Chapter 242
Aegir POV–
「Here we have a wooden table made by that master craftsman Tophnaf, Madam . 」
「How lovely……the wood s.h.i.+nes just like amber . 」
「Indeed . Ten coats of the precious Dylan sap were painted on the wood so it wouldn’t deteriorate……」
Nonna brushes the polished wooden table, spellbound by its l.u.s.ter while Claire explains with a smile .
Right now, we are currently gathered in the vacant new mansion .
Furniture for the new mansion was prepared by Claire to satisfy Nonna’s strong desire .
The shrewd woman had already acc.u.mulated notable pieces of furniture after seeing the near completion of the mansion .
I watch the exchange between Claire and Nonna while chewing some nuts and stifling a yawn .
If I was open about it, Nonna would get angry after all .
「Because of the wars, most of the handicrafts from the Federation cannot be acquired anymore . Fortunately, I have a considerable amount available for your new mansion . Except…… they are still very rare and have a higher asking price than other items……」
「Is that so!? Then we should hurry…… Carla and Mel-san, are you both okay with this?」
Nonna is already in that mindset .
「You expect me to know anything about expensive tables? Do as you like as long as Aegir is fine with it . 」
「I don’t know much about it either, so if Nonna-san likes it……」
I’m not knowledgeable either .
To be honest, be it a table or a boulder, I’m fine with it as long as it has the right height so I’ll let her do as she likes .
Nonna smiles in satisfaction and turns back to Claire .
「Then I’ll have thi-「Wait right there!」……tch . 」
The one who interrupted was Claudia .
The double doors swing open with a loud bang .
She rolls closer with the custom-made dress she stayed up all night to tailor wrapped around her body .
Her intensity and pressure make the other girls step back, and the temperature inside the room simultaneously rises instantly as soon as she steps in .
「What…… no, who is that?」
「Right, this is the first time Claire is meeting her . She is Claudia, one of my women, though not officially anything yet . 」
「I-is that so…… you have some strange tastes . 」
She wasn’t this fat when I embraced her .
Claudia brushes Claire and Nonna aside and examines the table intently .
Drops of sweat fall on the brand new table, which causes Claire to scowl .
「This isn’t something created by Tophnaf . 」
「Wha-!?」「What are you saying!? Are you trying to say it’s a fake?」
Nonna is surprised while Claire raises her voice .
As expected, it would make me doubt their trustworthiness if they try to sell me a counterfeit item .
「It was certainly a product made in his workshop, but it was finished by one of his disciples . 」
Heeeh, now I’m starting to get a little interested .
「The sanding and finis.h.i.+ng touches are the same, but Tophnaf’s creations have a certain peculiarity to them . There is one grain on the tabletop that runs from the head of the table to the bottom . Yet this table has two grains, not to mention they’re in the middle, making it not a Tophnaf work . 」
It certainly looks that way .
But I’m sure the Flitch company has experts on furniture .
If the thing about the wood grain is so famous, wouldn’t they have realized?
「This is something I heard from Tophnaf himself . I’ve obtained wooden products directly from him after all . 」
I expected nothing less from the Malordol household .
「Certainly regular n.o.ble customers would always get the master craftsman to personally take care of their products . But if they are sold to foreign merchants……」
「It wouldn’t be strange if the products were made by his disciples and he just gives one final check before they’re sold . 」
Nonna and Mel nod, Claire has a nonplussed smile on her face with some anger showing through .
That information just now was probably not even known by the suppliers of Flitch let alone Claire .
「Gather only the products made by Tophnaf himself . Even the products made by his disciples should be better than the other sundries . We can put them in the servants’ rooms . 」
「Acting on your own again!」
Claudia started giving orders out of nowhere and was interrupted by Nonna, even though she was at a disadvantage earlier when causing a fuss about the masterpiece .
「Ara, then did you want to let Aegir-sama have this second-cla.s.s table instead? You’ve really got nothing besides those b.r.e.a.s.t.s . 」
「……Guh . 」
As expected, she spent a longer time shopping excessively and enjoying luxuriousness .
Nonna lets out a strained cry and couldn’t say anything more .
Carla pokes fun at her and then they start grappling with each other .
Leaving the struggling Nonna and Carla aside, Claudia drops herself firmly on a chair she prepared, then asks Clara to fan her while she continues the negotiations .
When the chair creaks, Clara quickly grabs a supporting rod and props it against the chair .
She might need a metal chair dedicated for her use only .
「Next is carpet . What selections do you have available?」
「Products from Goldonia’s Schups and former Treia’s Riflo . If you aren’t worried about cost, then I can also prepare the high grade carpet made by Kiraff from the eastern part of the Federation . 」
「I will of course choose products from the Federation! Even if it’s more expensive, the material quality is worlds apart . The touch and feel of Kiraff’s carpets…… is so nice it makes your body want to lay on it without thinking……」
Nonna looks on from a distance as she comments .
Now that I look, Carla, who she was scuffling with before, is upside down .
Apparently she let her guard down and got slapped by Nonna’s ferocious b.r.e.a.s.t.s .
「Kiraff? Something that cheap will make your feet rash . It’s no good unless it’s made by either Juht or Mashue . 」
However Claudia doesn’t hold back .
She could at least phrase it better…… Nonna’s eyes are tilted upwards now .
「T-those are certainly items our company doesn’t have…… they’re too expensive and not high in demand……」
「Haa…… you’re reaully useless, aren’t you . Well I guess Kiraff carpets are better to clean the dirt off our feet than other carpets of unknown make . Alright then, we’ll take Kiraff . 」
「Thank you for your purchase . 」
Claire politely bows her head .
As expected of a merchant to keep up appearances .
Her shoulders are trembling though…… she must be pretty angry .
「How dare that pig woman……」
Nonna is pretty upset too .
Don’t make such a scary face…… Claudia is just blunt, she doesn’t any bad intentions .
「Next is…… right now the door is a temporary one, right?」
Claudia looks at me .
This might be a mansion that hasn’t been used yet, but gla.s.s and doors have been installed .
I was planning to use it as is, what does she mean by ‘temporary’?
「It was such a simple design that I thought it was just a temporary lid to block the wind from coming in . Then let’s exchange this one too . I want one with a winter theme, using snow and ice as a motif . 」
「R-right…… a handcrafted door would take some time to make though . 」
Claudia lets out the biggest sigh at Claire .
「Are you an idiot? You should be bringing products with winter designs while its winter time, you don’t even know that?」
Claire apologizes while her shaking increases .
Nonna took it upon herself to start the counterattack here .
「Of course something that only looks attractive during the winter isn’t fas.h.i.+onable . No matter how luxurious and gorgeous it is, a winter design would look too chilly during the spring . You’re too short-sighted if you don’t even know that . 」
However Claudia further exceeded Nonna’s imaginations .
「Haah? It’s obvious that once the seasons change into spring, we’ll exchange the door with one that has a spring design on it . You didn’t think we would use a winter design for the whole year, did you?」
The way Claudia said it was like asking if Nonna had her head on straight .
Does she really intend to replace all the doors of the mansion with every change in season?
It’s not like we can use the removed doors for the upcoming years .
「Of course I’m going to do just that . Reusing a thumb-marked door is nasty . We have to get another trendy door for the following year . 」
Nonna’s jaw drops .
When it comes to money-spending, Claudia wins by a landslide .
So she’s been doing this all the time up till now…… I tip my hat off to Marquess Malordol who supported her luxurious lifestyle .
It makes Nonna’s wasteful habits seem like child’s play .
「Now then, next is the entrance hall chandelier . 」
「I will select that!」
Nonna gets psyched again, unwilling to let Claudia choose the chandelier in the entrance hall, which can also be considered the face of the mansion .
Don’t push yourself too much .
「The chandelier is the face of the mansion! I can’t let some complete stranger choose it . 」
Nonna approaches Claire while speaking .
「The entire thing should be made of either steel or silver…… or perhaps bra.s.s . 」
「No, please make it out of gold! One that s.h.i.+nes like a divine light!」
So you would see glittering gold as soon as you walk through the door……?
「Not good enough . Inlay it with sapphires and emeralds . We’ll add color to the light . 」
Claudia opposes Nonna .
The first thing I would see when I return home is s.h.i.+ny gold and jewels…… I don’t think it’ll make me feel relaxed .
「Err let’s see…… a gold body decorated with sapphires and emeralds…… and the size……?」
「「As big as possible!」」
Their voices overlap .
「……do you know the estimated price?」
Claire asks in a hushed voice .
She didn’t want to bring up the matter of money when the girls were so enthusiastic, though I have a bad feeling about this .
「Magnificent chandeliers have skyrocketing prices . If I were to give a quote for a chandelier with your suggestions……」
I become troubled when I look at Claire’s notepad .
Why do I have to pay that much for a single chandelier?
「Honestly, I don’t want to do it even for this price . Many craftsmen would be able to make it but I don’t know if it’ll be worth the profit if you think about the risk of damaging the item during transportation . 」
Alright, then I’ll have it crafted inhouse .
I’m sure the dwarves can make a st.u.r.dy one .
Besides, they don’t only make unrefined items .
They’ve already proved with my spear that they are capable of doing detailed and beautiful designs .
Their finished product would be much better than an unnecessarily s.h.i.+ny thing .
Might as well get them to make tableware and other small accessories too .
Irijina and Casie break things all the time, so it would be nice if more durable tools were made .
Don’t make such a sullen face Claire, I’ll make sure to buy my share from you .
「So how much will everything cost altogether?」
I’m not going to do something so unusual as changing the door every season .
「The items requested by that lady are all of the highest cla.s.s even amongst those made in the Federation . The merchant headquarters would have dealt with something like this but I think the price will be quite eye-popping . 」
The final decision will ultimately be made by me and Nonna .
But Nonna has pride and probably won’t choose a product with a lower rank than the ones Claudia suggested .
「The size of this new mansion is among the highest out of all the n.o.ble residences in Goldonia . If you were to lay the highest cla.s.s carpet on all the floors and decorate all the rooms with the highest cla.s.s furniture……」
「Enough dawdling, just tell me the price . 」
Depending on the price, the way I approach Adolph will change .
I would either claim it to be a necessary expense, secretly put it on a doc.u.ment, or run and hide somewhere while sending Celia to deliver the message .
「Taking into account all the good favor and our relations.h.i.+p up till this point…… it will come to a total of 30,000 gold . 」
「Haaah?」
I accidentally let out a voice of disbelief .
This is just furniture, you know?
Things like tables, carpets, and beds…… wait a second, how much did it cost to build this mansion?
Don’t tell me it’ll be more expensive than the house itself .
「I know this price is insane . But the goods requested by that madam are all ordered from the Federation…… they’re all items that could be considered heirlooms for the average n.o.ble household . 」
This definitely won’t work .
Adolph will definitely faint and die .
If all the money meant to re-equip the soldiers disappears, Leopolt would yell at me too .
「I’d easily be made into the tyrant for turning all the tax money into furniture . It’s not possible, sorry but cancel all of it……」
「Wait just a minute!」
Claudia stands in the way with her chubby arms and thick waist .
Even though she’s shorter than me, she has quite the pressure .
「You don’t have to worry about the money . 」
Claudia tries to snap her fingers but fails .
Her fingers were too fat and couldn’t produce a crisp sound .
She ended up hitting her own stomach .
It made a satisfying sound .
「Right away, Madam . 」
Clara acknowledges the signal and brings forth the jewels .
They’re the ones Claudia wrapped around her body .
They were covered in sweat and body odor but I guess they were just wiped clean .
「Miss, how much value do all these jewels have?」
Claire’s eyes widen at the incomparable size and beauty of the jewels not usually found at your average jewel vendor .
Surprise was not the only emotion within her eyes .
Unlike Nonna, Claire was not interested in the jewels themselves, rather the value they carry .
Before I knew it, even Laurie rushed to her side with sharp eyes .
「Let me see here . 」
There was a few moments of continued silence .
「…… could you tell me the source?」
She’s implicitly asking if they are stolen goods .
There is no way such a large amount of high quality jewels could be found around town .
Each individual jewel is amazing enough to have its own name .
「From the Malordol household in Albens . 」
「!?」
Claire and Laurie gulp .
They probably know about the fall of Albens .
「I am Claudia Albens Malordol, though I’m only Claudia right now . 」
「The wife of the Malordol house!? W-why is she here in the Central plains……」
Claudia wraps her arm around my waist .
「It’s natural for a woman to rely on her beloved man in adverse circ.u.mstances, no?」
「Marquess Malordol died in Albens…… beloved? Eeeh!?」
「Claire-sama, if I remember correctly, the wife of the Malordol house came to Goldonia for a friendly visit once before and Margrave Hardlett was the one responsible for entertaining her . 」
「So during that time, she committed adultery…… eeh? Eeeeeh!?」
Claire is unusually fl.u.s.tered for once .
「There’s no point in hiding it now . It is a burning love, where I, pierced by the exceedingly thick rod and scorched by the flames of affection, fall into a sea of pleasure and…… mggmhmgh . 」
We’re getting off topic so I block the madam’s mouth .
Now, just tell me the a.s.sessment of the jewels’ value .
「……Ahem, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it . Giving these impressive jewels a once-over, I estimate the value to be about 20,000…… no, 25,000 . 」
Claudia sighs and moves in to scoop up the jewels .
「You really aren’t the best merchant . I’ll ask someone else . 」
Claire pleads her case in a panic .
「Please wait! I’ll get the jewels properly appraised by an expert in the field and tell you an accurate price!」
「Ara, you will? Then hurry it up . That amount will offset the furniture while you can keep any extra money . I’m not trying to buy someone like you, this is just preferential treatment from my beloved, so be grateful . 」
After saying that, Claudia lifts up her head and wiggles her nose .
「Ara, it’s about time lunch . Clara, we’re going to the dining hall . 」
「Yes, madam…… aah, please don’t go so fast . 」
Claudia rolls out of the room in the same manner she came in .
Clara hastily follows her…… the madam surprisingly moves quite fast like that .
Claire exhales deeply .
「Formidable, isn’t she?」
Her strained smile told the whole story without her having to say anything .
Claudia is a person who enjoys expensive products, though it can be taken that she understands the true value of those things .
「Anyways, I’m surprised you were able to make her fall . Was it a single thrust from that huge d.i.c.k of yours that did the trick?」
「Hahaha, various things happened . 」
What a nostalgic story .
Claire forces another smile before heading over to Nonna and the others .
Nonna was arguing with Carla over something like bed materials .
Looking over at Laurie, it looks like she’s about to cry .
I wonder what’s wrong .
「So you liked fat women…… no, meatb.a.l.l.s . So when you embraced someone as inferior as me, was it like tasting chicken bones……?」
Wait, I’m okay with f.u.c.king plump women but I’m not that crazy about them .
I like thin women too, don’t make such a grim face .
「You mean it……?」
The naked body of Claudia suddenly comes to mind .
It isn’t something which can be considered aesthetically pleasing .
But when she rides on top and clings to me, the feeling of her soft flesh enveloping me is…… .
It might be unexpectedly nice .
「Uuuuu……」
Aah, don’t cry Laurie . I love women with a childlike body like yours too .
The next time we f.u.c.k, we can pretend you’re a kid .
Thus ends the selection of the furniture . All family members will move to the new mansion at the start of the next year .
Protagonist: Aegir Hardlett . 23 years old . Winter .
Status: Goldonia Kingdom Margrave . Great Feudal Lord of Eastern Area . Mountain Legend . Friend of the Dwarves . Friend of the King of Aless . Dragon Slayer Hero .
Citizens: 174,000 . Major Cities – Rafen: 25,000 . Lintbloom: 5000 . Vandolea Special Town: 9000 .
Family: Nonna (feeling defeated), Claudia (meatball who knows the difference), Claire (tired), Laurie (pouting)
a.s.sets: 35,820 gold (all furniture -30 000) (offset from sale of jewels +30 000)
s.e.xual Partners: 288, children who have been born: 54 + 555 fish