Chapter 91

About a month had passed since the New Year. One day, the capital of the Kingdom of Carpia was a little more bustling than usual.

The 'Register,' which listed the names of all the nobles in the country, owned by the royal family, had been officially announced to have missing entries for about a month.

Perhaps I might be one of them. The first wave of local nobles who suspected they might be missing from the register had contacted their hometowns, obtained copies of the register, and come to the capital.

Of course, they were not going through a ceremonial procedure in front of a large audience like in Nilda Gazir's case. In a room in the palace, clerks would verify the copies, and Queen Aura would add the names to the register.

The task was simple, and from a third party's perspective, there was no problem with it. However, among those involved, some were so tense that they seemed about to collapse.

Well, it's not surprising. If their re-registration in the 'Register' was not recognized, they would no longer be nobles.

For someone who had lived as a noble for more than five years, being suddenly placed in a position where they might be told, "You are not a noble," even if it was a one in ten thousand chance, would be nothing but terrifying.

However, the number of nobles who had applied for re-registration was still countable on one hand, and even including their relatives, the number of people causing a fuss over the 'Register' issue was very small.

Most of the nobles were just curious onlookers, and the interest of onlookers does not last long.

Especially if there were other significant events to attract attention.

Currently, the interest of the nobles gathered in the capital had shifted to the engagement of General Pujol of the Gijen family and Nilda, the second daughter of the Gazir border baron family.

---

"Then, in the Gazir border baron family, is it mainly Lucinda who is taking action?"

"Yes. The border baron himself is only networking with military acquaintances, but it seems that Lady Lucinda is taking Nilda to various social events."

In a room in the palace, Queen Aura received this report from a blonde maid who was also a spy.

The queen, still deeply seated in her chair, placed her hand on her chin and thought.

"Hmm. In that case, it would be wise to hold off on approaching Lady Lucinda until Nilda's marriage is completed."

The middle-aged secretary standing behind her responded to the queen's question, which sounded like a monologue.

"That's right. Lady Lucinda is a local lord noble, and she is a woman with deep affection for her family. Given her efforts to ensure a smooth marriage for her sister, Nilda, any rash moves would be unwise."

The engagement of General Pujol and Nilda Gazir was initiated by General Pujol, but it was also a desirable match for the Gazir border baron family.

Nilda, who had been raised as a village girl until she was old enough to understand, made the Gazir border baron family tend to be cautious.

Recognizing the correctness of Secretary Fabio's argument, the queen sighed.

"Unavoidable. For now, we'll limit ourselves to gathering information. However, the information is not coming together. I was prepared for some difficulty, but the lack of information exceeds my expectations. Margarete, how is it going?"

The blonde maid, who was addressed, nodded once and reported the unsatisfactory results.

"Not well. The Gazir border baron family has focused most of its efforts on the development of the local area, so there are almost no nobles with connections in the capital. Lady Lucinda herself has rarely left the border baron's territory, and there are no flashy anecdotes that have spread outside the territory."

"Hmm? How can such a wise and capable person not be the subject of rumors, even if they are secluded in their territory?"

The queen, tilting her head, was told by the blonde maid with a composed face.

"Perhaps because she is wise and capable. In the southern continent, a woman openly gaining fame does not bring good results."

"Hmm..."

Based on Margarete's words, Queen Aura organized the information about the Gazir border baron family.

"During the Great War, the Gazir border baron was hardly ever in his territory, right?"

"Yes. His eldest and second sons died in battle one after another, so the border baron himself was commanding on the battlefield."

Secretary Fabio confirmed the queen's question.

"During the Great War, was the third son, Xavier, not yet an adult?"

"That's correct. During the Great War, Sir Xavier was under Lady Lucinda's protection."

"What about the vassal nobles of the Gazir border baron family?"

"Most of the vassal families are warriors. The main force was fighting alongside the border baron."

"I don't recall receiving any reports of problems in the Gazir border baron's territory during that time?"

"That memory is correct. In fact, the Gazir border baron's territory did not have any major problems that needed to be reported to the capital during the Great War."

"Was it just sheer luck?"

The queen, tilting her head with a skeptical look, received a nod from the slender secretary.

"It was undoubtedly luck. There were no large-scale natural disasters or powerful dragons descending into human settlements during the Great War. However, the fact that no other usual problems occurred is likely due to Lady Lucinda's skills."

When a war drags on, the territory usually faces multiple problems.

Especially in the case of the Gazir border baron's territory, the lord was leading the army outside the territory.

The army, in a sense, was the young male labor force of the territory. Villages that had their young men taken as soldiers faced significant difficulties in maintaining their usual work.

It's like being asked to do the work of ten people with only seven. It's only natural that problems arise.

While routine field work might somehow be managed, tasks like plowing, sowing, and harvesting, which depend on the season, cannot be done without enough people.

In such cases, neighboring villages would lend each other their limited labor force, but this naturally led to various problems.

"Which village sends people? Who guarantees the safety of the journey? How to treat villages that send many people versus those that can only send a few?" These are just some of the many difficult issues that pile up.

Therefore, territories where the lord is absent usually face multiple problems, and if they can handle these problems themselves, they can be called "excellent acting lords."

However, in the Gazir border baron's territory, such problems never occurred.

"In other words, all the problems were nipped in the bud before they surfaced?"

"Or, perhaps, they really never had any problems at all."

The queen took a deep breath.

"...Why has she remained unknown until now?"

The secretary shrugged slightly.

"If she were to solve various problems brilliantly, anyone would see her capability. But if she prevents problems from arising in the first place, she would only appear as a peaceful acting lord to outsiders."

"...I'm starting to feel uneasy. If we take Lucinda away, will the Gazir border baron's territory not function?"

The queen sighed, a mix of admiration and concern.

---

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---

At the same time, Zenshiro was in a room in the harem, receiving a lecture from Lady Octavia for the first time in a while.

"...So, all the land in the capital is, in principle, privately owned by the Carpia royal family?"

"Yes. Even the houses and shops of commoners, and the capital residences of nobles, are officially considered to be leased from the royal family. In reality, for the economic revitalization of the capital, the capital residences of nobles are the only ones that are not freely bought and sold, and the royal family does not collect rent, so most people are unaware. The only exception is the residence of the Regalado viscount."

Now that he had heard the main common knowledge, Lady Octavia was teaching him knowledge that even some nobles did not know.

"Regalado viscount? It sounds familiar?"

Tilting his head, Zenshiro received an explanation from Lady Octavia.

"Being a noble in the capital, you have probably met the head of the family at least once, Zenshiro-sama. You must see the viscount's eldest daughter every day. The Regalado viscount is the former ruling family of the capital."

"Oh, right, the Carpia Kingdom did move the capital once, didn't it?"

"Yes. When the territory of the Carpia Kingdom expanded and the old capital became inconvenient, it is said that the Regalado viscount family, which owned the central territory, proposed to donate their land to the royal family. On that occasion, the Regalado viscount's residence was designated as their own property. Additionally, as a reward for their contribution, several positions in the royal palace were designated as 'reserved seats' for the Regalado viscount family."

"I see."

Nodding in admiration, Zenshiro inwardly tilted his head.

(Do local lords usually offer their territories when a feudal state moves the capital? It feels like the royal family has conveniently twisted the legend. I'll ask Aura later.)

However, the relocation itself happened hundreds of years ago. The true history may have been lost even in the royal family. The truth might be lost to history.

While Zenshiro was thinking this, he suddenly noticed that Lady Octavia seemed to have something more to say.

"Oh, did I interrupt your story? Please continue."

Zenshiro assumed that he had stopped her explanation by thinking, but Lady Octavia's thoughts were different.

"No, that's all for the previous topic."

"Hmm? But you looked like you wanted to say something?"

Pressed by Zenshiro, the lady, known as the epitome of grace, averted her gaze slightly and blushed.

"That's because I was also thinking. I apologize for asking a mundane question, but have you heard any of the recent rumors circulating in the capital, Zenshiro-sama?"

"I'm not intentionally gathering them, but I inevitably hear some. If you're talking about the current rumors in the capital, it's either the 'Register' issue or the marriage of General Pujol and Nilda, right?"

Confidently asking, Zenshiro received a shake of the head from Lady Octavia.

"No, neither of those. It's about the rumors of Lady Lucinda, Nilda's sister."

Lucinda. Hearing this name, Zenshiro's body trembled.

Lady Octavia, politely pretending not to notice his reaction, continued.

"I apologize for the impertinent question, but about a month ago, you had the opportunity to meet Lady Lucinda, didn't you?"

"Is that what the rumors are about?"

Feeling like he wanted to snap, Zenshiro lowered his tone slightly, but Lady Octavia shook her head again.

"No, it's the opposite. It's 'hardly a rumor at all.'"

"Hmm?"

Not being particularly perceptive, Zenshiro didn't immediately understand what Lady Octavia meant.

In response, Lady Octavia explained carefully.

"The issue of Zenshiro-sama's concubine is something everyone is paying attention to. Even a relatively long conversation at a ball or reception can lead to rumors of becoming a concubine. Lady Fatima of the Gijen family, Lady Letitia of the Belvides border baron family, Princess Bon of the Dual Kingdom, and even I, have had rumors circulate at some point."

The first three names were somewhat familiar, but the rumor about Lady Octavia was a complete surprise.

Lady Octavia, the Marchioness, was, as her title suggests, a married woman.

To Zenshiro, it was a shocking revelation, but when it was put that way, it became clear that the fact that Lucinda Gazir "hardly became a rumor at all" was an abnormal situation.

Even a girl who had a slightly longer conversation at a ball or a married woman who entered the harem as a tutor could become a "concubine candidate" rumor, but a woman who had a one-on-one, unofficial meeting hardly became a rumor.

When compared, it was clearly strange.

"Therefore, some perceptive people are tilting their heads. They think that the response to Lady Lucinda this time is different."

If an action that should naturally become a rumor does not become one, it means that someone is manipulating the information.

The most straightforward suspect would be the royal family, including Zenshiro.

And when considering why the royal family, which had previously let the rumors flow, moved to suppress them this time, some people reached a paradoxical conclusion.

Namely, "This time, Lucinda Gazir is really a concubine candidate, so they are controlling the information."

"That's a misunderstanding. There is no fact that I gave Lucinda any special treatment."

Zenshiro's firm statement was entirely true. Neither Zenshiro nor Aura had done anything so far.

The one who had taken action was Lucinda herself, without any awareness.

She thought that if a rumor about someone like her were to spread, it would cause trouble for the royal family. Therefore, every time she was asked about such topics in social circles, she skillfully used her words to "clear up the misunderstanding."

As a result, the majority of the noble society "cleared up the misunderstanding," but some perceptive people were left with a strong sense of unease.

"That's the case. However, the misunderstanding is spreading among some of the nobles who read too much into it. I thought it was presumptuous, but I took the liberty of offering my advice."

"No, it's not presumptuous at all. I always appreciate Octavia's advice. I look forward to your continued support."

"Yes, Z