Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven Grandma Claire

Grandma Claire’s house wasn’t far away; it took about ten minutes to walk there. It was an ordinary village cottage made of stone and wood. The roof was thatched with straw, and there was a cow tied at the door. Next to the house, there was a crude farm enclosed by crooked fences, where many vegetables and plants were growing. At first glance, I could only recognize cabbages and sweet potatoes.

“Come in quickly. My grandson and granddaughter went to work in the fields after breakfast. There’s no one else here.” Grandma Claire pushed open the small gate and led me inside.

The furnishings inside were very simple, with only a set of table and chairs considered furniture. An old oil lamp sat on the table. The thick wooden pillars had been eroded by time and looked somewhat dilapidated. Part of the mottled stone wall was cracked, and a few strings of red currants hung on it. A long wooden box lay horizontally in one corner, with a simple rack nearby for hanging clothes. Besides these, there was nothing else.

Aside from the living room, there were three small rooms, all of which were tightly closed at this moment.

“Come, child, sit down. Let Grandma get you something to eat first.” Grandma Claire led me to the table and then went into a room, returning with several pieces of black bread and some jerky.

“There’s not much good food to offer. This venison was hunted by the villagers a few days ago. My grandson got quite a bit from him and has been keeping it salted. Eat up.”

“…… Thank you.”

Grandma Claire’s gaze softened as she looked at me. I was indeed very hungry, so I didn’t hesitate and grabbed a piece of black bread, taking a big bite.

The taste of the bread was not good; it was sour and slightly bitter, and chewing it felt like biting sawdust. However, the venison was quite good, perhaps because of the fruits it had eaten in the forest. I truly missed the taste of salt.

Seeing me eat so enthusiastically, Grandma Claire smiled with her eyes closed.

“Eat slowly. Really, this girl has been starving for a few days… Ah, right, let me get you some milk.”

After saying this, Grandma Claire, supporting her back, walked out wobblingly and soon returned with a cup of milk on the table. The venison was a bit too salty, and I was thirsty, so I tilted my head back and gulped down the warm milk in one go, wiping my mouth and continuing to eat until the table was empty.

I patted my little belly, feeling no sense of fullness.

Grandma Claire brought out two more slices of bread and a dish of venison from the kitchen, but I finished them off just as quickly.

… I want more.

I smacked my lips, looking at Grandma Claire with pleading eyes, innocent and helpless.

“Poor girl, how many days haven’t you eaten?… But you can’t eat anymore, or your stomach will be upset. Let me get you another glass of milk. After drinking it, Grandma will help you clean up.” Grandma Claire stroked my hair, “It’s really heartbreaking.”

…………

On the west side of the village, there was a flowing stream. Grandma Claire told me that the women of the village bathed and washed their clothes downstream, while the men did so upstream, separated by a waterfall.

Hmm… Looks like this isn’t a world where ladies come first. The men aren’t at all gentlemanly.

After bathing, I returned to the house, and Grandma Claire handed me a dress made of coarse linen.

“This is a dress I just made for my granddaughter. She hasn’t worn it yet, it’s still new and clean. Put it on.”

I was startled and immediately shook my head to refuse.

What kind of joke is this, making me wear a dress?

“Quickly put it on. I’ll wash your cloak later, it’s too dirty.”

Grandma Claire didn’t give me a chance to refuse, pulling my cloak off forcefully. Her thin body was surprisingly strong, and I immediately grabbed the collar to resist.

“No…”

“Listen to me.”

After a lot of pushing and shoving, I didn’t dare to use much force for fear of hurting her. In the end, I couldn’t resist her and had to put on the dress.

Grandma Claire, seeing my clean and refreshed face, nodded in satisfaction.

“You, child, why are you so beautiful. I’ve lived over sixty years and have never seen anyone as beautiful as you. You’re even more beautiful than the lord’s daughter.”

Grandma Claire plucked a currant from the stone wall, blew on it, and popped it into my mouth. The currant tasted sweet and sour, much better than the unknown fruit in the forest.

“Now can you tell Grandma your name?”

“… Silvija.”

This name came out without any thought. I remembered that in the dream, when someone who looked like Xiao Xi whispered to me, that might be the name this body possessed.

“Can Grandma call you Xiao Silvija?”

I nodded.

“Xiao Silvija, what happened to your family?”

I didn’t know how to answer this question, so I slowly shook my head.

“… Is that so.” Grandma Claire’s eyes showed sympathy, and she didn’t ask any more. She already had her own understanding.

People with black hair and black eyes are not common… This young lady definitely doesn’t come from an ordinary family. Daughters born in ordinary families have too many hardships and toil in their lives, and they can’t cultivate such a face and skin. Her granddaughter is eighteen years old, just past the age of adulthood, but her skin has already become rough and yellowish from the wind and sun.

Although she arrived wearing only a tattered cloak, the cloak was clearly not an ordinary item. Even the quality of it was likely beyond what the small nobles she had seen could afford.

It seems

Which great noble family had experienced some unimaginable misfortune, leaving only this poor girl to escape? However, she didn’t plan on prying into such matters. The girl already had a hard enough time; why would she want to reopen old wounds? Such things were not important to an elderly person.

“Do you have any place you want to go?”

I shook my head again.

“Well, how about staying with me for now?”

After hearing the old lady’s words, I tilted my head in thought.

Grandma seemed like a very nice person. Besides, I didn’t know where to go and had no money on me. It might be better to stay here for now, get a handle on the situation in this world, and then make further plans.

“…Alright.”

Grandma’s face lit up with delight, her wrinkles looking unsightly.

“My name is Claire, Claire French. Just call me Grandma Claire.”

I nodded to show I understood.

“Claire… Grandma, do you need… me to… do anything?”

When Grandma Claire heard my stuttering words, she couldn’t help but laugh. “Child, how old are you? What does Grandma need you to do? Grandma just likes you. As long as you don’t mind being here, that’s fine. Though there’s nothing good to eat or wear here, I won’t let you go hungry. Just settle in first.”

Her words were simple yet sincere.

Having been in the business world for three years, I was used to the cutthroat nature of it. I knew that to get something, one must first give. This had become a life creed for me. Since meeting Grandma Claire, her pure kindness had left me somewhat at a loss, and I urgently wanted to do something for her.

“I… can… clean.”

Saying this, I looked around to find a rag or broom.

“Child…” Grandma Claire pulled me back into her embrace, her eyes filled with concern. “Poor child, you must have been scared. You can’t even speak… I wonder what you’ve gone through…”

Her voice choked up towards the end, her eyes reddening. She was indeed a sentimental old person.

To be honest, I wasn’t quite used to this. As a 26-year-old man, it had been too long since someone had held me like this, and I felt somewhat embarrassed.

Feeling her bony body, I didn’t pull away but allowed her to hold me.

It’s not as bad as you think.

I wanted to tell her this, but the words wouldn’t come out.

…

As dusk approached.

The twilight, like a nearly extinguished candle, performed its final duty for the day.

For this small village, unlike modern cities with their bright lights, night was dangerous. Everyone would return home before the sun set.

“Grandma, we’re back!”

A sudden voice broke the silence as the old wooden door creaked open. I, who was wiping the table, turned curiously to look. A young couple covered in mud walked in one after another.

“I’m starving! Is there anything to eat… Oh, who are you?”

The girl with brown hair, who entered first, immediately noticed me and looked surprised.

“What’s going on? Is there a guest?”

The boy behind the girl, who appeared younger, asked as he scraped mud off his shoes.

“Hello…”

I felt somewhat awkward greeting them.

“We’re back!” Grandma Claire came out from the kitchen, tying her apron. “Tired? Rest for a bit. Dinner will be ready soon… Barry! You’ve made a mess everywhere! Go clean yourself up and come back!”

“Grandma, why don’t you say anything about Elia? Her feet are much dirtier than mine!”

The boy complained unhappily.

“You both clean up and come in! And clean the house afterward!”

“It’s okay… I’ll… clean.” I quickly dropped the rag and ran into the kitchen to fetch a broom.

“Grandma, who is she?” The girl named Elia asked curiously.

“This is little Hil… Come, don’t rush for the broom. Let me introduce you.”

“This is my granddaughter, Elia,” Grandma Claire pointed at the girl, then at the boy. “This naughty fellow is my grandson, Barry.”

“You two, this cute girl is Sylvie. Call her Hil. She’ll be your little sister from now on.”

“Huh???”

“Little sister?”

The sisters looked very curious.

“That’s right. Clean up and come inside. I’ll explain later. Little Hil, stop cleaning and sit down. Dinner will be ready soon.”

“Okay.”

Soon, simple and plain food was laid out on the table. Grandma Claire lit the oil lamp, and the dim room brightened up. The siblings finally got a clear look at my face, and their reactions were completely different.

“Oh! So cute!!!” Elia stared at me as if seeing a rare animal, her gaze making me shiver.

Barry’s face, illuminated by the light, looked slightly red, like a shy little boy.