Chapter 31
“Please don’t worry. Those aren’t human bones.”
Ber answered in a rather solemn voice.
“I didn’t think they were human bones to begin with. That would’ve been even scarier…”
It seemed she still had a long way to go before her way of thinking could match that of a top-tier mercenary. In any case, her fear faded in the face of sheer absurdity.
Meanwhile, one of the women approached the wooden door of the house, knocked, and called out loudly.
“Elder Ben! We’re here! Please open the door!”
Creeeak—
With the sound of rusty hinges, the door slowly opened.
Behind it appeared the face of an elderly man with thick white hair. He stuck out only his head, turtle-like, from behind the door. His posture clearly showed his wariness.
His sharply slanted eyes gave off a prickly impression, making Heidi tense up without realizing it.
The wrinkled old man’s gaze swept over the women, then stopped dead on Heidi and Ber.
“Did you boil and eat a crow or something? You’ve got quite the lungs. What’s all this racket in broad daylight?”
She had expected it, but he clearly didn’t look pleased to see them.
“Ahem, hello. Elder Ben. My name is Adelheid Primavera. Please call me Heidi.”
Clearing her throat, Heidi greeted him as cheerfully as she could.
“…A noble? What brings someone so distinguished all the way out here?”
He must have guessed she was a noble from her family name. Despite the sudden politeness in his tone, his eyes remained just as sharp.
“Oh, please don’t speak so formally, sir. It’s nothing serious. I’m actually interested in growing mandrakes—”
Even so, Heidi smiled as she got to the point. But she couldn’t finish her sentence.
“Get out!!!”
The old man barked fiercely, cutting her off. How such a small body could produce such a loud voice was a mystery. Heidi flinched in surprise.
“I’m not growing that crap anymore! Do you have any idea how long ago that was?!”
Bang!
The door slammed shut violently.
Click—the sound of the lock followed.
“Ugh…”
With an awkward expression, Heidi scratched the back of her head as she stared at the firmly closed door.
“Geez, that old man… what a temper. Are you okay?”
One of the women asked with concern.
“Yes, I’m fine. I was just startled. Wow, he really has a powerful voice.”
“You’re tough.”
“Well, it can’t be helped. I expected it wouldn’t be easy, and I’m the one asking for a favor. For now, I’ll go home and rest properly, and I’ll look for a way to change Elder Ben’s mind little by little!”
It had been an unexpected reaction, but just managing to find Ben in the first place was already a stroke of luck.
Resolving to try again another day, Heidi turned back.
Heidi, Ber, and Theo returned to the central marketplace of the village.
She stopped by the grocery district and bought various food items.
‘After all, the main reason I came to Muran Village today was to buy meat.’
She had taken a bit of a detour, that was all.
She chose the meat mainly to suit Theo’s tastes, since he was still growing.
“Our Theo likes beef liver, right? Mister, please give me some liver too.”
“Kyah, kyah!”
“And I’ll get some tenderloin for myself… Ber, what do you like?”
“Anything is fine for me.”
“Oh come on, that won’t do. There are so many different cuts—short ribs, ribeye, chuck flap… Don’t hold back, just tell me. I’m paying today.”
After hesitating for a moment, Ber answered.
“…Then I’d like chateaubriand, please.”
‘Chateau… what? What is that? I’ve never heard of it.’
When Heidi heard the total price of the meat from the shop owner, she gasped.
That chateau-something was outrageously expensive.
‘Ahaha… Ber really does have refined tastes.’
She immediately regretted boldly telling Ber to pick whatever he wanted.
But she quickly corrected herself.
Ber was the kind of worker anyone would want. Hadn’t he been showered with business cards even at the wholesale market?
If she wanted to keep someone like him around, this level of gift-giving was necessary.
Besides, she still had the money from selling strawberries, so she could afford this much. She’d just reacted instinctively because she’d spent so long living frugally as a commoner.
Thinking that far, Heidi made up her mind.
‘That’s right. Since my finances are comfortable, if I’m going to spend money, I might as well do it properly.’
As she pondered what else Ber might need, something suddenly clicked in her mind.
“Ber, let’s go to a clothing store!”
“To buy clothes?”
“Not for me. For you. It looks like you rotate the same three outfits, and it seems insufficient. And I’ll pick a gift for your sister there too.”
Meanwhile, Ber was flustered by Heidi’s suggestion.
“Boss, aren’t you overdoing it today? I agreed about my sister’s gift, but a haircut, meat, and now clothes as well…”
“Oh please, what do you take me for? Do you think I can’t even afford this much?”
“I’m not doubting your finances. I just feel sorry for receiving so much.”
“You don’t need to feel that way. I’m not buying these for you for no reason.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m giving them to you because I want you to stay healthy and work at Rium for a long time.”
In other words, it was encouragement to keep working well. Logically, it made sense.
Still, Ber couldn’t shake the feeling that he was burdening her.
He was far wealthier than she was. On top of that, he owed an emotional debt to her parents.
If anything, he should have been the one doing something for her—but she kept trying to give him things instead.
‘But if I refuse…’
Those jade-green eyes, shining like beads, weighed on his mind.
After much deliberation, Ber proposed a compromise.
“Then I’ll gratefully accept the clothes. But please promise me one thing in return.”
The look in Ber’s eyes seemed surprisingly resolute to Heidi.
“What is it?”
She asked, a little tense.
“Next time, I’d like to give you a gift as well. When that time comes, please don’t refuse it.”
‘What? He built up the atmosphere like he was heading into battle, and that’s all he wanted to say?’
His stubborn personality—insisting on repaying what he received—felt a bit endearing. And so did his awkwardness, needing so much mental preparation just to say something that simple.
“Ooh~! I’ll be looking forward to a gift with good taste!”
Suppressing the unconscious twitch at the corner of her lips, Heidi replied. She was grateful for his feelings and felt she’d be happy no matter what she received.
After finishing that brief exchange, they walked a little farther through the grocery district when a sweet scent drifted through the air. It seemed a high-end dessert shop had just opened.
‘That smells good.’
Heidi stopped in her tracks and gazed at the desserts displayed behind the glass.
Pudding drizzled with sweet caramel syrup, fresh-looking strawberry mousse cake, crème brûlée topped with crisp caramelized sugar…
They looked like they’d flood her mouth with a sweetness so intense it would make her brain tingle with just one spoonful.
‘Should I buy some? I do want to eat them…’
But when Heidi noticed the prices displayed next to the desserts, she hesitated. They were extremely expensive.
Of course, she could afford it with the money she’d earned from selling strawberries. Still, spending that much money on herself felt like a burden.
It was a habit left over from her days as a civil servant, when she’d lived frugally on a meager salary.
As she hesitated, her eyes landed on the glossy marrons glacés—chestnuts candied in sugar and flavoring.
“Could you wrap up three marrons glacés for me?”
Entering the shop, Heidi placed her order.
“Thank you. Please come again!”
After paying, Heidi received the boxed marrons glacés from the clerk.
“Do you like those?”
Ber asked as they stepped out of the dessert shop.
“I do, but they’re not for me.”
“Then for whom?”
“For the horamjwi! They love chestnuts. They’re always so helpful with the farm work, so I thought I’d give them a little gift this time.”
Spending money on herself felt wasteful, but spending it on the horamjwi didn’t feel like a waste at all.
“I see. But aren’t you buying any for yourself, Boss?”
“Well… they’re a bit expensive.”
At her answer, Ber stared at her silently for a moment. With his usually impassive gaze, it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.
‘Does he think I’m being stingy?’
Feeling a little awkward, Heidi shook her head to brush the thought away.
“B-but next year, I’ll be rich anyway!”
