Chapter 32
The farmer waved his hand dismissively.
But Aelin wasn’t the type to leave just because she was told to go.
Curious about what was going on, she peeked around and soon found out the source of their troubles.
“Miss, get inside quickly! This isn’t a place to be standing around!”
“Why are you like this? I’m going to stay outside too! The farm tour isn’t over yet—!”
As Aelin poked her head out, she spotted a man.
‘Huh? That person is…?’
It was the administrator who had kicked Aelin and Flowan out.
Even though he was coming from far away, the farmers clearly showed how much they dreaded him.
They hurriedly pushed Aelin inside the farm building.
“Flower child? Miss, you don’t understand how scary those people are!”
“I’m telling you, I want to stay here! Who do those people think they are?”
“No, no! This is no place for a young lady like you. It’s dangerous. Hurry inside, come on!”
Unable to resist the farmers’ urgings, Aelin finally went inside.
Even as she walked, she was busy assessing the approaching group.
‘The administrator who threw Flowan and me out. And behind him, two oily-looking men with ugly faces.’
They looked like corrupt officials at a glance.
Of course, judging people by appearance alone is very wrong, and Aelin usually tried to avoid it…
‘But after seeing this situation, how could I think otherwise?’
As the corrupt officials came closer, the farmers kept swallowing dryly.
Their potbellies rounded out in front of them, strutting steps full of arrogance.
Most aggravating was the haughty, almost contemptuous way they looked down at the farmers.
‘Their faces were full of spite and malice.’
Once inside, everyone trembled with fear at the news of the administrator’s arrival.
Feeling a bad premonition, Aelin quietly moved to the window and eavesdropped on their conversation.
“We need to raise the distribution prices this time.”
“Oh, my lord, didn’t you already raise them last month?”
“That was last month, this is a new month, isn’t it? There’s no end to complaints from the East. When fruit arrives there, it’s all rotten or mushy.”
“We deliver it right after harvest… how could that be…?”
“Well, ask the Southern administrator about that. Southern man! Speak up!”
“If they’re trying to deliver to the royal household, shouldn’t they be thorough? Who knows if you secretly included low-quality goods.”
The Southern administrator scratched his ear and continued.
“Take wine for example, who buys Southern wine? Those nobles kindly accept it because they’re generous, but in the East, Southern wine is treated like trash.”
That was a blatant lie.
The Southern wine’s quality was well known to those who had tasted it.
Even the administrators who disparaged it loved this farm’s wine.
Compared to its cheap price, its flavor was several times better than the imported high-end wines currently in the capital.
The reason they spoke like this was simple.
“They’re trying to undercut us.”
At the loud voice echoing across the vineyard, both administrators and farmers turned their gaze.
“Hey, you, is that the crazy woman you mentioned yesterday?”
The Eastern administrator swaggered and jerked his chin toward Aelin.
The guards behind the administrators barely seemed tense at Aelin’s presence, snickering quietly amongst themselves.
Thanks to this, Aelin was able to stand boldly in front of the administrators without interruption.
When the guards tried to pull her away, the Southern administrator raised his hand to stop them.
The administrators stared at Aelin, as if to say, ‘If you have something to say, say it.’
“How dare you gaslight and undercut my people like this? Just a glance shows how you’ve been ripping people off all this time. Do you even deserve to call yourselves administrators?”
“Oh my, young lady, you’re fiery and sharp-tongued. Definitely not a noble daughter. Are you that crazy woman who brags about being the Southern duchess or something?”
“Ah, yes. I am certainly the crazy woman of this district.”
Aelin smiled slyly.
Though her face was dirty, her beauty wasn’t hidden.
Maybe the administrators liked how her temperament contrasted with her looks.
The Eastern administrator pointed at her like choosing the best sapling.
“I like her.”
“I told you she’s an unusual woman.”
“Listen, miss, your speech sounds like you’re from the East — now, where’s your husband? Let him go, and I’ll take you. If you come with me, you won’t have to put up with this humiliation.”
Saying that, the Eastern administrator grabbed Aelin’s arm tightly.
“Oh, you’re a bit cold. How about I warm you up?”
His words and attitude toward the woman were utterly vulgar.
People like him only needed a firm lesson to show what true power was—but Aelin didn’t feel the need to lower herself.
Just as she was thinking of teaching these bullies a lesson—
The Southern administrator suddenly pulled Aelin.
“Let’s have a serious talk today.”
With a sly grin behind him, the Eastern administrator watched as Aelin snorted and stepped into the carriage.
From a distance, the farmers looked on with burning eyes.
Their gazes were full of worry, but Aelin smiled faintly.
“Don’t look at me like that, everyone. I’m the one who should be sorry. Don’t worry about me.”
Aelin had someone she could trust.
Left alone, Flowan began chopping firewood wildly to clear his tangled thoughts.
“Oh, what strength you have! Yeah, chopping wood is good for clearing your head, right?”
The village headman’s voice came from behind, and Flowan put down his axe and turned.
The headman gave him a subtle smile.
It was as if he understood why Flowan was chopping wood so hard.
“—Sir.”
“Oh, don’t say anything. I know it all. That’s just how things go between men and women. I was like that with my wife when I was young too. But, don’t you think you should go after her?”
“She said she wants to be alone.”
“Oh, you don’t understand a woman’s heart. Saying she wants to be alone really means—‘Come get me, come with me.’”
“I don’t think Aelin is that kind of person.”
“Oh, where are those kinds and not kinds? She’s just feeling restless, so she wants to think alone. Feeling restless means she’s troubled by her husband’s face.”
Flowan looked confused by the odd conversation.
“By the way, do you have any work for me, sir?”
“No, no, it’s nothing. I thought I saw someone looking for you.”
The village headman clicked his tongue, saying there was still a long way to go before finishing chopping the firewood.
Then suddenly realizing why he came to find Flowan, he clapped his hands and continued.
“Is that someone you know?”
The headman asked after seeing Dalton walking anxiously, calling for Flowan.
