/
Still, regardless of the reason, it was clear that Jeremy partook in an investment when he wasn’t knowledgeable enough.
“You shouldn’t do this based on personal acquaintances.”
“Of course I didn’t do this just because of personal acquaintances.”
Jeremy carefully chose his words and answered.
“Benji told me that as long as Rocke Guild doesn’t fall, I wouldn’t suffer a loss from investment. And I think the guild won’t ever go out of business.”
His clear eyes captured me.
“You wouldn’t let that happen, right, Marianne?”
“. . .”
As I closed my mouth tight because I didn’t know what I should say, Jeremy continued.
“Of course, Master too will help Rocke Guild if there’s a problem, so Marianne won’t be tormented.”
My head that was still dizzy ended nodding at the conclusion that sounded plausible more than I expected.
I was worried if he was carried out by a sweet talk because he was too naive, but unexpectedly, he analyzed the gist of the problem logically.
Perhaps, it was rather me who looked down on him.
I reflected inside and then asked Jeremy.
“What kind of investment did you make?”
“I will raise rabbits.”
“Pardon?”
At the same time Jeremy answered me, Benji, who was watching the situation, stood up.
The prince, who was in high spirits about his first investment, began to present the great plan chatteringly.
“I will raise both male and female rabbits, have them bear offspring and then sell them in the market.”
“Aha.”
“Rabbits are an animal with a good reproduction rate and are prolific as well, so we’ll raise and sell them every year.”
Rany silently drank the juice, and Benji had long disappeared.
Abigail, who was listening to the investment plan with an odd expression, asked in a low voice.
“The rabbits, where and for how much will you buy and sell them?”
Even Liz, who knew precisely about rabbits as she lived in the countryside, tilted her head.
“The money needed in raising rabbits won’t be small. They indeed have a good reproduction rate, but their vitality isn’t good, on top of that, they often get illnesses. You also need to think about their food, so you need to hay too.”
Jeremy blinked his eyes.
Rany was in awe looking at the prince who was helplessly suffering from the rabbit investment.
“Woah, that kid. He’s quite good.”
“You’re right. I never thought Benji would be like that.”
Even though he was a calm and kind kid, the blood flowing in his body was undoubtedly the blood of a merchant.
I patted Jeremy who looked devastated on the shoulder.
“Don’t think of it as an investment, but think you’re raising it for your own good.”
The garden in the mansion was wide anyway.
Imagining a pair of white rabbits playing there, it didn’t seem bad.
Jeremy responded to my awkward consolation with a question he asked with a slightly sulky face.
“Then, what would be a good investment?
Rany answered the question asked to me.
“Well, I don’t think Benji offered you a really bad investment. In the first place, it’s right for people who have nothing to invest by judging the people.”
Abigail and Liz, as well as Jeremy stared at her.
Everyone seemed to pay attention to her, who was famous for her skill.
“Getting people is the biggest and the most difficult thing to do. We also need to make an effort until we get their trust. First of all, Jeremy is owed a favor because he is benefiting Benji.”
Jeremy blinked at the ambiguous words.
“I mean that what can be achieved through investment isn’t only material profit or object.”
She pinched my cheek.
The playful voice spoke out sincerely.
“Here’s the brightest thing I’ve ever had.”
Jeremy stared at me and Rany.
Everyone looked like they were deep in thought.
* * *
The academy ahead of the Crown Prince’s visit looked quiet and peaceful from the outside.
After finishing the disciplinary action under rather outrageous watch and pressure from Professor Grein, I returned back to my normal class schedule.
Rany worked hard and busily in expanding the guild. Jeremy, too, attended the academy smoothly by avoiding the eyes of a certain Young Duke Bolton.
I also rarely ran into Zen, who was teaching in the annex for the magic department.
Except for the few times he suddenly appeared in the mansion at night.
“How exactly did you get through the tight security of this mansion?”
“Easily.”
“There must be an alarm magic here, so how did you take care of it?”
He gave no answer.
As he took off the black hood, the usual outfit came into view.
Now, I had already gotten used to his neat attire, but it was still unfamiliar.
Perhaps, it was because he stayed in the same place for a long time without any change.
“There’s no problems in the magic department, right?”
“I only teach there.”
“I still . . .”
I still don’t know your reason for taking the risk of entering the academy. I swallowed back those words.
Young Duke Bolton weighed on my mind, and the other problems, too, messed with my head.
Every time I met Zen without reaction when we occasionally ran across in the hallway, an odd feeling grasped my heart.
Someone who looked at Zen with a smile.
Every time their eyes filled with respect and kindness when looking at Zen, I felt an ache somewhere in my heart.
Without knowing the reason for that odd feeling, the day for the Crown Prince’s visit quickly came closer.