Chapter 18 …
The people still wore old, tattered clothes and looked emaciated, but compared to yesterday, they seemed noticeably more energetic and brighter. The fact that just a handful of grains and a few cream buns could bring them such joy filled her with both relief and a pang of guilt.
“Steward.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Scrooge straightened his back and spoke with exaggerated dignity, apparently pleased that the lord of the estate was being well received by the villagers.
“How many people live in this village?”
Scrooge pulled out a pair of glasses from his front pocket and perched them on the tip of his nose as he examined a scroll with a cautious gaze.
“There are about 200 households. If we gather everyone, it should be around 700 to 800 people.”
“You don’t know the exact number?”
“Many have starved to death recently. Had we not distributed food yesterday, that number would have been even lower overnight.”
His gaze drifted to the people standing outside the carriage. Deep concern creased the corners of his wrinkled eyes.
“What about the other villages in the territory?”
“The largest one has about 1,000 households, and the other three are about the same size as this one.”
Since Chloe had never once asked about the estate before, the steward couldn’t hide the pride he felt while answering such basic questions.
Hearing his answer, Donghee fell into deep thought.
“So there are five villages left in the estate.”
Judging by the size of Grace Castle, she had assumed there would be many more.
Almost as if he’d read her thoughts, the steward began to explain things she hadn’t even asked about.
“There used to be thirty-one villages under the Patrasche Viscountcy. Only five remain.”
“Thirty-one?”
Just as she suspected, it had once been quite a large estate.
She didn’t know much about this Viscount Patrasche, but Scrooge’s tone, when speaking about him, held a strange mix of wariness and hostility.
“Yes. The viscount bought them one by one at dirt-cheap prices. I expect he’ll return next week to purchase another of the remaining villages.”
Scrooge emphasized the words “dirt-cheap,” and his voice turned even heavier.
“And the people who lived on that land?”
“Most of them were colonus, tied to the land. When the land was sold, they automatically became the viscount’s subjects.”
“I see…”
Even though she didn’t know those people personally, the idea of having sold them off for money left her with a heavy sense of guilt.
Chloe Grace really must have chosen to do all the most detestable things.
She had no concern for others’ well-being, obsessed only with herself, buying one frivolous, lacey dress after another—utterly foolish.
She suspected many of those brightly colored dresses filling the dressing room had likely been purchased using the money gained from selling off those villagers.
After a moment of silence, Donghee spoke with resolve.
“Gather the villagers in the town square.”
“All of them?”
“Leave out the small children. Everyone else, including the women.”
“Yes, understood.”
Now that she had started, her head throbbed from the weight of it all. Just glancing around made it clear there was a mountain of work to do.
As soon as she gave the command, Scrooge stepped down from the carriage and relayed her order to the attendants who had accompanied them. The nearly ten attendants scattered quickly in every direction.
It’s okay. Just take it one step at a time. I can do this.
Donghee had a strong workaholic streak. The more there was to do, the more her determination burned.
She wanted to relive that exhilarating feeling of checking off items from a fully packed to-do list in her planner—only this time, backed by an enormous budget.
A rush of catharsis shot through her, giving her goosebumps all over.
The village square was as barren and withered as the poorly dressed people now standing in it.
The once-bubbling fountain had long dried up, its cracked and broken edges a testament to its uselessness.
Donghee squinted at the odd statue standing in the center of the fountain.
Though one of its horns was broken, it clearly depicted a humanoid figure with deer antlers.
Aside from the horns and lower half of its body, it looked human—like some mysterious creature straight out of a myth.
“What is that?”
“That’s a member of the Korus tribe.”
“The Korus tribe?”
“Yes, they’re half-human, half-deer beings.”
“Where do they live?”
“There were rumors that they were spotted decades ago beyond the Black Forest in the snowy plains. But it’s such an old tale. I doubt anyone’s actually seen one.”
“Really?”
The thought that people who looked like that might be living in a snow-covered land made her heart pound strangely.
“There’s a legend that they bring blessings to villages. So you’ll find one of these statues in every village nearby.”
“Kind of like a guardian general.”
“Pardon?”
“Never mind. Just something like that.”
She waved her hand. Scrooge stared at her blankly, but she turned her head, pretending not to notice.
As the two talked, villagers began gathering in the square.
Unlike their joy at seeing the carriage earlier, those summoned now looked fearful.
Since they hadn’t been given any explanation, it was understandable.
The tension in the square grew worse due to the presence of armed knights, just in case of any trouble. The villagers, grouped here and there across the square, hunched their shoulders in anxiety and dread.
“They’re not going to make us pay for that bread from yesterday, are they?”
“Surely not.”
But even the responding man didn’t sound very confident.
“But that bread… it looked too fine for people like us. We shouldn’t have just eaten it like that.”
Voices filled with regret and worry started to emerge as people remembered just how selfish and ridiculous their lord Chloe Grace had been.
“What if we’re sold as slaves because we can’t pay?”
A woman shivered in fear, imagining her children waiting for her in their drafty, broken hut.
Donghee climbed onto the platform that Scrooge had prepared.
The “platform” was just two old desks pushed together, but it was enough to draw everyone’s attention.
She’d never spoken in front of a crowd before. Her fingers tingled with nerves, but she composed herself and steadied her voice.
Imagining the mountains of money she now had gave her a sudden surge of confidence.
So money really does buy confidence.
Donghee began speaking in the loudest voice she could manage.
There was no microphone, yet strangely, her voice carried loud and clear to everyone gathered.
“Starting today, we’ll begin cleaning up the village! All residents will help restore the village to a clean and livable place!”
The village had been left in filth for so long that the hygiene was dire enough to breed illness. Cleaning up was the first logical step.
The moment she finished speaking, the expressions on the villagers’ faces grew grim.
After days of starvation, they’d finally gotten a bit of food yesterday, and now they were being told to do labor? Complaints were inevitable.
Donghee saw their faces flushing with emotion and hurried to continue.
She was startled by how quickly their gazes turned hostile but tried not to show it.
“You will be paid generously. Adults will receive 1 Bron, children 3 Cupe for participating in the cleanup effort.”
Scrooge had advised her on the fair pay rate.
Though she’d wanted to offer 1 gold per day, that would’ve created chaos, so she stuck to his advice.
1 Bron probably amounted to around 10,000 won per day—hardly much.
But Scrooge had insisted multiple times that it was already a very generous amount, so she cautiously announced it loudly.
As soon as she mentioned wages, the crowd stirred.
For a second, she feared they were angry that it wasn’t enough—but when she looked closely, their faces didn’t show anger.
In fact, the villagers were simply shocked.
Obeying a lord’s command and performing labor was expected of any estate resident.
And yet, she was offering payment for that work?
It was another unbelievable event, following what had happened yesterday. The villagers’ expressions were filled with confusion.
Donghee silently watched them murmur to each other before raising one hand.
As if it were a signal, the crowd quieted and turned to look at Chloe with wide eyes.
Though mistrust still lingered in their eyes, Donghee also spotted glimpses of hope.
She strengthened her voice.
Don’t flinch. Don’t flinch!
Repeating it like a chant, her voice grew even stronger.
“Steward Scrooge, who is in charge of this project, will assign people to specific roles. Once you’ve received instructions, begin working in the area of your choice. Work begins tomorrow. But tonight, food will be distributed to everyone.”
No sooner had she finished speaking than carts loaded with grain rolled into the village.
They had practically emptied the estate’s storage for this—but not a single bit felt wasted. She could always buy more now.
The villagers’ murmurs grew louder.
