Chapter 70
kThey had said Esacudia was full of hills, and indeed it was. After riding for about an hour and leaving the capital, high and low mountains continued endlessly, shaking the carriage violently. Julia regretted not bringing along a soft cushion.
“When will the land flatten out?”
“Not for a while.”
Each time the carriage jolted, her bottom slammed against the seat and ached. After being tormented in Cayente’s arms for two consecutive nights, her back hurt as well.
“What is it?”
“Nothing. Just… my bottom hurts…”
“I didn’t think of that. Once we arrive, there’s plenty of wool around. Ask someone to make you a cushion.”
“Yes.”
The journey was grueling because of her condition, but unlike the mostly flat Empire, the hilly scenery made the view more interesting. With gifts piled in the back of the carriage for the people of the estate, her heart at least felt full.
Before her marriage, she had once visited an estate with her father, but it had been a tiny place with only potato fields and fewer than twenty houses—hardly worth sightseeing. But this was the Cluga estate. It had to be vast and prosperous.
Father…
“Have there been any news from the Empire?”
“What news?”
“About Father… whether they found him or not…”
The moment she thought of her father, the worries she had pushed aside came flooding back. Julia wished she could at least hear he was safe, but Cayente only answered with a short sigh before changing the subject.
“I’ve secured a new residence for your family.”
“A residence?”
“They were driven out of the old house. I can’t very well let them move into mine, can I?”
So, they really had been driven out. He had been wavering, but it seemed Cayente had finally decided not to pay back her father’s debt. Still, it was a relief that he at least intended to take care of her remaining family. Yet when she realized she would never again see the estate with its fields of white potato blossoms in full bloom, regret tugged at her heart.
“Ian will learn to work under me.”
“Work?”
“He has to do something if he wants to provide for himself and your mother. Don’t you agree?”
Julia thought it better for Ian to learn a trade and earn money rather than rely solely on Cayente’s support, but at the same time, it pained her. The Rufer barony was now reduced to only its title. A baron without land—how would Ian ever find a suitable wife to become his baroness?
Even if Ian learned diligently from Cayente, Julia doubted he would revive the family with some sudden talent for business.
Just as her father had survived one crisis by marrying her off, if they could weather this one and move on as though nothing had happened, that would be best. But as Cayente said, they couldn’t depend on his help forever.
Perhaps after she bore him a child, he would allow her to play the cello freely. She wasn’t sure how much money she could earn, but if she worked hard enough, maybe she could buy at least a small estate again.
“Thank you.”
“As I always say, you don’t need to thank me for things like this. I didn’t do it for your sake.”
She had thanked him simply for looking after her family, but as always, Cayente brushed it aside. In the past, when he rejected her thanks, she had gotten angry—what, would he not even let her express gratitude? But now, Julia noticed something else: he seemed pained, as though hearing thanks for something he didn’t truly deserve weighed heavily on him.
“I hope we arrive soon.”
Julia changed the subject, pretending not to notice. Better that than watching the faintly lonely smile tug at his lips.
When she had once visited estates with her father, no matter how small, the people would drop what they were doing and rush out to welcome them. But here, it was different. Even though Cayente had said they were already on Cluga land long before they reached the village, at the entrance, those who came to greet them were mostly children.
“Welcome, my lord. It’s shearing season, so I’ve come on behalf of the others to greet you.”
From the mouth of the only young man in the crowd, Julia heard the reason. Passing through, she had thought everyone seemed as busy as city folk, and it seemed she was right.
“How is the work progressing?”
“By Friday, the warehouse will be full. By the next day, the wool will be at the factory.”
After reporting, the young man removed his shabby hat and bowed politely to Julia.
“It’s an honor to meet you, my lady. I am Hayden Weaver, manager of the pastures.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Hayden. I’m Julia Clu.”
“The children prepared gifts to welcome you, my lady. Would you accept them?”
“Gifts? Of course.”
At his words, the children approached, holding out things in their small hands. Each one was different in shape, but all were little dolls made by bunching up wool.
“Oh, dolls! Thank you. Oh my, this one even has green hair?”
“I dyed it myself!”
“You did so well. It’s lovely. I’ll treasure it. And—ah, I have something for you too. Just wait a moment.”
Though the dolls were clumsy, likely to fall apart if handled roughly, the thought of little hands working carefully to make them just for her brought an involuntary smile to Julia’s face. She handed out apples and candies from the carriage, only then noticing that the children’s clothes were even more ragged than those of the potato-farming children in her old estate.
“It’s still chilly out—why aren’t you wearing warmer clothes?”
“Mother said once the wool is sent off, if there’s any left, she’ll make us some.”
“I see.”
“But it’ll be summer soon, so it’s fine.”
“Is that so? Does it get hot here in summer too?”
“Not too hot, but warm enough we can bathe in the stream without freezing.”
It wasn’t just their clothes. Julia, being a noble, didn’t mind appearing less refined, but had her mother, the baroness, been here, she wouldn’t have gone near these children, let alone touched their heads. They were dirty, like they’d rolled on the hills, and thin from not eating enough.
“They’re all so… skinny.”
Glancing around, she saw the same in the men unloading goods from the carriage and the old folks under a large roof, sorting out the unusable parts of the wool. The lush, green meadows where sheep bounded only made the people’s poverty stand out more starkly.
“This way, my lady. You must be tired from the journey. Please eat first.”
Following Hayden into the village for a meal, Julia noticed a strangely somber atmosphere in the streets.
“Have those children had lunch?”
When she sat at the table in Hayden’s home, where a whole roasted lamb awaited, the children pressed their noses to the window, drooling so hard it was difficult to even eat.
“They should have eaten. Most likely just cold soup and bread their parents left, since they had no time to prepare anything else.”
“They’re that busy?”
“There’s a fixed delivery schedule, my lady. If we miss it, the capital’s factories won’t run, and then production falters.”
Still, to work without even having time to feed their children—did that mean they often skipped meals themselves? Julia’s worried gaze drifted to the window, but Hayden only laughed heartily as he carved the lamb into pieces.
“Don’t trouble yourself, my lady. It’s the same every year. Now please, eat before it gets cold. The villagers have been preparing this food since dawn for the count’s visit.”
There were only two mouths at the table, yet far too much food. Watching the noisy scene outside, Julia turned to Cayente, who was quietly spreading butter on bread.
“There’ll be so much left. Could we invite the children in?”
“What?”
“No need, my lady. They’ve eaten something. They only crowd the window because meat is a rare treat, not because they’re starving.”
“Still, they don’t look full. I doubt I’ll eat more than what’s on my plate. If the leftovers just go to waste, it seems such a pity.”
“Truly, it’s fine, my lady. You needn’t worry so much—”
“Do it.”
“…Pardon?”
“Do as she says. We can’t bring all the children inside, but share some with them outside. I won’t eat more than what’s already on my plate.”
Hayden’s eyes widened—Cayente clearly didn’t normally allow such things. Julia rose without hesitation, rolling up her sleeves.
“Where are the plates? I’ll fetch them. Hayden, will you finish carving the meat? I’ll portion out the bread and potatoes.”
“My lady! Please, allow me. You should eat first!”
But Julia strode into the kitchen and returned with plates herself. When Cayente didn’t object, Hayden’s jaw dropped even wider.
“Brother, I could use some help carrying these outside. Since you’ve finished eating, could you lend a hand?”
When Cayente actually rose and took up a plate, Hayden looked so shocked it seemed he might faint on the spot.
