I plucked the leaves carefully, so as to not break the branch. Even the leaves which hadn't been dried yet would leave its fragrance on the fingers if I pluck this much. I love this fragrance.
「Sokola, let's take a short break?」
Turning around, Rafen was there. I involuntarily broke into a smile.
「Okay!」
I placed the basket with the leaves on the base of a tree and rushed on Rafen's side. Shyly, he slightly turned his face away and extended his hand to me. He seemed to be telling me to hold hands. I felt happy and held his hand. His hand, which had matured into a grown-up man's hand, was reliable and gentle, and I loved it so much.
「Hey, Rafen. Since the weather is good, let's drink tea outside. What do you say?」
「Sounds good. I like the tea you make.」
「Really?」
「Yes, really.」
I felt slightly nervous upon hearing his words. I wanted to make a delicious tea.
I returned to my house and picked the best tea leaves. Although I said best tea leaves, the villagers could only drink the tea leaves that wouldn't sell. I picked and gathered the pieces of dried petal that was seldom mixed among the tea leaves.
I'd only been able to drink a tea made from high-quality tea leaves a few times. It somehow felt strange. Even though these were the tea leaves that we'd worked hard to raise from a seedling before being gathered, dried, and sold…
Back when I drank the tea made from tea leaves which they said were the highest-quality during my sister's marriage celebration, I was moved by its especially rich fragrance and its golden color like the morning sun lighting the clouds. I still remembered that I wanted to enjoy this tea again.
I carried the teawares and tea leaves which I'd worked hard to pick, and told my young brother to boil water before going to the garden where Rafen was waiting.
「Rafen. I wonder when can we get married?」
「Soon enough, I'm sure. The villagers have decreased due to the war in Nambonan.」
「Ah, your right.」
Several grown-ups in the neighborhood had joined the war in Nambonan. A messenger came all the way here to our farm village to recruit soldiers. Nambonan was a rich city, and the payment was apparently good. Several grown-ups in the village participated, and most never came back. Those who had returned, they were in a grave condition. Some had lost an arm, while some had suffered burns.
I was really glad the Rafen didn't join. I hadn't told that to anyone, though.
「Things have already become difficult in the village since Uncle Beard died, and now the villagers have decreased. Wouldn't they hurry us to marry and give birth to a baby?」
「B, b, baby…」
My body could already give birth to a child since last year. That was why I could get married anytime. If I could give birth to Rafen's child, I'd very much like to get married as soon as possible.
According to what I'd heard from mom and my older sister, it seemed like I would be put in a very embarrassing appearance. But it was fine if my partner was Rafen, yes. But, precisely because it was with Rafen, I might feel more embarrassed.
「Ah, well, no. I didn't mean it the weird way.」
Rafen hurriedly denied his words while blushing. I felt like I wanted to tease him for a bit.
「Eh? You don't want to marry me?」
「I, I didn't say anything like that!」
Rafen suddenly stood up, and then he tightly held my hand. It was slightly painful.
「I'm really happy that they allowed our marriage.」
「Hmm?」
I'm happy, too! I wouldn't tell him that yet. I still wanted to hear more from him.
「I've always, always liked you since we were a child, Sokola.」
We'd already expressed our feelings for each other many times over, but I was still very happy to hear him say that he loved me. I was very happy.
「I also like you.」
Rafen held my hand, and I held his hand tightly.
He was hardworking, gentle, and he was always watching me. I loved Rafen.
「Hey, Rafen. What do you like about me? Can you tell me?」
「Everything about you. Your cheerful personality and the way your sweet towards me. The delicious tea you make, and also your blue hair and eyes that resemble the blue sky during spring.」
Gently, Rafen brushed my hair with his hand, and his other hand caressed my cheek. Ahh, it felt so good. Being touched by gave my heart a warm feeling, and I liked it.
「Sokola...」
「...Rafen.」
I noticed that our faces were getting closer to each other. I hope my younger brother wasn't nearby.
chu
I felt like I heard that sound.
「Rafen… we shouldn't. We still haven't gotten married yet.」
「Sorry, Sokola. But, I really like you.」
He held my hands tightly, but I placed strength on my shoulders and resisted him. I was still scared, and my older sister also told me that we couldn't do that thing yet without getting married.
「No. You can't, okay? We would be married soon. Can't you wait until then?」
「Sokola...」
Seeing his guild-ridden sad face, I felt a pain in my chest. I checked if my family was nearby, and then kissed him. I could feel warmth inside my body as though I'd gulped a tea.
Was this the fourth kiss?
I wanted to continue on. But, endure it, endure it.
chu
This was the 5th kiss. If we don't end this soon, Rafen and I wouldn't be able to stop anymore. But really, it felt good…
「Noo, Rafe,n...」
「Sokolaa...」
I somehow separated myself from Rafen and stood up. The water should be boiling by now.
「Let's go and drink tea. I'll make a delicious tea for you.」
I did my best to move my trembling legs and returned to my house.
Night.
My mom took me to the village chief's house. I had no clue why, and we were only told to gather there.
「I'm glad that you came. So everyone's here?」
When I looked around, most of the young girls in the village were gathered here, including my married sister. The only ones absent were the little girls and the grannies.
「Sokola, can your body give birth to a child already?」
「Eh…」
「Yes. She's planned to marry our neighboring house's Rafen.」
The one who replied was my mom. Even though he was already an old man, I felt disgusted being asked about my body.
「Fmm… Everyone, I'm glad you gathered here this late at night.」
What was this all about? The village chief had never called us to gather at his house during the night.
「A while ago, a noble came to our village. I heard the noble came here to buy good tea leaves.」
Everyone looked at each other, wondering how to reply. If he came to buy tea leaves, then shouldn't you just sell him the leaves? Since he was a noble, he must be rich.
「The noble was very happy when I showed the tea leaves stocked in our village. I was able to receive a large payment, too. It was really a great help.」
The fact that the tea leaves that we'd worked hard to raise was liked by a noble made me feel like my job had been approved and I felt happy. The village chief seemed to be joyous about the payment, but I didn't really care since it wasn't my money.
「That noble will be staying here for tonight and leave tomorrow.」
「... That noble, is he a male?」
My mom interjected.
Indeed the village chief nodded his head.
「You probably don't know him, but that noble is the eldest son of the House of Quordentz. He's a very influential noble...」
Even if you tell us that, I didn't know the difference between nobles. A noble was a noble.
However, only me and other girls around my age thought like that.
Mom's eyes had become serious. Above all, the village chief's expression was so serious that it was frightening.
「We can't let this chance escape. No matter what, you must receive his seed…!」
Mom and the other older women explained the matter to us, as we didn't have any clue.
Apparently, if you were to receive, that… seed from a noble, a child possessing a magic power would be born. People with magic power were very strong. Their body wouldn't catch a cold, and their strength was several times that of an ordinary person. They could easily plow the fields and repel a pack of wolves alone. Some could heal illnesses with magic, while some could let out flames that could burn fields.
There was one person with magic power in this village in the past. It was Uncle Beard. He could unleash a flame that could burn down as many as three large trees. He also fought thieves several times, so people in the village respected him very much. I still remembered that the village was enveloped in a depressed atmosphere when he died of illness two years ago.
Currently, there was no one in the village with magic power.
「I will be taking you all in front of the noble now. No matter what, you must receive his seed! You must get pregnant with a child, a child with magic power!」
There was a talk about how Uncle Beard's mom received a seed from a noble who had arrived in our village by chance. The village chief wanted us to do the same thing.
I didn't want to do it, but I couldn't disobey the village chief. If I did, it would cause trouble for my family, including my mom, dad, old sister, and even my younger brother.
But, I didn't want to do it. I wanted to give birth to Rafen's child. I wanted the child of the man I love and not a child with magic power.
「Um, can't we first leave the unmarried girls behind…?」
My mom asked the village chief.
「I agree. We'll go in front of the noble first. If he liked any of us, we won't need to send any of the girls.」
A mother of another girl said.
They were protecting us.
「But, the noble was only ten, eleven, or twelve years old at most from his appearance. How old are you now?」
「Twenty five.」
My mother answered.
「10 and 25, that's already mother and child. I'm not sure if he would take a liking… It would be best to send the young girls first, rather than carelessly sending someone and receive his displeasure.」
No one could object. The village chief had already decided to send the young girls. There was no villager who could go against his decision.
No!
Rafen, help me!
「We should show him the beautiful girls. Let's see. Mauve, Nasha, Keiha, and… Sokola. Go and clean your body at once, and then gather here again.」
If I knew this would happen, I shouldn't have resisted him.
Rafen…
It was after the village chief had left and my mother patted my head that I noticed the tears falling down to my chin.