Ascendance of a Bookworm

Chapter 118: Interior Decoration of the Italian Restaurant (2)

I cannot interrupt, just listening to their advice and noting it down on the writing board. An onlooker may not tell who is attendant.

"Miss Maine, is there anything you think necessary for interior decoration?"

"… Right. I think it's nice to place a bookshelf in a corner of the room."

Suddenly, Mr. Benno widens his eyes, as if saying "Foolish! I oppose. How much do you want to pay?!" But he restrains himself from saying it, just staring at me.

"Miss Maine, it really costs too much to place books for decoration."

"If it is placed in the dining hall, the books will smell of food.

After the two attendants disprove my suggestion, I nod at them. I know it's impossible, but I really want a bookshelf, and want to state my opinion.

Then, I keep quiet, and just listen to their talking.

"Since the restaurant will open in spring, maybe it's better to think more about carpet than tapestry. The nobles do have carpet in their room, to absorb noises."

"It's not easy to find the thick carpet on which carts can move freely, but it is worth every penny.

The opinions not only from the perspective of nobles, but also of servers are given. Mr. Benno and I make notes of their opinions on the writing board.

The conversation about the number of tables, the number of chairs, and the spare space goes on.

"Maybe that's all…"

"If you want to create an atmosphere of noble dinner, why not use a napkin instead of a tablecloth?”

Fran says.

When I was still Urano Motosu, the tablecloths were not used for ornament, but were used to wipe hands or mouth, and sometimes even to blow the nose. Even it was a new one, the food stains could not be cleaned well enough if it was used several times, so it was not healthful and may be a source of diseases such as dysentery.

"What’s napkin?"

“Each customer can use it to wipe hands. You can see them as small pieces of the tablecloth. Recently, nobles begin to use napkins instead of tablecloths. Just for reference."

According to Fran's words, I can feel my face shining brightly.

"Fran, that's great."

"Miss Maine?"

"If we use a tablecloth, it would be easily stained. Then it does not look high-end at all. Make the size appropriate for an individual customer; thus even if it's stained it will be easier to be replaced by a new one. Cleanliness is important for a restaurant. Though there will be customers even if we use tablecloths. Let's get rid of the tablecloths and prepare the napkins."

Mr. Benno strokes his chin as if thinking of something. Rosina pats me on the shoulder and gives me the tip to shut up.

… Am I overexcited? But I really don't like the dirty tablecloth.

Then, after the discussion on decoration of the dining hall is over, we enter the kitchen. It's made almost the same as that of my own house. I look around, and find it is a bit larger than mine.

In the kitchen, Hugo is talking with Mark. They are talking about cooking utensils, ingredients and firewood. I tell Fran to ask if they have got any conclusion.

“Basically, I will prepare the same tools as those used in Miss Maine's kitchen,” Hugo answers. Though I can hear it, Fran repeats it again and ask for my opinion.

"Cooking utensils are the same kind, so I don't think that there is any problem. But please consider the size and number before placing an order. If time is not enough for immediate washing, we'd better prepare multiple small cooking utensils."

When I am speaking to Fran in a low voice, Hugo looks as if he is suddenly enlightened. Mark is making notes on the writing board that he made at some time.

"It's better to have three suppliers who can provide fresh cooking ingredients of high quality. A lot of firewood will be needed when we use the oven. We have to look for the suppliers of firewood not only nearby, but on other blocks, in order to guarantee the supply of firewood, as early as possible."

After finishing the exchange of ideas in the kitchen, Mark and Hugo stay, and the rest of us get on the carriage to the Gilberta Company.

We can talk in the Gilberta Company frankly.

When we enter the company, I can throw away the disguise of the lady. Rosina frowns at my behavior. If I behave like a graceful lady when talking with Mr. Benno, I am not sure whether Mr. Benno will get my point or not. It's a bit troublesome.

I open the writing board, and ask Mr. Benno about what I care about.

"Mr. Benno, I want to ask some questions. … You said that the delivery of the retaining wall is delayed. When will it be delivered? Is it necessary for the interior decoration? If the wall is not set, we can neither hang the pictures nor put the shelves, right?"

"They say they are making it as fast as possible at the workshop, but will complete it after the winter. They are making not only the retaining wall, but also the door and window frame."

Mr. Benno says it takes time. Something in his words bothers me.

"Hmm, perhaps, you trust this matter to only one workshop, right?"

"… Usually we order goods from a special workshop."

It's ok to trust a special workshop to finish complicated carvings. However, making the retaining wall, the door and the window frame is obviously a heavy workload for this shop.

"Then we have no other choice but to wait. Wouldn't it be better to order goods from different workshops? If you order all goods from one workshop only, when will the work be completed?"

"But we have cooperated with the shop for so many years…"

"You don't conclude an exclusive contract with the shop to build a restaurant, right? So there is no other problem. You can order the retaining wall from one workshop, the decorations on the inner door and the window frame from other one, the shelves or furniture from others. I don't think it will be completed if we don't do it in this way."

However, according to Mr. Benno, it seems normal to take a lot of time to open a restaurant here. So far, the preparation done by the company is only buying the finished product, so it has not taken too much time. This is quite normal.

"I don't think it is bad to cooperate with multiple workshops. However, as it is common to work with one workshop, we just leave the business to Mr. Benno. … Only one thing. Do you think that any craftsman will finish the job if you specify the wood and design of the item in detail?"

"… I will think about it."

While Mr. Benno is writing something on the board, I glance at the next item.

"What about dishes? The nobles rarely use wooden tableware."

"… I supposed they should use pewter plates, so I ordered some. But this’s also going to take a long time. It's hard to get it in large amounts. The nobles do not share the same plate with others."

In a cheap cafeteria, it is natural for customer to eat with their hands. Although less and less people eat in this way recently, and sharing of dishes is not uncommon. However, nobles are different."

If we want to prepare the tableware for everyone, basically it is handmade. So it takes time. That's why I think it better to order from multiple workshops of different blocks.

"Can you order different tables from different workshops? Besides, we can choose different workshops according to different dishes at different prices…"

"You are a little impatient."

Ordering from several workshops at once is not welcomed here. I sigh lightly when Mr. Benno makes a sour face, and think about using workshops in different trades.

"So, how about some silverware and pottery, not just pewter?"

"It's too expensive," Mr. Benno frowns and put on a long face.

"They will be used only for the upper-class customers, and make the customers have a sense of superiority. They can be decorations for daily use."

"… I see. What do you think?" Benno looks at Fran and Rosina.

"Miss Maine's opinion sounds good. Nobles may arrange different plates for the invited guests of honor and other ordinary guests, but…"

According to Fran and Rosina, when the nobles go out for the dinner, they will bring their own cutlery and cup. Some are of high quality, and some are handed down from generation to generation. Because tableware is a kind of property. They say that some nobles often take their own dishes to prevent being poisoned.

"The commoners don't have such a habit."

"If they don't, why not copy the noble’s habits? After the preparation for the cafeteria is completed, we can write in the invitation for the first tasting to ask the guests to bring the cutlery and cup as it’s a noble habit. A millionaire may have his own proud tableware. And there may be someone who will buy some new ones in order to boast. Mr. Benno, do you have your satisfying tableware?”

Hearing my words, Mr. Benno murmurs, "… Yes, I do have some. Though it’s not good to flaunt, sometimes I just cannot control the comparing feeling. If people ask me to show it, I would be glad to bring it.

"Well then, how about bringing in the custom of the nobles? If the customers basically bring their cutlery with them, we won't need to prepare so many in our cafeteria. Neither do we have to worry our expensive tableware will be stolen by customers.

Mr. Benno says that about decorating the restaurant into a noble one, what he worries most is theft, looting or destruction done by customers. Though I do not understand why the customers may steal things from a cafeteria, but it seems usual here.

"Well, for that matter… …you said that you had come up with a plan to prevent theft and hehaviors of reneging on the bill before, right? Please tell me some details."

I answer with complete confidence.

"That's right. The plan is ‘no strangers allowed’."

"What's that?"