Chapter 3 – Part 1 (Fair Trade)

Once on the ladder, Liese moved the pruning shears with a more skillful gesture than before.
 
Wiping the sweat on her forehead with the back of her hand, she turned her head to see Ian, who was working on the apple tree right next to her. With incredible speed, he had already finished his own tasks and was now assisting Liese.
 
“Thank you so much, Ian. You have no idea how much you’re helping me.”
 
“It’s nothing, really. I could have handled it alone if needed.”
 
A smirking Ian held out his hand as if it were no big deal. Liese gave him a warm smile.
 
“How about having dinner together after we finish?”
 
“Really? Is that okay with you?”
 
“It’s nothing fancy, but if you’re fine with it, let’s eat. I made stew, and it should go well with the bread you brought.”
 
“I’d be honored. I won’t decline then.”
 
Ian rubbed his slightly reddened nose. Then he glanced at the cottage with a green roof at the end of the orchard.
 
“By the way, is Mr. Brennan okay?”
 
Liese halted her busy pruning.
 
“Didn’t he say he thought he might have a cold?”
 
“Yeah.”
 
Liese also looked at the house where her grandfather lived. There was a deep shadow cast over his face.
 
“He had a bit of a fever a few days ago, and today he seems even more worn out. He says he’s fine, but I’m thinking of calling a doctor tomorrow, just in case.”
 
She spoke with a concerned tone. Her grandfather, who always corrected her, had somehow started to look unwell.
 
“Getting a cold in this warm weather must be tough.”
 
“Other than some discomfort from an old injury in his leg, he didn’t have any illnesses.”
 
Liese sighed with a clouded voice, her shoulders slumping. Ian, watching her with concern, sighed as if he had a thought. 
 
“How about I introduce you to a good doctor? He’s really skilled and doesn’t overprescribe. With the right treatment, Mr. Brennan will probably recover quickly.”
 
“That would be really helpful, Ian. Please do.”
 
“And you better take care of yourself, too.”
 
“Huh?”
 
Ian’s face, already reddened from the sun, turned even redder.
 
“Just… You seem a bit pale these days.”
 
“I appreciate the concern. But I’m fine.”
 
Liese smiled gently. Ian, who had opened his mouth in surprise, quickly changed the subject.
 
“By the way, where is Mrs. Joanna? The orchard feels unusually quiet today.”
 
“The nanny has some errands to run today. She’s probably exploring the square with Charlie after picking him up from school.”
 
“I see.”
 
The two looked at each other silently and then smiled. And they resumed their pruning. With a slightly lighter heart, Liese could focus on her work.
 
Since hiring Ian, the work in the orchard has visibly improved. The remaining flowers on the branches would soon turn into fruits, and they needed to be prepared for harvesting. It was a crucial time to get ready for the upcoming harvest.
 
Liese couldn’t wait for the moment. The sight of crisp apples filling the cart, the foundation for a future where she could stand on her own without relying on someone else’s help, filled her heart with joy.
 
Taking care of each precious apple tree and putting effort into it would eventually yield results. Someday, a better future would come, and as time passed, she would be able to smile warmly at the songs echoing in the square.
 
It was during such a moment, with an excited heart, that it happened.
 
“Miss! Miss Lieselotte!”
 
A desperate shout echoed from the end of the apple tree path. It was the voice of the nanny, Mrs. Joanna.
 
“Miss, the young master…!”
 
Liese hurriedly descended the ladder. The nanny, who had run at full speed, was panting and couldn’t continue speaking.
 
There was no sign of Charlie beside her. She felt her heart sink. Liese put her hand on the old woman’s shoulder, soothing her.
 
“Calm down and tell me. What happened to Charlie?”
 
“The young master is fine, but… you need to go to the school right away. The teacher asked for a guardian to come…!”
 
Charlie is fine, but something untoward has happened. Liese’s mind was racing, but her heart was pounding.
 
Liese took off her gloves and placed them on the ladder. She wiped her sweaty hands on her apron and brushed her fingers through her damp hair.
 
“Stay here and look after my grandfather, Mrs. Joanna. I’ll go to the school by myself.”
 
“Yes, yes…!”
 
In the sudden situation, Ian, who didn’t know what to do, approached.
 
“I’ll take you there. I happen to drive my dad’s carriage, so we’ll be able to get to the square in no time.”
 
Liese looked back at Ian with a pale face. She hadn’t known him long, but she’d never been more grateful for his presence than she was now.
 
“I apologize for the trouble, but I’m begging you, Ian.”
 
“There’s nothing to apologize for. Just calm down… It might not be a big deal.”
 
Ian acted as if he hadn’t seen Liese’s trembling hands and took the lead. Liese followed him with her hand pressed against her agitated chest.
 
***
 
Arriving in front of the school, Liese gave Ian a quick wave and got out of the carriage.
 
Refusing Ian’s insistence on accompanying her all the way, she started walking alone. If there was an issue involving Charlie, it was her responsibility as his guardian to handle it. Moreover, there was a strong intuition that she didn’t want an outsider to witness an incident she preferred to keep private.
 
As she arrived at the school, which was silent because of the already-finished school hours, she was directed to the principal’s office.
 
With a creak, she opened the door, and her eyes met with several individuals. 
 
The principal and the teacher in charge stood there, looking troubled, and a strange woman and child sat at a low table, glaring at Liese.
 
Then she spotted Charlie, his face wet with tears and a runny nose. He was so small that he was the last to come into view. My heart sank.
 
“Sister!”
 
Charlie ran towards Liese, bursting into tears. Liese quickly lowered her body, holding her younger brother’s face and checking all around. Thankfully, as Mrs. Joanna had said, there seemed to be no injured areas. Thank goodness.
 
“It’s okay, Charlie. Sister is here now, so don’t cry.”
 
Whispering quietly, Liese hugged him once and then looked up.
 
“How did this happen?”
 
“You can’t look at my child’s face and not know what happened?”
 
A woman exclaimed while waiting anxiously. The boy sitting next to her, Charlie’s classmate, had a nasty bruise covering half of his face.
 
“Look at what that cat-like kid did to my son!”
 
The child’s face, which she had assumed was only red and bruised, was streaked with crimson lines. It ran from his temple to his cheekbone.
“How on earth did you educate a child? How dare he raise your hands on someone else’s precious child! Look at this; it’s going to leave an absolutely hideous mark! ”
 
“Just calm down for now, Countess Smith. There are children, so please lower your voice. Fortunately, the health teacher said it wasn’t a deep wound, so let’s keep our voices down.”
 
“Is the health teacher a fortune teller? Can she guarantee that there won’t be scars on my son’s face?”
 
“Please calm down.”
 
The teacher in charge, with an awkward expression, tried to restrain her, but she showed no signs of calming down. Liese held Charlie’s hand tightly with a cold, firm grip.
 
Countess Smith. The era of absolute power bestowed by nobility may have passed, but it was undeniable that her status made the situation more complicated. Liese lowered her head with a pale face.
 
“I’m truly sorry, Countess. I sincerely apologize. If there’s anything I can do to compensate…”
 
“It wasn’t me!”
 
Charlie, standing by, retorted loudly.
 
“I just pushed him, and that idiot tripped and scratched himself on the desk! “
 
“Charlie, stop it!”
 
“Mocking me as a country bumpkin, telling me to make pig sounds during class! It’s not just today, sister; he’s been pulling my hair since the first day I came to school!”
 
As Liese was about to stop Charlie, she suddenly paused. Countess Smith stood up, slamming her chair.
 
“You uneducated bastard, who are you to speak in front of me!”
 
“Please calm down. Raising your voice won’t help.”
 
The principal stepped forward, holding Countess Smith’s flailing arms. However, no one seemed capable of calming down the enraged woman.
 
“If it’s not enough for you to get down on your knees and beg, what are you talking about?”
 
Realizing the situation was worse than she had feared, Liese felt an impulse to shout back at the Countess, just as she wanted to humiliate her as she had feared for her younger brother.
 
But looking at her brother, Charlie, and the long scar that had found a place on the face of the boy who had tormented him, Liese could find a little bit of reason. Liese lowered her head again.
 
“I’m sorry, Countess. I’m truly sorry. I only have sincere apologies. I will take full responsibility until his wound heals without any scars.”