The Abandoned Duchess Seems to Want a Peaceful Life - Chapter 149

Chapter 149: The Knight’s Distrust and a Promise with the Secretary

After teaching the bookbinding method and making several books, Melfina decided to return to work and left the common room.

Walking down the corridor, she could overlook the lord’s estate from the open window.

“The brewery is almost complete, isn’t it?”

“We prioritized the town hall and the dormitories, so the completion was delayed from the schedule, but the carpenters worked hard,”

Marie replied calmly.

“Quite a few buildings have been added to the estate.”

The moat, connected from the Mille River, one of the rivers running through the Enkar region, was already completed, and this inner area became the living and administrative space for Melfina, the lord.

Besides the original lord’s mansion, the estate now included dormitories for civil servants, soldiers, and servants; a town hall where civil servants work; a training ground for soldiers; Melfina’s experimental field; and, a little further away, a brewery nearing completion.

It’s starting to look more like a castle than a lord’s mansion.

“My Lady Melfina, won’t you create a garden?”

“I grew up in the royal capital, so I’m not very familiar with gardens. What kind of garden styles are common in the north?”

“In the north, gardens based on church stories or those emphasizing functionality are the main styles. There are also gardens that combine orchards and vegetable gardens in intricate patterns.”

“Creating a garden sounds fun, but for a while, completing necessary things will be a priority. The lord’s mansion is nearing its functional limit, so we might have to rebuild it. But, once things settle down a bit, I might consider it.”

If it were only to serve as Melfina’s living space, the existing space would be sufficient. However, to function as a castle, they would need to add more buildings or even rebuild a new mansion with the necessary functions.

“Will you be making ale at the brewery?”

“Various things, but for the time being, I think it will be ale and whiskey. If we’re going to make wine, I think we’ll need to build a separate building.”

To stably produce fermented foods, buildings should be separated to avoid yeast contamination, and those in charge should also be completely separate.

“I hope it becomes a long-standing industry in the Enkar region. Speaking of which, are the preparations for the still almost ready?”

“They say it will be possible to deliver as soon as the building is finished. However, the preparation of the raw alcohol seems to be slightly behind schedule.”

“The test batch we made last winter wasn’t that large. We’ll check the quality with an “appraisal” before distillation. Even if a certain number of substandard products are produced, I want a sufficient quantity prepared.”

Unlike the trial production, which was carried out entirely by Melfina, Marie, and Cedric, this time, various things will be done for the first time, including those who are making the raw alcohol mash. Melfina had visited several times to check on the progress in between her busy schedule, but she should probably do a final check.

“Marie, could you go and inspect the progress of the raw alcohol? I’d like you to ask the craftsmen if there are any problems.”

Marie readily agreed, and they parted in front of the office.

The barley harvest will begin soon, and the busy farming season will begin.

After that, manpower will be taken up by planting corn, processing wheat straw, and planting turnips and beets, and there won’t be much time to tackle new things.

Nevertheless, summer is a season of dynamism and hope for the north. While praying for a successful harvest this year, she entered her office and was formally addressed by Theodor. “My Lady Melfina.”

He said.

“I understand this may be unpleasant for me to say given my position, but isn’t your closeness to His Highness Prince Serleine, well… inappropriate?”

Though he seemed embarrassed, Theodor looked straight at Melfina. As a knight, he was reproving his master’s misguided actions.

“There’s no problem. The Duke is also aware.”

When she replied calmly, Theodor seemed shocked.

“You see, Theodor, His Highness Serleine and I are merely like an older sister and younger brother. We are absolutely not betraying the Duke.”

It’s not like there’s any betrayal, considering Alexis is hardly functioning as a proper husband, but even besides that, Melfina has nothing to do with the decadent extramarital affairs of nobles.

“Oh… I apologize.”

“No, it was my phrasing that was misleading… Serleine has such a youthful appearance, that the idea of people suspecting a romantic relationship between us is often overlooked.”

Intellectually, she understands that having one’s fiancé decided in infancy and actually marrying in the mid-teens is normal for nobles in this world. However, Melfina herself is only seventeen; in her previous life, she would have been attending school away from home, and the feeling that marriage is something for much later still hasn’t quite disappeared.

To a knight, Melfina’s behavior of being so close to a man other than her husband would certainly not be pleasant.

Even with Cedric, it took several months to become closer. For Theodor, who came as a replacement and then ended up continuing as Melfina’s guard, Melfina’s actions would seem strange.

“My Lady Melfina, the north is more old-fashioned than other regions, and I, too, am an old-fashioned person. Probably, among the knightly class and above, there will be no one who views your attitude towards him favorably.”

“I understand that it’s an unacceptable relationship, and I’ve promised it’s only for as long as I’m in this land. It’s Serleine’s earnest wish, and only for as long as I’m in the Enkar region. Please overlook it.”

“Yes…”

In the first place, since Theodor’s master, Alexis, is tacitly condoning it, it’s inappropriate for the knights to admonish Melfina.

—Ah, but, it might be understandable if I am rumored to be a lady who neglects her duties and indulges in her pleasures.

“I’ll get back to work. Marie wouldn’t allow me to bring documents to my room.”

“Yes. I spoke out of turn; please forgive me.”

“It’s alright. Besides, I don’t think Serleine will stay here for very long.”

After that, although a slightly awkward atmosphere remained, the usual work atmosphere returned.

How much Marie’s becoming her sister had encouraged Melfina.

How much Serleine’s affection, calling her “older sister”, had saved her heart.

She doesn’t want others to understand that.

That’s something only Melfina needs to know.

＊ ＊ ＊

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and dozed off several times, but she couldn’t fall asleep and got up.

She didn’t have a clock, so she didn’t know the exact time, but it was probably already past midnight.

In this world, where people sleep with the sunset and work with the sunrise, morning is closer.

There is a mountain of work today. She needs a good night’s sleep, otherwise, her body won’t be able to keep up.

When she lit the magic stone lamp, Felice, who had been sleeping on the small rug under the bed, raised her head. She instinctively stroked her head and quietly left the bedroom.

Naturally, there was no one else around. Currently, in the lord’s mansion, only Serleine’s maid was in the attic, and the servants generally commute, so there are few people present at night.

Illuminating her feet with the lamp, she went downstairs and entered the kitchen. Mimicking Melfina’s quiet footsteps, Felice followed behind her, moving slower than usual.

It was her first time in the kitchen at night since Julius had snuck into her bedroom.

She took a cup from the shelf, poured a glass from the ale barrel, sat at the table, and sipped it slowly.

She felt incredibly unhealthy trying to induce sleepiness with alcohol in the middle of the night.

It’s certainly not very healthy.

She slowly finished the first cup, and while thinking about having another, she was lost in thought when the slightly ajar door opened, and Marie entered with a surprised expression.

“……My Lady Melfina?”

“Marie. What are you doing at this hour?”

“That’s what I want to ask. I was just about to get some water.”

Marie was not wearing her usual secretary’s uniform-like collared dress but a white negligee with a stole over it, and her usual updo was undone. This removed her usual sharp atmosphere, emphasizing her appearance as a girl of the same age as Melfina.

Catching a glimpse of the cup in her hand, she felt as though her usual weakness and unseemliness, hidden from those around her, had been glimpsed, and she felt uncomfortable.

Ale is more of a drink than alcohol; even children drink it. There’s nothing to feel guilty about.

“I’ll make you some warm tea.”

“……Thank you.”

“It’s unusual for My Lady Melfina to be here at this time. Couldn’t you sleep?”

“Maybe my head is a little tired. When I use my brain a lot without moving my body much, this happens.”

“You should either exercise or get a good rest.”

“I know, but…”

While they spoke in hushed voices, the water boiled, and Marie poured the tea into a new cup. Sipping the still-hot tea slowly, she let out a sigh.

“The corn tea you make, Marie, is the best.”

“Once the barley is harvested, we can make barley tea again.”

“Yes…”

Barley tea has a nostalgic taste and aroma, and she likes it. She often drank it last summer while working with the people of Melt Village, which had been a serf village, to reclaim the wasteland.

Somehow, the conversation trailed off, and a relaxed time flowed.

Although they were together almost all day, this was the first time they were sitting opposite each other in their light nightclothes, with their hair loose, drinking tea.

“I once had tea with Cedric here.”

“With Cedric?”

“Yes. That day, for some reason, I suddenly felt anxious and couldn’t sleep, and I noticed that the water in the brazier was getting low. As I was going to fetch water, I thought I’d have some tea, and Cedric was there unexpectedly. He couldn’t sleep either, so we chatted for just a cup of tea.”

It wasn’t easy to imagine Marie and Cedric chatting.

Although it hasn’t been that long since they were all together, it felt like a long time ago.

“I decided something that day.”

“What?”

“I decided to always be with My Lady Melfina.”

“Marie?”

She wondered why she would come to such a decision, but Marie smiled faintly, as if it didn’t matter, and continued speaking.

“I will follow wherever My Lady Melfina goes. And, if My Lady Melfina goes somewhere I can’t follow, I will wait for My Lady Melfina here.”

“I wouldn’t go anywhere leaving you behind, Marie?”

“That’s the best scenario, but you never know what might happen. Even if we were to be separated, I will make sure we meet again.”

If Marie wished it, even if the day came when she left the Enkar region, she would certainly take her with her.

But, if that were not possible. The thought was painful, but Marie’s words strangely gave Melfina strength.

“……It’s the first time I’ve been told I’m being waited for.”

She thought she was always the one waiting.

Waiting to be loved by her parents, waiting for happiness to come to her, and waiting for Cedric.

She always thought she was the one being left behind.

“Marie, you always make me happy.”

“I’m just telling the truth. I’m an honest person.”

Her slightly self-assured expression made Melfina chuckle. As she laughed, she felt as if a poisonous substance that had built up in her body was slowly draining away.

Even if she hadn’t met Marie tonight, Melfina would have returned to bed, closed her eyes, and waited for morning.

And when the sun rose, she would have concentrated on her work as if nothing had happened.

But because she had met Marie, it had become a much better night.

She could go to bed with warm tea and a warm heart.

It was truly just a coincidence. But, there will certainly be days when she is saved by such coincidences.

“Thank you, Marie.”

“Thank you as well.”

She didn’t understand why Marie had thanked her.

But, looking at her gentle, light blue eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to ask.