“Thank you for waiting. Here is our seasonal fruit tart.”
At a café terrace facing the main street of Bechtoria, the waiter placed a tart on the table, filled with various fruits and made with an indulgent amount of butter and sugar.
“Wow, it looks amazing!”
Rosetta exclaimed in admiration as she gazed at the tart.
“Spending that much money on a mere dessert… unbelievable,”
Pence, sitting across the table, stared at the tart and Rosetta in disbelief. Before him, there was only tea.
Sweets were expensive. Especially when made with rare fruits, butter, and sugar. This tart was quite the luxury item for someone like Rosetta, a simple maid from the countryside.
“Well, this kind of luxurious dessert is something you hardly ever see in Retvik. Unlike you, Pence, I don’t get to leave Noeina, the capital, often. So, I have to splurge on moments like this,”
Rosetta said as she eagerly dug into the fancy tart, while Pence sipped his tea, mumbling, “Well, do whatever you want.”
Noein’s attendants and even Rosetta, his maid, had the day off today.
Since Rosetta, a young woman unfamiliar with the city, couldn’t be left alone, Pence had been assigned as her guard—or rather, her chaperone, which led to this situation.
Meanwhile, Radley and Bart were likely wandering through Bechtoria’s shopping district, probably buying souvenirs for their wives.
“I’m sorry, Pence. I bet you really wanted to walk around with Radley and the others, huh?”
“Don’t worry about it. They’re probably struggling with what to buy for their wives, and honestly, I’d rather not be dragged into that kind of troublesome shopping. I’m fine with this.”
“You’re so kind, Pence,”
Rosetta said with a beaming smile, thinking Pence was being considerate of her.
“You’re so nice, why don’t you have a wife yet?”
“W-what!? You just hit a sore spot… People say I’m too capable, and that I lack any charm. I guess no one feels the need to take care of me.”
As Pence replied with a sulky expression, wounded by Rosetta’s words, she responded:
“Is that so? But doesn’t that mean you’re reliable and good at everything? I think that’s wonderful!”
“Is that so? Well, thanks.”
“I’m not just saying it to flatter you. I can only manage household chores, and people always tell me I’m too laid-back. I’d love to have someone reliable like you as my husband.”
“Haha, I appreciate that. If you’d been born five years earlier, I might’ve taken your words seriously.”
Rosetta had just reached adulthood, while Pence was nearing 30. The age gap between them was significant enough that they could almost be parent and child.
Pence lightly brushed off her comment, sipping his tea while watching the bustling main street. He didn’t notice Rosetta puffing her cheeks in slight frustration at being treated like a child.
While the attendants and maids were enjoying their day off, their master, Noein, was still working.
“Thank you for making time to meet with me despite everything that happened just yesterday, Lord Earlkvist.”
“I am honored, Your Excellency. I am also eager to quickly introduce effective weapons and supplies for the development of the Northwestern faction, so I am pleased we could make this agreement so soon.”
The next afternoon, after the banquet, Noein exchanged these words and a handshake with the head of a certain baron family that belonged to the Northwestern faction.
This was the 24th meeting Noein had held today. Though his face wore a polite smile, inside he was thinking, “Enough with the greetings, just go home already.”
Originally, the plan was to return to Earlkvist’s domain, send messengers to each lord, and exchange contracts back and forth before selling the crossbows and potatoes.
However, the demonstration at the banquet caused such a huge stir that everyone demanded an immediate contract. As a result, he spent the next day meeting with all the nobles of the Northwestern faction one after another.
Noein was especially grateful to the Marquis of Bechtelheim for providing his mansion’s reception room and lending his civil servants to help draft the contracts.
“…Who’s next?”
After watching the baron leave, Noein spoke, wiping the smile from his face.
“Viscount Arzent is scheduled next, Lord Noein.”
“Ah, I see. Thanks, Mathilda… Viscount Arzent, huh? His territory is on the southern side of Count Marzel’s lands, if I remember correctly.”
As he spoke, Noein opened his notes containing information on various nobles.
Behind Noein stood Mathilda, serving as his bodyguard and assisting with the contract procedures.
Originally, Noein had wanted to give everyone who accompanied him the day off. However, as he was signing contracts with nobles, he couldn’t be without attendants. Nobles generally don’t act alone.
Mathilda had said, “It wouldn’t be right for me to take a break while Lord Noein is working. Besides, it wouldn’t mean much if I couldn’t enjoy the break together with you.” So she accompanied him today.
Before long, the 25th contract partner—Viscount Arzent—arrived, and they quickly finalized the agreement.
Next was a baron, then a knight, another baron, then a baronet, and another viscount… Over the course of the day, Noein signed contracts with over ten nobles. By evening, after conversing with so many lords, Noein’s head was spinning, trying to keep track of who represented which region. Finally, he completed all the necessary procedures.
“Ugh… I’m so tired…”
“You’ve worked really hard, Lord Noein.”
Forgetting he was in someone else’s house, Noein sank into the sofa in the reception room, while Mathilda offered heartfelt words of gratitude.
“Thanks, I’m really exhausted… I mean, I signed more contracts today than I have in my entire life up to this point…”
As Noein reached out to Mathilda, seeking comfort, she responded with a softened expression, moving closer to him.
Just then, a voice interrupted. “Lord Earlkvist, it seems you’ve finally finished the contracts.”
It was Marquis Bechtelshaim, entering the room. Since they were in his mansion, there was no way to reprimand him for entering unannounced.
Noein hurriedly withdrew his hands and stood up, and Mathilda, too, immediately composed herself and stood by Noein’s side.
Whether the marquis noticed or pretended not to, it was unclear. He said nothing, instead taking a seat across from Noein and motioning for him to sit as well.
“Thank you for today, Your Excellency Bechtelshaim. Not only did you provide the reception room, but you also lent us your officials. I don’t know how to express my gratitude…”
“Think nothing of it. It’s commendable that the nobles of the Northwestern faction are eager to acquire crossbows and potatoes to strengthen their lands as soon as possible. Providing a place for contracts is simply within the leader’s responsibility.”
Marquis Bechtelshaim nodded generously at Noein’s thanks, though his expression, still smiling, became slightly more serious.
Noein sensed a shift in the marquis’s demeanor.
“…Now then, Viscount Earlkvist. I’d like to have a word with you.”
“Of course, what is it?”
Noein asked, already having an idea of what the conversation might be about.
“I’ve been the head of the marquis family for many years. During that time, I’ve met countless nobles. But you, young man, are rather unusual.”
“I’m aware of my own peculiarities.”
“Hahaha! Is that so? Well then, let’s get straight to the point. I’m the leader of the Northwestern faction, and while I’m pleased to see a talented young man join, I must know the reason you’re so generous in sharing new technologies and knowledge.”
Though his tone was calm, there was an intense force behind Marquis Bechtelshaim’s words. It was clear he was determined to get a straightforward answer.
“Frankly, your contribution of crossbows and potatoes alone was more than enough when you joined the Northwestern faction after defeating the bandits. The gifts you’ve brought are too significant. As the recipient of such gifts, I need to understand the true motive behind them. You understand, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Good. Then, reveal your true intention… Normally, if one establishes groundbreaking technology or knowledge within their own territory, they wouldn’t easily share it with others. Hoarding that information would make it a powerful weapon for one’s own house. So, why did you share it with us?”
The marquis’s gaze was sharp as he asked the question.
“It stems from my origins as a noble. If I may ask, Your Excellency, are you familiar with my background?”
“I’ve heard from Viscount Keinitz. You’re the result of ‘Maximilian’s youthful indiscretion,’ correct?”
Hearing his despised father’s name after so long, Noein couldn’t help but let a wicked smile creep onto his face. Seeing this, the marquis raised an eyebrow slightly.
‘Maximilian’s youthful indiscretion’ was a phrase used to mock Count Kivileft when he impregnated a servant and took her as a mistress, despite being unmarried.
“That’s correct. I was the son of a mistress, pushed out from the Kivileft family and given the title of Viscount Earlkvist, along with a small slice of land within the Bezel Great Forest, which used to be part of the Kivileft estate. It was a convenient way for Count Kivileft to dispose of both his illegitimate child and the remote land.”
“You don’t call him ‘father,’ do you?”
“I’ve cut all ties with Count Kivileft. Now that my surname has changed to Earlkvist, few people know of my connection to him, and I certainly have no reason to call him ‘father,’ especially since I despise him.”
Hearing Noein’s calm explanation, Marquis Bechtelshaim gave him a brief look of sympathy. But Noein, recalling his hatred for Maximilian, didn’t notice.
“Because of this, I have no family to rely on. I had never even attended a social gathering before, so I had no acquaintances among the nobility. On top of that, my land was just a forest until two years ago. Even now, it’s just a small village.”
Even with the power to wipe out 200 bandits, the Earlkvist territory remained a small domain consisting of a single village.
“So, I’ve been searching for ways to stabilize my position as a noble and secure my territory. Fortunately, I’ve had a good neighborly relationship with Viscount Keinitz, but it wasn’t strong enough to survive the threat of a large bandit group.”
“Therefore, you joined the Northwestern faction to forge a stronger, more significant bond? But that still doesn’t explain why you offered such extravagant gifts.”
“No, my goal wasn’t simply to join the Northwestern faction… I wanted to become a noble of such importance that the Northwestern faction could not easily discard me. And today, I’ve achieved that.”
Noein grinned as he spoke.
