"Young master Henry? I wonder who's talking outside the door at this time, it turns out to be you, young master Henry"
That's what that old man said when he sees me standing in front of the door.
"Uncle Jake, it's been a while since last time I see you. Did my father still awake?"
That old man is Jake Wesley, the ex-chief butler in the castle and also Claire's father. He is around sixty years in age and already serving our family for many years. He's a very loyal person and even gets married late because of his dedication to our family. He should be already retired and enjoy his old time. So it's surprising to see him in this castle again.
"Haha… yes, young master Henry. You must be wondering why this old man still around, right? I was bored at home and your Highness suddenly call me back to help with his work. Did my daughter troubling you?"
"No. Not at all. Claire has been doing well"
We might be still talking for more times if not my father voice breaking our conversation
"That voice….Is that you Henry? You return already?"
Uncle Jake immediately invites me to come into the study room. I enter the room and see my father sitting on his desk with documents piled up in front of him. I bow to him as respect before reply to his answer.
"Yes, father. I just returned from the beach"
"Hahaha…I don't see you for a couple days and now you look different from when you left that day. You are more tanned and sturdy. Did you meet any trouble on the mission?"
"With your blessing, our expedition is going smoothly without any obstacles father. I return immediately after getting the message about Earl Stamford news"
"Hmm…yes. I send the messenger this morning but I didn't expect you also return today. I thought you'll return tomorrow. So, how's the result from the expedition?"
"Yes, father. I return because I need to make preparation for welcoming Earl Stamford. Also, the result is good, I brought some yield from our expedition with me"
"Let me see the goods"
I leave the study room and take the luggage that I left outside the study room and bring them in. I take one jar of salt and present it to my father.
"This only some portion that I bring back home father. The rest will be carried by the cart that leaving tomorrow from the camp with other material that I prepared for welcoming party"
My father opens the jar and takes a taste from the content inside.
"This….this taste…this is really salt. Moreover, it looks cleaner than the salt we bought from traveling merchant before. Henry, you're doing great! Hahaha…I can see prosperity coming to my land. Henry, take a seat and tell me about your experience during the expedition until you return here"
"Yes, father"
I take a seat and sit before start tell my father about the journey and what happens with the expedition when we arrive at the beach. I only stop talking when Uncle Jake come with tea and some snack to accompany me and father talking. Of course, some part during my time in the beach I must hide from my father, like the magic sword I get from the cave in the cliff and my meeting with master Durnham.
The fight with wolves also I tell with less detailed and carefully narrated to make my father not suspicious how I able to defeat eight wolves alone. After finish told my experience during this mission, I ask my father about things that I've been thought after leaving Silver grass Village.
"Father, after this salt production start running, can we used this salt as payment for the people who make the road? I see many people suffer from this salt scarcity, maybe we can allocate some salt for this purpose"
"Oh? That's a good idea, we lack money to pay the road workers but if they willing to be paid with salt, that will solve our money problem. How much should we give the salt for them?"
"We still need the fixed number on how much the salt produced from the beach, father. I can't give a certain number yet, because we have many villages too. Also, we need some to sold for our castle income. I also need to calculate how long the road can be made within a month, the salt requirement for each village and town also different one to each other. We must prevent this salt given too much to a certain place because this surely goes to black market, father"
"Your explanation is logical. Alright, until we have the certain number of salt production, the salt payment for road construction, let's keep on hold first. But that's good idea Henry. Okay, I guess you must be tired after a long trip from the beach, we continue our talk tomorrow, you can get rest now"
"Thanks, father. I take one jar of salt for our kitchen before going to sleep. The rest of salt jar please keep in here for safety"
"Sure. You can leave now"
After taking a jar of salt, I leave my father's study room and heading to the kitchen. I still owe Mrs. Martina some salt that I used to make Frikadel before, and I promise her to return twice amount from what I've borrowed before.