The following morning, I was roused by the sensation of hands gently prodding me. Aalis was nudging my right hand while Ame gave a persistent push to my right foot. I slowly opened my eyes, the grey morning light of the inn filtering through the window, to find the two sisters peering down at me.
As my eyes flickered open, Aalis offered a soft greeting. "Good morning, Your Highness."
"Good morning to you too," I replied, my voice still thick with sleep.
I sat up in the bed, and Ame greeted me as well, though her voice was a trifle small. "Go...od morning, Your Highness."
I looked at her, offering a sleepy smile. "Where is your spirit, Ame?"
She stood up straight, took a deep breath, and shouted, "GOOD MORNING, YOUR HIGHNESS!"
I chuckled. "GOOD MORNING TOO."
Aalis stood by the bedside, smoothed her apron, and said, "Your Highness, everyone has been waiting for Your Highness downstairs."
"Really?" I said, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. "They are quite amazing—to wake up so early with so little sleep."
I stood up and moved towards the small wooden chair in front of the desk. There was no proper dressing table in the room, so I sat there instead. Before Aalis could begin her work, I looked at her in the mirror's reflection. "Can you tie my hair back? It will make it easier for me to move about."
"Of course, Your Highness," she replied, her fingers already nimble as she began to gather my locks.
Meanwhile, Ame moved towards my trunk and pulled out a voluminous silk dress. I watched her for a moment before turning back to Aalis. "Is there no other type of clothing besides these dresses in my suitcases?"
"I believe there are no clothes other than dresses, my lady."
I looked at the simple linen Aalis was wearing. "Can I borrow your normal clothes, Aalis?"
Aalis froze, her eyes widening in the reflection. "Your Highness wants to borrow my clothes?"
"Yes," I said firmly. "I believe they will suit me far better for the work ahead."
"But Your Highness... it would not be appropriate if you were to wear my normal clothes. They are merely a servant's garments."
"Well, appropriate or not, it depends entirely on the one who wears them," I said, offering her a reassuring look. "If I say it is acceptable, then it shall be so."
Aalis let out a long, defeated sigh. "If you insist upon not wearing the dress and wish for my common clothes, then I shall lend them to you, Your Highness."
Aalis walked over to her own valise and retrieved a set of her belongings—a simple white tunic and a pair of sturdy brown trousers. She brought them over to me. "Here they are, Your Highness. Let me help you into them."
After she finished tying my hair securely, she helped me stand. She and Ame worked together, just as they had with the gowns; Aalis eased the tunic over my head while Ame helped me with the trousers. When they were finished, I stood in the centre of the room.
There was no full-length mirror, so I had to rely on their expressions. Aalis and Ame both nodded, their faces brightening. "It looks great on you," they said in unison. I spotted the brown boots Aldea had lent me the previous day sitting by the door, so I pulled them on. With my hair tied back and my practical attire on, I felt ready. I descended the stairs to the tavern, followed closely by Aalis and Ame.
The tavern was almost entirely empty; the rowdy crowd from the night before had vanished, leaving the wooden tables bare. Only one table was occupied, where the entire team sat waiting for me. Zoe and Cailean were the only ones seated; the others rose or nodded as I approached.
"I heard everyone has been waiting for me," I said as I took my seat at the head of the table. "It is truly remarkable for everyone to wake up so early on such little sleep."
"Because we are used to it," Louis said simply, standing at my right hand.
"I just hope everyone managed to get some proper rest," I noted, looking around at their determined faces. "Today, as I mentioned yesterday, we shall commence our work. Zoe, you may begin at any time. Take whatever time you require to 'borrow' the documents from the Baron's residence. I suspect the place will have some measure of security, so do not rush."
Zoe leaned back, her expression full of effortless confidence. "Your Highness, you just sit tight; no matter what security they have, it will be an easy job for me."
"I admire your confidence, but I ask you to be careful and stay safe. The next task is for Cailean. You shall begin today, and you may start interviewing the people at any location you deem fit. Take your time to gather the information; if the people are unwilling to speak, do not force them. Ask them about the current situation and the conditions of the previous year—we need the data to compare. I suspect this will take at least a few weeks, perhaps a month, to complete. Do not be hasty."
Cailean looked visibly shaken, his hands fidgeting beneath the table. "Ye...s, Your... High...ness."
"Do not be so nervous, Cailean," I said gently. "How about this: today, I shall be the one who interviews the people. You shall watch me, observe my methods, and learn."
Cailean's eyes widened with even more anxiety. "But... Your... Highness, is that truly alright?"
"It is fine," I insisted. "I have nothing else to attend to today. It would be cruel if the subordinates were the only ones working while the superior sat idly by."
"It is quite alright if Your Highness wishes to sit and wait here," Louis interjected. "Let us handle the labour."
"No," I countered, looking him in the eye. "For me, that is not right. Let me work as well. Cailean and I shall act as the interviewers, and our escorts shall be Louis and either Aldea or Darryl. I want one of you to accompany Elpis. Yesterday, I tasked her with researching the soil and vegetation of the village, but I wish to know more about the land outside the boundaries as well. If there is a chance we can plant something further out, I want to know. What do you think, Elpis?"
Elpis smiled warmly. "Oh, my... certainly. I shall give my best for you, Your Highness."
"I am glad to hear it. As for your escort, you may freely choose between Aldea and Darryl."
"I shall choose Darryl to accompany me, Your Highness," Elpis said, glancing toward the other woman. "I believe Aldea wishes to stay with you."
I looked at Aldea; she was blushing a deep crimson and looking at her boots. I turned to Darryl. "Do you have any objections to accompanying Elpis?"
Darryl merely nodded his head, his silent way of indicating he had none.
"Then that is settled. And for my two maids... can you go and purchase clothes like the ones I am wearing today? And perhaps some sturdy shoes or boots?"
Louis looked concerned, his eyes scanning my borrow attire. "Does Your Highness not like the clothes that the palace provided?"
"The dresses? I like them well enough," I explained. "But I believe they are too much for a Baroness to wear in this place. Such finery will only breed unacceptance from the people of this village."
"Unacceptance?" Louis asked.
"The condition of the village is shabby and desperate," I said, my voice turning serious. "If a noble wears a magnificent dress in the middle of a village where people are struggling to find anything to put on the table, it makes me feel ungrateful. The wealth I have received—the very money that bought those dresses—ultimately comes from them."
Elpis nodded in approval. "It is wonderful that Your Highness possesses such common sense. Though, truthfully, the dresses are so heavy and complex that not every noble could carry them as you do."
"Why is that?" I asked.
"The people understand the weight of a beautiful dress," Elpis explained. "Such attire carries great consequences for the wearer. There are many types of gowns, and to some degree, many cannot wear them—even nobles—because of the responsibility they represent. Your Highness views the dress merely by its price, but you must also know its importance."
"I shall learn it," I promised. "But for now, I require clothes that suit this place and allow me to move freely."
"It is for the best," Elpis said. "Honestly... all of us here wish to see Your Highness in a beautiful dress eventually."
The others at the table all offered me supportive smiles.
"I should love that," I replied. "I shall show it to all of you if there ever comes an event that warrants such finery." I turned back to Aalis and Ame. "Are you quite alright with going to buy the clothes and shoes?"
The two of them nodded enthusiastically.
With our plans clear, we rose from the table and made our way to the entrance. In front of the inn, we parted ways. Elpis and Darryl headed for the outskirts to examine the soil; Aalis and Ame set off for the market street to find clothing; Zoe vanished into the shadows of the village; while Cailean, Aldea, Louis, and I headed towards the southern district. My plan for the census was to work systematically from the south to the north.
As we walked, I kept a close eye on Cailean; the poor boy was practically vibrating with nerves. We reached the very edge of the village and began our work. We knocked on the first door, and we were immediately rejected. We introduced ourselves as representatives of the Baroness, there to survey the people's condition, their income, and their food supply, but it made no difference. Door after door was slammed in our faces. I saw the hostility and the weariness in their eyes.
We had been rejected by ten houses in a row. Cailean looked increasingly anxious, his face pale. I realised then that if he had attempted this alone, even with Aldea behind him, he might have fled in terror by now.
We continued, knocking on yet another door. I introduced us once more, fully expecting another sharp refusal, but to my surprise, the woman in the doorway hesitated. After a moment, she stepped back and accepted our request for an interview.
I was immensely relieved. The lady welcomed us in and invited us into her home. As we entered, I noted the stark poverty of the residence; there was only one table and two modest chairs in what appeared to be the guest room. The lady offered us drinks, but we politely refused, wishing to get straight to the matter.
I took one of the chairs. Cailean, Louis, and Aldea remained standing behind me, while the lady stood awkwardly in front of us.
"You may take a seat, my lady," I said, gesturing to the other chair.
"It is quite alright for me to stand," she answered, her voice trembling slightly.
"It is not alright for me if you remain standing," I said with a gentle smile. "It is far better for you to sit so that we might have a pleasant conversation."
Reluctantly, she sat.
"If you are comfortable, then so am I," I said. "Before we begin, allow me to introduce myself. I am a representative of the Baroness. My name is Caroline." I gestured to Cailean. "This is my assistant; his name is Cailean, or Cail." I then pointed to Aldea and Louis. "And these are my escorts, Aldea and Louis." I turned back to the lady. "Please, do not be nervous or distressed by our presence. We know it is a sudden intrusion without notice; our only purpose is to understand your living conditions."
"The living conditions of... me?" she asked, blinking.
"Yes. We have some questions, and I ask only that you answer them honestly. Your answers will provide us with the information we need to help the village."
"I shall try to answer honestly," she whispered.
"Splendid. Just relax."
Cailean immediately produced a notebook and a pen from his pack. When I saw the pen, I was momentarily taken aback. It was not a quill, but a fountain pen. It seemed incredible; such things weren't common on Earth until the late 19th century, yet here we were in a mediaeval setting using them. I reminded myself that this was a fantasy world—technology and invention clearly followed a different path here.
Once Cailean was ready, I began the questioning. "The first question is: how many people currently reside in this house?"
"Two," she replied.
"And who are they?"
"Myself and my daughter."
"And last year? How many people lived here then?"
The woman's expression shifted. "Three."
"Three?"
"Yes. My eldest daughter was with us then."
"And where is she now?"
"She is working in the county capital."
"I see. And do you know what sort of work your eldest daughter has been doing?"
"I know nothing of it," she said, looking down at her hands. "It was all arranged by the Count and the man Rudyard."
"And where is the other daughter now?"
"She is still asleep in the other room."
"And your husband?"
"He has already passed away."
"I am truly sorry to bring back such memories," I said softly. "I am sorry for your loss."
We continued for some time, and by the end, I had gathered a significant amount of data regarding her welfare and her history.
"I believe that is all we require," I said, standing up. "Thank you for giving us your time. We are sorry if we have disturbed your morning."
Cailean tucked the paper and the pen back into his rucksack. The lady looked up at me, a flicker of curiosity in her tired eyes. "May I ask you a question?"
"Certainly."
"What will you do with all of my answers?"
"To build a better life for you, of course," I answered.
"But my life... it seems so unimportant. Why do you need to know about it?"
"To know your life is vital for us," I said firmly. "How you live, how you work, and what you earn—all of it is important. Why do I need it? To ensure a great living for all of us. From your answers, we gain the information we need to build a better future. And, as a small surprise... I am not merely a representative. I am the new Baroness of this village."
The lady's jaw dropped in sheer astonishment.
"What I am doing now is a small interaction between myself and my people," I added. "I wish to know you better. If there are no more questions... we shall excuse ourselves and move on to the next house."
"Of course..." she managed to stammer.
We took our leave of the cottage and stepped back out into the street, ready for the next door.