"Man, it's hot here too..," I muttered to myself as I stepped out of my workroom, bright sunlight pouring into the hallway. "...Maybe the hallway needs an air conditioner too."
When I got to the dining room, Mom was already sitting at the table.
"Finn, I heard you locked yourself in your workroom again without eating breakfast," she said.
"Ah... well... yeah," I admitted.
"I think it's very you to get so lost in making magical tools, but you have to eat properly," Mom smiled, looking a little troubled. "You don't forget to eat and sleep like you used to, but... I still worry you'll get skinny again."
She was right. There was a time when I forgot to eat and sleep and just got totally lost in my work. It was after I graduated from the academy, when I went from being an apprentice magical tool maker to a full one. Looking back, maybe I was a little too excited-or rather, it's more accurate to say I let it go to my head. Ah, the folly of youth... Yeah, that's a dark chapter of my life.
"...I understand. I'll be careful about meals," I assured her.
Even as I answered, part of my brain was already thinking about how to recreate an air conditioner's cooling system with a magical circuit. Even though the dining room was just as hot as ever, Mom was eating her lunch elegantly with a cool look on her face, looking like a true marquis's wife.
Meanwhile, I had two buttons on my shirt undone. If my grandma, who's strict about manners, saw me right now back at the estate, she'd definitely yell at me.
"So what kind of magical tool are you making now?" Mom asked.
"One that'll help us stay cool. I think I can use the magical circuit from a fan blower. It's still a prototype, but if it works, it should be pretty comfortable," I explained.
"Oh my... Will it be cooler than the fans we have now?"
"Yeah. It should be way more comfortable than what we've got. I just started, but I want to finish it before summer ends."
"I see. If you're making it, I'm sure it'll be wonderful. But don't push yourself too hard, okay?"
"I know, I know. I'm eating lunch properly, aren't I?"
"That's not something someone who skipped breakfast should say," Mom replied sharply. She's usually laid-back, but her comebacks are surprisingly sharp.
"Anyway, is Grandpa coming to this house this month?" I asked.
"He won't be coming to this house, but he is going to the Lilien Trading Company to check on some products," she replied.
In that case, maybe I should bring my prototype to the Lilien Trading Company too. I want to hear what Grandpa thinks, and Uncle Alex would probably see its value as a magical tool.
"Mother-in-law is coming to the capital too. She's going to help with Tiana's debutante preparations. She needs to watch Tiana's manners a bit more and make sure she behaves like a proper daughter of the Rosen Marquis family," Mom added.
Right. Tiana's old enough for her debutante ball now. She always acts so high and mighty, so I totally forgot. More importantly, with Grandma coming, I need to clean up my workroom a little before then.
"Finn, please tidy yourself up a bit too, so you don't worry your grandmother," Mom added with a smile.
"I know," I replied.
Mom's smiling kindly, but what she's saying is just as strict as Grandma. I should be able to dress comfortably at home, at least, but no, I'd better behave since Mom's eyes aren't smiling.
After lunch, I went back to my workroom. If anyone saw it, they'd probably think the magical tools and blueprints were just scattered everywhere, so cleaning up can wait, I guess. On my desk sits a magical tool that's starting to take a different shape than it was yesterday. What's left is installing the magical circuit and the control magic circle, which is where the real challenge begins.
"Alright... time to get back to it," I told myself.
Just as I thought that, there came a knock at the door.
"Lord Finn. I've brought your tea," announced the person on the other side of the door, who was my personal attendant, Noah Fellner. He's been by my side since I was little, and he's someone I know well.
"Come in," I called out.
Trivia:
- Finn's embarrassment about his past workaholic phase is framed as a "dark chapter," hinting that something specific and cringe-worthy happened during that time that may come up later.
- The air conditioner project is Finn's own invention, but he is applying existing fan blower magical circuits, showing that his strength lies in recombining known magic rather than creating from scratch.
- Grandma's upcoming visit and her strictness about manners is mentioned twice, setting up a future scene where Finn's casual home appearance will directly clash with her expectations.
Notes:
• Finn - Third son of a marquis family and a magical tool maker. Graduated from an academy and became a full magical tool maker after apprenticing. Currently staying at the family estate during summer. Working on a prototype magical tool that can cool the air, using a fan blower's magical circuit as a base. Has a tendency to forget meals when absorbed in work, though this has improved. Finds the dining room and hallways uncomfortably hot. Wears his shirt with two buttons undone at home. Knows Noah well since childhood. Third son of a marquis family living in the royal capital. Aspiring magical tool maker who retains memories of a past life. Currently working on creating a cooling magical device to deal with an unusually hot summer. Gets absorbed in work and loses track of time.
• Noah - Finn's personal attendant. Has been by Finn's side since childhood. Knows Finn well.