Volume 1: Commoner's Children
Chapter 5: The Location of Sugar
"Welcome back!"
First, I went to Nicola and Luke's house because Marie really wanted to see her uncle.
"Welcome back. Did Marie-chan and Leon come too?"
"Marie wanted to see her uncle."
I answered with a wry smile.
"I want to see him! Is Uncle here?"
Marie was fidgeting as if she couldn't wait.
"Just wait a minute. I'll call him now."
The aunt got up from her chair, opened the door, and called out to the back of the shop.
"Ben~! Marie-chan and Leon are here!"
When the aunt called out like that, heavy footsteps were heard from the back of the shop, and a well-built young uncle appeared.
However, even though he was called "uncle," he was still young... maybe marriage is early in this world, as even if they have children, all parents are in their twenties.
"Marie came! Oh! You're always cute no matter when."
The uncle said as he lifted Marie up. Marie laughed happily.
It seemed that Marie was happy to be easily lifted up high. Our father isn't tall and doesn't have a good physique, so he has to do his best. I secretly cheered for our father.
"Leon came too! Good, you're growing up well."
The uncle came over to me while holding Marie and messed up my hair.
"Uncle! You're messing up my hair!"
"Don't worry about that! You're a man, right?"
No, I don't understand what he means by saying "I'm a man, so I shouldn't worry about it"... but I guess this kind of hearty behavior is also something that people like. He's been smiling all the time and looking at us very kindly.
I felt like I understood why Marie likes her uncle. Marie has a good eye for people.
But even so, I can't be at ease. I have to be wary of any man who approaches Marie...! I renewed my determination to protect Marie and pumped myself up, but Marie was already being put down and was already trying to leave.
She's fast! Marie, don't leave your big brother behind. Thinking that, I hurriedly chased after her.
"Uncle, auntie, we'll come again."
"Okay, see you."
"Wait a minute, Marie! Don't leave your big brother behind."
Marie stopped in front of the house door and gave me a stern look.
"But big brother has been spacing out a lot lately. He doesn't hear me when I talk to him."
Marie stared at me intensely. Oh no, did she notice that I've been lost in thought? But she shouldn't have realized that I'm not Leon yet...it should be okay...
"That's not true! I'm listening properly. I just space out sometimes. I'll be more careful from now on."
As I made excuses in a hurry, Marie looked at me for a while and then said,
"Okay, if you say so...but make sure you listen properly, okay?"
"Okay, I will. Sorry about that."
"Well, let's go inside then."
"Sure."
Marie opened the door and went into the house. I breathed a sigh of relief and followed her inside. I need to be more careful from now on.
"We're back!"
"Oh, welcome back. Did you get any fruits?"
Dad and Mom seemed to be in the kitchen, but they poked their heads out from behind the counter.
"Look, Mom, Dad! We got so many of them!"
"Oh, these are not strawberries. You've got a lot of them. Great job, Marie."
"Yes, we did. We can eat a lot with these. Do you want to have them after dinner together?"
"Yeah, that sounds great!"
Marie transferred the fruits to a large wooden bowl that Dad had brought out. She looked really happy and had a big smile on her face. She must really like these fruits.
I wish they were a little sweeter...if only we had some sugar, we could make jam...
Maybe I should ask Mom about the sugar.
"Mom, do we have any sweet seasoning?"
"Sweet seasoning? Why?"
"Um...yeah! I thought if we had sweet seasoning, the strawberries would be even sweeter."
Please let there be sugar...I hope it doesn't sound unnatural!
"Well, let's see. Maybe honey or sugar?"
"We have sugar!?"
"Leon, do you know about sugar?"
"N-no, I just happened to hear about it. That sugar is a sweet seasoning."
"That's right. But sugar and honey aren't sold around here. Commoners aren't wealthy enough to spend money on sweet things, so sugar and honey don't sell. They're more expensive than other seasonings."
Oh no...but there's sugar, right? It's not like it doesn't exist in this world. I just need to figure out how to get it!
"So where is it sold?"
"I think they sell it in the center of the capital."
"The center of the capital?"
"Yes. This is the outskirts of the west of the capital. The center is where the king and the nobles live. There are many high-end shops, so they might sell it there."
There really are kings and nobles...Could it be that you can't eat sweet things if you're not a noble...?
"So if I go there, can I buy it?"
"I doubt it. Many shops in the center of the city are only open to nobles and their associates. And even if you could enter, it's very expensive, so you probably can't buy it."
"I see..."
"And the center of the city is far away. It takes more than two hours on a shared carriage."
"I see...I'll give up then."
"That's good. Leon, you're already eight years old, so I'll tell you this: if a nobleman sets his sights on you, it's going to be tough. It's okay because they don't come around here, but don't be rude. There are good nobles, but there are also unreasonable ones."
Nobles are scary...I don't want to get too close if I can help it. But sugar is in the noble's area!
It would be better to find another place that sells it.
"Thanks, Mom! I'll give up on the sweet seasoning! Strawberries are delicious as they are."
I smiled and reassured my mom. She had been looking scared since earlier.
Then my mom relaxed and said, "Let's eat strawberries after dinner!"
"Okay!"
However, eating those strawberries was difficult... Is there a way to make them delicious without sugar?
What would be good... maybe pouring them over French toast? Or mixing them into pancakes!
Mixing them into pancakes might be good! With that idea in mind, I immediately asked my mom if I could use the kitchen.
"Mom! I came up with a recipe using strawberries. Can I use the kitchen?"
"Really, Leon? You've never cooked before..."
Was it strange to come up with a recipe without ever having cooked before...? But I definitely want to try it, they're too sour.
"I saw you and dad cooking before."
I looked at my mom innocently and she smiled and ruffled my hair.
"Okay, let's make it then."
"Leon is going to cook? Dad is looking forward to it."
My dad also smiled and looked forward to it. I have to do my best!
"Okay, I'll make space for Leon to cook, so put away your things and wash your hands first."
"Okay!"
"Marie, help Leon put away his things."
"Got it! My big brother is cooking? I'm excited!"
Marie was innocently excited. This is starting to feel like pressure... I hope it turns out delicious.
I went up to the storage room on the second floor with Marie to put away our things. When we put down the basket, I realized I had forgotten about the firewood. It's probably better to take it to the kitchen, so I have to go back down and get it.
"Marie, I forgot about the firewood. Let's go back down."
"Okay! I need to get my allowance too!"
It seemed like Marie's attention had shifted from the strawberries to her allowance. She's already thinking about what to buy with it.
"Okay, let's go down."
When we got down with the basket and firewood, my mom had just come out of the kitchen.
"Mom, I brought some firewood."
"Oh, really? Thank you. Can you put it in the firewood storage in the kitchen?"
"Yes, ma'am!"
Marie and I entered the kitchen and stacked the branches in the firewood storage at the end of the room.
"You brought firewood too. Thank you."
"Yep! I picked up a lot!"
"Marie is amazing," said our father, gently patting her head with pride.
"Well, let's put the basket away and wash our hands."
"Me too!"
We returned to the second floor to put away the basket and entered the living room on our way to the courtyard. Our mother was waiting for us there.
"Both of you get an allowance for bringing in firewood."
"Yay! Thank you!"
"Thank you, Mom."
"It's okay. Go buy something at the street vendors."
"Okay!"
Marie and I put the money in our own small wooden boxes in the living room, where we kept our important belongings. After that, we went to the courtyard to draw water from the well and wash our hands.
Marie seemed like she wanted to rest a bit in the living room afterward, so I had to make pancakes. I'll do my best!
"Well then, I'll go to the kitchen."
"Okay! Big brother, make delicious food!"
"I got it. I'll do my best."
Saying that, I headed to the kitchen.