As for the piece of gold, Pedro decided to take it to Simon, hoping he wouldn't mind the bite marks.
The shoemaker was a bit heartbroken about losing the more valuable gold piece, but ten silver coins were still quite a gain. He quickly composed himself, gathered the measured shoe sizes and parchment, and left.
Afterward, Maria discussed the clothes she wanted with the tailor. At this time in Europe, the variety of fabrics was limited. Silks from the East were out of the question. Commoners mostly wore coarse fabrics made from linen and nettle, while the nobility favored fine linen, woolen fabrics, and various furs. Of course, they also wore cotton clothing, but since cotton was still referred to as "wool from the cotton tree" and was scarce, it was even more expensive than woolen fabrics.
Maria used to be allergic to wool and found it uncomfortable and itchy whenever she wore it. It seemed this issue had carried over to her current body as well, so she ruled out woolen fabrics and chose other materials for her clothing.
Considering that Andalusia, despite its generally mild temperatures, was freezing inside the castle, Maria needed to add some thicker clothing and cloaks. She left this task to the tailor, as long as it wasn't wool, she was open to any other fabric, with just one condition.
"I don't want those big sleeves," she said, pointing to her arms. "They're too cumbersome."
The tailor, looking troubled, responded, "My lady, this is the most fashionable style right now. If you change it, you might be mocked by other ladies at social events."
When ladies attended banquets, their outfits were often a topic of comparison, and a lady who did not follow the fashion trend would become a target for ridicule. Maria didn't think she needed to attend any banquets, but it was wise to have a dress just in case.
Finally, she decided, "Then make a dress in line with the current trend, but change all the sleeves to smaller ones. The design shouldn't be too complicated, and no jewelry decorations. Lace and trims are okay, but not too much."
The tailor left with a grim expression. He felt that Maria's requests did not allow him to showcase his skills and that a dress without any gemstones would be much cheaper than the elaborate gowns.
After spending an entire afternoon discussing with the tailor and shoemaker, Maria felt quite exhausted. Although she used to enjoy shopping, it was always for ready-made items where she could try things on and choose what she liked. Custom tailoring was much more tiring.
Over the next few days, as Maria adapted to life in the castle, she also considered finding a place to settle down. From her two maids, she learned that the central castle of Andalus is located in the city of Sevilla, and there are six major cities within the Andalus province.
Among her two personal maids, Lucia is from the bustling town of Algaba, which is near Sevilla. According to Lucia, the population of Sevilla is around 60,000, making it the most populous city in the entire Andalus province.
As a border province, and due to its proximity to neighboring lands and the sea, Andalus is uniquely positioned and relatively well-developed. It covers a total area of 88,000 acres, with approximately 40,000 households, and around 180,000 inhabitants. In Andalus, apart from the prominent Duke of Montfort, there are six barons and 120 knights with manorial rights.
With Sevilla being the core area of Andalus, Maria thought it might be a good idea to buy a house near the center of Sevilla, close to the central castle of Andalus.
However, as an outsider, Maria first needed to secure her residency rights in Andalus. To obtain residency, it was best and most convenient to get approval from the local lord. Yet, during her stay at the castle, besides the initial days, Maria had not seen Simon again. She heard from her maid that the busy duke was out inspecting his lands.
Left with no choice, she decided to consult with Pedro, the steward, to inquire about purchasing property and land within Andalus.
Upon learning that Maria wanted to settle in Andalus, Pedro immediately assured her that it was not an issue.
"Everything in Andalus province is at the discretion of the duke. As long as he agrees, you can immediately become a resident of the province."
Noble privileges are not to be taken lightly; the lord has control over his lands. Maria is not a peasant or slave of another lord, but a noble lady from a foreign land. As long as Simon agrees, she can swiftly obtain residency in Andalus.
Western systems of residence are much more lenient compared to the East. Apart from serfs and slaves, who cannot leave their lord's land at will, free citizens can move freely according to their wishes. Local lords generally welcome their presence as it means more tax revenue.
Of course, free citizens rarely move around, as they have their land and property which cannot be easily relocated. Moreover, moving freely might expose them to various dangers.
"Rest assured, I believe the duke will be very pleased to have you residing here."
He thought that not only would the Duke be very pleased to have Maria stay, but everyone else in the castle would likely feel the same.
Thanks to her, the food prepared in the castle's kitchen had recently become more and more delicious. Even though the servants' meals were not as lavish as those of the masters, the chefs had learned new cooking methods. The pasta made from bran flour used for black bread was particularly tasty, and other dishes had improved significantly.
Moreover, Maria's personality was exceptionally approachable among noble ladies, and no one in the castle did not like her. Even the reserved Eleanor would invite her for walks in the garden after meals.
With this reassurance, Maria felt more confident.
She then told the steward about her plan to visit the town of Algaba. Pedro, having already received orders from Simon to fulfill all of Maria's reasonable requests, immediately offered to arrange a carriage for her, so she could travel at any time.
The next morning, Maria set out for Algaba. Accompanying her were her two maids, a coachman, and a knightly escort, specifically sent by Pedro to protect them.
Inside the carriage, Maria, dressed in a newly made bodice gown and a cloak, found the ride quite uncomfortable due to the bumpy roads. The poor road conditions and the lack of any shock-absorbing measures in the carriage made the journey very jarring, and her bones felt like they might fall apart.
This discomfort forced Maria to focus on the scenery outside the carriage.
However, there was not much to see. The land on either side of the road was covered with vast tracts of farmland. Due to the early spring, the crops were just beginning to be planted, and the land only had sparse green patches.
The fields were long and divided into sections, each area planted with the same crop. Maria's keen eyesight and the farming knowledge from the game indicated that these lands were growing oats, barley, and legumes.
Some fields were completely empty, with nothing planted.
Fortunately, Maria had the system in her mind to clarify things for her: "Those are fallow lands. Currently, a three-field system is used, dividing the farmland into three equal areas: fallow land, spring, and autumn. Each field is left fallow for one year every two years."
"Isn't that a waste? So much land is left unused, and there must be a significant loss of harvest each year."
"There's no choice. People at this time don't know how to fertilize the land. Without leaving the land fallow, it loses its fertility over time and becomes useless."
"...I see." Maria thought, glancing numbly at a large pile of manure by the roadside.