Chapter 44
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Selling Firewood - 5
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"As you know, our Lugeron Village is located in the northwest of the continent."
"Yes, I know."
"And to the west of the village lies the Dark Forest, officially recognized by the Empire as a demonic realm, and behind it, the Titan Mountains, known as a place of myths."
"Father taught me all about it, so I'm well aware."
"To the north, there's the snowy mountain range, and Adelrio came here from the northern lands, taking his daughter Sylvia and bypassing through those snowy mountains."
"So, no one lives in the snowy mountains?"
"That's right. Even the cold-hardy northern tribesmen can't endure the biting chill there."
I could see why Father had strictly warned me never to venture into the snowy mountain region in winter. If even the northern tribesmen who thrived in the cold couldn't handle it, this was basically an ice age.
"Then why do they call us raiders?"
"I suspect it's because of a war between the northern tribesmen and the Northern Grand Duke in the past."
"A war?"
"Yes. Duke Star tried to conquer them under the pretext of territorial expansion, branding the northern tribesmen as barbarians."
"What was there to gain from the north to start a war..."
The north was barren land. If the northern tribesmen had invaded for plunder, that would make sense, but there was no reason for us to invade them. It wasn't for nothing that the north always got the short end in fantasy novels.
"I'm not entirely sure about the details myself. Adelrio fled here to Lugeron Village with his wife and young daughter Sylvia because of that war, but he lost his wife along the way."
"That's awful..."
Sylvia's tragic past tugged at my heart. Next time I got the chance, I'd comfort her.
"I hope my explanation answered your questions."
"Yes, thank you, Village Chief."
"I'm glad I could help."
I thanked the Village Chief and headed home.
Once there, I untied Vivian and her younger sisters.
Vivian looked flustered, so I had Sylvia reassure her.
"There seems to be a misunderstanding. We're not the raiders you think we are, and we have no intention of harming you."
Vivian was wary at first, but Sylvia's persistent persuasion eventually put her at ease. Through Sylvia, she conveyed her thoughts.
"I am Vivian of the Fang Tribe. If you swear not to lay a hand on my little sister, I will submit to you as the victor and conqueror."
"Sure, that's fine."
And just like that, our family temporarily gained a few more members.
For now, it's temporary.
...
Two weeks had passed since Vivian and her twin sisters arrived. Once winter ended, I planned to visit the north with her. It was Sylvia's homeland, after all, and checking out the local factions near the village wouldn't hurt.
Lately, Sylvia and Vivian had grown much closer.
"Really? Fruits grow up north too? That's fascinating."
From Vivian's perspective, Sylvia was the only one she could communicate with, so it was inevitable.
On the other hand, her twin sisters, Becky and Bess, had bonded with Clia and Elin—girls their age—despite the language barrier.
"Becky, try this. It's Pring Bread that big brother made, and it doesn't have any flour in it!"
"Bess! Bess!"
"Oh, you're Bess. Sorry."
Being identical twins, it was impossible to tell Becky from Bess. Aside from their beauty marks, they were identical.
"Sian oppa."
"What's up, Elin?"
"Becky wants the wooden doll to play with. Is it okay if I give it to her?"
"Yeah, no problem. Give it to her if you want."
"Thanks, oppa."
While everyone was busy with the new family members, I approached Chloe.
"Chloe, aren't you cold?"
"No. But I do want to feel your warmth, dear."
"Can't argue with that."
I sat on a chair behind Chloe and hugged her from behind.
"Feel it?"
"Yes. I love you, dear."
"I love you too."
"Say 'I love you' to our baby too."
"Of course. I love you."
I gave some prenatal love to the child growing inside Chloe. She must have felt a reaction, because Chloe stroked her belly and said,
"Our baby says it loves you too."
"Then I'll love it even more."
As I whispered sweet nothings to Chloe,
"Sian."
"Yeah? What's up, Elsia?"
Elsia came looking for me.
"Selnia is here."
"Why?"
"She says she needs more firewood."
"Already? We just gave her some not long ago."
"The recent cold snap has been harsher than expected, so they're using more than we anticipated."
"Hmm..."
Realizing this wasn't the place for this conversation, I kissed Chloe's cheek and stepped outside with Elsia to greet Selnia, who had come looking for me.
"Please help us."
"I'm not a priest."
She was starting to see me as a pushover because I'd been nice so far. Selnia's brazen attitude was almost comical.
"Why not just buy the firewood outright?"
"You know my husband lost his leg, right?"
"Yeah."
Selnia's husband, Jace, had lost his leg saving his comrades in the war. Naturally, with his disability, he couldn't perform the labor we required.
"But even so, you could just pay the proper price for it, right?"
We were flexible. They could buy the firewood at the price Elsia set, or barter if they didn't have cash.
"Our situation isn't flush."
"That's your problem. If you can't afford it, ask the Village Chief for help."
"I talked to him, but he couldn't offer a solution."
"Well, even the Village Chief has his limits."
Our conversation was going nowhere.
She kept pleading for help, and I was politely telling her to get lost.
"You have the spare room to take in other women—outsiders, no less—but you can't help fellow villagers?"
"Unlike some, those women are paying their proper dues."
Vivian wasn't just mooching off our food. As a northern tribeswoman, she had some resistance to the cold and skill in hunting. Lately, she and Clara had been taking turns going out to hunt. No wonder Clara seemed a bit sulky these days.
Anyway, Vivian would not only guide us when we visited the north later but also vouch for our identities to the northern tribesmen.
Compared to her, a villager demanding free help with nothing in return? If she had any conscience, she'd take the hint and leave by now.
"Did Elsia tell you to say that?"
Suddenly, she went on the offensive.
"I don't know why you think that, but we're not planning to help you any further."
"Fine. I wasn't planning to ask for help from a lecher like you anyway."
Selnia stormed off back to her house. Watching her go, I asked Elsia,
"I thought you two were friends. Did something bad happen in the past?"
"Yes. We used to be lovers."
???
Her unexpected answer left me speechless for a moment.
"Lovers?"
"When we were young, neither of us was interested in men. All the village guys were too busy fawning over Sylvia to notice us. Then our eyes met, and we ended up in a sexual relationship. Oh, she was my first."
Elsia's revelation about her past was more shocking than I'd imagined. Of course, I wasn't against it.
Love between two consenting people is natural. The issue was that this world wouldn't accept it.
In fact, both of them had married and started families.
But I couldn't understand why that would sour their relationship. Still, I didn't pry. Everyone has pasts they don't want to talk about, even with family. You shouldn't cross that line.
Instead, I asked Elsia something else.
"Do you want to help her?"
There was such a thing as old affections, especially between lovers who'd shared their bodies. But Elsia replied calmly.
"It's fine. I'm no longer her lover—I'm your concubine now, Sian."
That was so like her. I appreciated how she drew a clear line, affirming she was mine. I tried to understand her feelings.
I kissed Elsia and said,
"Still, if you want to help her, just say the word. Taking on a few more isn't a burden."
"Understood, Sian."
...
Tonight was Elsia's turn to attend me. But she didn't come to my bedroom alone. She brought Selnia, the woman with dark brown hair, with her.
Selnia stood before me with a humiliated expression. Slowly, she undressed, then knelt naked and looked up at me.
"P-Please buy me. I-I would be grateful, Sian."
Watching her, Elsia wore a sadistic smile. She was masochistic with me, but not with her former lover.