Chapter 19

"You are quite proficient in the official language, which is unusual. I thought the nobles on the imperial side looked down on this country and didn't bother to learn the language."

"My father told me when I was still a child, 'The day may come when the Allied States become more powerful than the Empire. Make sure to master the official language of the Allied States.'"

Kurt stroked his chin and pondered, "Hmm. I would like to meet your father and have a conversation. He seems like an interesting person. So, is it true that the market price of wheat in the Empire has sextupled?"

"Yes. In the past thirty years, the price of wheat has sextupled, eggs have quadrupled, and pork, due to increased consumption, has octupled."

Everyone present was taken aback.

"You must have memorized all of that?"

"I have memorized the approximate annual prices of main ingredients, textile products, and fuels such as firewood and coal. No, I was made to memorize them."

"Indeed. That is the education of a country known as the land of gold. They don't neglect anything, even in raising children. Their obsession with money is so intense that it's almost refreshing."

Bertine smiled wryly at the thought that her home country had more than just a couple of nicknames.

"The letter from His Excellency states that the minimum price for wheat was set to build hospitals and schools. From the perspective of a person from Sanlois, do you think that's true?"

"I believe it is. I think His Excellency is looking at this country twenty or thirty years from now."

Kurt's expression lost its intensity as he said, "I understand. I will follow His Excellency's instructions. It seems the friendship I cherished was only on my side."

He wrote his agreement on the document Bertine had presented. The document included sections for past selling prices, future selling prices, and the approximate total number of wheat-laden wagons in the region.

Bertine politely declined Kurt's offer to stay the night, waved goodbye to Bianca, who was glaring at her, and set off on the return journey.

The moon, just before full, brightly illuminated the night road, and the horse slowly moved along the street. The greenery on both sides of the road was dense, and the sounds of various animals calling to each other in the forest were somewhat eerie.

"Bert, the more I know about you, the more impressive you are."

"There's nothing impressive about me, Evans."

"Memorizing the prices of goods over thirty years is something most people can't do."

"That's the kind of effort you have to make to stand out in a country like ours. It's tough being a small country with few resources."

When Bertine returned to the Bilba region late at night, she decided to rest in the prepared room.

"It's time to sleep, Dorothea."

"Miss, you did a great job today."

Bertine fell asleep easily, but Dorothea was too excited to sleep. The young lady had become so strong since coming to this country. She was always kind and considerate, but Dorothea was proud of how she could recover and push forward no matter how difficult the situation.

Dorothea, who had agreed to sleep in the same room at Bertine's request, smiled as she watched her young lady sleep soundly.

(They say a person's true worth is tested in adversity, and it's true.)

When Bertine turned over and kicked off the thin blanket, Dorothea stood up and gently covered her again. The action brought back unpleasant memories.

It was shortly after the master remarried. Bertine had fallen ill with a severe cold. Dorothea usually took care of her, but the new lady of the house said, "I want to take care of her." She was a kind person, so Dorothea left her to it for two days. On the third day, thinking the lady must be tired, Dorothea quietly visited the young lady's room late at night.

Seeing the light on, she was moved, thinking the lady was still up taking care of her. Without knocking to avoid waking the young lady, she quietly entered the room and stopped when she saw the bedroom door slightly ajar. The warmth from the fireplace heated the front room, and the sight of the bright bedroom beyond the dark room startled her.

The lady was sitting in a chair next to the bed with a gentle smile, but the young lady had kicked off the blanket. She was curled up on the bed, shivering in her nightgown, which was damp with cold sweat. The cloth that had been on her forehead had fallen off.

(What? What? Why?)

Unable to understand the situation, Dorothea followed her instinct that she had seen something she shouldn't and quietly and quickly returned to the door leading to the hallway. Her heart pounding, she stepped into the hallway and knocked loudly.

"Please wait a moment."

After a short wait, the lady's calm voice said, "Come in." Dorothea hurried into the bedroom to find the young lady properly in bed with the blanket up to her neck and a damp, wrung-out cloth on her forehead. Dorothea's suspicions turned to certainty.

Feeling a chill at the lady's smile, Dorothea forced a smile and said, "Lady, you must be tired. Please rest tonight. I will take over."

After the lady left the room, Dorothea quickly touched the young lady's hands and feet. The young lady's body was cold and trembling, and her nightgown, damp with sweat, was icy cold.

She quickly changed the sleeping young lady, apologized, and slipped into bed next to Bertine, hugging her to warm her. She could have brought a hot water bottle, but she wanted to warm her with her own body.

Feeling sorry for the young lady, who had lost her mother at a young age, and unable to forgive the lady for what she had done, Dorothea couldn't sleep, hugging the young lady. She agonized over whether to tell the master, but the lady was the sister of the queen, and the remarriage had been proposed by the king.

(Perhaps the master couldn't refuse the marriage proposal and can't divorce her. If she realizes I know her true nature, I will certainly be fired. If that happens, there will be no one to protect the young lady. The best course of action is to pretend I noticed nothing and protect the young lady myself.)

Dorothea thought about this until the sky behind the curtains began to brighten.

Stepmother abuse is not uncommon, but the lady appeared calm, kind, and considerate to both the young lady and the servants. This made it even more terrifying. The servants, including herself, had been completely deceived. The master probably hadn't realized how dangerous she was.

(Lady in heaven, I will protect the young lady with my life. Please, please, lend me your strength.)

Finally, the young lady, who had warmed up, hugged her tightly in her sleep. Hugging the frail body of the young lady, who was three years younger, Dorothea whispered, "It's okay, young lady. I'm here. I'm with you."

As Dorothea dozed off, remembering the past, she heard the distant calls of emus, the cries of a flock of wild birds flying away, and the distant howls of monkeys in the forest.

(Lord, lady, please watch over the young lady.)

With that final prayer, Dorothea got up. The sound of two horses' hooves came from outside. It was the sound of Diego and Elias riding their horses.