Chapter 64

The envoy sent by the Ashberry Kingdom has yet to return.

Considering the distance of the round trip, the actual time Jeff spent interacting with the Sバルts Kingdom wasn't that long.

Even though I know everything, I go to bed every day (today, too, with no word from the castle) feeling disheartened.

Not only am I feeling down, but Nonna is also not in high spirits.

Even though Elizabeth came to visit today, she seems distracted and worried.

"Nonna, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

"I just don't feel like myself."

"I heard from my father that Mr. Clark Anderson is accompanying the envoy."

"Yeah."

"My father is always quick with this kind of information. He's well-informed, you know."

Nonna, who had been slumped on the sofa, suddenly stood up. I couldn't help but pay attention from the corner of the room where I had been doing embroidery all morning. Nonna and Elizabeth had come in and were talking.

"By the way, Mr. Clark's father is the Foreign Minister, right? If I go and talk to him, maybe he can tell me something."

"Tell you what, exactly?"

"Whether Ashberry and Sバルts are going to war, for example."

"Nonna..."

Elizabeth, who is usually overshadowed by Nonna, is giving a strangely mature and wry smile.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"There's no Foreign Minister who would blab state secrets to a child. Mr. Clark has gone to where he is supposed to be. If so, we just need to wait. Without interfering or hindering, we wait. Isn't that the best thing for Nonna to do?"

"Elizabeth..."

"What is it?"

"You're surprisingly insightful."

"Surprisingly is unnecessary. Now, let's have some pastries that my cook brought. Sweet things always cheer me up."

I quietly stood up, left the room, and asked Versa to bring tea to Nonna and the others. Then, I said, "I'm going out for a bit," got into the carriage, and left the house. My destination was the convent. I wanted to talk to someone.

◇ ◇ ◇

"Madam, welcome. The ointment making is progressing smoothly."

"Thank you. I apologize for not coming here for so long."

"No, I understand that you have been busy, as the Viscount has informed me. Please don't worry."

The ointment-making workshop had a quiet but lively atmosphere.

People were mixing the ointment in pots, filling containers, attaching labels, and packing the finished ointment into boxes.

Seeing that the gold mine we discovered was helping the women here, I could rise above the unproductive and muddling thoughts of (if I hadn't deciphered that code, Jeff would...).

"The sheep farm is also doing well. Viscount Asher suggested hiring a manager, so I hired an experienced and strong-armed person."

"Oh, I received a letter about that."

"Since we have a manager, please come and meet him. He is a gentle person, and the women living in our convent rely on him."

"I see."

The sheep farm, which I had entrusted to volunteers from the convent.

(I remember receiving a note about hiring a manager.)

After two months of living in the shadows, I had neglected the ointment workshop and the sheep farm, which I had initiated. I shouldn't have been feeling down.

The distance from the convent to the sheep farm is a short carriage ride.

"Madam, that's him."

A short, white-haired man was drawing water from a well next to the farm's management building. He seemed familiar, so I squinted to get a better look. The white-haired man noticed us and walked over.

"Miles, Madam is here."

"Madam, nice to meet you. I'm Miles."

The man who approached was 'that' Miles. Why is Miles here?

He lived behind Lady Yolana's house.

Miles was a retired soldier who had been hired by the Third Knights to keep an eye on me. Could he be here as the manager to keep an eye on me again? The thought made my heart tighten.

However, compared to my forced smile, Miles' smile was very natural.

"Madam, since you're here, would you like to walk around the farm? I can explain the health of the sheep in detail."

"Yes, I would like that."

"Dean, I will show Madam around. Please take care of things here."

"Alright, I'll return to the convent then."

Miles and I saw Dean off and then looked at each other. His light blue eyes were smiling playfully.

"No, no, it's different. It was a coincidence. That job was the first and last."

"Then why are you here?"

"The capital's employment agency. They were looking for a sheep farm manager, over forty-five, and live-in. I thought it was perfect for me. My father was a sheep farmer, and I'm his third son."

"I see."

For some reason, I felt like laughing.

Because this man lived on the back street of Lady Yolana's house, I took Nonna and escaped from Ashberry.

Shortly after, Hagar's assassination squad came to target me, as I later learned.

"Miles is my savior."

"About that... It left a bad taste in my mouth. After that, you were apparently moving from country to country. You must have run away because you suspected me, right?"

"Yes, that's right. Did you hear about my escape from Mike, or from Edward?"

"Edward? Who's that? The man who hired me for that job was a bespectacled man named Mike."

"I see."

Miles' expression was honest. Edward is being thorough about not showing himself.

"I got married after that. To the man who was the Second Knights' commander at the time."

"Second... Ah, the tall man with silver hair? I remember him looking like he was about to die when he read your note."

"About to die... Really?"

"Really. He must have thought of you as a treasure. You shouldn't make such a pure man cry."

"Yes, you're right. My husband is now accompanying the envoy to negotiate with the Sバルts Kingdom."

Miles seems to be loved by the sheep, as the sheep that had been approaching us were now rubbing their heads against his pants. They would scatter when Nonna approached. If Nonna saw this, she would surely be envious.

"Sバルts is a tough country. It has no notable exports, and the country is always in turmoil. The political instability leads to poor security. And then, a gold vein was discovered right near the border. As a poor country, they probably wanted to provoke Ashberry."

"I see."

"Did you manage to completely leave the organization?"

"Well, I'm supposed to be dead to my homeland, but I don't know if that really holds up."

"I see. You've had a tough life, too."

His light blue eyes, like a winter sky, looked at me with sympathy.

"Born as a daughter of a small杂货店, I've had a tumultuous life."

"Yes, you have."

Miles and I stood side by side, looking up at the sky and talking. I never thought such a day would come again.

"What if something happens to my husband? I shouldn't be saying this, but with all the things that have happened in my life, I can't help but think about it."

I must be quite weak-hearted to be complaining to Miles like this.

"Don't worry, everything will be fine. The Sバルts side isn't stupid. The power dynamics between the two countries are different from when they last went to war. They know that if they go to war with the wealthy Ashberry, they will lose. They're probably just trying to get the best deal they can."

"I hope so."

"Yes, don't worry. There won't be a war."

Miles petted the sheep's heads.

"I'm grateful just to be alive. I intend to savor every last second of my life."

"Every last second..."

"Yes, every last second. By the way, how's the little girl?"

"She's at home. She has a friend visiting today."

"Bring her here sometime."

"Sure, I will."

I promised to bring Nonna to the sheep farm and left. When I got home, Versa ran to me, tears in her eyes.

"Madam! A letter has arrived. Your husband will be back soon!"

God.

I'm not a religious person, but today I thank you.

I hugged Versa and cried. Nonna also ran over and hugged me, crying. Elizabeth said, "I'm crying along with you," and joined in.

I have had a tumultuous life.

But as long as I live, such wonderful days will come.