Sigh~
“I am really bored...” Francesca groaned, staring blankly up at the ceiling while sprawled across her bed. A chaotic mess of romance novels and half-finished board games lay scattered all around her.
“This is a first, my Lady. I honestly thought you would never get bored, considering you always find a random game to play, read your novels, and absolutely love to stay tucked away in your room,” Stella remarked with a slight chuckle.
The sweet, nerve-wracking memory of Miller’s morning forehead kiss kept replaying on a continuous loop in her head. Absentmindedly touching the spot, Francesca let out another sigh. “That’s called a shut-in lifestyle, Stella... I told you.” If only he were free to lounge around with me today, too...
Stella smirked knowingly. “See? I told you that you would eventually reach a limit if you tried living your whole life like that.”
“I guess I shouldn't have streamlined and automated the household affairs so efficiently,” Francesca grumbled, rolling over. “Now I only have to put in a few hours of actual management work before I'm left with absolutely nothing to do for the rest of the day.” She paused, quickly correcting herself. “No, it’s definitely better this way. Only a crazy workaholic would actively wish for more labor just to avoid being bored.”
“Hmm... My Lady, you have been living in the Viscounty for a whole three months and a half now, but you have yet to even lay eyes on the city itself,” Stella noted, tapping her chin as she peered out the bedroom window. “What do you say about taking a trip into the city to alleviate your boredom for the day?”
“A trip into the city, huh...?” Francesca sat upright, the idea sparking a hint of interest. She looked over at her maid. “You’re right. Even though I am the Viscountess, I haven’t stepped a single foot outside of this castle's gates since the day we arrived. Have a carriage readied and let's pick out a simple, inconspicuous dress. I think a town visit is an excellent idea.”
“Yes, my Lady,” Stella smiled, curtsying quickly.
Tick... tack...
The rhythmic rattling of the carriage wheels rolling over the cobblestone roads filled the air as Francesca gazed thoughtfully out the window. Outside, the stubborn winter snow was finally starting to melt on the house tops, dripping water down the eaves. The bright summer sunlight remained safely hidden behind a thick blanket of gray clouds, a standard sight for the mountain terrain, even though it was already early summer.
“The architecture here is remarkably sturdy...” Francesca muttered out loud, observing the thick, dark stone walls and the heavy, reinforced tiled roofs of the passing buildings.
“It is exceptionally cold in the Ironwood Viscounty, after all,” Stella explained from across the carriage. “Because we are nestled right in the peak of a high-altitude mountain, it stays much colder here than it does in any of the other northern territories.”
“Even so, aren't buildings constructed entirely out of solid stone incredibly expensive to make?” Francesca questioned, her mind immediately calculating the labor and resource costs.
Stella nodded solemnly. “Most of the houses and buildings inside the Ironwood Viscounty are quite old, my Lady. New structures haven't been built around here in a very long time.”
“It's not just because of the severe construction material shortages caused by your father's artificial price inflation in the neighboring territories,” Stella continued, her voice dipping. “The local unemployment rate has also been steadily on the rise. Because of that, it’s rather difficult for the common people to earn a steady enough wage to afford new homes.”
“So, a large portion of the citizens are forced to live in crowded, rented rooms, even though the Viscounty technically possesses an abundance of open space and plenty of empty land for construction?” Francesca nodded in deep understanding, processing the economic bottleneck.
Before she could delve her thoughts deeper into the territory's systemic real estate and unemployment issues, the carriage slowed to a gentle, rocking stop right in front of a local, weathered stageplay theater.
“The theater used to host well-planned plays, but since it takes an immense amount of time and money to produce those nowadays... they were converted into weekly live debate shows,” Stella explained as Francesca gripped her cane and prepared to step out of the carriage.
“Debates?” Francesca asked curiously.
As they walked together toward the main entrance, Stella nodded with a bright smile. “The Viscounty citizens gather here to discuss and debate the specific issues that plague their daily lives. The conclusions are then formally conveyed to the vassal lords, or sometimes directly to Lord Miller himself.”
That is actually an incredibly advanced and efficient feedback system for a feudal society... Francesca thought, deeply impressed by the structural setup.
The moment they entered the theater and made their way up to the elevated VIP seating area, a sudden wave of hushed whispers and low murmurs rippled through the crowded audience below. Francesca’s shimmering silver hair stuck out clearly, making it impossible for anyone in the room to mistake exactly who she was.
A slight, familiar uneasiness settled in Francesca’s heart at the sudden attention.
Noticing her tension, Stella leaned in closer. “Please don’t mind them, my Lady. They are just genuinely curious.”
Francesca forced a practiced smile, carefully settling into the cushioned seat. “You don’t have to lie to me, Stella. I know the common citizens' views on Miller are currently just as sour as they were toward the previous Lord. And since they all know I am Duke LeonCraft’s disabled daughter… the daughter of the man who has been actively making their lives harder through economic sabotage, it’s only natural for them to look at me with resentment.”
“I am not lying to you, my Lady. I am comforting you,” Stella replied with a warm, steady smile. She gestured toward a few groups in the crowd who were smiling and pointing up toward the box. “Your absurd rumor tactic to counter the smear campaign made the entire town laugh. It completely disarmed them. Right now, they really are just curious about you, not malicious.”
Francesca simply nodded, not entirely convinced, as the dimming lanterns signaled the start of the event.
Down on the stage, the curtains pulled back, and an energetic host stepped up to the center podium. “Welcome, citizens of the Ironwood Viscounty! Today's debate features a classic clash of issues between our very respected town seniors. However, today’s session is a little extra special, thanks to the presence of a rather unexpected guest of honor!” the host announced, gesturing subtly toward the VIP balcony.
The entire audience instantly focused their attention, a collective breath of anticipation hanging in the air. The host smiled broadly, giving a dramatic wave of his hand to signal the speakers. “Let the debate begin!”