My Dear Husband, Let's Keep It Business-Like! ~Countess Anastasia, Raised in The Downtown, Won't Give Up Her Way~ - Episode 32

“It was just as Marie said!”

Marcus came into the salon where we were, carrying a large bundle of documents.

“They said the young people in the rural areas should be working, right?”

“That’s right. We originally had documents that examined the employment rates and age demographics for each region, but as we discussed the other day, the employment rates on paper are never really bad for any region. I didn’t notice it…!”

Marcus, being Marcus, must have been troubled by the young people who don’t work. He seems a bit excited by the discovery he hadn’t noticed himself.

“When I sent someone to investigate, they said that all the young people wake up properly every morning and do their farm work…!”

Marcus is now shaking with emotion, but hey, that’s just normal, right?

No, it’s not normal, is it?

We are just made to think that it is normal, but in reality, “waking up at the same time every morning, going to work, and working diligently” is very difficult. We must not forget that.

“Even so, you’re amazing, Marie. How did you know?”

“The customs of agriculture don’t fade away in just a decade or so. Turning a piece of land into a field where crops can grow is an incredibly difficult task. Knowing this, there aren’t many farmers who would casually say, ‘If I can eat without working, then why not just toss it away?’ and actually do it.”

I see. However, agriculture is also a profession with a significant image of being tough. Seeing the difficult parts firsthand, don’t you ever think you don’t want to take over?

“There are many young people who dislike farming, right? I wonder why everyone is inheriting the fields?”

“Isn’t it because they have the means? Agriculture is heavily influenced by the weather and other factors each year, so it’s really tough to keep paying the same taxes every year under those circumstances.”

Marie continues speaking while thinking, “Hmm.”

“Compared to that, the earldom’s taxes are practically non-existent. There’s no need to be so fixated on profit or efficiency. We work the fields together with our parents as a matter of course, and then we all enjoy the harvest together. Sometimes we face the fury of nature, but we always manage to rise up together. I think it’s only natural for children raised like that to inherit the fields.”

Marcus and Dahlia are listening with constant admiration, as if to say, “So that’s how it is!”

Indeed, for someone from the noble class, the life of a peasant must seem so refreshing…

Well, of course, Marie is also a fine young lady of the noble class.

Marie’s family, the baronial house, must have a close relationship with their subjects. The lord’s daughter understands the lives of the peasants so well. I thought it must be a wonderful estate.

“So… if we take the rural youth as a reference, how can we encourage the urban youth to start working as well?”

Marcus looks at her with expectant eyes, but Marie is bewildered.

“I don’t know that.”

“……to?”

“I specialize in insights, or rather, in noticing things. After that, it’s the brainy types’ turn!”

Marcus was taken aback by Marie’s cheerful remark, but after shaking his head, he gave a wry smile and said this.

“Indeed, that’s true. Thank you, Marie-san. I’ve made a great discovery! From here on, it’s my turn.”

“I’ll think about it too. I just came up with an idea while listening to the conversation, but wouldn’t it be good to incorporate career experiences into school lessons so that children can learn about various professions? I really want them to try out farming as well.”

“That’s a good idea. First, I think it’s important for children to feel close to the concept of work and to learn about the different types of jobs that exist.”

Marcus, Dahlia, and I exchange opinions while reading the documents.

“Of course, we need to approach the children, but we also have to think about the young people who aren’t working right now… The adults seem tougher.”

As the three of us were racking our brains, the one in charge of ideas spoke up.

“Oh, if you need more hints, I have other things that might help! If you have time later, I can guide you.”

Saying that, Marie brought me to a cake shop in the city.

It’s that tart Tatin shop we visited on our first day incognito. Today, the shop seems to be properly open, and that corner is enveloped in a sweet aroma.

Marie entered the store with a familiar air.

“Ta-da! The first reformed young man! It’s the master pastry chef, Tom!”

“Even if I’ve changed my ways… It sounds like I did something bad, so please stop talking to me like that, Marie-chan.”

The person who came out from the back with a wry smile was a kind-looking young man in his mid-twenties.

“Marie-chan suddenly came to the shop a little while ago and yelled, ‘Why was the shop closed yesterday?’ I was really surprised.”

Huh? Marie, you were doing something like that!?

“I can’t forgive you for trampling on the hearts of young girls who are looking forward to sweets! I’ll make you understand the greatness of hard work!!”

The words Marie said that day come back to me.

No way, they really did charge in…

“When I heard the story, it turned out they had come to eat my cake the day before. I felt really sorry about that, and then a family who was eating cake in the shop said, ‘This kid often cries because the shop is closed.’ They were laughing as they said it, but it really hit me hard.”

Indeed, if the store is frequently closed, such things will happen. Especially children, they can’t hold back on something they’ve been looking forward to.

“It’s sad, isn’t it? Sending away a kid who came looking forward to my cake in tears. I didn’t realize that… So, from now on, I’ve decided to open the shop at the scheduled times properly.”

Mr. Tom said that while smiling and looking around the store.

In the café corner, several groups of customers were eating cake that looked delicious. Everyone seemed to be having a great time.

“Well, of course, I want to go on dates with her too, so I’ll make sure to have regular days off.”

Yeah, that’s important too!

In short, I think the harmony between work and personal life is important. A fulfilling job is surely one of the things that can add color to life.

“Well then, since we’ve come all this way, let’s buy some cake as a souvenir! This shop has everything delicious, from Tarte Tatin to fruit cakes and chocolate cakes!”

Once the conversation settled down, Marie cheerfully wrapped it up.

“All of them are delicious, right? Marie, you haven’t, by any chance, eaten every single type of cake from this shop, have you?!”

When I confronted her, Marie flustered and said this.

“I was keeping an eye on Tom to make sure he was properly opening the store!!”