The farmer wants to escapeI somehow managed to make it on time to the merchant, and sell my vegetables.
It scares me to think that, had I arrived a little later, I may not have been able sell my vegetables.
Then there would be no reason for me to come here.
"Now then, I guess it"s time to go home."
When I turned around to board my carriage,
The girl I had rescued earlier was standing there with a smile.
Wait, why is she here.
She stood there wordlessly, but for some reason, looking at that smile sent shivers down my spine.
"Hey…"
She started talking to me, but the alarm bells in my head started telling me to run away, and so I hurriedly got on my carriage.
"Well, it"s getting late! I should hurry back!"
Even though my voice sounded staged, having made an excuse to sneak out of here was good enough, so I quickly left on my carriage.
I thought that I would be stopped, but she didn"t really say anything, so I left her behind.
Although I had already left her behind, I wondered why I ran away.
I guess I just listened to my instincts.
My instincts told me that had I stayed, I would not be able to live as a farmer anymore.
I saw the gates slowly coming into view.
"You there, wait!"
Just as I was about to pa.s.s them, the gatekeeper stopped me.
In a state of emergency（？）I had forgotten that, as well as showing identification on the way in, you had to show it on the way out too.
Maybe I was rushing too much.
"My bad, I was in a bit of a rush.
Here, it"s my identification."
"No, it"s not about that."
What? It"s not about that?
Oh, is it about me going too fast?
There are many people here, and travelling at high speeds might end up with someone hurt.
"I understand. I"ll be careful travelling on my carriage from now on."
"No, it"s not that either.
I was told from the higher-ups to not let any young brown-haired farmer through and keep them waiting at the gate, so I just need you to stay there while I send a message to them."
"Sure, I have brown hair but I don"t think I have anything to do with this…"
It"s probably a farmer who has a contract with some n.o.bles or powerful merchants.
He said orders from higher-ups, so they must be of high social status.
Unfortunately though, I don"t know anyone of high social status or have committed a crime against them either.
They would be sure to release me after finding out that I"m the wrong person.
Which reminds me, I feel like I"m forgetting something…
"Found you."
I heard a familiar voice from behind.
"Huh?"
I turned around to look and –
– c.r.a.p, it"s the blonde girl from before.
The gatekeeper saw the girl, and immediately came rushing over.
"You arrived at exactly the right time.
I was just about to contact you, my princess."
"…my princess?"
Hey, wait, it"s a joke, right……？
"Sorry for the late introduction.
I am Fal・Ese・Meigis, first princess of Meigis.
Nice to meet you."
Fal smiled at me, but I didn"t return the smile.
Princess Fal・Ese・Meigis.
Even though she had lost her mother and brother at a young age, she never showed her sad side to her kingdom, and always supported the kingdom confidently.
To be mixed with someone like that, I could only sense trouble.
"What… What would someone as distinguished as you want from a lowly farmer such as myself…?"
"You don"t have to be so tense!
Just talk casually like before!"
"No… But…"
"This is a royal order."
"Oh… Okay"
Isn’t this abusing authority?
"Anyways, do you want to come work at the palace?"
"I would rather die."
Is what I wanted to say, but I might have been disgracefully beheaded, so I took a deep breath in and…
"Although such a position is very glorious and charming for a farmer like myself, I would like to kindly decline your offer as it would require a far greater amount of responsibility than what I could administer."
I tried to leave while she was still dazed from my ad-lib.
"Wait wait wait! Why?!
You get to work at the palace!? The pay is really good!?"
d.a.m.n it. She regained her senses.
"I already decided that I"m going to live as a farmer! This is the only thing I won"t give up!"
"Even though you have a lot of strength, you"re just wasting it!
Please think again!"
"I won"t change no matter what you say!
I want to live my remaining years working on the farm until I die!"
"How much do you like farming!? Hmm, let me see…
Farms! You like farms right!? As a matter of fact,
there are farms near the palace…"
Did she say… a farm?
"Is that so?"
"Oh, that drew your attention.
……Anyway! If you come to the palace,
you can work on high-quality farms as much as you want!
For a person who likes farms, I think that"s the best job!"
"What…?"
This is an attractive proposal.
I might actually consider it…
But if I got to the palace, other jobs will definitely pop up.
Actually…
"…Why are you trying to pull me in?"
"Eh?"
She pierced me with a look that asked "You didn"t know?".