“Kaldia-!”
In front of the feudal lord’s mansion in Kaldia.
As I pulled up from the border with the royal army, a voice called out to me from the mansion. When I looked up, I saw Eric waving at me from the third floor window.
He had only left a few days ago, but I felt as if I hadn’t seen him in months. I should wave back, but then I remembered that I was wrapped in bandages, so I discreetly raised one hand.
Instead, Rashiok, who was standing beside me, and the white she-draconis quickly sat down and howled. I chuckled at how frightened the horses and Eric were, and calmed down the horses.
“I’m back, Baron Dorvadine. I’m sorry to have left you alone.”
“You’re right! You left me here and stayed on the battlefield, and then came back all messed up! Are you an idiot?!”
He shouted, and all I could do was quietly listen to his screams.
As soon as I entered the mansion, Eric was the first to greet me, and he circled around me to check my bandaged head and braced arms while screaming.
It was difficult to take any attitude in this winning mood since he was obviously worried about me.
“Woah?! K-ka-kaldia! You… your hair…!”
Eric finally noticed my shoulder-length, dishevelled hair, which had been successfully hidden by my hood.
He shivered in fear as he pointed at my collar, and I could only shrug.
Nobles, both men and women, grow their hair to a certain extent. Only some pre-adult men have short hair, but short hair tends to be avoided, since it was a sign that one was a poor commoner who couldn’t maintain the beauty of their hair.
It’s different for royal boys and men who have entered the monastery, but my short hair will surely be looked at strangely when I return to the capital.
However, when my hair is this short, the image of Father, who I used to see every morning, and the image of Eliza in game become a little more distant. In that respect, I could almost like myself a little better now.
“So?” Radka, who was changing the bandage on my arm, tilted his head.
Even though getting injured was normal during war, Radka, who had been left behind to house sit, gets grumpy every time I come back injured like this. This time, he was even more upset because of the 『Earl Kaldia’s Five Men Plan』.
“… I broke the cartilage in my wrist. The rest of my body is bruised and grazed. And the eardrum in my left ear was torn. For some reason, your face was the only part that remained unscathed, so I survived without any unnecessary injuries.”
When I declared this honestly, Radka let out a deep sigh.
“… Hmph. That’s too bad. If you did get a scar on your face, then you won’t wear that thin, fluttering thing again.”
“Didn’t you enjoy being called cute by the maids?”
“I wasn’t-!”
“I heard that whenever you act on my behalf the maids say, ‘Eliza-sama’s mood is nicer than normal.’”
“Shut up! Don’t talk about things that bother me!”
Radka shoved me. I chuckled and he shook his head.
I laughed a little at that.
“… I think it’s because I always leave you in charge of the house. I feel like I’m back home when I talk to you like this.”
I finally felt as if the heavy pool that was deep in my heart was flowing away.
I finally realised that I had come back alive, probably because I have the habit of standing in the frontline without being prepared to die.
“――― Kamil was there.”
Maybe that’s why. The words came out of my mouth as if they were slipping out and sounded clearly.
“He’s alive. The person with all the burn scars was Kamil.”
“――― I see. That’s why you look so horrible. Did you try to kill each other or something?”
Radka’s fingers gently traced my dark circles. I knew I would have them. I haven’t been able to sleep well after Kamil almost killed me.
“I can’t sleep. I feel like Kamil will come to kill me if I do.”
For the past five days after the battle, I’d been kept at Jugfena Fortress’s medical clinic where the doctors gave me sedatives and sleeping pills every night.
I was allowed to rest away from the soldiers of the fief, so I had no reminders of Kamil around me, and I think I’ve rested enough to keep me from fainting, even though I have severe insomnia. Surprisingly, even the wounded soldiers who had caused a big fuss when I had entered the medical clinic before had left me alone. Apparently, Eric, who had gone to the clinic every day, had politely convinced them during their conversations that I was just a human being, a 13 year old child.
“… Eliza. I’ll go with you to the capital. I can’t leave you alone in this state. I’ll do whatever I can to help you when you’re feeling tired.”
Radka clearly declared as he finished wrapping the bandage around my arm.
“Okay… I pondered over whether I should take you to the Academy with me or not at first, but now… it would be a great help if you came with me.”
The war that had been going on for two years with the emerging power, Rindarl Union Dukedom… and the real enemy, Densel Dukedom, had ended with the total surrender of the enemy due to the defeat of the Rindarl army at Teve River, the collapse of the front line due to the defection of the slave soldiers during the siege at Di Lo Yun, and the loss of the supplies due to fire at Eris.
The peace negotiations are still in progress, but the army of Margrave Junas, who were mostly on standby, served as guards for the peace ambassador who entered the capital of Densel, and an unamusing rumour circulated around the capital that Rindarl had finally understood the strength of Arxia, since we still had men to spare.
I waited for my injuries to recover and returned to the capital after the royal army’s triumphant return, and spent my days at the Academy, which wasn’t much different from the days before I left for Jugfena Fortress.
The other students kept me at a distance, partly because of the bad things they heard about me from their parents, and partly because I had disappeared early in the new term. Now that I’ve stood on the battlefield again, my more gruesome and vicious deeds are being whispered amongst them, and they might distance themselves from me more.
The only things that have changed are trivial ――― my head has become lighter and…
“Kaldia! Alfred and Grace return to the Academy today. It’s been a while since we’ve seen them, since their official duties coincided with ours. Shouldn’t we at least say hi to them?”
“… His Highness and the others must be tired from performing their official duties. I would feel bad for bothering them.”
“I’m sure Alfred and the others would appreciate it if you went to see them since the room will clear out if you’re there. See!”
Eric pulled my arm and dragged me into the crowd.
He has been like this ever since we returned to the Academy. He apparently felt closer to me than I had expected him to… if I had to put it into words, then I would say that he’s emotionally attached to me now. I wonder what happened to the Eric who told me not to get friendly and misunderstand, and to understand my place as a low upstarting Earl.
I wanted to distance myself from the Crown Prince, and I thought I left a bad enough impression for me to keep my distance, but why did this happen? I remember confronting him once at the fortress, but that’s all. That’s all I did. Isn’t he too naïve?
According to what I had heard, the slave soldiers at Di Lo Yun betrayed their side because of the speech he had delivered to the royal army. Eric, who understood the emotional trauma of the soldiers through his visits to the clinic, gave the royal soldiers permission to attack the slave soldiers, but he also praised and roused their pride as Arxian knights. This was transmitted to the frontline, and the knights holed up in Di Lo Yun avoided fighting with the slave soldiers as much as possible, or actively protected them, which led to the mass rebellion of the slave soldiers.
As a result, the soldiers left behind in Di Lo Yun returned almost unharmed. As a result of his achievements, Eric was temporarily removed as the Crown Prince’s close aide, but he was able to engage in official duties, such as consoling the kingdom’s leading knights and providing assurances to injured veterans which brought him closer to the centre of national politics.
I could only smile twitchingly at Eric as he laughed and said it was thanks to me. I hadn’t meant to do that, and I hadn’t expected that to happen to him.
How did it turn out like this? Really, how?
But I couldn’t bring myself to reject him cruelly and push him away. Well, it’s too early to say that I’ve been moved by his kindness, ――― but I was able to rest in peace at Jugfena clinic after the battle because of him. I won’t treat him cruelly because I owe him for that.
“Alfred! Grace! Ah, Sieghart, you’re here too?”
As I was being dragged along, Eric’s voice broke the wall of people, and from the other side, I could see the Crown Prince and Grace staring at Eric and I in surprise. The Commanding General’s grandson, who seemed to have already come forward to greet us, gave us a warm look.
The Crown Prince quickly composed himself and smiled at me. “Welcome back,” he said. I couldn’t escape now, so I had no choice but to bow to the Crown Prince and greet him.
“Your Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, and Viscount Dorvadine. I haven’t seen both of you in a while, but I’m glad you both look well.”
“You too, Kaldia. I heard you played a very active role in the battle against Rindarl. I heard you took control of Eric and destroyed the fleets of ships in the battle at Teve.”
“This was all thanks to Earl Einsbark’s plan.”
“I also heard you refuse to accept your reward. That’s typical of you.”
“… Having more land and titles is too much for me. I was too afraid to accept them.”
Even an Earl title is too much for me, so I definitely don’t need more. We don’t have money or manpower to spare for developing land in Kaldia, and there are no fiefs around who will buy the land, so I definitely don’t need it. The only thing I need is money, and manpower. It would also be nice to have food and metals for construction.
“You seem to be getting along well with Eric. I’m glad.”
“I apologise for any unnecessary distress I have caused Your Highness.”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s just that I feel happier when my friends get along. But is it alright?”
The Crown Prince tilted his head. Is it alright, he was probably asking about how I thought about the political balance. I can’t help but wonder if he cares about this a little since he was asking about it.
“――― In the course of our activities, I believe that it was God’s guidance that allowed a person like me to become close to Eric-dono. However, God’s grace is already too much for me. I think I will have to nail myself to a wall and hang myself if I get arrogant about this.”
The Crown Prince and Grace’s expressions tensed slightly when I told them in a roundabout way that even though I have gotten close to Eric, I do not intend to continue any unnecessary relationships that are beyond my position.
“… I see. You’re still as modest as ever. Then I will pray for guidance from Misorua so that I may have the opportunity to get to know you.”
“Then, I’m counting on you Earl Kaldia. May the guidance of Misorua be with you.”
A high-ranking priest of the Church of Ar Xia bowed at me while saying something I’ve heard before. Behind the priest, Nordsterm’s lackey, Viscount Agren, smiled at me disgustingly without even trying to hide his intentions.
“… I will definitely take care of it.”
I managed to stop my cheeks from twitching and an extremely flat and cold voice came out of my mouth. If I were to look in the mirror now, I’m sure there would be veins sticking out on my forehead.
I was forced to do something troublesome, and it was Viscount Agren who forced it on me. Marquis Nordsterm was probably pulling the strings behind the scenes.
――― It was after the first special meeting at the House of Lords, after the war had ended and the peace negotiations had finally concluded. I attended a medium-sized ball that was held to recognise our services even though I wasn’t feeling well because of Marquis Nordsterm’s disgusting smile.
Quite a few people attended the ball as it was the end of spring, and an early season evening ball, and I already had a bad feeling the moment I saw Viscount Agren coming towards me with a high-ranking priest. I should have said that I wasn’t feeling well and fled as quickly as I could, while pretending that I hadn’t seen them.
“The high-ranking priest ordered you to resolve the discord between Viscount Agren’s son and his fiancée. That’s quite an unreasonable task to push onto you.”
Lord Maudon, who had heard the situation from Claudia, gently patted my shoulder as if to comfort me while I sunk into regret.
“There’s nothing I can do about this. I’m sure they’ll send a letter asking this of me even if I manage to avoid them today. But still, they came up with something really troublesome. They’re quite despicable, those guys.”
Lord Moudon purposely made himself vague. He was talking about the Nordsterm faction of course.
“… You’re right. I’ve just turned 13, it’s not my place to ask a 16 year old woman to completely change her mind.”
He even took the trouble to bring a high-ranking priest so I couldn’t refuse. The Church protects the law and, if they have their backing, then there’s no way for a local Earl like myself to refuse when I’m asked to make sure the marriage proceeds smoothly in order to maintain order.
It was really a very troublesome thing to be forced upon me at a very troublesome time.
“His fiancée is a daughter of the Roguesia House? If it’s the Roguesia House, then they’re nobles from the Ryunfeld region.”
Claudia, who had been watching the entire exchange as my maid, looked at me reluctantly.
The wills and opinions of women are mostly ignored in Ryunfeld. I don’t know what’s the point of asking her to change her mind during this busy time of the year when she’s not respected. If she’s a woman from that region, then she would have been taught to absolutely obey her father’s and grandfather’s orders, regardless of her will.
“… In any case, I’ll need to get acquainted with the young lady for the time being. I wish I had some way to get in contact with her.”
“I think she’s studying at the Academy…”
“It would take too much time to meet her by chance. I’ll have to do something during this victory holiday…”
The Academy will be on holiday for 10 days, starting the previous day.
Even though most nobles hadn’t been involved in the war, there were still a large number of students at the Academy who are children of knights, ――― who have been demoted to commoners, but whose families, or parents still hold a noble status.
The knights who had been on the frontline were now back in the royal capital for their triumphant return, or at the eastern border where they could quickly rush back, so the Academy decided that they will have a holiday for those students.
“Well, I suppose it won’t be much of a hassle to talk to each other in the Academy if you can make contact with her.”
I nodded at Claudia’s words and sighed. My head, which was aching from lack of sleep, felt even heavier.
The next day, I visited Earl Thelesia’s residence to greet him upon my return and to discuss the difficult task that I had been given last night.
“You seem fine.”
“Yes, well…”
I was still covered in bandages everywhere, but it wasn’t enough to bother Earl Thelesia, since he had seen me injured worse before. Or perhaps, to him, just being alive means that I’ve made it back safely.
“I didn’t make it back unscathed, but I did make it back safely, because of what you taught me.”
The Earl snorted. It was the Earl who threw me into the fief army in anticipation of the future, so this isn’t wrong.
“… By the way…”
When I finished greeting him, I looked from behind him.
Oscar was standing there. It was Oscar Thelesia, who had rushed to my aid twice. When our eyes met, he bowed slightly without smiling… He really looked like the Earl when I compare them like this.
“My sister’s grandson. You already know his name.”
Earl Thelesia’s words were extremely straightforward.
“Yes, I do. But, hmm… Isn’t he a Jugfena knight? Why is he in the royal capital?”
Now that the triumphant return has settled down, the knights who had accompanied Ergnard should have returned to Jugfena Fortress.
“He’s my successor. I’m introducing you to him for re-employment.”
“Excuse me?”
What are you saying?
“I’d like to recommend Oscar to your Knight Order.”
“… Can you please repeat that?”
I looked at Oscar again. Oscar didn’t smile when our eyes made contact.
At any rate, I interviewed Oscar.
I took him to the spacious parlour in my dormitory.
When I looked at him again, his stern countenance reminded me of Earl Thelesia, and my nervousness about meeting someone for the first time almost dissipated.
“Thank you for coming, Oscar-dono. This is the first time we’ve greeted each other. Once again, I am Eliza Kaldia. Thank you for coming all the way from Jugfena.”
“No, it’s an honour to be here, Earl Kaldia.”
The serious Oscar didn’t betray his appearance, and the first words he said to me were very formal. I could feel tension behind his words, and it made me feel closer to him.
“You don’t have to be so formal. I’m just a child, as you can see.”
I joked and opened both my hands. Oscar’s eyes widened slightly in surprise, and he smiled slightly as if he was looking at something amusing. He probably relaxed a little.
“Have a seat.”
I offered him a seat and he sat down, looking more relaxed than he had when he had first entered the room. I was relieved to see that he had understood my intentions well. I don’t mind being formal to those people who I will occasionally meet in high society, but it’s annoying to be formal to someone who I will meet frequently in the fief.
“I’m sorry to get straight to business but let me give you a detailed explanation about our Knight Order. Our Knight Order was established under Earl Thelesia’s name, and it was established to protect and supervise the newcomers who we have accepted into Kaldia.”
“It was established under Granduncle’s name?”
“I didn’t have the title of Earl at that time. The Knight Order has now been changed and is under my name… Ah, you need at least a Junior Earl title or higher to establish a private Knight Order.”
I remembered that it wasn’t general knowledge to apply for a private Knight Order, so I added this explanation.
The distinction between these two have become blurred since I’ve received education that is required of a noble and feudal lord. Now that I’ve started showing up in social circles, it’s common courtesy to adjust myself to who I’m talking to… I need to be more careful from now on.
“However, my fief is short on men. There are a lot of cases where the knights are, for all intents and purposes, contracted to work like lords or vassals. It’s quite different from Jugfena, so are you alright with this?”
“… Have you already decided on a plan?”
“Of course. First of all, I must say that all the newcomers, for all intents and purposes, are well supervised under the old system.”
“Isn’t that… against the ideology of equality among the commoners?”
The ideology of quality among commoners is based on a passage in the Sacred Code which states that no commoner is allowed to rule over other commoners. It is interpreted that the masses are always ruled by nobles. It is believed that giving different statuses to commoners could eventually threaten the status law of the nation.
Of course, he would be confused, so I answered him while shaking my head.
“The ruling class of the old regime has a vassal contract with me. They are merely conveying my will to the other newcomers under my orders.”
However, if the ideology of quality among commoners is probed too deeply, then the nation won’t be able to last. Because the nobles will have to be in charge of everything, from being village chief who represents each village to commanding the fief army which is formed by recruiting commoners.
Of course, everyone knows that this is impossible. As a formal loophole, the law states that only lords can contract commoners as vassals. A vassal is a person who serves the head of the house and is designated to act as an intermediary between the people and the head of the house. Village chiefs and the army are different from vassals since they make a contract with the feudal lord, but they’re almost considered the same thing now, since the title of feudal lord is basically hereditary. In the past, knights were a type of vassal, but over time, their noble status became a special position that was allowed for only one generation and the knight status became something else.
“Ah, a vassal… I see.”
“I’m hoping that the entire ruling class of the Sill Tribe will eventually join the Knight Order. We still have our hands full getting them to settle down, so we don’t have time to educate them right now. I’ve decided to have the knights oversee them from the beginning, to build up reputation, even though it’s not a praiseworthy approach. They only speak Artolas or Rindarl, and of course they’re not literate, so they can hardly do any paperwork. I’d like to leave that part of the job mainly to them now. Then there’s protection. If the need arises, I will have them on defence.”
“So, you mean to say that the significance of the expansion is going to be applied to the defence of the fief?”
“You have good intuition.”
The edges of his lips raised slightly. I welcome competent people.
Even so, I got thirsty from explaining all that at once. I rang the bell in my hand and instructed the maid, who was waiting outside of the room, to prepare some tea. Then, Oscar chuckled lightly as if something was amusing.
“… What is it?”
“Nothing. It’s just… I suddenly feel like you’re a splendid noble, even though you’re so small.”
Is it strange to see a discrepancy between what’s inside and out? “Please don’t be offended,” I nodded in reply to the words he had added. I wasn’t offended, his response was much better than I had expected.
“If you’re alright with everything, including my personality, then I happily welcome you to Kaldia.”
With Ergnard in mind, I tried to make my voice sound as jokingly and calm as possible.
Oscar nodded with the biggest smile I had ever seen him make. Well, it was a small smile though.
It was that night that I had come down with a fever.
Perhaps I had a fever because I was moving around like always, or much more than usual, despite my insomnia not improving since I returned to the capital. I knew that I was ignoring my fatigue and working. So, I also knew that I would faint soon from overworking.
“… Hey, are you alright?”
It wasn’t until the next morning that I regained my senses.
The first thing I saw was Radka peeking at me after he had put a damp towel on my forehead.
“――― Water.”
“Ah, water? Wait… Ah.”
Before Radka could reach for the water jug, I saw someone’s arm move.
“Here you go.”
Then, the arm poured me a cup of water and offered it to me.
“… Elize… dono?”
“Yes.”
The girl smiled at me. She was brave even though she herself was pale.
“Why are you here…?”
Elize Sherstorck had been recuperating at Kaldia fief for four years before she entered the Academy.
Three years ago, she dragged her slightly healthier body to the Academy, and we have talked sometimes since then.
However, the dry, sandy and dusty capital that didn’t have much greenery wasn’t good for her health, so she missed many classes. As a result, she still stays at the Academy ――― at the Advanced Academy, to redo the classes she missed.
However, since the Advanced dormitory is sandwiched between here and the building where the classes are held, and Elize was in her second and third year of classes, I didn’t bother to invite her here.
“It’s been a while, Eliza-sama. I’ve missed you.”
Elize’s voice, which I hadn’t heard for a long time, was crystal clear and gentle, and hadn’t changed in the slightest from what I remembered. Her voice brought relief ――― and made it so all the tension left my body.
“… Yes, me too.”
If I had wanted, I could have invited her to have lunch in the cafeteria, but as soon as I entered the Academy, I left to go to war, and after I came back, I had to deal with post-war things, and I’ve also been busy making up for the delay in my studies, so I didn’t have time to invite her to lunch.
I had hoped to see her when my fever broke, but it seemed that she beat me to the punch. I didn’t want to push Elize, who was still pale and hadn’t gotten strong enough yet, but I was honestly glad that she had come to see me.
“Eliza, the doctor left you some medicine, so you should go ahead and drink it.”
Radka offered me the pill after pouring another cup of water into the cup I had just drank from. The pill seemed like it was made from chopped herbs that reduce fever and nourish the body. When I put it into my mouth, it tasted bitter, grassy and sweet, and I couldn’t help but scowl.
“When did the doctor come?”
“Yesterday afternoon. You had a high fever and looked blank, so I guess you didn’t realise he was here. Elize-sama called him here.”
“Elize-dono called him here?”
I looked at her and she nodded.
“I called the doctor who I’ve been seeing in the capital. He’s a very skilled doctor… I consulted him about my condition and now know what my illness is.”
“You figured it out?!”
I’ve long suspected that Elize’s weak constitution was caused by a non-infectious disease, but there were no doctors in Sherstorck or Kaldia who could identify her disease.
Medical care in Arxia varied greatly. There are a wide range of doctors, from those with state licenses to work for the imperial court or the Knight Order, to those who use dubious folk medicine such as using monster carcasses and secretions as medicines and offerings of healing prayers. Commoners are mostly treated by Ar Xia Church, while nobles are treated by doctors who have graduated from the Advanced Academy’s medical course. And, as usual, the further into the countryside you go, the less accurate the treatment and diagnosis becomes.
“I see, so you’ve finally figured it out… So, what did the doctor say?”
I asked in relief, as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
Elize smiled slightly. Then, she answered in a quiet voice.
“It’s a disease called forest syndrome.”
“Forest… syndrome?”
I had never heard of this disease before. I tilted my head in confusion and Elize explained the disease to me in a simple way.
According to her, forest syndrome is caused by inhaling the scales of the cotton butterfly, a monster that has a symbiotic relationship with the cypraeid trees, causing respiratory failure due to the inflammation of the bronchial tubes and the lungs are also weakened due to the weak toxicity of the scales.
There are many cypraeid trees in the north, and a lot of cotton butterflies live there too. Most people in that area build resistance to the toxins in the cotton butterfly’s scales, so they aren’t in danger unless they inhale a large amount of toxins at once, but if someone like Elize, who doesn’t have any resistance to the toxins, continues to inhale the toxins for many years then the symptoms will become severe and dangerous.
“Fortunately, I moved to Kaldia, so I wasn’t poisoned to the point where I can’t recover. The seizures that are caused by my bronchitis will gradually decrease as I age.’
Elize said while looking dark and calm.
“How about your weak lungs? Is that getting better?”
This question, which I probably shouldn’t have asked, must have made her look like that. So, I asked her clearly and mercilessly.
“… Almost. The poison has been building up in there for years. So, it will take years for the poison to clear out of my lungs. My lungs will remain weak in the meantime. The seizures also won’t go away. I was told that there’s no medicine for my condition. They haven’t discovered any medicine to remove the poison yet.”
Silence fell in the room.
Both Radka and I were speechless. Even if her seizures become less severe as she ages, and she grows healthier…. Her weak constitution and the cause of her weak lungs will remain the same. She’s so weak that even the slightest cold can kill her.
On top of that, she can’t return home until she dies. She couldn’t even go near the northern part of Arxia because she can’t breathe in the cotton butterfly scales.
My fever didn’t come down until the next day.
Including today, there were only five days left until the victory holiday. Although it was sudden, I decided to send a messenger to the Roguesia residence to tell them that I will be visiting them later today. Viscount Roguesia replied immediately. I was glad that I had asked him if we could meet during the victory holiday.
The noble block in the capital is separated from the commoner’s block by eight gates. In the centre is the royal palace, and the eight main streets leading from the gate are connected by side streets like a spider web.
My own residence outside of the Academy ――― a small, old townhouse which is now used by Claudia and the others, is located near the southeast gate, and the residence of Viscount Roguesia, which I will be visiting today, is built near the south gate. The houses are surprisingly close to each other, and there are many side streets which make it impossible to pass through with a carriage, so I decided to go there by horseback.
I put on my usual knight uniform for riding. Women’s riding clothes haven’t been developed yet and riding on a horse is impossible when I have to wear stiff undergarments with dresses to make the skirt puff out. While maids and tutors are allowed to wear panniers made of layers of cloth for ease of movement, those who are in charge of them are required to wear clothes that make it difficult to move. It’s really inconvenient…
“That’s a remarkable outfit, Earl Kaldia.”
Apparently, this way of dressing up was very disgraceful to the servants of the Roguesia House.
The Roguesia House is a noble family from the Ryunfeld region, and Ryunfeld has a strong aversion to women moving up in the world. The entire Arxia Kingdom has traditionally been a male dominated Kingdom, but they don’t restrict women as much as Ryunfeld does.
He was being sarcastic, but it seemed inappropriate to get upset over something like this, so I elegantly tilted my head to the side while thinking about Margrave Moudon’s situation.
“I’m dressing in formal wear according to the law, is there a problem?”
“This is not a formal place like the House of Lords. If you’re a woman, then don’t you think it’s polite to dress in a manner that is appropriate for women?”
“I think it’s impolite to go meet the head of a noble house for the first time in an ordinary dress.”
The servant seemed at a loss of words and fell silent in annoyance. Claudia and Radka, who were dressed as maids, laughed quietly.
The servant led us through the Roguesia residence where I could only see male servants. Even tasks that would normally be done by maids were done by the male servants. It seemed that instead of despising the work traditionally done by women, men were doing it instead. There was a bit of contradiction between their thoughts and actions.
“Master, Earl Kaldia is here to see you.”
“Oh, welcome, Earl Kaldia.”
The servant guided me to the parlour which had a large window that let in lots of light. There was a courtyard outside of the window and the unobstructed sunlight made the room bright and warm.
“Thank you for inviting me here today.”
“I should be the one to apologise. You came all the way to our residence because of our family problem.”
Viscount Roguesia was a man who had white hair and a soft, friendly smile, and he had a soft demeanour despite the aura of the mansion. As soon as we were seated, he immediately called the person in question, his daughter. Compared to the servant’s threatening attitude at the beginning of the meeting, Viscount Roguesia’s attitude was surprisingly cooperative and flexible. However, the contrast between the Viscount’s attitude and those of the rest of the house was an uncomfortable feeling that couldn’t be overlooked.
“… You wanted to see me, Father?”
The Viscount’s daughter, who had probably been waiting for him to call her beforehand, immediately showed up in the parlour.
Her bright, pale azure hair glistened in the light that was coming from the window. She’s a cute girl, I thought. I heard she is 16, but her soft features, which were like her father’s, made her look younger than her age.
“Earl Kaldia. This is my daughter, Feyria.”
Viscount Roguesia gently placed a hand on Feyria’s shoulder and introduced her to me. As soon as Feyria heard the name Kaldia, her eyes widened in surprise, and she looked at me.
“Feyria, this is Earl Kaldia. Say hello.”
“Y-yes. My name is Feyria Roguesia, Kaldia-sama…”
She was trembling, but her voice was clear. Her strong-willed eyes looked straight at me. I sighed in my mind since I felt that she was more lively than modest.
The father seemed flexible and gentle and didn’t seem like a man who would expose me to the peculiar customs of Ryunfeld. His daughter seemed lively and not at all obedient.
“… I am Eliza Kaldia Einsbark. I look forward to getting to know you.”
This is really troublesome. It will be difficult to explain this if Feyria didn’t want to be engaged to Viscount Agren’s son, and her father, Viscount Roguesia didn’t oppose the annulment.
I once again cursed the northern nobles for forcing me into a troublesome situation ――― and at the same time, I was fed up with the father and daughter who were in front of me.
This troublesome situation happened in the first place because Feyria didn’t want to marry into the Agren House.
I don’t like Viscount Agren, who got in my way and pushed this situation onto me, Marquis Nordsterm, the man pulling the strings, or even Feyria, who had caused this situation.
Feyria, who was sitting properly beside Viscount Roguesia, seemed to be quietly observing me. Viscount Roguesia probably hadn’t told her why I am here.
I don’t know what her reasons are, but she wants to destroy her own marriage, so I am here to stop her. Will she become wary once she knows why I am here?
What should I do? How can I make Feyria talk without making her put her guard up against me?
First, I’ll talk to the Viscount about the Academy and the House of Lords to pass time while probing her. Viscount Roguesia was smiling calmly, Felicia was still trembling and Claudia and Radka were standing in the corner of the room. I wondered what I should say to them and how I should start the conversation. My gaze, which had been wandering around slightly, suddenly turned to the windows as if attracted by it. Seasonal flowers were swaying in the breeze in the courtyard on the other side of the window. A gasp of admiration escaped my lips as I looked at their vivid colours.
“The rembias are blooming well this year. Last year, I had some red and yellow ones planted, and the colours have mixed together this year making it pleasing to the eyes.”
Viscount Roguesia didn’t fail to notice that I was looking at the courtyard. The conversation about the House of Lords immediately changed.
“Oh, rembias? It’s a magnificent garden, so I’m sure they’ll look beautiful.”
Rembias are plants that produce frilly flowers that spiral along its straight stem. The brightly coloured flowers effectively enhanced the courtyard, but at the same time, they were so gorgeous that it was difficult to harmonise them. Especially in a courtyard of this size, there are more than a dozen different kinds of flowers in full bloom. I wondered if they were arranged by a good gardener.
“Yes, I think you will like them… Feyria, show Earl Kaldia the courtyard.”
Viscount Roguesia demanded. Feyria replied, “Yes,” as she gracefully got up from her seat… At that moment, I saw a thin anklet that was covered by her silk socks.
――― Ah, this is really going to be troublesome.
I managed to bite down my bitterness and not let it show on my face.
In Ryunfeld, unmarried or underage women aren’t allowed to wear metal jewellery. This is a tradition that has continued for a long time. And yet, there was a silver anklet on her ankle.
The bottom line is that this noble woman had a fiancé, but she loved freely, and so, she’s being unreasonable.
“Earl Kaldia?”
A puzzled Feyria hesitantly called out to me. I felt peevish at the pit of my stomach when I saw her left hand floating in the air as if she was asking for an escort.
I looked at her hand once, met her eyes and bowed. I didn’t offer her my hand.
“… Then, please show me to the courtyard, Feyria-sama.”
“!!”
A chill instantly appeared in Felicia’s eyes. She seemed to have been able to clearly read the emotion that I had included when I had called her name.
When people of the opposite sex meet for the first time, they rarely call each other by name unless there is a big age difference between them. This is especially true in Ryunfeld where gender etiquette is a big concern.
“Umm…!”
“Yes, what is it?”
“… Will you escort me?”
“I’m already 13, so I’m old enough to walk around without holding someone’s hand.”
I looked at Viscount Roguesia while teasing Feyria whose face was red with annoyance. He still had a gentle smile on his face.
Dammit, I clicked my tongue in my mind. I should have done a background check on Viscount Roguesia. If he really isn’t a genuine native of that region, then all the measures I have taken will be in vain. Although I’m prepared for all of Ryunfeld noble’s troublesome habits, it’ll all be for not if the Viscount isn’t offended by this.
“That wasn’t what I was asking, I’m asking you to escort me…”
“Oh, I beg your pardon. I apologise for being slow, but I am officially a Junior Countess. I would like it if you restrain yourself as we are not close enough yet for you to take my hand and show me to the courtyard.”
I heard Claudia sigh unusually behind me. She was advising me not to pick a fight with someone who I am trying to persuade.
“… A woman, Earl?”
Feyria was dumbfounded and I thought, I see. It seems that my gender is completely unknown in the Academy. It is rare for women to hold a peerage title in Arxia, and completely unacceptable for women to hold a peerage title in Ryunfeld.
“――― I see, so that’s why you’re dressed like that…”
Her voice sounded disorientated as if she had finally managed to wring out a sentence from her confused mind. Her eyes looked even more confused than before, and there was another complicated emotion flickering in them.
That was probably jealousy. The emotion reflected in her eyes was neither pity nor contempt and I sighed in my mind.
The more I observed, the more I realised how far away she is from Ryunfeld’s image of a woman. This house was completely devoid of women so much so that it could be the very model for the customs I had heard about. But Viscount Roguesia and his daughter completely opposed that image.
――― It really is troublesome after all.
For the time being, I had completed my goal of meeting her, so I quickly left the Roguesia residence after I had a random look around the courtyard.
The head of the house and his daughter, who didn’t act according to the customs of Ryunfeld, but on the other hand, the people who worked in the house and their education were perfectly arranged according to the custom of Ryunfeld. The contradictory situation in the house made me realise that I didn’t have enough information.
Also, the glimmering piece of metal on Feyria’s ankle ――― even though it was a coincidence, the fact that I saw it was fruitful. I had a rough idea about why Feyria wanted to break off her engagement with Agren.
She is currently in a relationship with someone, and she probably wants to get married to him. Therefore, she wanted to break off her engagement with the person who she doesn’t love. It’s as simple as that. The fact that it involves emotions and the circumstances of the person she is dating makes it even more complicated, and at the same time, a little annoying.
Engagements between noble families don’t exist simply because of status. It is also a way to bond families together, or to fight for power, but most of the time, they are arranged for the purpose of trade.
This is a little off topic, but in Arxia, merchants don’t have much power. This is due to the fact that large transactions between fiefs are usually done between the feudal lords. Like how I arrange the daily necessities, food, household goods and materials for the newcomers, as well as how I obtain daily necessities that cannot be produced in my fief, the other feudal lords also order things from other fiefs and distribute it to their people.
Merchants have no power because they deal with luxury goods, so their business is limited to nobles, and they’re completely under the control of nobles.
It is written in the Sacred Code that exporting and importing for the masses is the work of a feudal lord. This was probably done to prevent exceedingly powerful merchants from destroying the balance of power within the kingdom.
The most convenient way for such commercial transactions to take place between fiefs is through marriage between the feudal lords’ families.
It is normal for young ladies to get engaged early in Ryunfeld, but it is also known that in many cases, her betrothal will be swapped if a better match is found.
However, in spite of this, the Agrens have gone to the trouble of expressing their desire to make this engagement definite. If this had been a request from the Roguesia House, then it would have been because they can’t keep their honour if they broke off the engagement when there are no other candidates, but since it came from the other party, then this must mean that there is a big problem with their transaction.
When two people are engaged, their relatives are officially treated as in-laws. This gave them a number of advantages, such as a lower tariff and a reduction in the annual restrictions on traded goods.
This is the reason why the Church goes out of their way to address the issue of engagement. There are some fiefs that trade in daily necessities, so the lives of the citizens will be directly affected if the fief can’t import the necessary amount of goods because of the annulment of an engagement or if the trade itself is dissolved.
What annoyed me is that Feyria, who is about to graduate from the Academy, is trying to break off her engagement while ignoring all those things.
Viscount Argen has bad intentions and I know he made me take this request to harass me. However, there should definitely be a part of their engagement that would help improve the lives of their citizens.
A feudal lord’s income mainly comes from the tax they receive from their citizens. I don’t know if it’s money or goods, but the citizens of the fiancé/fiancée’s fief receive some kind of benefit. And yet, the daughter of a feudal lord, who is provided with the daily necessities through tax, is putting her own love affairs ahead of the affairs of the people?
But since I don’t know what’s exactly going on right now, it’s wrong to be angry.
――― Well, whatever. There’s nothing I can do except to persuade Feyria.
The problem is Viscount Roguesia.
I told him beforehand why I was coming to visit him. I told him that Viscount Agren wanted to make sure that the engagement between their two houses is definite. And yet, the Viscount still lets Feyria do as she pleases. I saw it myself today, but I’m pretty sure that Feyria has no idea what’s going on. Nor does she know that I came to her house today because her engagement is in jeopardy because of her.
… Which means the real problem is not Feyria’s love life, but why would Viscount Roguesia purposely let his daughter jeopardise her engagement.
“Here’s your drink, Eliza-sama. Why don’t you take a break?”
As soon as I got home, I furiously pulled out the noble’s list and other things about Viscount Roguesia to investigate him. It was almost time to light the candles when I was called.
I looked up to see Thiele and Oscar being ushered into the room by Claudia. Behind them, a maid with a tray in her hand was following after them timidly. Come to think of it, I’ve never called a maid to my study before.
“Ah, I’m sorry. Did I worry you?”
“Don’t worry about it. More importantly, what are you looking up? Is there anything I can help you with?”
I smiled wryly at Oscar’s concern. He has been quickly trying to learn all he can about Kaldia. It pains me to make him help me with anything else while he’s learning about Kaldia, and I’d rather he help Earl Thelesia with his work, rather than help me. Even though Earl Thelesia is ready for retirement, people are still coming to him to ask for advice about the peace negotiations with Rindarl.
“Thiele, please pour tea for everyone.”
“Yes, Eliza-sama.”
Thiele smiled as if to say, “Good girl,” and began to brew tea with the maid.
As I looked at her swaying black hair, I suddenly realised that it was good that I had brought her along.
I brought Thiele, Rekha and Aslan with me to the Academy as my maid, attendant and bodyguard. Since I couldn’t bring any adult attendants, I had to rely on them, who I had educated many years ago. It was nothing more than a request, but they have exceeded my expectations and have supported me mentally.
In a sense, they’re the only ones to whom I show that I’m a ‘child’ to, other than Radka. They help stabilise my unstable mind by taking care of me in many ways.
At any rate, I’ll take a break like I was told to, since tea has been brewed for me. I put down the documents and drank the tea that had been given to me.
“… Hmm…”
At the same time, I noticed a strong mixture of refreshing and sweet smells from my nose. Hmm, this is… something that I’ve smelled a lot of today.
“… Did you change the blend?”
“Yes. I tried adding rembias in the tea today. I learnt it from the children of the southern nation that you protect.”
Rembias again. The rembias that I thoroughly enjoyed for comfort in Viscount Roguesia’s residence as we had bland conversations while in an uncomfortable mood, although that was mostly my fault. I’ve had enough rembias for today.
“… I’m sorry, but can you brew me the tea that you always make? I’m a little tired and this is too sweet for me. Oh, it’s not because I don’t like rembias or anything. Please don’t worry about that.”
I said as I handed my cup to Thiele, and she let out a hopeless sigh, however it also sounded like a very happy sigh.
“I’ve heard that rembias are also used as medicine in the south, so I thought it would help make you feel a little better. Oh well, I’ll brew you another cup right away.”
“I’m sorry for being selfish.”
“It’s fine. I’m happy to hear you being selfish. Your selfishness is precious.”
“…”
Honestly, I’m never a match for Thiele.
So, rembia can be used as medicine? I’ve never heard of this before, but it was interesting to hear about a different culture.