I Inherited a Beautiful Wife and a Territory - Chapter 34

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Inheriting a Beautiful Wife and Estate Episode 034

34. Pottery

Ellemis Domain.

Just the year before last, no, even until last year, the atmosphere of the domain was gloomy.

That had been reversed. It all happened when Cliff appeared in this domain.

But the time when that Cliff was not in the domain.

‘It’s only been a few days, but people’s expressions are already changing.’

Nigel hardened his expression at the domain’s atmosphere.

All development had been achieved in a short time, and through one person, Cliff.

Since Cliff, who had been that symbol, was absent, people became anxious.

“Sigh.”

If they waited, Cliff would return.

But like Priscilla’s father, Baron Ellemis, they worried that Cliff might not come back.

It had been like this even though not much time had passed since he left.

“People’s expressions have become much darker.”

Priscilla, who previously seemed detached from domain affairs.

She had also changed a lot.

Even now, she had come before Nigel to talk about the domain residents’ expressions.

Nigel spoke with a bitter smile.

“It’s all because the Lord Deputy is not here.”

“Do they think… they’ve been abandoned?”

“…That would be the case.”

At her words, Nigel nodded with a bitter expression.

Priscilla fell into thought upon hearing those words. In a domain where everyone was serious, only he had been bright.

The conditions would have been the same, yet he had found answers that her ancestors couldn’t find.

“…Would you gather the people for me?”

At Priscilla’s words, Nigel flinched in surprise.

He could understand her intention. During Cliff’s absence, as the legitimate heir of the domain and his wife, she would fill the empty space.

However, Nigel was concerned about her decision.

“Would that be alright?”

This was politics.

And the more prestigious the family, the more thoroughly they prevented women’s political involvement.

If she acted without Cliff’s orders, this time she might truly earn his displeasure.

“Don’t worry. My husband isn’t petty enough to get angry over something like this.”

Priscilla’s eyes sparkled as she spoke.

It was a statement showing deep trust toward Cliff.

Nigel made an embarrassed expression upon hearing her words.

‘I… misunderstood both of them.’

Her words were correct.

Cliff would not scold Priscilla over such matters. Though he was still anxious, Priscilla spoke firmly.

“I’ll take responsibility.”

If she had spoken to this extent, it was right to listen to her words.

From then on, Priscilla went around meeting people. Though it was difficult for a woman to mingle with men, she visited places like the women’s laundry area.

This was Nigel’s advice.

“No matter how generous the Lord Deputy may be, an assembly where people are summoned could be problematic. If you insist on doing it, how about visiting the laundry area first?”

Even without her orders, the domain’s women gathered in this place.

She realized why Nigel had sent her here first.

‘I don’t know what to say when it comes down to it.’

Standing before people and speaking couldn’t be done with just momentary passion.

This also required training.

Priscilla found it difficult to even speak to the women at this laundry area, let alone hold an assembly. The more this happened, the more she felt Cliff’s presence was remarkable.

He, who had been an outsider, had instantly captured the hearts of everyone in the domain.

But separate from this, she was earnest.

‘Cliff…’

She thought of her husband who wasn’t here.

The words he had left behind before departing came to mind.

-May God’s blessing be with you even while I’m away.

She hadn’t known it at first, but Cliff was truly a person with devout(?) faith.

As his words of blessing came to mind, Priscilla recalled one memory.

“Is there perhaps someone named Donne here?”

She asked, recalling a name from her memory.

The women who had stiffened due to the noble lady appearing in their private space.

Their gazes gathered on one person among them.

“Sh, Shonne is called Donne. That… what business do you have, my lady?”

“I’m not here to say anything bad, so you don’t need to be so tense. I’ve just heard stories from the maids in our castle. That you’re the only one in the domain who knows how to make cookies.”

The domain was already lacking in food.

There was no occasion to make snacks like cookies in the domain. The woman called Donne made an embarrassed expression upon hearing her words.

“I, I’m sorry.”

She had often heard unpleasant stories about cookies even normally.

Donne apologized first when cookies were mentioned. Priscilla was rather flustered by that attitude.

‘When Cliff looked at me before… was this how he felt?’

At times like this, she just needed to explain.

Priscilla had learned that through Cliff.

“I’m not angry. Rather… I want to learn the cookie-making skill you have. Would that be alright?”

“Huh?”

Priscilla’s words flustered the woman named Donne.

Priscilla’s words were that unexpected. She would have understood if she had been told to make cookies and offer them.

But Priscilla was saying she would learn the skill from Donne, who was of lowly status.

“If you teach me well, I’ll reward you too. Could you teach me?”

“Of, of course. But you could just order Shonne to do it, so why would you go to the trouble of doing it yourself…?”

Priscilla’s eyes gleamed with interest.

In fact, she had been waiting for this question.

“Because he’ll return soon. I want to serve cookies that I made myself, not someone else, to him when he returns.”

After speaking, Priscilla blushed slightly, seemingly embarrassed.

That appearance was cute and lovely even from another woman’s perspective. The heart wanting to learn how to make refreshments for her husband also looked endearing.

But there was something more important than this.

The ‘he’ Priscilla was referring to was Cliff.

Their Lord Deputy.

‘I see. The Lord Deputy will return soon.’

One anxiety that had spread through the domain.

The story that Cliff might not return.

Priscilla was naturally informing the women.

That their lord would return.

These were words spoken at the laundry area where many women gathered. Along with her shy face, this rumor quickly spread throughout the entire domain.

-The Lord Deputy’s wife is learning how to make cookies for the Lord Deputy.

-They say the Lord Deputy will return soon.

“Will he really… return?”

“The lady said she would learn to make cookies. To offer cookies to her husband who would return soon. What could that mean? Surely the lady must have heard something, more than us?”

The thick dark clouds that had filled the domain began to clear.

And within this, Priscilla and Nigel spread new words.

“Could we also… offer something to the Lord Deputy when he returns?”

“What could we possibly have to give?”

“Well…?”

Was there anything Cliff particularly lacked?

But there was at least one person who took this not as mere words but as motivation.

-Achievement Desire (Lv. 1): Domain residents’ desire for achievement increases

-Artistic Sense (lv. 1): Domain residents’ artistic sensibilities increase

-Craftsman’s Touch (lv. 3): Quality of goods produced in the domain improves and failure rate decreases

The skills continued to activate even while Cliff was away.

Quest has been completed.

For Trade 1 has ended.

‘The Quest automatically considered Jaide as the person in charge, it seems.’

Through this, the domain level rose another stage.

He didn’t immediately upgrade skills or anything. Instead, Cliff checked other aspects.

Completion of Quest 【For Trade 1】.

And it was definitely there.

【For Trade 2】

Content: An organization for trade has been established.

Procure the domain’s lacking resources and sell the resources the domain possesses!

Conditions

-Expenditure: 0/1,000 gold

-Revenue: 0/1,500 gold

Reward

-Lord Experience 50

-Domain Experience 100

A new Quest appeared before Cliff.

Literally, it meant to operate a trading guild.

Cliff called not only Jaide but also Edan.

“I’ll entrust Edan with 1,000 gold. Just in case, have Teobaldt stay here too to guard Edan.”

Teobaldt was one of the strongest warriors in the domain.

He would safely protect Edan who carried a large sum of money.

Cliff looked at Jaide.

The fact that he left Edan instead of him, and that he entrusted as much as a thousand gold to that Edan, could have wounded Jaide’s pride.

But there was no sign of such feelings.

Now he felt certain that pride had been broken.

‘Or perhaps his capacity has grown. One cannot handle big tasks if they’re petty about small things.’

Jaide would have instinctively known there would be tasks for him to handle as well.

“Edan, together with Teobaldt, purchase necessities for food, clothing, and shelter here. Get pack wagons too.”

“I shall do so.”

“Also pay for the slaves Jaide purchased and put them to work.”

“Yes.”

He was an experienced merchant.

This level of task would be well within his capabilities.

Originally, the job assigned to him was to spend all thousand gold without leaving a single coin.

“Jaide, come with me to the domain.”

“I shall follow your orders.”

Jaide, who had been quietly sparing his words, answered.

He had become reliable.

‘There was a reason Tom recommended him.’

Cliff smiled at that response.

And he also gave Jaide his task.

The reason he had called Jaide separately.

“When we return to the domain… we need to find products that can only be sold there.”

Cliff said while looking at Jaide.

Jaide had noticed what he needed and procured it.

With his insight, this level of task seemed like it would be easily resolved.

Thus, Cliff returned to the domain together with Jaide.

“I greet the Lord Deputy.”

Honestly, he had been worried on the way back.

He wondered if there had been any incidents in the domain while he was away.

But the results were completely unexpected.

First, he was served cookies.

“…How are they?”

Priscilla had learned how to make them directly from a village woman while he was away.

They were her handmade cookies.

To be honest, they weren’t exceptionally delicious.

‘They could have been a bit sweeter…’

It wasn’t that her skills were lacking.

This domain still lacked sugar.

Later, he hoped seasonings like sugar would come to the domain in abundance.

“…Good.”

Still, they were savory.

Not his preference, but better than nothing.

Most of all, it was admirable that Priscilla had made them herself.

“You’re always tired from domain work. I thought it would be nice if I could help, even a little.”

She shyly expressed what she had been thinking.

He had also heard the rumors spreading through the domain.

What she had talked about at the laundry area. Besides that, she had talked a lot about Cliff throughout the domain through a woman named Donne.

There were no secrets among women.

‘Was this intentional?’

Thanks to Priscilla, his popularity had actually increased while he was away from the domain.

It was a pleasant variable.

But there was something else that surprised Cliff more than this.

His attention should have been on the cookies, but Cliff had been staring at the dish containing the cookies.

‘Was there such a thing in this manor?’

It was a plate with beautiful colors and luster, and intricate patterns carved into it.

Simply put, porcelain.

It was an object he was seeing for the first time.

And it was a masterpiece excellent enough to catch his eye from earlier.

“The domain residents fired it saying they wanted to offer it to you.”

“Such an object…?”

Truly a fine product.

It really was a commercial product.

‘It seems like I’ve found… the domain’s trade goods?’

It seemed he wouldn’t need to assign this to Jaide after all.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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