Chapter 3 (Part 8)

Kelle didn’t eat and just watched her. She looked up, and Kelle added.

“Brienne, how about living here with me?”

“What?”

“It’s a small house, but I can spare a room. I’ve been struggling with a lack of help lately.”

Brienne couldn’t easily speak. Of course, when she first met Kelle, she thought she could help a little, but she wasn’t sure if it was okay to stay with her in this situation.

“It’s not easy to find someone who handles herbs these days, and I’ve been neglecting the herb work because I’ve been absorbed in research, so I feel sorry for the villagers.”

“Research?”

“I’ve wanted to create a remedy for infertility for a long time. I used to work in a research lab. There are herbs with that effect, especially around here, so I’m actively researching.”

“Is it possible to treat infertility?”

“It’s not impossible. It depends on the person, but there are people in this village who got pregnant after taking my medicine.”

It felt like light was shining through a blocked hole. But now, she didn’t want to marry someone else or start anew.

She just wanted to leave behind the love she had already lost.

“First loves are useless. They never work out anyway.”

Cardin’s words suddenly popped into her head.

“Brienne?”

Kelle’s voice broke her thoughts, and she looked up to see Kelle smiling gently.

“What are you thinking about so intently?”

“Actually… I’m infertile. I found out after getting tested in Romseed Village, and they said it couldn’t be treated.”

She didn’t feel the need to hide it. It didn’t seem like something to hide. Kelle seemed surprised. She widened her eyes and calmly held her hand.

It was warm. For a moment, it felt like warm blood was circulating in her heart.

“Brienne, I’ll help you. There are even people who come all the way from Devok after hearing rumors.”

She was a little surprised. If people came from Devok, Kelle had already made a name for herself.

“You must be very busy.”

“Yes. My research has been going well lately, and because of the rumors, many people are looking for my medicine, so I’m quite busy.”

“……”

“And there are more people with infertility than I thought.”

Brienne nodded. She didn’t know she was infertile either. Perhaps some people live well and only find out when it’s time to conceive.

“I’m not asking you to help for free. I’ll pay you well.”

Brienne hesitated and then spoke.

“You don’t have to pay me.”

Kelle seemed puzzled and tilted her head. Brienne looked at the table and spoke.

“I’ve caused enough trouble because of my father…”

“No, I’ll get that from your father, so please help me properly with this.”

It was quite a firm statement. When Brienne slowly looked up, Kelle smiled.

“You’ll help, right?”

Cardin suddenly came to mind.

“You’ll help, right?”

He had asked her with a gentle smile. Back then, she had said she’d think about it. She felt it wasn’t her place to help him find his memories.

But now, she had already told Kelle her circumstances and had nothing more to hide or hesitate about. If Cardin came here looking for her, it might be a problem, but she felt he wouldn’t come here immediately.

She hesitated for a moment and then spoke.

“I might disappear suddenly.”

“Disappear suddenly…”

Kelle trailed off, then nodded as if she understood.

“Because of the creditors?”

“Not only creditors, but there are also quite a few people who hold a grudge against me because of my father. So, those people might come looking for me.”

“Don’t worry about that. If such people come, I’ll let you know first. And the villagers here quite like me, so they’ll help hide you well.”

Hearing those words of comfort, warmth rose in her heart. She bit her lip to hold back tears and barely managed to speak.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. By the way, could you tell me the names of people to watch out for? So I can inform you immediately if they come to this village.”

After hesitating for a moment, she answered.

“Let me know if someone from the Messerode family comes.”

“Messerode, aren’t they the famous southern nobility?”

“Yes.”

Kelle seemed to think for a moment, then realized something and spoke.

“Because of the Messerode Bank, right?”

“Yes.”

Even though it wasn’t something she did, she felt a sting in her heart every time she spoke about it. Kelle didn’t say anything more. She took a bite of the soup and then spoke brightly to her.

“So, you’re working here with me, right?”

Brienne nodded. There was no need to hesitate any longer. She wanted to help someone who treated her kindly as much as possible. Moreover, since Kelle had even saved her, she had to repay the favor.

Kelle quickly got up and brought out a large bowl. It contained apples, kiwis, and dried figs. These were expensive fruits in such a mountain village. She hesitated to eat the apple, glancing at Kelle.

“Is it okay for you to give me so much?”

Kelle smiled at her and pushed the bowl closer.

“Don’t worry. My research on infertility is going well, so this is fine.”

Then she added, looking at her.

“If you don’t mind, how about trying my medicine?”

She hesitated, and Kelle continued.

“I’m developing a new medicine this time, and I need to check if it works well. I’m already taking it, but I need several samples.”

Brienne’s mouth wouldn’t move easily. She wanted to treat her infertility, but when the opportunity came, she hesitated.

“If you’re not comfortable, you don’t have to take it. I can’t say there are no side effects…”

“It’s okay. I’ll take it.”

“Are you sure it’s okay?”

“Yes, it’s okay.”

“If you feel unwell after taking the medicine, let me know immediately.”

Brienne nodded. She didn’t particularly feel the need to treat it now, but she couldn’t refuse either. She wanted to help people hurt by her father somehow. She didn’t want to become like her father.

* * *

Working with Kelle was quite nice in its own way. Brienne already had a good knowledge of herbs, and whenever Kelle had questions about them, she would teach her about the effects she had discovered from using herbs before.

Kelle always thanked her by making delicious food, like steamed fish made from rare fish, pork stew, and lamb chops—precious dishes she hadn’t eaten much of even in Devok.

The small village subtly revolved around Kelle. As she said, quite a few people came from Devok, bringing vitality to the village.

At first, she struggled to adapt whenever strangers came, fearing they might be creditors, but as each day passed, those feelings gradually faded.

Moreover, as she earned money, she became more relaxed. Much more than when she was constantly avoiding creditors.

A month passed like that. Today, as usual, she was at the herb shop selling herbs. Most of the customers were from outside, and recently, many people with colds were buying medicine good for the throat.

“Thank you.”

Brienne thanked a customer and neatly organized the herbs. To sell them, it was convenient to separate the medicines made from herbs properly.

Then the door opened with a jingle.

Two men entered. She greeted them brightly as soon as she saw them.

“Welcome!”

They went to the shelf of medicines. She continued sorting the herbs until they made their selection.

When making medicine from herbs, she mixed in colorants to make them easy to differentiate later, so they were easy to sort by color. She was quickly sorting them by color when she heard:

“Have you heard the news about the Messerode family?”

Her hand paused at the mention of Messerode. A month had passed, and Cardin’s memory was fading, but now it seemed to vividly reappear in her mind.

“Since the young master took over, I’ve heard they’re buying up this area like crazy.”

“Even this place, which doesn’t have any resources?”

“Exactly. Everyone’s puzzled but hoping there might be a mine or something.”

“A mine? If you dig here, you’ll only find dirt.”

“Anyway, the people working under that young master are having a tough time. He’s a perfectionist, so if things aren’t done right, he makes them work until they are, and they can’t even go home properly.”

“Ah, I’ve heard that too. Especially that they’re looking for someone. If things don’t go well, the Duke moves personally.”

“Yeah, didn’t that rumor spread too?”

Their voices were getting louder, but in the small shop, she could hear everything.

“What rumor?”

“You know, the Duke disappeared for a while and then suddenly reappeared, and they say he lost his memory and regained it.”

“That’s absurd. Losing memory suddenly?”

Their voices grew louder.

“But isn’t it strange that the young master suddenly disappeared? They say he was found near here.”

Her heart felt cold for a moment. If Cardin’s memory had returned, it meant he was coming to kill her.

Her hands trembled. Anxiety she hadn’t realized before flooded her mind all at once.

“Ahem, ahem.”

“Excuse me?”

Brienne finally looked up. Seeing her flustered, one of them smiled faintly and held out a blue medicine.

“How much is it?”

She quickly wrapped the medicine and spoke.

“5,000 morque.”

He handed over the money. She thanked him and gave him the medicine bag. As he took it, he seemed to notice something on her face and spoke.

“What’s your name, by any chance?”