Noein has a twisted personality. There are two reasons for this.
First, a lack of communication experience.
He never knew parental love and his only conversational partners were the servants of the count’s household. Even those servants, while polite on the surface, secretly looked down on Noein as a “child of a concubine.” Noein sensed this from an early age.
Since being confined to a separate house at the age of nine, he has only really talked to Mathilda, the slave assigned as his personal caretaker. Growing up with a healthy personality under these circumstances would be difficult.
The second reason is blood.
Noein is the child of a petty and neurotic father, and a mother who secured her position as a concubine by exploiting that father and then died enjoying her luxuries. One could easily believe that Noein was born with a predisposition for a twisted personality.
However, despite his upbringing and inherent disposition, Noein also possessed ordinary human love and kindness. Though, these emotions had only ever been directed toward his sole confidant, Mathilda.
Therefore, he intended to earnestly manage his territory and care for his subjects, unlike his awful father who had ruled the count’s estate with an iron fist.
“Even so, right now, the Earlkvist territory is nothing but a forest. There are no subjects to care for and not even a house for us to live in. Isn’t this fun, Mathilda?”
“Yes, Master Noein.”
Exhausted and sitting down in the rough terrain of the forest, Noein said this to his devoted slave, who brought a leather bag filled with water to his lips.
They had been in the forest for less than thirty minutes. They hadn’t walked more than a kilometer, but for Noein, who had grown up hardly ever leaving the separate house on the count’s estate, it was a harsh journey.
On the other hand, Mathilda, being a beastwoman, had a natural stamina that made this level of movement hardly tiring.
“…Master Noein, would you like me to carry you on my back?”
“Thank you, Mathilda. But I’ll walk on my own feet. After all, this is my own land.”
It would be unbecoming for a lord to be carried by a slave on the first day of entering his territory.
Even though there was no one other than Mathilda to see, Noein stood up again, driven by a self-satisfied determination.
…
They continued to advance through the forest with a golem leading the way, and before long—certainly before Noein’s endurance reached its limit—they arrived at a river.
The river, flowing from the northwest to the southeast through the forest, was not large, but had enough water to serve as a water source, and the water was clear.
“Master Noein, shall we set up camp by this river?”
“It’s dangerous to be too close to the river during the rain. Let’s look for a more suitable spot to the north.”
“Understood, Master Noein. A wise decision as always.”
Receiving the words of his unwaveringly loyal slave, Noein directed the golem to head north.
They soon found a slightly open area a short distance from the river.
“This looks good. Let’s make this the first settlement of the Earlkvist territory.”
In the forest, with only the lord himself, his slave, and a silent golem, Noein declared this.
…
It was still before noon, but Noein’s weak legs and back were already screaming in protest.
He wanted to explore the surroundings further, but it was difficult to continue today.
Therefore, he decided to do what he could from their current location.
“Master Noein, you must be tired. Shall I make some tea?”
“Ah, thank you. I’m sorry for having to rest so soon because of my lack of stamina, Mathilda.”
“There is no need for you to apologize, Master Noein. I am here to serve you.”
Expressing words befitting an exemplary servant, Mathilda’s rabbit ears twitched as she skillfully prepared the tea.
Transferring water from the leather bag into an iron pot, she inserted a rod-like tool with a blue-purple magic stone embedded in it.
As the magic stone emitted a blue light, steam rose from the pot that had held lukewarm water until now, and the sound of boiling echoed.
Using the magical device called “Fire Magic: Boiling,” Mathilda boiled the water, added tea leaves from the southern part of the kingdom, and poured the tea into two wooden cups when the aroma and color were just right.
“Here you go, Master Noein.”
“Thank you. It smells wonderful. The tea you make is always delicious, Mathilda.”
“I am honored by your praise.”
Noein smiled gently, an expression he showed to no one else, and Mathilda returned a shy smile, an expression she showed to no one else either.
It was March. Being in the northern part of the kingdom, the air was still a bit chilly.
Warming himself with the fragrant tea and easing his mind after the exhausting journey, Noein watched the scene before him.
Sitting beside him with her cup, Mathilda also kept a lookout with her keen ears, aware of the dangers in the monster-infested forest.
The two golems cleared branches, stones, and noticeable weeds from the area, flattening the ground.
By the time they finished their tea and rested, a small but flat piece of land had been prepared.
“With this, we can pitch a tent and have some space to cultivate.”
Next was setting up the tent, their temporary home.
Normally, setting up a tent was heavy labor requiring several people, but with the golems, it was no trouble.
Raising the poles, assembling the frame, and spreading the thick cloth, they quickly completed a tent spacious enough for Noein and Mathilda to sleep comfortably.
…
“A lord living in a tent. How interesting.”
“Master Noein is a wonderful person. This is just the beginning. Eventually, this place will become a town, and you will live in a grand mansion.”
“Yes, we must make that happen as soon as possible… I’m sorry for the hardships, Mathilda.”
“Not at all. My place is by your side, Master Noein.”
Laying fur on the tent floor, moving clothes and daily necessities from the cart, they arranged their living space while exchanging such words.
After moving their belongings, they strung threads around the surrounding trees and hung several iron rods from them.
This setup would alert them to approaching monsters with sound. With her sharp hearing and senses, Mathilda wouldn’t miss it.
“Now, what should we do starting tomorrow?”
This land had nothing yet.
Creating fields, expanding flat land, exploring the surroundings—there was too much to do.
Too many choices can make it hard to decide where to start.
“Well, for now, we should rest. Clear our minds with a good rest.”
It was already approaching evening. They nibbled on bread and dried meat purchased in the town of Viscount Keinitz that morning, drank more of Mathilda’s tea, and Noein prepared to sleep early in the tent.
“Come here, Mathilda.”
“Yes, Master Noein.”
Mathilda was not only a domestic slave who took care of Noein’s needs, and a guard slave who protected him with her physical abilities, but also a beloved slave who soothed his heart and body.
Called gently by Noein, Mathilda smiled and snuggled up beside him.
