CH 17

Chapter 17: A Small Rift│Read translated stories and daily updates at: Awebstories.com

They would ride in a horse-drawn carriage over bumpy roads and then return home with a written report of what they had seen and heard during the day’s inspection and meetings before bed.

Each day, Angelique worked herself to exhaustion before falling asleep.

On the fourth or fifth day, she woke up to find that Serge was no longer in bed.

Angelique paid no attention to him, assuming he had gone to the Dragons.

“Good morning, you’re up early.”

Serge sighed in frustration when she said that to him at the breakfast table.

“Do you know what the term ‘freshly killed’ means, Angelique?”

“It reminds me of freshly prepared food.”

“Certainly not!

‘Seriously, if he’s losing his temper because he didn’t get enough sleep, he should have gotten more.’

Emire, the butler, chides beside him, “I know you’re newlyweds, but you need to tone it down.” Then Serge stares at Emire with a devilish expression on his face.

This is unusual for Serge, who usually has a beaming smile on his face.

‘Did he have a bad day this morning? Is his blood pressure too low? Isn’t there enough meat?’

Angelique thought hard as she ate her breakfast of bread and soup.

‘As expected, I prefer meat.’

—○█○—

She had visited all the areas in about two weeks.

She selected a crop that she thought would do well in each plot and prepared to distribute the seeds.

Initially, she wanted to sow the seeds on a trial basis, but the seeds she brought with her were not enough. So she decided to go to Vignoa to get seeds from the Duke of Montan’s farm.

She also wants to farm the land in areas where there are surplus workers but not enough fields. They can’t farm the land because the laborers who were supposed to work on it have been pulled out of the area.

The family workers have to earn money and feed their families by migrating to look for work instead of farming the land. However, if they can earn wages equal to those of migrant workers, the labor force could be secured.

There is only one way out: buy seeds and provide subsidies to farmers. That’s monetary.

They need money.

Once a good flow is established, the economy will recover.

All they need now is the first injection of funds.

“I’d like to go to Vignoa, Serge.”

She turned to Serge, who had been living in the library for a few days and was sleeping on the couch at night.

“You finally finished your inspection?” inquired Serge, sitting on the couch.

Angelique was sure he wanted to spend the rest of the day with the Dragons.

“If you’re busy, I’ll borrow Emire and go alone.”

Angelique couldn’t drive the carriage, so she had to find someone to replace Serge.

It would be difficult to live here if she didn’t know how to drive and ride a carriage, so she will try to learn as soon as she has time.

“Doesn’t Serge have any dragons to watch out for?”

“What do you want to do in Vignoa?”

“I would like to go buy seeds. Also, I would like to sell some items that I no longer need.”

“Items you no longer need?”

His blue eyes look at Angelique.

She chooses her words carefully so as not to hurt Serge’s pride.

“I’d like to get rid of all the useless dresses I brought with me.”

“The dresses…”

Serge stood up from the couch.

“Angelique.”

“Dresses come and go out of fashion; it’s better to have someone else wear them than to lose their value without ever having the opportunity to wear them here.”

Her dresses are the latest trends right now.

Angelique is tall, so it’s easy to size up to fit the buyer.

Even in Vignoa, where second-hand dresses from the capital are sold, there are not many dresses as good as Angelique’s.

They will be delighted.

She went over everything with him in detail while Serge sat silently and listened.

With the money from the sale of the clothes, she plans to buy seeds and pay the bounty to the people who farmed the land.

Angelique is confident that Serge will understand.

This is an investment.

The money spent here will more than pay for itself in the long run, enriching the estate and the count’s house.

Angelique will benefit later instead of having a dress in her closet that she will never wear. It’s a small price to pay.

‘Please don’t reject it with silly pride.’

Despite Angelique’s misgivings, Serge nodded easily.

“You are free to do whatever you want.”

‘I’m glad he’s a smart guy.’

At the same time, she sensed some distance between them, and Angelique began to worry.

“Serge?”

“You’re doing the right thing. I have nothing to say.”