The Abandoned Duchess Seems to Want a Peaceful Life - Chapter 159

Chapter 159: The President’s Visit and the Children’s Conversation

The craftsmen were asking Julius various questions for a while, but eventually, they started politely questioning Rena as well.

The strength and direction of the wind, the treatment after collecting the separated chaff, and the maintenance after introduction. Rena answered each of these questions earnestly, though clumsily, giving a sense of reliability.

“That girl is quite knowledgeable. She’s just like a younger version of you.”

“Fufu, she’s much more admirable than I am. It’s like an obligation for me to make efforts because I am a noble and a lord, but she is in a free position. To voluntarily create things that make everyone’s lives easier… she’s truly a wonderful child.”

“Freedom, huh.”

When she turned back to Alexis, who was musing as if deeply moved, he had his usual expression of suppressed emotion, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.

“Speaking of which, was there something with a merchant from Romana?”

“That’s sudden. …Does hearing that mean that some problem has occurred between the Duke’s family and a merchant from Romana?”

“The president of the Great Lion Trading Company is going to visit the Oldrand family next time. Along with that herald, there was a large amount of gratuity and a polite greeting, as well as a letter stating that one of their caravans had been taken care of in the Enkar region. I was thinking of handing over the magnificent jewelry addressed to you after getting your permission.”

“Oh, my. I would be a little troubled if I received it, indeed. There are no opportunities to wear jewelry in the Enkar region, and I would have trouble storing it.”

After all, she still had a large number of dresses and jewelry that she had brought with her when she married from the Marquis family left in the Duke’s house.

Until last year, the lord’s residence was small and there was no place to put them, but she might as well take them back.

It was more convenient to leave them in the Duke’s house, where security and storage conditions were perfect, and Alexis didn’t say anything, so she had left them there.

“It’s also rude to keep occupying the Duchess’s room, so shall I take it back along with the dresses?”

“If you have trouble storing them, you can leave them there. It’s more convenient for me if the Duchess’s room is full.”

The lack of reality in their marriage must be causing a stir around them. That was like the pragmatist Alexis.

“Then, please leave them in my room. …Is the Great Lion Trading Company such a large trading company?”

“It’s one of the top five in Romana. However, unlike other trading companies with a long history, it has grown relatively recently. The current president is the second generation, but he’s a man famous for rarely showing himself in public.”

Being one of the top five in Romana, an exporting powerhouse, meant that the president alone must have assets comparable to those of a great noble in other countries.

Since he was a merchant, he probably wasn’t a noble. He was probably one of the top-level, wealthy commoners in this world.

“There wasn’t any particularly big problem, but the person leading the caravan gave a slightly excessive gratuity to one of our servants, so I lightly reprimanded them.”

“Your reprimand, huh. It must have been quite painful.”

There was a sound like a breath escaping, and she wondered if he had laughed, but Alexis’s gaze was directed at the wheat field swaying in the summer breeze, and Melfina couldn’t see his face well from her perspective.

“That trading company’s head clerk is practically in charge of all transactions with other countries, and the president, who rarely leaves the country, declared that he would go all the way to the northern part of the neighboring country. Merchants in other cities are buzzing about what on earth happened.”

“There’s no need to make such a big deal out of it. That’s why I only reprimanded them.”

Melfina had only taken measures because she thought that if she were looked down upon as a young female lord, it could hinder future commercial transactions. She didn’t expect that someone even higher up than Antonio, who handled all the transactions with the Duke’s family, would come out.

“Is there a possibility that that reprimand was a little too harsh?”

“How should I say… I think it’s up to the other party how they take it.”

“Are you willing to attend the president’s visit?”

“…Well, I would be grateful if I could. Should I go to the Duke’s house?”

“No, I’ll bring him here. He’s coming all the way from Romana to the north anyway, so it’s within the margin of error, and you’ll feel stifled if you always have to trade through the Duke’s house.”

The fact that Antonio trades with Melfina is largely due to the fact that it is a request from the Duke’s family. Because she is the Duchess, he comes all the way to this northern end and picks up trades that are not very profitable.

But if she wants to continue trading even after giving up the title of Duchess, Melfina herself needs to be recognized by them.

“When will the president be coming?”

“It takes a considerable amount of time just to come and go. It will probably be around autumn.”

In winter, the north is closed off by snow, and the Duke’s family has no time to welcome guests because they are busy exterminating monsters. If he is to visit this year, that time is the most suitable.

“Then, I will also prepare to welcome him. So that I am seen as a good trading partner.”

“…Don’t overdo it.”

Melfina smiled wryly at Alexis’s slightly heavy tone.

It was as if she always overdid everything.

“My dream is just to live quietly and peacefully without standing out, that’s all.”

“Haha, that’s quite the magnificent dream.”

This time, Alexis laughed clearly, and Melfina pouted slightly, as if sulking, and then exhaled a breath.

Melfina’s goal had been consistent from the beginning, but the fact that she couldn’t get people to believe it was probably due to her usual behavior.

* * *

At Alexis’s request, she accompanied him to inspect the irrigation pond, irrigation methods, waterways, and their pavement around Melto Village, and returned to the square before lunch.

The craftsmen were still buzzing around the agricultural implements, but it seemed that the explanation of the mechanisms was over, and Julius and Rena seemed to have been freed from the explanation.

Julius and Rena seemed to be chatting, using wooden boxes as chairs in the corner of the square, and William seemed to be joining them, with August seriously serving as a guard behind them.

She separated from Alexis, who had started talking to Nid about the operation of the irrigation, and headed towards Julius and the others. Julius seemed to notice her immediately, but put his finger to his mouth and winked like a mischievous child.

It seemed that he wanted her to come quietly. August also noticed her immediately, but seemed determined to pretend not to notice Melfina with a composed expression.

“You’re amazing. You’re much younger than me, but you’re thinking about such things?”

“Thinking has nothing to do with age. Besides, thinking and studying is fun, right?”

“Fun… I’ve never thought of it that way.”

“It’s fun! Right now, I’m being taught letters by Yuri-oniichan. He said that if I can read and write, I’ll be allowed to read books too. I’m really looking forward to it.”

“For me, studying is a means to an end. It’s something I have to do, even if I don’t like it or it’s a pain.”

“My big brother said something similar. He wants to be a ‘facility officer’? in the future. It seems like he has to study a lot for that.”

“Commoners… no, I hope your brother’s dream comes true.”

“Yes! I hope Lord William’s dream comes true too!”

Rena, who had said that with a carefree smile, noticed her and her expression brightened.

“Lady Mel! Is the inspection over?”

“Yes, I just got back a little while ago. Lord William, thank you for getting along with Rena.”

“No, um, it is I who have learned a lot.”

He seemed to feel embarrassed about being seen sitting on a wooden box, and she stopped him from trying to stand up with the palm of her hand.

“Marie, shall we join them?”

“Yes, by all means.”

“It’s almost lunchtime, so if you’d like, let’s eat here.”

Melfina brought an empty wooden box and sat down, and William’s eyes widened. Marie, who sat next to him, smiled gently at him.

“Lord William, there are various styles depending on the region, and this is the Enkar region style.”

“Is that so, Marie o… Lady Marie.”

“Yes, it will be easier if you get used to it sooner, I’m sure.”

It was far from the style of the nobility, but William seemed relieved to hear that.

He seemed to not want to be seen in such an unseemly scene by Marie, rather than by Melfina.

When her eyes met August’s, who was behind William sitting across from her, he gave a faint, silent wry smile.

—The path to becoming a government official is almost closed to commoners. Moreover, a facility officer is a very elite position.

Even though he was young, William probably knew that it was futile for a commoner to aim to be a facility officer.

But he had told Rena that he hoped her dream would come true.

From the fact that he was looking commoners in the eye and talking to them despite being the heir to the Duke’s family, it was clear that he was not tainted by aristocratic ways.

He didn’t show any of the recklessness of a boy his age.

However, the way he behaved much more maturely than his age made her feel somewhat pained.

It might have been because she was reminded of herself back when she had been separated from her nanny and was straining to behave perfectly as a marquis’ daughter.