The next day, the two of them woke up very early. This was intentional; Eleanor had requested it before bed last night.
She didn’t want to run into too many people. She didn’t even call for Ejiva.
Normally, Ejiva would help her change her clothes.
Her clothes were all rather inconvenient to wear—they were all gowns, formal in nature, made of fine fabrics and featuring many embellishments.
Today, she had changed into an emerald green long gown. While the hem didn’t drag on the floor, it was only four or five centimeters from the ground. According to her, this was her most practical outfit.
She also wore a light blue circular Cloak, with a red sash at her waist, and a small, round, veiled hat.
’She probably doesn’t like running around.’
’But this is normal, isn’t it?’ He suddenly thought of Emma.
She seemed to favor that style too much—no, perhaps she didn’t like dresses at all. Eric remembered that on the day of Robert’s coronation in London, she had worn trousers.
Eric took her hand and led her outside the castle.
He pulled her up onto the horse, seating her in front of him. He didn’t have her sit sidesaddle, as she wouldn’t be able to hold on properly, so he had forced her to wear a pair of his trousers underneath her gown.
She had originally wanted to go by carriage, but Eric had refused because it would be too conspicuous. This seemed to make her a little angry.
Because it had rained last night, the road would be muddy. When they reached the village, her dress would most likely get dirty.
But she didn’t complain to Eric with words; she expressed her dissatisfaction with silence.
As they neared their destination, she still wasn’t speaking to him.
Eric reached his hand toward her chest, but she immediately pressed it down.
"You should learn some self-control. Especially when we’re outside." Eleanor glared at him.
"I am a very self-controlled person, but right now, I am not myself, my lady."
"But I am myself, and you must respect me."
"Of course. If you find it repulsive."
"Then you should respect my opinion."
"I heard from the Knights that you were the one who ordered them to distribute relief grain to the commoners, and even reduced their salaries to do so."
"Is there a problem?"
"If you tried to be a little friendlier, perhaps they would be more grateful to you," Eric said, pinching her cheek.
"But it rained yesterday," Eleanor said with a frown.
"It rained in their village, too," Eric replied.
"You’re the Baron. You’re the one they should care about." Eleanor pushed Eric’s hand away.
"You are too," Eric said, wrapping his arms around Eleanor’s waist again. "When I’m not here."
"How long will this situation last? Will it end?"
"I have no reason to give up a Baron’s Domain. And a beautiful lady."
"Didn’t you say you were a Count? Then you should have a larger domain."
"That’s a recent development. A few months ago, I was just a penniless Cultivator. Want to hear my story?"
"If... you’re willing to tell it," Eleanor said softly.
"I’m a bastard, too. My father claimed he had no responsibility for it, so I was left to bear everything on my own. But what did I do wrong? I never agreed to come into this world.
"He has plenty of land, but he wouldn’t leave me so much as half a silver pence. To others, he might be a hero, an unprecedented adventurer who wears all the glory.
"But to me, he’s just a selfish bastard. To his brother and to his own children. I wonder if he even remembers the pathetic sight he made when he first arrived in Italy, begging his half-brother for a fief.
"His brother refused, so he left in a rage, vowing to get revenge on his brother and seize his own land. In the end, he succeeded, though his methods were quite despicable.
"You can’t reason with a person like that. Fortunately, my younger uncle showed me how to deal with him: stab him with a Lance, knock out a few of his teeth, and make him feel pain, make him understand that arrogance and stinginess shouldn’t be directed at your own family.
"Three years ago, he threw me out of Italy, exiled me to a Monastery in England. I swore then that I would destroy everything he has—along with his arrogance, honor, dignity, and authority."
"Are you not living well now?" Eleanor turned her head to look at him.
"No, I’m living very well. And soon, I’ll be living well enough to crush them under my feet. I pray for his long life. I pray for his health. I pray that he is ever-victorious in battle, and I pray that his Lance never wavers." Eric glanced at her, then looked back at the road ahead.
"You could... you could think of nothing at all. Hatred brings bad things. God teaches us to be peaceful. There are enough tragedies in these times."
"Of course, my lady.
"By the way, I won’t be staying in Mann for long, but I will apply to my Lord to remain in Normandy and manage his lands on this side of the Channel, protecting them from invasion."
"You didn’t answer my question at all. That’s not respectful." Eleanor sensed that Eric was changing the subject.
"Is that so? Then I’ll try to make it up to you in other ways." Eric glanced at her.
"Then would you expect me to come find you in Rouen? I hope my arrival won’t cause you any trouble." Eleanor gripped the arm Eric had wrapped around her.
"..." Eric didn’t speak.
"Marrying an older woman might be a good thing in some ways. I’ll die before you, not to mention women’s lifespans are shorter than men’s to begin with.
"So even if I’m a bother, it won’t last for too long. Maybe ten years, maybe five, maybe even next year...
"The longer it goes on, the more annoying, or perhaps, disgusting it might become. Maybe one day you’ll be praying for my long life, just like you do for your father.
"When that time comes, you can find someone younger. Five years younger, ten, even twenty." Eleanor’s gaze also shifted to the road ahead.
"I don’t like this topic."
"I don’t like it either." Eleanor crossed her arms.
"Ejiva lied to me."
"What?"
"She told me you were easy to talk to."
"Is that so?" The corners of Eleanor’s mouth twitched into a small smile. "Did I scare you?"
"Er... a little." Eric caressed her soft cheek and laughed as well. "But this feeling isn’t bad. I like it when people are open with me about their thoughts."
A short while later, Eric saw a bridge. Looking past it, he could see their destination, Sal Village. Though called a village, it was the size of a town and was the most prosperous area within the territory governed by Fougeres Castle.
Even with the plague raging in Mann, they were still able to pay their taxes on time.
Sal Village was surrounded by a fairly deep stream, which was probably why they hadn’t been badly affected by the plague.
They just had to cross the bridge and walk a little further to enter the village.
However, before they could even get on the bridge, they were stopped.
Before the bridge stood a group of Cultivators. Behind them were two carriages, each loaded with several wooden crates.
Their leader was a middle-aged Cultivator.
The moment he saw Eric and Eleanor dismount, he hurried over.
He trotted all the way up to Eleanor.
"Lady Eleanor, may God bless you. I bid you good day. It has been too long. Your beauty and grace are greater than ever.
"If I may be so bold, time is but a perfect embellishment upon you, the finest and most captivating of perfumes. No matter where or when, you always shine as bright as a gemstone." He bowed to Eleanor, his tone fawning.
He seemed to completely ignore Eric, who was standing right beside Eleanor.
"Dean Royce, you always have such enviable insight." Eleanor was clearly enjoying the flattery.
Of course, Eleanor noticed that Eric was being ignored and was about to introduce him, but Eric made a hushing gesture, signaling for her to continue.
"By the way, what are you doing here? And those carriages..."
"I’ve come to deliver this year’s taxes from Sal Village. You see, it’s all collected. You can just take it straight back. It’s about thirty pounds worth. This is last year’s land tax. Please take a look, Lady Eleanor."
Eric walked over to the carriage, drew his Longsword, and pried open a wooden crate.
It was filled with silver pence.
"The other villages pay their land rent in kind, but Sal Village pays entirely in currency?"