Volume 2 Chapter 13 Each Promise
Luke ran into the mansion, carrying the unconscious Cain. Lydia screamed when she saw them.
"What happened? Why is Cain always like this? Luke!"
"It's okay, Mother. He just used too much [Mana] at once and passed out."
Benjamin tried to calm Lydia, who was about to panic.
"How is that okay? It happened before... and it could happen again. He might not wake up this time."
Lydia broke down crying. Luke laid Cain on the bed before returning to her.
"Lydia, it'll be okay. Cain will wake up soon. He's strong."
Luke hugged Lydia. But Lydia pulled away, glaring at him hard.
"You don't understand. Cain is still just 7 years old. It's easy to forget because of how he acts, but he's still just a child."
Hearing Lydia's words, Luke and the others all muttered, "Ah..."
"Honestly, you don't understand anything."
Lydia walked around the room, muttering to herself.
"Father, do something. Wait, the usual thing."
Arthur whispered something to Luke. Benjamin and Chris looked at each other, confused.
Luke took a deep breath, his face set with determination.
"Lydia, I'm sorry. We should have been more considerate. We'll reflect on today and make things right. So, please forgive us. And we'll grant one wish. For all 4 of us."
"""Eh?"""
Arthur, Benjamin, and Chris all echoed in surprise.
"Alright then. We'll make sure it's something that hits home. Also, you'll grant Alice's wish, won't you?"
Lydia said with a smile, her voice sweet.
"Of course, we'll grant Alice's wish. It's been busy lately, and I haven't had time to talk."
"Thank you. Alice will be so happy. Now, let me tell you my wish. First, Chris."
"Yes," Chris responded, straightening up.
"You just got hurt last time, so come help me with my shopping today. Help me prepare for the New Year's party."
Chris's face turned pale as he nodded and said, "Yes," again.
"Luke and Benjamin, you'll go hunting with Knight Captain Argyle for the New Year's feast."
"I think Chris has already brought back enough."
Benjamin turned to Lydia with a question.
"Benjamin, make sure to get that 'guinea fowl' the kid likes for Cain. Luke hasn't been on the front lines lately, so this will remind him of the field's hardships. Plus, it'll be a good refresh from all the paperwork."
"What will you do while I'm gone?"
Luke asked Lydia, a hint of worry in his voice.
"Don't worry, Arthur and Randolph will handle the paperwork in your absence. It'll be good experience, and a lord's work isn't just about fighting."
Luke seemed pleased, but Arthur looked despairing.
Then, they asked Alice to confirm her wishes. Luke was to handle "shopping and meals," Arthur was in charge of "combat training," Benjamin would do "magic training," and Chris would "join Lydia for shopping." Lydia and Alice seemed excited, but the 4 men already looked exhausted thinking about the day's tasks.
* * *
Cain lay in bed, pondering the mansion's "bathhouse." He remembered the time they went to the hot springs during Michio's era.
"What do we do after we pass through the 'changing room' gate?"
After the 'changing room,' they take off their slippers, right? Then undress in the 'undressing area' and head to the 'bathhouse'? How do they make showers? They'll need buckets and chairs, too. They already make soap in the domain, and then there's towels, right? Saunas can wait for another time. Cain was lost in thoughts of taking a bath after so long.
The next day, Luke, who was going hunting, granted permission to build the "bathhouse" near the mansion's back entrance. Since Benjamin would be away hunting with Luke, the task of building the "bathhouse" fell solely to Gardy.
"Gardy, what size should we make it? Too small, and it's hard to get in. Too big, and it's a pain to heat the water, right?"
Cain was drawing lines on the ground at the planned bathhouse site, pondering the size of the bath and the placement of the walls.
"Sir Cain, what exactly do you use a 'bathhouse' for?"
He explained to Gardy, who knew nothing about baths, how to use and enter the bath.
"I see. A size that can fit about 3 adults at once would be good, don't you think? The lady of the house will have a maid attend her, I imagine."
"Oh, right. We need windows. Where can we get windows made?"
"Windows? I have no idea. I'll ask Sir Randolph."
Gardy went inside the mansion to look for Randolph.
"What about the roof? Should we imagine a hollow stone wall? Or make a stone wall and then [Delete] it like last time? Oh, I can't make the bath without planning the order, can I?"
Cain remembered that you couldn't build a stone wall on top of another stone wall.
'Better think this through before we start building.'
He considered finding someone with knowledge of construction.
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