Ribo's words left not only the Baron and his wife puzzled but also baffled the surrounding nobles.
Baron Lonna looked at Ribo, trying to discern whether the boy was serious. He finally asked, "Pardon me, but I must admit, I'm not quite sure what this gift from Mr. Eckert Haide is."
"It's tea," Ribo replied, "brought from the East through Torl and Ireine. My uncle originally intended to present a silver service set, one suitable for entertaining six guests. However, just before leaving, a shipment arrived, and the most valuable item among it was this tea from the Orient. To express his regret for not being able to attend in person, my uncle asked me to bring one of these bricks as a gift. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough time to cut the tea brick into smaller pieces or wrap it in gold leaf. As you know, these precious items from the East quickly lose their quality if not sealed properly, just like youth and beauty, which are always so fleeting."
The surrounding nobles finally understood—they were looking at an entire, uncut tea brick. Tea, especially in such a form, was incredibly rare and valuable. Normally, these large bricks would be cut into smaller, inch-sized cubes, wrapped in gold leaf, and sold to wealthy families. It was highly unusual for such a large tea brick to be given as a gift, making it an extraordinarily expensive present.
The Baron and his wife were equally astonished to learn that the "modest" gift was actually of significant value. The Baron found himself reevaluating Mr. Eckert Haide, the man he had only recently befriended. While he had known Eckert to be a cultured and charming individual, this act of generosity was unexpected.
As the Baron tried to make sense of it, he recalled vague memories of Sir Kayviel Egret Haide, a foreign noble who had fled to France and was once active in diplomatic circles. The Baron, back when he was the personal secretary to the former Minister of Finance, Count Badoumont, had remembered this man primarily because he was one of the rare foreign nobles to be granted the title of knight by the king.
Generally, foreign nobles who fled to France were treated as commoners, with their noble titles unrecognized. However, on rare occasions, those who had performed significant services were granted the title of knight. These individuals were treated as commoner nobles, unable to pass on their titles by inheritance. Nonetheless, due to their noble blood, they were given special consideration, allowing them to pass on their titles upon payment of a substantial sum to the king.
Nobles with such a status were exceedingly rare in France, which is why Sir Kayviel Egret Haide had stuck in the Baron's memory.
As for Mr. Eckert Haide, the Baron had not known him long, though they got along well. Eckert had left the impression of a well-mannered and knowledgeable man, someone with whom the Baron enjoyed conversing. But he hadn't expected such generosity from him.
The Baron found himself wondering—was this extravagant gift truly just an apology for not attending the ball? If there was another motive, he couldn't imagine what it might be. The only treasures he had were his kind wife and beautiful daughter, and Ribo, the boy before him, seemed too young to be involved in anything nefarious.
Though still puzzled, the Baron knew he had to acknowledge such a generous gift. Taking Ribo's hand, he said, "Oh, your uncle is far too generous. You must convey my deepest thanks to him. Your uncle is a remarkable man. Ribo—may I call you Ribo?—your uncle is one of the most learned men I've met. Is he a master scholar? He must be, for only such a title could befit someone of his intellect. And Ribo, you must tell me how to properly store this precious tea from the East. Since the war between Ireine and Torl, it's become increasingly scarce. I wouldn't want to waste such a thoughtful gift."
"This is nothing," Ribo replied humbly. He knew he had successfully captured the attention of everyone, including Baron Lonna. Now was the perfect time to solidify the impression he had made. Although Ribo wasn't particularly fond of tea, he had become an expert on the subject, capable of explaining everything from cutting and sealing the tea brick to grinding and brewing, even down to the proper proportions of honey and milk to mix.
As he finished his detailed explanation, Ribo recalled something he had heard Sir Haide mention about drinking tea and added, "There's a common belief that drinking tea can slow the aging process, though there's little evidence to support it. King Franz V was an avid tea drinker, yet everyone knows his life was cut short at thirty by a dagger. However, tea does help alleviate fatigue, and for those who don't get enough sleep, it can be a savior. In my experience, tea pairs naturally with mint. Adding a drop or two of mint to a pot of tea makes it perfect. Tea also aids digestion. Mixing tea with milk and adding some nuts—my grandfather prefers juniper berries, while I prefer walnuts—makes for the best post-meal beverage."
"I must say, Ribo, you are as learned as your uncle!" the Baron exclaimed, clearly impressed.
"You flatter me," Ribo responded, inwardly delighted. He knew he had already won half the battle.
"Your uncle sent you because he was too busy, but it seems he sent you because of your knowledge, is that right?" the Baron inquired.
"Oh, no," Ribo corrected, now following his plan to evoke sympathy. "Besides my grandfather and me, my uncle has no other relatives."
"Why is that?" the Baron asked, genuinely surprised.
"A few years ago, there was an outbreak of plague in Southport. You may have heard of it," Ribo said.
"That was truly a disaster," the Baron remarked with sympathy.
"The plague took most of my family," Ribo said gravely, and this was no lie; his parents had indeed died in that tragic event.
"I'm sorry to make you recall such painful memories," the Baron said, feeling ashamed that he hadn't known about his friend Eckert's tragic past.
"It's all in the past now," Ribo said, trying to sound nonchalant.
"Is your uncle managing everything now?" the Baron asked.
"Yes, ever since that disaster, my grandfather has been a shadow of his former self. He was once a man who lived on the road, traveling between different countries every day. Before the plague, he proudly called himself the best sailor in the entire Southern Sea."
"Yes, I've heard of Sir Kayviel Egret Haide's reputation," the Baron said sincerely. For a knight to have made an impression on him was no small feat.
"But now, it's been three years since I've seen him step out of his room. My uncle manages most of the family's affairs, while I help oversee our properties in Lair and Southport," Ribo explained.
"You're so young, yet you're involved in managing the family's business?" The Baron was visibly impressed.
"There's nothing remarkable about it," Ribo said modestly. "I just keep track of the goods coming in and out, calculate the monthly profits, and estimate potential expenses and business risks. Originally, my grandfather, father, and two uncles managed everything together. Now it all falls on my uncle's shoulders. If I didn't help, how could my uncle handle it all?"
"Calculating profits using Tromiller's method? That requires a deep understanding of arithmetic," the Baron said, somewhat skeptically. He had once worked in accounting and knew how challenging it could be.
Ribo had anticipated this reaction. The information Eckert had provided included details about the Baron's previous roles, noting that accounting was his only real skill.
Fortunately, accounting was also Ribo's forte. He had always hoped to become an accountant at the store one day, so he had taken his studies in arithmetic very seriously. With Eckert as his teacher, Ribo had learned nearly everything there was to know about advanced accounting.
Confidently, Ribo began, "We never use Tromiller's method because it isn't precise enough. You see, that method has a critical flaw: it only accounts for clear, recorded transactions and losses, but it doesn't accurately calculate delayed expenses. For instance, if goods are supposed to be delivered by the end of the month, Tromiller's method works fine, but as you know, the world is never so perfect. When the gods created the world, they failed countless times, resulting in the creation of all manner of terrible creatures. Mistakes are always present, which is why Tromiller's books never balance. In Southport, no one uses Tromiller's method. Some use the Mitbel accounting method, others prefer the Leto method, but I prefer the Durlit method. You must know that Mr. Durlit was honored as a master scholar by our esteemed king in recognition of his contributions to accounting. He was even close to being made a commoner noble."