Raising the Grand Duke of the North as a Farmer Behind Dad’s Back - Chapter 40

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 40
Land exhausted from growing grain needed rest, and it was wise to let it lie fallow.
Though a Dragon Vein flowed through it, the barley harvest had been so unprecedented that I resolved not to push my luck next year—that field would become Fallow Land instead.
But would I simply leave the land idle?
‘Not at all!’
What you planted in Fallow Land was precisely what I needed: Green Manure Plants like Clover and Buckwheat!
‘They drive their roots deep to loosen the soil—in other words, land-purifying plants!’
Simply put, they were plants that fed the earth with rich nutrients as they grew.
And Clover was beloved by grazing animals like cattle, so the benefits ran in every direction.
‘Come next year, the field will be ablaze with white Buckwheat blossoms!’
I laughed quietly to myself.
“If you’re done playing, come here. Duke Rowein will be leaving shortly.”
“Yes!”
The Grand Duke swept me up into his arms.
“But Hama, you—”
“It’s not Hama, it’s Haniel!”
“Who put such a charming little handkerchief on you.”
“It’s not a handkerchief, it’s an Ear Warmer!”
My reflection in the Grand Duke’s eyes.
I was wearing a small Ear Warmer woven from red yarn.
“Lady Helen made it for me, brand new!”
Though it was winter wear, it wasn’t so thick that I couldn’t wear it now—it was perfect timing.
Basili chuckled.
“I heard you lost that Red Scarf you got from the plaza.”
“Hehe.”
“So you were trying to worm a better one out of someone.”
“Th-that’s not it! I already apologized for losing it, didn’t I?”
I rolled my eyes frantically.
“Anyway, I’m busy, so I’d better go!”
“Wait, where are you going now—”
Hop!
I sprang from the Grand Duke’s arms and slipped out of the stables like I was fleeing.
Behind me, I heard a murmur of “Why is a six-year-old always so busy?” but I cheerfully ignored it.
* * *
Duke Rowein was gazing out the window.
‘Strangely… this place settles the mind.’
It was a village with a charming, quiet grace—utterly unlike the chaotic tumult of the outside world.
‘What will become of this place in the years ahead….’
An unknown land, pregnant with unknown things. The North.
If Grand Duke Basili truly purified these vast lands in their entirety…
‘…the very thought sends a chill down my spine.’
The balance of power in the Empire—nay, across the entire continent—could shift.
‘I must maintain good relations with the North without fail.’
He steeled his resolve.
Then came a soft knock at the door.
“Who is it? Come in.”
“Duke Rowein!”
His expression brightened at once.
“Grand Duchess!”
“Oh, w-well, not quite Grand Duchess… Anyway… hello!”
Haniel bowed politely.
She was an adorable, precious little thing.
Her clothes weren’t of the finest quality, but they looked wonderfully comfortable for play—surely the Grand Duke, who cherished her, had chosen them with great care.
‘That Grand Duke… with a child.’
I still couldn’t believe it.
From what I’d heard, the Grand Duke had rescued a child who’d wandered into this place by chance, and affection had grown between them as they lived together.
Each time she stepped forward on those small feet, a tiny tuft of fur swayed beneath her chin.
In her red knit Ear Warmer, Haniel looked even more adorable than usual, and the Duke’s eyes grew progressively softer.
“What brings you here? Have you come to say goodbye, as I’ll be departing soon?”
“Yes!”
Duke Rowein knelt to meet the child’s eyes.
He held a particular fondness for her.
During the two days of her stay here.
The child had been unusually affectionate toward him, but…….
“Duke, sir. These Mushrooms, you see. If you roast them well, they actually taste like meat?”
“Hmm?”
“I heard from your adjutant earlier that you keep your distance from meat for your health! You even avoided it during meals!”
“……I see.”
“So wouldn’t you like to try these?”
The child was more clever and kind-hearted than he’d expected.
And besides…….
“If you like them, I’ll give you all the Mushrooms I’ve collected this year for free!”
“……What?”
“The Grand Duke said whatever I find, I can do with as I please……!”
“Wait. You’d give me a whole bundle of these expensive Mushrooms for free?”
“Yes! Please have some, Duke!”
But that wasn’t all.
“And I asked the Grand Duke to make all the remaining Mushrooms that go into the cure free of charge too!!”
“What did you……say?”
“I was actually the first to discover these Mushrooms! So the Grand Duke said I could do whatever I wanted with them!”
The Duke asked, as if enchanted.
“The Grand Duke’s daughter found these……no, rather…… why?”
“Pardon?”
“Why are you giving these Mushrooms to me for free……?”
“Well, because I heard they’re an important ingredient in the Eastern Cure. Of course, I know it’s supposed to be secret for now!”
Haniel fidgeted with her fingers as she spoke softly.
“I don’t like being hungry. I want to eat at least one piece of bread a day without fail! But…… the people of the East might not even be able to eat bread this year…….”
“…….”
“So I’m doing what I can! I eat three pieces of bread a day now!”
He could never forget the warmth that had bloomed in his chest at those words.
‘I owe the North a great debt in many ways.’
And so the child became another benefactor to the Duke.
The Duke gently took Haniel’s small hand.
“So, Grand Duke’s daughter. Have you thought about what you’d like?”
The matter about construction timber from before had been confirmed as Grand Duke Basili’s wish.
Since the quantity wasn’t particularly large, he’d decided to provide it as a gesture of friendship.
“Yes! I would like…….”
Haniel swallowed hard, her face slightly tense.
‘What could she want.’
New clothes? Or perhaps a doll?
It seemed she lacked things to study with.
‘A small library might be nice to give her.’
Then Haniel produced a small box she’d been hiding behind her back.
“I’d like you to deliver this!”
“……Hmm?”
“To the Holy Knight at the Temple…….”
The child’s fingertips trembled slightly.
“-sir.”
A Holy Knight?
The Duke, his expression puzzled, clicked the box open and peered inside.
‘This is…….’
A neatly folded Red Scarf caught his eye.
* * *
“Ha ha ha!”
The Duke burst into hearty laughter.
“So you’ve taken a liking to the Holy Knight!”
I quickly hid my trembling hands behind my back and smiled.
“Yes! Well, because he’s cool……!”
He ruffled my hair affectionately.
“And we in the North are planning to hold a Harvest Festival soon as well!”
“Hm?”
The Duke seemed only now to notice the single Barley Stalk laid neatly beside the Red Scarf.
“Come to think of it… the North still has no Temple to conduct the Harvest Festival prayers.”
“Yes… so I was hoping you might accept this, and offer those prayers in our stead…”
“Ah! I see.”
I swallowed hard.
I was trying to appear composed, but my heart hammered as though it might burst from my chest.
‘I didn’t look awkward about it… did I?’
In the Empire, a “Holy Knight” was practically an object of reverence.
A knight who guarded the light. The protector of the Goddess.
A powerful frame and beautiful countenance. An air of mystery.
And unlike the priesthood, Holy Knights were permitted to marry, which made them particularly beloved by noble young ladies.
‘Hmm…’
I still didn’t quite grasp why that mattered so much!
In any case, being a Holy Knight beloved by all meant receiving gifts like this fairly often.
‘Of course, the Temple officially refuses most of them at the gate.’
But if someone like Duke Rowein was the one presenting it, that was another matter entirely.
‘And besides, there’s a legitimate reason for it.’
The Harvest Festival.
Typically at the Harvest Festival, the lord presents a portion of that year’s harvest to the Temple altar. Then the priestess offers prayers on the lord’s behalf.
Of course, high-ranking Holy Knights also possessed Holy Power of exceptional purity, so lords would sometimes ask a friendly Holy Knight to offer the prayers instead.
So there was nothing unusual about this.
‘Play the part of a child who admires Holy Knights, and ask for the gift!’
Of course, a simple gift alone might be awkward to present…
‘But if I bundle it with a request for harvest prayers, he can’t refuse!’
“Well, it’s no trouble. Not a difficult thing at all.”
As expected, the Duke smiled warmly as he spoke.
“Th-thank you so much!”
I hurried to add the next part.
“But please, please keep it a secret from my father and from that Holy Knight as well!”
“Why is that?”
“As you know… my father doesn’t hold particularly warm feelings toward the Temple or the Imperial Family. Especially the Temple.”
“…I see.”
“So if he finds out I made this request, he might cast me out. Honestly, I’m only living here on borrowed standing. He said he would adopt me as a daughter, but… one never knows what might happen.”
“Mm.”
“So please, keep this between us—just you and me, yes?”
The Duke smiled kindly and patted my head.
“Understood. If the Grand Princess wishes it, then so it shall be.”
What a relief…!
“I’ll make a point to ask a Holy Knight I know quite well.”
I opened my mouth, trying to suppress the thundering of my heart.
“A Holy Knight you know well…”
“Yes, the Captain of the 2nd Holy Knight Order should be in the East at present.”
“…!”
“Ah, perhaps that doesn’t tell you much.”
He smiled as he spoke.
“I mean Sir Dantelion Klein.”

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