I’ve Become a S*ave Bride - Chapter 41
“That’s accurate. But that’s only true up until last year. Starting this year, the supply of yellow beans has also been cut off.”
Thus, three types of grains have disappeared from the Ragan region.
“If this process continues, the variety of agricultural products grown in this area will gradually decrease.”
“And if the crops get sick, we will inevitably face famine.”
“Uh… that’s right.”
It was somewhat surprising.
‘More knowledgeable than I expected?’
Honestly, facing famine due to crop diseases is not an unfamiliar situation in an agricultural society.
So, it shouldn’t be that surprising, but…
‘I didn’t expect Kazen to grasp this as well.’
For Lenette, the existence of “Kazen” was just that.
A slacker who idles around and is annoyingly lucky but has plenty of money, living without a care in the world.
Well… sometimes when she sees him looking out for those around him, she thinks he doesn’t completely lack “humanity,” but still, she thinks of him as an incompetent person.
However, today, she witness various unexpected aspects of him.
After briefly diverting, Lenette focused back on the main topic and continued speaking.
“The problem isn’t just that.”
“Is there something other than famine?”
“Yes. Currency ultimately has meaning only when it passes from hand to hand.”
Yet, the items being traded are decreasing to the point where the currency’s movement loses its significance.
What if, eventually, the “market” disappears as well?
“If this continues, we will regress to a primitive economic system.”
“Primitive economy? What is that?”
Kazen expressed curiosity about the unfamiliar concept.
“It’s a simple economic form where, like hundreds of years ago, goods are exchanged directly between households.”
“In Ecaron, they call that a ‘primitive economy.'”
“Of course, there’s a slightly more complex explanation, but for now, that’s it.”
Kazen quietly stared at the three words Lenette had erased.
As he tapped the desk, he tilted his head and said,
“Now that I think about it, it’s not just the grains.”
“What do you mean?”
“Items that have decreased or disappeared because of the Sarman Merchant Group.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Kazen crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair.
“The number of nameless fabric craftsmen has also significantly decreased due to the same process.”
“Nameless fabric?”
The one that is sometimes traded instead of currency?
“Sarman has been selling it in this town at ridiculous prices for four years.”
“Huh…”
Hearing Kazen’s words made me certain. Sarman is deliberately making this Ragan region sick.
“Kazen, if we leave it like this, it will become a serious situation.”
Kazen nodded in agreement.
Lenette immediately came up with a countermeasure.
“I’ll go find the local governor—”
“That’s useless.”
“What?”
“You already experienced it. Nazan and the palace guards are all defending Sarman.”
“Ah…”
“The governor will only make things worse, not better.”
“……”
That’s true.
If Lenette had been someone who understood the market economy from the beginning, she would have stopped Sarman from offloading all those grains and goods long ago.
Ultimately, allowing this situation to develop means that she is also welcoming the mass supply that Sarman is conducting.
“So what do we do now?”
As Lenette asked with a serious expression, Kazen chuckled. She frowned and glared at him.
“Are you laughing now?”
“I am.”
When she glared at him, he made a deflating sound again.
“What’s so funny?”
Kazen pointed his chin at Lenette.
“You think I’m funny?”
“Not funny, but interesting.”
What does that even mean?
“I haven’t said anything funny.”
As she looked at him with a puzzled expression, he stood up from his seat.
“I’ll handle Sarman myself.”
“How will you do that?”
Lenette got up from her seat as well, following him. He glanced into her eyes for a moment before looking away.
“You said you wanted to have a wedding, right?”
Lenette blinked her eyes.
What does a wedding have to do with the conversation about Sarman?
“Have you changed your mind?”
“No… that’s not it… It’s just a bit sudden.”
As if intending to leave the room, he arrived at the door and placed his hand on the doorknob.
“So, you haven’t changed your mind, right?”
“Uh… that’s right?”
Nodding absentmindedly, he swung the door open.
“We’re going to head to the capital as soon as possible, so pack your things.”
“Right now?”
“Yeah.”
“How quickly are we leaving…?”
“We’re leaving within three days.”
“Three days?”
Lenette’s mouth fell open in shock, but instead of answering, Kazen left the room.
“Huh? What the…?”
* * *
Kazen was brief with his words.
But he didn’t waste those short words either.
Truly, three days later, they set off for the capital, leading a long procession.
“Lady Leneta, are you feeling hot?”
Hosanta approached Lenette, guiding a camel.
“The heat is fine, but…”
“Your backside is a bit sore, right?”
“Not just a bit; it’s quite sore.”
She shifted her gaze to the long line stretching across the desert.
‘I really didn’t expect to leave within three days…’
Now, Lenette was in the middle of a procession, creating a white trail across the golden sand desert.
“It would be less uncomfortable if we moved by palanquin… But really, what’s the rush?”
“I’m fine.”
“It seems you really want to welcome Lady Lineta as your bride as soon as possible.”
Lenette gave Hosanta a brief smile and turned her head away again.
To be honest? She had no mental energy to engage in conversation while moving alongside him.
She was tired, in pain, hot, and thus, suffering.
‘This is driving me crazy.’
Having ridden horses frequently in the Ecaron Kingdom, I confidently decided to ride a camel… but my backside hurt too much.
‘I’m feeling nauseous.’
Perhaps due to the camel’s unique gait, her body shook excessively.
Since she was used to horseback riding, she initially surrendered to the swaying, but it made her feel too dizzy.
So, when she tried to tense her body to avoid the shaking… now her hips and thighs were hurting.
Moreover, since they had been camping since they started, her body felt worn out.
“How much longer until the first village?”
“We’ll arrive soon. Hang in there.”
“Okay…”
She let out a long breath, trying to endure.
Up ahead, a camel changed direction. The one approaching against the flow of the procession was Kazen.
“Are you dying?”
“I’m not dying or anything.”
“Then that means you’re okay.”
“…It’s not exactly okay.”
As she replied in a tired voice, he raised his hand.
The slowly moving procession came to a halt.
“Let’s take a short break.”
“Yes, understood.”
Lenette’s camel also stopped.
Kazen, who jumped down from the camel first, reached out his hand to Lenette.
“Since it’s not far to the village, let’s take a short break.”
“…Did you stop because of me?”
“You said you were tired.”
“That’s true, but….”
“Just get down for now.”
“Okay.”
As she answered, she looked down from the camel.
‘It’s high.’
It definitely felt different from riding a horse.
Since she hesitated to jump down, Kazen moved a bit closer.
“Are you scared?”
“Not really.”
Actually, that was true.
Maybe because I wasn’t feeling well, I had no strength in my body. If I jumped down in this state…
‘I’d probably fall awkwardly.’
After a moment of hesitation, she grasped his outstretched hand.
Kazen, who was looking at Lenette’s sulky face, spoke to Nazan.
“Prepare a stepping platform for her to get down.”
“Yes, understood.”
Soon, the platform was ready. Lenette stepped onto it and was able to get down from the camel without difficulty.
“Thank you. You’re kinder than I expected.”
Kazen chuckled softly.
“You could skip the follow-up remarks.”
“I’ll skip them next time.”
He led the weary Lenette to the temporary shade prepared by the servants.
“Ahh… I feel like I can breathe now.”
Still, it was cool in the shade.
Lenette, who had climbed onto the carpet without a moment to dry off, quickly leaned against a cushion and sat down as if lying down.
“I thought I was going to die.”
Unintentionally, Lenette said this and then glanced at Kazen, who had just stepped onto the carpet.
“You said you wouldn’t die.”
“Thinking about it, I guess it felt like I might die.”
He chuckled softly. Lenette stared at him for a moment before speaking again.
“Did you know you smile a lot?”
At that, Kazen, who had naturally taken a seat next to her, paused.
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“That can’t be true.”
“It really is. Among all the men—no, people—I’ve seen, you smile the most.”
Maybe it was because they had crossed the desert on camels for half a day? Little remarks that she normally wouldn’t make popped out.
“I never thought I’d hear someone say that in my life.”
“You’re not funny; you just smile a lot.”
“What do you mean by not being funny but smiling a lot?”
“Such things exist.”
Lenette realized she had brought up a pointless topic, but she didn’t care.
It was all nonsense, and she was too exhausted.
So, she closed her eyes and let the gentle breeze created by the servants waving fans wash over her.
“Make sure to prepare a palanquin for the return trip.”
At this unexpected remark, she slowly opened her eyes. Turning her head, she looked at him with a somewhat surprised expression.
He, too, had settled comfortably but spoke without looking at Lenette.
“We have to get to the capital quickly right now, so it can’t be helped.”
“Is it because of the wedding?”
“No.”
“Then what is it?”
When she asked back, he finally met her gaze.
“Because of the tribute we need to send to Kal.”
“Tribute?”
“Yes.”
With his straightforward answer, Lenette clicked her tongue inwardly.
‘What? He made it sound like it was for the wedding.’
It turned out the wedding was just an excuse, and they were heading up for the tribute.
