My Dear Husband, Let's Keep It Business-Like! ~Countess Anastasia, Raised in The Downtown, Won't Give Up Her Way~ - Episode 27

The town that Marcus brought me to was a very beautiful town.

Not only by looking from the carriage, but when you actually walk on your own feet, you understand it even better.

A beautifully maintained cobblestone road with stylish buildings that excel in design.

Not a single piece of trash is on the ground.

There are also many shops, and there are things like stalls.

Marie and I walked through the city with excitement.

Right behind me is Marcus, and a little further away, a guard is following us.

According to Marcus, the earldom has a very strict entry examination, making outsiders stand out easily.

If outsiders come in without permission and start causing trouble in the mines, it would be a serious issue. The count’s territory has very low taxes and a well-developed social security system, which has led to a flood of immigrants wanting to move there. Some even come in without permission and try to settle down forcefully.

In that case, we will certainly have no choice but to enforce strict entry regulations.

Given those circumstances, it is necessary for us to first visit the places we are likely to frequent and make connections.

If a person who is not often seen is wandering around, there is a possibility of being mistaken for an illegal immigrant and being captured by soldiers.

If you are an acquaintance of Marcus, the steward of the count’s family who governs this territory, it would be the best guarantee of status.

By the way, we are set up as “the daughter of a trading company that has dealings with the count me and the apprentice daughter (Marie), who are visiting the count’s territory for future studies.”

“I also got a recommendation for a cake shop from the baker! Let’s go later, um… Miss Anna!”

“Hehe, I’m looking forward to it.”

Walking through the city while happily chatting with Marie.

Please provide the text you would like to have translated.

Even so, the town is quiet.

Even though there are definitely not fewer people and the town is not desolate, what is this sense of discomfort?

I look around nervously and notice something.

Got it! There are no calls to attract customers at all!

“It’s cheap, it’s cheap!”

“Look, go check it out! There are lots of fresh fish!”

“Right now, I’ll let you have this for just this much! Bought it, bought it!”

The commoner district I knew was always filled with noise.

This town doesn’t have that.

So, that’s why it felt closer to the noble district than the commoner district…

Hmm. But that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing, you know.

Simply because I prefer lively places, that becomes a matter of personal taste.

On the contrary, there are probably many people who prefer a quiet town. If the people living here are happy, that’s what matters most.

That being said.

The stall owners all seem cheerful and friendly, but upon closer inspection, there are some shops without any salespeople for some reason, and despite having a nice setup, there are also a few shops with “CLOSED” signs.

“Hey Marcus, aren’t there a lot of closed shops today? Is it one of those days?”

“No, that’s not quite it, but…”

Marcus seems to be mumbling something difficult to say.

As I tilted my head at Marcus’s indecisive attitude, a store employee who noticed me came over and spoke to me.

“Oh, Marcus-sama! What brings you here today?”

“Oh, I was just showing these young ladies around the town. One is the daughter of a trading company that does business with the Count, and the other is an apprentice. They’ll be staying in the Count’s territory for a while, so please take good care of them.”

When Marcus is talking to the shopkeeper, people around him start gathering noisily.

“Mr. Marcus, thank you very much for going out of your way for us the other day.”

“Lord Marcus! The church clock that broke the other day was fixed right away! Thank you!”

“Lord Marcus! Please take this!”

To my surprise, Marcus was incredibly adored by the villagers.

Everyone treats Marie and me kindly because we are with Marcus.

Marie and I were momentarily taken aback.

“I know it might be rude to say this, but… to be honest, I was surprised.”

After we returned to the carriage and I spoke up, Marcus said with a laugh.

“That’s right. When I was bombarded with questions by the lady at the mansion in the royal capital, I was aware that I was being regarded with suspicion, you know?”

As I thought, it was found out.

“I thought you suddenly came to the territory to scout. It’s not that I have nothing to feel guilty about myself. There were many parts of the count’s territory, which relied heavily on the mines, that made me uneasy, even though the residents held me in high regard. …Honestly, it might have been a good thing that you came, madam.”

Over the past few days, as I reviewed various documents in the territory, I found out that the current system, which is fully focused on mining, was implemented under the policy of the previous earl, who is your father.

By the way, your husband’s father is an adopted son-in-law.

It’s easy to imagine that there must have been all sorts of complications around that area as well.

The same goes for the duke’s family, but the inner workings of noble families are all quite murky.

I thought that Marcus might have had his own thoughts and feelings about it too.

“Come, come, madam! Next up is the long-awaited cake shop!”

Marie’s cheerful voice echoed inside the carriage.