Chapter 163: Prepartions (2)
Without winter, there was little reason to manufacture heat-retaining clothes. Most races adapted naturally to the territories they lived in.
Only humans still needed warmth when it grew cold.
Yet even the chill of climbing mountains in the morning didn’t compare to true winter. Two layers of clothing, or even just long sleeves, were usually enough.
After discussing future plans for the Alrova Merchant House while he was away in the capital, their talk finally came to an end.
Entering his room, Gara began stuffing his clothes and the triplets’ belongings into simple cloth bags. He didn’t bother packing neatly. Everything would only end up inside his dimensional house.
Since there weren’t any wardrobes inside yet, he still needed to keep the clothes stored in bags.
He didn’t plan on taking the furniture from this house either; those would stay behind for the workers who’d live here later.
Della also joined to help him while the triplets slept soundly.
By the time Wina returned, tired from a full day of discussions with the village chief and the other villagers, all the clothes were already tucked away inside the dimensional pocket.
"How did it go, Mom?" Gara asked, cradling Aldwin in his arms. The infant refused to sleep and only wanted to play with his daddy.
"Thanks to the chief’s persuasion—and the way Doni laid out the benefits—everyone finally agreed to work with Alrova," Wina said, smiling despite her exhaustion.
Doni was Hilda’s assistant. He wasn’t a slave and knew nothing of Alrova’s true owner. As far as he was concerned, Hilda ran the merchant house.
She had picked him after watching him work for some time as a member of the management team in Alrova.
He wasn’t the type to create drama. He was ambitious enough, but he could maintain harmony among the team. He was also steady and loyal to Alrova, at least because he knew Alrova had potential.
"He’ll come here in a few days to discuss the details with the villagers," Wina added as she walked closer to Gara.
The moment Aldwin spotted his grandmother, he reached out with his chubby little arms. Wina took the silver-haired baby with delight, kissing his cheeks and cooing to him softly.
Among the triplets, Aldwin cried the loudest, but he was also the most sociable. He loved being carried, no matter who it was.
Ava, on the other hand, wasn’t nearly as friendly. She tended to cry if someone unfamiliar came near, like Emir or even the village chief when he visited. It was almost as if she instinctively knew who was a stranger.
Arion was even more particular. He barely tolerated Fian and Madha, since they never sleep with him. From the very start, he seemed to show signs of being the quiet, timid one.
Still, there was plenty of time. Children changed as they grew. And even if they didn’t, Gara believed that behind every weakness his children showed, there would be strengths to balance it out.
Wina didn’t linger long with Aldwin. She still had dinner to prepare and more packing to help with.
Gara reluctantly passed Aldwin to Della, then turned back to sort his laboratory equipment.
Fortunately, most of it had already been transferred into the dimensional home over the past few days.
But there were still all the seeds to consider. He sighed heavily. Most of the herbs he’d planted in the yard hadn’t even been harvested yet, but he had no choice but to leave them behind.
If only he could move them straight into the dimensional home’s yard. Unfortunately, the difference in climate would kill them instantly.
He would need to research which plants could thrive in autumn. But for now, he had no time. With regret weighing on him, he could only abandon his precious herbs.
As the sky darkened, the family gathered for dinner. Fian, who had been storing firewood inside the dimensional pocket earlier, came out just in time to join them.
Right after they finished eating, the sound of hooves echoed from outside. Madha had finally arrived. He entered the house, no longer wearing his guard uniform, just plain clothes under his Liner’s robe.
After eating his dinner alone, Madha joined the others in moving the rest of their belongings into the dimensional home.
That night, for the first time, everyone stepped together into the dimensional pocket, including the triplets.
They didn’t have thick blankets yet, but the warm temperature inside the house was enough to keep the babies from getting cold.
Together, they explored each room and began dividing them up.
"This house is so big and luxurious, Gara," Wina said after taking her time to look around.
Gara only smiled faintly. He guessed, to Wina, who had lived most of her life as a druid’s servant and then in a small, remote village, it was only natural to be amazed by a house built solidly from brick and concrete.
Even Lady Vita—Gara’s mother and Wina’s former mistress— who was also the leader of the forest, had lived in wooden homes.
Druid houses weren’t built with multiple rooms under one roof; each structure had a single purpose and was usually small in size.
That’s because they are druids who can’t clear land by cutting down trees; they can’t harm the trees.
Della chimed in as well. "This house is about the same size as my former master’s main building. But this one is so clean and beautiful.
It doesn’t have those yellowish or brown stains on the walls. And the floors... they shine so much I can see my reflection. I’ve never seen anything like this."
Only then did Gara start to realize the true value of the place. He had been shocked as well the first time he stepped inside. It was unlike any house he’d ever seen in this world.
Perhaps when they reached the capital, he would see places even grander.
Once they finished looking around, the conversation turned to who would take which room.
"Gara should have the large room on the right. Through the window, you can see the pond outside. The view is beautiful," Wina insisted, always putting Gara first in everything.
"Yes, I agree. I’ll take the smaller room next to Gara’s," Madha said immediately.
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