Ch.58Chapter 58 – Jerenna Territory (3)

It was a peaceful journey.

The tranquil travel continued as we ate the provisions Eve had prepared in advance or stopped at villages for meals.

Of course, since this was officially work, we didn’t neglect to keep watch of our surroundings, but it was truly a peaceful journey nonetheless.

After traveling like this for several days, we arrived at our destination, the Zerenna domain.

However, our specific destination was closer to the center of the domain, so we continued a bit further.

“I can see it now.”

At Eve’s words from atop her horse, Sera, who had been reading a book on the wagon, and Christina, who had been lying down, turned their gazes in that direction.

Me? I was naturally walking alongside them.

“This is the distillery that the Zerenna domain boasts about.”

Eve proudly pointed to the factory.

Looking where she indicated, I could see a gate decorated with quite elaborate ornaments.

Beside it stood guards with impressively good equipment.

“Is the owner extremely wealthy?”

“You could say that.”

Eve said with a grin.

“The owner is the lord, and his daughter has inherited the management.”

“His daughter?”

“Yes. She’s essentially the heir. They’re preparing to continue the family line by bringing in a son-in-law.”

After saying this, Eve seemed to think for a moment before quietly adding:

“She’s an old friend of mine.”

I was about to ask where they had met, but by then we had already reached the guards.

“Please halt.”

As expected, the guards immediately stopped us.

Eve promptly took out her identification from inside her garment.

“I’m Eve Ravencha. I’ve come for this year’s trade.”

When Eve spoke confidently, the two guards had different reactions.

One immediately took a step back, while the other didn’t.

“Let them through.”

“But no matter what, there are protocols…”

“She’s the lady’s longtime friend. Can you take responsibility?”

I could see the guard rolling his eyes slightly.

He briefly examined each of us, then spoke again.

“…At the very least, I should know their names.”

“Hah, such a stickler.”

The guard who had been telling us to enter soon bowed his head to Eve.

“I apologize. He’s practically a rookie.”

“It’s fine. Why would I dislike someone who’s diligent in their duties?”

Eve graciously accepted the apology with a dignified smile, and the guard expressed his gratitude.

Soon, the guard who had insisted on knowing our identities carefully observed and recorded our faces and names before nodding.

“Well then, I’ll let you pass.”

“Thank you.”

“Not at all. May the blessing of God Emiris be with you.”

What the hell, throwing curses around like that.

However, the guard was smiling without any malice.

‘Should I endure this?’

Since I couldn’t just arrest someone for being a follower of that order, I backed down for now.

A moment later, Christina muttered glumly:

“As expected, since it’s an order with many ordinary believers, we meet a devotee here.”

She kept glancing enviously toward where the guard was standing.

“That’s unfortunate.”

“Perhaps, out of pity for me, would you consider joining our religion?”

“I must decline religious solicitation.”

Christina’s proposal was naturally dismissed.

After passing through the entrance, we could smell alcohol in the air, suggesting they were making wine.

“The wine from this place has a good aroma and taste, so many people seek it out.”

“And you’re the one who distributes it?”

“Yes. My role is to buy it at a reasonable price and sell it at a higher one.”

Eve smiled as she entered a building.

A person who appeared to be the manager came out from inside, and Eve began talking with them.

While leaving her be for a moment and looking around, someone caught my eye.

‘Who is that?’

Judging by the pinned-up hair and elaborate clothes, I thought this must be a noble.

Wait. Eve had mentioned that the owner here was the lord’s daughter.

‘She’s coming this way.’

With a fan covering her mouth, the woman approached our vicinity.

Being a noble, she naturally passed by others without even a glance, then reached the person she was targeting.

“It’s been a while, Eve.”

“It has been a while, Cordelia.”

So it was her after all.

The woman smiled at Eve as she folded her fan.

+

Following Cordelia’s guidance, we were led to a tea table in a corner of the factory.

We sat in this refined space designed for enjoying tea while appreciating the outdoor scenery, and soon people who appeared to be maids brought tea and cookies.

Seeing this, Sera quietly asked:

“Is it okay for us to eat these?”

“I suppose it is.”

She seemed quite hesitant.

In the end, not touching the cookies, Christina, Sera, and I just sipped our tea while watching each other cautiously.

“Why doesn’t that person remove his helmet?”

“He’s not being disrespectful. He injured his face.”

Hearing Eve’s explanation, Cordelia covered her mouth with her fan.

“…How pitiful.”

Judging by how quietly she muttered this, she didn’t seem like a bad person.

Though I don’t understand why she needed to speak so softly when she could have just spoken normally.

“Some nobles are taught not to mingle too much with commoners, so please don’t take offense.”

Eve whispered this explanation to me, so I decided to just accept it.

Soon, the woman put down her fan and took a sip of tea.

Then she looked directly at Eve.

“So, do you have nothing to say to me, Eve?”

Cordelia spoke with a somewhat displeased expression, to which Eve drank her tea and replied:

“The tea has a nice aroma.”

“That I selected it carefully for you… is not the issue. Don’t you have anything to say, Eve?”

“The weather is nice.”

“Are you going to keep avoiding the subject?”

“The air is good.”

I had no idea what was going on, but Eve was consistently playing dumb.

Soon, Cordelia spoke with a slightly trembling voice.

Anyone could tell she was somewhat angry.

“…Do you know, Eve? Letters keep arriving for you at my home.”

“The breeze is nice.”

“Stop avoiding the subject. Isn’t it about time you showed your face at home? It’s hard on me and Rachel too.”

Eve continued to avoid the topic by sipping her tea again.

After fuming for a moment, Cordelia took a deep breath to calm herself and spoke again.

“Really, you seem to live your life too adventurously.”

“What can I do? I realized this was the best option.”

“I don’t know what that means, but anyway.”

Having calmed down, Cordelia spoke while drinking her tea.

“In any case, your father and mother keep inquiring and sending letters to my father, and I’m getting tired of it.”

“I’m sorry.”

“If you’re sorry, why don’t you go home now?”

Eve fell into thought for a moment.

“I can’t.”

She said as she put down her teacup.

“Unfortunately, I’m in a situation where I can’t go home.”

“Is it about the merchant guild? If so, you could just officially change your affiliation from the guild to the Metis family.”

“I’m saying I can’t return to that family at all. It’s difficult to explain.”

Eve glanced at me slightly.

I couldn’t understand why she was looking at me.

‘Wait a minute.’

Perhaps this was related to Eve’s ability?

“As a friend who graduated from the academy with you, I find it quite sad. Both the other family and the person were quite excellent.”

Cordelia spoke with regret.

“…Guild Master, were you originally a noble?”

“Let’s listen first before speaking.”

I covered Christina’s mouth.

But even with just this much, it was clear that she was originally from a noble family.

‘Did something happen in the future that made her leave home?’

Her ability was supposedly to see futures that would occur with high probability, as she had verified herself.

I thought that leaving home might have been one of those verification cases.

Meanwhile, Eve just smiled at those words.

“I am now Eve Ravencha.”

Eve said proudly.

“I appreciate your concern thinking I might struggle, but unfortunately, I have enough wealth now that I wouldn’t starve even if I just played around.”

“…Your mother seemed very worried. She probably visited the guild again?”

“Unfortunately, I wasn’t there to greet her since the day was approaching to trade wine and grapes from Zerenna domain.”

“You should correct that to ‘I escaped using Rachel as a sacrifice.'”

Eve quietly sipped her tea, and Cordelia sighed.

‘So that’s why she stayed at an inn instead of going home.’

Through their conversation, I seemed to understand why Eve had come here.

While there was indeed a trade to be made, it seemed the real purpose was to avoid people coming from Eve’s original family.

‘Is it that burdensome?’

I would have thought Eve would face it confidently, but it seemed she ran away because it was uncomfortable.

I wondered if I was being used by her, but since I’d get paid for this job when it’s over, it wasn’t really an imposition.

It just made me think she had a surprisingly childish side too, nothing more than that.

“Thank you for always worrying about me, Cordelia.”

When Eve smiled and said this, Cordelia sighed.

“Eve, I’ve prepared some good wine for you, so take it with you this time.”

“Oh my, I’ll enjoy it.”

“So how many days will you be staying, Eve?”

To Cordelia’s question, Eve smiled and replied:

“Yes. I thought the domain would still be in the middle of the harvest festival.”

“Oh? Are you planning to look around our domain’s harvest festival?”

As Cordelia showed slight interest, Eve smiled.

“Yes. I promised this person here.”

Eve pointed at me.

Seeing this, the word “interest” appeared in Cordelia’s eyes.

“Hmm… Eve, who knows the weight of promises, made a promise, you say.”

“It was simply a promise to enjoy the festival together.”

At that moment, Cordelia’s eyes lit up.

“Indeed, ‘together,’ you say.”

“Yes, together…”

Eve’s expression became slightly pale.

“Excuse me, sir. May I ask your name?”

“You can call me K.”

Cordelia’s lips curled upward.

“You’ve finally become impatient, haven’t you, Eve?”

“Wait a moment. What are you saying, Cordelia?”

“Nothing…”

Cordelia said with a smile.

“Why would I do anything to an Eve who’s finally getting anxious?”

“No, Cordelia?”

“It’s about time for that age. I understand, my old friend.”

“Cordelia?”

“Let’s have your luggage moved later and show you to your rooms first. Come, everyone, please follow me.”

“Lady Cordelia?”

Eve called out urgently, but Cordelia deliberately ignored her.

With a face full of amusement, she was ignoring Eve who was desperately calling her.

At the mention of lodging, Sera, Christina, and I exchanged glances and stood up.

“Cordelia, wait. Strange assumptions—”

“What assumptions? Would you like to tell me directly?”

“No, this person really—”

Eve urgently pressed Cordelia, but Cordelia just kept smiling.

+

Thanks to Cordelia’s consideration, we were accommodated in a quite nice inn near the distillery.

Each person had their own room to use comfortably.

-Knock knock

Someone knocked on the door, so I approached it.

When I opened it, Eve, Sera, and Christina were standing there.

Eve cleared her throat slightly and spoke:

“Well then, shall we go?”

“Where to?”

“You haven’t forgotten, have you? We need to go to the festival.”

I hadn’t forgotten, but I thought we’d rest today.

I followed them out, and as we walked through the streets, indeed, bright lights could be seen.

Food being grilled at stalls everywhere, people drinking and walking around…

“Was the capital this lively too?”

“It was. However, in the capital, people mainly gather in taverns for the harvest festival, so the streets aren’t quite this vibrant.”

Eve said with a smile.

“Even for me, this scale is actually a first. Shall we look around together?”

Following her suggestion, we decided to move together and explore the stalls.

We bought skewers and ate while looking at the stalls.

“These are interesting sculptures.”

“Oh, there are masks too? Sir, would you like to try one on?”

“No thanks.”

“Excuse me, I’ll take two of these.”

“I said no.”

We looked at sculptures carved from wood, bought masks…

“Come to think of it, I might need a long cloak or robe.”

“Are you planning to use it when sleeping outdoors?”

“I thought it might be good for traveling since I could just sleep in it.”

We also browsed at a place selling used clothes, buying what we needed.

We traversed the streets filled with the abundant festival atmosphere where people laughed and chatted.

It started to become enjoyable as I walked through it with my companions, talking and carrying our purchases.

It seemed like a peaceful day would pass.

“There are really a lot of people.”

“This place is close to the city and larger in scale, so they seem to hold bigger events.”

After saying this, Sera thought for a moment and then spoke:

“With so many people, should we split into pairs from now on?”

“That sounds good.”

Sera and Eve said this as they approached me.

They began exchanging glances, so I thought for a moment.

“Let’s just all stay together. How many chances like this do we get?”

At my words, Eve and Sera’s expressions darkened slightly, but I had no reason to care about that, so I ignored it.

More precisely, I didn’t have the luxury to care.

‘Who are these guys?’

I had noticed gazes watching us since we left the distillery.