The Abandoned Duchess Seems to Want a Peaceful Life - Chapter 31

Chapter 31: The Slightly Melancholy Time of the Reincarnator

That morning, Melfina woke up, got out of bed, and shivered slightly.

Looking out the window of the bedroom in the lord’s mansion, she saw it was still dim outside. Reflecting on how it would already be bright during summer, she realized the seasons had indeed changed.

With the breath turning visible in the mornings and evenings, the corn harvest had finally ended, and the line of carts had ceased, bringing a considerable quiet back to Enkar Village.

Although house construction was still ongoing, Ricardo had assured that it would be finished before the real winter arrived.

Melfina’s workload had significantly decreased, allowing her to have a bit more time in her daily life.

“Good morning, Felice.”

Responding with a small, puppy-like yip was Felice, the dog she had recently taken in. With fur the color of freshly baked bread and short legs, he was extremely energetic. As he ran circles around Melfina’s feet, wagging his tail, she couldn’t help but smile.

Having received basic training under a breeder, and now being trained by the hunter Godo every other day since coming to the village, Felice behaved very well in front of people. However, when alone with his master Melfina, he would show this playful side.

After getting dressed and going downstairs, she was greeted by a pleasant aroma. Her steps naturally became lighter as she entered the kitchen, where Ed, wearing a servant’s uniform and an apron, turned around.

“Good morning, Lady Melfina.”

“Good morning, Ed. It smells wonderful.”

“Today we have omelets and soup. Shall I prepare them now?”

It seemed she had arrived a bit early, as the other residents had not gathered yet. On busy days, they would each have a quick meal, but recently they had been eating together more often.

“Let’s wait until everyone is here.”

“Then, how about some warm milk?”

Nodding, she received a ceramic cup filled with warm milk. This cup was one of several samples brought by a potter who had moved to the village just before autumn began.

In this era, porcelain was made with a fair amount of skill. The royal palace had elaborate painted table sets, and large, colorful vases and jars were displayed in the halls as treasures of the nobility.

… What if I taught Lewis how to make bone china?

Translucent, pure white porcelain was something easily accessible in her previous life. It could be bought for the equivalent of half a copper coin.

However, in this world, it was an unknown technology. Lewis, who was recommended by Ricardo, was a highly skilled and earnest craftsman. With a winter of trial and error, he might be able to create a table set worthy of presenting to the royal family.

And that exquisite white would become a new technique coveted by many nobles. His name would quickly spread throughout the kingdom, potentially earning him the title of purveyor to the royal family.

If that happened, the reputation of the master who had expelled Lewis would be ruined.

People in this world were simple but starved for entertainment and could be extremely cruel at times. If such a scandal emerged from the workshop managed by that master, the guild would ruthlessly cut ties with it.

Imagining such things made Melfina shudder slightly.

… Do you think you’re a god, Melfina?

Looking down at the cup in her hand, she exhaled a thin breath.

When she thought about these things, she felt as if she were looking down on this world from a great height, moving pieces on a board like some omnipotent being.

In reality, if she wanted to, Melfina could make it happen. She could bestow honor upon Lewis and rebel against the environment and system that had oppressed him.

It would truly be an easy task.

The sensation of something soft and heavy bumping against her feet brought Melfina back to her senses. Felice was looking up at her with an expression that clearly asked for attention.

“Felice, stay.”

Holding out her palm and giving the command, Felice quickly lay down on the spot. Following the rule of praising him thoroughly when he executed a command correctly, Melfina petted Felice’s head, causing his docked tail to wiggle from side to side.

In her previous life, the practice had been considered cruel and unnecessary, but in this world, Felice’s breed was designed for herding sheep. Docking their long tails prevented them from being stepped on by livestock, avoiding injuries and potentially fatal infections.

The era, the place, even the world itself, were different. Melfina could not determine what was absolutely right.

There were bound to be many mistakes.

Even so, she could not stop thinking about it.

She looked down at the cup cradled in her palm.

Creating a cup with uniform thickness and flawless shape required skill. Yet, it retained a warmth and a gentle form that spoke of the artisan’s hand.

Lewis had made it after hearing that the lord’s mansion only had wooden vessels.

He was attentive, often discussing the newly introduced hibachi with the villagers and advising the two blacksmiths, as she had heard.

But most importantly, despite his skills, Melfina could not protect him.

In this world, a craftsman with exceptional skills was akin to a goose that laid golden eggs. There were always those who would try to steal such a goose from another, and it was common practice to isolate and control acquired skills.

For now, Enkar Village remained unnoticed because it was located at the northern edge of the country, with extremely poor accessibility, making it almost like an island isolated by land.

With her knowledge from her previous life, she could make living more convenient and elevate the existing culture several levels. Melfina herself had decided to enrich this land.

But sometimes, she needed to stop and reflect.

She wanted to develop the Enkar region, ensure no one went hungry, and see people smiling.

However, she did not want to become someone who acted like a god.

If she lost the time to waver between these thoughts and started acting as she pleased, she felt that at that moment, she would no longer be “myself” or “Melfina.”

“Lady Melfina? Good morning!”

Cedric rushed into the kitchen in a flustered state, followed by Marie peeking in from behind.

“When I went to your room and found you weren’t there, I was surprised.”

“I woke up early today for some reason and decided to have some milk. Good morning, Marie, Cedric.”

Their expressions softened as they greeted her with a “Good morning.” Such greetings were rare even in her own family.

“Marie, what’s the schedule for today?”

“In the morning, there are several documents that need your approval. In the afternoon, Rad wants to discuss preparations for the harvest festival and any last-minute purchases we need to make before winter.”

“Let’s buy some cloth and colored threads. We won’t be able to go out much during winter, and I’d like to sew some winter clothes. Also, let’s get some sugar and salt in jars, and then…”

With Cliff and Rod also present, Ed began preparing breakfast. Recently, unless Melfina was trying a new recipe, Ed handled breakfast, while Eli, who came in daily, took care of lunch and dinner.

In the Kingdom of Francesca, both nobles and commoners typically did not spend much effort on breakfast. It often consisted of just bread and ale or a nibble on unsweetened biscuits. However, at the lord’s mansion, at Melfina’s request, they always included at least one warm dish for breakfast.

And if all the residents could gather for breakfast, it made for a very pleasant morning.

As the sun fully rose and everyone awaited their meal to gather strength for the day, the melancholy that had settled in Melfina’s chest gradually melted away.