"This..." Dahlia finally realized the issue. She was a smart person and fully understood how rough the waters could be for a ship. With Lucas's reminder, she now saw how improper it was to simply place the canned fish on the ship's deck.
"Please, Lord Lucas, guide us." Dahlia politely requested. She believed in asking when she didn't understand—one of the key reasons she had been able to take over her family's business so quickly.
"Lay down old cloth, dry grass, or wheat stalks on the deck first. Then place the canned fish on top. Between each can, stuff some scrap fabric or old sackcloth. Make sure the cans don't touch each other." Lucas said calmly.
"This will reduce collisions and create a buffer to absorb impact..."
"I understand!" Dahlia's eyes lit up as she instantly grasped the solution. Just this brief guidance from Lucas was enough for her to figure out how to handle the problem properly.
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed across the deck as the crew moved to implement the new packing method.
Dahlia clutched her skirt and gave a noble's curtsy before quickly turning around and dashing out of the cabin. She needed to instruct the crew to gather old cloth, dry grass, and wheat stalks—time was running out, and the fleet was set to depart the next day.
After some time, Dahlia returned to the cabin with a relaxed expression. She was relieved that the mistake had been caught in advance.
Lucas glanced at her as she walked in and said, "Go check on the storage of the paper."
"Yes." Dahlia responded immediately, leading Lucas to another ship. She had distributed the five different types of goods across multiple vessels, mixing them up strategically.
The advantage of this approach was that if one ship encountered trouble and sank, they wouldn't lose an entire category of goods. Naturally, the most valuable item—the perfume—was safely stored aboard her flagship.
Lucas and his two companions arrived at the ship storing the paper. He was quite satisfied with the storage method—it had been done according to his instructions. After that, they inspected the storage of wine and cucumber preserves on the same ship.
Next, Lucas checked on the perfume and linen storage. Overall, aside from the initial mistake with the canned fish, the rest were minor flaws. Everything else had met his expectations well.
"Very good. As long as no major incidents happen on the way, reaching the royal capital shouldn't be a problem." Lucas nodded in satisfaction. He placed great importance on this first shipment—whether they could successfully open up the royal capital's market depended on it.
"That's a relief." Dahlia exhaled softly, finally easing the tension in her heart. Lucas's serious expression earlier had made her nervous—she was afraid of disappointing him, afraid that something might go wrong with the goods.
"Keep a close watch on the crew. These goods must not be touched," Lucas turned his head, his voice cold. "Anyone who tries—cut them down."
"Understood." Dahlia responded seriously. She knew exactly what he meant. In shipping crews like these, there were always a few people with sticky fingers—some who would sneak things for themselves or steal food.
This time, Dahlia would conduct a strict inspection. After all, the goods were not cheap—each can of fish was worth 300 copper coins, equivalent to the wages of three or four ship workers.
As for perfume and wine, there was no need to mention their value—they started at silver coins per unit. Anyone caught stealing wouldn't just face a beheading; even having a hand chopped off as a warning would be justified.
"Let's go check on the shipyard." Lucas turned to Mina.
"Yes." Mina responded.
"Lucas, may I… may I go with you?" Dahlia asked nervously.
"You may." Lucas nodded. The shipyard was still under construction, and there weren't any major secrets to worry about leaking.
Lucas stepped out of the cabin with Mina, while Dahlia smiled and quickly followed. She realized that as long as she stayed by Lucas's side, she would always encounter new and fascinating things.
With the War Wolves guarding them, the three of them followed the Whispering River, heading west along the dock. The shipyard was being built at an opening in the riverbank.
Tap, tap, tap…
Lucas walked forward as a gentle breeze brushed past. He turned his head to watch the rippling waters of the Whispering River, then lifted his gaze to the opposite shore. A vast expanse of white covered the land—beneath the snow lay barren fields, which would be overgrown with wild grass by the time spring arrived.
No… Next year, that land would become his grand grain farm. But to make it work, he would need to build a bridge across the Whispering River. Relying solely on boats for transportation would be too troublesome. However, spanning a bridge across a nearly hundred-meter-wide river? That was a project Lucas estimated would take at least a few more years to attempt.
"Young Master, why don't you ride in the carriage? You might catch a cold." Mina gently urged. The dock was still a fair distance from the shipyard.
"No need. Let's walk. It's been a long time since I've taken a stroll like this." Lucas shook his head, stepping through the snow, his footprints deep and uneven. Ever since he became the city lord, he had fewer chances to go out.
Mina quickly got into the carriage and took out a thermos that Nicole had prepared in advance. She poured two cups of hot water and stepped back down, carefully holding them.
"Young Master, have some hot water," Mina said, handing one cup to Lucas. Then, she offered the other to Dahlia, speaking softly, "Drink some to warm up."
"N-No need. You drink it." Dahlia quickly waved her hands. She had only seen two cups, and if she took one, Mina wouldn't have any left.
"Drink it." Lucas said softly, blowing on the hot water before taking a few sips.
"This..." Dahlia hesitated for a moment, but the cat-eared girl had already pushed the cup into her hands, leaving her no choice but to accept it.
"The sky is so blue," Lucas murmured, gazing up before taking another sip. Then, he casually handed the cup back to Mina, saying lightly, "I'm full."
Mina stared at the cup in her hands, dumbfounded. There was still two-thirds left—Young Master's excuses were as terrible as ever.
"Young Master, drink a little more. I can wait until I get back in the carriage." Mina coaxed gently.
"No need, you drink it." Lucas shook his head and continued walking forward. He could already make out the shipyard in the distance, where several workers were moving lumber.
Dahlia held the cup of hot water, watching Lucas's tall and upright figure as he walked away. A man this considerate—it was the first time she had met someone like him. She turned to look at Mina's sweet smile and, for some reason, felt a bit envious.
"Mina, has Lord Lucas always been like this?" Dahlia asked softly.
"Huh?" Mina was momentarily stunned, then quickly understood what she was asking. A blissful smile appeared on her face as she replied, "From the moment I met Young Master until now, he has never changed. He has always been someone you can't help but admire."
"..." Dahlia fell silent, gripping the cup tightly. She watched as Mina playfully tossed her long hair and ran after Lucas. Pressing her lips together, she took a deep breath and stepped forward.
Perhaps… Catherine had made the right choice.
And her choice?
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