Anne’s Ingenious Plan
“What do you mean?”
The situation was discovered when the swordsmanship tournament was just three days away. Mia headed for the best bento shop on the island and was faced with a harsh reality.
“For that day? Sorry but all the shops here are full of orders. I don’t think you can find one to make you one.”
I was careless!
When Mia heard from her girl friends that it is better to prepare the lunch box with her own hands, she decided to order it herself without consulting Anne. She had interacted with many merchants in her home country. Similarly, she had seen Ludwig deal with purchases before. So, she thought that she could do it herself. However, reality was harsh.
What should I do …? what should I do……!??
Mia was told that all the stores making lunchboxes have already closed their reservations. A cold sweat ran down Mia’s spine.
If I pay them more gold coins… maybe…
The easiest solution can indeed be throwing more money. Who knows, if she throws a lot of money, her order might even be prioritized. But …
I can’t do that.
Mia immediately dismisses the idea. As she had learned after several social dinners, the ruler of the school, the daughter of the Duke of Rafina, is a very conscientious person.
She could force a store to serve her by giving more money, and that might still be forgiven. But if by doing so they would have to cancel other reservations in order to give priority to her order, then Rafina will surely be disillusioned and will never speak to Mia again.
“That … that is too scary !!!”
However, Mia couldn’t come up with any other ideas no matter how hard she racked her brains, and so…
“Oh, Anne!”
Mia relied on her loyal maid who was waiting in her room.
“Mia, please calm down.”
Anne was surprised and worried when she saw Mia returning to the room on the verge of tears. But when she heard about the situation, she immediately started to act.
To start things, it’s best to ask around the situation in the markets…
Anne was steadily building connections while Mia was enjoying her school life. At first, with the staff of St. Noel Academy. Next, to the merchants who are related to the school. Then those merchants introduced her to more merchants.
She often went to the town and had gotten acquainted with the people in the market. As a result of making full use of such connections, Anne understood the general situation.
“I see, it’s certainly tough problem.”
In the first place, the lavish lunchbox that Mia wants is very difficult to find in stores around here. Lunchboxes contains food that is meant to be eaten when one goes out.
It’s needed primarily during long journeys. Therefore, the general public imagines it to be bland food that focuses on long storage life and resistant to spoilage, such as dried meat and dried bread. And, in fact, the idea is not so different even for aristocrats.
First of all, it is important not to get hungry. So, it is something that you eat that will replenish nutrition. The taste factor is only secondary. That’s why … there is no market demand for “delicious lunchboxes” that pleases boys. People don’t bother to pay for such things, and even the students who go to school don’t always need them.
The number of shops that makes them are limited. And they are already in a situation where even if they order now, the shops are already in a position that they cannot accept new orders.
“That means that what is lacking is the labor force.”
For the time being, Anne sighs with relief. She was saying that it wasn’t the worst that could happen.
What Anne was most afraid of was the lack of ingredients. If they don’t even have the ingredients for the lunchbox, then it is useless to even talk about it.
“But with this …”
Anne goes around the market and places the orders for the ingredients for the lunch box. Then she came back to Mia.
“How was it, Anne? Were you able to figure something out?”
Anne nodded a little to Mia, who was clinging to her because of her uneasiness.
“I think I might have figured something out.”
Mia sighed with relief upon hearing Anne’s response.
“That’s great, Anne! Where did you find a store who will make it?”
“No, Princess Mia. That wasn’t possible.”
Mia turns blue again upon hearing those words.
“So, what are we going to do?”
“Let’s make it”
Anne looked at Mia with a determined look.
“……What?”
Hold on to Mia’s hand, which tilts her head.
“I will help you too, so Princess Mia, you yourself will make a lunch box for Prince Abel.”
“Make it? By myself?”
Her reaction is not surprising after all Mia has never cooked before.
“Yes. You may not know this, but it is customary among the common people to say that a lunchbox made by a wife for her husband is called “beloved wife’s lunchbox.” Men are always happy when women cook for them. “
Anne says such a thing as if she was knowledgeable.
“I see. So that’s how it works! By the way, Anne …, are good at cooking?”
“………… I’ve baked bread,”
Ah, this is terrible. We’re doomed!
Mia was sensitive to the nuances of the words that Anne said. She understood the implications of what Anne said implicitly.
Comments