The Abandoned Duchess Seems to Want a Peaceful Life - Chapter 127

Chapter 127: The Priest’s Visit

The northern region from spring to summer is the rainy season.

While it isn’t pouring rain, light showers and downpours continue to alternate, and days pass with hardly any opportunity to see a clear sky.

Fortunately, on that day, the rain had stopped since morning. The sky was covered in gray clouds, but a few rays of sunlight broke through the slight openings.

“I am Melfina von Oldrand. Thank you for coming all the way here, dear priest.”

“My name is Emil. It has been a while, Duchess.”

The priest, appearing to be in his mid-thirties, spoke in a gentle tone.

“I attended last year’s wedding of the ducal family as one of the church’s representatives. Given your request, normally, it would be the archbishop who would come, but due to his advanced age, I, who serve the parish of Soarasonne, have taken his place.”

Clad in a black ceremonial robe, Emil responded with a friendly smile.

His glossy black hair, a rarity in this world, indeed lingered faintly in the memories of the wedding.

“Thank you, August, for the guidance and security. It must be tough going back and forth between the territorial capital and here recently, isn’t it?”

“I don’t particularly like staying holed up in the office, so this has been a rather pleasant break for me. Melfina, for now, how about we guide Emil inside?”

With an unusually formal demeanor, Melfina nodded and started walking, urging Emil to follow her.

“Is it alright if I leave the carriage to your household staff?”

“No, I brought someone to take care of the horses and carriage, so please leave the management to them. There are also holy relics and other difficult items to handle.”

“Well then, I will let it be as such.”

I had heard that a priest was coming, but I didn’t expect three large carriages to arrive. It seems there are ten church members accompanying them, excluding the five guards from the ducal family.

“Since the lord’s mansion here is very small and we are currently hosting distinguished guests, I apologize, but you will have to stay in the newly completed annex. Meals will be prepared in that kitchen.”

“Please, don’t trouble yourselves. There are restrictions on what can be consumed as a member of the clergy, and I have someone knowledgeable in cooking accompanying me, so as long as we can use the kitchen, we will prepare our own meals here.”

“In that case, I will arrange for the ingredients, so if there is anything you need or anything lacking, please let me know.”

Although Emil’s demeanor is gentle and his tone relaxed, one can sense a high level of education and refinement in his every word. He is likely of noble birth or was rigorously trained in etiquette after entering the church at a young age.

The newly completed annex was thoroughly cleaned and well-maintained. Although it is customary in this world to wear shoes indoors, instead of the typical method of spreading straw on the dirt floor, all the rooms had wooden flooring.

I had been informed in advance that the priest being dispatched would have someone to attend to his needs, so it was a relief that no servants or maids would be required. If any were needed, it would have been necessary to borrow them from the ducal family beforehand.

As the host, I asked Marie and Anna to prepare the first tea. In the annex’s lounge, in addition to Emil, there was a well-built man dressed in a black cassock, likely one of his guards, and August, the guide from the ducal family, along with Melfina and the knight Cedric.

I prepared the finest black tea I received from Alexis, and Melfina took the first sip.

“I heard that the Enkar region is developing, but I was surprised by how lively it is, beyond my imagination. You seem to produce a variety of things here.”

“Being somewhat distant from the villages, we have fortunately not been greatly affected by famine, so we have a bit more leeway than other areas in the north. Public projects also help to provide relief to merchants and craftsmen.”

“That is a wonderful mindset. Moreover, there are few lords who wish to give ‘blessings’ to commoner children, like in this case, so I was glad I volunteered to be dispatched to see it with my own eyes.”

“I truly feel it is burdensome to have you come all this way. It is the proper custom for us to take the children from here, so I appreciate it greatly.”

Melfina smiled at Emil’s words as she elegantly sipped her tea.

“Though it may not be what the knight over there would say, as a priest, I spend most of my days within the church and rarely have the chance to go outside the parish. It’s actually a privilege to be able to take a trip like this, breathe in the outside air, and enjoy what I like to drink.”

“Well, I’m glad to hear that. It may be difficult every year, but if you could come to bless the children even once every few years, I would be very pleased.”

They exchanged words about the recent atmosphere in the territorial capital and the crops being grown in the Enkar region, sharing gentle laughter.

“Is it true that the security situation is worsening even in Soarasonne?”

“Yes, those who provide soup kitchens and sermons in the poor districts are clearly noting that the conditions for the impoverished have deteriorated compared to previous years. We would like to increase the frequency of soup kitchens as much as possible, but we’re also managing the remaining food, so it’s quite difficult.”

While the temple is more famous for its support of the weak, it seems the church, which also preaches divine salvation, is not completely inactive in such activities.

Glancing subtly at August, he quickly seemed to understand my intent. Instead of nodding, he lowered his eyelids just enough for Melfina to notice.

“I will ask my husband to provide support for food to the church.”

“I would greatly appreciate that.”

Although a considerable amount of donations had been made for this dispatch, it is meaningless if there isn’t enough food, even if there is gold. A significant amount of food needs to be provided to reach the mouths of the poor.

Emil turned his gaze toward the window, where the shutters had been opened. Outside, there was a watermill under construction and fields stretching beyond it.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen such a vibrant land. Duchess, are you considering the construction of schools or similar establishments?”

“Schools? You mean?”

Melfina placed her hand on her cheek and tilted her head in curiosity.

“I apologize for my ignorance. What exactly is a school?”

“A school is a public institution that gathers those who wish to learn and teaches them reading, writing, and arithmetic. While the church does educate promising children, this would be on a larger scale.”

“Most of the inhabitants of the Enkar region are farmers and serfs. I can’t imagine they need reading, writing, or arithmetic, as they are laborers, from adults to young children. They wouldn’t take time off from work for something unnecessary like reading, writing, or arithmetic just to eat and survive.”

As she expressed her confusion, Emil stared intently at Melfina and quickly resumed the same smile as before.

“I see; you are indeed correct. My apologies for the misunderstanding.”

“No, it’s interesting to learn that such an institution exists. I’ve gained knowledge from this discussion.”

They then chatted pleasantly until Melfina set down her cup.

“Since we have this opportunity, I would like to discuss more, but my duties are piling up.”

“On the contrary, I’ve enjoyed speaking with such a lovely person and have kept you too long. Tomorrow, as planned, I will go to the village to conduct the ‘blessing.'”

“I have informed each village to send children aged thirteen to sixteen to the square, so please take care of them.”

With a graceful bow, typical of a noblewoman, she left the sitting room and exited the villa.

“…Marie, Cedric, have either of you heard of a ‘school’?”

“No, it’s the first I’m hearing of it. I was taught reading, writing, and arithmetic by the head maid.”

“I had private tutors and governesses. After all, education is quite expensive, so gathering those who wish to learn doesn’t seem realistic.”

“That’s true. I also learned from a live-in governess who educated me and provided me with knowledge.”

In this world, the typical representatives capable of reading and writing are, apart from nobles, clergy or merchants.

Even among nobles, it’s not uncommon for lower noblewomen to lack education and be unable to read or write.

Whether merchants or craftsmen, most enter apprenticeship and learn their trade before the age of ten. The majority of others become laborers or tenant farmers without land to cultivate.

Keeping the accounts is a task typically entrusted to those who have worked for many years and whose identities are well established. Most public roles, such as civil servants, are filled by younger sons of nobility, leaving little room for commoners to break in.

Currently, even if commoners are taught reading, writing, and arithmetic, it is extremely difficult for them to secure positions where they can apply those skills. The concepts of schools and compulsory education will still require a considerable amount of time to develop.

I cannot imagine that a priest of the rank to conduct blessings would be unaware of this, nor can I understand why he would bring up the topic with Melfina.

—Something feels off.

Perhaps it was just a casual topic of conversation.

But then again, perhaps it wasn’t.

“Lady Melfina?”

“…It’s nothing. Let’s return to the lord’s residence. We have so much to do.”

While I appreciate that he came to participate in the ‘blessing’, I want to finish it as quickly as possible and send him on his way.

With this resolve in her heart, Melfina hurriedly returned with Marie and Cedric toward the place where she felt most at ease.