TOPWL 105

Yudit was far too busy to feel lonely just because Khalid had left. The festival preparations were now in full swing.

“Your Highness, this is the list of vendors who wish to set up shop.”

Selena handed Yudit a sheet of paper. He carefully reviewed the list. Recently, District 3 of Bern had entered a boom, and more and more people wanted to open up shop. Most weren’t looking to rent a building; they simply wanted to secure a street stall to sell goods or food. Even so, it was a promising sign.

“Thank you, Selena.”

“Don’t mention it. Ever since I came here, I’ve felt so energized and uplifted.”

Selena replied with a bright tone. It was true—seeing a village develop day by day was invigorating in itself, and being part of the planning made it all the more fulfilling.

At first, Yudit had cut off contact with Selena, thinking it best not to become further entangled with her. But after bringing Yasin here and being far from the capital, he figured they were safer from watchful eyes. He sent her a letter—and she had rushed over without hesitation and settled in naturally.

Yudit looked at Selena’s slightly tired profile, worry creeping into his gaze.

“Selena, are you overworking yourself?”

Lyett had also visited once after receiving Selena’s letter. Finding it worthwhile, she contacted her merchant husband, who opened a new supply route. Both her husband and the village’s chief had left the meeting room grinning from ear to ear. Thanks to that deal, the prices of food and daily necessities had stabilized, making life in the village much more manageable. Selena had witnessed it all from the sidelines and was now pouring her heart into planning the festival more than anyone else. Yudit worried it might be out of a sense of obligation.

“If anyone’s overworking themselves, it’s you, Your Highness. You’ve been working day and night—you’re even worrying about Wadiram now.”

Selena, who had grown quite close to Wadiram over a few meetings, called him by name as if they were old friends. Embarrassed, Yudit covered the dark circles under his eyes with a sheepish look.

“I’m the one responsible. But I’ve heard your juice business is doing well, Lady Selena. You must’ve been busy in the capital… I feel guilty for calling you here.”

At that, Selena stopped in her tracks. Her expression showed she was deep in thought. Yudit also halted and looked at her. After a moment, she spoke.

“Your Highness. I truly enjoy being here. Yes, the recipe business is doing well, but most of it relies on my mother’s recipes, and people look down on a noble lady running a business. It’s suffocating. But here… I can breathe. My heart races when I see the plans I make actually being put into practice.”

“If that’s how you feel, then I’m glad…”

Yudit trailed off, unable to answer properly. Selena let out a quiet sigh.

“Don’t tell me… You still think I’m only working here because I feel indebted to you for saving my life?”

Yudit blinked, caught off guard—because it was true. He had saved Selena during the fire. He feared that burden had weighed on her ever since. But Selena shook her head.

“No. That debt—I’d need a lifetime to repay it. But truly, I’m here because I enjoy it. Just like Yasin.”

Yasin had been teaching people at the recently completed workshop. It was located near the slums’ residential area, and it was constantly crowded with people eager to learn skills to make a living. Yasin, like Yudit, was run off his feet, but he clearly looked happier than when he had been cooped up alone at home.

“So please don’t think I’m here out of guilt. I’m grateful for this opportunity. How many noble ladies get to participate so deeply in reshaping a village?”

“…Thank you. That means a lot.”

Hearing that, Yudit felt a bit more at ease. As he walked through the market, he made a mental note to find a fitting gift for Selena once the work settled.

He stopped in his tracks as a familiar scent of bread reached him.

It was the same street stall bakery that Brown had practically dragged him to during his first visit to the village. The warm, soft bread and sweet jam had left a lasting impression.

“Would it be all right if we stopped here for a moment?”

“Of course. The bread here is delicious.”

Yudit lifted the tent flap and stepped inside. The stall, which sold bread and stew, was filled with comforting warmth. As Yudit entered, he locked eyes with the shopkeeper who was tidying up.

“Oh, Your Highness! What an honor.”

The shopkeeper paused his work and bowed his head respectfully to Yudit.

“I was drawn in by the smell of bread, but it seems you’ve sold out.”

“Yes, I’m terribly sorry. All the bread we baked this morning has already sold out. We’ve just started baking a new batch, so it’ll be another ten minutes before it’s ready.”

The shopkeeper rubbed his hands together, flustered and apologetic. The scent of baked bread wafted thick from the oven in the back. At that moment, Yudit’s stomach growled. Embarrassed, he clutched his belly and glanced at Selena. She, too, licked her lips and nodded—apparently in the same state. The festival planning had made them both miss their meals.

Yudit cleared his throat and said,

“I’ll wait.”

“Yes, of course. Would you like some stew while you wait? It’s not much for such esteemed guests, but it’s decent enough.”

“Give us a bowl each.”

“Right away, Your Highness.”

With a warm smile, the shopkeeper served them stew. Thick and hearty, the stew was topped with a mountain of square croutons. Fearing it might overflow, Yudit popped a piece of bread into his mouth and let it soften. He expected it to be tough enough to cut his mouth if he wasn’t careful, but it was surprisingly soft.

“The bread is quite tender.”

“Well, lately bread’s been selling so well that we’ve been setting aside some of today’s loaves for croutons. We try to dry them out in a pan, but fresh-baked bread still retains some moisture no matter what.”

“I wasn’t criticizing. It’s delicious.”

The shopkeeper’s face creased with a pleased smile at the compliment. As Yudit finished his stew, he chatted idly with the man.

“How’s business these days?”

“Not quite as frantic as before, but still plenty of customers.”

“There are fewer people now?”

“Yes. In the past, even if we baked another batch, everything would be gone by two. These days, it lasts until around five. It’s nice not to rush so much.”

Yudit looked around. Where there had once been only a few scattered stalls, the area was now packed with vendors selling food and sundries. Many were locals, but there were also some from the slums or even outsiders. Yudit worried that the villagers might resent them or that conflict might arise.

“And what about the others?”

“Others…? Who do you mean, Your Highness?”

Yudit hesitated, then voiced his concerns.

“…I’ve been worried. Now that there are so many stalls around, I wonder if the shopkeepers or townsfolk have grown resentful.”

The shopkeeper listened carefully, then furrowed his brows in thought. After a moment, he shook his head.

“Your Highness, do you know how many visitors this village had in the month before you arrived?”

“…I don’t.”

“I assure you, it wasn’t even fifty. Barely thirty, perhaps.”

The shopkeeper glanced out through the tent flap.

“Now, more than two hundred people visit each week. That’s not even counting the ones Your Highness brought with you.”

He looked down at his palms, glistening with butter.

“I love this village dearly. But even I thought of it as a dying place. You’re the one who breathed life back into it. If anyone has complaints about that, I’ll be the first to put them in their place. And I know I won’t be the only one.”

He raised his fist with a grin. Selena chuckled softly at the sight.

“All the shops and stalls are thriving. And didn’t you also grant tax reductions for the villagers, Your Highness?”

“That was…”

“If it weren’t for that kindness, the people from the slums and the outsiders wouldn’t have blended in so naturally.”

Yudit blinked, caught off guard.

“What’s wrong?”

“You… you speak so well. Do you deal with people often? You’ve got a real gift for words.”

“Hah, I’m flattered. Maybe it’s because I’ve had to talk my way through life—comes with the territory.”

The shopkeeper gave a cryptic smile. When Yudit blinked in surprise, he scratched the back of his head, looking sheepish.

“It’s a bit embarrassing, but… I’m the village chief’s older brother.”

At those words, both Yudit and Selena’s mouths dropped open. No wonder he’d seemed so familiar—he was the chief’s brother, after all.