Falling To Paradise

Aiden pushed aside unnecessary thoughts and began to explain the task to Anje again.

 

“This area with the stone borders is where we grow carrots. Any grasses that don’t look like what I just pointed out are unwanted weeds, so you can pull them out and gather them in one place.”

 

Spring was the time when everything sprouted, and conversely, it was also the time when weeds started growing. If they weren’t properly managed now, they would grow uncontrollably by midsummer.

 

“…..”

 

“Can you handle it?”

 

“I’ll try.”

 

Anje, speaking weakly, added a footnote.

 

“I might accidentally pull out carrot seedlings because I get confused.”

 

“When you’re unsure, just call me, and I’ll let you know if it’s a carrot or a weed.”

 

He handed Anje a light shovel and immediately went to inspect the nearby wheat field.

 

Taking a deep breath, Anje gazed at the black soil and the tiny green organisms growing in it.

 

“Okay.”

 

Let’s give it a try. Anje began to move her hands, trying to remember what carrots looked like.

 

Wait, is this a carrot?

 

“Sir Aiden, could you come here for a moment?”

 

* * *

 

Within an hour of Anje starting to pull weeds, Aiden had regretted making her do this pointless task several times.

 

Firstly, she sighed deeply with an expression that showed she clearly disliked the work, making him worry if she would do it properly.

 

Secondly, she called Aiden every few minutes.

 

“Sir, is this a weed?”

 

“Sir, what kind of plant is this? It’s edible, right? I didn’t pick one that’s edible, did I?”

 

“Sir, I pulled it out, but only the roots are left in the ground.”

 

If she had bothered him this much with something else, he would have already gotten annoyed or teased her lightly.

 

However, he swallowed his annoyance at the sight of her pale face under the hat.

 

‘What if I get angry because she keeps bothering me?’

 

He could sense her growing timidity, her thoughts once again reflected on her face.

 

It was a similar emotion to what he had read from new recruits he had met in the military.

 

‘Captain, what does it say on this can? Is it safe to eat?’

 

‘It says it’s gunpowder, so be careful when handling it, Dug. What do you mean by “Is it safe to eat?” You’re going to get into trouble.’

 

‘Oh! I’m sorry, Captain… I’m just ignorant.’

 

‘…No, I was the one who wasn’t considerate enough. I’ll make sure to draw skull and crossbones on dangerous items from now on.’

 

By replacing her, a stranger to the fields, with a rookie soldier ignorant of weapons, he was able to treat Anje with a much more generous heart, as he did when he was a captain in the military.

 

“Yes, that’s right. You’re doing a good job, so don’t worry too much.”

 

TL/N: OMG… HE’S THE CUTEST!!

 

He patiently taught her whether she was making the right judgments every time she came to ask him.

 

“Eek! Th-there’s a bug!”

 

He even had the patience to teach her the benefits of earthworms as she hid behind him.

 

“They’re more beneficial than you, Princess, aren’t you being too harsh?”

 

“Are you saying that I can’t even handle bugs right now…? That bugs are beneficial?”

 

He flicked the bug that had startled her with the end of his shovel and threw it to the side.

 

The bug, which had met with misfortune due to the wind blowing to an unfortunate place, flew away without being able to appeal its injustice.

 

“They eat the nutrients in the soil and excrete them, making the soil more fertile, you see.”

 

She looked up at him with wide eyes.

 

“Where did you learn that?”

 

“When I was in the capital, I read books on agriculture in the library.”

 

To be precise, he had read various books, including geology and biology, in the palace library.

 

He had carefully read even rare books that could not be found in the market, without being noticed by the crown prince who hated him or others.

 

He turned the conversation towards her to prevent her from asking more details about his story.

 

“You never learned anything like this?”

 

“Where would a noble lady learn about dirt or bugs?”

 

“That’s true. So what did you mainly learn?”

 

“I…”

 

The tutors had mainly taught her basic literacy and numeracy when she was very young, and the “essential qualities” of a young lady from her teens.

 

An endless cycle of drawing, piano playing, dancing, and etiquette lessons to prepare for her debut into society.

 

‘It was really boring.’

 

A lady was not supposed to walk or run quickly, express her emotions openly, or attract the attention of others carelessly.

 

‘As the Duke said, I must have perfect manners as a future empress.’

 

She would rather have studied geography or mathematics, but the strict tutors were not interested in such things.

 

This was because the Duke, who had been hands-off in the princess’ education, had urged the tutors to make her “a perfect lady” as her debut approached.

 

Anje, who had been given all sorts of things in the meantime, was also happy that her father, who had never shown any personal interest in her, was expecting something.

 

So she tried her best to live up to his expectations. It was during this time that her mischievous attitude became more demure on the surface.

 

‘But the result…’

 

Stopping her thoughts that were leading to a gloomy place, Anje gave Aiden a simple answer.

 

“I learned things like dancing and painting.”

 

“Dancing? But why are you so out of shape?”

 

“Do you think dancing lightly at a ball will help you get in shape?”

 

She crouched back down in the field where the bugs had disappeared. She felt like she could now distinguish between weeds and crops even without his instruction.

 

‘Get rid of weeds like Amy Kendall!’

 

As she dug up the dirt roughly and pulled out the grass with all her might, thinking of someone she disliked, she gradually felt refreshed.

 

Despite gasping for breath, she became engrossed in her task and managed to clear a strip about three yards wide.

 

“Sir Aiden, look at this. What do you think?”

 

“You did a good job for a first try.”

 

He nodded at what Anje had done. It would have been much faster if he had done it himself, but he liked the neat and tidy look of it.

 

She puffed out her chest proudly.

 

“Right? I think I’m getting the hang of it.”

 

As she spoke, she suddenly became curious.

 

“But why are you pulling these out? Can’t we just let them grow together?”

 

“If you leave weeds and crops together, the crops won’t have enough space to grow.”

 

“Aha.”

 

She had been wondering what the meaning behind his daily actions of pulling out plants, and now she understood his intention.

 

He picked up a clover she had pulled out and twirled it between his fingers.

 

“Of course, there are some weeds that play a beneficial role. Plants like clover help restore the soil, so we sometimes plant them in rotation with other crops.”

 

Now she was listening intently to his stories, which were fresh and new to her ears.

 

“After you’ve pulled out the weeds, you need to gather them and put them in this bin.”

 

“Why?”

 

They were already pulled out, so wouldn’t they just decompose naturally if left alone?

 

“If you pile them up like that, they’ll take root again.”

 

“Really? Even though I broke and trampled them all?”

 

Anje stomped on the weeds.

 

“You have no idea how tenacious these creatures are. Look, they even sprouted between the stones I laid down.”

 

She looked where he was pointing and saw indeed some nameless shoots growing between the stones.

 

“So, you gather them in that bin and throw them away somewhere?”

 

“Throw them away? What a waste. If you collect them and make compost, they’ll be very useful.”

 

To each of her questions, he answered in great detail and sincerity, like a fish out of water.

 

He had never had anyone ask him about his farming knowledge before, so he was a bit chatty.

 

Anje had always thought of him as a rather taciturn person, so she was a little surprised by this change.

 

“Oh, this vine is very harmful to the fields, but it can also be dried and used as a medicine for stomach pain.”

 

“Should I collect it then?”

 

“I already have enough stored in the attic, so it’s fine.”

 

So he had an attic. She looked up at the house again. There was indeed a small window just under the roof.

 

Following her gaze, Aiden explained.

 

“We use it to dry vegetables and fruits, or to store unnecessary belongings.”

 

“I’d like to store some of my belongings there too.”

 

It would be better to store things she didn’t need right away, like her crinoline frame or high-heeled shoes, in the attic.

 

Thinking of her limited room, she asked him.

 

“Can you teach me how to get up there later?”

 

“Yes, after we’re done for today.”

 

She looked at the field, where there was still a lot of work to be done.

 

“Is ‘done for today’ really the whole field?”

 

The land, which she had thought was small compared to the duke’s estate, suddenly felt vast.

 

“Yes, that’s right. But you don’t have to rush―.”

 

Without even listening to his words, Anje rolled up her sleeves.

 

“Then we don’t have time to be lazy. What are we waiting for? Let’s just finish what we’re doing.”

 

“Lazy……”

 

Aiden tried to protest to her, but she was already engrossed in pulling weeds again.

 

‘I have to get this done quickly and lie down under the tree.’

 

When she first heard him say to sit under the tree, she thought it was an unreasonable request, but now she saw that it was a paradise.

 

He shook his head and went back to his own section of the field. A faint smile played on his lips, barely noticeable at first glance.

 

‘To be called lazy by the princess, my pride is hurt.’

 

In revenge for those words, he planned to prepare lunch with onions, which she hated, as the main ingredient.

 

A simple dish of minced meat stuffed into round onion slices and fried in a pan, then sprinkled with sesame seeds.

 

However, a few hours later, Anje, who was famished from working all morning, devoured the onion dish in the blink of an eye, foiling his revenge.

* * * *

 

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