Chapter 8

Shaken by the carriage from the capital, it took about two days via post towns.

In an open area among the mountains, surrounded by fields planted with a variety of vegetables, buildings stood side by side, with several chimneys rising up.

This is a village where the craftsmen who make weapons and armor live.

There are also craftsmen who have workshops in the capital, but it seems they gather in this land a little away from the capital out of consideration for the surroundings, as they sometimes work the iron through the night.

Compared to when I came four years ago, it seems the number of workshops has increased significantly.

Approaching the old building at the far end of the village and knocking on the door, a stout old woman in an apron appeared.

"Oh, a rare visitor."

"Hello, I am—"

"Hmm! Just wait a moment! ...Your face is familiar, I'll remember it now..."

While having this conversation at the entrance, suddenly a loud thud and a small tremor occurred from somewhere. The house was shaking.

"Hey, you! What are you doing? You're scaring the guest!"

The old woman, changing her expression, rushed out of the house and shouted towards the workshop with a chimney in the back.

"Well, well. Just right, since you're here, come on in, I'm sure you have business with my husband?"

I was flustered as I hadn't even introduced myself yet, but I followed the old woman—Barbara, if my memory serves me correctly, the wife of Mr. Dolf.

In front of me stood a man with a magnificent beard, reminiscent of a dwarf from a story, and a tall man. Beside them, a large axe, as tall as me, was stuck in the ground.

The man who looks like a dwarf is the person I'm looking for, the blacksmith Mr. Dolf.

"Hey, Barbara. Sorry about that, he got the strength wrong."

He laughed heartily, then, noticing me, Mr. Dolf stroked his beard and looked thoughtful.

"You're a guest, I think... Wait a moment, I'll remember it now."

He said the same thing as Barbara earlier, so I couldn't introduce myself and just waited.

Meanwhile, the tall man standing beside him turned to me, scratching his head with an embarrassed look.

"Madam, I'm sorry if I startled you...! It's because Mr. Dolf's skills are too good, I was the one who got the strength wrong."

"No, no, I came suddenly, so please don't worry about it..."

Looking at the well-built body and good posture of the man, he might be a knight...?

If he is a knight, he might know about my scandal. Swallowing the bitter feeling in my chest and trying to maintain my composure, Barbara clapped her hands together with a satisfying sound.

"Oh, I remember! You're 'Flora of the Duck Soup'!"

"Ah, 'Flora of the Duck Soup'! Yes, yes, it's been a long time."

Mr. Dolf and Barbara looked at each other and then smiled at me with a clear, sunny sky-like expression.

"…What, that, delicious-sounding… nickname…?"

The tall man opened his mouth in surprise.

I was a bit taken aback by the unexpected way they remembered me, but I was also happy that they remembered me, and felt a weight lift off my shoulders.

Four years ago, as a novice seamstress, I couldn't afford to buy a sword, so I came to Mr. Dolf in this village to see if there was anything I could give him. It was also a slow period for my sewing work, so I lived in this village for about three months, helping Mr. and Mrs. Dolf with their farm work and housework, and in return, he forged a sword for me.

Duck soup is my specialty, and they liked it so much that I made it many times, almost every day.

"Thinking about it makes me hungry. It's just right, let's have a meal."

"Sure. Come on, Flora and Gilbert, even though there's no duck soup today, let's have a feast."

Mr. Dolf and Barbara said this and returned to the house in high spirits.

"…Really, they're such free-spirited people. I'm Gilbert, nice to meet you, 'Flora of the Duck Soup'."

"Yes."

The tall man, Gilbert, smiled at me with a clear, bright smile, not to be outdone by the Dolf couple.

"If you're staying in the village for a while, I can look forward to the famous duck soup, can't I…?"

Hearing his muttered words, I didn't know how to respond. I had only intended to come and greet Mr. Dolf, and if Gilbert knew about my scandal in the capital, I didn't know how he would react, so I could only follow them in silence.

"By the way, the lover to whom you gave the sword, isn't he with you today?"

While we were sharing a midday meal and having tea afterward, Mr. Dolf asked, as if he had just remembered.

It was a simple, innocent question, but I was speechless.

"…We got married and returned safely from the recent expedition. However, unfortunately, we have divorced…"

Summarizing it briefly, Gilbert leaned forward.

"Are you, by any chance, …the wife of Holy Knight Elliot?"

– Ah, as I thought, you knew.

Even if I had kept the fact that he was a Holy Knight a secret, there probably weren't many divorce stories right after the knights' triumphant return.

"Ex-wife, to be precise."

I tried to cover the awkward atmosphere with a smile, but I wonder if it worked.