This year's winter was not so cold.

Emerson let out a white breath, sat down at the round table, and took a bite of bread with warm water.

The Wailing Wind Principality is mountainous and has no suitable grazing conditions, so there are not many dairy products, only enough for some rich and noble families.

However, the food was much more abundant, and in addition to bread, there were strips of meat and vegetables on the table in front of Emerson, although there were not many, but now it was winter, and if it was before, it would be a great luck for them to be able to eat a bite or two of wild vegetables.

It's been a year and a half since the civil war in the Kingdom of Korot ended, but they haven't returned to their original home.

Their home is long gone, and in that civil war, they became refugees, displaced, and came here, where they managed to survive.

And the country seems to have begun to accept them, and they have been given a new job - logging and pioneering!

Many lumberyards were built in the Principality of Sorrow, some on the territory of the Principality, and many more on the edge of the Black Forest, and Emerson was not lucky enough to be assigned to the edge of the Black Forest.

According to the soldiers, the lumberyards in the Principality were only for timber, and the lumberyards on their side, in addition to logging, were also tasked with the task of 'Black Forest Pioneering'.

However, the big thing of the pioneer didn't have much to do with the little people, they just needed to dispose of the trees in the area in charge in time, and then let the farmers carve out a piece of farmland in the surrounding open space.

The true pioneers are the soldiers and adventurers of the principality!

Emerson glanced around at the 'cafeteria', and the crowd around him sounded like it was about to tear off the roof.

The place where he is now is not only a lumber yard, but also a military stronghold, and of course, a bit like an inn.

He was surrounded not only by the lumberyard workers—the refugees who had fled to the Duchy of Sorrow like him—but also by many soldiers and adventurers.

They gathered together to enjoy their lunch.

The food for the soldiers is the best, because when they come to the canteen to eat, the access is dedicated, and then there are the adventurers, who need a lot of activity and therefore need to eat a lot of meat.

The lumberjacks and farmers were fed the least, but even so, they were satisfied.

Before they fled, there were very few opportunities to eat meat a year, but now they can eat meat at almost every meal, is there anything to be dissatisfied with?

After eating, Emerson licked his lips a little unsatisfied, he had eaten at least eighty percent of the meal this time, and it was a little different from before.

In the past, even when there was work, eating three meals a day was considered an extra meal, but now it can only be regarded as the norm.

But on the other hand, their working hours have also become longer, but if they only work a little longer and can eat three full meals, who wouldn't want to?

After finishing his meal, Emerson picked up the plate and put it in the recycling area, which everyone had to follow, though Emerson didn't know what it was for.

Since last fall, they have been following some rules that are now almost becoming their habit.

However, Emerson didn't feel anything bad about it, and even vaguely felt that it was of great benefit to them.

His brother was assigned to another logging site, along with his sister-in-law and niece.

However, he was not worried that they would be bullied, because the soldiers who maintained order in the lumberyard would not allow such a thing to happen.

Wrapped up in his fur coat, Emerson skirted the 'shadow wall' and pushed the door open and walked out of the warm cafeteria.

As soon as he walked out, a mischievous cold wind got under his neck, making him shiver.

"It's so cold...... "Emerson took another step, ready to go back to his dorm room to rest.

The dormitory is an unexpected 'luxury', although there are still several people living in one room, but everyone can have their own room, although the room is not large, but it has its own privacy.

When Emerson and the others came here, they were frightened, because they knew at a glance that they had not been built recently, and perhaps the chief servant of Serena had prepared everything for them.

If there is a public bathhouse, the men of these refugees are lumberjacks and farmers, and the women are the 'waiters'.

Whether it is the cook in the cafeteria or the workers boiling water in the bathhouse, it is all done by women, which also allows women to have an independent income, so to speak...... It's weird.

Of course, this 'strange' is only for those of them who have never seen the world, and for the civilians of the Principality of Sorrowful Wind, they are no longer strange.

Since Serena's head maid took power, women's rights and interests have been greatly protected, and many women have independent income, and they are much tougher when facing their husbands.

Emerson returned to his room, which was cramped, and when he had put down a bed and a cupboard, there was only one hallway, but he was pleased with it.

Compared to his previous days in a tent, his life is slowly getting better.

Serena's head maid is a big believer in 'human management', so they work six days a week, have one day off, and enjoy their nap time at noon every day.

I have to say that such days are so good that Emerson does not want to go back to the oppressed days of the past.

After a long day's work, they gather in the evening to read and write – one of the few mandatory requirements of the Principality for them.

It's mandatory to learn words, even if you don't want to learn it, you must learn it!

Emerson had never heard of anything like this, and he had heard them talk about it when he used to talk to the adventurers.

They said that such a good thing would only happen in the Principality of the Howling Wind, and that it would be impossible for such a good thing to happen in the rest of the countries and regions.

It takes a lot of money to be able to learn to read and write, like here?

Even if you don't want to learn, some people are forced to learn!

Lying in his bed, Emerson recalls the events of the year and a half with a happy smile on his face.

A year and a half ago, he thought that he and his brother's family were desperate, but he didn't expect that a year and a half later, he would be able to live such a comfortable life......

Raising his hand and scratching his waist and abdomen, Emerson felt a little itchy there, although the mosquitoes were gone in winter, there were still fleas.

Especially in a warm place like the house, although there are few fleas, they are not absent.

But Emerson suddenly felt more and more itching, and after scratching for a few minutes, he opened his eyes and lifted his clothes to take a look.

His eyes widened!

"This, what is this?!"

Looking at the scales on his waist and abdomen, Emerson's lips trembled, and he couldn't help but let out a wail, and his brain became even more chaotic.

"What, what?"

With his left hand pulling at the hem of his clothes, Emerson took two deep breaths, stretched out his trembling hand, and gently touched the scales on his waist and abdomen......

Cool ......

Hurriedly pulling down his clothes, Emerson raised his head and stared blankly at the end of the bed.

With his hands clutched around his stomach, Emerson couldn't help but mutter, "I've become a monster...... Monster ......"

After a moment's thought, Emerson shook his head again in a hurry.

“...... I'm not a monster!

"This, this is 'alienation'! The doctor said, this is 'alienation'! I'm going to show the doctor!"

As if grasping at a life-saving straw, the pale Emerson jumped out of bed, hurriedly dressed, and dragged his unworn shoes to the lumberyard clinic. ()

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