Rebirth of the Villainess Wife

hat, I didn’t expect you to say that..
the truth is, I was worried… We have a large stockpile from last year, so I know we won’t starve, but..
if there is even the slightest outbreak of disease in this state, a small village like this will soon perish..
even the children, even the weak ones, who are not well nourished, will die one after another..
One by one, they might die..”

“The Duke of Farens would never abandon his subjects in their time of need.
Besides, I will do what I can..
And from what I can see, the crops in this village look pretty tasty.”

With my knees on the ground, I pick up a handful of soil from the field.

The soil is still alive, although it has been ravaged.

The moist soil was rich in nutrients and reminded me of the original richness of the fields in this village.

“Madam, you’re going to get your hands dirty.”

Walter said this from behind me, not really out of concern for that, but probably to make Telos listen.

Mainly, my reply.

“I don’t mind.
And I like tinkering with the soil.”

“Was it Hidari-sama?”

Walter, the quintessential Walther, seemed to have no information on this and tilted his head.

He probably heard a lot about me from Clément, but he has no way of knowing about my soil tinkering, because that’s what I used to do.

Well, the soil tinkering I was doing was basically based on mass production of illegal drugs and other efforts in that direction, so it’s not praiseworthy.

But Telos didn’t seem to feel that way.

“Oh my God! Lady Elaine is tinkering with the soil..? No way..
no, it seems true that you know about the goodness of soil, and I don’t doubt it, but..”

“When I’m at my parents’ house, sort of.
Eventually, I’d like to have at least a small vegetable garden in the courtyard of the house.
I’d even like you to send me some soil and compost from around here.
It’s hard to get such good quality soil in the city of the capital.”

I didn’t really do this at all when I was at my parents’ house, but there was no other way to say it.

I’ll ask Amalia to talk me out of it later.

Telos seemed thrilled by my words.

“Of course then! But I’m not sure if this village will still be here by then..”

He nodded strongly, but quickly returned to his anxious expression.

I smile and tell him.

“I’m going to put that anxiety to rest now, so lighten up.
Anyway, so much for the field inspection.
Now I’d like you to..
show me around the village.
If possible, I would like to talk to some of the villagers, but would you please choose those who are less intimidating? I would appreciate it if you have about five people of different ages, including children.”

“I’ll gather them right away.
But..
children?”

“Yes.
Because with adults, they might be too attentive to me.”

“..That’s certainly true, too.
But..”

“It’s okay.
I’ll let it slide, no matter how rude they are.
If you want, I can write you a letter first, though, right?”

When I say this jokingly, Telos seems to have gradually come to understand my character.

With a much calmer smile than at first.

“..That won’t be necessary.
I believe you.
Then, please come this way..”

With these words, he began to walk away.