TVBDS 28

 Chapter 28

“Madam, take a look at this. If you hold it up to the sunlight, you can see scratches that weren’t visible before. There’s a reason we sell in the shade. And you’re paying 50 francs for this? Even five cents would be too much!”

“Oh my… it really is!”

“Hmph! What a cheat. People should live honestly.”

Live honestly… wait, I’ve heard that somewhere before.

I glared at him in disbelief, and he winked at me, as if he knew exactly what he was doing.

“A… a cheat? I just… um… well… I didn’t expect you to actually believe the price and just blurted it out!”

“You have to know who you’re bargaining with. Someone like a noblewoman who clearly doesn’t know how bargaining works—you really think she’d negotiate like you or your wife do?”

“Bargaining?”

At that moment, Mother, who had been quietly observing their argument, furrowed her brows and asked an unexpected question.

“But… what is bargaining?”

The merchant and Sebastien both turned in shock. I, too, almost couldn’t believe my ears.

They probably didn’t expect that there could be someone in the world who truly didn’t know what bargaining was.

“Madam, in a market, prices aren’t fixed. Even if they are, they’re often adjusted a bit depending on the situation. That process of lowering the price is called bargaining.”

Camille explained gently on my behalf, as the two men were stunned into silence.

I knew Mother had grown up sheltered like a greenhouse flower, but I didn’t expect it to be this extreme.

“Ah! I’ve heard of it. But I was taught that trying to lower the price of goods is an uncultured act…”

“M-Mother! I want this one! Can we buy it? Wow, there are so many shiny and pretty things, I don’t even know which one to choose…”

Before Mother’s well-meaning but slightly exasperating comments continued, I had to act.

I grabbed whatever glass bead bracelets and necklaces I could reach and laughed happily.

“Is that so? Then… I’ll take everything here.”

“Mother?”

“Why not? If you don’t know which to choose, just buy them all! It’s not even that expensive.”

I was momentarily speechless. I hadn’t expected Mother to say, “I’ll take everything from here to there.”

“Hey, you there. How much do you think this is worth?”

Sebastien, suddenly pointed at, blinked a few times and then began examining the glass bracelet seriously, turning it this way and that.

Though his face was still youthful, his gaze was as serious as any jeweler’s.

“Sure, there are some bubbles and scratches, but judging by the color, it looks like it came from the East. Sir, you should be satisfied with just five francs.”

“Cough, ahem…”

“Or, Madam, I know a few places that sell things suitable for you and the young lady. Would you like me to guide you there?”

“Five francs! I’ll give it for five francs!”

The merchant, dissatisfied with the price Sebastien suggested, hastily lowered his stance.

Of course. Any merchant who knows how to make money wouldn’t want to lose a potential big customer by being greedy.

“Thank you. We almost suffered a huge loss.”

“Hehe. You’re welcome.”

Hehe? Hehehe? Did Sebastien just laugh “hehe”? The same kid who always scoffed, grunted, or cursed?

“By the way, who are you?”

That was exactly what I wanted to ask. Are you really Sebastien? Who are you?!

Sebastien’s eyes narrowed. Even as a child, he had a fox-like smile that somehow charmed people.

“If you’re curious… come with me. I guarantee the taste.”

Sebastien pulled a crumpled piece of paper from his back pocket.

[Maison de Roseanite. The place in Nantes selling the most delicious galettes and cider.]

The paper Sebastien handed over had a plausible illustration of food, descriptions, and prices. It was essentially a delivery flyer.

“Camille! Call the carriage. Let’s have lunch at the place this gentleman recommended.”

“Thank you!”

Sebastien kept smiling brightly until the very end.

The restaurant we arrived at was a place Mother would approve of. Somehow, she looked more put-together than before—had she found employment?

Perhaps it was my imagination, but the way Sebastien guided us inside, his shoulders seemed slightly raised, as if proudly standing taller.

“Guests have arrived. One lady and her two children, three in total.”

Sebastien, naturally, excluded Camille from our party.

No one pointed it out or felt slighted—not even Mother, who suggested dining there.

It made sense. A noblewoman and her maid could never dine together at the same table—it was unthinkable.

“You’ve worked hard watching the children all day. Camille, why don’t you go and enjoy a cup of tea? Tell the coachman too.”

“Madam…!”

Camille’s eyes widened as she received the coin from Mother, bowing politely.

The waiter, seeing this, almost forgot to take our order, shaking Sebastien’s head vigorously in delight.

“What a remarkable one!”

Not just any guest, but a wealthy customer brought in—so the waiter’s satisfaction dripped like honey.

“Do you know this child?”

“Are you referring to Seb? He appeared on this street one day. For a street kid, he’s unusually diligent, polite, and clever, so people take a liking to him.”

I couldn’t help but puff my chest proudly at the favorable comment.

“Did you see the paper he’s carrying? He even thought of it himself.”

With hearty laughter, the waiter patted Sebastien’s back. Each time, his skinny frame wobbled like a scarecrow.

But the waiter’s fondness for Sebastien ended there.

“Now, let’s take you inside.”

This was a top-class restaurant where waiters in elegant uniforms served dishes on silver trays to guests dressed in dresses and suits.

No street urchin could ever set foot here, let alone be formally employed.

Soon after ordering, the food was served one by one. Despite the intoxicating smells, I somehow had no appetite.

Had Sebastien eaten lunch? How many hours a day does he work like that? Why did he suddenly change?

As we half-heartedly ate, dessert arrived—Gâteau Nantais lavishly dusted with snow-white sugar icing.

True to the harbor city’s style, the rum aroma wafted beyond the plate.

I didn’t eat it, but secretly wrapped a piece in my handkerchief. If I happened to meet Sebastien, I planned to slip it into his pocket.

I also had some things I wanted to ask him.