Marronnier Farm Nearby the Imperial Palace - Chapter 0

Prologue: Hand of the Sun

Belmont, in the southern region of the Britannia Empire.

A traveling carriage was running along the pouring rain on the muddy road. The cover was tattered, and the emblem of the family had worn off, leaving only two pillars resembling the letter ‘M’. The carriage, soaked by the rain, stopped amid the Marronnier Forest.

Knock, knock, knock!

The sound of knocking echoed vividly through the heavy rain, startling the Martin couple and their three children, who were spending a leisurely afternoon.

There’s no visitor expected at this house.

Confused, the farmer and owner of the estate, Karl Martin, cautiously opened the door slightly to take a look.

“Who’s there?”

The visitor was a black-coated figure, with snow-white hair swept back like a lion’s mane. He was an elegant and charismatic old man.

“Greetings.”

“Ah!”

Karl recognized him. He was the gambler he’d met in the marketplace in the castle four years ago. 

“Baron Mayfield!”

“Indeed, you haven’t forgotten. The precious friend who saved a good villager from losing his cow to a fraudulent gambler. You said you’d repay that favor no matter what, right? Well, today’s the chance. This child here.”

Karl was taken aback.

A small figure, hidden under the folds of Baron Mayfield’s coat, suddenly emerged. The child was wearing a similar black coat, so Karl hadn’t noticed him before.

“She’s the only granddaughter left behind by my son and daughter-in-law in this world. She has just turned eight. That’s why I can’t take her to ‘Eldorado’ for now.”

“‘Eldorado’…?”

“This time, I’m going to make a big hit for sure. Now, Hazel, listen to the gentleman and lady well and stay healthy, okay?”

The Baron bent his knees, wetting the hat off his coat as he quickly kissed the child’s cheeks. Then, just as he had appeared, he disappeared like a storm. Only the child remained, standing there, stunned.

Martha Martin looked at her husband with a worried expression. 

“Darling, you…?”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

Karl pleaded desperately. But Martha’s displeased face was not easily softened.

How could her usually gentle husband cause such an incident?

She carefully observed the Baron’s carriage. Now, with sharp eyes, she scrutinized every detail. The image of the young girl standing in the dimly lit house due to the pouring rain was vivid in her mind.

The Grandfather had tied a ribbon on her dark brown hair that he had carefully brushed until it glistened. She had a fair white face with green-tinted eyes gazing down.

However, the lace on the dress under the black coat had frayed edges. The shoes were charming, but the colors of the laces on both sides were subtly different. Everything hinted at Baron Mayfield’s stingy circumstances.

True to the Belmont people’s nature of worrying ahead until the next rainy season, Martha quickly came to a decision. She had become responsible for this child forever—the offspring of a fallen noble family!

It felt like a heavy burden on her chest. Worries and responsibilities made Martha sound a bit stern as she spoke, 

“From now on, since you’ll be living here, you’re also a child of this house. That means you’ll have to work as well, just like Emily and Belle and Noel.”

“Yes, Mrs. Martin.” 

The little girl replied obediently. However, it was uncertain when her true colors might show.

Martha was well aware of how noble children could be. No matter how high their status, she could never tolerate a child throwing tantrums. 

Fortunately, Hazel wasn’t a mischievous child. She was always quiet, addressing everyone with polite titles like “Mrs. Martin” or “Mr. Martin.” She seemed to be conscious of making the least noise, keeping her posture in check, and tidying up whenever she sat or stood up. Living in someone else’s house, she seemed like a timid little animal.

Martha’s heart softened a bit, but she quickly regained her resolve. 

“You also have to work if you want to live in our house.”

She told Hazel repeatedly. It wasn’t an empty threat. She had every intention of putting her to work once she turned ten.

There was indeed plenty of work to be done on the farm. Even with the diligent help of fourteen-year-old Emily, twelve-year-old Belle, and ten-year-old Noel, it was still not enough. Martha had to run around tirelessly from the house to the fields, and then to the barn, all day long. Because of that…

“… Can I do it, Mrs. Martin?”

“Go ahead.”

Without even listening to the child’s words, Martha curtly replied as she kneaded the bread dough. After baking two large country loaves for the six of them to eat for dinner, she began to tackle the mountain of laundry. She struggled for a while trying to remove the stubborn stain of mud that Noel, the youngest son, had left on the hem of his pants. Then, suddenly, a thought struck her.

Wasn’t that something Hazel did?

The child who always needed to be prompted to speak had spoken without being asked, and she had asked Martha something.

What was it again?

As she tried to recall, she suddenly heard a commotion from the direction of the barn.

It must have arrived.

Martha’s heart trembled.

The image of the wobbling fence post vividly came to her mind. Peter, their mischievous three-year-old farm dog, had told her to fix the fence quickly before he raided the chicken coop. Due to Karl’s dilly-dallying, the inevitable disaster happened. Martha threw the laundry and hurriedly rushed over.

What she saw in front of her eyes wasn’t a tragic scene of feathers and blood scattered through the broken chicken coop. Her husband and the children were gathered in a small plot of land next to the barn, with neat rows of bean sprouts standing there. Martha was taken aback by the unexpected sight.

“Weren’t they washed away in the rain, making it impossible to plant again? But how…?”

“Hazel replanted them!”

Noel shouted.

“She didn’t know they were supposed to be discarded! Everyone was busy, so she did it herself!”

Martha was left speechless.

Just thinking about those beans made her feel bitter inside. The children had begged her so much that she reluctantly gave them a handful, and they managed to grow the stems and sprout green leaves with great effort. However, a sudden heavy rain messed it all up. The beans became soaked in muddy water and turned limp, so she threw them away in their entirety. How on earth did they miraculously revive and stand straight with firm roots?

“How did you do it? How on earth?”

“I just…” 

Hazel hesitated as she earnestly tried to explain. 

“I sat down and looked at them closely. Just like how we, humans, are all different, these little beans were all different too. So, I touched them, and I felt something. Some needed a certain amount of water, some needed a specific amount of soil covering, and others needed to be placed where they would get a certain amount of sunlight. I did that, and I gently encouraged them with a pat and one by one, they regained their strength.”

The Martin couple looked at each other in astonishment. Both plants and animals can indeed recover quickly when provided with the necessities. Especially when young, their ability to bounce back seems almost magical. But even so, could an eight-year-old child intuitively sense what each crop needed and accomplish such a feat?

It was inexplicable. No, there was one explanation that came to mind.

“Mano del Sol!”

Both of them exclaimed simultaneously.

It was a legend passed down among farmers. Once every hundred years, a farmer with the “Mano del Sol,” or the Hand of the Sun, is born. With this mysterious power, they can work miracles on the farm. Dying crops bloom, animals give birth, and the harvest flourishes like a golden sea.

“There’s no doubt about it. It must be that!”

“To witness the Hand of the Sun firsthand like this!”

The Martin couple and their three children, one after another, touched Hazel’s hand. Beyond the amazement, there was a sense of reverence on their faces.

The eight-year-old girl was a little nervous, but she didn’t feel like she had done anything wrong. After hesitating, Hazel gathered the courage to speak.

“Um, can I try something else?”

“Of course! What do you want to try?”

“Shaking it up and down…”

“You mean plowing! Come here!”

Karl quickly took the child’s hand and led her away. Martha and the three children also eagerly followed. From the next day on, Hazel quietly started following them around.

The Martin family soon learned that the seemingly quiet girl had been diligently observing everything happening on the farm all along. And she held tremendous curiosity about all of it.

“If you have any questions, just ask.”

As if she had been waiting for Karl’s words, Hazel poured out questions without stopping. She asked about everything. The couple taught her about soil, and how to predict the weather by observing cloud shapes, various grains, and crops, and Hazel absorbed it all like a sponge.

This child had something truly special. Even the usually unruly and nervous cow, Norma, behaved calmly when Hazel was around. When Hazel started taking care of the hens early in the morning, the eggs they laid became unusually large and well-formed. Every time Noel filled a basket with eggs, he marveled at them.

“Even the lord couldn’t eat eggs like these!”

But that wasn’t all. When Hazel made dough, the bread rose to the point of almost bursting out of the container. She quickly learned the art of making flavorful smoked meats. Although stews were challenging, she persevered day and night until she mastered the art of bringing out the perfect taste.

Martha was delighted that Hazel enjoyed cooking, not just because it reduced her workload. It was because the child’s thin arms and legs had filled out since spending more time in the kitchen. She could see that Hazel’s figure was now as full as the spring branches.

One day, while it was drizzling in the Marronnier Forest, Martha was surprised to see Hazel coming back with Emily, Belle, and Noel, holding a basket full of wild mushrooms. When did she become so lovely?

Hazel had changed remarkably. A rosy blush appeared on her cheeks, and her eyes sparkled like the first star that rises beyond the farm fence. Her hair, which Emily and Belle took turns braiding every morning, added to her charm. She was entirely different from the girl who used to stand silently at the doorstep in her black coat and couldn’t be compared in any way.

Martha realized that when someone who had been unhappy becomes happy, the onlookers also gain indescribable joy. But eternal happiness does not exist. Even when running through the dazzling forest, everything has an end.

The whole world was covered in a frozen winter. The Marronnier Forest, buried in snow, was lashed by fierce winds. However, the Martin family’s farmhouse was warm as if from another world. Karl had devoured five baked apples drizzled with caramel sauce and now sat in the only comfortable armchair in the house, dozing off. 

Martha, Emily, Belle, and Hazel huddled around the fireplace. The women of the Martin family had recently taken up knitting. They knitted not only for people and animals but also covered every spice jar in the house with knitted cozies.

Noel sat by the window, fully engrossed in building a tower with matchsticks. Suddenly, he looked up and noticed a traveler’s carriage approaching rapidly.

Everyone was suspicious of what they saw. In the perplexing silence, Hazel abruptly stood up, and her well-knit scarf dropped from her shoulders.

Knock, knock, knock!

The sound of knocking echoed through the house.

Karl hesitantly opened the door.

Just like six months ago, there stood the Baron Mayfield. The Baron had more white hair than before, and his coat looked equally weathered, reflecting his age. It was clear that he hadn’t encountered the goddess of luck during his journey to the gambling city, Eldorado.

Nevertheless, he had returned to fulfill his responsibility as the sole grandfather to Hazel.

“I seem to have been delayed more than I intended. This is truly inconvenient.” 

The Earl spoke with a touch of humility as he looked around the house.

“But where is Hazel?” 

The Martin family looked around in confusion.

“Wasn’t she here just a moment ago?”

“Where could she have gone?”

The Baron sensed something awkward about their behavior and decided to search the farm thoroughly. After a while, he discovered a cleverly concealed pile of hay in the barn.

“Hazel!”

The Martin family sighed in relief. They had no choice but to look down at the ground, just as they did when the child had hidden in the barn earlier.

Finally, Hazel, covered in straw, was dragged out, desperately shouting, 

“I will live here!”

“What?”

The Baron of Mayfield looked bewildered as he gazed at his granddaughter.

“I will live on this farm!”

Hazel’s determination was evident. Karl, who had been at a loss for words, intervened with a troubled expression.

“The little girl should work on the farm. She was born with a natural talent for it.”

Karl spoke firmly as if he were making a solemn announcement.

Baron Mayfield looked at him as if he were hearing nonsensical rambling. He shook his head and said, 

“This child is the one and only heir of Mayfield Manor.”

At that moment, Hazel knew it was all over. She had to leave this beautiful farm. For an eight-year-old, it felt like an immense tragedy. The sun seemed to hide away forever, plunging the whole world into darkness.

Hazel took reluctant steps backward. Belmont was too far away, and this might be her last visit. She didn’t cry. She had only spent about six months on the farm, but she had become a country girl through and through.

“Uncle Karl, Aunt Martha, Emily, Belle, Noel, goodbye to all of you.”

She bowed respectfully with a firm grip on her straw hat. Belmont folks didn’t exchange sentimental words when parting. Instead, they handed over a large basket—bigger than a heart could contain.

The carriage rode away.

Hazel leaned out of the window, watching as Karl, Martha, Emily, Belle, and Noel stood there, getting smaller as the farm receded into the distance. The white flowers that covered the Marronnier forest would wither away when the time came, just as everything had its season to part ways, covered by the thick snow. Hazel understood that.

But there was one thing she knew for sure. She had a dream now.

Hazel made up her mind. Someday, she would have a farm just like this one.

* * *

Time passed as flowers bloomed, withered, bloomed again, and withered again. Thus, it has been 11 years since the day a young girl, holding back her tears, bid farewell to Belmont’s farm…

Now, in the small city of Roselle in the central region of the Empire, a young lady was seated at the municipal bank counter. She had deep brown hair neatly tied up, unlike the other bank employees, and she sat bouncing a ball on the counter with an expressionless face. Her lackluster green eyes wandered here and there until suddenly, they brightened as she looked at the newspaper brought by the customer next to her.

[For Sale: A Farm at a Low Price]

There was an advertisement in one corner. Below it, the price was barely marked.

[8,000 gold]

The monthly salary of a junior bank employee was 12 gold. Assuming she saved every single penny from now on, it would take her 55 years to save up that amount.

Seventy-four years old, they say.

Hazel let out a sigh. 

Since she was eight years old, she had a dream she desperately wished for – to have her farm. But for a destitute noblewoman with not a single penny of inheritance, it was too big a dream. She worked tirelessly and tightened her belt, but her salary was too low, and the land prices were too high. Even if it was a small plot of land, she didn’t know how long she would have to save up for it.

She needs to save more. Even more!

At that moment, her supervisor passed by. Seeing Hazel stop for a moment, he squinted at her. Hazel quickly resumed bouncing the ball on the counter. Shortly after, the bell rang to announce lunchtime. The diligent bank employees, used to endlessly repeating mundane tasks, quickly tidied up with happy faces. The person in the neighboring seat, Rosalind, yawned and turned around.

“Today too?”

“Yeah.”

Hazel nodded her head. It had been two years since she started working at the bank, but she had never gone to the restaurant with her colleagues during lunchtime. A buttered bread was sufficient for her. 

It cost 5 silver coins in front of the bank, but if she walked six blocks and went to the bakery under the bridge, she could get butter spread thinly like a mesh for 3 silver coins. By saving 2 silver coins each time, she could accumulate 1 gold coin after repeating it 50 times. It was a way to save money, take a walk, and kill two birds with one stone.

Stepping out of the bank’s door, Hazel released her tightly tied-up hair. Her brown hair cascaded down to her shoulders. She also loosened the buttons on her blouse, allowing some air to reach her skin. This short time, where she basked in the sun and felt the breeze, was the only pleasure she had in a day.

Lost in her thoughts, as she descended the stone stairs, Hazel suddenly stopped. An elderly man appeared to be anxiously waiting on the other side of the street. The old man saw her and ran towards her with his arms open, looking excited.

“Hazel!”

A strange sight it was – the Baron Archibald Sebastian Mayfield, wearing a large brimmed straw hat with a colorful shirt, pants rolled up to the knees and tied with a ribbon, and slippers with the front part worn out. Despite the odd attire that made all passersby look askance, it was indeed Hazel’s grandfather.

“Grandfather…?”

Hazel was perplexed. Her grandfather had suddenly appeared after a year and a half, and although she was happy to see him, she couldn’t help but wonder.

“Why are you dressed like that when it’s still April?”

“I’m leaving for Mamanuka right away.”

The Baron narrowed his eyes and whispered in a lowered voice, 

“I finally struck gold this time, for real!”

Excited by his own words, his face lit up. However, Hazel looked at him with indifferent eyes, as if she were inspecting a customer’s ledger.

Her Grandfather wandered here and there, and just when he was almost forgotten, he would suddenly appear. He brought strange souvenirs with names of unheard-of cities on hats, exotic powders called “panacea bug dust,” and rings with hidden can openers. After gifting these peculiar items, he would disappear again.

Nevertheless, Hazel loved her grandfather, but she knew that loving someone didn’t mean believing all their nonsense.

“Yes, yes. We can talk later. Luckily, I’m not working overtime today. Here are 5 silver coins; go to that café and have a cup of coffee. Later, we’ll go shopping at the market together. I’ll cook a juicy meatloaf, and for dessert, we’ll have blueberry pie.”

“Oh, my dear.”

Despite being so thrifty, there was no way she could be frugal when treating someone. The Baron affectionately patted his granddaughter’s cheek, who was someone who knew how to cook and spare no expense.

“No one in this world would refuse a moist, rustic-style meatloaf and a pie generously topped with blueberries that you baked. But now is not the time for that.”

Baron Mayfield took out a piece of paper from the document bag hanging on his side and extended it to Hazel.

“What is this?”

“Land deed.”

The Baron proudly replied. 

“Isn’t your dream to become a farmer? Your dream has finally come true. You now have a farm.”

“What?” 

Hazel was stunned.

She must have misheard. She wanted a farm so badly that she was now hearing things. Blinking her eyes, Hazel asked again,

“What did you just say? What do you mean I have a farm?”

“A farm! You have a farm!”

“It’s not a hallucination, right? But… oh, I get it. You named a dog ‘Farm.’ Or maybe it’s a toy farm set.”

The Baron chuckled and corrected her, 

“No, no. I mean a real farm! A piece of land for you to cultivate!”

“No puppies with land documents! Not a toy set! A real farm! It’s yours, Hazel. It’s a gift from your grandfather.” 

“That can’t be right, you don’t like me farming, do you?” 

“After listening to my only granddaughter singing for over ten years, this old man had to do something in return. Besides, if that farm becomes our family’s property, it changes everything. It could be a refined hobby for you. You’ll be doing horticulture, to be precise. Edible horticulture, I must say. Oh, this sounds quite nice. From now on, say it like that.”

“So, you mean it’s a farm?”

“Technically, it’s just a small plot for now. But you can turn it into a farm. You will love it. All the conditions are perfect. Abundant sunlight throughout the day, a flat and even land, and a cozy farmhouse that’s more than enough for a single person. Plus, it’s in the best location where you have everything nearby, from the carriage station, shops, walking paths, cafes, restaurants, and so on!”

“Hold on, Grandfather.”

Hazel shook off her daze and became alert.

“Something is odd about this. Why is the farm located in such a place?”

“Well, it’s in the heart of the capital.”

“What? That’s the strange part. Why would a farm be there?”

“That’s not the important part, dear. Our Mayfield family, has no luck with land, when will we ever get another piece of land? If we lose this one, when will we ever have another chance?”

The Baron spoke with a sudden gloomy expression, causing Hazel’s heart to sink.

“What do you mean? Who is trying to take our land?”

“That’s right. The truth is, your grandfather once got lucky and won a small house with a small plot of land in the capital for a very low price. But unfortunately, an incredibly high-ranking homeowner bought all the surrounding land to renovate his mansion. Only what’s left is ours. Of course, the mighty ones won’t let us continue farming within their estate. If the owner doesn’t appear by May 2nd, they will consider it ownerless land and simply clear it all away!”

“It’s unbelievable! Even if they’re powerful, can they do that?”

Hazel checked the date and let out another scream, 

“May 2nd is just three days away!”

“I found out too late as well. But there’s still hope. I have all the legal documents here to prove our rightful claim. If you hurry, you can arrive just in time. So, leave right away. You must protect our land, your farm.”

“My farm…”

Hazel fell into a daze once again. If she were her usual self, she would have quickly realized that her grandfather’s words didn’t make sense.

“I finally struck gold.”

Baron Mayfield had undoubtedly said that, but those words had already been pushed to a distant memory. In Hazel’s mind, there was only one thought: 

Her farm. Her farm…

Finally, Hazel looked at the land deed in her grandfather’s hand. Before, she had unconsciously avoided looking at it because it was too unbelievable to trust. But now, she mustered the courage and examined it closely.

‘Hazel Edwina Mayfield.’

Seeing her name written on the land deed, her mind lit up. Her heart soared with excitement.

“Unbelievable!”

Hazel hugged her grandfather tightly.

“To think the land is registered under my name! It’s too incredible! Am I dreaming?”

“Of course not! Look here. Aren’t all the documents clear?”

“Yes, they are! Very clear! With my two years of experience going through loan reviews at the municipal bank, I can confidently say this. Don’t worry, Grandfather! As long as my name is on the land deed, no one can take this land away from me!”

The joy and confidence in Hazel’s voice reassured her grandfather, and he smiled warmly, knowing that she would protect the farm with all her determination. The dream she had held onto since childhood had finally become a reality.

“Of course. I knew you would say that.”

The Baron gently stroked his granddaughter’s head with affection.

“Everything is for you. Endure and hold on, no matter how tough it gets. When you return, I’ll buy you a truly big farm, just as you wish.”

“No, that won’t be necessary. I only need one. Why would you buy me two farms?”

“Ah, yes. You’re right. Then I wish you good luck.”

With those words, the Baron turned and walked away, disappearing from Hazel’s sight in his straw hat and shorts.

Even after the image of her grandfather, wearing the straw hat and shorts had completely disappeared, Hazel just stood there. Her heart was pounding loudly. The heart that she had never paid much attention to during her daily commute to the bank was now fiercely asserting itself.

“Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness!”

Her mind was in a whirl. In a dazed state, Hazel moved her feet. The brilliant sunlight, occasional breeze, birds singing, and passersby passing by… Like those who encounter tremendous luck, she knew that this moment would forever remain vividly etched in her memory.

As she returned to the bank, the supervisor was giving her a stern look.

“Three minutes late, and what is this attire? Is this a pawnshop? If that’s how you’ll behave, then quit immediately!” 

The supervisor scolded, a scene Hazel had imagined countless times.

“Yes, I will quit.”

And those words came out of her mouth. She couldn’t believe it.

The entire bank was as silent as a mouse. Everyone was staring as if their eyes were about to pop out. Just as she had imagined countless times, Hazel placed her resignation letter on the desk with a resounding thud. The feeling was even more exhilarating than she had ever imagined.

“Mayfield!”

The supervisor shouted in confusion, but Hazel didn’t look back and left immediately. She went straight home, emptied her room, and her landlady’s eyes nearly popped out.

“But you still have half a month’s rent left! You can’t get it until a new tenant moves in!”

“I don’t need it!”

With determination in her voice, Hazel left the room and headed towards her dream: the farm that now truly belonged to her.

Hazel rushed up the stairs and packed her large travel bag with precious treasures she had carefully collected: seeds, roots, fertilizers, dried herbs, cooking ingredients, and more. She also grabbed some familiar kitchen tools and remaining food supplies like milk, jam, butter, smoked meat, etc. Then, she hurriedly made her way back down the stairs.

Goodbye, two-gold-rented apartment.

When she arrived at the shared carriage station, a carriage with a sign reading ‘To Avalon’ was about to depart.

“Carriage heading to the capital! We have room for one more!”

Feeling fortunate, she quickly hopped on board, and the shared carriage immediately set off. Hazel held onto her bag tightly, gazing out the window.

From that moment on, an incredibly long and tedious journey began. Although the carriage was running at full speed, to Hazel, it felt slow and dragging, like a tortoise. She had to resist the impulse to jump off and run multiple times.

After a day passed, then two, on the third day, she finally caught sight of the ashen city walls. She had arrived at Avalon, the capital of the Britannia Empire, exactly on May 2nd, just as her grandfather had said.

However, from that moment, the carriage didn’t budge. Hazel opened the window and looked outside. The road was completely blocked by carriages and carts coming from the capital. Passengers grumbled.

“Why is it so chaotic?”

“It’s usually congested, but today it’s worse than ever.”

“It’s because of the victory celebration. The festival ended last week, but now everyone is returning home.”

The coachman informed them. They were almost there! Hazel became impatient and stood up suddenly.

“I’ll get off and walk.”

“Where are you going to walk to? It’s still quite a distance from here.”

“It’s okay.”

Carrying her travel bag, Hazel jumped off the carriage. Everyone gaped and stared at the young lady wearing a fitted hat and a long skirt, briskly pulling her massive bag as she walked.

When she was a bank employee, her stamina was always low, but now she felt energized. Hazel walked and walked until she reached the castle gate. There, she stopped for a moment.

A broad and straight road stretched to the end. Pedestrians walked leisurely between neatly arranged shops, creating a lively yet orderly scene.

An old man, who was peacefully strolling with his granddaughter in his arms, saw Hazel and cheerfully exclaimed while raising his bottle:

“Grand Cavalier!”

Hazel looked at him with a puzzled expression.

“……?”

“It means toasting to His Majesty, the Emperor. Welcome to the capital, young lady. It would have been nice if you had come during the Victory Celebration week. You see, two years ago, the only ‘Grand Cavalier’ of our Empire, Your Majesty, completely eradicated the savage rebels who invaded our borders…”

“Oh, you don’t need to explain. How could I not know about that? Well, there was a special job opening at the Roselle Municipal Bank at that time, and I was offered a full-time position with a salary of twelve gold pieces a month.” 

“Oh, so you came from Roselle?”

“Yes.”

Hazel nodded her head and looked around again.

“It’s my first time in the capital since I was a child, and it has changed a lot. Weren’t there dirty streams and haphazard huts all over the place here before?”

“That’s right! You have a good memory. We cleared all that mess last year.”

“Wow! This place used to be famous for its rough and violent characters, right? It must have been quite a scene.”

The old man responded with a sly smile. Hazel realized something.

“I said something foolish, didn’t I? It’s none other than His Majesty who is renovating this city. Who would dare to oppose him?”

“Of course, madam. The hooligans packed up and left even before the relocation notice was announced. They demolished their own houses to make it easier for clearance and gathered their garbage neatly on one side. Lord Siegwald, the commander of the Lightning Knights, personally came just in case, but there was nothing for him to do.”

“Lord Siegwald, you say?”

“The commander of the Lightning Knights. He belongs to the Sachsenspiegel clan…”

“Oh, an Elven clan?”

“No, it’s a bear clan. The fearsome Berserk tribe of Sachsenspiegel.”

“Is that so?”

Hazel gave up on pretending and spoke honestly.

“To be honest, I don’t know much about it. Even though newspapers arrived at the bank every day, I was usually busy reading the agricultural section during lunchtime. I thought as long as I knew enough to have a simple conversation with the neighboring farm owner about politics, it would be sufficient.”

As they talked, she suddenly became surprised.

“You’re the first person I’ve met in the capital. I’d love to continue chatting, but I must hurry. Something I’ve been eagerly dreaming of for 11 years is waiting for me.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes, that’s right. By the way, can you tell me where Monmouth Street is? If I know that, I can use this map to find my way there.”

“Just cross two more alleys in this direction, and you’ll reach Monmouth.”

“Thank you!”

Hazel left the old man, whose gaze she had left behind, and walked quickly. Even though the festival was over, the atmosphere in the capital still buzzed with excitement. Flower decorations and ribbons adorned the trees along the main road, and the symbol of the Emperor, the number ‘IX’, shone brightly.

“Hmm, ‘Grand Cavalier’…” 

Hazel mumbled.

The term “Grand Cavalier” referred to one of the three swordsmen said to exist in the world. One was the legendary Silvermane, another was the ruler of a distant northern tribe, and the last one was none other than Emperor Rhamstein IX of the Britannia Empire.

At only 22 years of age, the young Emperor, along with his four closest friends and knights, had participated in conquest wars since his princely days, stabilizing the borders. He had achieved numerous dazzling accomplishments, earning the whole nation’s unwavering support. Moreover, according to what Meredith, who took a vacation and attended the nation’s founding celebration last year, had said…

“Crazy! He’s so cool!” 

She exclaimed.

Meredith had passionately described how handsome the blonde-haired Emperor was. However, since she was eight years old, Hazel’s heart pounded more for a handsome potato than for any good-looking man. Among the bank employees, she was the only one yawning while listening to the story.

Just because the Emperor was handsome didn’t mean taxes would be reduced, right? Even if she got trampled, she should have at least touched the edge of his clothes once. Wasn’t the Grand Cavalier terrifying too? With just his gaze, he could probably kill someone. Indeed, potatoes were better than men.

By the way, speaking of potatoes, which variety would grow best in this climate of the capital?

Thinking about the Emperor, her pace unconsciously slowed down, but as she shifted her thoughts to farming, she surprisingly sped up, as if she were lying. Hazel marched forward, pulling her travel bag like a gale. People who were enjoying their afternoon strolls didn’t even have time to be surprised and moved aside as she passed.

As she kept walking, she suddenly noticed the sign of ‘9th Street’ passing by.

“Ah?”

Her eyes widened.

Hazel took out the land document and double-checked the address. It was the place that would become her farm. The address of that site where the owner of a very prestigious house was expanding the mansion was written as 1st Street.

“I’m finally here!”

Overwhelmed with excitement, she rushed forward. 9th Street, 8th Street, 7th Street… 3rd Street, 2nd Street… and finally, 1st Street!

Her steps came to a halt. Hazel looked at the building in front of her. As her grandfather had described, it was an enormously gigantic mansion. True to a place of power, visitors were constantly entering without a moment’s rest. Some people were reporting something to the guards stationed at the entrance.

Hazel hesitated for a moment but soon gathered her resolve.

She’s the legitimate landowner.

With confidence, she entered the mansion.

From that point on, Hazel had to be very focused. She took out a detailed map that had been tucked away in the documents. As the owner of this mansion had acquired and rebuilt the surrounding lands, the map was marked by individual parcels to avoid confusion.

Mayfield Manor’s property was the 79th plot from the entrance. Hazel carefully counted them one by one. Garden, fountain, long promenade, guarded area, a statue of Rhamstein I, five-story pavilion, maze garden, mysterious office, another fountain, library, training ground, a pavilion again, guards, a pond, another office, flower garden…

“Is this it?”

Hazel came to a stop.

There it was, the grand courtyard meticulously replicating the Britannia Empire’s Pegasus emblem. In the center of the Pegasus with its wings spread wide, a sign stating ‘Under Construction’ stood with temporary walls surrounding the area.

Hazel approached the spot, and there she saw stakes planted by the landscape artists to mark the boundaries. On one of them, a name was carved: ‘Mayfield.’

Her heart raced. As soon as she confirmed the family name engraved there, all the doubts that it might be a dream vanished. The moment her eyes fell on those letters, a sense of relief washed over her.

“Here it is! Here!”

Hazel’s face lit up, and she shouted with joy. At that moment, it felt as if only she, the land, and herself existed in this world.

“This is my farm!”

Amidst the golden sunlight, she reveled in boundless gratitude as she looked around.

Though it wasn’t exactly a forest as she had dreamed, it was land surrounded by a lush blue garden. Behind it, various classical-style buildings, big and small, formed the backdrop. While it may not be natural, it had its charm. The only problem was the enormous palace that seemed to exude an excessive presence right next to it…

Wait a minute.

Hazel stared with wide eyes, then blinked. The building had a grand golden dome-shaped roof and four tall towers.

It was undoubtedly a palace.

However, why would they build a palace within this estate?

Wait a minute. Now that she thought about it…

During the journey here, everything that had passed by fleetingly came to mind like a flickering lantern. The soldiers, the statue of Rhamstein I, the government office, the library, and the battlefields of the knights. Despite having my wits occupied by the farm, she failed to notice the obvious even though she looked at it with her own two eyes.

How foolish could she be! This isn’t just a mansion!

Hazel was astonished.

“That ‘incredibly high-ranking homeowner’… was the emperor?”