Chapter 47
Sniff, sniff.
“Ugh, the smell.”
I nodded while tightly pinching my nose.
The closer I got, the more dizzying the stench became, to the point where it was hard to stay clear-headed.
“Still, it looks like it’s fermenting properly.”
After briefly checking inside the pit, I hurriedly stepped back.
This was where the fertilizer that the Black Hawk and Cedric had worked so hard to gather had been stored. It was located not far from the fields that would soon be plowed.
“Winter here is much shorter than in Korea, so I should start preparing the soil and selecting rice seeds soon.”
According to the knowledge of this body, the seasons on this continent were somewhat unusual.
Winter was very short, while the other seasons were longer.
“It probably has something to do with the barrier surrounding the continent.”
I didn’t know exactly what role the barrier protecting the entire continent played, but in exchange for the short winter, the cold was extremely harsh.
A period of bitter cold, so severe that traveling outside would be difficult, would soon arrive.
“So I need to finish everything in advance.”
On the continent, this time was called the Period of Repose.
Just as animals stockpile food and hibernate through winter, the people of the Empire believed in preparing ample food in advance and resting during this period.
“But right now, the food shortage is an urgent crisis.”
Dazar was developing new food sources through me, but it was still only in its early stages. If the Empire’s supply of miar ran out, it could turn into a disaster.
Come to think of it, was there even enough miar in the Empire to last until the new food was ready?
“Sillia. A letter bearing the imperial seal has arrived at the Evanroar viscounty.”
“Huh?”
Having finished checking the fertilizer, I blinked at Karl’s words.
As I kicked off my boots one by one, I tilted my head in confusion.
An imperial letter? That meant it was from Letzi.
After washing my hands, I picked up Axion, who had been playing on the sofa.
“Really? Then since Sylvestain isn’t here, I guess I have to go myself.”
“Yes. It seems you’ll need to stop by the viscounty for a while.”
Only the head of a noble house was permitted to handle letters stamped with the imperial seal, and taking them beyond the territory was forbidden unless it was an emergency. That was how confidential and important the emperor’s commands were considered.
“If I go today, I’ll have to check it and come back tomorrow.”
“Then I will take care of Lord Axion while you’re away.”
Karl smiled like a reliable butler as he looked at Axion in my arms.
It really was a trustworthy smile—but the dark circles under his eyes and the pouch of crucian carp extract peeking out of his pocket completely canceled it out.
…Raising a child was no easy task.
Guilt welled up toward Karl, but this couldn’t be helped.
“Please take good care of Axion while I’m gone.”
After patting Karl’s shoulder, I immediately left for the Evanroar viscounty, leaving him a note through Karl in case Dazar came looking for me.
[By order to all nobles of the Empire.]
This was the first line of the imperial letter I encountered upon arriving at the Evanroar viscounty after so long. As soon as I stepped down from the carriage and took the letter, my eyes widened slightly at what followed.
[Before this year’s Period of Repose, each house is to distribute the miar they have stored to the residents of their territories.
If more than 30% of the miar reported as this year’s harvest is not distributed, severe punishment will follow.]
Wow. Over 30%?
That was an extremely drastic order.
[The Empire’s food shortage is an urgent matter. Accordingly, all nobles are urged to practice noblesse oblige through their actions.]
…It seemed the food shortage was far more serious than I’d thought. I’d already been wondering whether the Empire even had enough miar.
How many nobles would actually practice noblesse oblige, I wondered. I rested my chin on my hand and slowly closed and opened my eyes.
“Some of the nobles’ reactions are going to be brutal.”
According to the memories of this body, quite a few nobles didn’t care at all whether their own subjects lived or died.
“First, let’s take care of the Evanroar viscounty.”
I’d planned to return tomorrow, but with Sylvestain absent and me acting as head of the house, I had no choice but to handle everything myself before leaving.
“Anyway, I should start by making a plan to distribute the miar.”
Since the letter stated that all operational costs would be covered by the imperial family, there was no need to further drain the already empty treasury.
By the time I finished organizing the miar distribution plan for the viscounty—after realizing just how serious the food shortage was—quite a bit of time had passed.
“I’ve done nothing but eat and sleep and focus on this, and still…”
Three full days had gone by since I arrived at the viscounty.
“For now, proceed according to this plan. I’ll return on the day of distribution, so make sure everything is prepared.”
Hail, the deputy butler, nodded with his usual stiff expression. He had been managing the estate in Karl’s and my absence, and his abilities were exceptional.
Since I was clueless about territorial administration, his support had been invaluable.
“Thank you. If it weren’t for you, Hail, I’d probably have been stuck here for another week.”
“No. It is thanks to your outstanding ability to process work, my lady.”
Hail shook his head, his face utterly expressionless. Because of that unchanging expression, it didn’t really sound like praise.
“…That was a compliment, right?”
As I nodded uncertainly, Hail added,
“You showed greater talent in managing the territory than Lord Sylvestain ever did, even from a young age. The previous head of the house had secretly marked you as his successor.”
At his serious tone, I lightly scratched my cheek with my index finger.
According to Sillia’s memories, that was surprisingly true. From a young age, she had been so intelligent that her peers couldn’t even compare. The word genius fit her perfectly.
“But so what?”
If the old saying that geniuses were all a little crazy was true, Sillia had grown increasingly interested in very strange fields.
In the end, she’d become such a hardcore farming fanatic that people avoided her, shaking their heads.
“Well, thanks to that, my workload is lighter.”
If I’d possessed the body after she became the head of the house, I’d be drowning in work, so in a way this was for the best. Even if it did feel a little bittersweet.
“I’ll come back next time, Hail.”
“Yes. I will make sure everything is prepared without a single mistake until then.”
Hail bowed deeply.
Leaving him behind, I boarded the carriage.
My destination wasn’t the Siastar Ducal House, but the capital. I planned to pass through the capital on my way back to the ducal estate.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to keep this any longer.”
The thing I’d brought out of the ducal estate…
The Morokanil Stone.
I gently touched the stone hidden inside my coat and gazed out the window. The carriage, having run nonstop, was just entering the outskirts of the capital.
“Nothing strange will happen again, like imprinting weird marks on me, right?”
I quickly stepped down from the carriage.
It stopped right in front of the alley with the shop that advertised ‘Poison you to death in three seconds’. The surroundings were bright, and there were no suspicious people around.
“Hello.”
Jingle.
The shop, which I reached with brisk steps, was as empty as ever. The owner wasn’t visible, but from my previous experience, I knew he was behind that door.
Facing the door, I spoke cautiously.
“Um, I’m sorry, but could I ask you a favor? I have something I’d like to pass on to a frequent customer here.”
“……”
I lingered in front of the door, waiting, but there was no response.
Hmm.
“I don’t know where he lives, and I can’t ask anyone else. Ah—he helped me make pesticide here before, so I really want to pass this along to him…”
At that moment, rustle— a piece of paper slid out from under the door.
—Pesticide?
“Yes. Um… it’s something that gets rid of pests while helping plants grow…”
That was as far as I got.
Another piece of paper slipped out.
—So you were the real client. I thought something was odd. Leave it here. The only one who ever comes will be him anyway, so he’ll take it himself.
The fairly long message was written in neat, precise letters, as if printed. Forgetting that he couldn’t see me, I nodded vigorously.
“Thank you.”
Just as I was placing the item on the counter along with a note for Morokanil—
Something rolled from the ceiling with a clatter, and the wall beside the counter popped open like a door.
Then something tumbled out and landed on the counter.
It seemed the shop owner had put something out for me from the other side.
Another note fluttered down after it.
—It just happened to be finished, so take it.
On the counter sat a small glass bottle filled with green liquid.
“Ah—yes. Thank you very much!”
—I got excited thinking about making something new after always making the same things. I may have used the ingredients a bit excessively. It’s quite concentrated, so be sure to dilute it as much as possible when you use it.
Getting excited over making something new.
Thinking the owner was someone who found happiness in surprisingly small things, I quickly picked up the bottle and headed outside.
“My heart feels lighter.”
Maybe it was because I’d dealt with the Morokanil Stone. My mood felt noticeably lighter.
“I wonder if Axion and Vanilla are doing well at home?”
With an unhidden, motherly smile, I climbed back into the carriage.
My little cuties must be waiting for me.
