The village where the trouble had broken out was the same one in which the estate residents responsible for the dike road incident lived.

Apparently, the pig intended for the New Year ancestral rites had disappeared without a trace.

With barely half a month until New Year’s Day, the loss of the ritual pig was considered a terrible omen.

Farmers were particularly sensitive to such things, and before long, a heavy sense of unease spread throughout the entire village.

‘It’s definitely something that needs to be dealt with quickly… though I can’t say I’m eager to.’

As Richel recalled the villagers involved in the incident on the dyke road, her expression darkened slightly.

Although the people directly responsible were now in prison, the fact remained that the entire village had stood by and allowed it to happen.

Hans continued speaking.

“The villagers and the estate guards have been searching the surrounding area since this morning, but they still haven’t found it. Since there’s no sign of it nearby, it seems someone deliberately took the pig away.”

“So the atmosphere in the village must be even worse now.”

“Most likely. The village representative is currently going around trying to acquire a new pig, but… realistically, it’ll be difficult.”

Almost no one managed to keep fully grown pigs alive through the winter.

Raising large pigs during the freezing season was difficult, as was feeding them throughout the cold months.

Before winter fully set in, most mature pigs were slaughtered and turned into jerky, sausages, or salted meat to provide food throughout the harsh season.

Only small piglets were usually kept alive and raised indoors in villagers’ homes.

This was how people survived the winter. The only large pigs left in most villages at this time of year were those reserved specifically for the New Year rites.

‘Who would willingly hand over the pig their own village prepared for its rituals?’

Thinking back on the incident on Dike Road made her feel resentful all over again, but she could not simply ignore the situation.

If the village failed to carry out the ritual of slaughtering a pig, the New Year would begin under the shadow of disaster.

“I should go to the village and assess the situation myself. Hans, on your way out, check whether there’s a pig in the estate suitable to be used as a ceremonial pig.”

“You intend to give one to the village?”

“Depending on the situation.”

Hans frowned faintly.

Although he had reported the matter in the performance of his duty, truthfully, he did not want to spare a single pig for that village.

After all, they were the people who had allowed the dike road to be destroyed while standing by and doing nothing.

Why should they be shown such generosity?

Unable to voice these thoughts outright, he hesitated for a moment.

Suddenly, Edwin, who had been standing quietly beside them, spoke up.

“Do you really need to send them a pig?”

It was such a satisfying question that Hans nearly felt relieved hearing it.

For once, he decided he was fully on Edwin’s side.

Richel answered calmly.

“For people who live off the land, the ritual of slaughtering pigs sets the tone for the whole year. We can’t let their year begin with disaster.”

“It just… feels like they brought it on themselves.”

‘Exactly my thoughts.’

Hans muttered inwardly.

For the first time during the conversation, he genuinely hoped that Edwin would win the argument.

Noticing their expressions, Richel sighed.

“I don’t want to give them one either. But we can’t make decisions based purely on our feelings, can we? Several families have already been expelled from the village. If we act too harshly now, it’ll only increase anxiety throughout the village.”

“……”

“The people who committed the wrongdoing will be cast out eventually. But the others are still people who’ll continue living in this territory. There’s no benefit in creating more fear among them.”

Once emotion was stripped away from it, everything she said was reasonable.

It was just difficult to accept emotionally.

Both Edwin and Hans fell silent.

Richel continued.

“I’m not saying we’ll definitely give them one. I’ll assess the situation first and then decide. Hans, assign more estate guards to the search and extend it to include the neighboring villages and the surrounding area.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Hans bowed and stepped back.

Then Edwin turned to Richel.

“You’re going to the village, right? Then I’ll come too.”

He came here every other day, in part, to observe the work that Richel was doing on the estate herself.

Richel nodded and stood up, saying that they should prepare to leave.

Ultimately, they decided to travel to the village by carriage.

The weather was simply far too cold.

While Ena packed a large basket with snacks and alcohol, the butler placed a portable brazier filled with charcoal and heated stones inside the carriage.

The moment Richel saw the basket, she frowned slightly.

“What is all this?”

“It’s very cold today. I packed alcohol so you can warm yourselves, and some snacks so you can keep your strength up.”

“Cold? We already installed a brazier in the carriage. And it’s not like we’re going on a picnic…”

“You’ve both done nothing but work lately. I know you’re going out because of work, but you still need a change of pace.”

Going outside in weather this cold was hardly pleasant to begin with.

And on top of that, they were going out for that village’s sake.

‘When it comes to work, the Countess is so stubborn and uncompromising that there’s really no changing her mind…’

Adjusting the basket in her arms, Ena looked down at the carefully packed contents.

Everything inside consisted of things Richel liked.

“I packed some skewers too. Try putting cheese, sausages, and dried fruit on them, then lightly roasting them over the brazier. You like that sort of thing, don’t you?”

“Haah… fine.”

Ultimately, Richel was the first to give in.

She stepped through the front entrance of the estate and walked towards the carriage.

It was bitterly cold outside.

Even that short walk was enough to make the tip of her nose sting.

Fortunately, the inside of the carriage was wonderfully warm.

It seemed the brazier had been heating it for quite some time.

Ena carefully placed the basket inside.

“You’re going there for work, so save the alcohol for the trip back. I packed some light biscuits and cookies besides the cheese too, so make sure you eat those.”

“Alright, Ena.”

“Oh, and be careful not to let your clothes touch the brazier. It’s charcoal, but it’s still extremely hot. If you’re careless, your clothes could catch fire.”

Just as the nagging finally stopped, Edwin emerged from the house and approached the carriage.

Once Ena had moved out of the way, he climbed in.

Even after the carriage started moving, the two of them sat there awkwardly for a while.

It had been far too long since they had travelled together alone like this.

“It’s kind of hot in here.”

Richel took off her coat.

The brazier had done its job a little too well, leaving the carriage uncomfortably warm.

Her gaze drifted towards Edwin.

His coat was clearly designed for the harshest winter conditions.

The thick, heavily lined wool garment, filled with goose down and lambswool, looked far too warm for the temperature inside the carriage.

“Aren’t you hot? Is it because of the brazier? It feels way too warm in here.”

“Huh? Ah…”

Only then did Edwin hurriedly fumble to remove his coat as well.

‘He changed clothes before coming out.’

What he wore underneath was a perfectly formal outfit.

Over a soft-looking shirt blouse, he had layered a vest and a long jacket.

It looked elegant, but far too light for the middle of winter.

“Aren’t you cold dressed like that?”

“Ah, I’m fine. The coat was warm enough. Ah… does it perhaps not look good?”

“Hm? No, it looks good. I was just worried you might be cold.”

Without realizing it, a faint flush spread across Edwin’s cheeks.

This was because Richel had told him that he looked good.

In truth, he had argued with the butler just to wear this outfit.

The butler had repeatedly insisted that the clothes were far too thin for the weather.

However, to Edwin, looking good mattered more than being warm.

He wanted Richel to see him in a favorable light.

‘I’m glad she said it looks good.’

He quietly repeated her words to himself.

‘Looks good.’

The phrase was sweet enough to melt on his tongue.

The village was quite far away.

Amidst the awkwardness, they chatted for a while before falling silent again, only to start up once more.

Eventually deciding that this wasn’t going to work, Richel pulled out the basket.

“Ena packed these for us. She said we should eat them on the way… There’s dried fruit, cheese, and jerky.”

Richel took out a long skewer and threaded pieces of cheese, dried fruit, and jerky onto it.

Then she handed Edwin another empty skewer.

“You can just put on whatever you want and roast it over the brazier. Like this—just enough for the cheese to melt slightly.”

Edwin copied her movements, threading the food onto the skewer himself.

His hands remained awkward and clumsy.

Soon, the two skewers were held above the brazier like fishing rods.

Richel slowly rotated the skewer in her hand.

Glancing sideways at her, Edwin copied the motion, rotating his skewer awkwardly.

She spoke.

“Isn’t this kind of fun? Picking what you want and putting it on the skewer.”

“Is it? I’ve never made something like this myself before…”

“At first, I just roasted things that were already prepared too. But making it myself exactly the way I wanted turned out to be much nicer. I can put in as much of what I like as I want.”

“Ah, then the things you put on there now are all things you like… huh?”

Suddenly, the cheese on Edwin’s skewer started to stretch downwards in a long, melting strand.

Startled, he quickly lifted the skewer, but it was already too late.

As he had pierced the cheese too close to the edge rather than through the center, it split apart almost instantly.

The piece of cheese fell straight onto the brazier and began to sizzle loudly as it burned.

Panicking, Edwin tried to jab the fallen cheese with the skewer to pull it back out.

However, another piece of cheese slid free and began crackling over the flames.

Smoke billowed up immediately.

“Edwin, the window! Open the window!”

Richel waved her hand to disperse the smoke and pushed one of the carriage windows open.

As soon as the outside air rushed in, the smoke swirled around the carriage violently.

A freezing wind lashed against their faces, instantly bringing tears to their eyes and making their noses run.

Richel shouted outside.

“Stop the carriage! Hurry!”

The carriage came to an abrupt halt, and the guards escorting them stopped as well.

Richel and Edwin immediately threw open the door and practically fled outside the carriage.