Chapter 45
I stared at the handkerchief Kylen offered and reached out.
The gloved fingertips barely touched mine. It wasn’t even bare skin, but for some reason, I felt heat rise to my fingertips.
“Once the young men finish hunting, they separate the meat and hides here. The hides and other crafted items are processed in another workshop by the women. How about we go there?”
I hesitated, wondering if I could even use the handkerchief he gave me to wipe my mouth. He left the words behind and strode toward Caspian.
After a brief word with Caspian, Kylen glanced at me and then headed toward the workshop.
Following Kylen’s order, Caspian, who had been standing far away, approached me with a worried look.
“Are you alright? I’ve been worried since you said you were going to the workshop… The chief’s wife will guide you. Let’s go. I’ll accompany you.”
It seemed best to follow Kylen’s advice.
I smiled at the chief’s wife from afar, raising my hand to show I was okay.
Caspian trailed behind her, chattering nervously about how even some weak men struggle seeing animal carcasses.
“Thank you for saying that. You’re kind, Caspian.”
I smiled at his awkward concern. He scratched the back of his head and grinned in response to my thanks.
“Well, I was just stating facts! Haha! Some guys even wet themselves! Don’t know if you know… a guy named Reid…”
Caspian rambled shyly about the knight Reid.
He was almost completely trusting of me, unlike Dylan, who sometimes looked at me with suspicion. Caspian had been friendly from the start.
Grateful for his genuine concern, I nodded at his comment about Reid, though I wasn’t entirely convinced that all men were that simple.
“It’s a narrow and modest place. If we’d known the Duchess would come, we might have tidied up a bit…”
“It’s fine. Coming without notice is the mistake.”
The chief’s wife, startled, asked for permission and entered the workshop first. Moments later, the door opened, signaling I could enter. I stepped in cautiously.
The workshop was indeed cramped.
It seemed like an old house had been converted. A wide table sat in what looked like the living room, and raw hides hung from the walls and ceiling. Tools for working the hides were neatly arranged. I didn’t know what each was for, but they were all clearly well-used.
As I entered, several women stood and bowed deeply. They had been working.
“I’d like to observe the work, and of course, the finished products too. Can you do that?”
“Y-yes.”
The chief’s wife instructed the women to bring a few items. I sat in a chair she offered, watching them carefully.
The women ranged from elderly ladies with wrinkled faces to young girls not yet adults.
They looked around curiously as the chief’s wife placed several items in front of me.
“This belt helps you carry hunting tools at your waist. Once fastened, you don’t need to hold your weapons by hand.”
She demonstrated carefully by fastening it around her own waist.
“Oh. It looks sturdy.”
Caspian reacted first, eyes shining with interest.
Encouraged, the chief’s wife raised her voice slightly.
“You can carry different weapons just by changing the pouches.”
Caspian inspected the belt carefully, impressed.
The women continued to show me other items: sheaths, vests, hats, gloves, and leather shoes.
Even with little knowledge of craftsmanship, I could tell they were skilled. The designs were simple, practical, and durable.
Leather was expensive, but in Winterford, cloth was even rarer. So the villagers made mostly practical items from leather.
If the design is good, this could be a strong product.
While inspecting, I noticed a young girl had something hanging at her waist.
“What’s that?”
Everyone’s attention turned to the girl as I pointed. She blushed deeply and trembled.
“Th-That…”
The girl covered it with both hands, bowing her head, shaking.
How terrified must they have been under the previous lord to react like this?
I clicked my tongue. The chief’s wife quickly went to her.
“Reina, show her quickly.”
So her name was Reina.
Trembling, she removed the item from her waist and handed it to me.
I tilted my head.
“This is…”
“It’s not a Torpaz! Ah, wait, it is, but it’s an old Torpaz that can’t be used anymore!”
It was a leather ornament with a large Torpaz gem at the end.
As Reina explained, the Torpaz had lost its red glow and turned dark, no longer useful as a gem.
I held the ornament, examining it quietly.
“Found it.”
I smiled slightly, one corner of my mouth curling up.
Why hadn’t I thought of this before?
It felt like the moment Archimedes had his Eureka realization. I controlled my urge to shout it aloud, keeping a composed smile while studying Reina’s work.
“Is there… something wrong with this, Reina?”
The chief’s wife asked nervously.
Only then did I notice the trembling girls. I had been too absorbed in the unexpected find.
“Wrong? There’s nothing wrong.”
I shook my head and looked at Reina, who was shaking violently.
“Reina, right?”
“Y-yes!”
She suddenly lifted her head, then flinched and bowed again when our eyes met, hands clenched tightly, turning white.
“It’s beautiful.”
I gave Reina my brightest smile.
She slowly raised her head, eyes wide in disbelief. The chief’s wife nudged her gently, and she bowed deeply.
“Th-Thank you, Duchess!”
I waved my hands at her, taking the ornament.
“Are there more items I could see?”
“Y-yes! Ah, yes!”
Reina smiled brightly and ran to an old drawer.
“I had something else I was making…”
As she hurriedly searched, other women tried to help. Suddenly, the door swung open.
“Hope you all are well! This batch of leather is top quality!”
A huge man entered, blocking most of the sunlight. He carried a massive bundle of fur on his shoulder.
He squinted through the doorway, tilting his head as if asking who I was.
Caspian growled, telling him to greet the Duchess politely. Startled, the man bowed quickly.
Thump.
Some of the fur bundle slipped off his shoulder.
“Ugh! Oof!”
It was the head of a Kodora. Our eyes met, and I had to cover my mouth and rush outside.
