CHAPTER 519: CHAPTER 519 - EXPLORING CERYNEIA (PART 1)

A collective gasp was heard in the area around us as Marius said the word "wife" quite loudly and confidently. He has really just declared himself as my husband in public. Does he even know what he is getting into by saying that?

I chose to stay quiet and not contradict anything he says or claims for now since I don’t want him to lose faceto these people at least. I simply smiled and greeted everyone politely. While looking at each person around us though, I couldn’t help but notice that there are some shady characters mixed in the crowd.

I quickly noticed them since they seem to be staring at me and Marius particularly while keeping their distance and hiding from view by hiding behind some structures, just observing and listening in to the conversation between Marius, me and the villagers. There is a high chance that these are spies sent by his enemies, if he happens to have any. Is he trying to use me by introducing me as his wife to protect himself from whoever sent these people?

I have a lot of questions in my head but I have to be patient for now since it is not appropriate to ask Marius about this issue in public. I would find out about all the answers I need anyway as soon as Marius and I can speak in private. I also plan to roam around the different circles in Ceryneia to get first hand information from the locals and to see the situation in here with my own eyes.

After greeting everybody cordially, Marius eventually led me to the house he was pertaining to earlier. It was a small hut, about 30 square meters in floor area. One can describe it as simple, clean and livable.

Upon entering the hut though, I noticed how sparse the furniture was. There were only 2 small chairs and a small square dining table. There was also a single bed that can fit a thin person on the northwest corner of the house. There was also bookshelf that only had 3 books in it, a study table (no chair) and a few cooking and eating utensils in the kitchen. There was no distinction between which part was the dining room, living room and bedroom since there was hardly any space anyways.

It is funny how I feel like this space is too cramped when I was actually living in a 25 square meter studio type apartment back when I was in earth. I guess this world has spoiled me so much that I am no longer used to the simple life that I used to have.

As I looked at Marius, I realized that he was watching my facial reaction to how his house looked like. He looked worried and he started apologizing about how this is the best he can find. He even told me that this was one of the best houses in Ash City given the quality of life in the outermost circle of Ceryneia.

I shook my head and smiled at him. I did not say any complaints about the house but I asked if it is okay with him if I use magic to make this place look even better. He readily agreed knowing that I am quite adept in space magic.

I took a piece of paper and a pencil from my storage then asked him to draw his idea of his dream home on that paper so I have a reference on the improvements we will be making for this home. I needed to know from him as to how big the house he wanted was, his preferred colors, types of furniture he wanted to have and how rooms will be divided.

This home will just be a temporary abode for the week but the details I am asking him is for my future use. He did say he will be my husband, right? He’ll eventually have a house in Tadhana then.

After about half an hour, I received a rough sketch from him. I guess drawing was not one of his strengths since he just opted to describe to me verbally most of the things he wanted to place in the house. To put it simply, everything he can’t draw, he just described and pointed out to me where to place it on the house plan on the paper.

After I understood what he wanted, I asked him to go out of the hut but stay near he door and scream for help if he needs it. He looked at me like I have suddenly gone stupid. I raised an eyebrow and told him, "There are people spying on us after we arrived. I am sure I got no enemies here. I am not sure about you though?"

My comment instantly made him nervous and cautious. He promised to stay by the door and not lurk for now unless he was with me. So he is he type that needs to be threatened to behave, I guess.

Once he was out, I simply casted a few spells here and there. Just like what I did to my carriage and even my villa at the academe, this place has increased in size by several times compared to how it looked like in the outside. I quickly went back out since I also don’t want to get that guy outside kidnapped.

I went back out and let the magic do its work for now. I asked him to accompany me in going around Ash City for now to get familiar with the place. I am kind of mapping the place as well in case I needed to sneak around undetected.

We used up the rest of the afternoon greeting people he knew from the way back. He indeed did not lie about his house being one of the best ones in the area.

I remember him saying that the farther one is from the central circle of Ceryneia, the poorer the living conditions were. He was indeed right as I saw that most of the houses here were small and shanty-like, made from whatever material can be salvaged from the surroundings.

I saw some families crowded around the fire since technically, this place does not get sunshine so the ocean floor is extremely cold. For some reason, though they live in the water, they still need warmth I guess since I see them setting up camp fires for cooking and staying warm.

Just like the rest of this world, I rarely see any children in this place. If I counted the ones I saw from going around, I only saw about four. It was a good thing that the lives of merfolk were long. Even this guy accompanying me is more than 200 years old.

After we went one round to all the places in Ash City, we went back to Marius’ hut to rest. Just before we walked inside the hut, I asked him a random question, "Can you fence your own property or land around here? Does this place have a community kitchen of some sort?"

Marius stopped in his tracks and looked back at me. He seemed to be trying to think about how to answer my questions. After a few seconds, he looked up and answered with a low voice, "If you are talking about this house, we could but there is no reason to do so before. You can add one if you want to

As for a community kitchen, we don’t have one. It is not like there is anything one can share to others here when you do not have barely enough for your own stomach."

I nodded my head and replied, "I will place a fence around the house. The empty space to the right of the house will be built into a community kitchen. It will be fenced on three sides with one shared with the house. The front should be open since it can be used by anyone here."

He stared at my face for a while as if checking if I was seriously considering to do what I just said. I just smiled at him and told him to check on the new look of the house while I tidy up the place outside of it.

Just like I said, I built a wooden fence around the hut. It looked weak if you first look at it but it is as sturdy as the one I built around the town of Ersha before. It was just several scales smaller to that.

After making sure that it was passable to my standards, I started setting the community kitchen as well. I added some stoves at least and some cooking utensils such as pots, pans, ladles, knives and chopping boards. I made sure to put a sink for washing stuff and also one of my fridge-like inventions as well to keep produce and ingredients fresh.

For now, I made sure that it was hidden behind a barrier so that nobody will trespass the area. I will reveal this new useful addition to this city by tomorrow instead.