CH 25

Chapter 25 – The uncouth daughter’s market scouting

Today, as usual, I am moving around a bit to improve the environment in the mansion.

In addition, I accompanied Kelly to the market in the late afternoon to do some shopping.

The market in the frontier was small and very different from the market in the royal capital, which I had seen from inside the carriage.

The market sold the bare necessities of meat and fish, wild vegetables, mushrooms, and fruits from the forest.

There were some vegetables and grains, but they were few and shriveled.

Kelly lent me a maid's outfit, so no one in the market seemed to recognize me as the Potato Lady, but as one of the maids who worked at the mansion.

"I hear the new lord is very handsome. I'd like to see him too."

The ladies in the market are already talking about Lord Nazel.

"But I don't know what kind of person he is. I am worried about him. The previous lord was a terrible man."

The topic of the previous lord came up, so I asked the girls some questions.

I was also curious about what Lord Nazel said yesterday.

"What was your former lord like?"

"He was a terrible man. No, not only him, but the lords who have ruled this land have been bad for generations, but the previous lord was the worst of all."

"I see. I've only been here a short time, so I don't know much about it....."

When I said this, the chatty ladies took the initiative to tell me what I wanted to know.

"He was the kind of guy who taxed people like idiots, made them work for free, built weird mansions, and kidnapped pretty girls when he found them. He would thoroughly eliminate anyone he didn't like...... and he also kept ferocious magical beasts. He didn't look like the kind of person who would keep one, but he was very fond of them."

I see, so the various items in that mansion were bought with the tax money that was raised...

The rest of the money after selling it and hiring servants will be used for the benefit of the estate. If we give it to Lord Nazel, I am sure he will put it to good use.

"He was violent and didn't consider commoners to be human beings. A lot of people are relieved that that guy got attacked by a magical beast. Thank goodness we have the decent Master Henry here instead. So I'm sorry to say that I don't have high hopes for the new lord."

The stories of the ladies were all discouraging.

I wonder if Lord Nazel is having a hard time, partly because of the previous lords' mess...

I wish I could somehow get everyone to trust him.

"Lady Agnes, it is time for us to return to the mansion."

Sneakily, Kelly calls me over and I follow her obediently.

"Kelly is amazing, by the way. She was excellent in the royal capital, but she has adapted quickly to the frontier as well."

"Oh no, I'm just a ...... simple maid. I am only lucky to have a good Lord."

The previous employer was Her Royal Highness Princess Mia, wasn't it?

Compared to her, most people would be classified as "good people". Lord Nazel is really a good person, though.

When I returned to the mansion, Lord Nazel had already returned.

"Lord Nazel, I went shopping with Kelly."

"Welcome back, Agnes. You look so cute in your maid's uniform....... But more importantly, I'm in a lot of trouble."

"In trouble? What's wrong?"

Seeing Lord Nazel in an unprecedented state of panic, anxiety began to grow in my heart.

"The seedlings we planted in the garden."

Lord Nazel was drunk last night, but I had told him in the morning that we had all planted seedlings.

"What's wrong with the seedlings ......?"

My head was ringing alarm bells as I responded, "This is not good!"

No way, no way, they must have died ......!

I can't believe the first person to find it was Lord Nazel......!　Oh, the humanity......!

"Agnes, for the time being, come with me."

Lord Nazel took me by the hand and led me swiftly through the garden.

After a while, a startling sight met my eyes.

"The seedlings, the seedlings are......!"

I tried to move my mouth to speak.

Standing in front of me should be the seedlings ...... that I planted yesterday.

This morning, it was dying, but now it has grown taller than the house. Even the stems are extremely thick.

"Lord Nazel, what kind of seedling is this?"

"I believe it is an ordinary viola berry."

The viola berry is a fruit unique to this country, much like the blueberry. They are said to grow in warm climates and produce large, sweet berries.

Though they are large, they are only about the size of a thumb in diameter.

The fruit on the giant tree was about the size of my palm.

"Why would this happen? It grew too fast and the plant itself is too big. From what I've gathered, there doesn't seem to be any harm in it."

Lord Nazel looked at the thing, which could no longer be called a seedling, with a curious expression on his face.

I was impatient as I watched him.

"Pe- Perhaps..."

Yes, I knew it.

I was shocked to see the shriveled seedlings, and in desperation, I cast an appropriate strengthening spell.....

"Hii......!"

Could it be that I had done something terrible?

"Agnes? Do you know anything about it?"

Lord Nazel noticed my reaction with alarm. Oh no.........

"...... Agnes?"

Lord Nazel, standing beside me, looked into my face while raising one eyebrow. He is still a beautiful young man.

I was nervous while being stared at by his amber eyes, so my eyes wandered.

"You- You see..."

"Hmmm?"

Lord Nazel, your face, your face is so close!

"Agnes, if you don't tell me, I'm going to keep doing this, okay?"

He held my face with both of his hands as he said that. A beautiful face loomed in front of me. It is too much stimulation for me.

"Uh-oh......."

In an instant, I raised my voice and honestly confessed to Lord Nazel that I had cast an enhancement spell on the plant.