Elena's territory

Arriving at the territory

The stench was unbearable! I looked at Adams and Raul in bewilderment, "What is that smell? Why is it so foul?"

Adams replied indifferently, "It's the smell of excrement."

"...They relieve themselves in the open?" I frowned and asked.

Adams calmly responded, "Lady, these are slaves. They have no toilets, nor do they understand shame."

I looked out across the estate, where only a solitary castle stood.

Raul hurried to explain, "The slaves here aren't worthy of having houses. They can only sleep in the fields."

Hearing this, I fell silent.

Finally, the carriage stopped in front of the castle. A line of servants stood neatly in formation to greet us, led by an emaciated, elderly butler dressed in a formal suit. His hair was white, his face deeply wrinkled like ravines, his eyes sunken, and his gaunt frame seemed as if it could collapse at any moment.

The butler followed behind me respectfully, speaking in a low voice, "Lady, I am the butler here. I will be responsible for attending to your daily needs from now on."

In this territory, the position of the butler is highly respected. Not only is he responsible for attending to the daily needs of the lord, but he also manages finances and handles diplomatic affairs. If the lord has children, the butler may even become their tutor. For me, this loyal butler will be the most capable assistant in my future life.

Just then, Alistair jumped down from the carriage. Hearing the sound, the butler turned his head, squinting slightly as he scrutinized him. Alistair wore a knight's outfit, but he didn't quite look the part.

I introduced him to the butler, "The two who just passed by are my knights, and this one... you can consider him a friend of mine. He will be staying here for a while."

The butler, who had initially worn a stern expression, suddenly softened into a warm smile, as gentle as a spring breeze. Even his usually severe face appeared more amiable. He nodded towards Alistair, signaling his welcome.

Alistair returned the smile and nodded back. The butler's smile widened even more, as if silently reciprocating the gesture.

The "castle" we stayed in wasn't very large. There were too many servants, most of whom could only sleep in the corridor behind the kitchen, which leaked constantly and was so damp that the air was filled with moisture. My room, however, was the most luxurious in the entire castle. It contained a bed, a table, and a chair, with a fur carpet spread across the floor. On the table was an iron vase with a few wildflowers. The wooden windows had long been eroded by wind and rain, and the room smelled faintly of mold. Despite this, it was still the best room in the castle.

The knights were also assigned rooms, though theirs were small and only had space for a bed and a cabinet, with no tables or chairs. They didn't seem to mind and even tried to talk to the butler about moving their rooms closer to mine. Alistair's room was similar to theirs, but since he was my guest, the butler arranged for him to stay next door to me, even though he didn't have a title.

That evening, after touring the castle, I enjoyed a long-awaited bath and changed into fresh clothes before listening to the butler's report on the state of the territory.

The butler said, "Most of the slaves here are from the north. Buying them isn't expensive, and the price of slaves is currently low. Even though the rainy season is approaching, this year's harvest is larger than in previous years. By the end of the year, we can exchange the surplus for many goods."

I asked, "Do we have plenty of grain?"

The butler responded seriously, "Enough to feed everyone until the next harvest season."

I continued, "What if we gave them two meals a day? Could we still make it to the harvest?"

I remembered reading that slaves typically only had one meal a day, and that meal was never enough to fill them.

The butler looked shocked, his eyes widening. "One meal is enough for them. Slaves have small stomachs; they can only eat a little each day."

I couldn't help but feel surprised, but the butler continued earnestly, "The previous lord once rewarded a slave with a meal of meat, and the slave died from overeating. Slaves can't eat too much, or there will be problems."

I nodded, understanding his point. Starving people can indeed suffer from overeating, but if their portions are gradually increased and controlled, the issue can be managed.

So, I said, "Just tell me, can two meals a day last until the harvest?"

The butler thought for a moment before answering, "It can, but the second meal can only be beans."

This gave me further insight into the estate's resources. At the end of the year, part of the grain needed to be exchanged with merchants for essential goods like cloth and spices. The remaining grain was used to sustain daily life. The previous lord had a habit of using two-thirds of the grain to exchange for luxury items, such as fine fabrics, quills, and parchment, which meant the slaves' rations were very limited.

I had made up my mind not to use the grain for luxury items, ensuring that everyone had enough to eat. "Then let's give them two meals a day."

Although the butler hesitated, seeing my firm stance, he eventually nodded in agreement. He probably thought I was being overly kind to the slaves, but deep down, he didn't agree. To him, slaves were no more than animals, unworthy of much compassion.

This was my first time managing an estate, and out of caution, I sought Alistair's advice: "Do you think it was a mistake for me to give the slaves two meals a day?"

Alistair was dressed in a white nightshirt, the collar slightly open, revealing pale skin. I had seen his body before, but today, with only a small portion exposed, he seemed even more alluring. He leaned against the wide windowsill, half-reclined, gazing at me from the side.

I subconsciously swallowed, then inwardly chastised myself for being so easily distracted by his appearance. But no matter how handsome he was, I was still the more beautiful one.

Alistair spoke slowly, "It makes no difference."

I was puzzled, "What makes no difference?"

He glanced at me and explained, "If you don't feed them enough, you'll have to buy new slaves every year. If you feed them well, the grain you consume will cost about the same as buying new slaves."

I was relieved, "That's good. I'm also planning to have them build shelters for themselves. Sleeping outside all the time — what if they catch a cold? The butler said the rainy season is coming, so they need some protection from the elements."

After hearing this, Alistair's expression became a bit odd.

I frowned and asked, "What kind of look is that?"

He was silent for a moment before seriously saying, "You're a kind person."

I was a little taken aback, touching my cheek as I smiled, "Really? You're the first person to ever say that."

Alistair replied, "Though kind, you're also a bit foolish."

I didn't mind and continued, "Alright, I've made up my mind then!"

That night, I slept soundly. Despite the faint moldy smell in the room, it was far better than the nights spent on the bumpy carriage. Compared with the carriage ,this place already felt like paradise.