Chapter 50

"……Where am I?"

Christie, who had just woken up, realized she was lying somewhere and spoke out. The pain was so severe that her body wouldn't move as she wished, but she managed to turn her head and look around. She recognized that she was in her bed in the manor's room.

Her hair and body had been cleaned, and her wounds were bandaged or covered with cloth, indicating she had been well-nursed.

Not long after Christie woke up, someone entered the room. It was a maid employed in the manor.

"Oh? You're awake? You were brought in during the night and have been sleeping for more than half a day. How are you feeling? Can you drink or eat something?"

"…I think so. I'm hungry."

The maid was surprised by Christie's unusually polite tone, which was unlike her usual rough manner, but she said, "I'll bring you some food right away," and left the room.

After eating the porridge and soup the maid brought, Christie was resting when she heard a knock on the door.

"…Come in."

The person who entered after Christie's response was Anna and Matilda.

"You look better. That's good."

"…"

While Anna smiled at Christie, Matilda remained expressionless as usual, which made Christie a bit nervous.

"It's okay. We just came to talk. At Noein-sama's request."

"Talk…?"

Christie's polite speech surprised Anna, just as it had the maid earlier.

"Yes. Though, Matilda will do most of the talking."

As Anna gestured, Matilda began to speak.

"…Yesterday, you called me a low-born and insulted Noein-sama as an 'ignorant noble scum.'"

"S-Sorry—"

"It's fine. No, it's not fine, but I'm not here to ask for an apology… First, let me tell you my story."

Matilda, who was not used to such conversations, spoke somewhat awkwardly.

"As you said, I am a 'low-born beastkin.' I was born into a poor farmer's family with no education or money, sold into slavery as a child, and eventually came to serve Noein-sama. Being Noein-sama's caretaker was the best thing that ever happened to me."

Occasionally digressing to praise Noein excessively, Matilda recounted her past and her journey.

Her matter-of-fact narration vividly brought to Christie's mind the harshness of her life and the hopeful days that followed after meeting Noein.

"Next, I'll tell you about Noein-sama."

Matilda then recounted Noein's detailed past, which surprised Christie.

She had assumed Noein was the son of a great noble who had been given this village by his parents to establish his independence.

A life of luxury with a female beastkin slave, surrounded by vassals, servants, and villagers, where he performed his duties as a lord without much effort, all because he was born a noble.

However, it was all Christie's assumption.

Noein had lived without any freedom for the first 15 years of his life.

Even in such an environment, he had accumulated knowledge and honed his magical skills for the future.

When he was given a forest that was only nominally a fief and left with no proper funds for development, he didn't give up and managed to build this village in just over a year.

If she had been in his position from a young age, could she have done the same?

No, she would have probably complained that it was all wrong, sulked, wasted time, and eventually been kicked out of her home, left to wander aimlessly.

"Christie, you are undoubtedly talented. However, there is something crucial that Noein-sama has and you don't. It's the 'resolve to accept the present situation.'"

"…Yes, I understand."

As she answered, Christie quietly shed tears.

"I have been by Noein-sama's side since he was 9 years old. Noein-sama always faced the present, looking towards the future from within it. He always looked forward. You were different."

Tears continued to flow as Christie listened to Matilda's words.

How shameful her behavior had been.

From Noein's perspective, she must have seemed like a spoiled brat, complaining about the present and lashing out at everyone around her.

"That's why, when you fled from the capital Noenina, were attacked by goblins, and eventually came back for help, Noein-sama deliberately pushed you away to make you understand the present situation."

Christie had become Noein's slave. She had to understand this from the core of her heart.

Last night's ordeal had been a rite of passage. It was only because Christie truly understood her situation and pledged her loyalty to Noein that he finally helped her.

"…I was as good as dead until I began serving Noein-sama. But since meeting Noein-sama, I have learned to read, write, and calculate, and I have trained in combat to be of service to him. I believe Noein-sama's decision to appoint me as his deputy is proof of my efforts."

As Matilda spoke, Christie, who had previously looked down on her as a low-born beastkin slave, suddenly seemed radiant.

"Christie, Noein-sama wants to give you an opportunity. He wants you to live a positive life."

"My… life?"

"Yes. Although you were unfortunately enslaved from a wealthy family, under Noein-sama, you can make significant contributions to this fief, even as a slave, and be highly regarded by him."

As Matilda spoke, Christie's eyes regained their strength.

"Noein-sama didn't buy you for amusement, so you won't be easily freed. However, if you continue to work diligently, you might eventually become a formal vassal. If the fief grows and Noein-sama is promoted, you could even become a noble as one of his key ministers."

Matilda calmly laid out Christie's future possibilities.

"Noein-sama wants to give you the opportunity to strive for these futures. He wants you to face the present and challenge it, rather than run away. As a lord and your master, Noein-sama is thinking about your future and happiness."

"Ah, ah…."

Despite her continuous rudeness, Noein-sama was so merciful.

Noein-sama was so strong and kind, while she was so weak and insignificant.

Thinking this, Christie burst into tears.

After crying for a while, Christie finally calmed down and raised her head. Her expression was clear and resolute.

"Matilda-sama, Anna-sama, please forgive my numerous impoliteness. From now on, I will change my heart and work hard for this fief and Noein-sama under your guidance."

"Yes, that is what Noein-sama wishes."

"Welcome to the Arquvist Manor, Christie."

...

"Is that so, Christie finally understands. Matilda's talk was the key, thank you for the unfamiliar work."

"No, I'm glad I could be of service to Noein-sama… From the looks of it, she will be obedient from now on."

"She said she wants to tidy herself up and then formally thank and apologize to Noein-sama."

In the office, Noein sighed as he listened to Matilda and Anna's report.

"That's good… Finally, her problem is resolved. Everyone was troubled by it."

Honestly, Christie's problematic behavior had been a unique source of trouble for Noein.

No matter how much he explained or offered her high treatment, she wouldn't soften her attitude or understand her position. Yet, she was still an important slave, and he didn't want to irresponsibly exclude her from the fief. To Noein, she was a different kind of formidable opponent compared to any previous challenges.

"The biggest contributor to this 're-education' was Radley, who trained the goblins. I should give him a special bonus."

A few days ago, he had Radley capture goblins in the forest and dig numerous traps on the road before Christie's escape, causing her to injure her feet. Then, he had Radley sic the goblins on her.

While it wasn't a particularly difficult task for Radley, it was certainly a troublesome one.

"Christie doesn't seem to realize the goblins were trained… Deliberately siccing goblins on someone is quite a strong educational method, isn't it?"

"Well, yeah… Did I shock Anna a bit?"

"Maybe a little? But I understand Noein-sama's… unique methods by now."

Anna smiled.

Siccing goblins on a slave to instill the fear of death and then guiding them to pledge loyalty voluntarily is a method that would normally shock anyone. The fact that Anna could laugh it off as "a little shocking" shows how much she has been influenced by Noein's twisted ways.

"Anyway, this matter is resolved. Good work, both of you."

Thus, the issue with Christie was finally resolved.