Chapter: 30
“Scary, scary… when Mom is like that, it’s too scary.”
Back then, on nights when Mom was consumed by madness, I would cry in the arms of the maid.
The maid would comfort me and say,
“Miss, as long as we do well, it’ll be fine. If we do well, the princess will return. She’s such a clever lady. It’s just that we haven’t served her properly like in the Riente Palace. If we try harder, it’ll be fine.”
So I tried. I did my utmost to be the perfect daughter for Mom.
But nothing changed. Mom’s madness only worsened day by day.
Still, there was only one thing I could do this time as well.
“…Let’s do our best.”
As always.
“First, let’s just do it well. Everyone’s happy because I saved them, right?”
If I did better, then even if a secret message from the Black Magician came, they wouldn’t hand me over like my uncle did.
“If the criminals of Sebon dare harm the bloodline of Sears, Nojen, as the head of the first five families, will never stand by idly.”
Hearing that actually felt a little good.
Still, it was a bit miserable. So I pretended as if nothing mattered. As if it wasn’t scary at all.
It was then.
“Miss! Miss!”
One of the street kids from Jezel Street held something out to me.
“Will you exchange this for some Milo? It’s pretty useless, though…”
My eyes widened as I looked at the child’s hand.
This was exactly what I wanted. Seeds that people left behind, thinking, “We don’t really need these…”
I was sure there had to be something among them.
“It’s not useless.”
I said, full of delight.
“This is exactly what I was looking for.”
I had started digging up potatoes, and this would be the perfect crop to plant now in the mostly empty potato fields.
I also planned to plant it in the newly acquired Baron Veron territory. Not for short-term survival like now, but for long-term food supply.
Baron Harwin’s Manor
“Mom!”
Dahlia shouted loudly.
“Are they really as crazy as Mom? Handing over Jezel Street?”
Baroness Harwin gave a sly smile.
“Do you think I would do that? Calm down, Dahlia.”
“Huh? But they’ve already signed everything…”
“It’s only a matter of time before we can take it back.”
Baroness Harwin raised her chin sharply, as if she had never once begged in front of Brisa.
Dahlia’s eyes sparkled.
“Mom, so… there’s a way?”
“That arrogant girl can’t be left alone.”
Baroness Harwin scoffed.
“Since things have come to this, I’m going to get rid of her.”
“Huh?”
Dahlia’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Is that possible?”
“There’s a way I’ve thought of.”
Baroness Harwin said calmly.
“The dead can’t speak. We just need to blame the ones who kidnapped your father. They’re criminals anyway.”
Baroness Harwin gently stroked Dahlia’s hair and whispered soothingly.
“Normally, I’d handle everything myself, but it seems you’ll need to help. To properly hold that girl, you need someone your own age.”
Dahlia’s eyes sparkled again.
“Anything, Mom.”
The mother and daughter united once more.
“It’s all for our family, after all.”
That night, at midnight
I headed toward Erolamo Hill with Philip. This was the place where the kidnappers had told Baroness Harwin to “bring five sacks of wheat secretly.”
Erolamo Hill marked the boundary between Jezel Street and the Countship of Yohaim. In other words, it was filled with monsters and not a place easily traversed.
The largest mentioned zelkova tree was now visible just ten steps from the Marquisate of Sears.
“The hill isn’t very high,” Philip said, narrowing his eyes.
“If the monsters living on this hill are anything like these, we can eliminate them and come and go as we please.”
“Well, yes,” I nodded.
“The Harwin Barony doesn’t have a knight order this size, so it would have been impossible for them.”
Adjacent to Jezel Street, the Yohaim Countship fully controlled the river. Just like in Erenta.
While Marangor was difficult to catch, the river teemed with large freshwater fish. Additionally, it had the widest plains in the central region. Unlike Harwin’s barony, it meant one could survive for about three months without struggling.
‘Especially since it’s not winter.’
“You know Ruman of the Yohaim family, right? I think I’ll be engaged to him if nothing happens.”
That was why Dahlia had boasted about marriage talks with the Yohaim family.
“Ah, Ruman Yohaim… I always thought he was the most insufferable of the central nobles.”
I hadn’t insulted the family without reason.
Even with engagement talks going on, Harwin’s barony didn’t offer a helping hand, knowing it would be difficult.
‘They must’ve thought there was no need to trade with Harwin Barony and share hardships.’
With the countship’s full knight order, they could’ve cleared the hill of monsters easily.
In a way, it was a rational decision.
And Yohaim Countship acting strictly in terms of cost and benefit wasn’t really bad for us.
“Anyway, we’re almost there.” I said calmly.
“Carry the five sacks of wheat, please.”
Baroness Harwin had said that earlier.
“Your uncle was betrayed by the vassals, so who could you trust at the baronial manor? Especially with wheat… there are plenty of people willing to steal it even at the cost of their soul.”
She wasn’t wrong. Even as she spoke, Baroness Harwin and Dahlia were staring at the leftover sandwich I had eaten.
I slowly nodded.
“Understood.”
Then I called the maid.
“I’m full. Just give it to any passing dogs.”
It was quite a deed.
Anyway, Baroness Harwin said with a firm expression:
“Go down this hill. You can’t trust your knights, so you must accompany it yourself. Also, if they bring anyone else, it could harm the baron, so only one person should transport it…”
I nodded and sent them off.
That was in the morning, and after reclaiming Jezel Street, I was busy giving various orders.
‘Hah…’
With five sacks of wheat, I had taken over Jezel Street and the Veron area.
Originally, I was the one selling the wheat.
Although it’s a future that no longer exists, I never once forgot that task.
“Miss.”
After reaching the foot of the hill, Philip, carrying all five sacks alone, spoke.
“Should I leave them here?”
“Hmm, sure. Just leave them.”
Then,
“Brisa!”
In the darkness, Dahlia ran toward me.
“Brisa, you’re here!”
“Yes. Since I’m here, I’ll go.”
“No, not yet. Move the wheat under that zelkova tree.”
Dahlia stared intently at Philip.
Among Philip, Dahlia, and me, only Philip could carry the five sacks of wheat.
“Don’t go.”
Dahlia tightly held my arm.
“Mom says children shouldn’t climb the hill. Even at the entrance, monsters could come down. You’re the same age as me.”
“Okay, then.”
I nodded once and spoke to Philip.
“Go ahead.”
“I’ll be quick.”
Philip bowed once and entered the hill’s entrance where the zelkova tree stood.
Dahlia held my arm until Philip disappeared from sight.
So now, only the two of us were left at the foot of the hill.
“Let go now?” I asked casually.
Dahlia shrugged.
“No, it’s too scary.”
Then, someone from behind covered my eyes and mouth.
“Ugh!”
Dahlia let go of my arm, and suddenly, someone lifted me up. It had to be one of Baron Harwin’s people waiting nearby.
“Phew.”
I struggled, unable to even scream, as I heard Dahlia’s voice from below.
“Let’s leave quickly before the knight arrives.”
“Ah, we’re not killing them now?”
“Not now.”
Dahlia said primly.
“To reclaim Jezel Street and Veron, we need the lord’s deputy’s signature. Hurry and meet your father to finalize the contract.”
It was fortunate that I didn’t have to pretend to scream with a gag in my mouth.
‘Right, Dahlia.’
I thought as I kicked lazily.
‘That’s why I couldn’t kill your father right then.’
The lordship must be exchanged legally through documents.
From afar, I could hear Philip whistling as he returned from near the zelkova tree. Simultaneously, Dahlia and the kidnapper moved quietly along another path.
