then Regulus spoke.

"Kana, can't you teach Sō? You taught me how to use chopsticks, right?"

"But I'm not good at using chopsticks either, so I can't teach Sō."

"Really...?"

Sō and Mr. Gensan bring bento boxes when they come to the mansion, and sometimes I and Regulus, as well as the teachers, get bento boxes too. I didn't realize Sō was bad at using chopsticks.

Twisting my neck, Sō explained.

"Actually, I use a fork for bento and Mr. Rottenmeier secretly corrects my manners."

"No way! I didn't notice!"

"Kana was bad at chopsticks too!?"

"But I got much better by imitating Master, as Grandpa said!"

Oh, I didn't know that.

Sō and Sō seemed to have had a falling out for a while, but from what I hear, that seems to be over. He even takes care of Sō at home, and the gap with his parents seems to have closed.

When I asked about the current situation, Sō unexpectedly shook his head.

"Mom and Dad still complain to me, not Sō. But I decided to be the adult here."

"Wow... an adult..."

"Yeah. Dad and Mom are busy. I'm the big brother, so I can forgive Sō's pranks. After all, I'm going to be Master's right-hand man in the future."

Sō puffed out his chest proudly.

What a man.

The adults in the family are too much to rely on, but how reliable the unrelated adults and friends are.

As I was moved, Utsumi whispered in my ear.

"Utsumi, Mr. Rottenmeier asked me to ask you when Sō would be available for the party..."

"Ah, okay. Got it."

I nodded and sipped my tea.

When Utsumi first came here, she couldn't make good tea and was severely disciplined by Mr. Rottenmeier.

"I want Sō to come to the party. When would be a good time for him?"

"I can come! I spend mornings with my family, but I play with everyone after noon, so any time except morning!"

"Mr. Romanov and the others are also called to the castle in the morning, but they said they would be free in the evening."

"In the evening, I should be okay with Grandpa."

"Of course, Mr. Gensan is also invited."

"Then, I'm okay! Let's finish work before it gets dark!"

Sō smiled, showing his white teeth.

As we steadily moved towards the new year, the work resumed, and I felt the time passing.

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