“But you used to have some guests before.”

“Well, that’s in the past.”

The auntie took a long breath and smiled with a bitter expression.

“Honestly, who would come to this village? Maybe it’s because a new road over the mountain was built a few months ago. They don’t come anymore.”

“Auntie.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine!”

The auntie laughed heartily.

“I was getting sick of the inn business anyway, so I’m taking a bit of a break.”

Afterward, ordinary conversation continued. Kalian listened to the two people’s conversation for a while before stepping forward.

“Stella. We should go check the site soon.”

“Oh my, please go ahead.”

The auntie hurriedly waved her hands at Stella.

“I’ll take care of your luggage, so don’t worry.”

“Thank you, auntie.”

Stella held the auntie’s hands while expressing her gratitude, then walked with Kalian. Excited children followed them in a group.

How far did they walk like that?

The place where the two arrived was the outskirts of the village. A place where a large field spread out facing a deep forest.

Even Stella had rarely been here before.

“So this is it.”

Stella looked around the field widely.

Perhaps because she now had the goal of building a school.

The empty field looked different to Stella.

“It definitely looks different from before. I can get a sense of how the school should be built.”

Stella looked around the field again and asked a question.

“But the site is larger than I initially thought. Will that be alright?”

“I deliberately purchased additional land.”

Kalian said while holding Ivy with one arm and shaking a rattle with his other hand.

“I considered space for children to run around. Simple physical training would be beneficial for the children too.”

“But it might be too large.”

If they built a school all over this field, it would be much larger than Stella had imagined.

Even with a lot of donations raised, would it be okay?

“Do you know a place called Heydon?”

“I do.”

Stella nodded.

“I heard about it when I was looking into Sanderson’s boarding school.”

It was a small city where several famous boarding schools were concentrated.

It was so renowned that everyone would nod in acknowledgment if someone said they attended a school in Heydon.

Many people sent their children there even if they lived far away and had to make sacrifices.

“Why is that… Oh, could it be?”

Kalian nodded.

“I checked and found there are no schools built in the surrounding villages. Eventually, schools will be built in those villages too.”

Kalian stared at the field where there was still nothing.

“But here, we’ll build the best school possible. So parents with aspirations can find this place.”

“That would definitely bring more visitors to the village.”

Stella’s face began to brighten. She must have been worried about the village gradually losing its vitality.

“No matter how I think about it, Kalian, you’re a genius. I only thought about building a school.”

Stella turned to Kalian and smiled broadly.

“You immediately found a way to revitalize the village too.”

“It’s nothing special.”

Kalian stood beside Stella and continued.

“Having lived as a merchant all my life, this much is simple.”

After that, the school discussion continued at length. What would be good to build over there in the field. It would be nice to hold another party to raise more donations and improve the village roads.

Such conversations were exchanged when…

“Big sister!”

The children who had been relatively quiet until now seemed to be getting bored and ran to Stella, hugging her tightly.

“Big sister, big sister. Will we study here now?”

“What is studying? I want to study!”

“You fool, you shouldn’t say you want to study when you don’t even know what studying is!”

“I’m not a fool!”

“Big sister, listen. Over there, there’s a really big bug, can you catch it for me? By the way, can I eat that bug?”

Suddenly, the surroundings filled with commotion. Stella burst into joyful laughter while Kalian smiled awkwardly.

Amidst this, a neat voice cut in.

“Your Grace.”

One of the men who had followed Kalian carefully spoke.

“I’m sorry, but there’s something you need to check.”

“Is it urgent?”

“Yes, well.”

The man lowered his voice and whispered into Kalian’s ear.

“It seems the manager of the store we’re overseeing has been embezzling money. The ledgers don’t match.”

Kalian let out a hollow laugh. Ledger manipulation in a store under his own management, of all places.

“Let’s go check. Stella.”

Kalian approached Stella, who was surrounded by children, and kissed her on the cheek.

“I’ll just check and come right back.”

“Yes, see you soon.”

Only after handing Ivy, who had been in his arms, to the nanny did Kalian turn around.

“Let’s go.”

Kalian left with the man. Stella walked around the field with the chattering children, the nanny, and Ivy, who seemed to be in a good mood, laughing along.

How strange.

That this empty place would soon transform into the space she dreamed of.

‘It’s thanks to Kalian.’

Without him, she wouldn’t have come this far.

Stella now knew the method. The method to get what she wanted, and how to stand on her own two feet.

She learned that she didn’t need to depend emotionally on someone else.

All of those things she was able to know thanks to Kalian.

He was the one who showed her the method, who gave her the opportunity to learn.

Although he had…

“Excuse me, Madam.”

Her thoughts were abruptly cut off. An unfamiliar middle-aged man stood politely before her.

What’s this? When did he arrive?

“Um, I’m Bill, living over there.”

He was an elderly man who seemed to be trying to show with his entire body that he was harmless, hunching himself as much as possible.

“It’s Uncle Bill!”

One of the children who had followed Stella clung to the man’s leg.

She could recognize him immediately. Because it was Melcom, the only one who had pretended not to notice the package of sweets Stella had brought.

The other children looked at each other and tilted their heads in confusion.

“Uncle! Let’s play ball today too! And can you give us snacks?”

“Melcom, just a moment. Uncle has something to do. I’ll play with you a little later.”

Bill, who had soothed the child with familiarity, took off his hat and carefully approached Stella.

“I was wondering if there might be some problem with this land…”

“This land was purchased by the Madam. She plans to build a school here.”

The nanny stepped forward to block Stella from Bill.

The guards also stood beside the nanny.

But that wasn’t what mattered to the man. The man who introduced himself as Bill was startled.

“What do you mean you purchased this place?! This is my land! It’s a precious land I inherited from my grandfather.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s true. It’s really true!”

Bill stamped his feet. Stella frowned.

There shouldn’t be any mistakes in Kalian’s handling of matters.

‘Could it be one of those undocumented cases?’

In rural areas, transactions were often made based on mutual trust rather than formal documentation.

In Bill’s grandfather’s time, that would have been the common practice.

A situation where everyone informally knew whose land it was.

If the land she purchased was in such a situation, it wouldn’t be strange for the man to be acting this way.

“Do you have any documents?”

Stella stepped forward in front of the nanny.

“Documents or transaction ledgers that can prove this land is yours.”

“Documents, you say?”

Bill’s eyes darted around. His face showed he didn’t immediately understand what she meant.

“Yes, like papers your grandfather received when he purchased it.”

“I do have something like this.”

Bill, who seemed flustered and even stammered, rummaged through his clothes and pulled out a wrinkled piece of paper.

“I don’t know if this is what you call a document, but it states that it was sold to my grandfather.”

“May I see it?”

“Yes, yes!”

Stella took the paper and examined it. It did seem like some kind of transaction.

Perhaps because the paper was too old?

The letters were faded, making it difficult to properly assess.

“Don’t you have anything more precise? It’s difficult to confirm with just this.”

“Uh, that’s…… Ah! I have more at home. There are letters my grandfather exchanged with that person. I don’t know how to read, but my grandfather did.”

“I will go and bring them.”

One of the guards stepped forward. Just as Stella was about to tell him to do so…

“I’ll go!”

Melcom raised his hand high.

“I know where the uncle’s hut is! I’ll go with the uncle!”

“You?”

“Yes! The uncle’s hut isn’t far from here. Plus, he gives tasty things. He has colorful candies and chocolates!”

Colorful candies and chocolates.

It wouldn’t be strange if he had them.

If this village were close to a big city, that would make sense.

It certainly would.

Stella stared at the man who had introduced himself as Bill.