# 14
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These were the disadvantages of small villages.
Rumors spread within a day.
In an isolated village like Piacina, it spreads more quickly.
'Maybe I should have chosen a city with more people.'
But in places frequently frequented by strangers, someone was likely to recognize her.
Elinor was well known academically, and during her days at the academy, a photograph of her was published in a newspaper.
While she was contemplating whether she should advance or retreat, a voice was heard.
“Oh my God, Elinor!”
One of the women noticed Elinor approaching and rose to her feet.
Their conversation stopped suddenly.
The women seemed embarrassed as they chattered.
“When did you arrive? Why didn’t you tell us?”
“Did you come to buy something? Oh my God, you brought the baby too.”
"Oh beauty! Were you okay?"
"…Welcome."
Elinor hesitated for a moment, but approached them, pretending that she heard nothing.
After thinking for a while, she decided she didn't want to move somewhere else yet.
Piaccina is a good place overall.
So, there was no need to upset the villagers over such a trivial matter.
“What do you need?”
“Milk for the baby, and some soap. The laundry is more than I expected, and it runs out quickly.”
"Haha, always like that. Baby clothes never go out of style."
"Right. When Tommy was little…"
Fortunately, the topic of conversation quickly turned.
Elinor mingled with the people courteously, while inwardly grinding her teeth at Matthias.
'If the Duke had not lied that he was the child's father, this would not have happened.'
She didn't need to be affected by him quitting smoking for the sake of the baby.
All the problems started when he came to this village.
Elinor decided to set clearer boundaries with him.
“By the way, Sophie’s youngest daughter’s wedding is coming soon, right?”
“They said the groom will hold the wedding here in the village.”
“She said she would invite us all. She would send a carriage for us.”
“Really? Did you hear, Elinor?”
Elinor nodded.
“Yes, Sophie told me.”
“Oh my God, it seems that the groom’s family is wealthy.”
“Eleanor, so you're going to the wedding...”
“Eleanor!”
While she was talking to everyone, a shadow suddenly appeared above Elinor's head.
Elinor paused.
After a moment, she turned around with a hesitant look.
“…Hello, Mr. James.”
“Afternoon, sunny afternoon!”
“Yes, that's how it is.”
Her attitude was completely different from the friendliness she showed to women.
And there was good reason for that.
“Did you…did you receive the gift I sent?”
James was the man who had been harassing her from the moment she arrived in the village.
By the way, he was fifty-three years old, and a well-known bachelor in the village.
Even though he was at an age where he could be a father to Elinor, he continued to grow closer to her.
Maybe he thought that, as a single mother, she could be an easy target.
“Oh my God, James again...”
“Here comes the man again.”
The women complained and whispered.
They knew that James was harassing Elinor.
But they were unable to deter him strongly because he was one of the richest people in the village and the son of its chief.
“Oh...you mean dried meat? Sophie brought it last week.”
"correct!"
James smiled wide with his mouth, revealing his yellowed teeth from neglecting to brush them.
"I made it myf. How was it? Did you eat it?"
“I'm allergic to dried meat.”
said Eleanor frankly.
He looked suspicious to eat, and she didn't want to accept anything from James.
Even a small admission may lead to unexpected results.
In such cases, it was better not to give any hope from the beginning.
“I'm sorry, I put effort into making it. But Sophie said it was delicious. She asked me to thank you.”
'Squirt, what is this? What is it made of?'
Sophie had eaten a piece and wondered what the taste was, then gave it as a snack to her dog.
“Ah… okay.”
James slumped his shoulders in disappointment.
Elinor hoped he would leave now.
But, against her wishes, James quickly regained his energy and began speaking.
"So, what are you going to do now? There are a lot of flowers on the back hill. Would you like to go and see them?"
"No, I have to buy what I need and go home. It's time to feed the baby."
“Aww.”
In time, the baby started whimpering.
Elinor gave the money to the merchant and quickly gathered her things.
“I'll go now. Thanks for your efforts.”
But when Elinor tried to leave, James suddenly grabbed her wrist.
Elinor shook his hand in astonishment.
"What do you do?!"
“Because of him, right?”
James muttered darkly.
“You reject me because of him.”
“What? What are you talking about...”
“They said the baby’s father came to look for you!”
James suddenly shouted.
It seems that rumors of the Duke have even reached James, the outcast in the village.
James exhaled sharply.
“If you were going to return to him, why did you accept my dried flesh? You accepted all my good will.”
Elinor was puzzled.
She refused all his gifts from the beginning.
She never wanted to accept it.
James began sending gifts through Sophie because Elinor rejected everything he sent.
“Aren't you going back to that guy?”
James frowned.
He took a step towards Elinor.
Elinor took a step back.
It was an instinctive reaction.
James's eyes widened even more.
“Are you avoiding me?”
“No, this is…”
"I knew! Always like that with easy women!"
“Kyak!”
“Eleanor!”
James suddenly raised his hand.
While people screamed, Elinor quickly covered the baby.
At that moment.
"brother!"
A harsh screaming sound echoed in the open space.
Elinor, who had closed her eyes tightly, slowly opened her eyes.
There was a wide back in front of her eyes.
His shoulders, as broad as the sea, were enough to cover Elinor completely.
The owner of this backpack was...
“What are you doing now?”
Matthias, who lives with her under the same roof.
* * *
About an hour ago, after Elinor had left, the inn had become quiet.
“Huh.”
Matthias sighed deeply and rubbed his face.
He looked between his fingers at the plants growing in the yard.
A tobacco-like herb.
Even though he pretended otherwise in front of Elinor, he was experiencing intense internal conflict because of this herb.
“Why did you promise to quit smoking?”
Usually, he had good smoking etiquette.
He had younger brothers who had not yet reached adulthood.
He never smoked in front of them, and if he did, he would eliminate the odor completely before approaching them.
This was possible in the ducal palace.
The place was very spacious, and everyone had their own space.
But the inn he was staying in now was very small.
It would have been very easy for him to bump into Elinor and the baby.
“Tch.”
Matthias clicked his tongue dispassionately.
He felt upset.
Why would he do this to himf?
Couldn't he simply ignore Elinor's words?
He already knew she was teasing him half the time.
But smoking freely worried him because of the child.
Elinor's child was so small and fragile, as if he might be easily hurt if not cared for carefully.
He personally experienced his own fever.
But if he continues like this, I'll go crazy.