Chapter 10

Not only that, but this was a level of lying that even Bandaike couldn't pull off.

'With this, he managed to deceive at least three people. But how will he solve the problem of the missing precious metals?'

Although it was a concern, he decided to push forward for now.

'There's another issue. To hold a fief battle, we need a knight dedicated to combat.'

I can't fight myself.

Of course, I need to get stronger, but that won't happen overnight.

Winter and Autumn have already shown their physical prowess.

Regardless, the results of the satisfying meeting were immediately put into action the next day.

After Bandaike's death, the three of us had stopped all activities, and the fief's atmosphere had been tense. But with the three of us acting as mood setters and actively moving around, everyone soon returned to their usual work.

Still, many fief soldiers had died during the monster extermination, and the faces of their families, friends, relatives, and neighbors among the fief residents remained dark.

In the game, I never considered the feelings of the fief residents, but seeing it in reality with my own eyes, I couldn't help but feel sorry for them.

I felt a desire to protect them, perhaps?

From a modern perspective, they suffer their entire lives from birth to death.

Even in the Joseon era, the average lifespan of a commoner was only 40 years!

In a class society, the most comfortable class, the yangban, lived the longest, followed by the commoners, and lastly, the most hardworking commoners and slaves.

How old did the commoners and slaves live to be?

I recalled an article about Pompeii, where the remains of a master and a servant were found fossilized in volcanic ash, and the servant's spine was broken.

It means they worked to the point where their spines shattered. Thus, they couldn't help but die young.

Perhaps it would have been better to be buried in volcanic ash...

'I want to make everyone in my fief happy.'

Looking back, this thought marked the beginning of change.

'The funeral is over, and I can't keep avoiding it, so let's meet face-to-face and talk.'

With Dudden's help, I met not only Isabelle but also Lea and Anais.

However, I talked to each of them individually, starting with Lea.

"Cough, cough. You've heard about Father and my brothers, right?"

Her coughing didn't stop.

In front of a beautiful woman, I hoped she wouldn't start coughing up blood.

"I'm sorry, but I don't have the time to think about marriage right now. In fact, marriage is often decided without my consent."

"But, but I have to get married."

Lea's face turned red, and she seemed at a loss.

Even seeing my condition, she didn't give up on marriage.

"Cough, cough. It's not about love, right? Is there another reason?"

I preemptively set boundaries, fearing she might give an unreasonable reason like love.

Lea, feeling embarrassed to use love as an excuse, didn't say it was love.

"Frankly speaking..."

Come on, tell me.

You're not the type to lie well.

Although it was a game, I had married and lived with her dozens of times.

Among the three, Lea was the most frequent.

The reason was partly her East Asian appearance, which I found attractive, and partly because Isabelle was hard to get along with, while Anais was more reserved compared to Lea.

"Um... um... debt..."

After a long pause, she finally spoke, revealing that her father, who was addicted to gambling, had sold the fief and, unable to pay off the debt, sent her here.

While speaking, her face turned bright red with embarrassment, and it seemed like tears would spill at the slightest touch.

"Cough, cough. I understand. How much is the total debt so far?"

"I'm not sure exactly..."

"Where is your father now?"

"He's waiting in Ainstap. But we need to pay part of the interest by the end of this month..."

She couldn't finish her sentence, but I understood.

The loan sharks would cause trouble, right?

"Cough, cough. I need to go to Ainstap soon to inherit the title. I'll take you with me and bring your father back."

"Really?"

Lea doubted her ears.

Bring him back?

"I'll also settle the debt issue then."

Her eyes widened in surprise.

"Did I hear that wrong? Settle the debt?"

"Yes."

"How... how?"

"Cough, cough. We need to pay part of the interest first. Then, we'll pay off the debt gradually as we earn money. There's no other way, right?"

Kill the loan sharks?

Do you have that ability?

Even in a class society, there are things you can't do.

Can loan sharks, who have the power to sell a fief, have no background at all?

Absolutely not!

Behind the loan sharks are dukes and marquises, so you can't mess with them easily.

Given this situation, the only solution is to pay the debt.

"Really? You're not lying?"

"Cough, cough. Why would I lie? There was quite a bit of money in my father's safe. Not enough to pay off all the debt, but enough to cover the interest. I'll use this to pay the interest, and as we earn money from running the fief, we'll keep paying it off."

"Thank you. Sob, sob."

Tears streamed down Lea's face.

"Cough, cough. Even if we don't get married, if you want, you and your father can stay in the fief as long as you like."

"Really?"

Her face showed surprise, as if she had stopped crying.

"Of course. Lea, you're a friend. We... can be friends, right?"

"Of course!"

If I decided to marry, why wouldn't I be friends?

Even my father's friends and relatives had turned their backs on me.

Lea's eyes, which had never shown interest until today, sparkled.

'Hmm, a bit overwhelming.'

The truth is, I need to survive.

Next was Anais.

The conversation started similarly to Lea's.

"So, you're not considering me as a bride?"

Unlike the embarrassed Lea, Anais was straightforward.

In many plays, I had chosen Anais and married her quite a few times.

Not as many as Lea, but still.

Why fewer?

She was almost as pretty, but her blunt personality made her less affectionate.

Perhaps she was knight-like?

When talking to her, it felt more like dealing with a tough business partner than a woman.

Still, she had a great body, so...

Imagination forbidden!

This game isn't rated 19+.

Now it's reality, though...

Anyway, she was more attractive when she didn't talk and just stayed quiet.

"Cough, cough. I haven't decided on anyone yet. I didn't have the time to, right? It was too short."

"Then, we need more time?"

"If you want more time, we can do that."

"But I'm worried about Father. He's alone, and he's short on living expenses."

Although it was a game setting, Anais's love for her father was genuine.

"Cough, cough. How about bringing him here to live with us?"

Later, I would realize that, honestly, I needed Malcolm more than Anais.

A knight in his seventies?

You might be curious, but the reason will come later.

"Even though he's retired, his lifetime of experience as a knight remains. I'll pay him a regular salary. In fact, just having an experienced knight around brings stability."

"Really?"

Anais was delighted.

The most important thing was the salary.

If Malcolm worked, she wouldn't need to insist on marriage.

"Cough, cough. Really."

She jumped up.

"Thank you!"

Anais, who had risen from her seat, bowed deeply, making me feel uncomfortable.

So far, it went smoothly.

The last one was the problematic one.

Before meeting her, I took a deep breath to calm my nerves.

The start was similar to the previous two.

After explaining the situation, I continued.

"Cough, cough. Isabelle, should you return to the convent?"

"..."

No answer.

She's probably thinking, "Tonight will be your last night."

"If you don't want to go, you can stay in the fief."

"Really?"

"Cough, cough. If I told you to go back to where you lived before... I'd be sad. Compared to there, this place is heaven. Do you know what made me happiest after coming here without a father?"

"What?"

I'm not sure if the pity mode worked, but Isabelle asked.

"Cough, cough. Eating three meals a day. You know? I overheard the maids talking."

A poor person's luck had turned.

She couldn't have missed it.

"Cough, cough. At first, I wished this happiness would last one more day. The next day, I got greedy and wanted it to last two days, then three days... Now, I wish it would last just one year. If I could have one year, I'd be content even if I died right after."

She chuckled.

"Maybe not. You'd probably want to live longer after a year."

I nodded.

"Maybe."

Saying no would be too revealing, and it wouldn't form a connection, so I couldn't change her mind.

"Cough, cough. But, I've lived as a poor commoner, not knowing my father, for almost a month now. Is it really greedy to enjoy a bit of luxury before I die? Is that really greedy?"

"..."

No answer.

Does she think it's greedy?

No. She sees me as a pitiful person who has only enjoyed this luxury for a month.

"Isabelle, you grew up in a convent, right?"

"Yes."

"Cough, cough. You weren't born there, right? Do you know who your parents are?"

"I'm not sure."

"Were they nobles?"

"What?"

Unlike her usual calm demeanor, she was flustered.

"Cough, cough. It's not easy for slaves, commoners, or even poor commoners to enter a convent, right? Was I wrong? I wanted to enter a monastery before coming here because I was so poor. But they don't accept just anyone, right?"

It was true.

There are so many poor people in this world.

When famine strikes, people even sell their children, so monasteries and convents don't accept just anyone.

Especially not young children who can't work.

"Um, I'm not sure. I've never thought about it..."

She turned her head, avoiding eye contact, but she couldn't be unaware!

"Even if they were nobles, you probably enjoyed more luxury than I did. Unless you were abandoned within a month of being born."

Isabelle entered the convent at age six.

With her sharp mind and good memory, she still held onto the happy memories of her early years in the fief.

That's why she had a strong desire for revenge.

In a way, she had enjoyed a noble life for six years longer than I had.

This was the gap I was targeting.

I only enjoyed a noble life for a month, but you had six years. And you're seeking revenge?

That's unfair!

Until a month ago, I didn't even know I was Bandaike's son and lived in extreme poverty.

Not just poor or average, but very poor.