Chapter 65

"It's the rain of the spirits."

Kuro looked up at the sky and muttered.

There were clouds in the sky, but they didn't feel like rain clouds, and the sun was out. It was a sunshower.

"The rain, the rain! It's starting to fall!" "We can't just stand here!" "Excuse me!"

The villagers all bowed deeply to us and, leaving one behind, ran off.

It seemed they had work to do during the rain.

The villagers who ran off looked genuinely happy.

"I'm glad it's raining."

"Thank you so much, really."

The one remaining villager prostrated himself in the rain before us.

"For our village's harvest, rain is special. Miss, thank you for the rain."

"It's not like I made it rain, Luria."

"Even so, thank you."

The villager just kept repeating his thanks.

"Please raise your head. I already told you, didn't I?"

"This is merely a sign of respect for the Grand Duke's family."

Saying this, the villager did not raise his head.

"With this, everyone in the village, my wife, my children, and my grandchildren will be saved. Thank you so much."

Mother gently said to the villager.

"You don't need to worry about anything. Leave the matter with the bailiff and the water rights to His Highness the Grand Duke."

"Thank you."

"...Just remember, don't mention my daughter to anyone, okay?"

Mother's words carried weight.

"Understood. I will remember. We will just say that His Highness opened the waterways."

"That's fine. ...I'll leave the rest to you. Luria, let's go."

After entrusting the matter to the leader of the servants, Mother started walking.

I and the maid followed Mother.

On the way back to the villa, as the rain fell, I asked Mother.

"What will happen next?"

"Well, it depends on the investigation, but the bailiff won't be forgiven."

"Okay."

"Perhaps a ten-year labor sentence after being stripped of his position? It depends on how Graf judges it."

Since this is the Grand Duke's territory, the one with the authority to judge is Father.

"What about taxes?"

"Taxes... it depends on whether the farming can be completed in time. Even if it can, they might be reduced."

"Even if it can be completed, they'll be reduced?"

"Yes. Luria, Sara, remember this. The bailiff is the lord's representative."

"Okay." "Yes."

"That's why the bailiff's crimes are the lord's responsibility."

It's probably to show remorse for the trouble the bailiff caused by reducing the taxes.

"Hmm?"

The goat bleated, seemingly interested in Mother's conversation.

The goats, cows, and pigs followed us as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Caro and Korko were as usual, but Dau was playing with the goats.

He must be happy to play with something much larger than himself.

"Hmm? Did the lake change?"

"It doesn't seem to have changed to me."

While walking, I suddenly noticed something odd about the lake.

"It might be because the spirits have returned."

"I see."

When we arrived at the lakeside villa, I felt there were fewer spirits.

The lake's atmosphere might have changed because the effect of the magic circuit had disappeared.

"But it's not just that."

The presence of the spirits had increased, and I felt a sense of pressure.

"Hmm~"

As I was thinking about the lake, Mother, who was walking nearby, stroked a goat and said.

"...Luria, what are these goats doing here?" "Baa~"

"Hmm, they were animals in the nearby forest."

"Really? I didn't know there were such large animals in the forest..." "Oink oink"

"They've been watching us since we left the manor." "I didn't notice." "Moo~"

In the end, the goats followed us all the way to the villa.

"Everyone, thank you for today." "Baa~" "Moo" "Oink oink"

I petted the goats extensively.

After a while, the goats seemed satisfied and returned to the forest.

When the goats left, Mother looked genuinely relieved.

"I'm glad you didn't suggest keeping them."

"I wanted to, though."

"No, they're too big."

"Okay."

After returning to the villa, Sara and I took a bath, had dinner, and spent the rest of the day.

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