The Abandoned Duchess Seems to Want a Peaceful Life - Chapter 39

Chapter 39: Briefing

As I put my signature on the last page of the urgent documents, a sigh escaped me involuntarily.

Initially, when I came here, there were only a few documents requiring the lord’s signature, but as the harvest ended and plans for trade were solidified, the need for the lord’s signature increased.

Especially now, in the Enkar region, we’re in the midst of the final construction rush before the full onset of winter.

Once the snow starts falling, transportation will deteriorate rapidly. Craftsmen with workshops in nearby large villages or the capital work until the last minute, intending to leave Enkar Village just before the snowfall.

To some extent, responsibilities can be delegated to Lutz, the mayor of Enkar Village, and Nid, the mayor of the newly established Melto Village, but the overall authority in the sparsely populated Enkar region still lies with Melfina. Naturally, documents requiring approval gather in the office at the lord’s mansion.

“Lady Melfina, well done. Shall I prepare some tea for you?”

“I’m fine. But I’d like to take a short walk. Sitting for too long is making my bottom ache…”

The chairs in the office are probably the best and most expensive in the Enkar region, but in a world without springs or ergonomic designs, sitting for long periods still leads to discomfort.

“In that case, since there should be sharpening craftsmen in the village, would you like to go for an inspection while taking a break? They also sell knives, so perhaps you’d like to look for a new one.”

Marie’s words suggest that it’s important, as the lord, to acknowledge the efforts of the craftsmen who have taken the trouble to visit.

Craftsmen willing to extend their journey to the northern edge of Enkar Village are valuable, and even if they sell just one knife or one kitchen knife, they might consider returning.

“That sounds like a good idea. Cedric, will you accompany me?”

“Of course, I will accompany you.”

“I’ll arrange for the approval documents prepared this morning to be delivered to each craftsman.”

“Thank you. Marie, please take a break when you can.”

As we leave the mansion, the sky is clear and the blue expanse stretches out above us. The crisp air mixed with a slight chill of autumn creates a pleasant, sunny day.

“I’m glad that craftsmen have been visiting more frequently lately.”

“Yes, word seems to be spreading slowly that this is a domain where craftsmen are treated well. While there aren’t yet workshops where wandering craftsmen stay for extended periods, some might be here for temporary work or scouting for potential relocation.”

“That’s good to hear. While it’s not feasible to provide workshops for all craftsmen, perhaps we could consider various options, like offering discounted housing for a few years if they build their own. There’s a lot to think about.”

Currently, there’s a surge in construction work, so there’s plenty for carpenters to do. However, with a population of only about 200 in Enkar Village and approximately 100 in Melto Village, which was established by elevating former serfs to commoners, the total population of the Enkar region is only around 300. So, there’s still plenty of work for craftsmen, but it’s not overwhelming.

If the population increases a bit more, various specialized occupations could emerge, and the village’s size might grow. But for now, it’s just a vision.

“Shall we take the carriage?”

“I think I’ll walk for a while. It’s not too far. Oh, if the sharpening craftsman is here, I should have brought a knife.”

We’ve only just left the lord’s mansion, so it’s not far to go back.

“If you’d like, I can fetch it for you.”

“Really?”

“Yes, Lady Melfina, please remain within the estate.”

With that, Cedric dashed off like the wind. Despite appearing to be just lightly jogging, his speed was incredible, and he soon disappeared from view.

Back when I first arrived here, I felt suffocated by his intense vigilance, as if he would never miss a single move of mine, acting as Alexis’s watchdog. But somehow, we’ve become quite comfortable with each other over time.

“I hope everything continues to go well.”

Stretching my arms toward the sky and looking up, I murmured those words.

There’s about a year and a half left until the heroine arrives in this world.

“Now, with winter approaching, next summer feels so distant, but once it passes, it’ll fly by.”

“In the original game, Melfina, who has been staying in the capital, is chosen as the heroine’s tutor. But it’s unlikely they would summon Melfina, who is the lord in the country’s remote regions, all the way to the capital.”

“It’s probably going to be Victoria, the second princess, or Caroline, a baroness two years younger than Melfina, who will be assigned as the tutor.”

“Victoria is the villainess of the first prince, Wilhelmroot, and Caroline is the rival villainess of the master of the magic tower, Juliusroot, right?”

“In the end, Victoria, after being condemned, is married off to another country as part of her royal duties, while Caroline’s mind is broken by Julius and she’s locked away as a living doll, imprisoned in a room at her family’s home for the rest of her life.”

“While Melfina being sent to a convent after condemnation might seem relatively better, the fact that it was specifically mentioned in the story that it’s a convent with harsh regulations imposed by the harsh land indicates that it must have been unbearable for Melfina, who was raised as a noblewoman.”

“In this world, they’re not exactly kind to the villains.”

“Of course, users would prefer the clear-cut good versus evil narrative. I have memories of being a game player in my past life, so I understand why the developers set it up that way.”

“Moreover, in a society with a clear hierarchical system based on social status, the presence of a saint is considered as high as royalty.”

“However, Melfina lost her husband, Victoria lost her brother Wilhelm, who was the only one who cared for her in her family, and Caroline lost her fiancé Julius to the saint. While it’s not justifiable to resort to life-threatening harassment, it would be reckless to attribute all the blame to them.”

“In Cedric’s case, due to the difficulties in smoothly inheriting the earldom and his recent appointment as the head of the knights, which hasn’t yet firmly established its influence, the earnest and rigid Cedric rejects his relationship with the saint early in the story, believing he’s not worthy of her.”

“The relationship between Cedric, who stoically treats himself strictly as a knight, and Marie, who is drawn to both Cedric’s stoicism and his constant efforts to protect himself, is a frustrating yet beautiful route that’s popular.”

When Maria arrived in this world, Cedric was already the head of the earldom. He would inherit the title in about a year and then assume the position of the commander of the knights in the capital.

In the original story, at this time, Melfina would be staying in the townhouse in the capital, with Cedric accompanying her. So, it’s already diverging significantly from the original, but how this will affect future developments is still unclear.

Cedric’s inheritance of the earldom was portrayed as irregular even in the original, and while it probably won’t have a major impact on the main plot, at least Cedric is likely to leave the Enkar region soon.

I don’t doubt Cedric’s admiration and loyalty to Melfina, but he’s inherently very strict and adheres strictly to rules. If he were to inherit the earldom, it’s hard to imagine him abandoning that role as a noble son.

His stubbornness can be a bit troublesome at times, but it would feel lonely without Cedric around.

Melfina has a habit of putting her finger on her lips and leaning forward a bit when lost in thought.

Because of this, she didn’t notice someone approaching quietly until it was too late.

A hand reached out from behind, covering her mouth, while another arm wrapped around her belly, pulling her body backward.

“Ah!?”

A cloth was pushed into her mouth, and a bag was pulled over her head, and she felt herself being lifted off the ground. Confused, she flailed her legs, but the arm holding her body tightened its grip.

Feeling her bones creak, she stopped struggling immediately. Her head was still spinning, but she knew that resisting here would only make things worse.

While Melfina is now embarking on reforms as a lord, she was originally a delicate noblewoman who had never lifted anything heavier than a piece of crockery. If an adult man were determined, he could easily break her like a dry twig.

“I haven’t been stabbed with a knife. The fact that they’re taking me away means they don’t intend to kill me… yet.”

The fear washing over her made her body go cold. She couldn’t stop trembling with terror.

It probably wasn’t wise to be separated from Cedric. However, it might have been worse if Marie had been with her, as she might have been dragged into it as well. So, it wasn’t the worst-case scenario.

What if she’s taken far away like this? What if she faces severe violence where they take her? Various thoughts raced through her mind as she seemed to feel the sound of hooves hitting the ground and the swaying motion, indicating that they were probably riding on a horse.

“Lady Melfina, since the kitchen knife seems to have broken, Eli suggested buying a new one if they’re available… Lady Melfina?”

When the escort knight returned to the front yard of the mansion, expecting to see their smiling master ready to agree, they found no trace of her. Only the cold wind blew through.