Chapter 21: Goddess Worship
Volu 1 — The Temporary Snow Country Life of the Northern Nobleman and the Raptor Wife
Once we finished receiving our guest Sieg’s acquaintance, our life returned to its normal cycle.
I was worried about what kind of relationship they had, but they simply were just friends.
Emrich said that Ruruporon’s food was delicious, and even the hunted deer at seed to fit his taste so it was a relief.
It was also nice to my usually handso wife’s unexpected side. That even Sieg would sotis rush out and assault soone so hard.
“Sorry about making you worry.”
“No no, it was fun. However, I was surprised to hear that Emrich once proposed to you.”
“……”
Sieg’s forr colleague Emrich David said that he had sothing to talk about the night he arrived and confessed.
That he proposed to Sieg.
He started softly speaking while the three of us were having a al, so I had no idea how I should react.
Emrich said that after he received that kick he realised that it was not love that he felt for Sieg.
“He didn’t really have to say that during our alti.”
“Yeah? But I felt relieved.”
“Why”
“Frankly, I was worried. Our guest, your forr colleague was man, but neither a friend, so I was worrying over what kind of relationship you had.”
“It’s just a nasty relationship we have.”
“Right, I’m glad. I an it.”
“……”
The feelings Emrich had for Sieg was admiration, and it seed that he proposed to her while he did not understand his feelings well enough.
I was bothered about that all the ti, so I was really glad that he told the story himself.
Just that, I felt that my open personality did not help at these tis.
Since this sort of thing happened, I resolved to ask questions whenever I have sothing I am curious about.
Sieg’s friend Emrich was a great man.
He helped with work during his stay, and he even furtively told tales of Sieg’s heroics.
“He was an interesting person. I wonder when he’ll visit next?”
“Well, he even cried tears because of the cold, he might not visit anymore.”
“I see~”
“He is a sensitive person,” laughed Sieg. I was jealous of how close they were, but they beca like that after spending a long ti together. I also hope that I can quickly beco like that with Sieg.
Emrich and I also agreed on a cultural exchange. He took an interest in the folklore and crafts of this land.
While looking forward to our next eting, our guest reception went well without any big accidents.
“Now then, let’s get to work.”
“Alright.”
Another busy day awaited us today.
◇◇◇
Once the polar nights are over, the villagers get restless about preparing for the flea market. There, one can garner a lot of wealth.
In this village, wealth was represented by one’s reindeers, but nowadays silver is preferred to flaunt one’s wealth. Usually used as accessories for clothes, or as decorations for hats.
Most of the money people earn at the market is used to buy silver.
“Interesting culture.”
“Well, I suppose it’s possible because we are self-sufficient.”
“Yeah…… by the way, what’s this?”
Touching the flower shaped decoration on her coat, she asked.
“That was sothing my mother told to give to my wife.”
“I see. It’s good.”
“Though it was hard to maintain it.”
Even though I am a Sami, I have no interest in silver. The money I earn from the market is saved up for ergencies.
The only product I am using might be just a flask for holding alcohol. That was sothing my rich paternal grandfather gave as a gift when I beca the lord.
If silver is not cleaned frequently, it quickly turns. It really made respect people who had many silver things. The accessories on the clothes I use are made from carving antlers, so there’s only the flask I am cleaning.
We talked about the goods as we headed to the front door.
Sieg will be learning how to craft traditional bracelets from the won at the souvenir store. Since the table for lining up goods are empty in this season, they seem to be using that.
As to why this happened, it all started from when Sieg got closer to the won when she went out on her strolls. Her special ability to charm won also worked in many countries.
Thanks to Sieg attracting people even here, miraculously, our house would finally learn how to make bracelets.
Carving things out of hard birch, like cups, dishes and spoons are the n’s job, but making bracelets and accesories are the won’s job. There are many crafters in this village. The mothers and fathers of the households have been succeeding the traditional crafting over generations.
“Then, see you later.”
“Have a safe trip…… be careful of the elderly people.”
“Understood.”
After advising that there are so xenophobic elderly people who sotis get violent, I let Sieg go. After that, I also started working.
Today, I will be making wooden dolls.
It’s not a traditional craft, but sothing I started on my own. After hearing on the flea market that dolls of small animals are popular, I tried making it.
The first work, an adult white bear, did not sell well, but the baby bears sold well so now the shopkeeper lady is even urging to make more quickly.
While I was carving more baby bears since the tourist season was coming around, Miruporon brought brought a lantern into the room.
“Oh, it’s already dark.”
Before I realised it, it had gotten dark. It seems that I was working only from the light from the fireplace.
“Hey, Miruporon, where’s Sieg?”
Holding up my index finger, which ant mother, I asked about Sieg’s whereabouts. Miruporon shook her head. Sieg’s not back yet.
Here in this village we normally stay outside only until sunset.
I was worried, so I picked up the lantern and decided to go get Sieg.
From the store that usually closed when it got dark, light was flowing out of he windows.
Since the lady here usually closes up and goes ho after dark, I thought it rare and peeked in.
“——H-huh?”
In the store, there were many won ranging from teenagers to won in their fifties. In the centre, there was Sieg. It was like the concubine’s hall I once saw in an old picture.
‘How did it co to this,’ I thought as I was about to open the doors. Suddenly a hand was placed on my shoulder, so I let out a yelp.
When I cald down and turned around, there was a girl reputed as ‘the village’s prettiest girl’.
Her na is Aina Salonen Bergholm.
She’s also famous for having the strongest personality among the village girls. She had white hair and blue eyes, which was not rare around these parts, but a passing rchant said that her facial features were unlike anyone here.
By the way, the na ‘Salonen’ between our first na and surna ans ‘people of the forest’. As proof that we are from this village, people here all call themselves Salonen.
I tilted my head at this situation wondering why she was grabbing my shoulder.
“Eh, what?”
“——Right!?”
“Heh?”
Aina is sixteen years old. She is quite tall and looks mature, but she is still at an age where she could be called a girl.
Looking sowhat hurried, she tightly squeezed my shoulder with her right hand.
“Erm, Aina? Can you say that again?”
“……”
“Co on, it’s cold.”
I had no coats on. Aina too had earmuffs, but no hats, gloves and coats.
A while later, she made up her mind and said it.
——You’re here to beco a mber of people who like Sieglinde-sama, right?
“Eh, what’s that?”
“You were peeking inside without even knowing that?”
“Ha?”
“That’s the eting of people who like Sieglinde-sama.”
“……”
“Like that, while she is being taught about traditional crafting, we spend so ti talking.”
“H-heh~”
I was at a loss for such an organisation springing up.
“So, to talk with Sieglinde-sama, you have to pay a mbership fee to the owner here.
“W-why?”
“I-if you are caught talking with a foreigner, you’ll be scolded by old people, right? So the lady is charging a rental fee? or sothing like that.”
“Aa, I see.”
Being run by a foreign lady, elderly people with old ideas don’t approach here. I was impressed at how she money off that fact.
“……So?”
“……”
I sort of already knew, but I asked nonetheless.
Her grandparents hate foreigners. So I guessed that there was sothing about Sieg.
“Stop chatting about and o it! I’ll go in together with you!”
“Hey, wait, Sieg is my wife.”
I was forced inside.
“This is a rare sight.”
“Hello.”
“……”
“My lord, are the baby bears completed yet?”
“N-not yet.”
“Please hurry up.”
“Yes.”
Hiding behind , Aina was grabbing my arm and stayed silent. Because of her grandparents, she never ca to this store before.
As if she was threatening , she rolled a fist in my side. It hurt.
“Ah, sorry. Erm, she wants to go in that Sieglinde club.”
“Ah, right!”
Inside, with Sieg at the centre, there was a strange mood.
From a drawer under the counter, she took out a wooden bracelet with flower patterns.
“Five markkas.”
The bracelets usually cost about four markkas. I stared at the owner lady for an explanation.
“There’s also the danger money for when we’re caught.”
“Ah, I see.”
If this secret eting is found out by the elderly people, it seems that the owner lady here is taking all the bla.
“Aina, it’s five markkas.”
“……”
While using as a shield, she placed a bracelet and a small patch of fur on the counter. It seems she’s bartering because she doesn’t have money. After she received the flower-patterned bracelet, my side was finally liberated from her fist.
The owner lady was about to close up, so she went inside to tell that it was ti to disperse.
I was about to say to Aina, ‘It’s unfortunate that you couldn’t speak with Sieg today,’ but she was looking at the bracelet joyfully so I decided not to.
“Ah, that’s right!”
“Hm?”
While I was staring at Sieg who was soothing a girl who started crying, Aina spoke to .
“Did you have a foreign guest so ti ago?”
“Are you talking about Emrich?”
“I don’t know his na!”
“Was there sothing?”
“……He suddenly asked for na in poor language so I ignored.”
“……I-I see.”
So he tried to pick up a pretty girl? As expected of soone who ca this far out just for Sieg. Well, I can understand him though. I also proposed because I fell in love at first sight.
“If it’s soone you know, tell him to not speak to again.”
“Why not?”
“He’s a foreigner!”
“Hehh.”
“What!”
“What’s that in your hand then?”
“!”
Aina looked at the flower-patterned bracelet in surprise, then put it in her pocket.
“R-rember this!”
With a mysterious line, Aina left the store.
After stopping the child’s crying, Sieg and I took her ho and then returned ho.
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