EIYTMA Chapter 16
by ArianaOf course, slaughtering the pig ended up being a distant task. When Ezekiel said he would do it, Madame Babin burst into laughter.
“Your Highness? Forget it, before the pig suffers even more.”
It was said that severing a pig’s neck in one strike was truly no easy feat. When Ezekiel heard that failing to do so would only make the pig suffer, he immediately understood.
And when he saw the woodsman, Jean, from the village fail to do it properly and swing his axe ten times, he thought it was fortunate that he hadn’t taken on the task himself.
“The pig is really plump!”
Perhaps finding the butchering process fascinating, even the knights gathered around to watch.
Jean skinned the pig and separated the meat into different cuts. It would have been ideal to roast the whole pig, but due to the constant rain, they had to cook it both in the kitchen and on an improvised outdoor hearth.
Naturally, the entire manor was soon filled with the scent of roasting pork.
Felicia Arbois nearly fainted.
“This is unbearable! The smell of grilled meat is going to cling to me!”
“Then wear clothes that won’t absorb the smell.”
At Ezekiel’s remark, Felicia glared at him.
“Your Highness should stop wearing those old clothes. Your handsome face is going to be wasted!”
“I’ve never dressed to please others.”
Ezekiel was still wearing Lord Querluxia’s clothes. They were comfortable and incredibly durable. Compared to the garments he wore at the imperial palace, they were unbearably coarse, but they put him at ease.
Felicia stomped her feet in frustration.
“Oh my, you’re becoming more and more like Prince Étienne!”
“Me?”
“Your way of teasing people is exactly like his! Though not your actions, still—how is that possible?”
“Haha.”
Étienne, who had been lounging nearby, laughed and gestured for Ezekiel to come closer. When he did, Étienne wiped some mud off his nose.
“You got dirt on you.”
“Thank you.”
Watching Felicia shudder in disgust at the lingering scent of roasted pork, Ezekiel found himself thinking about the stone walls of the manor.
The walls were old, with deep and loose gaps that let in smells and sounds alike. Not to mention, they let in so much wind that Felicia had often complained about freezing at night.
So Ezekiel had asked Jean for some mud to patch up the walls of Felicia’s room. Naturally, he had already obtained permission from the room’s owner.
“You could have asked the knights to do it. I don’t understand why Your Highness insists on doing such work himself.”
Felicia grumbled, but her true feelings were evident.
Because they had to move the furniture aside, she ended up sitting next to Étienne, but the fact that a prince like Ezekiel was doing manual labor for her sake must have felt quite nice.
Ezekiel answered indifferently.
“Knights are not meant for this kind of work.”
“Then you could have asked the villagers!”
“They’re too busy repairing their own homes because of the rain.”
“Oh my, can’t you lose just once in a conversation?”
“Must I let you win?”
“Ugh, really!”
Felicia let out an exasperated groan, while Étienne chuckled beside her, clearly amused.
She had been sulky the whole time, but in truth, Felicia didn’t entirely dislike Ezekiel’s kindness.
“The mud smells a bit, but at least the food smell is fading a little… If only Prince Étienne were as considerate as Your Highness.”
Étienne didn’t miss his chance to tease her.
“Oh dear, Felicia. Then how about marrying Ezekiel?”
“What?! Prince Étienne! Please don’t joke like that—it sounds too serious!”
“Ahahaha.”
Still, Étienne didn’t forget to add a passing remark.
“Thanks to you, Lady Iris will be warm this winter too.”
Ezekiel, of course, was aware that this room originally belonged to Iris. But he feigned ignorance and simply responded,
“I suppose so.”
“As if you don’t know.”
Étienne smiled knowingly. Feeling somewhat awkward, Ezekiel changed the subject.
“I never expected to find these tasks enjoyable.”
“These tasks?”
“Repairing the manor, slaughtering pigs… things like that.”
“Goodness, Your Highness, please don’t say such frightening things.”
Felicia grimaced.
“What an absurd notion. A prince, born to rule, finding pleasure in the work of a laborer—such an outrageous thought.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course it is!”
Felicia unfolded her fan and delivered a speech.
“People are born with predetermined roles. A laborer must live as a laborer, and a swineherd must live as a swineherd. If one tries to break free from that, they will incur the wrath of the gods!”
Étienne shook his head behind her. Ezekiel simply smiled without refuting her words.
“Then I suppose I am truly fortunate.”
“What?”
Felicia’s eyes widened in disbelief. Ezekiel replied.
“I was dedicated to the gods even before I was born. Whether I become a holy knight or a priest, I do not know, but it is said that the servants of the gods must handle all tasks themselves. So I suppose I fit my assigned role quite well.”
“Good grief…”
Felicia opened and closed her mouth, at a loss for words. Instead, Étienne interjected.
“So, my dear brother truly enjoys smearing mud on walls, does he?”
“Yes.”
Ezekiel smiled warmly at Étienne as well.
“To be honest, I find myself looking forward to life in the temple.”
“Hmm. Do you, now?”
Étienne wore an enigmatic smile. Ezekiel was about to respond, but Felicia cut in.
“By the way, Prince Étienne, I have an idea…”
Felicia always wanted to share even trivial matters with Étienne. Now that her arm was injured, she seemed even more reliant on him.
As if they were whispering sweet nothings to each other, Felicia murmured about insignificant things while Ezekiel absentmindedly continued stuffing mud into the cracks of the stone walls.
All in the hope that someone would be a little warmer this winter.
***
The pork was distributed generously to everyone within the manor. Despite the rain, even the people of Querluxia’s estate village rushed over to receive large portions of meat.
“For a lord’s manor, people sure come and go quite freely.”
Felicia remarked as she looked at the peppered pork soup and crispy pork skin before her.
To an outsider, her words might sound like a complaint, but in Felicia’s own way, it was a compliment. Fortunately, Iris simply smiled.
“Father has a good relationship with the common folk. It’s a relief that they appreciate him. Please eat before it gets cold.”
“Hmph.”
Felicia scrutinized Iris from head to toe before picking up her spoon. She certainly viewed Iris as someone beneath her, but it was not a look of disdain.
“Well, I suppose it’s edible.”
“Felicia.”
Fortunately, Étienne interjected. Felicia wrinkled her nose but then spoke again.
“…Thank you.”
“You should also say what you’re thankful for, Felicia.”
Étienne smiled as he interrupted once more. Felicia gripped her spoon tightly, sighed through her nose, and added.
“For letting me rest here in the estate, for giving up your room. I truly appreciate it.”
“Oh my.”
Iris beamed brightly.
“I only did what was natural.”
“It’s good to see you two getting along.”
Étienne smiled at Felicia, and she blushed. Ezekiel stifled a chuckle.
He knew that, in truth, Felicia felt somewhat guilty for her rude behavior toward Iris. It was clear from what she had confided in him earlier that afternoon.
‘Your Highness, I have a dilemma. Would it be offensive to give Lady Querluxia one of my dresses?’
Apparently, she had been dwelling on the fact that she mistook Iris for a maid upon their first meeting. Though Iris had waved it off, saying, ‘It was understandable given how I was dressed,’ mistakes like that tend to linger in the mind of the one who made them.
When Ezekiel asked why she was consulting him on the matter, Felicia snapped.
Because, Your Highness, you’re the most well-mannered person I know!
Ezekiel had laughed and replied, Lady Arbois, do as you wish. But Felicia remained troubled.
If she were a servant of mine, gifting a dress or two wouldn’t be an issue. But… Lady Querluxia is the mistress of this place, after all.
Indeed, maintaining proper etiquette as a guest was no easy task.