IGRA Chapter 107

Eleanor decided to move to a coastal village at the southernmost tip of the empire, Wembury. It was a quiet place not well-known to the public. Near the small village with a population of less than two hundred, there was a mansion that a noble had used as a villa. Eleanor bought it. Although it was similar in size to the mansion in Loud, it felt more spacious as the number of residents was halved.

 

It took a full week to look around the candidate sites for a house. It was Eleanor’s first trip since she was born. Walking in places she had never been to and greeting strangers was a fresh and enjoyable experience.

 

Above all, there was no one in this place who knew Eleanor. Even if she introduced herself as ‘Eleanor Townsend,’ no one changed their expression. That fact alone made her feel unbelievably light-hearted, and she thought that deciding to move was the right decision.

 

From the second floor of the mansion, she could see the coast below a gentle hill. It was such a beautiful view that she instinctively wanted to pick up a brush.

 

Eleanor had never felt that her life was unhappy. Nevertheless, now she felt like she had truly become the master of her own life.

 

“Now, I’ll start a new life here.”

 

Eleanor murmured to herself as if to let herself hear it. Let’s leave all the bad memories in the capital. Only take warm and precious memories with you.

 

****

 

Walter Smith, the owner of Wembury’s general store, was fighting boredom with his chin propped up. Since it was such a small village, customers were rare. Especially in the early morning like now, the only visitor was a cat meowing outside the window begging for food.

 

In fact, no one would complain even if he opened the store in the afternoon after lunch. Or maybe he could open it every other day. The reason he didn’t do that was that he had nothing else to do even if he didn’t come to the store.

 

Walter eventually got up with a fly swatter. Catching flies buzzing around had become his main task during work hours.

 

He was having a hard time chasing an especially fast one today when he heard the door open from behind. Walter reflexively turned around and his eyes widened without realizing it.

 

There were two reasons for his surprise. One was because it was a face he had never seen before, and the other was because that face was incredibly noble and pretty.

 

“Hello.”

 

The woman greeted Walter with a slight squint and a smile. Walter felt his cheeks heat up involuntarily.

 

“Ah, welcome.”

 

Walter hurried back to his seat. Then he glanced at the woman slowly looking around the store.

 

She was really pretty upon a second look. With her light, fluttering blonde hair and skin so white it seemed like she never got any sun, she was dazzling. Even the most beautiful girl in the village, who received all the young men’s courtship, would seem like an ordinary country girl in front of her.

 

Could she be a traveling noblewoman? Wembury wasn’t a place frequented by travelers, but there were occasional visitors. However, it was strange for her to be alone without any maids accompanying her, considering she might be a noblewoman.

 

The woman, who had been looking around the store, suddenly turned to Walter. Their eyes met, and Walter felt his heart drop.

 

“Do you have any books by any chance?”

 

“Bo, books?”

 

Walter asked, rising to his feet without realizing it.

 

“Yes. It seems there are no libraries or bookstores in this village. I was told to try here…”

 

Walter was momentarily taken aback. Books. It was the first time he had a customer looking for books. In fact, more than half of the village’s population couldn’t read.

 

“I’m sorry, but we don’t have books…”

 

“That’s too bad.”

 

The woman frowned slightly in disappointment. Seeing that expression, Walter felt an urge to help her, or rather, he wanted to help her.

 

“Maybe the village chief might have some books at his house. If you’re looking for a specific book urgently, you might want to visit him…”

 

At that, the woman’s eyes widened in surprise.

 

“No? Oh, that’s alright. I’m not looking for any particular book.”

 

“Th, that’s so. I apologize.”

 

Walter felt foolish for suggesting such a thing. Suddenly mentioning the village chief’s house. How absurd must that have sounded? To the villagers, everyone was like family, but this woman was an outsider.

 

“Why apologize? There’s no need for you to say sorry.”

 

“Ah, yes. Th, that’s right.”

 

Walter stammered, desperately trying to think.

 

“You might find the libraries or bookstores you mentioned if you go as far as Plymouth. I’m embarrassed to say, but our village is so small…there’s a lot we don’t have.”

 

“I see. Thank you. Your name is…”

 

“Yes? Oh, Wa, Walter.”

 

“Walter, sir.”

 

The woman smiled again gently.

 

“Thank you for kindly telling me. Have a good day.”

 

“Ah, yes, yes. You too, ma’am.”

 

After the woman left the store, Walter stood there blankly for a while.

 

****

 

“I saw an incredibly beautiful woman today at noon.”

 

That evening, as soon as Walter returned home, he told his wife Gemma.

 

“What? Where?”

 

“She came to the store as a customer. I had never seen her before, but she must be a traveling noblewoman. I’ve never seen such a beautiful woman in my life.”

 

Even though her husband was talking like that, Gemma didn’t seem displeased. She was quite easy-going and hearty by nature, but it seemed that Gemma was more curious about the woman for the time being.

 

“Is she perhaps the noblewoman who has just moved here?”

 

“What? Where?”

 

“The mansion on the northern hill of the village. It’s been empty for about 5 years, but I heard someone has moved in recently. Why, the servants of that house have been coming down to shop lately.”

 

Now that he thought about it, Walter remembered. Male servants had come to Walter’s store a few times.

 

“Then is she the lady of that house?”

 

“According to Olivia, there are no new guests at the inn, so probably, right?”

 

“But for a noblewoman, it’s strange that she was alone without any maids. They usually don’t go around by themselves.”

 

“Maybe she was bored. Just because she’s a high-ranking woman doesn’t mean she doesn’t want to be alone sometimes.”

 

Walter hummed and fell into thought.

 

“Maybe I should bring in some books…”

 

“What? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

 

“That woman was looking for books. Come to think of it, there’s nowhere in our village to read books. Wouldn’t there be people who would read them if we had a few?”

 

“What nonsense are you spouting all of a sudden? Who would read such a thing? How many people in our village can even read?”

 

Gemma frowned and said.

 

“Don’t tell me, you’re harboring some inappropriate thoughts about that woman? Forget it. You could get in trouble for coveting a noblewoman.”

 

“That’s nonsense!”

 

“Nonsense? You’ve been completely out of it since you said you’ve never seen such a pretty woman.”

 

“I said no!”

 

Despite Walter’s serious expression, Gemma did not let up with her teasing gaze. As a result, Walter had to endure his wife’s sarcasm and teasing all night long.

 

****

 

Eleanor was sitting on a hill, looking down at the seaside. In front of her were an easel and canvas.

 

It had been about two weeks since she arrived in Wembury. Originally, as she had told Benjamin, she intended to take a break from painting while staying here. However, she couldn’t resist the urge that surged within her in front of the new scenery. Eventually, she ended up bringing her painting tools outside.

 

“Madam, isn’t this spot a bit too high?”

 

Emily, who had followed her out, said with a worried expression.

 

“But if it’s not here, the beach isn’t properly visible.”

 

“But what if you fall down…”

 

Eleanor let out a quiet chuckle. It was indeed a high hill, but the ground was firm and the slope was not steep, so there was no danger of falling unless one deliberately rolled down.

 

“Emily, you’re becoming more and more like Peggy. You’ve grown quite fussy.”

 

“If something happens to you, Madam, it’s all my responsibility. Just yesterday, you left only a note and went out alone…”

 

“It was just a quick trip to the village. Besides, no one here knows me.”

 

“Still, it’s dangerous for someone as beautiful as you, Madam, to walk alone. What if someone harbors ill intentions?”

 

“That won’t happen.”

 

“Why wouldn’t it? There was an incident before when I briefly left my post…”

 

Emily stopped mid-sentence, her face showing a hint of regret. She must have recalled the incident with Anthony back at the duke’s estate.