The Abandoned Duchess Seems to Want a Peaceful Life - Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Talent and the Aesthetic of Men

The Enkar region was suddenly in the midst of a construction rush.

Workers from outside and villagers mingled and worked together. As the influx of external people increased, the demand for lodging and food surged. Melfina responded by temporarily allowing the establishment of a free market.

The land chosen for the new village square was first cleared, a cornerstone was laid, and temporary facilities were built for the craftsmen to lodge in, allowing the villagers to engage in business around them.

The residents of Enkar Village were not accustomed to doing business with outsiders. Thanks to Cedric’s decree that anyone who caused trouble would never be permitted again, there were no major conflicts. However, some who tried their hand at business found it wasn’t for them and returned to manual labor or autumn-sown fields.

Among them, some succeeded in business.

Currently, the plentiful foods in Enkar Village are corn, chicken, and various vegetables. The flavor is usually added with salt and moon hare leaves, which impart a pepper-like taste, and some people add ginger and garlic. These ingredients are often fried in a pan.

Melfina had tasted it too, and it was quite substantial and heavily salted, befitting a meal for manual laborers.

The cooking method was simple, so even with some differences in skill, the taste shouldn’t vary much. Yet, there were clearly busy stalls and those where people only reluctantly lined up.

That’s the nature of business. After the harvest transport is over, it might be worth asking those who wish to continue if they would like to work in the newly planned eateries.

Though Melfina now spends most of her time cooped up in her office working, she makes it a point to go outside every few days to walk around the village and the new construction areas. Supposedly, it’s for inspection, but it’s more for a change of pace.

“It’s said that when Lady Melfina speaks to them, their work efficiency improves afterward.”

“She’s a scary lord, isn’t she?”

“Hehe.”

Marie, who rarely laughed aloud, caused Melfina to chuckle and shake her shoulders. When Melfina and Marie walked side by side, people would stop working to watch them, and supervisors who scolded the slackers would themselves be entranced. When even the supervisors were distracted, Cedric’s stern gaze behind them would hastily send everyone back to work.

“Looks like there haven’t been any major troubles, so it’s peaceful.”

“…Yes, indeed.”

As they walked through the area where new buildings were being constructed, Melfina encountered a familiar face.

“Oh, hello, Lady Melfina!”

“Well, if it isn’t Rod. It’s rare to meet in Enkar Village.”

“Dad says the fields have enough hands, so I’ve been helping around here a lot lately. He said I could use what I earn as my allowance.”

In this world, even children are considered valuable labor. It’s common for children Rod’s age to work as apprentices or servants from a young age, and going out to the fields is just a part of life.

While serfs are restricted to farming assigned lands or performing tasks ordered by the lord, once freed from those duties, it seems children are naturally curious about other types of work.

“I see. What are you up to now?”

Surprisingly, Rod was holding a slate and a stylus. He seemed to be writing numbers on a thin wooden board.

The answer to Melfina’s question came from one of the men taking a break nearby, not Rod.

“This lad was wandering around, so during our break, I taught him some arithmetic to figure out the quantities of bricks and tiles we need. It started as a joke, but he caught on faster than us, so we’re letting him handle the simple calculations.”

“Well…”

“These fellas are being dramatic. But if this lad has a talent, maybe it’s worth having him evaluated by the church and getting blessed. If he’s good, sending him to the city as an apprentice might be the best move.”

“They’re exaggerating, Rod. It’s hard work, you know.”

“Yeah, you have to write the numbers properly, or you won’t get the right answer.”

“Remembering ten numbers and being able to do four-digit calculations in three days is something special, lad.”

“That’s right, Rod. It’s really quite impressive.”

Just a few weeks ago, Rod was living as the child of a serf. It’s unlikely he had any prior education in reading or arithmetic, so if he’s already able to do calculations taught by the carpenters, it can be considered a special talent.

“Heh.”

Yet, despite this, Rod seems delighted, smiling happily at the praise from the adults.

For Rod, the newly acquired skill probably still feels like an extension of play.

Even in my previous life, I’ve heard stories of children who could remember the names of hundreds of characters or memorize entire timetables. Many of these abilities seemed to fade as they grew older, but in this world, there exists something called “talent”.

When a child’s talent begins to sprout, they receive a blessing at the church for boys or the temple for girls, and that talent becomes fixed as their personal ability.

—Melfina herself received a blessing at the temple as a child. What she acquired was “appraisal”, and she was quite disappointed, if I recall correctly.

“Appraisal” is a talent that has a reasonable chance of being obtained if you are accustomed to first-class items as a noble’s child. Merchants who frequent the mansion have even more precise “appraisal” skills and extensive experience in discerning, so “appraisal” is often not necessary for noble children.

However, with the vast knowledge of memories from my previous life and the strange fate of becoming a lord in this remote land, even this weak “appraisal” can be quite useful at times.

“Hey Rod, why not try getting blessed at the church? If you have the talent for ‘arithmetic’ or ‘calculation,’ I think becoming an apprentice to a carpenter or woodworker in the city would be a great opportunity. You’d surely be welcomed.”

“Nah, I’m good.”

I’m surprised as he shakes his head without hesitation, showing no signs of hesitation.

In this world, craftsmen hold stable skilled positions. I’ve heard that apprenticeship can be tough, but once you become a journeyman, you should be able to make a decent living.

For Rod, who was once bound to the land as a serf, this should be a very promising path.

“Is it perhaps because you’ll miss your family? If so, you could just get the blessing first and delay becoming an apprentice for a little while longer.”

“It’s not that. That’s not it at all. I just… I’m fine. I don’t want to go anywhere.”

As Rod said this and turned away with a pout, I couldn’t help but feel bewildered.

He had always looked up to me as “Lady Melfina”, but now he seemed angry, with flushed cheeks.

I had never seen my brother behave like this towards me, and feeling flustered, I coughed as Cedric stood behind me.

Cedric, who had once kicked Rod away when he approached me, showed no signs of lingering shock. Lately, he had stopped showing concern when other children gathered around me, walking behind me, but it wasn’t unusual for Cedric to assert his dominance over anyone who showed a rough attitude towards me.

“Cedric, that’s enough.”

“No, I just want to say a few words. – Young man, Lady Melfina is very wise, but there are things that won’t be conveyed unless you speak them.”

“…”

“I understand that it might be awkward to put it into words, as a man, but make sure you convey your feelings properly so you won’t regret it later.”

Rod glanced over here briefly, puffing out his cheeks and pursing his lips, fidgeting with the iron pen he held in his hand.

“My father said that Lady Melfina is going to make the Enkar region bigger and bigger… So… I don’t want to go to some big city. I want to be where Lady Melfina is going to make big… I want to be useful to Lady Melfina!”

His words towards the end were almost like a shout, a fervent declaration.

Taken aback by his passionate words, my cheeks grew warm, and I felt a lump forming in my throat.

As the carpenters and laborers around us whistled mockingly, Rod almost teary-eyed, continued to glare at me.

But his flushed cheeks resembled ripe apples, and his eyes were sincere.

“I just thought that if I learned to calculate here, maybe I could be useful if I could do something! I don’t have any intention of going anywhere else! Got it!?”

“…Understood.”

Feeling pressured by his determination, I nodded, and Rod turned away once again with a huff.

“As long as you understand. Just don’t tell me to go somewhere else.”

“Yeah… I’m sorry, Rod.”

“It’s fine. You don’t have to apologize… I told you before, but I don’t want Lady Melfina to apologize.”

Though he still seemed sulky, it was clear to Melfina that he was just being shy.

It seemed that Cedric understood Rod’s feelings more accurately than Melfina did.

As the craftsmen chuckled and said it was time to end the afternoon break, Melfina bid them farewell and walked away, pressing her palm against her still-flushed cheeks. Then she thought about something.

“How did Cedric understand Rod’s feelings?”

“Well… I’m a man too.”

The response was once again cryptic.

Though she couldn’t imagine what a knight and a former peasant boy would have in common, perhaps there was some sort of aesthetic shared between men.

For now, once the harvest settled down, she planned to consult with Nid and persuade him to ensure that Rod could receive the blessing from the church.

Having abilities wouldn’t be a hindrance, and he might even be able to take on a job that would contribute to the development of the Enkar region in the future.

Come to think of it, Rod probably wouldn’t refuse either.

“If you whisper that having abilities would make Lady Melfina’s life easier, he’ll probably agree to it right away.”

Cedric said calmly.

Perhaps this, too, was part of the male aesthetic.