Chapter 1: A Place Like Heaven (part 2)

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If written in bold italics then it is the heroine talking to others.

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Strawberries! Strawberries! Ichigo! Yahoo! Strawberries!

This is great! Adelaide’s fields are the best. Not only that they she has strawberry fields but also a vegetable patch. There are also blueberry bushes here and there, for me picking strawberries and blueberries is a good stress relief every time tension was too much. I heard that there are also other berries that can be found in the forest near the backyard, I can’t wait for the seasons that I can pick them as well.

And now, for the strawberries we harvested yesterday. I will do it again today. Just like what turned ripe today will be eaten or used for sweets. Well, how luxurious and delicious! There are so many ripe strawberries today, so maybe I can make jam.

There is a technique of harvesting at a tremendous speed and without damaging the fruit is true craftsmanship. Ah, on my left hand with the basket covered with a gingham. I feel like I really am in the redheaded Anne’s world. At the end of the field there was Buddy wagging his tail.

I approached him and patted his head, I guess it’s time to return. I was enjoying the fresh air while singing a song without a voice… The sunshine in the morning woods are soft and warm. Birds are singing happily.

The forest behind the estate are privately owned by the Earl’s family, so the villagers rarely comes. I was spinning and twirling around to match the waltz that was playing in my head. Yeah, I still feel the pain in my ankle.

It has been about two months since I came here. The condition of my injury has improved tremendously, leaving only my left foot to be in pain. But as long as I don’t run or play about like I’m doing now, there’s no problem as long as I take my time walking. Adelaide still worries, but I think I should be okay.

There are four seasons here, but I was relieved to hear that the summer here was not too hot. In Tokyo, no matter how many years I lived there, I could never get used to it, with this body that was born in the north, and every summer I lose a lot of weight because of it. Oh, every time I sweat, I get reminded of Japan’s summers accustomed to the vegetables provided by the cultivation houses regardless of the seasons. The taste is similar… rather, this ones here are more delicious. The taste of the ingredients are strong and honest.

I just rinsed the fresh vegetables quickly, then dried them and seasoned them with salt and cook them in oil. I didn’t need broth or roux for soup. I just added more seasoning and strong flavoured vegetables like garlic and shallots, and then I added some bacon, and I made a Provencal-style soup! It’s delicious. I like rice but I also like bread.

I had no obsession with Japanese food! In short, what I eat what I think are delicious, simply put I’m just a glutton, as long I can be satisfied.

There was a wide variety of fresh vegetables from a single field and there are good quality meat and dairy products available in the neighbourhood. I am confident in saying that right now, I have the healthiest and most delicious diet in my life. Because my skin glows and even my weight is reduced. Though this maybe from working by cleaning or something.

Even so, if the condition of my skin was good, I was nervous about what I was selling, after all, cosmetics were more of an aide. No, I don’t think it is necessary, but how is it still very different? I actually make my own lotion because I just want to use it.

However, now my eating, sleeping and my life change from the ground up.. Now I wake up early, get to eat a balanced diet, I do moderate exercise and I breathe clean air and water. I know, but what I couldn’t do because of my busyness here everyday. Yup, did Sakashita-chan cure her gastroenteritis? Then aim for a stress-free life!

I know it’s impossible! There are still things that I’m going to remember before and I get so excited. But sadly, I don’t feel like going home – I feel sorry, but now maybe is much better here than going back. I enjoy my life now.

“Margaret, you’re back. Oh so many.” Adelaide said as she looked into the strawberries inside the basket and smile. I’m looking forward to it, I can finally make jam.

Buddy’s tail is wagging with excitement. I had been wanting to make jams since we started harvesting strawberries. So I now I need to lightly wash the strawberries in the outdoor sink, in the yard by the kitchen to remove any dirt or anything foreign.

I usually don’t wash the strawberries from the supermarket when I’m making jam. My pastry chef acquaintance told me; If they were freshly picked, just wash off the dirt and any chemicals, but I can just use the strawberries that were distributed under sanitary conditions. I heard that the water is not good for strawberries. Certainly, other than soiling, any bacteria will be sterilized by heating,

When it’s clean, gently wrap it up with cloth to drain the water. Use a paring knife to cut all the caps, cut the larger strawberries in in quarters or halves, then place them in a bowl. Calibrate the weighing scale with an empty bowl before weighing the strawberries.

I usually use granulated sugar (グラニュー糖) or white sugar (上白糖) . Granulated sugar has a clear colour and taste, while white sugar has rich sweetness. I was using white sugar, which I bought on sale at the supermarket.

The amount of sugar should be half the weight of the strawberries. I think that some people may find this a lot, but jams are preserved food, and sugar helps that.

In fact, one time made the sugar about 30% of the weight of the strawberries, I was glad I could taste the fruits, but I had to store it in the refrigerator and the sweetness was unsatisfactory. I cared about the calories so I thought I had to adjust the amount of sugar. I find that “slightly sweet” is more satisfying. You can put it in tea instead of sugar and it goes well with yogourt. Yeah, it was good. So now, I just use sugar that is half the weight of the strawberries, this is my iron rule.

I placed the strawberries and sugar in a bowl and cover it, then leave it for a while. If it’s not a hot day, I don’t have to worry about spoiling, so I can leave it overnight. The idea is to start cooking after the sugar get moistened with the liquid from the strawberries. 

Strawberries can be cooked in an enamel or stainless steel pot. What Adelaide gave me to cook the jam was a pot that was like calm gold, like a copper pot. I don’t know the name of the metal here is, but for me this is a copper pot. I was already happily grinning. The strawberries that were harvested in the field behind the house was too nice, so the jam should be cooked in a copper pot.

This is what it looks like the way to have a fashionable slow life. I had never had any interests in magazines or anything the like. Because it was not realistic. The people’s fields and kitchens that are featured are beautifully decorated. While real country living is smelly and human relationships are more troublesome. Real farmers are too busy that they can’t be bothered, they there are more functional and durable items inside the house.

The backdoor are not lined with sneakers but instead with boots caked in mud and dirt. Effective detergents takes priority over the eco-friendly option, this is the reality that I know… Well, the world is indeed a big and wide, so maybe there are people who practise this stylish way of the slow life.

I find that even in this world, farming and handcrafts do not seem to be popular, Adelaide always lived by herself, that’s why she felt sorry that I came to live with her lately, she didn’t have a lot of magic tools to be used.

Well, Adelaide’s house is like in the early Showa Era in Japan. There is no rice cooker, no microwave nor an electric kettle. For the water we use a hand-pump , there are electric lights though and the toilets have septic tanks, for the cleaning there are mops and rags but I prefer the brooms. The women in the village are unwilling to do so, but it’s fine, it wasn’t a problem for me.

Originally I didn’t have rice cooker anyway. A small rice cooker was used by my brother who lives alone and can’t cook rice properly. A good rice cooker is only available for family size and it was surprisingly expensive. I don’t cook for myself everyday anyway, so I just decided to cook rice in a pot. Delicious, hot rice cooked in a pot. It can be eaten after 20 minutes excluding the prep time.

I’ve been stuck to my grandmother, so I’m used to cleaning the old-fashioned way, with a hataki and rags. Also, just to make it clear, I don’t have any confidence in using magic tools without magic. They said that it can be used by anyone, but when something happens, I can’t deal with it and I find it impossible to do that.

I quickly got used to living here. After all, dirt and insects don’t bother me. That’s why even if I’m alone, I’m good.

Now I left the bowl of the strawberry mixture in the corner of the kitchen and started preparing for lunch. Adelaide’s luncheon is usually light, we usually just eat German cold plates with a small plate of cheese or fruit and a drink. 

At the beginning, I had full lunches, Adelaide was paying attention to my health. But I knew it wasn’t reasonable so, I took over as soon I felt better. We lived together so I would rather be assimilated to her lifestyle. Besides, I didn’t think that lunch was too important, and there were a lot of things to do during the day.

That’s why I’d rather just have tea with a lunch that doesn’t have to be cooked, and then I picked up a lovely bell in the kitchen. It was rather a small, dull gold with a handle, the type of bell that a master rings when calling for a servant in the movies. The bell had a lovely engraved pattern of lily of the valley . Adelaide had prepared for me to use to call for her, since I can’t use my voice. I was told that I should carry it around, but I usually keep it here. Because, I am usually in the kitchen.

After I ring the bell and hear the gentle ringing, I usually hear Adelaide’s voice right after. Buddy came with me and I smiled, then held Adelaide’s hand to head out for lunch.

–After finishing lunch, I did some weeding in the front yard . Then checked if the sugar was moist enough in the bowl of strawberries. After all the strawberries were all ripe, so the moisture was good.

Now it’s time to boil it! Prepare the pot, It should be large and deep as possible. In a hot pot, carefully boil the mixture in high heat, but make sure that the flames aren’t protruding at the bottom of the pot. There are different kinds of magic tools in the mansion, especially in the kitchen. For example, this stove uses a fire stick. I just want to say that if feels like a magician’s wand… that’s all. Though the length and feel are similar to chopsticks.

There is also a flat, black stone, shaped like a doughnut below the burner on the stove. A small red stone in set at the edge along the border of inside the black stone. A few good twirls of this high quality chopsticks and then the stove will ignite. The fire can be controlled and extinguished, it can be operated with ease using the switch bar on hand… It’s strange that there is no mechanism and there is no need for fuel, but I guess that’s why its a magic tool. And apparently, this gas stove-like equipment is already outdated. The more recent ones doesn’t need a fire stick. This is fine because I really like playing with it. 

If I keep mixing the strawberry-sugar mixture over a strong fire, it will boil up and there will be white foamy bubbles coming out. At times like these, deep pots are needed because the foam really rise to the top.

If it gets too much you can skim the excess foam, the bottom of the pot would easily get burned, so be sure to stir constantly and control the fire accordingly. But it would be better if the fire is stronger. If not, you will need to boil it for a long time, if you finish the boiling the jam in a short time the colour will be a lot nicer. Oh, at this time, you can add lemon juice if desired. Stir moderately if you want to keep the strawberry seeds intact, otherwise thoroughly stir the strawberries and pass through a sieve, careful not to get burned.

When the small bubbles get bigger together with nice gloss coming out, then it’s almost finished. Turn off the heat and check the overall consistency. They can be checked using a small plate and watch a dollop of the jam to cool down and see how runny it gets or drop a bit in a cup of cold water and check if it hardens. The trick is to keep the jam hot and only check it if you want to see the consistency when it cools down in one of the methods. Well, consistency is one’s own preference. 

While still hot, place the jam inside a bottle that has been sterilized for about 9 minutes, make sure that the lid is closed tightly and then turn upside down to cool. Yes! Now it’s done! Now if cooled to room temperature it can last about 3 months, but it can also be kept for a longer period of time, just place the bottles with jam in a pot with the lid up, pour water until completely submerged and then turn on the heat. Just before it boils, turn off the fire and let it cool naturally. Using this method, it will create a vacuum inside the bottle and it will last for a long time.

I was very happy, until Dr. Daniel came in for a house call. Let’s say there was an incident on my way home.

I thought… it was going to be a secret of mine, but the story was told during the morning consultation. I found out I was watched. It was embarrassed! It was so embarrassing!

I was seen by Mark, dancing by the strawberry fields, then squatted down when I hurt my ankle. Well, there was a pathway at the edge of the forest on the side of the field.

Hey, Mark, why didn’t you call out to me? Why did you have to tell the doctor? Now even this sweet man treats me like a child, even though I’m already 28 years old. You made me look like a helpless child.

No, I won’t be underestimated or overwhelmed, I like the feeling, but it’s a little awkward! I’m just not used to it, being treated like a spoiled daughter.

–Immediately after my grandmother passed, both my parents died in an accident when I was still in junior high school. I had an older brother, I was a lot younger and he was already living in his own pace, he was already independent. Yeah, that’s right, if he hadn’t met my sister-in-law, then he definitely would’ve been alone. My sister-in-law, thank you for falling in love with my brother. It has been a long time since they were married, but it seems that my melancholy hasn’t been healed, and I’m sure it will stay with me now.

It was hard when my parents died. We had no relatives other than grandmother, so we had no body to rely on. The neighbours and school teachers were kind. I wondered if my brother grew into an adult quickly. The following year, he graduated from college then we settled down after finding a job in the area.

The main reason for selling our suburban home and buying a small apartment near brother’s workplace in the city centre is “snow shovelling”. Especially during the worst parts of winter. My older brother was a new employee who often does the housework while I was in junior high school, and at the time he had to do a lot of overtime, and he had trouble getting home.

The road in front of the house was a bit narrow, so the snow plows from the city do not pass often. He works together with the neighbours and moves his big shovel with deep contempt for the falling snow. It was a daily occurrence with that road, and in which it will finally clear up at around 9 o’clock at night, just to be buried in snow again when we wake up in the morning.

The garden and the roof has to be cleaned and groomed, I did my best, but rather than see the house that my parents took care off into ruin, we decided to move after my junior high school graduation. There was an elderly man who relocated to the apartments with his family for the same reason. There were also many women. After all the snow is hard and it’s heavy. So with that reason, the snow shovelling of apartments in under the jurisdiction of the management company, so the residents didn’t have to worry. In addition, even if the houses were built with the northern weather in mind, the reinforced concrete apartment was still warmer. There were no stairs inside the unit and the common areas were barrier-free. The apartment building had an elderly-friendly specifications that they had a caretaker than helps with taking care of them, that even if relatives are not available they will watch over them. That is one of the reasons why the average age in this building was so high.

For us siblings who lost our parents were very noticeable, but they said we were also very cute. I thought that everybody was kind. I often receive pickles and fresh vegetables or cooked vegetables, so it saved us so many meals. I collected a lot of reusable shopping bags. Each on is cute and when you gather the numbers it was rather impressive.

I got along with my neighbours, but they were mostly old, and so they would pass on one by one. Inevitably I would get sad every time.

“It can’t be helped. If you were worried about it, you should have been with him.” This were the words of my then-long-time lover, when one day we went to a memorial service. It didn’t matter if the meaning of his statement was because he was comforting me or out of anger that I got depressed, I couldn’t help it, or maybe it was the way he showed that he took our relationship lightly.

Remembering that day, the feeling that my heart was getting crushed.

Sad things were sad and lonely things are lonely, it didn’t matter if they were natural. I didn’t need any words or opinions that were merely lip service. It would have been good if I would’ve said yes, when he asked me to marry him… We have been dating for 6 years without being able to atone for our differences, I think.

My consultation was over while my mind was still far away and I was thinking of my former self, and then we had the usual tea time. The doctor told me about the clinic in the morning, there was this mother who brought their child during consultations, he said that the mother finds it difficult with the child.

“I have Mark help me babysit, but he is not very good. Besides he is better if he works with me as my assistant, but as of now, it can’t be helped.”

I guess it would also be hard for the children that are coming. Also I think that the doctor is right, but it doesn’t show Mark’s true intention, or maybe he’s just different from others? It’s just children are sensitive.

I was too, at first I was cautious. But now, since I have met with him face to face many times, he started to pat my head, but I think he is just imitating the doctor. I was supposed to be 4 years older, but that person is… anyway, putting that aside, he probably doesn’t have the willingness to play with children.

He was tall with blond hair and blue eyes. The had a princely face that was very handsome, he would be popular with the young ladies of the village, but it doesn’t make him happy, and it’s not like I’m interested. I’m a little worried about him but, he may be young, but sometimes he acts distant, or maybe he’s just not aware of it.

–Anyways the field was wide, then I’m sorry I just didn’t notice. Next time I would be the one watching him secretly. Hey Onii-san, I’m normal, and my tolerance is high , so it’s okay. Just don’t look at me with such strange eyes! 

Oh, I should listen to the doctor’s story properly. I may not know much, I may not be able to help with consultations. But if you are serious, I will help you believe it!

When I imagining such things, I was wondering how Mark was as a nanny and the doctor was joking and laughing. Huh, huh? I’m a little bothered so I talked to Adelaide using her palm. The level of civilization and lifestyle in this world is like medieval Europe, where paper and books are expensive. And because I can’t waste paper inevitably, I use the palm for everyday writing.

“Oh, I guess Margaret is talking about a school building for small children. But we don’t have such a thing.”

I thought so, there is no concept of kindergarten here. Why don’t you hire a teacher instead of a nanny? 

Oh, if the doctor was worried about that. It’s true that the nursery teachers and kindergarten teachers are slightly different from a nanny, in fact, I had a kindergarten teacher’s license.

Not that it helped me in my sales job at all. The both of us were talking about it, and he suggested that maybe I can come in once or twice a week to help out with the children for half a day. 

“Can you help with the children and the elderly? And if you go there I can monitor your condition, that I won’t have to worry and I can see if you have symptoms before they could get any worse. In any case I could heal you a lot faster, for certain. Besides you being the [Spirit Orison] is known already throughout the village “

I can’t talk with a child who can’t read, I wonder if it will be alright. 

“Don’t worry, I’ll be quiet relieved.” Said Dr. Daniel.

“I’m afraid of you getting hurt, but it’s better for you to get out of the house little by little… And if it’s Daniel’s place, you should be fine.”

Dr. Daniel said that he would properly pay me a salary. But for myself, if there is something I can do, I would love to do it. So I said ok… Yes, thank you for hiring me. You are the second person whom I feel thankful for, I might not have been able to repay him with a simple compliment, but with this he has given me real purpose. I believe in Dr. Daniel, there are a lot of reasons for it, but most importantly it’s because Adelaide-sama believes in the doctor.

“So how about it, Margaret.”

And so that’s how I came to decide that I will do the housework in the mansion and I will help the doctor with child-care in the clinic starting next week.

After my consultation, the doctor went back to the clinic. When I finished doing the laundry, there was suddenly a knock on the door of the utility room and Adelaide came in. “Margaret, what do you think of this, would this help? The cloth is durable and the dirt won’t be noticeable.”

I have this dark this handed to me. If you look closely enough, it has an intricate pattern or lace sewn in, the sleeves were not constricting and when I tried it on, the fit was perfect. I think I look good.

“Oh, that looks good. So what do you think of this one? But don’t you think you need something more fashionable? these clothes are pretty old-fashioned.”

Adelaide finally settled after I told her many many times that I was happy with the clothes. The clothes Adelaide has given were cute. The quality of the cloth was incomparable. It was comfortable and I didn’t need to use a corset. Even though the skirt is pretty long, it has a wide skirt that it doesn’t restrict with movements. Certainly, the way that the village women dress is different from Adelaide, their fashion emphasizes the waist and chest more. In all honestly I don’t really sense any difference between these clothes and a kimono, but then again, I don’t know much about fashion. Besides both style of clothes are as different as possible, but still , I think they are beautiful by nature. I heard that corsets are necessary to wear with the current fashion.

Since this is the countryside, there aren’t many flashily dressed people, but it would be different if I were are the Capital City and one were a nobleman, I can tell even Adelaide was forced to wear something she didn’t like. In fact, she completely disagreed with her son’s ex-wife because of her clothing. 

“It’s because it was deemed appropriate. It’s definitely not wrong, but I am just as bad with the meaning.” Adelaide muttered. She was by no means an inexpressive person. But it was just a bad match against her opponent just because of clothing. Adelaide-sama was used to taking care of her own clothes since she was young. But it may not be considered as a praise for a noblewoman. 

I can sympathize with her though. Right now, being at the age of 30, I am less likely to follow fashion trends and I just tend to rotate my choices between my favourite clothes. It was just less of a hassle… Oh, I know, I just need confidence, I understand but still I’m not convinced myself! I just need to try again. I have been generously given clothes by Adelaide. Thankfully, they were ready-made clothes, and I didn’t have to sew and make it myself. 

Once my injury was healed, I received an invitation from the king himself, inviting me to the city. I would need to go sometime, I would love to see what they have to offer in the city. 

The village of Meesely is just barely a day away from the Capital City. And because it wasn’t too far, the village basically just sell daily necessities, well I haven’t gone out much yet, and usually people deliver our groceries from the stores. My only source of information is the Women’s Association in the village, but because I don’t go to them directly, I really don’t meet them much either.

But I go there if I am able to walk.

The Royal Palace has yet to announce the appearance of an [Orison], no one can open the announcement. I would rather ask that they won’t make a big deal out of it, strangely – that was also the doctor’s plan.

Like clockwork, every time there is a stranger in this small village, that person would be the point of interest. So since they know who I was, there were speculations that I didn’t need Adelaide, who lives here. The doctor already talked to the village chief and the villagers in advance. Because of the trust they place in the doctor, there were no weird rumours floating about, and for that I am thankful.

The members of the women’s association was informed that an [Orison] had arrived, so at first there was excitement. But I was relieved that I was pretty much treated as an ordinary person, soon enough people are trying to talk to me about mundane things, like how do I tie my hair.

According to what I have heard, there are shops that were selling produce and meat, and also some haberdasheries. And as for the sweets, since plain bread is made at home, pastries and confections are sold in bakeries.

For a while now, I’ve been wondering if is this how the Amish live? 

I heard that there are specialty shops in the Capital, I would like to buy a gift for Adelaide when I visit the city. Thinking about it, it made me feel nervous or something.

“If you get sick, let Daniel know right away.”

Adelaide’s hands were trying to fix my hair, her eyes filled with worry, – really what a kind person. I’m used to not worrying about myself, I get happy whenever somebody tells me not to overdo it.

I don’t know how many times I have worried Adelaide-sama during my early days. But ever since I came here, I am gradually remembering how to take care of myself.

I nodded, I was thankful for a lot of things. Again I nodded with firm feelings.

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Granulated Sugar – Guranyuto(グラニュー糖)– Caster sugar. Used for baking. Made with sugar canes.

White Sugar – Johakuto(上白糖)– White sugar, used for cooking in general. Made with sugar canes. Invert sugar is added to increase sweetness in the final process. The texture is moist compared to caster sugar.

Shōwa era (昭和, Shōwa) refers to the period of Japanese history corresponding to the reign of Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito) from December 25, 1926 until his death on January 7, 1989.

German Cold Plate, (Abendbrot or Night Bread) That is it because Germans usually choose something quick and cold dinner, such as bread, cheese, sausages and vegetables (sounds like breakfast).

Translator: Saber
Proofreader: Shokūtsu

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