第14話 領地の視察へ
婚礼に際して作ったドレスはどれも動きにくそうだったので、アンジェリクは旅の間に着ていた丈夫なドレスを着ることにした。
ブール城に馬車はなく、御者もいなかった。
「いつもは、どうやって暮らしているの?」
「ふつうに歩いて、どこへでも行くよ。遠くに行く時は、直接馬に乗っていく」
アンジェリクが連れてきた二頭の白馬のほかに、城には大きな黒い馬が四頭いた。
「鉱物?」
気になったが、今は領地のことを考えるのが先だ。
セルジュが用意した地図を片手に、おおよその順路を決めた。
御者はいないので、セルジュと並んで御者台に腰かける。
平民の夫婦や親子が、よくこうして荷馬車に座っている。のどかな田園を行くのを見ると、時々羨ましく思ったものだ。
妙に華やかな装飾を施した小型の馬車に特別美しい白馬をつないでいるので、荷馬車とはだいぶ趣が違う。それでも、二人で並んで御者台に座るのは、悪くないと思った。
いや。すごくいい感じだ。
ブールの領地は広く、城はその中央にあった。
橋のない川がいくつもあり、山に道はなく、平地でさえ馬車が通れるような幅がないところが多かった。
課題は山積している。
一つ一つ頭の隅にメモしながら、アンジェリクは馬車に揺られていった。
「私も馬に乗れれば、いいんだけど......」
「よければ僕が教えるよ」
「本当? じゃあ、お願い」
「遠出できるようになるには、だいぶ練習が必要だけどね」
当分の間はこうして馬車で移動するしかない。
「こんなふうに二人で並んで乗るのも、楽しいし、ゆっくり練習しよう」
手綱を捌きながら、セルジュがにこにこ笑って言った。
まわりから見たら、滑稽かもしれない。
貴族の馬車を貴族自身が御すことはない。まして夫婦が並んで御者台に座るなんてありえない。
ヒツジやヤギが草を食んでいるのを見て、アンジェリクは聞いた。
「牧畜をする家はあるのかしら」
セルジュは黙りこんでしまった。
アンジェリクはセルジュを見た。
「大丈夫よ。ここは、全くの荒野じゃないもの」
草が育つのなら、雨は降るのだ。
「麦は実っているみたいだし」
ブールの気候では秋の早い時期に蒔いた麦を夏が近づく頃に収穫する。
暖かい土地では、夏の間に野菜を育てることができるが、ここでは麦を収穫するだけで精いっぱいだろう。
「土の性質が知りたいわ」
「土の性質?」
「雨は降るのに作物が育たないってことは、土の性質に合った作物を育ててないってことだと思うの」
時間がなくて、簡単にしか調べられなかった。
「実際に土地を見て、作物を作っている人の話を聞けば、どんな性質の土で、どんなものなら栽培できるかわかるかもしれないと思って」
セルジュは驚いたようにアンジェリクを見た。
「ちゃんと前を見てね、御者さん」
「あ、うん」
手綱を握って顔を前に向けたまま「きみって、すごいね」とセルジュは言った。
昨夜は怒ってしまったが、今のアンジェリクは違う。
セルジュはアンジェリクの話に耳を傾け、何も知らなかったことを恥じている。
そのことを嬉しく思っていた。
(エルネストとは、全然違う)
かつての婚約者には何も希望を持てなかった。アンジェリクが一人でモンタン公爵家の広大な領地を治めるつもりで勉強してきた。
「アンジェリク、きみと一緒に、ブールをよくしていきたい」
セルジュはしっかりと前を見ている。
Chapter 14: Going To Inspect The Territory|Read translated stories and daily updates at: Awebstories.com
Angelique decided to wear a sturdy dress that she had worn on her travels, because all the dresses she had made looked uncomfortable to move around in.
There were no carriages or coachman at the castle of Bourg. She walked beside Serge to where Angelique's carriage was parked, and Serge hitched the carriage's two white horses.
"How do you usually spend your evenings outside?"
"I usually walk everywhere, but if I have to go a long distance, I ride right on the horse."
In addition to the two white horses Angelique had brought, there were four large black horses in the castle. The black horses were used to search for dragons in the forest and for minerals in the mountains that dragons ate.
"Minerals?"
Angelique was curious, but she had to look at their territory first.
They decided on an approximate route based on the map Serge had prepared.
Since there was no coachman, she sat down next to Serge on the coachman's seat.
Ordinary couples, parents and children often sit on the wagon this way. As she watched them drive through the peaceful countryside, she envied them.
A wagon is something quite different from the strangely decorated little carriage with a particularly beautiful white horse attached to it. Still, she thought, sitting side by side on the platform wasn't so bad.
She mused. 'It's a wonderful feeling.'
Bourg has a large territory, and the castle is in the middle of it. It takes almost half a day to get to the northern edge of town.
They had to make their way through farm roads and wasteland because the roads were in bad condition. There were no bridges over many rivers--there were no roads in the mountains--and even the plains were too narrow to pass in a carriage.
There are numerous problems that need to be addressed.
Angelique rode the carriage, memorizing each problem in the back of her mind.
"I wish I knew how to ride..." she muttered to herself for the second or third time as they drove to their destination.
"I'll teach you, if you don't mind."
"Are you sure? Then please do."
"But it takes a lot of practice to make a long trip."
For the time being, she'll have to travel like this.
"It's fun to ride side by side like this, so let's practice slowly."
Serge smiled as she took the reins. Angelique nodded her head and smiled.
To others, they might seem strange.
Nobles don't drive their own carriages. A man and a woman would not sit together on the podium. Nevertheless, the ride was a lot of fun.
Angelique inquired as she saw sheep and goats grazing.
"I wonder if there are also houses where cattle are raised."
Serge remained silent. After a few moments, he apologized, "I'm sorry, but I have no idea."
Angelique glanced at Serge.
"It's fine; it's not a total wasteland."
'When the grass grows, the rain comes.'
"The wheat seems to be growing," she said. "But the harvest is not very good."
Wheat planted in Burg's climate in early fall is harvested as summer approaches.
In warmer climates, vegetables can be grown in the summer, but here, harvesting wheat is probably all they can do. The only way to increase yields is to cultivate the wasteland, which takes a lot of effort.
"I'm curious about the composition of the soil."
"The composition of the soil?"
"If it rains but the plants don't grow, it means we're not growing plants that are suitable for the soil."
She didn't have much time to do anything but a quick search.
"I figured if we see the land and talk to the people who grow the crops, we'll get a better idea of what the soil is like and what we can grow."
Serge looked at Angelique in surprise.
"Keep your front straight, husband."
"Ah, yes."
"You're amazing," Serge said, grabbing the reins and looking ahead. "On the other hand, I'm pathetic..."
Angelique was angry last night, but she changed.
Serge was embarrassed as he listened to Angelique and readily admitted that he had no idea what she was talking about.
She was glad of it.
'He's very different from Ernest.'
Angelique had studied hard so that she could rule the vast land of the Dukes of Montan by herself, and she didn't have any hope for his ex-fiancee.
"Angelique! Let's work together to make Bourg a better place! "
Serge looks straight ahead. "Will you help me?"
I’m Going to Marry a Poor Count in the Middle of Nowhere and I’m Going to Work Hard to Reform My Territory
【ノベル3巻発売＆コミカライズ２巻まで発売中】辺境の貧乏伯爵に嫁ぐことになったので領地改革に励みます
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/im-going-to-marry-a-poor-count-in-the-middle-of-nowhere-and-im-going-to-work-hard-to-reform-my-territory/
Comedy Drama Fantasy Romance Shoujo
Adapted to Manga Arranged Marriage Broken Engagement Domestic Affairs Doting Love Interests Doting Older Siblings Dragon Riders Dragons Early Romance European Ambience Female Protagonist Management Nobles Pregnancy Royalty Time Skip Tomboyish Female Lead
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n5996gy/
花波薫歩