CH 5

Chapter 5

Translator: Yonnee

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01. Isella’s Necklace

“Hmmngh.”

The mansion of Fief Lord Hare was famous for its breathtaking red flowers, but the uphill path from the entrance just made Isella’s feet suffer. From the very beginning, she didn’t have a good impression.

Even on her way here to this mansion, the carriage shook so roughly as if to let it be pronounced that the roads weren’t paved, and the coachman actually fell off his seat, which derailed them. And more than that, a horse’s ankle got injured.

The inevitable outcome was that the carriage wouldn’t be able to climb the steep slope, so Isella herself had to climb with her legs burning in the effort.

“What’s so good—about the countryside.”

Isella was so displeased to follow her father to this small countryside territory.

It was said that the land owned by the Hares was full of flowers during spring, so much that it was rumored to be blessed by God, and in the autumn, fruits were abundant. Although it was closed off by a mountainous area, the territory had a considerable economy because precious trees were abundant while residents were few and far in between, that’s why management costs weren’t required as much. In summary, it was a territory with excellent efficiency.

Of course, Isella’s father was the one who spotted this land as something worthwhile, but right now, Isella could only see this land as something to swear at.

“This will be our land.”

Verdic smiled as he held his daughter’s hand. It was far from major cities, so it was far from the radar of other nobles, and the household itself had only one daughter. This land was the perfect prey that Verdic Evans would target. Even more, the Hare fiefdom also had few ties to other households because of their long seclusion.

“Don’t worry, Isella. We’ll become aristocrats now. The days of kings passing down lands has long since passed. Now, even territories can be bought with money.”

And to have a more convenient territory, her father even had to sell some of Isella’s jewelry to buy the vast, useless lands surrounding the Hare territory. Just thinking about this made Isella purse her lips.

Among the sold jewelry, there was one that she inherited from her maternal grandmother. It was a beautiful accessory that was said to have been received to pay off the debts of another country’s royal family.

Rather than the jewelry itself, Isella Evans liked it more so because it was sort of like an extorted item. The Evans both despised yet adored the nobility, royalty and the clergy.

From those pig-like aristocrats, who were only born into that position, it was the Evans family’s pride to take advantage of their lands, their wealth and their honor through all sorts of means.

They wrest away all of these. And they could manage these better anyway once they were in their hands. They were the ones who truly deserved to be at the top of the ladder.

“Right, I heard you met the heiress of the Hare family at the chapel last time. What do you think of her?”

“Hmph. She’s not all that. She’s just tacky.”

“Then I’m glad we were invited this time.”

“I’m gonna throw up.”

Bleurgh.

Isella’s insides twisted up when she recalled Carynne’s face. Sure enough, while living up in the mountains, all the rumors of her beauty were well-founded.

No. The rumors were actually not enough.

She was terribly beautiful.

“If Father sees the man promised to be wed to her, it’ll be obvious to see that the fief lord had panicked.”

“Ha ha, compared to Lord Raymond, is there any other good man out there?”

“That man’s more like a jackass.”

Isella recalled meeting them. She had felt something poking at her stomach the moment she saw Carynne’s face, but that disappeared when she saw her fiancé, Dullan.

‘Just look at him! How could she marry a man like that, even if it’s for the sake of keeping your family’s territory?!’

“If they’re marrying within the family, they must be desperate to maintain the territory. But you know, the more desperate people are, the easier it is to do business with them.”

“That’s great then.”

Isella Evans laughed as she remembered Carynne’s modest dress and cheap accessories, and it comforted her to see Dullan by her side. And Isella saw the way Carynne eyed the necklace Raymond gave her. Perhaps envious, Carynne couldn’t take her eyes off Isella’s neck. This made Isella smile.

Isella liked the light behind Carynne’s eyes.

Those eyes that glimmered with anticipation.

* * *

“I’m glad you invited me, Lady Hare.”

“It’s my pleasure, Miss Evans. Please enjoy your stay while our fathers talk about complicated things. There are no other ladies of our age here, so I’m very pleased to be able to spend time with you, Miss Evans.”

Compared to the relaxed smile on Carynne’s face, Isella was trying to hide how short of breath she was. Then, a porter handed Isella a gift, and even if it was covered by cloth that would be peeled off immediately, it was embroidered meticulously.

“Then these,” Isella said.

“Bowen,” Carynne called.

Isella’s luggage was taken by the next attendant.

“I brought some tea for us to enjoy. It’s quite popular in the capital these days.”

The tea was in a small wooden box that was engraved with ornate patterns. Such patterns and craftsmanship were something that a countryside lady might not have even seen in her life. For a while, Carynne admired its beauty, but she was soon embarrassed because she couldn’t open it.

Enjoying how Carynne floundered, Isella unlocked the box as if showing off by saying that this was the right way to open it. It clattered open, and the sound of the sawtooth pattern turning around was beautiful. Then, the true beauty of the tea caddy could be seen.

“The enjoyment of refreshments of course through the eyes, the nose and the ears.”

She was not talking about the joy from the tea caddy but the tea itself, yet Carynne smiled and looked at the container. Isella opened it and handed it to Carynne.

“In a place like this, I believe it’s only enjoyed straight, so I prepared a variety of things.”

There were also all kinds of spices. Full spice bottles were organized in categories and arranged beautifully by their color. Engraved in golden print on the lids were the names of each spice and their recommended blending recipe.

Rather than the tea caddy, these products were beyond jewelry boxes, and none of Carynne’s possessions would ever measure up to this value.

“Yes, it’s difficult to enjoy various flavors in this backwoods place.”

“Oh my, I apologize if you were offended.”

Of course, Isella deliberately said this to make Carynne feel terrible. She waited for Carynne to speak more, but the other young lady said nothing else and just smiled.

When there was no further reply, Isella soon relaxed as she leaned back against the backrest of her seat. When boiled water was placed next to them on the quiet table, she gained momentum again.

“It’s very fragrant.”

“Drinking it straight is good since the scent of each tea would come to life, but I also like to enjoy various other flavors. If you enjoy only one thing, wouldn’t tea time be too boring?”

“I agree, Miss Isella. It would be too boring to enjoy just one flavor. Even if it’s not perfect, I believe that pursuing diversity is what people are meant to do.”

At Carynne’s answer, Isella’s expression shook.

“Now isn’t that too grandiose, Lady Hare.”

“Life starts with tea time after all.”

Carynne put some flower petals into the tea, smiling as she took in the scent of spring.

“Isella, you don’t know how happy I am that you’ve come to change my boring daily life.”

From the bottom of her heart.