Chapter 276 Rihito's Reemployment
"Thank you for worrying about me, Mr. Paracelsus... um, is it okay if I just call you Rihito now? Also, I'd like you to talk to me normally."
"You can call me whatever name you like. However, after living as a commoner for so long, it's actually harder for me to speak casually at a dinner with high-ranking nobles."
Rihito was abandoned right after he was born and lived as a commoner for many years. He became close to the Odel royal family, but that was only during his involvement in the anti-Roisen resistance activities; he had never actually become a noble himself.
When he borrowed someone else's name and called himself a court alchemist in the royal capital, people thought he was just a strange old man, so he wasn't invited to many social events. He was friends with the previous Marquis Grandchester, so he had many opportunities to share meals with him. However, he was never invited to dinner parties and always had simple meals in the tower's cafeteria.
"Sara, you shouldn't say such unreasonable things. It's bad manners to trouble our guest."
Rebecca's lecture came flying in after a long time.
"Yes, Mother."
Then Chloe, who was sitting on the opposite side of the table, started giggling.
"Sara actually gets lectured too. That's a bit reassuring."
"Of course!"
"Because the smallest one always acts the most important. It's nice to see her getting lectured sometimes."
"Chloe, that's mean!"
The people around them watched with warm smiles as they interacted.
"Mr. Paracelsus, or was it Mr. Rihito? You look very young."
Chloe stared at Rihito with great interest.
"Fortunately, I have formed a friendship with fairies, so I look younger than I actually am. I've lived for over 300 years. After all, I'm Alicia's great-great-grandfather."
"Um, how old is Ms. Alicia again?"
"I am 17 years old."
"So, if you're Ms. Alicia's great-great-grandfather, that means you're her grandfather's grandfather, right? I'm more surprised than Miss Rebecca!"
Alicia, who was asked about her age, and Amelia, sitting next to her, were at their peak of nervousness because they were invited to the Grandchester family's dinner. They were quietly eating, but they couldn't really taste the food.
"If you think of me as an old man who has lived too long and just tries to look young, that would be fine."
"I think it's definitely more than just that. Mr. Rihito has a very beautiful face. Sara is the same, but is there a rule that reincarnators are born with pretty faces?"
"I don't know. It's true that Miss Sara is beautiful, but I haven't met any other reincarnators besides her. Also, Lady Chloe is very cute as well."
Then Chloe let out a small sigh.
"Mr. Rihito has lived for over 300 years, yet he doesn't understand women's feelings at all."
"I apologize. I'm just a bit clumsy."
Rihito hurriedly apologized, but he had no idea what mistake he had made.
Then Elizabeth scolded Chloe.
"Chloe, stop it. Mr. Rihito is feeling troubled."
"No, it seems there was a problem with my statement. I apologize for being rude, but what kind of mistake did I make?"
"Hahaha. Even the famous alchemist, Mr. Paracelsus, has things he doesn't understand."
Robert explained with a small laugh.
"Chloe is sulking because she was called cute."
"Isn't that disrespectful to a noble lady?"
"No, it's not that. After saying Sara is beautiful, she feels unhappy being called cute."
"Ahhh, I see. I'm very sorry. I had no intention of that."
"I apologize as well. I'm sorry for my cheeky daughter."
Elizabeth apologized to Rihito.
"Lady Chloe, I sincerely apologize. Please accept this as an apology."
Rihito created a single red rose right in front of them and handed it to a servant standing behind him to give to Chloe.
"It smells really nice!"
"It's a strong-scented variety. It might be a bit distracting during the meal."
"No, it's fine. It's very lovely."
"Could you kindly forgive my blunder with your generous heart?"
"Yes, I'm not worried about it anymore. Thank you so much."
Rihito sighed in relief inside. He knew that angering a noble was not wise, and he had also learned that making a woman angry could lead to trouble.
But Rihito had received valuable advice from Sylvia: "If you upset a woman, first give her flowers and apologize. If that doesn't work, try sweets or accessories." This method usually worked about 80% of the time, but if the other person happened to have a crush on Rihito, it could turn into a mess. In those cases, Sylvia would step in to help him.
"By the way, what will you do from now on, Mr. Rihito? Will you work at Maiden's Tower?"
Adam asked Rihito.
"I have some things to help Miss Sara with, so I will probably start there. However, my lab already belongs to my great-great-grandson, so I need to set up a new lab somewhere. I have a bad habit of staying up all night in the lab, and I can't work like that at Maiden's Tower."
"Great-great-grandfather, don't you think you should change that working style?"
Alicia chimed in.
"You talk like you've never stayed up late for research."
"Well, that's..."
"Impossible, right?"
"Yes. It's impossible."
'Wait, you're just accepting that? That's not good!'
Sara thought to herself, but she couldn't really say anything since she had been a workaholic in her past life. They were truly a group of workaholics.
"Can we assume you'll be staying in the Grandchester territory for the time being?"
"I haven't seen my family in 40 years, but they are in the Grandchester territory. For now, I have no plans to move to another territory or country."
"That's great! I've heard that your achievements are truly impressive. Please continue to lend your strength to the Grandchester territory."
Adam had a happy expression as he tried to persuade Rihito. However, Marquis Grandchester and the Young Marquis watched with wry smiles.
"Adam, it's admirable that you're so enthusiastic, but that's my line."
"To go over not just me, the Young Marquis, but even my father, the lord, to make a request is overstepping your bounds."
"Oh! I-I apologize!"
Even though they were scolding him, both Marquis Grandchester and the Young Marquis seemed pleased with Adam's enthusiasm.
'Adam has changed a lot in a short time. Miss Cordelia, the female educator, is truly formidable.'
"However, I do want Mr. Paracelsus, no, Mr. Rihito to lend his strength to Grandchester."
Marquis Grandchester proposed a new job to Rihito.
"It depends on Miss Sara. It was Miss Sara who woke me from my slumber."
"Hmm. So, Sara has not only obtained Paracelsus's laboratory and materials but also the person himself?"
"My grandfather gave me the land along with the tower and the garden as a congratulatory gift for my magic awakening, you know?"
"That's certainly true."
Rihito looked at Sara with surprise.
"Miss Sara, you obtained the Maiden's Tower and the Secret Garden in that way!?"
"Yes, that's right. I was shocked when I went inside."
"By the way, do you know how much it cost to prepare the equipment, materials, and experimental supplies for that tower?"
"I didn't know the exact cost, but I could tell it must have been a lot of money when I saw inside."
"And yet, you were asked for it?"
"Of course!"
Rihito held his head in his hands.
"Your Excellency the Marquis, did you perhaps close that tower?"
"Yes. I'm embarrassed to admit that I didn't understand the value of that tower. I was bitter about my father pouring money into it as a hobby, and when he passed away and I inherited the Marquis title, I closed it."
"I remember that before I went to sleep, it seemed like I was disliked by Your Excellency the Marquis."
"That is a great shame on my part. After Sara wanted that tower and started her activities as Maiden's Tower, I learned about your achievements and the fairies in the garden."
"I see. Since you avoided getting close, it's not surprising you didn't know."
Rihito thought for a moment.
"Is it okay to build a building with a laboratory within the area owned by Miss Sara?"
"That's fine. Let's place it near the thicket adjacent to the garden so it can connect to the Secret Garden underground. Also, since we'll need a carriage, let's expand the stable a bit."
Adam sighed.
"Looks like it's going to be taken away by Sara again."
"By the time Adam becomes Marquis Grandchester, the situation might change. For now, you just have to do your best on the academy entrance exam."
"That's true."
And then Sara turned to Rihito.
"I will cover all the construction costs for the building, including equipment and furnishings. Please list everything you think is necessary."
"Sir Adam, it seems that for the time being, the employer will be Miss Sara."
"That seems to be the case."
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