I Will Hold Your Hand Gently

Chapter 30: Request and Recruit

Oliver was deeply immersed in his work, so much so that he didn't hear Jerold knock on the door or enter the room. It wasn't until Jerold stood beside Oliver's desk that he finally noticed, nearly jumping out of his chair in surprise.

"Goodness!" Oliver exclaimed, his heart racing, "You scared me."

Jerold smirked at him, "Sorry about that. You didn't respond no matter how hard I knocked, so I let myself in."

"Has the breakfast meeting finished?" Oliver asked, adjusting himself before returning to his tasks.

"Yeah," Jerold replied with a grin, "Our Lady decided to wear the white dress. You should have seen Zwei's face when she entered the dining room."

"You need to improve your manners, Jerold," Oliver commented, stamping one piece of paperwork after another, "You can't address him informally anymore."

"It's just us here, what's the harm?" Jerold shrugged.

Oliver sighed, "I don't understand why Viola married you."

"Because I'm good in bed?" Jerold quoted.

Oliver shook his head disapprovingly, "And? What's the reason for your visit?"

Jerold pulled out a folder filled with documents. "I've completed the task you assigned to me."

Oliver took the papers, opened the folder, and scanned through the documents. His eyes widened in shock as he read through them. He turned to Jerold, a mix of disbelief and concern on his face, "Is this true?"

Jerold nodded solemnly in response. Oliver ran a hand through his hair, messing it up in frustration, "What a mess..."

"What's so important about this Earl Greyhound?" Jerold asked as he hadn't seen Oliver looking this stressed before.

Oliver sighed heavily and rubbed his nose bridge in frustration, "Earl Greyhound was our supplier for the Belladonna Seeds. We're running dangerously low on stock and have been trying to reach out to him for more, but he hasn't responded. And now to hear he's been murdered... Was the murderer found?"

Jerold shakes his hand, "The murderer is still on the run. Do you think it was the work of the Spheral House?"

"I wouldn't put it past them," Oliver replied wearily, "But there's no evidence pointing to them as the culprit, and now we're left scrambling to find a new supplier."

"How long will our current stock of seeds last?" Jerold inquired, concern evident in his voice.

"If his grace continues to refuse any guidance from that woman, maybe a year at most," Oliver answered his tone grave, "But finding a reliable supplier for Belladonna seeds is incredibly difficult. It took us nearly three years to secure Earl Greyhound, and now we're back to square one..."

"Isn't it possible to grow them here? They seem to be thriving in the garden."

Oliver removed his glasses and wiped off the dust, "It's not that they're difficult to grow per se, but rather the germination process that poses challenges. Our region's climate isn't conducive for the seeds. Earl Greyhound had a settlement up North with cold stratification, which was crucial for their growth. Additionally, our soil tends to be warm and moist, whereas Belladonna prefers dry conditions."

"...Basically, our land isn't ideal for the plant, correct?" Jerold asked, trying to grasp the gist of the conversation.

"That's right," Oliver confirmed, somewhat impressed by Jerold's understanding of the topic.

"Then what should we do? Should we inform his majesty?" Jerold asked with concern.

"I believe his majesty is already aware," Oliver replied, adjusting his glasses. "But he's choosing to sweep it under the rug to prevent other nobles from discovering it."