The Abandoned Princess, Yet She Is Loved - Chapter 43

“Wow…”

 

The two of them stopped their horses at the top of the hill. After dismounting, Grace looked around and let out a breath of admiration.

 

To the left, a vast plain stretched out behind the castle, with a mountain range and a river surrounding the area. To the right was a village, with visible homes, farmland, and various facilities.

 

“All of that… belongs to you, Frederick?”

 

Grace pointed to the center of the land as she asked. She was struck once again by the fact that Frederick was the lord of such a vast territory.

 

“It’s the Winstaine estate. It’s not quite accurate to say it’s all mine, though. There are a lot of people connected to it.”

 

“Connected… how?”

 

“The ownership is mine, but there are people who live there and make it their home. So, it wouldn’t be right to call it solely mine.”

 

Frederick’s words were a little difficult for Grace to fully understand. She turned her gaze toward the village.

 

“Oh… I know that place. The blacksmith. I’ve been there.”

 

She could clearly see the blacksmith shop she had visited before. Grace looked around to see if there were any other places she recognized.

 

“That one… is the mill.”

 

“You’ve been there too?”

 

“I only saw it from outside. I didn’t go in.”

 

Grace’s finger, scanning the area, pointed to a place where people were gathered.

 

“That’s… the market.”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“There are… so many people.”

 

Even when she had visited the market herself, she’d thought it was crowded, but seeing it from above made the people look like ants, swarming the area.

 

“There are a lot of people living here.”

 

“It’s not that many compared to the capital. Didn’t you live in the capital?”

 

“I never stepped outside the house… so I don’t really know what it’s like.”

 

“Oh… I see.”

 

Frederick let out a small sigh. He knew Grace had been mistreated in the ducal household, but he hadn’t known that she had never been outside, not even once.

 

“My apologies.”

 

“It’s okay… It happens. There aren’t many people like me, after all.”

 

Grace smiled. But Frederick felt a pang in his chest. She was too calm for someone who had spent her whole life locked away.

 

“When you called me the lady of the house… it made me really happy. I’ve never had anything of my own my entire life. I was always… just a useless leftover.”

 

“……”

 

“So I think that’s why I want to do well. I don’t know much, but I want to keep learning.”

 

“You’re doing well. You’re a capable person.”

 

A capable person.

 

Grace’s eyes widened. It was the first time Frederick had complimented her with such words. Until now, he’d only ever said things like “Well done.” But calling her “capable” felt like true recognition.

 

“You learned to read quickly, you draw well… but also—what was it? Ah, the prints. I was really surprised when I heard about your plan to create and distribute them.”

 

“……”

 

“At first, I thought you were simple. You stammered, and your vocabulary was limited, so I assumed you had your limits.”

 

“Oh…”

 

Grace blushed slightly. Looking back to when she first arrived at the castle, she felt a bit embarrassed. She didn’t know how to do much at the time and even she thought she had seemed a little foolish.

 

“But I realized that wasn’t true. You’ve grown quickly. Maybe even beyond what I’d call growth.”

 

“……”

 

“From now on, you won’t ever feel like you’re just a leftover or useless. Like I said before, here, you can do anything.”

 

Grace turned her head to look at Frederick. It was the first time—apart from one other moment—that he had spoken so openly about his thoughts and feelings.

 

“Can I ask… why?”

 

“Why what?”

 

“Why are you so kind to me?”

 

It felt like it would be okay to ask all the questions she’d been holding in.

 

“I mean… you always care. Even if you act like it’s nothing. But I know you think about me in many ways.”

 

“……”

 

Frederick stayed quiet for a moment. Grace waited patiently for his answer.

 

“How should I put it… I think it’s because I’m curious about you.”

 

“Curious…?”

 

“You’re always learning and trying new things. And you achieve them, too. So I start to wonder, what will she do next? How will she do it? I look forward to it. You’re a strong person.”

 

Strong person. Grace repeated the words in her mind. Another phrase she didn’t think suited her, yet had now heard again.

 

“Life in the North is cold and harsh. I didn’t expect much from a bride raised delicately in the capital. I thought you’d only complain.”

 

“……”

 

“But you’ve adapted so well, without any complaints.”

 

To Grace, that was only natural. Life here—physically and emotionally—was far easier than it had been at the Reinhardt household. A little cold weather was nothing in comparison.

 

“And… I feel comfortable when I’m with you.”

 

“Comfortable…?”

 

“Yes. I don’t know exactly why, but I do.”

 

Grace was deeply moved. She smiled softly.

 

“I feel comfortable with you too, Frederick.”

 

“At first, you used to tremble just from making eye contact. But lately, not so much.”

 

“Oh, come on…”

 

Embarrassed, Grace’s face turned red. In the beginning, she had feared Frederick due to her own prejudice and unfamiliarity. But now, she knew that behind his cold exterior was a warm person. There was no reason to feel uneasy anymore.

 

“Let’s come here often, Frederick.”

 

Grace pointed to the hill. She wanted to come again with him, ride horses, and share honest conversations.

 

“Sure.”

 

He nodded in agreement.

 

 

A few days later, Frederick’s aide, Anthony, visited Grace’s room.

 

Anthony was a young man with brown hair and glasses, and he gave off a sharp and intelligent impression. As soon as he saw Grace, he bowed politely.

 

“Good day, my lady.”

 

“Nice to meet you. I’m Grace.”

 

Grace welcomed him with a smile.

 

“Please, have a seat.”

 

Once Anthony sat at the table as instructed, Annie, who had been standing by, filled a teacup for him.

 

“It’s tea from a warm region in the South. It has a gentle aroma.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

Anthony took a small sip of the tea.

 

“I heard you were curious about the estate’s crop situation.”

 

“Yes. I wanted to know how things are going.”

 

“I’ve brought this year’s report.”

 

Anthony placed a file he’d been carrying on the table. He opened it and began to explain.

 

“There are various types of crops cultivated on the estate. Broadly speaking, we classify them into grains, vegetables, fruits, and medicinal herbs. For grains, we have wheat, soybeans, barley, millet…”

 

“Ah, I see.”

 

Grace nodded as she listened.

 

“These are the planting amounts and yields from the year before last, last year, and this year. Since this year’s harvest hasn’t happened yet, the numbers are projections.”

 

“So… last year it was this much, and this year it’s this much… Does that mean we planted less than last year?”

 

Grace asked as she pointed at the figures in the report.

 

“Yes. Due to unexpected heavy rain last year, our yield dropped significantly. We had to ensure we kept enough for food, so we had no choice but to plant less.”

 

“When is the harvest?”

 

“There’s a chart here showing the harvest period by crop. Let me show you.”

 

Anthony flipped to the relevant page and pointed it out.

 

“Then… how much of it goes to the castle?”

 

“First, the residents who grew the crops keep 70% of their yield. The remaining 30% is paid to the castle. From that, we pay taxes to the royal family, and keep the rest.”

 

“Is 30% a lot or a little?”

 

“Most lords collect 50% to 60%, so the Duke actually takes a smaller portion. It’s meant to avoid placing too much hardship on the people. In times of famine, he even reduces it further.”

 

“How much is the royal tax?”

 

“Each crop has a different rate. Over here—you can see some are as low as 5%, others go up to 15%.”

 

Grace absorbed each piece of information, as if soaking it all in.

 

‘The Duke has found himself a very competent wife,’ Anthony thought.

 

He found Grace refreshingly different. The way her eyes sparkled with interest as she studied the estate’s production figures was unlike any noble lady he had ever known.

 

“Whenever there’s a harvest or any related matters… please report them to me as well.”

 

“……”

 

“I want to learn how the estate is run from now on.”