It was the self-esteem emanating from someone standing on their own two feet.

A life not dictated by someone else’s orders but one where they plan, take responsibility, and enjoy the results.

As Conny walked between the fields, looking at the now snow-covered land, her eyes showed affection and pride.

“Have you stored the seed potatoes separately?”

“Yes, of course. Look!”

Saying that, Conny looked around.

Not just the potato fields but the entire village.

“We’ve finished preparing for the winter, set up fences, and even dug ditches. We’ve built a well too. We’re also thinking about how to bring water more easily.”

‘As expected. That’s what it is.’

Following Conny’s explanation, Brody raised her gaze into the distance and responded to her words.

“So, Conny is the head of this new village.”

“…”

With Brody’s words, Conny stopped in her tracks.

The face that had always been smiling since they met now lost its laughter.

She looked at Brody with a serious expression, sighed, and nodded her head.

That sigh was, how should I put it, felt like a sigh of relief.

“As expected, Madam knows. That we achieved it ourselves.”

“Well. Is there anything else to consider? Conny seems to know everything.”

“Yes. However, normally, people wouldn’t think that women did such work. I don’t know how many times I’ve been asked, ‘Then who is in charge?’ Well, in the past, I might have asked that question too.”

With a slight squint in one eye, Conny responded with a smile, and Brody replied with the same expression. Thus, the two nodded at each other.

Of course. In this era, it goes back to being male-centric.

Without the permission of a male head, a woman can’t determine her own path freely.

Women are pushed to a lower position, even in the succession rights of a lord, a noble, or a royal.

Honestly, Brody didn’t expect things to turn out this way.

She had just tried to do something, anything, to save the lives of the captive women.

But because of that, these 60-something women now had ‘it.’

“Madam gave us the potato field and said, ‘This skill will be our lifeline, so be careful not to let it leak out.’ That’s when it all started. Our lives began to change.”

Brody nodded.

‘It’ is ‘the skill.’

To the person with a skill that no one else can replace, ‘power’ is granted.

Especially in areas where people are desperate right now.

“It was the first time. Seeing how we could decide our own situation. Since then, our lives began to change.”

Conny started to smile again.

And she raised her hand into the air, slowly gripping it as she spoke.

“It’s nice. The feeling of creating the future with your own hands.”

Women with ‘unique and essential skills’ saved their lives.

Harming them recklessly would make that skill disappear.
It didn’t just end with saving lives; it brought ‘power,’ and now ‘wealth’ follows.

With the emergence of ‘power,’ it grows even stronger, and as the strength increases, the areas where one can freely decide expand.

“Who would have thought being a captive would turn into such a blessing? With no husband or guardian, we,”

Conny took a breath before continuing.

“Have become our own masters.”

Her words contained both pain and triumph.

The pain of not being able to return to the empire and reunite with family. But in return, a new life and freedom given unexpectedly.

“This, you can’t really understand without experiencing it. To be just Conny, not someone’s wife, daughter, or mother.”

“Village Chief Conny, right?”

“Hehe, yes.”

In response to Brody’s teasing words, Conny burst into laughter.

Conny could tell. The woman in front of her understood her words.

Well, she isn’t an ordinary person.

She’s a woman who, despite the terrifying Ice Wall Grand Duke and the wax figure-like chief of staff, managed to persuade and cultivate fields with crops that seemed impossible to pierce a drop of blood.

Even though she had a field that was practically a gold mine, she generously shared information with other women.

Moreover, she went so far as to abandon and disappear the field, which was akin to a gold mine.

If it were her, she would have built a huge castle here and proudly played the role of a feudal lord, even with enough power.

Not to mention, she didn’t hesitate to run down to the south with her delicate body.

Fearless.

Conny couldn’t even imagine how big this woman’s ambitions were.

“But you all can’t return to the empire, right…?”

“Yes. If we were just captives, we could be sent back. But we’re technicians with information. To maintain security, movement restrictions are inevitable.”

“Isn’t that difficult?”

“Well, there are people who want to see their families. But you know what? The fact that it’s ‘impossible’ makes it more attractive.”

At Conny’s playful expression, Brody urged her to speak as if to say, ‘Tell me more.’

Once again feeling that Brody understood, she spoke coolly.