Another world, Celeste

Chapter Twenty Six

When Roy provokes the Great Wolf Bane into a running competition by the village's gate and using the entrance of the sanctuary as the finish line, at the same time, Kinai presents the reports for the lord to review and approved. Paying no heed to the disorderly office; the mountain of books on the floor, several more that are lying open on the low table and the stack of papers sitting on the edge of the wooden desk with the intricately carved legs that never seem to lessen. 

Believe it or not, the head elf's office is more organised than before after Iris made an organising intervention. What's new on the wooden desk where the head elf often works is the metallic six-tier paper tray, wooden box organiser that contains paper clips and binder clips for thicker sheets and cut up squared papers for note-taking. Iris could not take seeing the disorganised papers are every time she visits the office, and thus, she made all those items for the head elf. It's been helpful ever since. No more missing pages or misplaced paper after the spread of the paper clips and binders. On top of that, filing boxes made paperwork more efficient.

"Here is the renewed proposal and budget plan concerning the rose syrup. An estimate selling price per bottle is listed inside after considering the market price for the purchase of sugar crystals," Kinai informs after handing the first article that needs to be look over immediately.

Then, Kinai places documents that require priority on top of the paper tray and set aside the others on the lower tray to be reviewed by the lord at a later time.

Lord Sol peruses through the pages and makes a comment, "Designing the glass bottles for the rose syrup as a way of distinguishing our product from others is a fine idea. Nevertheless, that will needlessly raise the selling price as a luxury good. Haven't we already decided the target consumers will be the common people at the mining town from our last discussion? Are you proposing that we increase the amount of rose syrup to be distributed or the opposite, we limit them as a high-priced commodity?"

"We will do both, my lord. The affordable price range will be applied for the undecorated clear glass bottles marked with the village's insignia. As for the decorative bottles, we can sell them at a higher price as a limited edition that represents our village's artistry," Kinai answers with preparedness.

Lord Sol calmly nods at Kinai's explanation.

"You mean like a seasonal speciality product?"

"Yes, my lord."

Then, the head elf set the paper down, leans forward with elbows resting on the wooden desk and hands clasped under his chin.

Lord Sol shows Kinai an amusing smile filled curiosity. "Whose idea is it? It cannot be Polina; she tends to act swiftly in the face of a lucrative endeavour and report only after achieving results. A rational person like you doesn't own the flexibility to come up with such resourceful schemes and I know for certain the phrase 'limited edition' does not exist in your vocabulary until today."

Kinai cough from his lord's outspokenness.

"It was Iris's suggestion," Kinai confesses.

Lord Sol raise a brow, showing interest.

"When I informed her that we were considering the offer from the Commercial Guild, she contributed suggestions of her own. Iris emphasised on utilising the village's product branding as part of the attractive appeal and it will also promote our artistic works to the masses. Aside from the appealing translucent red of the rose syrup, the decorative glass bottles can be treated as collectable items as well."

"She certainly has a point about using our village's symbol as a form of validation about the origin of the rose syrup, but what persuades you to follow her advice?"

Lord Sol press on to hear Kinai's thoughts.

"Truthfully, I was astonished. Iris's approach is not focused on how to make profits out of the rose syrup, rather it is to show the talent of our artisans by making use of the glass bottle as a canvas. It is nothing grand but in a way, it is meaningful. As I listened to her, I became aware of how there are many of our elvish artistry that has yet to be noticed and appreciated," Kinai slowly reveals his thoughts.

"There is never a need to hold an exhibition as the humans often do to appreciate and gaze at art pieces left by the artisans after their passing. Because we are a long-lived species, elves appreciate the beauty of all things in our own way. Nevertheless, everyone shares the desire to leave traces of themselves in this world but no one can be as grand as the dwarves do it with their architecture."

Lord Sol snickers at the end of his own words.

"In the spirit of appreciating art, let's have the villagers compete for the first release of the limited edition bottles. We'll choose ten amongst the submitted design that best fits the theme. Kinai, you should come up with a theme."

"As you wish, my lord."

Kinai notes it down with the ballpoint pen he carries around in his pocket and enquires another matter while they are on the topic.

"Regarding Iris's contribution fee,"

Lord Sol respond before he finishes asking, "She waives her right to the profit. She insisted on it. Only at times involving money, she reacts faster."

"Last time as well, she negotiated to reduce the price of the item bags before selling them to us. We're grateful for her kind gesture but the price was almost too modest when compared to the inferior item bag on the market."

Lord Sol shakes his head in disbelief and leans back in his chair.

"She probably feels indebted for receiving too much and this rose syrup is her way of giving back. At least, I'm relieved that she still has some sense about money."