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Mr. Ekenhart did not care about manners
When I arrived at the dining hall, Mr. Ekenhart, Ms. Claire, and Tilura were already gathered there.
And so I went over to my usual seat at the table after Ms. Lyra gestured for me to go.
While Ms. Claire said it didn’t matter, I did wonder if I was just allowed to sit anywhere when Mr. Ekenhart was here
 There was likely a formal seating arrangement that I wasn’t aware of

“Be at ease, Mr. Takumi. I don’t care about little details regarding manners, anyway.”
“
Okay.”
As I had looked a little restless after sitting down, Mr. Ekenhart was able to tell that I was self conscious.
Ms. Claire had said the same thing, and so if both felt that way, it must be fine.
Now that I think of it, it was probably because she had been raised by such a father that she wasn’t so surprised or disturbed when looking at me.
Once everyone was settled, the food was brought out and placed on the table.
Ms. Helena, the head cook, served the food herself as she explained it to Mr. Ekenhart.
The main dish was meat. Thick steaks covered in a savory sauce were placed in front of everyone.
Of course, Leo had her sausages as usual.
Perhaps the food was especially good today in order welcome Mr. Ekenhart.
It was served with some york pudding.
Maybe for dessert, they would bring out some with sweet butter cream as well.

At Ms. Claire’s request.
“Well, let’s eat then.”
Said Mr. Ekenhart, and everyone started to eat.
First, I got to work on the thick steak that was in front of me.
It was eaten with a knife and fork, and was more delicious than any meat dish I had ever eaten.
No meat had ever been so tender
and the sauce was incredible

Was it the quality of the meat, or the skill of the cook
 In any case, I’m sure that Ms. Helena had done her best.
“
Father
 Can you not eat with better manners?”
“Hmm? 
Gulp. 
Hahaha. Well, meat tastes better when you eat it boldly!”
As Ms. Claire had drawn attention to it, I looked over to Mr. Ekenhart and saw that he had abandoned his knife and skewered his steak with his fork, and then carried it directly to his mouth where he bit a chunk out of it.
And then he just laughed at his daughter’s disapproval.

I had been prepared for this, but it really was a sight to behold.
Leo also had her head in her bowl and was eating her meat and sausages ravenously. The two were rather alike.
On the other hand, Sherry was sitting on a small platform next to Tilura’s chair, and it was from there that she ate her food that was set out on the table.
It was the same steak we were all eating, only she nibbled daintily on hers from the edges.

If only Leo would do the same. Then the area around her mouth wouldn’t get so dirty

“Ha
 You would think I would be used to it by now. But when eating with you, father, I start to wonder why I bother to have good manners at all.”
“Hahaha. Good food must be eaten quickly! However, do not mistake me, I do eat properly when out in public!”
“I sincerely hope so
”
Ms. Claire muttered with a sigh. But her father just laughed and continued to tear through his meat.
Well, he was still a duke, so I’m sure he did act differently during formal appearances.
After having her food praised by the duke, Ms. Helena bowed her head and said, ‘I’m honored.’
She had clearly put a lot of effort into it, so she must be happy.
And so I watched them enjoy their meal, and ate until I was full.
Of course, just as I anticipated, a sweet york pudding was brought out as well.

If I stayed in this house for too long, I would start to get fat. That’s how good the food was

“Mr. Takumi. Did you have time to look through the documents?”
“Ah, yes. I read all of it.”
After dinner, as I drank Ms. Lyra’s tea and rested, Sebastian came up to me.
I had been rather distracted by Mr. Ekenhart’s eating habits, and the delicious food, that I had forgotten about the important contract.
“Mr. Takumi, were you satisfied with the contents of the contract that Sebastian gave you?”
“About that, I do have a few questions, if it is all right?”
“Yes, of course. If you have questions or if there is anything you want altered, please say it.”
“Uh, let’s see
”
For some time after that, I went over the details with mainly Sebastian, and also Mr. Ekenhart.
There were a lot of questions I wanted to ask.
And while there weren’t any changes for me to demand, there was one point I was unsure of.
“Um
there’s one last thing.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“Well
about this contract. I just feel like it’s terribly advantageous for me.”
“So that’s what it is
hmm. Your Grace?”
“Aye. I can see that you’ve read through it carefully. That’s good.”
Mr. Ekenhart was oddly impressed by this, but surely reading through a contract properly was normal, if not vital.
After all, who knows what kind of trouble would come in the future.
“Mr. Takumi. The conditions of that contract were decided on through serious discussion between my father, Sebastian, and I.”
“Yes. And if there is a reason why it appears to be so favorable towards you, it is because you are worth that much to this house.”
“This field of selling herbs will be new for the family business. But with your Gift, Weed Cultivation, we will still be able to guarantee a certain quality and quantity. In other words, even with conditions that are favorable towards you, we still want to work with you.”
“I see
”
As for me, these were people who I felt that I owed a debt to, and so I didn’t really need such conditions to convince me
 But if they insisted, then I suppose it was fine.
Ah, but there was one addition I wanted to make.