Chapter 149 – It’s Nice to Be Back. (1)
Zwalter spoke earnestly.
“Who would want to send their daughter to Ferdium? If you don’t want to end up like me, you absolutely cannot miss this timing. You need to get married quickly while you’re still young and doing well.”
“...Ha.”
It hurt just to hear it, but objectively, he was right.
The husband spent half the year dispatched to the northern regions. At first glance, it might seem great to have no husband at home, but the problem was that it wasn’t just the husband who was absent.
No one would be pleased with the idea of staying alone without a husband, in a rural backwater that was both poor and dangerous.
That’s why the Ferdium Count’s family had always managed to arrange marriages by pleading with the noble families of the nearby estates.
Ghislain and Amelia’s previous engagement had been arranged in a similar manner.
It was fortunate even to secure an engagement. Zwalter hadn’t managed to find a proper match during his younger years.
“Look at me. If I hadn’t met your mother by chance, I wouldn’t have been able to get married at all. Your mother was also from a fallen noble family, so you don’t have any maternal relatives, do you?”
At Zwalter’s words, Belinda awkwardly turned her gaze away and scratched her neck. Ghislain’s mother had come into the family without a dowry, bringing only Belinda with her as a maid.
Still, from Ferdium’s side, they bowed and thanked her for agreeing to marry, bringing her into the family with respect.
The recitation of facts, which bordered on self-mockery, led to a moment of silence. The difficulties of marriage were not just a problem for noble families.
Homerne cautiously spoke up.
“Since the influence of the Young Lord has grown significantly, how about pushing for a marriage with Count Raypold’s daughter again?”
“Amelia? Should we?”
Zwalter’s expression brightened with interest.
Amelia Raypold was the daughter of a prominent lord in the North, known for being noble, elegant, wise, and compassionate—a well-regarded match.
Becoming a son-in-law to the Marquis of Branford would be more than enough, but honestly, that was a wish too ambitious to entertain.
‘That’s right, to survive in this harsh North, she has to be kind and good-hearted. But since they were once engaged, it should be easier this time. It’s only hard the first time, not the second, right?’
Raypold was a major lord in the North.
Though their relationship had become somewhat distant due to some unpleasant incidents, their estates were close, and they had maintained a nominal alliance since the previous generations.
Count Raypold had many children, and in the past, he had graciously allowed the engagement between Ghislain and Amelia.
Now that Ghislain’s reputation had greatly improved, there was a high chance that they would accept it again.
One by one, the vassals began to express their approval.
“If it’s Count Raypold’s daughter, there’s nothing lacking. Rather, she’s more than we could hope for.”
“Apparently, Count Raypold is already looking for a new match.”
“In that case, it would be better to go with us, his long-time allies. Reestablishing our relationship is just a matter of effort, isn’t it?”
As the conversation continued to lean in a positive direction, Ghislain’s expression began to twist proportionately.
In the end, unable to hold back any longer, Ghislain burst out.
“Absolutely do not contact them. I won’t marry that woman even if it kills me.”
“What? Why not? To be honest, there’s no one in the North as great as Lady Amelia,” Homerne asked, looking puzzled.
She had a good background, was beautiful, and was known for her kind heart. Her personality was quiet and composed, so she seemed like she would support her husband well. No matter how one looked at it, there was no one like her.
“Is it because of what happened before? Marquis Branford is backing you now, so we can get past all that. In fact, we might be even more favorable now. Politics has always been like that.”
“Oh, I said no. I absolutely won’t do it, so take it as a given. If you proceed with this, I’ll ruin everything. We’ll all just go down together.”
Ghislain raised his voice, even glaring, which was unlike his usual self.
Marry two people who were currently grinding their teeth to kill each other?
On their wedding night, they’d probably start planning how to assassinate each other.
Faced with Ghislain’s fierce refusal, the others only clicked their tongues in disappointment.
‘Why is he so averse to this? Didn’t he like her before? Did he get rejected when he went to fetch that grant last time?’
Zwalter inwardly clicked his tongue.
There could be situations where differences in family status might hurt one’s pride.
“...And with those profits, we have purchased large quantities of goods needed for the estate... This is a policy aimed at stabilizing the suddenly rising prices, so the residents will be able to purchase these items at lower prices than the usual market rate... Let us all be grateful for the lord’s generosity, as he wishes to improve the lives of all the estate residents!”
“Wooaaaahhh!”
“The Lord is the best!”
“As expected, the only one who takes care of us is the Lord!”
A thunderous cheer erupted, so loud it felt as if the ground itself was shaking.
Some of the residents, overcome with emotion, even burst into tears and collapsed.
Although a bountiful wheat harvest had helped alleviate some of the food shortages, people couldn’t survive on bread alone.
They needed clothes, and once in a while, they deserved to enjoy something tasty, too.
However, since the surrounding estates were in much the same situation as Fenris, procuring everyday necessities had always been a struggle.
People even had to share cooking tools and pots with their neighbors.
While merchant guilds frequently came to sell goods near the lord’s castle, the supplies they brought were far from sufficient.
The situation was even worse in villages farther away from the castle.
But now, the Lord had returned with large quantities of much-needed goods just for them.
The items on the carts before them were not luxurious products for the Lord’s personal use but various essential items.
For those who had lived day by day, grateful simply for not starving, this was an incredible gift.
Claude, beaming with pride, shouted again over the waves of cheers echoing around him.
“There’s no need to worry about anything in the future! If any problems arise, the Lord and I will take care of them! Never forget that the best way to repay the Lord’s kindness is to do your best in your respective duties! Hahaha!”
The residents clapped and cheered, responding enthusiastically to Claude’s words.
“Wooaaaah! Long live the Chief Overseer!”
“We’ll work hard!”
“The Chief Overseer is just taking the credit!”
“Who said that? Show yourself!”
“You must have misheard! Wahahaha!”
Ghislain watched the laughing and chatting residents with a smile, shaking his head.
He had planned to make an official announcement soon, but he hadn’t expected such an impromptu reveal.
That guy certainly had a knack for smooth-talking.
“Well, it’s not bad.”
When he first arrived, the residents had been slowly wasting away without hope.
Seeing their brightened expressions now filled him with pride and satisfaction.
‘I need to prioritize fixing the roads, too.’
Most of the Northern merchant guilds didn’t come as far as Fenris; they usually unloaded their goods at Raypold instead.
This was partly because Raypold was a large and wealthy estate, but also because the journey to Fenris was treacherous.
Making it easier for the merchants to come and go, and ensuring the smooth transport of cosmetics to the capital or other locations, would require proper road maintenance.
Amidst the endless cheers from the residents, Ghislain slowly made his way toward the lord’s castle.
Like the others, he too felt a sense of ease upon returning to the estate.
It seemed like there hadn’t been any major incidents, so now he could proceed with his next plan quickly...
Boom!
Before he could finish his thoughts, a deafening explosion rang out from the direction of the castle, followed by a plume of flames shooting high into the sky.
A hole was punched straight through the clouds where the red light had passed.
“...?”
Ghislain stared at the castle in shock.
Why had there been such an explosion all of a sudden? Was someone attacking?
As he struggled to make sense of the situation, Ghislain’s eyes widened as he remembered what facility was located at that exact spot.