A young girl in a village without protection - Chapter 9
Translator: Darling | Editor: Coming soon…
It was late in the night when Bethel returned home from work. Even though he was tired, he had still had perfect posture, Selesina thought.
“Welcome back, Father.”
“Ah, thank you for coming out to welcome me Sele. I heard that Prince Soratek visited you, was everything alright?”
“Yes. There were no issues. Toi liked him as well.”
Bethel removed his coat and handed it over to the butler. He said, “Is that so?” and he seemed to visibly relax. Selesina realized that he was concerned about the rumors that had been floating around about the Prince but Selesina wanted the Prince to get along better with the Heroine.
“However, it’s almost midnight. Usually, you’d be asleep at this time. Did something happen?”
He thought that something had happened with Soratek but it seems that that wasn’t the case. Bethel inclined his head and looked at Selesina.
‘The intuition of a father.’
Selesina gave a wry smile and properly explained to Bethel the reason why she had been waiting for him.
“Actually, I wanted to request something of you, Father.”
“Hmm……I see. Let’s hear it in the study.”
“Thank you.”
It was also partially due to the butler being there but she couldn’t suddenly express her request.
Realizing that this was a difficult topic for Selesina, he decided to switch location to the study.
Watching Bethel back, as he walked towards the study slowly, she inhaled deeply.
Selesina wanted to request her father for some land that she could borrow. If she were to become independent hereafter, if she were to be away from the Royal capital even for a little while, it would give Soratek a chance to get closer to the heroine.
There were several books lined up on the bookshelves on the wall. There was a grand table made with a rich, deep-colored wood – her father’s office table. A leather chair sat in front of the table, and a sofa was placed facing the table. Selesina sat down on the sofa, facing her father.
The butler, Hanley, poured some wine for her father and some tea for her.
“It’s rare for you to request something. Is it about Hisui again?”
“No.”
“Hn?”
Her heart was racing as she looked into the eyes of her father.
There was a calm atmosphere surrounding them, anyway, this wasn’t so easy………..to say or to ask. Bethel had a sip of wine and then waited to hear Selesina.
“I want my own territory.”
“………What?”
“Of course, I don’t believe that I can manage it by myself immediately. However, may I borrow a piece of land from you, father? No matter how small.”
“………………”
Hearing Selesina’s words, Bethel made a stern expression.
She didn’t expect him to agree immediately but to think that he would look so averse to it……………a cold sweat ran down her spine.
Even so, this had to be done. A territory was certainly very precious. It was his responsibility to protect the people of that land. A responsibility handed over to him by the emperor.
“Sele, you don’t have any blessings, you will not be able to manage the land.”
You understand right? Bethel seemed to say with his eyes.
“Why would you purposely ask for challenges? You’re a girl so you can just live at home peacefully till the time you get married.”
He said.
But that’s not possible.
‘Because I don’t know what happens to the villainess after the engagement breaks.’
What if she cannot live at home anymore?
What if she cannot live at the royal capital?
There was always that possibility. That’s why Selesina couldn’t back down here.
She needed to have the power to stand on her own feet.
“As you said father, I don’t possess any blessings so it would be impossible for me to manage a territory on her own. That’s why……. I would like to learn how to manage a territory by borrowing some from you, father.”
With a tensed heart she looked at Bethel.
Selesina didn’t think that she would receive permission with just this. That’s why she gave him the most promising reason.
“I cannot possibly stand by Lord Soratek’s side as a Queen when I cannot do anything or without any blessings…..!”
“Sele……..! Were you thinking of something like that?”
He balled his hand into a fist and looked at his trembling daughter. He was remorseful that he couldn’t do anything.
Right now I could protect her directly but once she was married to Soratek, he wouldn’t be able to protect her as much as now. If Selesina could learn to protect herself then it would be very good.
Especially if Soratek turned out to be a flirt.
Bethel was thinking of such things but he still didn’t want his adorable daughter to leave the mansion.
“In that case, why don’t we hire more home tutors? We can search for tutors that can teach tutor you in a field that you haven’t learned about yet.”
Bethel suggested that it would be alright for her to learn at the mansion instead of leaving home. But that was meaningless so Selesina shook her head.
“If you go to the territory, then neither I nor your mother will able to come and help you by your side.”
That’s why please reconsider, Bethel was disturbed…………but Selesina was willful.
“Haa……do you get that stubbornness from me?”
“Please, Father.”
“………I can give you the 7th district. The area is small and it is the least developed place. You’ll definitely return in 3 days.”
Sighing, Bethel gave his permission.
Selesina was relieved since she believed that she wouldn’t receive permission unless she stuck around for another few days.
‘Is the security bad in the 7th district?’
According to Bethel’s words, it seemed to be the worst district. Rather than trying to persuade his stubborn daughter, he was probably expecting her to return home by giving her a hard task.
“Thank you, Father……….”
“But, there is a condition.”
“Condition……..?”
Just as Selesina was about to express her gratitude, Bethel stopped her. Looks like he wasn’t satisfied by just giving her an extremely difficult district to work with.
Bethel got up from the sofa and took out 1 key from his desk.
“………?”
‘What is that key for?’
She inclined her head. It was a red key that she had never seen before. It was too small to be a key to one of the rooms in this mansion. It may be a key to some drawer.
“Sele, come here.”
“Yes.”
Bethel opened the door to the room that was connected to the study and led her in. It was a 6 mat tatami room with only a desk. The moonlight flooded in through the window on the ceiling.
Selesina wasn’t aware of this room so she looked around at her surroundings. However, there was nothing else there. There was only a writing instrument on the table.
“……I never imagined that there would be a day when I had this over to you Sele. However, this is good too.”
“Father?”
Bethel brought out a small box from the drawer and opened it with the red key.
He took out a small seed from within.
She couldn’t tell whether it was a seed for a flowering plant or a medicinal herb, just by looking at it.
After checking that the seed was still inside, Bethel handed over the box with the seed and the key to the box to Selesina.
“This is a seed for the great tree.”
He said cheerfully.
“Eh………..!?”
Great tree.
It’s a tree that protects the country in this world.
‘I didn’t know that there was a seed for it.’
In the game, the tree was grown using a sapling so I didn’t know that there was a seed for this. Even so, it wasn’t so strange that there was a seed for this.
‘It’s an unbelievably rare item isn’t it!?’
Was it really alright to give it to her, Selesina, a villainess?
She exclaimed inside her heart. Of course, she would want to receive it if possible.
“I’ll entrust this seed to you, Selesina……….plant it in the 7th district. Ensure that it blooms within a year. If you can, then I’ll hand that territory over to you.”
“Me? Making the great tree bloom…….?”
‘But I haven’t received any blessings.’
The blessings you receive play a big role in helping the great tree grow.
Selesina didn’t have any blessings. Would she be able to make it bloom? Or even sprout for that matter?
She balled her fists. She really wanted to scream that it was impossible. But then there was a possibility that she wouldn’t be allowed to leave the mansion.
“……..In that case, I don’t have a choice.’
Selesina swallowed hard and looked at Bethel.
“Understood. I will certainly make this tree bloom.”
“…….Yeah, I look forward to it Sele. Before I knew it you have grown into such a strong girl.”
“Thank you, Father.”
‘It’s alright. I can do it.’
I know about the facilities needed in the territory and what needs to be done due to the knowledge of the game.
Shockingly, Father had decided to hand over the development of that land to me.
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