CH 4.06

I fell headfirst onto the bed with a thump.

It’s already deep into the night. I’ve finished my bath and changed into my nightgown.

The soft bed gently enveloped me as I fell heavily.

“I’m ti-i-ired…”

Moving on, I had dinner with scary Uncle-samas.

This is what I mean by no time to rest.

In a way, I learned that it had been peaceful at the duchy.

I’m already feeling nostalgic.

I miss naps, naps, and more naps. I want to live a lazy life. I said I was going to work, but I want to take it back.

As I groaned under my breath, I heard the sound of a door opening quietly.

I hear the sound of someone moving, and the bed sinks a little.

“Are you playing dead?”

Yes, I am!

So please don’t talk to me!

My husband patted the back of my head and caressed it, as if he was comforting a child.

My hair was scattered out on the bed, and I could feel him lightly tugging at it.

Or rather, he likes it.

Playing with my hair.

“How was it?”

What? I wanted to ask him back, but he probably meant today’s dinner party.

I was surprised to see that the vassals and even their relatives had gathered there.

They were all very curious about me.

I felt like I was being tested by a bunch of people. In fact, I knew I was being tested.

Even though I knew in some part of my mind that this would happen, I was scared!

I couldn’t enjoy my meal because my grandfather and mother’s generations were watching my every move.

My stomach shrivels up.

“There were some people who were curious about me. I’ve noticed a lot of overt stares. There were some annoying ones, but the younger people all seemed nice. I think the people of your father’s generation are the most troublesome.”

I know that my husband feels the same way.

I sat up in bed.

I almost jolted away from the unexpected close proximity of my husband.

“Believe or not, the elders of my grandfather’s generation know that tradition is important, but sticking to it indeed stupid of them. After all, they are of a generation that was around the war era, and their ancestors had experienced it. There was no such traditional, rigid concept entrenched back then.”

I see.

In war, you have to be flexible, right?

The fact that the Duke of Lindbeld’s army alone was able to defeat enemies in battles between countries was also due to their flexible thinking.

Well, I think the advantage of the land was also a big factor.

“If anything, they became fussy about tradition and heritage since peace reigned.”

And they disliked my husband, who got married, ignoring tradition. 

And that includes his wife too.

Of course, I understand the importance of tradition.

I don’t think my husband wanted to neglect everything either.

Marriage is a major event in life, so it must be done properly! I can understand their sentiments.

This reminds me of today’s dinner.

Today was billed as a dinner party to celebrate the return of the head of the family, but it was actually an appraisal gathering for me.

Well, since my official introduction had not yet taken place, all the relatives and vassals were gathered there.

Some of those relatives in particular were watching vigilantly for the seat next to my husband, so they kept staring at me.

By the way, this dinner party wasn’t a formal one.

The formal one with proper invitations will come later.

This is a prelude to that. An acquaintance of mine is asking me for dinner, so I’m inviting him to dinner, that kind of dinner.

However, as expected of the Lindbeld dukedom, the number of their acquaintances is awful.

I heard that dinner parties with vassals are held on a regular basis. They use it as a place for labor and exchange of opinions on future matters.

I didn’t know I’d also be working, even though it was just for dinner.

But I guess that’s what socializing is all about.

“It’s quite amusing to see them looking so frustrated.”

“I’ve always thought you had a twisted personality.”

“You’ve come to say most of the time.”

Yeah, yeah.

I realized that I can’t be shy about it.

This is what happens when you become enlightened.

“What was the most engaging conversation you had?”

“I guess it was about the coal mines. Actually, I thought that coal mines are located at high altitudes, similar to the places where those beasts live.”

If the coal mines are closed, please make it a playground.

“And it’s more like the North. From the look of their fur, they’d probably be better in a cooler environment.”

The Vancoury-sans have always dwelled in the highlands.

It’s no wonder they have a special knack at cold places.

My Husband seemed to understand exactly what I was asking for. He pondered over it for a moment, and decided that it was okay.

“If the mine is abandoned, people won’t be able to live there anyway. I don’t have a good plan for a new industry…If I may venture to guess, you could cultivate that plant.”

That’s Vakui, you know?

“There are animals that eat it, so why not? The northern part of the country is a big producer. Wheat production is very small.”

“For a start, how much does it sell in the market? And how much is bought?”

The husband didn’t seem to know anything about the business he wasn’t involved in.

He seemed to know everything, but this relieved me a bit.

“The Count of Verdigo’s family in the northern region of the country also produced some, but most of it was consumed within the estate. As you may know, it is expensive, but it is nutritious and requires less feed. So, in reality, if you buy it, you’ll pay more for the feed.”

Only if you buy it.

If it is not for sale in the domain, but for use, the price will be somewhat lower.

It’s a remarkable food that will grow on its own in cold places.

I’m reluctant to admit that it’s food.

The most time-consuming part is taking out the seeds inside. Even if the variety has been improved, a hard seed is still hard.

“I’d prefer providing for our own territory instead of buying it.”

“Speaking of which, there was a report recently that meat becomes more tender and sweeter if animals are fed that. I was going to allocate a budget to do some research, but now that I’m married, it’s gone.”

“Sounds like an interesting study.”

My husband showed interest.

“I thought if I could brand it and sell it, it would fetch a high price. In the north, even livestock are scarce, so people haven’t paid much attention to it, but it’s the same with people, they change depending on what they eat.”

Basically, it’s common practice to use slightly expensive feed and cheap feed.

However, territories that produce meat say that feeding livestock products that people aren’t willing to eat won’t have a positive effect on them.

Well, I understand.

Even if it’s nutritious, if it doesn’t taste good, it’s going to affect them.

“If we’re going to abandon the mine anyway, why don’t we build a research facility? It sounds like a good plan. Researchers like strange things, so I’m sure they won’t complain about big animals running around.”

“There will also be employment there.”

The first step is to grow crops.

We’ll need people to take care of them, and manpower is most necessary during harvest.

“There’s a lot of other things we need to consider…but we’ll get to that later.”

It’s already very late at night.

I have to go to bed soon, or I’ll get sick tomorrow.

I casually looked at my husband, and we made eye contact.

It made me feel uncomfortable, and my body itched.

I’m tired and want to sleep.

But ――…

How are we going to sleep, Husband?