Isekai: Princess Marquess Becomes Entrepreneur of Tempe

Chapters 16. Refusal

"So that's it, Uncle-Uncle and Aunt-Bibi all, after the one I just demonstrated, the pH content in the former minefield is acidic. That explains why there's always crop failure in the area."

Elona concluded the presentation she had just shown to the citizens at Armelin town hall. The girl was accompanied by Ryndall and Bran on her left right side. This morning the residents who came quite a lot even though Elona believes the miners who switched professions as farmers before are still many more than those present here.

Elona is convinced that he has displayed the best, the right words that explain why the harvest has always failed, and how the best solution. The girl also did not forget to display the results of her turmeric experiment with soil dough on the former excavation land that is sour and ground dough from the banks of a fertile lake.

The people looked at Elona in wonder. All this time they had never met Elona, and now the girl had come to ask for help.

"Sorry, Miss." a bald-headed and big-bodied man suddenly stood up.

Bran whispers to Elona, "Sir Stan, a very respected man here, second only to your father."

Elona gulps. Hearing a sentence that begins with an apology means rejection, and the girl has not prepared her heart.

"Rather than working on land that we don't know will work or not, we prefer to do other things" Stan said in a heavy voice. His words were immediately welcomed by the other citizens.

"Really! We're wasting our time!"

"We better work in the city next door more definitely!"

Elona breathed. "But Uncle-Uncle, this is our land, our city. What Uncle all doesn't want to do his best for Armelin City? I've found the solution, just done it. You'll get a paycheck afterwards, too."

"Wait a minute,"

Then another one stood up. This time, the skinny old man with hair was almost entirely bleached. Bran whispers to Elona again, "Sir Tora, just like Mr. Stan, who was also honored after your father."

"At the very least, we can appreciate Miss Elona who has come all the way here to try to overcome the problem of the land" the man said.

Stan brushed off, "But it's not a hundred percent right yet. Where did he get that kind of knowledge? My grandfather used to be a farmer, but we never knew that in the soil there was acid and base!"

Elona was speechless. It is impossible to say that all knowledge is obtained from another world.

"Also if everything Miss Elona said was true, then why did she just come now? Our children have gone to another city."

Elona. One by one the residents left the room. Only a handful of people remain who can be counted on the finger of one hand.

Tora approached Elona. The old man was among the ones who survived. He patted the girl's shoulder.

"Uncle..." Elona wanted to continue her words but could not. It felt like it was suffocating and hot in the throat as he tried to hold back the cries.

"Don't despair."

"But..."

"There's still me, and those people." Tora pointed at those who were still left.

"Uncle Tora believes in what I'm saying?" ask Elona. Tora nodded.

"I've only met you for the first time, but I believe, at least you don't have bad intentions for all of us" Tora's words sounded very soothing to Elona at this time.

"After all, Miss," Tora sighed, "Right now Miss is exactly with your father, Mr. Edward, back when she first served as a marquess."

"Dad?"

"Yes. We believe in Mr. Edward, and there's no way we're going to trouble his daughter. Just tell me what we have to do, we're ready to do anything."

****

That afternoon, Elona was on the edge of the lake again. This time he did not come empty handed. There was a basket of sandwiches filled with meat, eggs and vegetables and two fruit-flavored drinks that Elona brought there.

"Art hasn't come yet." muttered Elona. Then he sat down on the grass, and bowed his face between his two knees.

Mind raging. That day he felt his energy and soul drained away. The fatigue she felt when she met the crowd, the nervousness she had to experience, and the rejection she had to get, made Elona feel like crying. The girl also became afraid that if everything she planned failed, then she should be responsible.

"Well, there's food!"

The voice that Elona was familiar with and waiting for had already arrived. Art, with the same simple tunic, was opening a food basket in front of Elona with his fine. "It's for me, right?"

"Yes, just take it all, hahaha..." Elona laughed at the young man's behavior who immediately grabbed a sandwich and drink from the basket. Art sat down next to Elona.

Looking at Elona's trousers, Art only nodded small. Then the young man threw a glance at the lake water in front of him, while eating a sandwich in hand.

"How many people?" Art continued to ask.

"There were about thirty people who survived" replied Elona.

"How many acres do you want to work?"

"This is 15 acres first."

"Then, what's your solution?"

"Umm," Elona thought for a moment. "Maybe I'll ask the male servants at home for help. And also Sir William and the male soldiers. I hope I can gather some."

"So..okay! I'll help you too." Art casually said, then picked up another sandwich from the basket and ate it voraciously.

Elona was surprised, "Loh, you're not a citizen here, are you? No need to bother!"

"It's okay. I'm not doing any work anyway."

"You don't have to hunt?" Elona asked.

Art scrunched his forehead. The young man was reminded of Elona's misunderstanding about him. "No need. I can hunt next time. I'll bring along the err-soldiers, my friends, to help as well" Art said as he chewed.

"Your friends? Do they want to?"

"If they don't want to, I'll just fire!"

"Sir...?"

"Err, I mean, I'm gonna fight them. Take it easy, they won't dare to reject me" Art said.

Seeing Elona who seemed to be very unwilling to trouble others with her problem, the man decided to keep her identity a secret. It was better that way, than Elona continued to refuse his help. If the girl knew who the man in front of her was, Elona would definitely not want to be helped.

With a quick movement, Arthur thrust the remaining sandwich piece in his hand into Elona's mouth. At that instant, the girl was shocked with her mouth full.

"Hmmphh!"

"Eat this! Don't be sad anymore."

"I'm on a diet!" elona shouted after the food in her mouth ran out. Art just laughed hearing that.

****

That afternoon, Arthur returned to Eckart's residence in the city of Rudiyart with a full stomach. The servants in his house were astonished when he refused to attend dinner. Usually when he had just finished hunting, his young master was very hungry and devoured whatever the servants prepared.

This time, not only refused dinner, but also the master who liked it was not covered in blood, let alone carrying a piece of the animal's head.

Arthur did not go directly to his room, but to the tower on the right wing of his residence, where the Eckart warriors lived and rested. As soon as Arthur opened the door of the tower, a group of soldiers enjoying their dinner immediately stood firmly in front of the table and stopped their respective activities.

"Greetings! Sir Arthur Eckart!" their greetings were in unison with a respectful gesture clenching the right hand on the chest.

Arthur did the same gesture. "Greetings. I have something to talk to you about."

"Tell me, sir. What do you need?"

"I need people with great stamina to come with me tomorrow morning. About eight or more."

"Just "Stamina? For what, Sir? Hunting?" ask a confused soldier.

Usually if you want to go hunting, the master prefers to do it alone. Even if he needed the help of a soldier, it should not be stamina sought, but strength.

Arthur shook his hand. "not hunting. But farming. Tomorrow, whose stamina is strong, come with me to Armelin. We'll work the land there."

"Huh? Farmed up? At Armelin?"

*****