🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 27
However, I had to reluctantly set aside my grand ambitions for now.
“Unfortunately, we’ll have to make the railway models out of wood. The mines our family owns had their veins depleted even before I was born.”
I couldn’t believe it. The expectations I had inflated so high burst in an instant, like a balloon popping.
“Th-then, nothing comes out at all now?”
“Well… there are still some places where iron ore comes out, but it’s not worth investing in. I was planning to close it completely once the current miners leave.”
That made sense. Looking back at the inheritance list my parents left us, I didn’t recall seeing any mention of an active mine.
“Still, why not investigate once more? When the railway industry truly takes off, the price of iron ore and stone will surely rise.”
“Hmmm.”
“You never know. Maybe there’s still something left in deep areas we couldn’t reach with the technology available then.”
This was a future even I didn’t know. Perhaps that’s why I couldn’t confidently push Father on it.
If it succeeded, it would be huge. If it failed, we’d just lose money.
Luckily, losing some money wouldn’t ruin our family, but I could understand why Father was worried.
“Keeping it costs money, closing it completely makes me worry about lost opportunities. There’s only one conclusion.”
Father took a fountain pen and a business card from his pocket, scribbled something on the back, and handed it to a staff member at the exhibition.
“Tell them I’ll formally visit soon regarding the smokeless powder consultation.”
I see. So Father was thinking along the same lines after all.
Because we canceled the departure too late, Father had a number of things to deal with.
But I didn’t expect one of those things to be “suddenly grabbed by the collar.”
“Count de Charmoize!”
“I’ve heard! What on earth is going on?! How could you cancel a contract like that?!”
As we were leaving the exhibition, or rather, because of Father’s impulsive actions, an investor who was about to suffer losses grabbed him by the collar.
“This could take a while, so you can return to the mansion first. Or, if you like, you can stay and look around a bit more.”
Leaving us with those words like a final will, Father was dragged away. It happened so fast there was no time to intervene.
“Father… will he be okay?”
Unlike me, filled with worry, Mother remained surprisingly composed.
“With your father, he’ll be fine. What about you two? Do you want to keep exploring, or shall we go back as he suggested?”
Hmmm, what to do.
Looking at Antoine’s eyes, it seemed he wouldn’t go back to the mansion obediently.
But staying longer at the exhibition was becoming difficult for me as the crowd thickened.
“That’s it! Let’s eat out at Port Nantes! Camille, you’re coming too.”
“Eat out?”
Mother headed straight for Port Nantes. But the carriage didn’t stop at some fancy restaurant one might expect her to choose—it stopped at Monsieur Guillaume’s building in the middle of Nantes Market.
“I thought the sea breeze might do us some good today since your health isn’t too bad. You can stay in the carriage if it’s tiring, but what do you want to do?”
“I want to go with Mother!”
Of course we had to go! Mother held both my and Antoine’s hands tightly. Behind her, Camille hurried along, holding an umbrella.
The Nantes Market was far larger and more extravagant than the markets near the mansion.
Above all, the atmosphere on the streets felt young.
Unlike the elegant signs of the craft guild on Rier Street, steeped in history and tradition, every shop here reflected the owner’s personality, brimming with individuality.
The shopkeepers themselves, many former sailors or familiar with them, spoke in a friendly manner, and their enthusiastic sales pitches didn’t discriminate.
“Just arrived yesterday, coral necklaces! Madam, take a look!”
“Rare goods brought all the way from the East! Come see for yourself!”
And Mother was no exception. In fact, being clearly a wealthy lady, she became the prime target.
“Oh my! How pretty. Adele, shall we take a look?”
Mother had never been to a market like this and had never considered buying something there. She was, by nature, a noblewoman.
But today seemed to be an exception. Her large amethyst-colored eyes sparkled.
Her cheeks flushed red as she faced hundreds or thousands of items at once, instead of just selecting goods that merchants had curated in the mansion’s parlor.
Even though the items sold here were nothing more than cheap imitations, Mother seemed more intrigued than when jewelers brought diamond necklaces.
She awkwardly kept her distance at first, unsure how to respond to the vendor’s friendly jokes, but soon she laughed like a girl.
With each laugh, my image of Mother in my memory blurred slightly, replaced by a new picture.
The mother who once lay weakly in bed now walked the streets with lively steps.
Her pale, wan face now glowed like a rose, radiating health, and she laughed brightly.
The frail voice that always murmured apologies to us now chattered like a bird, reacting to the merchant’s jokes.
Just from that, I could forgive any merchant trying to overcharge her.
“Normally, this would cost 50 francs, but if you buy this bracelet and ring together today, I’ll give all three for 80 francs. You can share it with the young lady—wouldn’t that make a special memory?”
“Is that so? Then show me something else, something we can wear with my husband, not just the children.”
50 francs… wait, how much is that… no need to calculate. How much did he inflate these cheap glass beads?
Cancel my earlier forgiveness. My goodness, even if selling water in the desert, no one would make this much profit.
“Antoine, I think this man is bald because his conscience wouldn’t let hair grow on his head. Don’t you think so?”
“What’s a conscience?”
“……”
Right. A difficult concept for a four-year-old. Anyway, I had to stop him before Mother got overcharged.
Then it happened.
“Hey, that’s too expensive! There’s a scratch here, and bubbles inside—50 francs for this? Sir, are you only selling today?”
“What?”
A little kid about my height stepped in, blocking the space between Mother and the merchant.
With the typical charm and sociability of a street kid from the harbor, I was shocked the moment our eyes met.
‘Sebastien…?’
The Sebastien who had always been rude and inconsiderate, both in my past life and this one, was now negotiating on Mother’s behalf.
Am I dreaming right now?
