Hello, Liz. How’s Parisha? Did you arrive safely? Is Viscountess doing well?

I didn’t know it would take so long from school to our house. It felt shorter when we came together last time, didn’t it?

During the trip, Betty kept telling me to read a book because I might get bored to death. Isn’t that too much? I’ve been reading books all semester, and now she tells me to read even in the carriage?

She said you might be the only person who could do that since you like books. Reluctantly, Betty agreed.

I asked my brother, and it seems our family might visit Parisha this summer.

Maybe by the time this letter reaches you, Viscountess will be reading the letter our mom sent. I always wanted to visit Parisha, so it’s fortunate.

Mom and Dad seem to genuinely look forward to you coming along this time too. Since you have a precious family, it’s only natural for you to come to our house during summer vacation.

So wouldn’t it be perfect for both families to meet and have fun? It’s the plan I came up with, but it seems really ingenious.

You know what? Something serious happened in Kenia Village, where Betty’s younger brother lives.

It seems the Bagworm disease struck, making everything wither.

Originally, there were so many to harvest, but now the mountains are drying up day by day, so the residents are very worried.

Still, the villagers seem to think, ‘It will get better soon.’ However, there’s no help for Betty’s younger brother. It seems he returned home because he couldn’t afford to give the dowry. The situation you were worried about seems to be unfolding again!

Betty seems to be confused too. Since Betty has been working at our house for a long time, the salary is quite substantial. However, in this situation, she’ll have to feed her hometown almost alone.

And her mouth has increased by one!

I told my brother to send some consolation money, but what was it? The words you use well… Right! It’s a temporary solution.

I think it’ll be okay if the Bagworms come out a lot again, but Peony said it might be difficult. Even if the Bagworms come out a lot again, the people of Kenia Village are unlikely to hire outsiders for a while because they’ll be cautious.

There was a similar situation in Peony’s hometown. The local economy deteriorated for a long time. Is this expression correct? Anyway, the people in that area stopped formally hiring labor.

They handled most labor within their families and only hired day laborers when it was really unbearable.

You, being smart, can probably guess. Actually, I talked so long because Betty asked me to. Before the summer vacation, did you talk to Betty? Perhaps about introducing someone skilled in growing herbs.

It doesn’t have to be a lot of dowry. Just feed and shelter, and give a little dowry. If it’s a job you recommend, Betty says she can trust it.
I’m not sure where the job you mentioned is, but if the employer is still looking for someone, let Betty know. She sent her brother right away.

It would be nice if you could find a job again within Lethorn, but it seems that people looking for workers in Kenia Village and other villages have decreased.

I have so much to talk to you about. You visited our house only last vacation, but somehow, isn’t the house empty without you?

Betty says the same. We saw each other every day at school, but not anymore.

Do you know what news I heard as soon as I came home? Uncle Sivna, who was expelled, had sneaked into the estate.

He had stolen horses from our land and escaped, riding horses with the lord’s mark, so it was noticeable. And he used that to go to other territories, pretending to be our dad, and engaged in gambling. Can you believe it?

So someone suspicious at the gambling den reported him, and he was caught.

They said if you don’t have someone to prove your identity, you can’t get out. So the lord of the territory where the gambling den was held contacted. Since Dad said he didn’t know such a person, he might be in prison for a while.

Then it would be okay if Nualan brother proves his identity, right? Because he’s his son? But do you know where Nualan brother is?

Well, this isn’t certain, but it seems he was taken to an illegal mine shortly after being expelled from our estate. If you go into such a place, it seems you can never get out for the rest of your life.

Honestly, there are more people who know Nualan brother’s face than Uncle Sivna. Uncle Sivna was said to have only virtues, but he wasn’t even kind.

So in that house, Nualan brother dealt with guests and took care of the upper work every day. And he borrowed a lot of money in the process. Even from somewhat suspicious people!

People came to Dad to repay that money.

They all said Dad lent it to them after seeing their faces. Dad and my brother called a lawyer, discussed how to repay where Dad really lent the money after seeing the faces, and where not.

Dad and my brother are tired of family ties and everything. The days when we had to play with relatives forcibly seem to be over!