Chapter 132
The Best Bread in Calendia
Before Connie and the others went on their way, Connie invited the elderly couple to ride inside their carriage, which they obliged happily. As they talked, Connie found that Baron Miller and his wife were quite affectionate. Especially after they hit a rock on the road and the Baron reflexively held his wife away from the window.
“…As you can surmise from my last name, we are relatively new Nobles. Our family used to be regular farmers. Through a twist of fate, my grandfather found a new type of wheat resistant to the cold weather. Thus, we were given land and a hereditable title by the former King,” the old man said.
“Oh? That’s interesting. How does it taste?” Martell asked.
Osten then spoke proudly. “It tastes sweeter and nuttier. It lasts longer than regular wheat. And it also keeps you full for longer. However, we are exclusive vendor to the Royal Family, so it is not freely available to the masses.”
“Have you tried the bread during the Ball in the Palace a few weeks ago? They were made using flours made of our wheat,” Emma added.
“Hmm, we didn’t have a chance to try them, unfortunately,” Connie glanced at Illumca who was sitting beside her, looking out the window. Her shoulder tensed at the mention of the event. The blonde-haired girl placed her pinky beside the Dark Elf's. She responded by hooking it with hers.
“Then we would be glad to treat you to them when we arrived at our territory,” the Baron’s wife said. “They are excellent eaten with fresh butter and dipped in honeyed milk.”
Then, they heard a few knocks on the door from Akula.
When Connie opened the window, she was greeted by fields of green as far as the eyes could see. Illumca followed suit and could not hide a smile when she smelled the sweet aroma of the wheat wafting inside.
They could see stalks of wheat dancing to the breeze under a blue sky. A few men and women in thick working clothes saw the Baron’s carriage behind the larger carriage in the front and waved at them.
“They seem happy to see you, Baron Miller,” Akula said.
“I try my best,” the old man said with a wholehearted smile. “Welcome to the Miller Barony, Lady Steelheart,”
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After passing the small town of Roghal, they crossed an old stone bridge that led to a path uphill.
A row of fruit trees adorned this path. On one of them, they saw a pregnant woman shouting at it, accompanied by a concerned servant. Upon closer inspection they could see a boy about ten perched on one of its branches, smugly eating a pear.
“Clause Miller! You get down now!”
“No!!” The boy shouted back at the woman.
“Get down now or I swear to the Goddess I will ground you for a week!”
“You wouldn’t!”
While she was negotiating the boy’s surrender, the servant noticed the carriage and whispered to her Mistress. Immediately, she turned her head with a bright smile.
“Oh. Father, mother! You are back!” the woman slowly maneuvered her body into position with the help of her servant. The elderly couple went down in haste and carefully hugged the pregnant woman.
“Laura, what are you doing out here?” Emma scolded her warmly. “You should be resting!”
“No time to rest, I’m afraid. Bernie is out to inspect the field and if I don’t make my round in the mill, they’ll start to slack off,” she responded with a wave of her hand. “And these people are…?”
“Lady Cornelia, this is my daughter-in-law. Laura Miller.”
Baron Miller quickly introduced Connie and her companions, which earned the woman a bit of a scare.
“Oh, we have such dignified guests?! Pardon me. This is such a big occasion! I have to get the servants to prepare,” the woman panicked slightly. In her hurry, she almost stumbled, but Akula caught her just in time.
“Pregnant women must not strain themselves. It’s not good for the yhunag.”
Seeing the slight frown on the pregnant Laura, Martell coughed a little. “Zalkhin Altanghazar meant babies, Madam Laura.”
“Oh, of course. Forgive me,” the woman replied awkwardly. “I’m not well versed in other cultures. That’s my sister’s forte.”
“Incidentally, is the boy scrambling for the town your son, Madam?” Nick asked suddenly.
“Huh?” Laura and her servant turned and saw that the boy had long vanished from the top of the tree, using her momentary distraction as a chance to run away.
“That little imp,” the woman smiled with a tired but happy sigh. “I swear, that son of mine. I don’t know where he got that endless stamina from. Father, can you tell one of your men to take him back to the manor? I’m afraid he’s been around the wrong crowd lately.”
“Of course, dear,” the old man agreed.
After sorting that out, Laura turned to the servant she was with and said. “Marcy, be a dear and run ahead and tell the others to prepare for guest, would you?”
“Yes, ma’am,” the servant did a little bop before making her way up the hill.
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After a short trek, the carriage stopped in front of a medium-sized manor made mainly of stone and mortar, whose façade was covered with so much vegetation that one could barely see the windows. To its right, there was a windmill with men coming and going, bearing loads of wheat.
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Once they arrived, Laura was quick to take charge. Like a Commander, she began instructing the manor’s servants, all the while bearing the weight of her unborn progeny.
Connie and her party were quickly invited into their dining room. Though at first, she was unnerved with the other Races, she adapted quickly. When Akula, being understanding of her large physique, offered to sit on the floor instead, the pregnant Madam gently refused and told the men to bring in a bench for the Centaur.
Laura was a woman of exceptional toughness, through and through. Even Illumca was impressed.
Soon after, they were served tea on top of an oak dining table, which had been decked with the finest white linen. There was jam, honey with honeycomb still inside, fresh milk, fresh butter on top of white porcelain - and of course - their much-touted bread. There was also some fresh cheese for those who wanted some savory things.
“This might be a bit lacking compared to what you can find in the Capital, but I assure you that our bread is the best in Calendia. Please, help yourself.”
Emma smiled awkwardly at Connie. “Forgive us, Laura means well but she doesn’t really understand how a proper afternoon tea looks like, despite my best efforts.”
“I think this is a fine spread,” Connie replied politely.
On the other side of the table, Akula was unsure of how to eat the dainty-looking things. She was used to eating hearty, fulfilling meals. The only thing she understood was the bread, so she took some while looking at the others. She then slathered on some butter, opened her veil slightly, and bit into the bread.
Instantly, the fragrance of wheat and butter filled her nose. Her lips curved gently as she masticated the bread, allowing the taste to permeate her body. Not even in her tribe had she ever eaten such wonderful bread.
As for Illumca, whose expression was more than often as stiff as a statue, did not realize that her cheeks were full as she took in the bounty of the earth with gusto.
“It seems you like our bread?” the woman said proudly. “It is very good with honey also!”
While they were having a nice conversation over the delectable spread, a jolly-faced man with rosy cheeks and round nose came through the door. “Father, you’re back!” He said with the largest grin Connie had ever seen. He looked like the bigger version of the naughty boy they met on the way.
“Bernie! What are you doing with a sword in the dining room?! Shame on you!” Laura scolded him.
“Oh, we have…guests?” the man could not hide his surprise at the eclectic gathering of races on his dining table.
“We will talk after you put the sword on the rack and wash your hands. Now.”
“Yes, dear.”
After he returned, Baron Miller introduced him as his son by blood. Bernie Miller. Who acted as the leader of the town and the head of the local militia. When he knew the identity of his guests, he was elated and asked many things about the Capital. Connie handed him over to Martell, who told the story with all the eloquence of a Bard and the frankness of a politician.
“Amazing. Truly amazing,” Lord Bernie sighed after sipping his tea. “I did not expect a simple visit to the Capital would turn out to be a historical event. I’m just grateful that you two are fine,” he said while patting the shoulder of his father.
“It’s thanks to Lady Steelheart.”
“You’ll be staying with us, of course?” Laura asked hopefully. She seldom had the chance to entertain guests. Especially not a hero. It would be a story she could milk for ages.
“Just one day. We have to go to Arlaine.”
Just then, a servant came in with a look of fright upon his face.
“What is it? We have guests,” Laura said.
“I-I’m sorry, Ma’am. I have urgent news,” the man said. He then whispered into Lord Bernie’s ears. His initial happy look quickly turned into one of surprise and alarm.
“Wait for me outside,” Bernie quickly said before standing up and wore his sword.
“Bernie? Is something wrong?”
“Our son went missing in the forest. The farmers found two of his friends at the edge of the forest. They were hurt badly. They are now in the Mayor’s house.”
The moment she heard this, Laura staggered back and almost fainted. But Illumca managed to catch her and sit her down on a chair. A servant quickly came over and fanned her. Baron Miller and his wife were too stunned to react.
“We’ll go with you,” Connie said as she wiped her mouth with a napkin.
“But – “
“Don’t waste your time trying to say no. When Connie said she will come with, she will come,” the Dark Elf said with a shrug.
“That’s just how Milady is,” Nick said while packing a handful of bread for the road.
“Thank you. Frankly, this is the worst time for this to happen. Any help from experienced people is very much appreciated. Mother, take care of Laura, please.”
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Once they arrived at the Mayor’s house, they were quickly brought inside by the Mayor's wife.
“Milord!” The mayor greeted him.
“What the hell happened? Where is my son?!” Bernie shook the elderly mayor as soon as he saw him.
“I-I’m sorry, Milord. I don’t know. One of the boys is still unconscious because of his broken foot and the other was too shaken. I haven’t managed to get a coherent answer from him.”
“My son!”
Bernie glanced at the boy who was lying on the bed with a woman who seemed to be his mother crying by his side. The boy’s right leg was broken so badly that you could see his bone piercing through his skin.
“Where is a Cleric when you need them…?!” The father of the other boy growled.
“Er, the Priest is still not back from the Capital,” the Mayor said helpfully. Not realizing that it only made the woman cry even harder. “The only one we can get is Mr. Rodgen the Herbalist. But he said that the wound is too large for him to handle. He needs to amputate.”
“How will my boy live with just one leg?!”
The cacophony of excuses and cries and general incompetence of the Mayor made the already agitated Bernie began to lose his temper.
“Shut up!”
The voice came from a beautiful Dark Elf who stepped into the room with a stern face, followed by a small Beastfolk boy and a young woman in a Centipede Robe.
“For the child, best have Martell handle him. He has a gift with words,” Connie said with a calm tone. “As for the other boy, let me have a look.”
Her tone and confidence caused the others to stand back. The Mayor was about to question her presence there but Bernie glared at him.
Martell used his sweet talk and gentle voice to coax the boy gently and managed to get an explanation of the situation. When the boy managed to calm down, he began to speak.
A few hours ago, the leader of the children that Clause Miller was a part of dared the boys to go to the forest and get Brittleberries. Most of the children were afraid of going to the forest because the Mayor and Lord Bernie had forbidden them to go there. But after being goaded by this leader - a fifteen-year-old boy named Harry - for being cowards, some of them followed him into the forest.
There were five of them, including Clause. However, when they went inside, there were no berries to be found, so Harry made them go deeper inside.
And that was when things went wrong. Unfamiliar with the deeper parts of the forest, they were lost. Then, they were attacked by a lone Iron Wolf. They all scrambled away from fear and lost track of each other. Fortunately for the two boys in the room, they ran in the right direction and found their way back. Even if one of them broke their leg.
“What about Clause?! What about my son?!” Bernie cried out but was held down by the father of the boy.
“Don’t yell at my son!”
“Lord Bernie. It’s best for you to gather people to search for your son and the rest of the children while there is still light,” Connie said after hearing the story.
“Yes, that’s right. That’s right. I’m sorry,” the man said with regret at the frightened boy.
“No, I’m sorry. Anyone would have acted like that were it to happen to their children.”
“In that case. I’ll handle the boy with the broken leg,” Connie said. “I’ll save him. His life and his leg.”
“Lady Steelheart…? Do you know how to save him?”
“Yes. I pledge this on my title as a hero,” she said, almost wanting to laugh at her own words. However, she did not want to prolong the argument.
“Illumca, Martell, and Akula. Can I ask you to help them?”
The first two and Akula, who peeked inside through the door as it was too cramped inside, agreed with a firm nod.
“I’m counting on you.”
After that, Connie had everyone inside the Mayor’s house except for Nick to leave while she was treating the small patient. All the while, Bernie quickly got the militiamen together, even posting an Urgent Quest in the local Hunter’s Guild.
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Meanwhile, deep in the forest, a curious little doe’s eyes were watching an unfamiliar light that fizzled and popped before it. It quickly grew into a spark that crackled and writhed and formed a dim rune, from which two figures dressed in all black were spat out.
The doe ran away scared while the larger of the two figures struggled to stand up.
He moved his right hand and signaled furiously.
He got my left shoulder!