The Mountain Picnic and Something on My Lip
The effect of our ‘shh’ didn’t even last two minutes.
We sat in silence, listening to the children chatter away. After piecing together everything they spilled in their renewed babbling, the situation became clear.
So that sister figure told them she was heading to the neighboring fief to earn some money.
“Could it be because the daughter of the lord of the neighboring territory is getting married?” Baron Orso speculated.
Big events like weddings always left households short-staffed, so they frequently hired temporary workers. Noble families paid generously, turning the jobs into a rare chance for commoners to make good money in a short time. Given the orphanage’s dire poverty, it was an opportunity they couldn’t afford to miss, even if it meant leaving the children alone for several days.
“Do you know when she’ll be back?”
“After two more nights of sleep,” Nancy answered.
Two days. That’s inconvenient.
We had planned to take the children down with us today. I exchanged a quick glance with Edwin before carefully suggesting, “We’re going to repair the orphanage. While the work is being done, you’ll need to stay down in the village.”
“You’re taking the kids somewhere else?” Nancy narrowed her eyes. “Big sister said we have to stay here quietly.”
“She told us never to follow strangers who say they’re taking us somewhere.”
They were back to bristling like hedgehogs with their quills raised. At this rate I was going to look like a child abductor. Even Robin, who had grown familiar with us, hid behind another child the moment our eyes met.
This isn’t working. Time for a strategy session.
I whispered back and forth with Edwin.
“What do we do? It doesn’t look like they’ll come down.”
“We’ll have to persuade their guardian when she arrives.”
“But she won’t be back for two days. Are we supposed to leave the children here until then?”
The orphanage building was so decrepit it looked ready to collapse at any moment. It was far too dangerous for the children to stay there.
After a moment’s thought, Edwin said, “What if we move them to the Peram Temple?”
The temple building was also quite old, but it received regular maintenance and repairs. Compared to the orphanage, it might as well have been brand new.
“That might actually work.”
When we suggested they stay at the temple until their “big sister” returned, the children initially refused, afraid of being scolded by the priests. But when we reassured them that the lord himself—who ranked higher than any priest—had said it was all right, they finally relented.
“I’ll need to send down food and bedding,” Baron Orso said.
Though his name had been sold for a pittance, he seemed determined to take responsibility for having neglected the orphanage while tiptoeing around the temple. He promised various forms of support.
“I’ll also send maids and servants to look after the children.”
Is he watching Edwin’s reaction?
Every time he listed another offer of help, his eyes darted toward Edwin. The desire to look good was written all over his face. Edwin merely gave a half-hearted nod.
“I need to visit Diegis, Lina.”
His tone with me was full of warmth.
“All right.”
Since Baron Orso had agreed to provide caretakers for the children, heading to Diegis was more efficient than waiting around in Feram for their guardian.
As Edwin and I discussed our one-day-delayed trip to Diegis, Baron Orso spoke up cautiously. “News of the Peram Temple’s inspection will likely reach the higher temple soon.”
The temple wouldn’t stay silent; they would certainly send someone to protest. Given the distance, that someone was most likely to be Priest Harkan. Baron Orso seemed worried about the priest arriving while we were away.
“We’ll return within two days,” Edwin said.
The baron let out a deep sigh of relief.
“That’s fortunate. If you’re leaving for Diegis tomorrow, why not spend tonight at the lord’s manor? The carrier pigeon sent to the capital will arrive there as well.”
Edwin glanced at me, asking silently. It’s fine. I gave a small nod, and he granted permission.
“Then we will.”
“It is a humble place, so I am ashamed to host you, but it would be an honor.”
We were the guests, yet Baron Orso was the one expressing gratitude.
Baron Orso gave us the finest guest rooms in the manor—right next to each other.
We each entered our assigned rooms. After washing off the dust and grime from a full day of trekking up and down mountain paths, I suddenly realized we hadn’t decided on an exact departure time for tomorrow.
“Is Ed asleep yet?”
The clock suggested he might still be awake.
“If he’s already sleeping, I’ll just come back.”
I slipped a robe over my pajamas and carefully stepped outside. The room right next door belonged to Edwin.
“Ed, are you sleeping?”
I knocked softly, afraid of waking him if he had already dozed off.
Creak.
The door swung open; it hadn’t been properly latched. I didn’t mean to open it.
I unintentionally peeked inside, but the room was empty.
Where could he have gone at this hour? To the bathroom, maybe?
Assuming he’d return soon, I decided to wait by the door. Roughly ten minutes passed.
“He’s not coming back.”
Edwin still hadn’t returned.
“Must be taking a while.”
I shrugged and turned away, deciding I would simply wake up early.
The road to Diegis was surprisingly manageable, even for someone as inexperienced on horseback as me. Many people traveled between the two fiefs, so although the mountain path was narrow, it was well-packed and smooth. There were almost no obstacles like jutting rocks or tree roots.
I had been a little nervous when first mounting the horse, but once we set off, the tension melted away quickly. Only then did I truly notice the scenery.
“Ed, doesn’t this feel like we’re on a picnic?”
The summer mountains were lush with fresh green, and the sky stretched out in a perfect, cloudless blue. The wind that brushed my cheeks was cooler than the air down in the valley. We had left with plenty of time to account for my poor riding skills, so my heart felt light and unhurried.
Edwin nodded at my question. We continued riding, chatting casually the whole way.
“Oof.”
The horse jolted hard as it hit a dip in the path. After three hours in the saddle my backside was already numb; this was the finishing blow.
“Shall we take a short break?” Edwin suggested, noticing my posture slowly collapsing.
“Yes, please. Actually, why don’t we have lunch while we’re at it?” I answered brightly.
It was already around noon, and a brief rest wasn’t going to bring feeling back to my rear and thighs anyway.
“Sounds good. That shade under the tree over there looks perfect.”
He must have already scouted a spot; he pointed to a massive tree so wide that even if I stretched both arms as far as they could go, I wouldn’t be able to embrace it. The ground around it was flat and inviting.
We approached slowly. Edwin helped me dismount.
“Ughhh.”
The change in posture made every muscle scream.
“I don’t think I can stand.”
When I whined dramatically, Edwin gave a small laugh.
“Maybe we should have taken the carriage.”
His concern was obvious. A carriage would have been better than a horse, but its ride wasn’t exactly luxurious either. In that case, better to suffer a little and get it over with quickly.
“No, I like riding the horse.”
Showing my determination to see it through, I patted the back of the poor horse that had endured three hours with me.
We watered the horses, let them graze, and tied their reins to a nearby tree so they could rest. Now it was our turn to refresh ourselves.
What Edwin pulled from his pack, however, was far more elaborate than I expected: a picnic blanket, chilled fruit juice, and even cookies for dessert.
“This isn’t like a picnic—it is a picnic.”
We leaned against the tree and ate sandwiches.
“These are delicious.”
I knew it the moment I took a big bite. The lord’s manor apparently employed a talented sandwich maker. The fillings weren’t particularly abundant given the season, yet whether because we were eating outdoors or because we had exercised, they tasted exceptionally good.
Edwin watched me eat for a moment before starting on his own sandwich. We ate in comfortable silence, enjoying the breeze that was cooler than the air below the mountain.
Around the time I was finishing my sandwich, I noticed Edwin staring at me intently.
“What?” I asked, trying not to open my mouth too wide.
“You’ve got something on the corner of your mouth,” Edwin said with a soft chuckle.