The Abandoned Duchess Seems to Want a Peaceful Life - Chapter 118

Chapter 118: The Light and Shadow of Street Stalls and Development

Around the time the sun reaches its zenith, the carriage arrives at the village square in Melto.

Originally, there were only simple, hut-like houses lined up, but many improvements were made last autumn, and the village has become an orderly arrangement of buildings.

As I got off the carriage, the first thing that hit me was the smell of food. A few simple street stalls were set up, with mats spread on the ground displaying baskets of vegetables and eggs, and others hanging large amounts of garlic and chilies from their skeletal frames to sell.

Since it was lunchtime, the stalls were quite bustling.

“It’s quite lively here. I think most of the produce is grown in their own fields, but I wonder if it sells well.”

“Since the market opened, some people have started to limit what they grow at home and buy occasional items from the market. There are also those who bring their homegrown eggs and vegetables to the market for trade, but lately, most transactions are done with money.”

I nodded with a smile at Nid’s words. It’s a good thing that the habit of using money has taken root in Melto Village, where most commercial transactions used to be bartered.

“What are the stalls selling?”

“Most of them offer flatbread sandwiches with two types of fillings that change daily. They might also include soup or ale, and each stall varies slightly.”

Nid pointed to a particularly bustling stall.

“That stall is quite successful at business. They are known for mixing vegetables into their bread, and they offer various types of meat, including chunked or finely minced and grilled options. It’s reputed to be enjoyable because of the variety. I’ve eaten there several times, and even with similar fillings, it somehow tastes better than other stalls.”

Sense and skill must be like that. However, other stalls were also quite crowded.

“Are there enough rooms for the people staying here from outside?”

“They are using empty row houses as shared rooms, so it’s manageable for now, but it’s getting a bit cramped. After all, the number of people keeps increasing.”

“If you crowd people into a tight space, it’s easy for troubles to arise. How’s the usage rate of the tent square?”

“It’s doing quite well since it can accommodate carts. Those who prefer a more relaxed environment seem to favor that option.”

It seems that many people tie their donkeys to stakes on the ground, with their owners either sleeping in a tent-equipped cart or setting up tents to stay in if they don’t own a cart.

Last autumn, workers transporting goods by cart outside Enkar Village used the side of the road as their sleeping area, which made the scenery very unpleasant. Therefore, this year, the space was created in Enkar Village and Melto Village. Although there’s a small usage fee, it’s more convenient than camping out, with a shared well and cooking facilities available.

“Shall we buy lunch and move? Nid, I’m sorry, but may I intrude on your home? There are a few things I’d like to discuss.”

“Of course. Eli will be pleased as well.”

After receiving a prompt agreement, I gave a few copper coins to Marie and a villager, asking them to buy lunch for everyone. Melfina decided to go to Nid’s house first.

“Are you sure you don’t want to buy it yourself, Lady Melfina?”

“Whenever I go, they often refuse to take my money. Also, seeing the lord purchase directly can sometimes cause customers to focus too much on that particular stall. I prefer to avoid disrupting the market’s fairness as much as possible.”

“I see. I understand, as I would also want to try the food from the stalls you recommended.”

Laughing cheerfully, we walked a bit and arrived at Nid’s home. Although I had visited this house many times, it was always neatly cleaned, with small flowers planted around it, showing a subtle richness.

“Oh, Lady Melfina. Welcome.”

“Eli, it’s been a while. I’m glad to see you looking so well.”

Upon entering, Eli, who I hadn’t seen in a long time, greeted us.

In her arms, she was holding a small baby wrapped in cloth.

Eli had previously worked as a maid at the manor, but she had left her job shortly after winter began, due to the long commute and to give birth. She had been a very reliable maid, so seeing her again brought a smile to my face.

“Have you lost a bit of weight? Are you eating properly?”

“Thanks to you, I’m eating a full meal every day. This little one drinks a lot of milk, so I have to keep up.”

“She’s adorable. I heard it’s a girl.”

“Yes, we named her Sara.”

I peered at the baby she was holding. The baby was fast asleep, with chubby cheeks, showing no signs of malnutrition.

“She looks just like you, Eli. She’ll surely grow up to be beautiful.”

Looking at the lovely baby made me feel very happy.

I’ve always liked children. When I was in the capital, I often visited orphanages as part of my charity work, and I was very fond of my younger brother.

Even after coming to the Enkar region, the first to befriend me were the village children.

“Lady Melfina, would you like to hold her?”

“No, I’ll pass. I was just out in the fields, so I might be dirty. Babies are very delicate. It’s best for Nid, Rod, and Rena to wash their hands before touching the baby when coming back from outside.”

“Ah, I see.”

In this world, the importance of handwashing isn’t widely recognized in society, which likely contributes to the high infant mortality rate.

“It’s also better to use water that’s been boiled when giving it to her. Even a slight case of diarrhea can be serious for a baby.”

“I’ll be careful.”

I felt a bit of regret for saying something unnecessary during such a happy moment, seeing Eli nod seriously.

But it’s very important.

With the improved nutrition and better food availability in the Enkar region, a baby boom is likely to start soon. It’s especially important to actively promote the need for handwashing and gargling in households with infants.

While I was thinking about this, Marie and the villager returned, their arms full of food. I had Eli rest in the back room and began arranging the dishes on the table. Besides the host Nid, myself, Marie, and our guard Cedric, a few people who help manage Melto Village with Nid remained. Serleine, who had taken a small seat, was also there.

“Is there anything problematic in the operation of Melto Village?”

“No, I don’t think there are any major issues at the moment. However, there have been requests from the workers for an inn combined with a tavern.”

“Ah, they can buy food from the stalls during the day, but it seems they struggle with meals at night.”

“Most work until just before dark, so yes. There are hearths in the row houses, but many find cooking themselves to be a hassle.”

“I’ll think about it. What about theft or security issues?”

“Occasionally, people mistakenly trespass on the property. There’s also a bit of taking unharvested crops from the fields without permission.”

“What do you do in those situations?”

“We usually just give a verbal warning. Most of the workers come from nearby farming villages, so they probably don’t mean any harm and do it out of habit.”

In a village where everyone knows each other, even if someone stretches their hand out of a sense of familiarity, it often ends up being mutual. It’s also common to exchange surplus produce or give away less desirable items that can’t be sold at the market to familiar faces who are struggling.

Younger sons who cannot inherit the land often start working away from home early, but those who have lived in their native village all their lives might not have a strong sense of private ownership. In a way, it’s understandable.

“I want to station soldiers in Enkar Village and Melto Village as soon as possible to prevent large-scale theft. We’ll need to set up a guard station and establish rules.”

“Do you think it’s necessary to go that far?”

Nid asked with a hint of confusion.

Up until last year, it was normal around here not to lock doors, and there were hardly any houses with locks at all.

Even now, it’s not uncommon for houses to have locks or bolts on their doors but not have the habit of actually using them.

“It’s fine for things that can be resolved by talking. However, there’s always a chance that someone might drunkenly enter a house or trample on the fields, right?”

“In those cases, the local men would restrain them.”

“It’s a good practice to look out for each other in the neighborhood. But when a major issue arises, it’s better to have soldiers who can arrest the culprit, issue warnings, or even remove them from the Enkar region if necessary.”

If it were left to individuals, resentment could easily become concentrated. It’s important for punitive actions to be handled by an official body.

“When many people gather, it’s not all positive. I want to prevent the situation from deteriorating into a slum.”

Nid murmured the word “slum” with a puzzled expression. As someone who had been incorporated into the Enkar region as a farm laborer, the concept didn’t seem very familiar to him.

When a large number of people congregate, inevitably some are left out. Those who are unable or unwilling to work tend to group together, creating areas that become breeding grounds for crime. This phenomenon is the same in this world.

And those who have nothing are also very frightening.

“For example, if something were to happen and you, Nid, developed a grudge against me and wanted to kill me—”

I said this, and Nid stared at me, his mouth agape, then quickly turned pale.

“Just as a hypothetical, just as a hypothetical!”

“Yes, yes, I’m sorry. Please continue.”

“Well, in your position, even if you hated me, it would be difficult for you to act on it. You have Eli, Rod, Rena, and the newborn Sara to think about.”

Those who commit serious crimes face collective punishment as a deterrent. If Nid, the village chief of Melto Village, were to turn a murderous blade on me, all his blood relatives would face the death penalty, and everyone in Melto Village would be reduced to farm laborers.

“People with positions or loved ones naturally fear losing what they have. But there are many people in the world who, having nothing, end up committing horrific acts. I don’t want to create such people and want to take action before it happens.”

If someone is unable to work due to physical issues, they can be assigned to lower-stress jobs. I want to avoid creating settlements that become breeding grounds for hunger and disease as much as possible.

It’s clear that this is very difficult. Even in my past life, which was set in a civilization far more advanced than this one, slums and gang territories existed worldwide.

If the Enkar region continues to prosper smoothly, the darker aspects it harbors will inevitably grow.

Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t strive to prevent these issues.

“Stationing soldiers would also provide a chance for rehabilitation before small crimes escalate into major ones. I want to establish a system like this.”