Chapter 22

Leaving the classroom, I asked Reed to take me to a few stores to finish my shopping and then returned home. I also had him cut a thin branch from a cedar tree in the yard and borrow a saw.

"Madam, if you need to use the saw, I can do it for you."

"No, it's fine. I just want to try using it after a long time."

Saying that, I went into my room and locked the door. I laid out the things I had bought and started my work. I was going to make a solution and soak the brand new parchment in it to create an old-looking parchment.

I spread a sheet on the balcony floor and placed a stool on it. I put the branch on the stool, held it down with my feet, and started slicing it into rounds from the end. Sawdust accumulated quickly. I planned to boil this sawdust to make a dye.

When I had gathered a fair amount of sawdust, I moved the stool and was about to gather the sheet when I heard a voice from behind and jumped!

"What are you going to use that for?"

"Nonna? How long have you been watching?"

"Only just now. I knocked but got no answer, and the door was locked, so I came around this way."

"You came this way? You should stop standing on the second-floor railing. Reed or Bersa might see you."

"Mom, aren't you worried I might fall?"

I chuckled as Nonna jumped down from the railing onto the balcony floor, barefoot.

"I know you won't fall."

"Yeah, I wonder if thieves in the world can do this."

"Skill level, not! Anyway, I'm worried about you outside."

"I won't. So, what are you going to do with this? It looks interesting."

Nonna was peering at my work, but I was very surprised. I hadn't noticed her presence at all. It was impossible not to notice the sound or presence of Nonna on the railing.

Ignoring my shock, Nonna quickly gathered the sheet and entered my room.

"So? What are you going to do with this?"

"I'm going to boil it in the fireplace."

"Got it. Tell me what you're doing."

Nonna was removing the iron plate from the chimney to prepare for the fire. She placed a pot of water near the fire.

"Are you going to put this sawdust in? And the rounds too?"

She was carefree.

"Yeah, put everything from the sheet in."

Nonna, who had finished preparing, was smiling.

"Hey, Nonna. You didn't make any sound or presence just now."

"Yeah, I didn't want to make any sound or presence to surprise you."

"How did you do that? Can you teach Mom?"

"Hehehe. Do you want to know? Should I teach you or not?"

Nonna was laughing, but I probably had a very serious face. I was more concerned about how she had improved so much. Shen martial arts? Does Shen martial arts have such elements?

"Mr. Kan said, 'Imagine moving your weight like the wind. The wind doesn't make a sound; it's the other things the wind blows that make the sound.' I didn't understand it for a long time, but then I did. After that, I could move without making a sound."

"Mom, I'm really regretting it now."

"Huh? What for?"

"I should have learned martial arts from Mr. Kan."

Mr. Kan was a Shen martial arts teacher and the previous head of the house we stayed at in Shen. Nonna chuckled.

"I'll teach you what I know. You taught me a lot of things too."

"Thank you, Teacher Nonna."

We laughed, and watched the water in the pot turn brown.

"Nonna, you already have considerable skills at your age. Your language skills are also excellent. But, use them for good things."

"But, as a viscount's daughter, these skills have no practical use."

"That's not true. You can use them if you're kidnapped."

"That doesn't happen often. Mom, you sometimes say funny things."

"Oh, do I?"

Nonna laughed happily, and the conversation ended there.

The water in the pot had turned a deep brown, so I moved it to the balcony to cool.

"Making parchment and paper look old, it's been a while. There are probably other methods, but it's good to know this one too. The best way is to see as many real ones as possible."

By night, Jeffrey had returned. On the dining table, there were the parchment and paper I had been working on all afternoon to make look old, and next to them, the new parchment and paper. One side had been soaked in the brown liquid, wiped, folded to create wrinkles, and then dried. An expert might be able to tell the difference, but to my eyes, they looked sufficiently old.

"I see. So it looks like this. Amazing."

"Jeff and Nonna, when you try to buy old parchment books at a high price, remember this possibility."

"I don't intend to buy such things, but I'll keep it in mind."

"Me too."

"Good. It's not a bad thing to remember, so keep it in mind."

Smiling, I folded the two pieces of parchment and put them in a box.

After dinner, while drinking tea and eating a small, sweet pastry, I couldn't help but think about Ory. Does she have a place to sleep? Is she being used by bad people? Does she want to return to her homeland?

I deeply regret bringing her here so easily, believing her words. I still haven't received any information about Ory from the Second Knights or Mr. Zahar.

"Oh, right, Victoria. Today, while discussing work at the castle, I was informed about the schedule for the ennoblement ceremony. It's at the beginning of next month."

"Okay. What about me and Nonna?"

"You don't have to attend. Only I will participate. However, once I become a viscount, I will probably receive invitations to tea parties from various places. Whether to attend or not is up to you. I'm fine if you say you're unwell and decline all of them."

"I'll think about it. But, shouldn't Nonna start attending soon?"

"Yeah. It would be a bit difficult to claim she's also frail."

Nonna had a reluctant look, but I decided to let it go.

"Right, Jeff. Today, the head of the convent in the South District came to visit."

I told Jeffrey that the head had asked for permission to sell the medicine, and he replied, "I think it's a good idea."

So, the next day, I went to the convent and finalized the agreement. I set the price and agreed to give the convent 20% of the sales as a handling fee. I could give more, but it would be easier for my accounting to donate the extra money later.

"Thank you. This will help many poor people get relief."

The head was delighted. I was happy that my knowledge was useful. It was a satisfying contract for both parties.

After that, Nonna and I visited Mr. Bernard's house and helped with translations three times a week.

Mr. Bernard was writing the document on paper and trying to decipher it every day, which was painful to watch.

I couldn't interfere, so as a form of apology, I diligently prepared roasted lamb, which Mr. Bernard liked, and made a hearty stew with lots of vegetables.

We didn't know what happened to the gold from the Cibyl Mountain mines after that.

I visited the Black Thrush once a week to check on Ory and learn about the neighborhood. Mr. Zahar knew a lot of things and was an information source despite his unassuming appearance.

After recharging at the Black Thrush, I returned home.

Life had returned to normal, as if the five years in Shen had been a dream.

Finally, the day of Jeffrey's ennoblement ceremony arrived.