The Abandoned Duchess Seems to Want a Peaceful Life - Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Kilns, Charcoal, and Tenements

As construction of roads and houses progressed, there was an increasing need to call in artisans from neighboring towns and the capital for the village’s development.

The management of laborers was left to Fritz, the son of the village’s influential figure, Lutz, and the craftsmen giving orders on-site. However, there were still matters requiring the lord’s approval.

In a world where communication methods were limited, Melfina, as the ultimate decision-maker, couldn’t afford to be constantly on the move, as it would disrupt communication. Consequently, she found herself spending more time in the lord’s mansion processing documents while waiting for updates.

In contrast, Marie frequently went out to meet the artisans, ensuring that tools and materials were adequate and making adjustments as necessary. She truly was a dependable secretary.

“The lumber drying shed seems to be sufficient.”

“Yes, the shed originally built for corn drying can be repurposed, so there’s no issue there. However, there have been requests from the craftsmen regarding tiles and bricks.”

“Requests?”

“They’re hoping for an expansion of the kilns for firing.”

For the most part, materials for house construction could be locally sourced. Timber from the Moltre Forest could be harvested and dried for use, while making tiles and bricks here saved the trouble of transportation from other towns.

Fortunately, there were areas near Lake Moltre where high-quality clay could be mined, and there were enough donkeys and wagons for transportation. By quickly setting up furnaces and hiring craftsmen to fire the building materials, they could be used immediately.

While tile-making required specialized craftsmen, former serfs were actively involved in transporting loads and molding bricks.

“The construction progress is faster than anticipated, and there’s a shortage due to the delay in firing. While they’re temporarily working on other tasks like laying foundations for other houses, if this continues, the brick shortage will worsen. Therefore, it’s advisable to swiftly expand the kilns and establish an increased production system.”

“We want to finish the residents’ homes before winter arrives, so feel free to make as many kilns as needed. Once they’ve served their purpose, they can be repurposed for other uses.”

“Other uses, you say?”

“I want to make charcoal. Lots of it.”

Marie said, letting out a small chuckle at her words.

“When you say ‘lots’ of charcoal, Lady Melfina, do you mean a considerable amount?”

“Yes, indeed. Charcoal has many uses, and its by-products are also quite useful, so the more, the better.”

Winter in the Enkar region was bitterly cold. Most peasant homes had earthen floors, with a central structure made of stone, similar to a hearth, placed in the middle.

Building a fireplace in every home was currently impractical, and preparing firewood to burn in hearths or fireplaces was quite labor-intensive for the peasants.

Charcoal, with less smoke and easier handling compared to firewood, was something they definitely wanted to introduce.

“In that case, let’s go ahead with expanding the kilns.”

“Yes, please make as many as you think necessary.”

“Understood. Also, there’s a request for a meeting from the carpenter, Ricardo. He’s suggesting after lunch. Would that be suitable?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

Ricardo was currently overseeing the new construction in the Enkar village. If it were urgent, he could have come directly to the lord’s mansion, but perhaps his status prevented him from doing so.

“Also, Rad has returned from the capital just now. The item you ordered, the one you were expecting, has arrived.”

“Really!?”

Melfina couldn’t help but rise from her seat with excitement. It might have been impolite for a noble to make such a loud noise when standing up, but she hoped they’d overlook it just this once.

“They’ve requested it to be taken downstairs for storage, so please confirm it later.”

“I’ll go now!”

With lively steps, Melfina left the office, followed by Marie and Cedric.

“Lady Melfina! Please don’t run down the stairs!”

“Got it!”

As they followed Melfina, whose speed didn’t seem to change much despite her words, both Marie and Cedric hurried after their mistress. Yet, they couldn’t help but smile at her joyful demeanor.

＊　＊　＊

After finishing lunch and wrapping up the work that had been interrupted earlier, Ricardo came to visit.

Since they had just finished a task, they invited him to the reception room instead of the study, where Marie brewed tea for them.

“Welcome, Ricardo. Please have a seat.”

Melfina greeted him.

“Thank you for taking the time, my lord.”

Ricardo said, tipping his hat respectfully.

“There wasn’t much work today, so it’s fine. How’s the progress with the village construction?”

Melfina inquired.

“It’s going quite smoothly. Originally, with just the craftsmen and apprentices we brought here, we were on schedule to finish just before winter. But the laborers from the village are surprisingly hardworking, and the meals provided here are quite substantial, so that might have something to do with it.”

Ricardo explained.

“That’s good to hear. I heard we’re running short on tiles and bricks, though.”

Melfina mentioned.

“Oh, yes. It turns out it wasn’t one of our apprentices who pointed it out but a child from a nearby village. I just scolded them all a while ago.”

Ricardo replied with a wry expression, scratching his bald head.

“Ah, could it be Rod?”

Melfina wondered.

“Yes, that’s right. I heard he’s one of our boys with ‘talent’. He calculated exactly how many days it would take for us to run out of tiles based on the number of houses we’re building and the daily deliveries we’re receiving.”

Ricardo explained.

“He’s always been a reliable child, but lately, he’s become even more dependable.”

Melfina remarked, feeling a warm sense of pride as she thought about the child who looked up to her being praised by others.

“Yes, and not just that child, but also the villagers participating as laborers seem to greatly admire you, my lord.”

Ricardo remarked.

Melfina smiled at that, pleased, and then asked a sudden question.

“Ricardo, would pottery artisans come if we requested them from the guild? Or is it more common to order from the city or village?”

“It depends on the item. For pottery production, you’d need a kiln, and there are different types of clay and techniques depending on the region. So, typically, ordering would be more common. However, if you need a large quantity of something less specialized, it might be better to have artisans come. …May I ask what you’re considering?”

Melfina illustrated with her hands, forming a round shape about knee-high.

“Something like this, a pottery fire basin. It’s used for burning charcoal to provide warmth and humidity indoors, mainly during the winter. Imagine a portable hearth. Having one makes simple cooking easier too. I’d like each household to have one before the snow falls.”

At the mention of each household having one, Ricardo paused with a cup in hand.

Enkar village had a population of about two hundred. Considering the former serfs recently brought in by the current lord, the total might reach about three hundred residents, likely divided into around seventy households.

If each household were to have one, it would be a significant number.

“With that many, it would be better to build a kiln in the village and call in artisans. But why such a request?”

Ricardo inquired.

“Cold weather can lead to various illnesses, and I want everyone to stay warm during winter if possible. A fire basin not only warms the room but also boils water, cooks stews with pots, and can even bake flatbread with cornmeal.”

Melfina explained.

“I see. So, even without going to the communal kitchen, they can have warm meals.”

Ricardo concluded, nodding in understanding.

Especially for farmers, breakfast often consists of simple fare like steamed sweet potatoes or dense bread with grains, accompanied by ale.

Lunch typically involves bean or vegetable soup, with occasional baking of bread every few days using a communal oven. This communal cooking approach, making large batches at once to conserve firewood, is a common practice in rural areas.

While homes have a central space resembling a hearth called an “iro”, it’s mostly used for warmth in the winter.

“If households have their own heat source, they don’t need to venture out in the cold unnecessarily. Ideally, I’d like everyone to enjoy a warm cup of tea in the morning.”

Melfina explained.

Despite being freed, former serfs’ homes are modestly constructed. They plan to patch up any gaps before winter, but it’s amateur work, and children hear stories of families huddling around a single blanket near the hearth to sleep during winter nights.

Melfina would like to provide homes for them too, but doing so would create disparities in support among Enkar villagers. They endured hardships as pioneers and built the current community. The funds for the ongoing construction projects come from their taxes, so providing homes for serfs might breed resentment.

However, subjecting them to harsh winters isn’t an option.

After much consideration, Melfina introduced a new system called “row houses”.

Traditional farmhouses consist of two rooms: a dirt floor and a bedroom. Row houses, on the other hand, are single-room units without a hearth, accommodating eight households per building, with sixteen units in total facing each other. Each row house has a communal hearth and toilet.

The introduction of toilets serves another purpose for Melfina.

…By omitting the hearth, they avoid paying hearth taxes, and historically, row house landlords earned more from human waste fertilizer than from rent itself. While they plan to introduce communal toilets to Enkar village eventually, the practice of disposing of waste indiscriminately remains prevalent, not only in Enkar but also in most areas outside noble districts in the capital cities.

Changing long-standing customs abruptly can be challenging. However, in the case of row houses, Melfina is the owner of the buildings.

It’s relatively easier for the owner to designate the location for waste disposal as part of their authority.

As for the rent for row houses, since the former serf settlement was granted ownership of half of the vast farmland they developed this summer, they will pay a portion of the harvested wheat and corn according to a predetermined ratio.

… Perhaps we could consider a system where residents have the right to transfer their tenancy after living there for a certain period, like ten or fifteen years.

As Enkar region continues to develop, it’s likely that more residents will eventually save up and own their own homes.

While it’s just a hope, by that time, any disparities between the new Enkar village and the former serfs should have disappeared.

For Melfina, both pioneers and former serfs are her subjects. She wants to treat them equally and with care, without distinction.

That’s what she hoped for.