Chapter 61. Victory of Humanity (1)
Clack.
Rena opened the carriage window.
Whirr!
The late autumn wind was cold, and a thin layer of frost clung to the air.
"Winter's almost here," Rena murmured.
"About a month left," I replied, glancing outside.
Fields of wheat stretched on either side. The harvest had long since ended. Even at the tail end of autumn, the fields weren't empty.
Pairs of men dragged plows through the post-harvest fields, lacking oxen to do the work. They looked as though they might collapse at any moment, their struggle a stark contrast to the lavish parties held within the castle walls.
Young men were noticeably absent. Instead, wrinkled old men pulled the plows while elderly women scattered fertilizer or planted seeds. One old woman, spreading fertilizer, repeatedly clutched her knees and groaned.
I remarked casually, "They look exhausted. Hasn’t the harvest ended?"
"They’re planting barley," Rena said, clicking her tongue lightly. "It’s been a while since I’ve seen this. It must mean they’ve been heavily taxed."