Chapter 73

"Here you are, the seasonal fruit tart."

In the terrace seat of a cafe facing the main street of Bechtelheim, the server placed a tart on the table, saying this. The tart was loaded with various fruits and made with a generous amount of butter and sugar in the crust.

"Wow, amazing!"

Rosetta exclaimed in admiration at the sight.

"Just to think you can pay such a high price for a mere pastry."

On the opposite side of the table, Pence looked at the tart and Rosetta with a sigh. In front of him was only a cup of tea.

Pastry is expensive, especially when it uses valuable fruits, butter, and sugar. This tart was a luxury item for Rosetta, a maid from a rural estate.

"Because, such a luxurious pastry is probably hard to find even in Letovik. Unlike you, I can't leave the capital Noein very often, so I have to splurge my salary on such occasions."

As she said this, Rosetta took a big bite of the luxurious tart, and Pence sipped his tea, muttering, "Well, do as you please."

The retainers accompanying Noein on the journey and the maid Rosetta were on leave today.

Since it was dangerous for Rosetta, a young woman unfamiliar with the city, to move around alone, Pence was assigned to guard her... or rather, to keep an eye on her, leading to this situation.

By now, Radley and Bart were probably wandering through Bechtelheim's shopping district, buying souvenirs for their wives.

"Pence, I'm sorry for making you come with me. You must have wanted to walk around the city with Radley and the others, right?"

"Don't worry about it. They're probably just arguing over what to get their wives. I wouldn't want to be dragged into such a troublesome shopping trip, so this is fine."

"...Pence, you're so kind."

Thinking she had been cared for by Pence, Rosetta smiled and said this.

"Why don't you have a wife, Pence? You're so kind."

"Hey, you're talking about the thing I'm most sensitive about... If you ask the others, they'd say I'm too petty and lack charm. They say there's no point in taking care of me."

While his heart was being pierced by Rosetta's words, Pence replied with a sullen face.

"Is that so? But, that means you can do anything and are reliable, right? I think that's wonderful."

"Thanks... I appreciate it."

"It's not flattery. I can only do housework, and I'm always told I'm too slow. If I had a husband like Pence, who is so reliable, I'd be happy."

"Haha, that's nice to hear. If you had been born five years earlier, I might have taken your words seriously."

Pence, who was nearly 30, was about 15 years older than Rosetta, who had just turned 20. The age difference was so great that they could have been mistaken for father and daughter.

So Pence brushed off Rosetta's comment, sipped his tea, and gazed at the bustling main street.

Rosetta, who had been treated like a child, pouted in dissatisfaction, but Pence didn't notice.

...

While the retainers and maids were enjoying their day off, their master, Noein, was working today.

"I appreciate you setting up this contract meeting so soon after yesterday. Lord Alquvist."

"It's my honor, Your Excellency. I also want to spread effective weapons and supplies to the northwest faction as soon as possible, so I'm delighted to be able to conclude a contract with you so quickly."

The day after the banquet, in the afternoon, Noein shook hands with the head of a baronial family belonging to the northwest faction.

This was the 24th person Noein had met today. He was smiling, but in his heart, he was thinking, "Just get it over with and go home."

Originally, he planned to send messengers to the lords of the northwest faction after returning to the Alquvist estate, exchange letters, and then sell the crossbows and potatoes.

However, the demonstration at the banquet had caused such a huge response that many voices were heard saying, "We want to sign a contract as soon as possible," leading to Noein meeting with all the nobles of the northwest faction the next day.

Noein was deeply grateful to the Duke of Bechtelheim, who provided the reception room and even lent his clerks to write the contracts.

"...Who's next?"

After the baron left, Noein, removing his smile, asked.

"The next is Viscount Argento, Your Excellency."

"Ah, thanks, Mathilda... Viscount Argento, right? His territory is south of the Marquess Maltzelle's, isn't it?"

As he said this, Noein opened a memo with information about each noble.

Mathilda, who was guarding Noein and assisting with the contract procedures, was behind him.

Noein wanted to give everyone a day off, but since he had to meet with the nobles, he couldn't be without attendants. Nobles generally don't act alone.

Mathilda said, "I can't take a day off while Your Excellency is working, and it wouldn't be meaningful if I can't enjoy the day off with Your Excellency," so she accompanied him today.

Soon, the 25th contract partner, Viscount Argento, arrived, and they quickly concluded the contract.

Next was a baron, then a knight, another baron, a viscount, and so on. After meeting with over ten more nobles, Noein finally finished all the contract procedures in the evening, his head spinning from trying to remember who was who.

"Phew... I'm so tired..."

"Thank you for your hard work, Your Excellency."

Noein sank into the sofa in the reception room, forgetting he was in someone else's house, and Mathilda sincerely thanked him.

"Thanks, I'm really tired... I've signed more contracts today than in my entire life before today..."

As he said this, he reached out his hands to Mathilda in a playful manner, and Mathilda, responding to his gesture, relaxed her expression and moved closer to Noein.

"Lord Alquvist, it seems you've finally finished the contract work."

The Duke of Bechtelheim entered the room, and Noein, realizing he was in the Duke's house, quickly retracted his hands and stood up. Mathilda also instantly composed herself and stood beside Noein.

The Duke, either not noticing or pretending not to notice, sat across from Noein and gestured for him to sit as well.

"Thank you very much, Duke Bechtelheim. I don't know how to express my gratitude for lending me the reception room and your clerks."

"It's no trouble. It's a good thing that the nobles of the northwest faction are eager to strengthen their territories with crossbows and potatoes. Lending a place for contracts is what a faction leader should do."

The Duke nodded calmly at Noein's gratitude, but his expression suddenly became serious.

"Lord Alquvist, let's have a talk."

"Yes, what about?"

While guessing what the talk might be about, Noein asked.

"I've been the head of the ducal family for a long time. I've met many nobles, and you are unique among them."

"I'm aware of my uniqueness."

"Hahaha! If you understand, then it's easier... I'm the leader of the northwest faction. I'm glad a talented young man has joined the faction, but I need to know why he is so generous with new technologies and knowledge."

His tone was gentle, but the Duke's voice had an unusual intensity, a will to force out the truth without any room for argument.

"Your contribution to the northwest faction when you joined was enough with the results of the bandit suppression. Frankly, the crossbows and potatoes you brought are too much as a gift. As the recipient of such a gift, I need to discern the true intentions behind it. Do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand."

"Good. Now, reveal your true intentions... Normally, if you establish groundbreaking technology or knowledge in your own territory, you wouldn't easily share it with others. It becomes a strong weapon for your own domain. So why did you share it with us?"

The Duke's eyes were sharp as he asked.

"...It's because of my noble background. Your Excellency, are you aware of my background?"

"I've heard from Baron Koenitz. You are the result of 'Maximilian's youthful indiscretion,' right?"

Hearing the name of his hated father after a long time, Noein couldn't help but smile evilly. The Duke raised an eyebrow at his expression.

The phrase 'Maximilian's youthful indiscretion' was a popular saying at the time, mocking the Earl of Kivireft for impregnating a servant and having a mistress while unmarried.

"That's correct. I was the illegitimate child of the Earl of Kivireft, and I was given a piece of the Bessel Great Forest, a detached territory of the Kivireft estate, and expelled from the earl's family, eventually becoming the Baron of Alquvist. For the Earl of Kivireft, it was a good opportunity to dispose of both a troublesome illegitimate child and a detached territory."

"You don't call him father."

"I have already severed ties with the Earl of Kivireft. Now that my surname is Alquvist, few people know of my connection to him, and I can't simply call him father. Besides, I dislike him."

Noein said this calmly, and the Duke of Bechtelheim gave him a slightly sympathetic look. However, Noein, lost in thoughts of his hatred for Maximilian, didn't notice.

"Because of these circumstances, I have no relatives to rely on. I had never been in social circles, so I had no noble acquaintances. Moreover, my domain was just a forest until two years ago and is still a small village."

Even with the power to destroy 200 bandits, the Alquvist domain remains a small village.

"So, I have been seeking ways to stabilize my position both as a noble and as the lord of my domain. Fortunately, I have a good neighbor, and I have maintained a certain level of friendly relations with Baron Koenitz, but that was only to the extent of being abandoned in the face of a major threat like a large bandit group."

"So, you joined the northwest faction to form a stronger and larger bond? However, that doesn't explain why you provided such an excessive gift."

"No, my goal wasn't just to join the northwest faction... My goal was to become an important noble family that the northwest faction couldn't easily discard. And I have achieved that goal with this."

Noein smiled as he said this.