Chapter 134: Like Beads on a String
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 134: Like Beads on a String
“I—I can walk.”
“The path hasn’t been cleared yet… Your shoes will get soaked.”
Loik spoke firmly as he continued to stride forward.
In the end, I had no choice but to wrap my arms around his neck to keep from falling. Even though the wind was quite chilly, the tips of my ears burned hot.
‘How is a woman without a husband supposed to survive this level of sorrow?’
Cecilia, who had been huddled in a corner of the carriage for a long time because she couldn't step out due to the Grand Duke’s "fastidiousness," was only able to poke her head out after confirming that Annette had been carried far away in the Grand Duke’s arms.
She looked down at the deep snow piled beneath her feet.
‘My shoes are going to get completely ruined.’
Just as she was blaming herself for letting her guard down just because it was summer, a hand suddenly appeared before her eyes.
“Take it.”
It was Perel.
Thanks to the aide holding her hand high so she wouldn't sink, Cecilia was able to step onto a spot where the snow was relatively thin.
Perel had arrived in Pogen a day early to discuss the wine business with the village elder.
The knights who had just arrived began setting up camp at the foot of the mountain where the temple was located. Below the mountain slope, a small village with houses huddled together came into view.
“Did the talk go well?”
At Cecilia’s question, Perel shook his head.
“The villagers are quite stubborn.”
Contrary to the Grand Duchess’s ambitious aspirations, the plan to turn Snow Wine into a local specialty was hitting a snag from the very beginning. It was due to the backlash from the residents.
“We brought Priest Miel along, so we’ll have to hope he can talk some sense into them.”
Perel muttered that the priest should be of some help since he had lived among the villagers.
Just then, Enolius caught Cecilia’s eye, lounging in a corner with a sulky expression.
“Why did the mage follow us here?”
Perel rubbed the back of his head as if he didn't quite know either.
“Well, His Highness the Grand Duke didn't call for him… He’s such a whimsical person that I’m not sure myself.”
Instead of staying in the village, the Grand Ducal procession set up camp right in front of the temple. While having a mage would be convenient in many ways…
Turning her head, she saw Sir Norton of the 1st Knight Division and Captain Tiern of the 9th Knight Division bickering with each other. Why on earth did two whole knight divisions tag along?
“There are just too many of them.”
“Whenever Her Highness the Consort goes anywhere, there are so many people trailing after her like beads on a string.”
Cecilia grumbled, wondering who the lady-in-waiting even was at this point.
‘They’re exactly the same.’
Perel recalled the words his lord had said just the day before.
— “What exactly does a lady-in-waiting have to do in the middle of a forest? I can wait on her myself. What? A companion? Annette likes talking to me the most.”
When told that the Consort would be sharing a carriage with her lady-in-waiting, his lord had grumbled, wondering who the husband even was.
Compared to the Grand Duke’s wish to travel "intimately," it had certainly turned into a massive procession.
“Oh, Berni packed plenty of cheese. I should try it with the Snow Wine later!”
As Perel guided Cecilia along the path where the snow had been somewhat cleared, he swallowed a sigh.
For some reason, it felt like he and the Consort were the only ones among the many people who had followed who actually cared about the wine business.
*
“And the items we brought?”
“The knights distributed them directly to the residents. They seemed to like the spices the most. Households with children were also very happy with the storybooks and toys.”
I received Perel’s report inside the temple’s chapel.
Since this was an official outing of the Grand Ducal family, it felt wrong to come empty-handed, so I had selected items that the village might need.
“However, getting the villagers to participate seems like it will be more difficult than expected,” Perel said with a very troubled expression.
I had already heard that the residents were opposing the business for religious reasons.
“What is the specific reason for their opposition?”
I asked the priest standing a few paces away.
Miel, who had been hesitating while glancing at Loik, quickly stepped forward.
“Pogen is a sacred land blessed by the Goddess… They fear that if many outsiders come and go, the sacred energy of the land will be disturbed.”
He explained that the residents of Sablang Village, in particular, were people of deep faith who had settled in the area solely because of the temple.
“This land is difficult to farm, and it’s not suitable for hunting either.”
“Then they need the wine business all the more.”
“They consider the groundwater used for the wine to be holy water imbued with the Goddess’s grace, so they won’t welcome it being pumped out in large quantities.”
“Making such a fuss over holy water when it’s just mere groundwater.”
Enolius, who was leaning against the chapel wall in a slouching posture, said with a furrowed brow.
“How ridiculous. This is His Highness the Grand Duke’s land to begin with. On what grounds do they oppose it?”
“The mage is right,” Perel agreed with a dissatisfied look. “I know Her Highness the Consort wants to give the residents a chance to participate in the business, but…”
The aide trailed off, saying that the residents were acting as if the world would end if the wine business proceeded, making persuasion difficult.
“What do you want to do, Annette?”
Loik spoke as he tightened the cloak wrapped around my body.
“In truth, as the mage said, there’s no need to particularly care about their opposition, but if it weighs on your mind, I will take appropriate measures.”
‘Actually, I was thinking of trying to persuade the villagers myself, but…’
If the Grand Duchess stepped forward, it would inevitably look coercive.
They would have the know-how from making wine all this time, and it would be easier in many ways if the residents actively participated, but I couldn't force them to do something they hated.
I turned to Perel and said, “Meet with the elder again tomorrow with Miel. If they still refuse, we’ll decide then.”
When I told him there was no need to push too hard to persuade them, Perel’s complexion finally returned to normal, looking somewhat relieved.
That evening, an unexpected feast took place.
Because a significant number of people had gathered—Loik, two knight divisions, the priest, the mage, Cecilia, and the servants—a large banquet was naturally set up at the campsite.
All sorts of meats prepared by Berni at the Grand Duke’s Castle were placed on the table, and Leon boiled a large pot of spicy tomato stew just for me.
I had nothing to do today anyway. No, except for Perel, the rest of them didn't have anything to do in the first place.
The knights, who seemed to have come out for a picnic under the guise of being guards, were in high spirits and went down to the village to buy plenty of Snow Wine and freshly baked bread.
“Your Highness, is it to your taste?”
“Of course! Sir Leon’s cooking is the best!”
I, who had been eating with my mouth full of stew, gave Leon a thumbs-up, but quickly lowered my hand when I locked eyes with Loik.
“Of course, what Loik makes is even more delicious.”
When I whispered that into his ear, the corners of Loik’s mouth, which had been drooping, finally twitched upward.
Next to Cecilia, who had tactfully sat as far away from Loik as possible, Perel was keeping her company.
At a glance, it looked like Perel was being scolded by Cecilia, but the Grand Duchess’s lady-in-waiting was the type to shut her mouth entirely in front of someone she truly considered insignificant or disagreeable.
So, it could be taken that she currently found Perel quite endearing.
‘Oh? Looking at them like this, the two of them are quite…!’
No, never mind.
I shouldn't automatically link a man and a woman of similar age as a couple. I shouldn't go around meddling in other people’s potential marriage prospects for no reason.
I cleanly cut off my interest and turned my attention back to the spicy tomato stew.
“You mean there’s a hot spring behind the temple?”
It was around the time dinner was winding down.
At the story Miel brought up, the eyes of the knights, including Leon, widened.
— “Didn't you see it when we were scouting earlier? That’s all a hot spring.”
A few knights, including Loik and Norton, didn't seem surprised, as if they already knew.
— “Decades ago, a holy relic of the Goddess was discovered in the hot spring. The Pogen Temple was built specifically to commemorate that.”
Miel added an explanation for why a temple had been built in front of a hot spring out of nowhere.
— “Captain, how about a knight division bonding session in the hot spring after so long?”
A few excited knights began egging Loik on, looking ready to strip their shirts off right then and there.
— “There is also a separate indoor hot spring that Her Highness the Consort can use.”
“Really? I want to go right now!”
Loik, who had been wearing a dissatisfied expression, was helplessly dragged away by the knights when I stood up in excitement.
Miel guided me to a small hot spring inside the temple.
Soon, an indoor spring filled with water appeared, surrounded by pillars carved from rosy granite. The sight of the thick steam hanging in the air was quite spectacular.
“It was made by drawing the water from the outdoor spring into the temple. The entrance looks small, but it’s quite deep inside.”
Miel advised me to warm my body in peace, saying that it was a place built for priests to purify themselves before rituals and that no one would come in.
The hot spring exuded a sacred yet clean energy.
Since Cecilia had drunk a lot of wine and passed out early, I was alone in the hot spring. Even though he said no one could come in…
‘Still, just in case…’
I immersed myself in the hot spring water with a large towel wrapped around my body.
It was while I was lounging and relaxing.
Suddenly, a cool breeze blew from deep inside the dark hot spring area.
Where was the wind coming from?
Puzzled, I walked further inside. As I turned a corner shaped like an 'L', I was met with the unexpected sight of bright moonlight.
‘Could it be connected to the outside?’
Looking now, I saw a crude wooden door that separated the indoor and outdoor sections along a single waterway. Even that door was wide open, perhaps because the lock was broken.
The blowing wind was so pleasant that I stepped outside.
“Wow.”
The white snow covering the area around the hot spring was shimmering under the moonlight.
As the surface of the water rippled, holding a large reflection of the white moon, a cool yet refreshing breeze swept in.
‘It’s so beautiful.’
It was while I was enjoying the snowy scenery and cooling my heat-flushed cheeks.
Splash!
From the calm surface of the water, a massive silhouette suddenly surged upward, creating a violent spray of water.