The Abandoned Duchess Seems to Want a Peaceful Life - Chapter 177

 Chapter 177: How Two Children Spent the Winter

After we rejoined Alexis and exchanged some idle chatter, I parted ways with Julius. Then we met up with Serleine and William, and while we enjoyed the children’s songs and the villagers’ entertainments, the sun began to sink, and the harvest festival came to a peaceful close.

In the north, autumn days are short, and in this world it was the accepted custom to go home before dark, finish supper, and get into bed. Today everyone would head home with bellies full from the stalls, tired out from playing, and fall asleep right away.

“Rad, Cliff, I’m sorry I made you work during such a lovely festival. Were you able to enjoy it properly?”

“Yes, we were given proper breaks. Besides, I think everyone feels more at ease when there are familiar faces around.”

Rad, Cliff, and Ed had been running errands for Melfina since her early days as lord, visiting Enkar Village and the serf settlement that came before Melto Village so often that they were acquainted with most of the villagers. With such affable, easygoing men around, it was certainly reassuring.

Smiling at their kindness, she watched the stalls close up shop, and felt a little lonely.

“After a festival, the more fun you had, the lonelier you feel, don’t you think?”

“The wind is getting cold, too. Let’s return to the manor. How about making mulled wine with the wine and honey we bought from Romana?”

“That sounds wonderful.”

Chatting like this with Marie, she climbed into the carriage. The two boys, perhaps from overexcitement, had already begun to nod off.

“Last year’s festival was fun too, but this year was truly a special day,” Marie murmured, gazing gently at William’s defenseless sleeping face. Her profile was serene, as if she were a different person from the one she’d been when they first met, expressionless and speaking only when necessary.

But the Marie that Melfina knew now was this Marie.

“Lady Melfina, are you sure you don’t want to ask Lord Julius to stay?”

While Melfina had been talking with Julius, Marie had held her tongue and stayed quiet, but that didn’t mean she had no thoughts on the matter.

When Julius first came to the Enkar region, Marie had been hurt by his thoughtless words. Melfina couldn’t bear to watch the ever-composed Marie lose her composure, and had subtly urged her to step out of the room.

Since then, Marie had never once shown open emotion toward a guest who was useful to the Enkar region.

Perhaps, given Julius’s conduct so far, his relationship with the villagers, and the changes in Marie herself, she had managed to let go of her resentment toward him.

“...I can’t. There are circumstances.”

“Of course, he is a wizard of the Ivory Tower. Forgive me for speaking out of turn.”

“No, I wish he would stay here forever too.”

As a hired alchemist he had done more than anyone could have asked, and thanks to Julius, many new technologies from the various fields Melfina had knowledge of had become reality.

Even if she were to hire another alchemist or wizard in the future, she couldn’t expect a situation like this, where he made idea after idea come true while enjoying himself as innocently as a child.

――Honestly, when we first met, I thought we’d gotten an absolutely outrageous person.

Looking at Serleine, who slept with soft breaths, leaning against William, she wondered when he would leave this place.

That the present Melfina hadn’t been consumed by hatred and anger like the Melfina of the game was partly because her past self had already been an adult with the maturity to accept unfairness. But it was also, even more so, because she had remembered that she had been a person who was truly loved while growing up.

The happy time of childhood surely supports a person through the rest of their life.

Serleine had silver hair and white skin, and William had skin just as white, with the blue-gray hair typical of the Oldrand family. Their personalities were nothing alike, with Serleine placid and rational and William active and somewhat prone to running wild, yet sleeping side by side like this, perhaps because one was northern royalty and the other a high-ranking noble, there was something about their air that felt alike.

“...Looking at them like this, Serleine and Lord William seem like real brothers.”

“They’ve grown so close in a single day. Children really do have low fences, don’t they?”

“During the winter, Alexis and the others will be away on the expedition, and Lord William isn’t even a squire yet, is he? I’m sure he has lessons as the next duke, but could he possibly come stay at the manor over the winter?”

Melfina herself had begun her lady’s education around this age. She didn’t know much about how boys were taught, but outwardly, Melfina and William were in a relationship that could turn them into political enemies.

If his curriculum as the next duke had already been set, she ought to refrain from getting in the way.

“I think it’s a good idea. The ducal house currently has no family members from other northern nobles staying with us, and it’s much lonelier than it once was, so let’s suggest it to Brother.”

Marie said this lightly, then smiled with a hint of mischief.

“Outsiders may make a fuss, but no one will come all the way to the Enkar region to say something to Lady Melfina’s face. As long as Brother agrees, that settles it.”

No matter what rumors might spread, they would likely never reach Melfina’s ears, since she didn’t take part in society as the duchess.

“Then shall we ask Alexis? Perhaps with a little drink.”

Alexis liked to drink, but he wasn’t strong. Or rather, since this world had never had strong alcohol until now, there were hardly any people used to high-proof spirits.

If he drank it thinking it was his usual wine or ale, he would be tipsy in no time.

As they whispered to each other and giggled, she began to feel as if the two of them were plotting some mischief.

“With Rod and Lena living at the manor too, it’ll surely get lively.”

“Yes. Let’s have them grow close over the winter. I think children need that kind of time.”

She was a little happy that Marie was thinking the same thing she was, and a little bit sad too.

It was a feeling that someone who had never had it could understand all the more keenly.

“Grown-ups need it too. We’ll have plenty of time this winter, so let’s grow very close, Marie.”

“Yes... Big Sister.”

Whispering to each other in even lower voices, she suddenly thought, I’m happy.

At this time last year, she hadn’t even known what her own future held, and had only begun to feel the weight of her position as a lord supporting so many people’s lives, and she’d been much more tense than she was now.

Now, with the ducal house’s backing and cooperation allowing her to enrich her territory with peace of mind, and with more chances to act as a family with Alexis, Marie, and William, still a little awkwardly, she felt much lighter.

Each time she felt how comfortable that relationship was, a small pang of guilt came with it.

Someday, this too would be a problem Melfina would have to resolve herself.

“Lady Melfina?”

“...I love you, Marie. Thank you for becoming my sister.”

Marie’s eyes widened as if caught off guard, then she looked away with a huff.

“That, that’s, that’s what I should be saying.”

Her white cheeks and ears were bright red.

It was usually Melfina who got flustered by Marie’s unabashed affection, so just this once, it was nice to turn the tables.

“But first we have to finish the winter preparations. This year too, I’ll cure ham and make frankfurters, and there are a few other things I’d like to try.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Rather than counting only the sorrows, she wanted to cherish the happiness that was here now.

However many heart-wrenching partings might come in the future, those memories would surely support her future self.