The Abandoned Duchess Seems to Want a Peaceful Life - Chapter 175

Chapter 175: Pocket Money, Lively Music, and the Start of the Harvest Festival

“You can hear the lively music all the way over here.”

Serleine peered out the carriage window and spoke in a slightly excited voice. William, sitting across from him, was fidgeting restlessly, and Marie noticed and gently rubbed his back.

“William, you must not leap out the moment the carriage stops.”

“Yes, Aunt Marie!”

“Serleine, you be careful too—don’t go running off or getting separated.”

“Sister, I am no longer a small child. Though I admit I am a little excited.”

“Lord Serleine, is this your first festival as well?”

When William asked somewhat hesitantly, Serleine answered calmly.

“I have attended a few festivals held within the palace, but this is my first town festival like this. After all, I came to the Enkar region last winter.”

“It will soon be a year since you came, Serleine. It went by so quickly.”

“For me it has been a very dense year. Since coming to the Enkar region, it has been one surprise after another.”

“I have heard from Uncle that Aunt Melfina is a master of surprising people. Would you tell me what kinds of things happened?”

In response to William’s question, Serleine calmly told him safe, harmless anecdotes—how delicious the food was, and how he had stood in the kitchen for the first time and cooked. Serleine usually seemed like a young boy, but facing William, who was five years younger, he already looked properly like an older brother.

Before long he would enter his growth spurt, and his voice would deepen too.

“Hearing Aunt Melfina’s stories makes me want to read the book you made, Lord Serleine.”

“Then when we return to the lord’s residence, I will have several delivered to you. Though they are made for my own amusement, so they are nothing impressive.”

“Is that all right!? I’m so happy. I’ll read them carefully!”

Serleine’s politeness and William’s curiosity seemed to suit each other well, and they came to an agreement in no time. As Melfina and Marie watched with warm smiles, they arrived at Enkar Village, and the carriage slowed. When she stepped down with Alexis’s escort, the air was filled with lively clamor and music.

This year too, festival decorations made by the village children and the bounty of autumn were piled up in the center of the square. The children who spotted Melfina tried to run over, but when they noticed Alexis beside her, they stopped short with a start.

“…I have no intention of intimidating them in particular.”

“I did not say anything.”

Melfina gave a faint wry smile at his slightly sulky voice. Even if he had become somewhat more approachable, Alexis’s imposing air must still be quite daunting to children who were not used to him.

“I will go give the opening greeting, so please enjoy yourselves with everyone. Marie.”

“Lord Serleine, William, this is pocket money from Lady Melfina. Please try buying food and drinks from the shops that are out, as much as this will cover.”

She handed each of the two children a small leather purse she had prepared.

Inside were five copper coins, ten half-copper coins, and five iron coins. In her previous life’s terms, it was a little over ten thousand yen, but food here was much cheaper than in her previous life, while processed goods tended to be extremely expensive.

With iron coins alone, a child should be able to eat and drink until full, so the rest was for if they wanted souvenirs or keepsakes.

“…August.”

The aide called by name smoothly held out a leather purse to Alexis, as if he had anticipated it. August laughed lightly, perhaps because his puzzlement showed.

“His Grace is not in the habit of carrying a purse. Or rather, he fundamentally has no need to.”

“Ah, now that I think about it, that is true. I should have prepared some for Alexis as well.”

There was hardly any chance for Alexis, who held a ducal title, to shop in town; purchases would be made by the warehouse-load or by the area of a field, and the payments would normally be handled by the steward.

“No, from next time I will prepare my own cash. An adult who cannot even buy what children beg him for would lose face.”

“There is enough in there that you won’t be inconvenienced for a day, but please do check the market prices properly. I will be watching from behind, but unless it is quite extreme, I won’t say anything.”

“…I understand.”

The adults present watched the exchange between Alexis and August with rather warm feelings. As for the children, they peered into the purses they had been given, took out coins, and their eyes sparkled.

“Serleine and Lord William, please be careful not to get separated from Alexis and the knights. The Enkar region is reasonably safe, but there are many people drinking at the festival.”

“Yes, Sister! I won’t leave Lord William’s side.”

“I will stay beside Lord Serleine as well!”

It seemed the boys had become fast friends during the short ride, and they gave good-boy answers.

Children adapt quickly. If anything, the person who might be most worried here was Alexis.

“Once the opening greeting is over, we will join you, so please enjoy yourselves.”

“Sister, see you later!”

“If I find something interesting, I’ll buy some for the two of you as well!”

She waved to the boys and headed toward the center of the square with Marie and Theodor.

The festive mood made the atmosphere of the festival stand out even more; everyone along the way was smiling and walking a little briskly. They joined up with Fritz partway, and first tried to stop by the lord’s residence serving booth, but even though distribution had not yet begun, a considerable line had already formed.

“This year we took three times last year’s space, and still the line is this long.”

“Everyone was saying that the festival does not feel like it has begun unless they have some of Lady Melfina’s soup and ale.”

“It is a shame for people to spend their time standing in line during a precious festival.”

This year the number of servants had increased, and above all the brewery was in operation, so plenty of soup and ale had been prepared, and it was unlikely they would run out soon. Still, seeing this much congestion made her think they should improve things further next year.

“Let us give the opening greeting at once.”

“Then this way.”

When she climbed onto the prepared platform, a scenery different from last year spread out before her.

Around this time last year, the square in Enkar Village had only just taken shape, and there were only two or three stalls, built by village youths anticipating business opportunities. Now, however, street-front shops facing the square were opening one after another, and many stalls selling food and processed goods stood in rows.

But there were certainly things unchanged from last year as well. The bright, hope-filled expressions of the residents directed at Melfina. Everyone welcomed this day, when they put a close to the summer’s labor, with joy.

“Everyone, today is the second harvest festival of the Enkar region. Thanks to all of you, the Enkar region has safely finished the season of summer’s bounty again this year, and we are able to welcome today’s festival like this. Those who have helped make the Enkar region lively since last year, please enjoy this day together with companions who were not beside you last year.”

The people casually looked at those beside them, then smiled shyly. There were young couples among them too, and she thought they must have been blessed with good matches.

“With joy and gratitude that we can welcome this day together with all of you, smiling! I hereby declare the Enkar region’s harvest festival open!”

A cheer rose, and at the same time as bursting applause, the music that had stopped when Melfina climbed onto the platform began to flow again. The lined-up stalls and the lord’s residence servings began as well, and the waves of people started to move like surging tides.

“Lady Melfina, thank you for your hard work.”

“Oh, Tori. Hello. Did you come to the festival?”

“Yes. Until yesterday I was working continuously because so many ladies wanted their hair done, so I have taken today off, as one would expect.”

As a hairdresser attached to the caravan, she seemed to have worked quite hard. Melfina knew Tori’s skill well. Surely the women who liked their new hairstyles were walking through the village with bright, cheerful feelings.

“While the trading company is staying here, if you like, could I have you do mine again?”

“Of course. After the festival you must be tired, so I can also offer massages to reduce fatigue.”

That was a very appealing offer.

“The music is being played by the people from the trading company, isn’t it? I’m glad it has made such a bright atmosphere.”

“Romana’s merchants travel long distances often, so to relieve boredom they often spend nights playing instruments and singing. It is said that merchants who can play instruments and sing well are more popular with the opposite sex.”

Playing an instrument was also connected to being cultured, and being a good singer was proof of having long conducted trade safely, she was told.

From a different standpoint, there were all sorts of charms.

“If you like, would you stop by the Romana market as well? We have various goods set aside for the festival on display.”

“I will stop by later. I am worried about taking my eyes off the children.”

“Then, later.”

After parting from Tori with a smile, she looked around. She had thought she would find Alexis and August quickly since they were relatively tall, but there were more people than expected, and she could not find them easily.

Instead, she spotted the blue-haired alchemist, who was about a head taller still. He was a little distance away, so Julius did not seem to have noticed Melfina, but at this rate they would be able to join up later.

“We should have decided on a meeting place.”

“If we go to the lord’s residence serving booth, I think they will come back around after making a circuit.”

Marie’s words made sense, and she was also worried whether they would be all right in that crowd, so she decided to head there first.

“Compared to last year, the scale has become quite a lot larger. At this rate, I wonder if next year will be even more amazing.”

“Now that imports and exports have begun, the richness of the Enkar region will have spread among merchants, so I am sure it will.”

“We will probably need to rethink the scale of the servings and maintaining public order as well.”

For now she had heard of no major crimes, and Enkar Village was growing smoothly, but if it continued expanding at this pace, such problems would eventually arise.

There was no shortage of things she had to think about as lord.

“Lady Melfina, let us think about that from tomorrow onward.”

Marie, walking beside her, said with a laugh.

“Today is the festival marking the end of summer’s work. You have worked very hard, Lady Melfina, so I do not think you will be punished for thinking only of enjoying yourself now.”

“Fufu, you’re right.”

They smiled at each other and laughed, and the cold autumn wind suddenly brought a sentimental feeling.

Along with the Enkar region, she too would probably change little by little.

People who had not been beside her last year were beside her this year.

And people who had been with her last year were not beside her now.

The complicated feelings, mixed with loneliness and joy, soon blended into the people’s smiles and clamor and the bright music.