Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Journey

I absolutely couldn't understand why His Majesty was trying to hand over a manor in such a precious location to a lowly chef he met for the first time today.

I really only thought of something like a shabby apple orchard in the Midlands.

But a hunting ground, and if it's a noble's hunting ground of this era the story changes.

Having a hunting ground means owning including vast forests or grasslands where herbivores can inhabit. On that wide land of course they don't do wheat farming, and don't do livestock either. Because it has to be a hunting ground.

It means completely wasting land that can earn a decent income just by renting to farmers. Literally the extreme of money-wasting only possible in this era.

Even in my previous life as a hobby of a man who eats a lot of money I counted yacht, luxury car, private plane, but a hunting ground goes one step further than that.

First as a prerequisite strong social status and power are needed. There one also has to have the wealth to boast that this level is nothing.

Usually they say such places are used as places for socializing, right?

But if one calls other high nobles like that and holds a party even once that's money again. Once called for face one has to feed something delicious, and because of pride one can't even collect the banquet fee.

It's completely a money-eating hippo, right?

"Hmm... What on earth is His Majesty's intention?"

There's no way he would just throw something like this without any thought. I think I now know why Lord Frederick got angry.

But well, once it entered my hands it's my possession. No refund after falling.

Anyway, now there was no more business at London Metropolitan Police.

Next? It was the turn to learn the know-how of operating a manor.

Fortunately there was a perfect incumbent around me.

I took Joe and returned again to Lombard Street. And entered the Barclays Bank building and knocked on Mr. Henry's office door.

Because everyone knows my face it was a free pass up to here.

Bang bang bang!

"Mr. Henry! Are you there? Please come out for a moment! It's me!"

Creeeak.

"Hey! I said no one disturb me so I can close my eyes for just an hour... Oh, isn't it Jean!"

A considerably emaciated Mr. Henry rubbed his eyes and popped out. Seeing that appearance I felt a slight prick but didn't show it.

Well, lately he must have been busy because of peanut butter. So even on the weekend he's in the office not at home.

Last night while sleeping the next hit item after peanut butter came to mind and I wrote it down, but for the time being I'll have to seal it. It'll cause a fit.

"You! Why is it so hard to see your face lately... Wait? What is that suit again?! Wow, this is completely high-end fabric! By any chance did you just go to Savile Row? The shoes are new shoes too! Even when I said I'd fit them for you you refused, did you receive a gift from someone?"

"Ah, this? If you think about it it's a gift, right?"

As expected a banker. Scanning the clothes before the face.

Well, the fact that the clothes I'm wearing are quite expensive is true. No less than a full set fitted and worn from Clarence House of the British Empire royal palace.

Wait, thinking about it after changing clothes I forgot to pack the clothes I was wearing before. Ah, since I can't go get them again now I'll just count them as thrown away.

While trying to slowly enter the main point, Mr. Henry's fuss didn't end.

"You! That mark attached to the clothes is 'Horace and Tucker' isn't it! A very expensive suit over 50 pounds per set, looking at the fabric it seems real! Where on earth did you get such a fate, huh?"

"...Was that place that amazing?"

"Of course! It's a place that has been fitting the royal formal wear for already 5 generations! An ordinary wealthy person can't even step on the threshold! Try walking around the London Stock Exchange wearing those clothes once! Bankers and investment advisors will mistake you for a high noble and struggle! In important deals a Savile Row suit is no different from a perfect credit guarantee check!"

It was that much? Somehow, that uncle introduced himself as a master tailor. Such confidence can't be had by anyone.

Moreover 50 pounds! Shall I just take this off and sell it?! No, if I recklessly sell the clothes bestowed by the king it might become a big trouble later so for now I have to keep it well as formal wear.

"Don't stand in front of the door and come in quickly! And sit here and explain a bit what the situation is! I'm very curious!"

"Hmm, can you handle it? It seems you'll be surprised."

"Surprised? Me surprised?! Can there be something more surprising in the world than the great hit of the peanut butter you made! I feel like the world is turned upside down lately! Every day looks different!"

What kind of boast is that? It seems he'll really be surprised.

So I immediately spread the knighthood appointment certificate to Mr. Henry.

He blinked both eyes for a while, then raised his right hand and rubbed hard. And with eyes that became half-closed again he alternately looked at the document and my face.

"Uh, uh..."

"Didn't you say you wouldn't be surprised?"

"Wh-what on earth! That content!"

"To explain it's a bit long... Ahem."

He was surprised.

As expected the effect of the title was enough to make even an experienced gentry banker like Mr. Henry freak out.

It's good, this?

Anyway I briefly recited the whole story from the morning walk to the kidnapping, and treating tteokgalbi and bulgogi hot pot to His Majesty and receiving a reward. During that Mr. Henry couldn't close his open mouth at all.

The one who was shocked was the same for Joe who was eavesdropping from behind. To this guy I had really roughly lumped the talk and told him.

"Bo-Boss! Boss is a really tremendously amazing person! If it was me I would have fainted right there on the spot! I'll really follow only Boss for life!"

This brat, why is he so disgustingly like this?

"Hey, everything you just said is secret so keep your mouth well."

"Yes, Boss! Don't worry! Among the newspaper sellers isn't my mouth the heaviest?"

Well that I know best. So I'm taking him around.

Mr. Henry who heard all my talk also wiped the sweat full on his forehead with a handkerchief.

"Jean, you... How much are you kneading my heart for half a year... It seems my lifespan has decreased by ten years! No, do I have to call you Sir Durand from now?"

"What Sir Durand. Mr. Henry please continue speaking down as you used to. Because if Mr. Henry uses honorifics it seems goosebumps will rise on my arms."

"Ugh, I'll ponder the address problem for the time being. Because that's not something that goes as I want..."

"Because it's not official investiture yet it's fine. Mr. Henry please also keep the secret until then."

According to Mr. Henry, honorifics mean respect for the entire group he belongs to beyond the glory given to an individual.

If only I alone received the title it's fine, but if I unnecessarily speak down in front of others it might become an act of ignoring the entire other knight group?

Moreover receiving a knighthood means being recognized for definite merit to this country and the royal court so even peerage nobles if they treat knights recklessly their honor is cut.

It wasn't something to see easily. What on earth did His Majesty give me?!

"Yes, I understand. I understood. So Sir Durand the king's knight what business did you come to this lowly banker Henry Curzon for?"

"That, you know the manor Mr. Henry has. The one in the Midlands. Please roughly tell me the operating know-how. What runs how, what to check. How the manpower composition is, how to solve if problems arise. Because it's my first manor too."

"Manor? Ah, right. You said you received a manor as a reward? Where is the location?"

"It's a place in Berkshire. By any chance do you know Windsor Castle?"

"Windsor Castle? If you don't know that you're not a citizen of the British Empire!"

"Next to that, there's a very small hunting ground, and it's a manor that manages that."

"Wh-what? What did you just say?"

"Uh... Hunting ground?"

It's a hunting ground? Why, is there a problem?

When I repeated and said, Mr. Henry's face became pure white.

There seems... to be a problem?

###

Mr. Henry said there was a person who knew much better than himself about that manor. He said he would just pretend he didn't hear.

So the expert hurriedly brought. A person familiar to me too.

Exactly, the Earl of Derby.

Just in time he was enjoying wine at the nearby Carlton Club.

It was annoying to explain the whole story again, but I had no choice but to repeat once more.

The Earl of Derby who heard my words hit his knee and burst into a big laugh.

"You, what did you receive from His Majesty? A hunting ground next to Windsor Castle? Ughahahat!"

"Don't laugh, please explain a bit in detail. Is there some special meaning there?!"

"No, no! There's no such thing! Just the situation is funny so that's why!"

The manor I received, the Earl of Derby also said he had already visited a few times. So perhaps he knew the structure well.

But while listening to the explanation from the Earl of Derby even I almost got tired of it a bit.

A hunting ground is a hunting ground in name, this was no different from a comprehensive gift set of flex!

The manpower composition from the start was enormous.

First the steward and park rangers who manage the area around the hunting ground.

They say even the horses essential for hunting are raised in the stables of the hunting ground? So horse managers.

If there's a stable horseback riding can't be missing. A riding ground where horseback riding training or races can be done, and those managers.

After hunting one has to rest at the hunting lodge (*Hunting Lodge, cabin), so a manager is separately attached there too.

That is, a management team that manages the entire vast pasture encompassing Windsor Castle and that area.

It was lumping all that and just calling it a manor.

"Does this make sense?!"

"What doesn't make sense again?"

"No... That's a very important place, right?"

"Right. Because it's a place mainly used by the royal family. Commoners can't even enter at all. You, the responsibility on your shoulder has become heavy. Ughahahat!"

Refund! It's a refund!

What I wanted was just a small apple orchard! Like this I can't even send my parents!

The moment they encounter royalty the hearts of our ordinary commoner parents will fall right off! I'm the special one me!

Tap tap.

The Earl of Derby patted my shoulder with a heavy hand.

"Anyway congratulations, Sir Durand! It seems His Majesty cherishes you very much! Still that gentleman isn't the personality to suddenly do that what thought�"

"Yes?"

"Ahem, just now the words slipped. Forget it!"

It seems he was about to say something important and swallowed? Because his stomach was full the status window that reads the mind didn't float either. Usually it floats easily but only when important!

"If you received the manor shouldn't you go out for an inspection? You, do you have a carriage to go there?"

"Ah, so I was going to borrow. From Mr. Henry."

"What? Me? My carriage can't be used right now."

"Yes?"

Unfortunately Mr. Henry's carriage was left at a workshop because of a cracked axle. Then what to do? It's a bit wasteful of money to rent a carriage?

At that time the Earl of Derby coughed gently.

"Ahem, then I'll lend the carriage."

"Yes? The Earl? Is it okay?"

"Of course! You've never gone down to the provinces once, right?"

"Well... Because I'm a London native."

"The provinces are different from London! There are unpaved roads here and there. Of course Berkshire is close to London, but the road going to the manor will be quite rough. Especially after rain falls a lot like these days even more! In such places an ordinary city carriage is useless."

"Is that so?"

Is that so? Well, even in modern times when rain falls a lot puddles form on the roads. It was a fact I hadn't considered.

"On such roads if you use the ordinary carriage you rode in London your butt won't remain! So I'll lend the long-distance coach I have!"

"Really thank you, Earl!"

Why is he bestowing such favor? Did he want to eat galbijjim? If so I can make as many meals as I want!

"Good, when are you planning to depart? I'll tell the coachman to thoroughly inspect in advance."

"Uh... If next Friday it seems okay. I'll be absent for a few days. Is it okay?"

Thinking about it Lord Frederick said to go three days later. I'll have to postpone the vacation by a week more?

"Ughahat. Don't worry! I'll tell them to prepare carefully!"

"...Is it really okay? I'm going to be absent. It might take up to a week?"

"Well, because it's a reward you obtained by working hard so far! While going down trim your insides refreshingly with good air and come! The scenery around there is very good!"

What? Normally he would absolutely say don't go, and if even a day late absolutely not and cling throwing a tantrum?

Unexpectedly the Earl who cleanly permitted.

And the quickly approaching Friday morning.

I immediately knew the reason why the Earl permitted so easily.

"Jean! What are you doing! Not hurriedly loading the luggage! If we depart now we'll arrive before afternoon tea time!"

A large coach pulled by four horses stopped in front of my eyes.

And the person who had settled inside...

Was the Earl of Derby neatly dressed in travel clothes.

"Earl?! Why are you here? I didn't say we'd go together?!"

But at one word of the Earl of Derby I lost what to say, and in the end had no choice but to nod.

"That's Windsor Castle isn't it? If I accompany won't your dignity also live? How is it, thankful?"

Well, that's right. They're the king's underlings how stiff will their heads be.

Oh, it looks like I'll spend my precious vacation together with the Earl of Derby!