Chapter 63
Donghee, setting out with the seamstresses for Morta, realized there was only a single carriage available and looked troubled.
The seamstresses had no choice but to ride in the cart loaded with coats.
“Will you be alright riding in the freight cart?”
At Donghee’s question, the seamstresses answered as if wondering why she’d even asked.
“Of course! We’re just so happy not to be walking.”
“We rode in a freight cart on our way here too.”
“Riding in a cart is fun!”
The seamstresses chattered excitedly like students going on a school trip. Donghee thought to herself that even when riding in a carriage, one’s back and hips started to ache after a while—how much more uncomfortable must a freight cart be?
Busy with departure preparations, Donghee called Handsome.
“Yes, my lord.”
Handsome ran over at once, bowing his head respectfully before Chloe. He looked a little leaner than before, no doubt from the hard work, but it only sharpened his jawline and improved his appearance. With his tall frame, small face, and striking features, his presence was undeniable.
It really seemed that Scrooge had picked an excellent butler to succeed him. Just looking at him was pleasing to the eye—two birds with one stone.
“We’ll need to purchase a few more carriages. Could you look into that?”
“A few… carriages, my lord?”
Handsome trailed off, unable to gauge how many “a few” meant.
“The laborers who go to the wastelands—they all ride in freight carts, don’t they?”
“Yes. But since there aren’t enough carts, most of them go on foot.”
“Really? But it’s far!”
“So they leave a little earlier, my lord.”
Donghee smacked her forehead. She had never thought about that. Handsome swallowed nervously, his face puzzled. Had he done something wrong again? But no matter how hard he thought, nothing came to mind.
For him, peasants or laborers walking to their worksite was the most natural thing in the world. In fact, he’d always felt a little uneasy even when they did use carts.
“The work is already hard. If they walk all that way, they’ll be exhausted before they even start. That won’t do. Buy more freight carts, and more carriages too. Discuss it with the finance officer, find out where they can be purchased, and call in a merchant if you must. Understood?”
“…Yes, my lord. Understood.”
Though he didn’t quite grasp her reasoning, Handsome nodded and tried to think it through.
When Donghee’s carriage and the cart carrying the seamstresses and coats arrived in Morta, the villagers quickly gathered around.
“It’s the lord!”
“The lord has come!”
The villagers cheered as though a hero had arrived, and Donghee’s cheeks turned red with embarrassment.
Handsome and Scrooge exchanged a quick smile. Their lord sometimes acted like an adult far beyond her years, yet at other times showed such innocent, girlish sides—it made her all the more endearing.
The knights guarding the carriage formed a wall before the crowd. Above all else, the lord’s safety came first.
Donghee felt like an idol, adored by her fans.
Children in colorful clothes came running to greet her. She could almost hear the sound of the villagers’ favor skyrocketing. It was fortunate she had muted the alert sounds.
“Have you been well?” Donghee asked the children rushing up to her.
“Yes! This morning my mom made dural bread!”
“Kevin’s mom’s dural bread was the tastiest!”
The children all clamored to talk about dural bread. Donghee recalled the assignment she had given the village chief of Morta.
“Really? I’d love to try some too.”
“Come to our house, my lord! Our mom makes the best. Even the chief praised her!”
From their words, it seemed Chief Hope had been diligently following her instructions.
“Handsome, help the seamstresses distribute the coats to the children. Scrooge, you’ll come with me to see the chief.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Handsome quickly ran off to assist the overwhelmed seamstresses. The knights, meanwhile, struggled to contain the ever-growing crowd, but kept their composure, showing no emotion as they carried out their duty.
“My lord!”
Speak of the devil—Chief Hope came running breathlessly, his few strands of hair fluttering like seaweed.
“Have you been well?”
Perhaps because she herself had given him his name, he now felt even more familiar to her—almost like a child of her own.
“Yes, my lord. I was just planning to come to Grace Castle tomorrow to report on the dural bread.”
His voice was especially loud and clear. Seeing how the crowd’s attention focused on him, Donghee realized he wanted to show off his closeness with her before the villagers.
Hope’s eyes sparkled as he awaited her reply.
Since he’d worked so diligently, why not give him a little spotlight?
Donghee smiled brightly at him and said,
“That’s good to hear. Then shall we go to your house so you can tell me more?”
“Yes!”
He answered loudly, making sure everyone heard.
The sight made Donghee chuckle, and she followed him.
“So this is the dural bread Kevin’s mother made?”
Donghee looked at the round loaves arranged on the table. The breads varied in size and shape, clear evidence of many trials.
“Yes, my lord. These are the best among those we’ve made so far. Some were made by Kevin’s mother, others by different women.”
That explained the variety. Donghee’s anticipation grew.
“They all look delicious. Were the ingredients the same?”
“Yes, but the methods and proportions differed. Some loaves used more dural, some more grain flour.”
As she examined the breads, several women peeked in through the open window, their eyes full of curiosity. They weren’t children but women of varying ages—no doubt the bakers themselves.
“Are those the ones who made these?”
At her question, the women quickly ducked out of sight. She wanted to invite them in, but the house was too small. So she ignored their peeking heads and turned back to the bread.
She tasted each loaf, from smallest to largest. Each time she tore off a piece, excited chatter erupted outside.
“The lord ate mine!”
“Oh heavens, I’m so nervous!”
Like contestants at an audition, the women were both thrilled and anxious.
After sampling several, Donghee chose the one she found best.
“This one.”
She pointed to a loaf about the size of a steamed bun. Outside, some groaned in disappointment while others cheered in delight.
“Who made this one?”
At her question, one woman timidly raised her hand. She seemed both overjoyed and embarrassed by the envious stares of the others.
“Come inside,” Donghee beckoned.
The woman glanced at the chief in disbelief.
“What are you waiting for? The lord is calling you in! This is Kevin’s mother.”
“Ah, really? I heard you praised her bread as the best, Chief. It seems we share the same taste.”
“I-It’s an honor, my lord,” Hope stammered, overcome with joy at her words.
Meanwhile, Kevin’s mother entered shyly, standing before Donghee with her head bowed. Her face was so flushed that even her forehead showed red.
“That’s my mom! My mom got chosen! What did I tell you? I said she was the best!”
It was the boy who earlier had proudly boasted of his mother’s skills. Donghee waved him over too. Kevin was already wearing one of the coats made by the seamstresses.
Though the coat looked a little big on him, seeing him wrapped warmly eased her heart. She longed to see all the other children dressed as well—not just in Morta, but in Enol, Kondal, Rassen, and beyond.
Kevin grinned, dimples showing as he clung to his mother’s skirt. He was an adorable child.
“What’s your name?” Donghee asked Kevin’s mother.
No noble had ever asked her such a thing before. She took a deep breath and replied nervously.
“Baeki.”
Baeki.
Well, at least it wasn’t Nike, Donghee thought.
Once again, the names never failed to surprise her. And if it had been Kevin’s father baking, would he have been named Baker instead?
“You produced something wonderful. It was so delicious I wanted to keep eating even though I wasn’t hungry.”
“Th-th-th-th…”
“Thank you?”
Baeki nodded vigorously, unable to speak past the first syllable. Both she and Kevin were undeniably adorable.
