Chapter 43
The light was unfamiliar, yet somehow it felt familiar.
Could it be… the light I saw in the library…?
She thought this to herself, and as if answering, the light near the window moved back and forth.
“Is it telling me to follow it? Where should I go?”
Laughably, she asked out loud, and the light flew to the right.
“Silas! Right! Go to the right!”
“…Yes? Ah, yes!”
At Serena’s urgent shout, Silas changed direction.
Then, he couldn’t hide the puzzled tone in his voice as he saw the light ahead.
“Huh? Fireflies…?”
“You see it? Follow it!”
“Ah, yes! Understood!”
It was strange, but Silas didn’t question it and steered the carriage toward the light.
Once they left the well-maintained road that the caravan usually took, the carriage shook violently.
Rianna quickly grabbed the handle attached to the seat.
“Oh my! Look at this terrible road! What are we even following? What if something goes wrong?!”
“Isn’t it almost dark? Shouldn’t we be heading back? What if we have to sleep outside!”
“Sleep outside?! You mean we’re going to sleep out here?! What about food?! Huh?! Not even snacks today?!”
Of course, the family’s complaints followed immediately. Sophia also looked anxious, but Serena silently fixed her gaze on the light outside the window.
After enduring the family’s grievances for a while, a pitch-black space appeared between the mountains.
“Miss! I see a gap! Could this be the entrance?”
Silas brightened. Though the place looked ominous, it was far better than endless mountains.
The light slipped into that space.
“Let’s follow it!”
“Yes!”
Without hesitation, Silas drove the carriage forward.
Entering the pitch-black space, Daisy clung to Rianna’s arms, seemingly scared.
“Mom! It’s so scary here…!”
“Is… this the right way…?!”
Even if it wasn’t, there was no other path. Serena clasped her hands together without realizing it.
Please, let something appear…!
She prayed desperately, and after traveling through the dark space for a while, suddenly, as if by magic, bright light poured in.
The horses, startled by the sudden brightness, whinnied loudly, and Silas quickly pulled the reins to calm them.
Stopping the carriage, Silas looked around and said,
“…I think we’ve arrived.”
The voice sounded flustered in the dusty, barren plain.
Ashbel hurriedly got off the carriage, scanning the surroundings, then kicked at the empty air in frustration.
“Damn it! There’s nothing here! We should’ve turned back earlier! Damn it! Damn it—!”
It wasn’t just because of the wasted effort.
Even though he had a tiny hope that at least one silver coin might appear, there was absolutely nothing useful in sight, which made him angrier.
“You cursed place! Worthless estate! Damn it! Damn it! Damn it—!”
Ashbel’s curses filled the empty wasteland.
Rianna scolded him to get back into the carriage quickly.
“What are you doing?! We have to return before nightfall! Cursing won’t change anything! Get in quickly!”
“Shut up! I said shut up!”
“What did you say…?! Who’s making all this noise right now!”
“Please! Stop! I’m already losing my mind, and you’ll push me over the edge!”
“Who are you talking about…! I’m the one about to lose my mind!”
The couple’s shouting filled the empty wasteland.
Already intimidated by the strange surroundings, Daisy began to cry uncontrollably at seeing her parents fight.
It was the worst possible situation at the worst possible moment.
Turning her gaze away from her family, Serena got off the carriage and looked around.
Where did the light go? Why did it lead us here?
She had hoped, like when she had found Julia Roselantis’ inheritance documents, that she might discover something—but there was absolutely nothing.
No, that couldn’t be.
There had to be something.
“Ah, Miss…”
Sophia’s worried voice followed behind her.
Serena, unable to reassure the maid who trusted only her, frantically looked around.
Between the couple’s sharp voices, the soft sound of hooves clopping came.
“?!”
Serena wasn’t the only one who heard it. Almost simultaneously, she and Sophia turned their heads.
From afar, someone was approaching on horseback. The figure was barely distinguishable, but it seemed as if their eyes met.
As soon as Serena thought this, the rider tightened the reins and quickly approached her.
Finally arriving, a white-haired man dismounted and surveyed the Serena family with his deep gray eyes.
“How did you come here?”
Thanks to him, the argument finally stopped.
Rianna and Ashbel, who had been focused on blaming each other, froze in surprise at the sudden appearance of the man and clung to each other.
Representing her shabby parents, Serena stepped forward toward the man.
“We came because we inherited Rosegold. My name is Serena Rosegold. Who are you?”
Though it was unlikely a noble would be here, it felt improper to speak informally.
The man, understanding quickly, bowed politely and introduced himself.
“It’s an honor to meet you. I am Edward Gray, caretaker of Rosegold. I have been eagerly awaiting the day the owner would arrive.”
Edward’s gray eyes looked at Serena with an unreadable emotion—not exactly happiness at the new lord’s arrival.
Before Serena could question it, Edward explained that his family had managed Rosegold for generations.
“You manage… this wasteland? What exactly are you managing?! How do you make the dust fly better?!”
Ashbel, filled with anger, shouted sarcastically.
Despite this, Edward remained polite.
He bowed slightly and replied,
“It’s embarrassing to say, but there is truly nothing here. Despite the vast plains, it is barren land where nothing grows.”
As described in the book, Rosegold was cursed land where nothing could grow.
Edward continued,
“So, we maintain it using the management fee left by the previous owner. Occasionally, we charge a toll or lodging fee to rare outside visitors.”
At the mention of money, Ashbel, who had been angrily ranting, stopped and asked,
“Management fee? How much?”
“There’s almost none left.”
“Then how much is left? I am the one who received the baron title on behalf of my young daughter, so tell me everything from start to finish—quickly!”
Ashbel urgently pressed Edward, who then paused, glared at Rianna, and laughed heartily as if nothing had happened.
“Oh! Right, right. Since this is important, we shouldn’t discuss it here. We should go somewhere and talk seriously. Now, please follow me.”
It was clear he wanted to reveal the exact amount privately.
Rianna, who had been quietly observing, interjected.
“Indeed. I’m curious how much is left. Let’s go and hear everything together.”
“…You don’t really need to hear it, do you?”
“No, I should. As the ‘Baroness,’ it’s only right that I know what’s happening in the estate.”
Ashbel, at a loss for words, gritted his teeth. If things continued like this, they might keep arguing until tomorrow.
Serena, ignoring her feuding parents, asked Edward,
“It’s almost night. We should move somewhere else. Is there a place to rest here?”
“Yes, there is. I’ll lead the way.”
Serena got back in the carriage, and Edward mounted his horse, holding the reins firmly.
Fearing he would leave them behind, Rianna and Ashbel hurriedly got in as well.
Once everyone was on board, Edward pulled the reins and departed, with Serena’s carriage close behind.
Following Edward across the endless wasteland, they finally saw something near the mountains—a cluster of buildings.
A village…?
On closer inspection, it was indeed a small village with houses gathered together.
