Chapter 30. Elisabeth Is Clever Today As Well
At first glance, I thought it was a ghost.
After all, who in the world dresses completely in black from head to toe?
The guards tensed immediately, ready to fight.
“Who goes there?”
“I–I’m not a bad person!”
The shadowy figure stammered. It was a young man’s voice.
Through the two holes cut into the fabric, I could see frightened gray eyes.
“Those thugs… they took my children!”
From beneath the drooping cloth, pale, slender fingers pointed toward the bulging pouch hanging from one of the ruffian’s belts.
His strange outfit, timid voice, and tendency to treat objects as if they were living beings…
This was the farmer, Boritz, the very man I had been looking for.
To think I’d find him so soon!
Boritz was the kind of character who always hid himself beneath a black cloak and hood.
It was all because of his terrible shyness and deep-seated complexes.
I stopped the guards and stepped closer to the man wrapped in black cloth.
“What children were taken from you?”
“Rare, precious ones… May I take them back?”
“Of course.”
Inside the leather pouch were unknown plant roots and greens.
He embraced the plants with joy.
“You’re safe! Thank goodness, my babies!”
“Is your name Boritz?”
“…You know me?”
“I’ve heard of you. They say you’re an excellent farmer.”
“Thank you. And thank you for your help as well.”
“Do you sell these children of yours?”
“Even a farmer needs money. There’s a shop nearby I trade with.”
“Why would an herb shop be in such a dangerous area?”
“Because they deal in… discreet goods. Poisonous mushrooms, vipers, vampire bats. You understand?”
Ah. So that was the reason.
Boritz shrugged, as if embarrassed.
“I only go because they pay the best price for my herbs.”
“Then… may I buy them from you instead?”
“You, miss?”
“I’ll pay ten times what that shop offers.”
“What?!”
His gray eyes trembled violently through the holes in the cloth. Afraid I might change my mind, he hurriedly thrust the pouch at me.
“Please take good care of them, miss!”
I handed him a heavy pouch of gold coins. For me, it was a trifle—but for him, it was enough to buy land.
“With this, I can buy anything! Even pay off my debts!”
Boritz kissed the gold coins in delight.
But I grabbed his collar sharply.
“Hey. Where’s the real Boritz?”
“Wh–what do you mean? I am Boritz…”
Expressionless, I gestured to the guards.
The guards, still itching for more action after thrashing the thugs, cracked their knuckles and flexed menacingly.
“Want to end up like them?”
I stepped on the back of a thug half-submerged in filthy water.
The fake Boritz shrieked.
“Alright! I’ll tell the truth! Please don’t hit me!”
The appearance of the fake Boritz turned out to be a stroke of luck.
Not only did I meet the real Boritz, but I also learned about the hidden farm by the lake.
“My brother has caused you great offense… I truly apologize.”
The real Boritz wore his black hood pulled low, just as he was described in the original story.
Only his lips and chin were visible, but I could feel his genuine remorse.
His large, rough hands fidgeted nervously with his teacup. He seemed unbearably awkward talking to strangers.
Even Claudia took a long time to befriend him. But I’ll win him over faster—he thinks he owes me, after all.
I sipped the herbal tea he had grown himself. Its deep yet refreshing taste startled me.
His younger brother, Bormann, sprawled on a log bench with his feet up, asked bluntly,
“Hey, miss. How did you know I was a fake?”
Unlike his timid older brother, his tone was bold and challenging. He was sixteen, about Susan’s age.
I smiled at the pretty-faced boy.
“Your hands. Far too smooth for a farmer.”
Bormann flinched, while Boritz sighed, as if it were only natural he’d been found out.
“As you can see, Boritz’s hands are covered in calluses. There’s dirt under his nails, too.”
“Tch.”
“And more importantly—if he were truly Boritz, he would never have sold his crops to someone offering a suspiciously large sum without question.”
“Of course. Who knows what that person might do with them…”
Boritz shuddered at the thought, horrified.
“Bormann pretended to care for the herbs, but he judged them only by their price.”
“My brother doesn’t like farming. He wants to be an artist.”
Boritz’s voice turned gloomy.
Bormann sprang to his feet, furious.
“I am already a great artist! You’re just too ignorant to see it!”
“But stealing? Really?”
“If you’d only paid me my allowance on time, I wouldn’t have done it!”
“I told you to wait a few more days. The plants weren’t ready for harvest.”
“You value those pathetic plants over your brother’s art?!”
“How can you say something so cruel? They can hear you too, you know…”
Boritz protectively wrapped his arms around the potted herbs.
Bormann’s face twisted with fury.
Before their quarrel escalated further, I intervened.
“Don’t fight. I’ll solve this for you.”
“You, miss? How?”
“I’ll become Bormann’s patron.”
“What?!”
Bormann’s eyes widened, while Boritz quickly waved his hands in refusal.
“I can’t trouble you any further. You’ve already helped my brother and rescued my children…”
“Brother! Can’t you see? She’s rich—she spends gold coins like water!”
“We already have land passed down from our ancestors. Land that gives back as much as you work for it. Why rely on others?”
“To become a famous artist, you need a wealthy patron!”
“If you have true talent, you can succeed on your own.”
“Don’t be ridiculous! I don’t want to live like you. I want to succeed quickly and date a beautiful woman like her!”
Boritz looked embarrassed by his brother’s outburst, but I rather liked Bormann’s honesty.
“Don’t think of it as charity. I’m not offering support for free.”
“What do you mean?”
“I want to purchase all of Boritz’s herbs and crops exclusively.”
“…Exclusively?”
“The shop you’re dealing with is dangerous. If it’s discovered they trade in illicit goods, you’ll be in trouble too.”
“I know, but…”
“The Amster Trading Company will give you the best prices. I can guarantee it—I’m their heiress.”
At the words heiress of Amster Trading Company, both brothers flinched.
Even a farmer secluded on a distant farm would know of the empire’s greatest trading house.
“But isn’t Amster for nobles and the wealthy?”
“They deal in the finest clothing, jewels, tableware, rare furs, and foodstuffs.”
“My children don’t belong there. They’ll never sell.”
“They’ll sell like wildfire. This herbal tea is better than the finest imported leaves.”
“…Do you truly mean that, miss?”
He tried to act composed, but I could see Boritz was pleased.
“His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness the Crown Prince would say the same.”
“Y–You mean the Emperor?!”
“I may be lacking, but I serve as the Crown Prince’s tutor.”
Their eyes widened until they seemed ready to split.
Even the lowest noble was far above a commoner—let alone someone who spoke directly of the Emperor.
Bormann, hungry for success, shook his brother’s shoulders, face flushed.
“Brother! We’ve struck gold!”
“Don’t get carried away, Bormann.”
“Your children could become loved across the empire! Imagine being acknowledged by the Emperor himself!”
But Boritz was more stubborn than I expected.
“Thank you, but… I must decline.”
“What are you saying, brother?!”
“I trade with that shop because its owner truly understood me—he saw the value in my children.”
“She does too! That’s why she’s making this offer!”
Bormann shouted what I wanted to say. But Boritz’s resolve remained firm.
“I want to grow crops for ordinary people, for the poor.”
He lowered his head, his voice barely a whisper.
That he could hold to his conviction even before the name of the Emperor… made him seem greater in my eyes.
Had I not known the achievements he would one day leave behind, I might have called him a fool.
“Even if I promised to secure Bormann’s future, would you still refuse?”
“I don’t think sudden fortune would truly help him.”
“This would also be a great opportunity for you.”
“I’m sorry. I’m content with my life as it is.”
He bowed again and again.
Bormann burst into tears.
“You’re insane! You’re abandoning your only brother!”
Bang!
He slammed the door and stormed out.
“Forgive me for showing you such disgrace, Lady Elisabeth.”
“No, it was my fault for stirring up trouble.”
“Please believe me—it’s not that I distrust you…”
“You don’t need to explain further. Refusing me is difficult for you, isn’t it?”
Boritz flinched, as if I had seen straight through him.
I regretted not being able to secure this extraordinary talent right away. Still, even just meeting him was progress.
People like him can’t be forced. But I can’t leave empty-handed either.
I smiled softly at Boritz.
He looked flustered, unused to such attention.
“Boritz. May I ask a small favor?”
“If it’s within my ability…”
“I’m preparing a tonic for His Highness the Crown Prince. Could you gather these herbs for me?”
“A tonic without medicinal herbs—only with these?”
He looked intrigued.
I handed him the note Susan had given me.
“I’ve never seen a recipe like this.”
“It’s the research of Marquis Nettleton, the former imperial apothecary. His granddaughter refined it further.”
“!”
“If you can’t find them, I’ll have to look elsewhere.”
I stepped back.
As expected, Boritz suddenly leaned forward eagerly.
“I have them all! Some dried, some to be harvested in two weeks!”
“Take your time. There’s no rush yet.”
“You must be very busy… Will you come back again?”
“If you invite me, of course.”
Boritz’s face showed clear gratitude.
Everything was going according to my plan.
Boritz is the farmer who will one day develop the empire’s greatest famine-resisting crops. Next time, I’ll make sure to bring this ‘Saint of the Hungry’ to my side.
I studied him with greedy eyes.
If these crops were destined to exist anyway, what harm was there in bringing them out a little earlier?
Ninety percent of it would be for me.
And the remaining ten… for the starving.
