Chapter 50

After a few months of starting the work, the development of the new village is almost complete. As for the fields that have yet to be touched, I will have the residents cultivate them. Since they will eventually become their own, I don't think they will complain.

When it comes to relocating the residents from the devastated village, there is one issue that needs to be resolved: convincing the lord of the neighboring territory.

There are many ways to quickly resolve this, such as threatening with military force or appealing to the king, but I want to handle it as peacefully as possible.

The reason the villagers resorted to banditry was that they received no support despite their lives being impoverished by the damage from monsters. If we point out the lack of management, the other side won't be able to take a strong stance.

Since they have neglected the village to this extent, it must not be very important. Taking over a village that will be in the red for years, or even decades, isn't a bad deal for either side, I think.

Patrick and I are the ones going to talk. Whenever I go somewhere for work, he always wants to come along.

"Hey, Patrick! This isn't a date!"

"I can't take my eyes off you."

"Do you mean I'm captivating?"

"It means I don't know what you might do."

I thought it was a story about a charming girl and a passionate young man, but it turned out to be a story about a delinquent girl and a probation officer. I hope it's not as bad as a prisoner and a guard.

The lord we are going to meet is Viscount Cottness, who I thought was a typical local noble until recently.

From the preliminary investigation, it seems the viscount is a radical sympathizer. He has been cultivating cotton for several generations and is quite wealthy for a local viscount. I guess cash crops are profitable.

The current Viscount Cottness, seeking more power, used the money he made to get close to the duke and his merry men. I can't understand it.

It's not as bad as my parents, who went to the capital and never returned, but he is undoubtedly quite ambitious. The viscount might make some demands, so we need to be prepared for the negotiation.

Patrick and I arrived at a mansion in the town that serves as the center of the viscount's territory, which is a bit smaller than ours. Of course, we had informed them of the date and time of our visit. It's unthinkable for nobles to show up unannounced like some young lady.

"It's been a while, Viscount Cottness."

"I have been waiting for you."

The man waiting for us was a thin man in his forties, so thin that he looked like he would be blown away by the wind. He is the viscount. We only met once when I took office, so it feels almost like our first meeting.

Despite only informing him that we had important matters to discuss, the viscount seems pleased to see me.

The reception room in the mansion was lined with paintings and ornamental armor. After taking a sip of the tea served, I began the conversation.

"I came here today—"

"Yes, I understand. So that rumor was true, then."

I expected that providing food aid to the village would be discovered, but it doesn't seem to be about the village. He looks happy for some reason.

The viscount continued with a sly smile.

"If Duke Darkness joins the duke's faction, the plan will be even more solid."

I haven't switched sides to the duke's faction. And what plan? I was about to ask, but Patrick stopped me by poking my side. I was about to make a strange sound. I glared at him, but he ignored it. I really won't forgive you.

"I came to hear about that plan. Due to certain circumstances, I can't go to the capital for a while, and letters can be seen by others. I would like you to tell me the details of the plan."

"…You don't know anything?"

When Patrick tried to get information about the duke's plan, the viscount seemed suspicious that he knew nothing. Patrick continued to bluff.

"I know the outline. Just getting that information cost me a lot in the capital."

"Ah, your family—"

"Yes, I'm from a border baron's family, so it's natural to be suspicious."

"The border baron's hatred of Remrest is well-known."

Wow, even the name of the neighboring country, Remrest, came up. This is definitely a dangerous conversation; I want to pretend I didn't hear it and leave.

Also, the extreme hatred of Remrest is from the border baron's wife, not the baron himself. But that's not important now.

The viscount relaxed and started talking. Patrick skillfully followed along.

"To be honest, I don't know the details either. I've heard that we will sweep away the king's faction with the support of the neighboring country, but I don't know the specifics of the support."

"I see, so it's not just us who haven't been told."

"Yes, it's unusual for the duke to be involved himself."

They must be just shallow-minded people who have gone too far. I was surprised while listening to this. I couldn't help but ask for clarification.

"Duke Hillrose, himself?"

"That's right. The duke himself negotiated with Remrest."

Duke Hillrose, the father of Eleanora and Mr. Ronald, who was told by the queen that he didn't need to be wary, who didn't attend radical gatherings, and who said with a gentle smile that he would entrust his daughter to me.

From this information, I thought the duke wasn't that bad. The conflict between the royal family and the duke's family is an old one, and I didn't think Duke Hillrose himself had that much ambition.

However, if I believe Viscount Cottness, the duke is trying to seize control of the country with the help of a hypothetical enemy country. This is a clear coup, and in some cases, it could be an irreparable act of treason.

In any case, we should retreat while he still thinks we are on the duke's side. We won't get any more useful information, and if Patrick's bluff is exposed, it will get complicated.

I poked Patrick's side to signal him. Grunt, my index finger! Revenge for earlier!

"Ugh!"

"Is something wrong?"

"…No, nothing. There is another matter I came here for today."

Patrick, who made a strange sound, glared at me resentfully and urged me to continue. I didn't mean to do it that hard, sorry.

"I will tell you. A few months ago, we were attacked by bandits in our territory."

"That's terrible, but I'm sure you are safe… Duke Darkness."

"Yes, we were unharmed, but the bandits seemed to be from Cottness's territory."

"…I don't know how to apologize for that."

The viscount said, his face stiffening. He must be anxious about what kind of compensation I will demand.

If he continues like this, the negotiation will go smoothly. My goal is just to get his approval for the villagers to relocate.

"When we talked to them, they said the village was in ruins and they couldn't make a living. Do you know the village that is in the shadow of the mountain and has poor harvests?"

"…Y-Yes! Ah, that village, they don't pay taxes properly and always ask for support. I have been troubled by them. What kind of treatment do you want?"

"Treatment?"

Isn't that a bit, cruel? As a lord, there are times when you have to see people as numbers, but isn't it too harsh to treat a village with no other blemishes besides its location as just a burden?

The flustered viscount continued in a rapid voice.

"But since they were defeated by you, Duke, their numbers must have decreased. I am truly grateful…"

I stood up in anger, but Patrick didn't stop me at all. I thought he would stop me, so I became calm instead.

The most important thing here is to get our demands through. Getting angry emotionally won't solve anything.

"You don't care if unproductive subjects disappear. Then, please allow them to relocate to my territory."

"R-Relocate?"

The viscount, startled by my sudden standing, was flustered. Let's get his approval quickly and leave. I pressed on.

"The viscount is troubled about how to handle that village, and I need more people. Our interests align. Right? Will you allow the relocation?"

◆ ◆ ◆

Viscount Cottness nodded in response to my question. He immediately agreed without even asking how his subjects would be treated in my territory.

On the way back, despite achieving our goal, I was left with a vague sense of unease. One reason was the viscount's attitude toward his subjects, and there was one other point that bothered me.

"Hey, Patrick, didn't I end up threatening him rather than negotiating at the end?"

"Well, this time it might be okay."

"I gained that much power."

"Yes, it's up to Yumiera to use it correctly."

The viscount consistently took a low stance and immediately agreed to my demands. It must be because of the power I gained.

"Because I am a duke and he is a viscount."

The difference between a viscount and a duke is only one rank, but the wall between upper and lower nobles is significant. Can I use the "power" I unwillingly gained correctly?

After a long silence, Patrick said:

"No, that's not really the issue."