"Gian? Are you feeling sick again?" Frederick asked with a hint of worry in his voice.
Russel immediately noticed Gian's uneasiness. While spending a whole week with this person, Russel already knows his weird habit. For example, if Gian rubs his point finger and thumb, he is feeling uneasy. And Gian is doing it right now.
"Bro, what's your problem?" Russel asked. "Why don't you continue? I'm already giving you the answers you needed."
"Gian? Do you want to rest for a while?"
"No, I'm fine." Gian said before taking a deep breath. "Lavender and Hibiscus. We can use these two to make tea."
"Lavender?" Viel asked. "But we only used it to make perfumed oil and decorations, right? Is it really edible?"
"That's correct... But..."
"Because lavender comes from a family of herbs, so it's not surprising if lavender is also edible. The flower, buds, leaves and stems of it are all edible. Not only that, but lavender can also be used as a medicinal herb. It can also help to cure digestive issues like vomiting and an upset stomach." Russel said, giving Gian the information he needed.
Gian takes a quick glance at the pen placed on his chest pocket before he repeated what Russel said. Both Frederick and Viel look at Gian with bewildered eyes. They didn't know that Gian possessed this knowledge that even the two of them are not aware of.
"How about hibiscus?"
"It is also edible." Gian said. Since Russel mentioned that Hibiscus can be made as a tea, then it is already considered edible.
"Are you sure about it?" Frederick asked.
"Dude, what are you waiting for? Answer your father." Russel said, trying to tease Gian a little. "Tell them the reason why."
"Is it really edible? But... Hibiscus is just a decorative flower in the eastern part of the country. When I visited it before with my superiors, the locals there used the hibiscus flowers as a decoration on their festival. They never said that people can eat it."
Gian gives a passing glance at Viel before he looks at his father. Frederick is not asking him again, but it's obvious that he's still waiting for Gian to give more details to support his idea.
"You're hopeless." Russel said, then he sighs loudly. "Can't you see that you are making them anxious?"
'Anxious? I should be the one who should be anxious!' Gian wanted to refute, but keep his mouth shut.
"Fine. I'll help you. I'll start making a list of the things you owe me. You should pay me in the future, got it?" Russel said before he gives what Gian wants to know. "Hibiscus is obviously edible. You can eat its petals and leaves. It has a calming effect which is good for a person who suffers from stress and depression. Aside from making a cup of tea out of it, you can use it to make jams, sauce or candies."
To be honest, Gian was surprised to learn all of this information. He also didn't know that some flowers are edible. Just like his family, he thought that these flowers used as a decoration are the only purpose of it. It seems like his knowledge is still lacking.
While conveying the information Russel shared at Gian, he maintained a relaxed posture to avoid suspicions. He even controls his facial expression. Gian should make himself confident in front of these two. Frederick and Viel listen to Gian seriously. They are not giving their opinions vocally. But in their mind, there are starting to make preparations to make Gian's plans on the action. Though there are still things they need to consider.
After telling them his suggestions, Gian remains seated and waiting for his father's decision. Russel is currently praising Gian about his talent in speaking. Russel only gave a little information and Gian put an additional detail to his suggestion which makes it more believable. If the Marquis is not dumb, he will do what Gian suggested to him.
"Your ideas are actually good." The Marquis finally said. "But, how did you know this information?"
"It's..." Gian pause for a while to think of a quick answer. "It's the result of my experiment. Remember when I ordered the knights to guard my library? I was actually trying to make a substitute for the things we usually used. It happens that I am now using the results of my research in our discussion today."
Gian wants to praise himself at that time. With this alibi, he can provide help with his father and at the same time, Gian can finally justify his previous action. Gian wants to beat himself thinking about his stupid order at that time. He even makes those knights guard an empty library for a week.
'But I should also blame Russel for it. If it's not because of him, I would not do such blunder.' Gian thought and pinch the pen in his pocket. 'This is also your fault, Russel!'
"Dude, are you planning to break me? Stop pinching me, will you?!" Russel complains as Gian pinches the silver barrel of his body.
"So you've already tried these new kinds of tea?" Viel asked. "What's the taste of it?"
"It's refreshing and has a bit of tangy taste." Gian said, though he's just guessing the taste of those teas. "If you want, we can try these things first before we put it on the market and offer them to the higher society." Gian suggests. "It's also a good way to show how is it done."
"I think that's a good idea. I'll ask Butler Del to bring the things you need to prepare it." Viel said before looking at his father. "What do you say, father?"
"If we can provide a good substitute for the loss of sugar and tea this year, we can earn much money and at the same time, we can help to raise the reputation of our country to another kingdom by selling these items at them if it's successful." Frederick said.
"Wait. If they learn that these items are just made of honey, hibiscus and lavender, then the people will choose to get these items instead of buying it from us. Right?" Viel asked and then he looks at Gian. "Do you have a way to prevent it?"
"Tell him yes." Russel instructed Gian. "Then repeat my words to him."
"Yes." Gian said, following Russel's instruction. "Instead of brewing the tea in a teapot, we will put the herbs in a teabag. With these, even if they know that our tea is made of hibiscus and lavender, they would not know what other ingredients are mixed in their tea."
"Teabags?" Viel asked, dumbfounded. "What's that?"
"You don't have to ask about it. I'll just show you want is it when I finished making it." Gian said, trying to cover his ignorance about these things. "As for the honey, we should harvest it as soon as possible. The drought may also affect the quality and taste of honey if we will be late to harvest it"
"I see." Gian's father said. "I'll quickly send a letter to my assistant so he can start harvesting the honey and buy the hibiscus plants in the east. As for the lavender we need to use, I have to talk with Viscount Cladeu."
"Viscount Cladeu?"
"Yes. Viscount Cladeu has a lavender farm in the South. The Cladeu family is the one supplying the kingdom with lavender oil. I have to talk with him so he can supply us a huge amount of lavender."
"Alright. I will be responsible for the security of the deliveries by telling my knights to guard the items." Viel said and looks at Gian with a meaningful smile. "By the way, Viscount Cladeu's eldest daughter is your friend, right?" Viel asked Gian with a smile. "Or maybe... More than friends?"
"Stop acting like a gossiping lady." Gian sneered at Viel.
"Oh! You are getting mad. It means that there is really something going on between you two!" Viel said as he ignores Gian's biting remarks towards him.
Viel only laughs at him, seeing Gian being irritated by his words. Gian glares at him before turning his head to look at his father. He stares at his father for a while before asking the question he really wants to ask.
"Why do you believe in my words?" Gian asked. "What if it failed? What if it will cause a huge loss on our part?"
"I believe in you because you are my son." Frederick said. He stands up from his seat and walks towards the window. "And I'm actually feeling happy right now. This is the first time you involved yourself with our family discussion."
Gian stares at his father's tall figure. He has a stern expression all the time. But right now, he has a calm expression and the corner of his lips are smiling.
"Before, even if we involved you with our discussion, no matter if it's a big or a small matter, you will always answer us that you believed that we can solve the problem. Even if we forced you to give us a solution, you always refused to help. But today, you actively help us to think of a solution. You even gave us a set of ideas to use."
"But it doesn't mean that you should listen to me without checking it first."
"It doesn't matter to me." Frederick firmly said. "If it's successful, then that's good. If it's a failure, then you should learn from it and to never do it again."
"But..."
"Father already decided. Just listen to him and do your best." Gian feels Viel's hand on his head and makes a mess on his hair. "We will count on you this time, okay? Father and I will always support you."
Gian looks at his father and his older brother. Listening to their words, Gian's heart moved a little. Biting his inner cheek, Gian tries to control the emotions swirling in his heart. No words are needed to say. By giving him their full trust and support, Gian already knows his position in their hearts.
"I understand. I will try my best to make it successful." Gian said. "You will help me, right?"
Frederick looks at Gian with a smile while Viel makes his hair messier than before.
"You can also count on me, bro! With me on your side, I'm pretty sure it will be successful!" Russel butted in to show his support to Gian.