Chapter 84 - 84 Evelyn Miss Cleiman
In the eastern part of the Kingdom of Cascade, petitions from stray nobles belonging to factions had been coming every day to Margrave Cleiman's territory.
His own territory had also suffered damage, and while restoration work was delayed, there was no way he could help the strays, so Margrave Cleiman's irritation had reached its peak.
Even during family meals, he did not try to hide his anger and vented it.
"Another petition from Viscount Griffith and Baron Teniton today. Those guys come with petitions without even three days passing, but what kind of territory management have you been doing until now? We have suffered damage too, but we are not relying on anyone. Besides, the refugees from their lands are causing us trouble as well."
Viscount Griffith and Baron Teniton's territories were along the Heiss River and had suffered direct damage.
Most of their territory was submerged, and soldiers had been swept away, so they couldn't do restoration work, let alone maintain public order.
Naturally, the subjects moved toward safe land.
Since they were becoming refugees heading to other territories, the surrounding lords were troubled by how to deal with them.
Some of them reached Margrave Cleiman's territory, causing incidents where they clashed with the subjects.
Margrave Cleiman's eldest son, Albert, agreed with his father.
"Truly, it is shameful that those without understanding of what it means to be a noble are in our faction."
"That's right. In your generation, we must eliminate such people, or there will be no development in the East."
"Understood."
Hearing such a conversation between father and son, Evelyn wondered why her father did not request rescue from the King.
However, it was clear that if she, a woman, spoke of it, he would rage like a raging fire, so she absolutely did not say it out loud.
Her other brothers had left the house to command the army, so they were not in this place.
She had not found a new fiancé, and yet she was here as a woman who could not command the army, so she was filled with very uncomfortable feelings.
When the meal ended, Evelyn decided to spend time conversing with her cousin Scarlett.
"Hey, Scarlett."
"What is it, Evelyn-sama?"
"I haven't been out of this mansion recently, but how is the outside? They say a flood happened and everyone is troubled."
Scarlett was asked that question and thought for a while.
If she told the truth, kind-hearted Evelyn would surely be troubled.
However, even if Evelyn asked her to do something, there was nothing she could do, and if she did something on her own, she would incur Margrave Cleiman's anger.
So, she decided to answer halfway.
"It must be difficult, but everyone is in the midst of overcoming difficulties through effort."
However, Evelyn was not convinced by that.
"If they are overcoming it through effort, it seems everyone is requesting rescue from Father, but can that be called effort?"
"Everyone makes an effort, but there must be limits."
"But Father does not provide rescue. Does that mean there are no limits?"
Being told that, Scarlett was finally at a loss for an answer.
Even with Scarlett's eyes, the limits of each territory's ability had already been exceeded.
However, saying that would become criticism of the Margrave.
As a result, Scarlett could only remain silent.
"If you cannot answer, it means Father is wrong."
"No, never such a thing."
"It's fine. There is only you and me here, so there is no need to cover it up."
Scarlett's eyes widened at Evelyn's words.
As far as Scarlett knew, Evelyn had lived according to what Margrave Cleiman said, never arguing or criticizing.
Evelyn continued speaking.
"Tell me the real situation."
"Understood. However, please do not tell Lord that I told you from my mouth."
"I understand."
Scarlett honestly conveyed the situation in the East to Evelyn.
As she heard the situation, Evelyn's face grew increasingly grim.
"Even in such a situation, she does not request rescue from Your Majesty, and postpones restoration work to deploy soldiers along the border. Why?"
"Simply put, it is rivalry toward Lord Archibalt, not the father, but the son with the Dragon Head Medal."
It was a name Scarlett did not want to say either.
Margrave Cleiman was the same, and Evelyn felt a sharp pain in her chest.
She had heard that Daphne, the wife of her former fiancé Alfred Gis Stuart, was teaching swordsmanship.
She could not help but think of Alfred whenever Steve's name came up.
Evelyn calmed her feelings and resumed the conversation.
"So, because of that rivalry, she cannot request support?"
"Yes. Lord Archibalt won wars against Kingdom of Forest, Kingdom of Pasture, and Kingdom of Merda and acquired territory.
Recently, it is said she greatly participated in an alliance with Kingdom of Pinebay.
As a result, only the eastern region was left behind from territorial expansion, and if she requests support from the country here, it will become a problem questioning Lord's political skills.
So, she probably wants to show that she can solve this on her own and does not need others' help.
Also, regarding this disaster, if Lord Archibalt uses earth magic, reconstruction would be easy, so if she requests support from Your Majesty, it is certain that Lord Archibalt will be sent."
"I see."
Evelyn understood the situation Margrave Cleiman was in.
Of the four Margraves protecting the country, only the father had not been able to expand territory.
And Lord Archibalt had been the help to the other Margraves.
Given her father's personality, she would not be able to bow to Lord Archibalt, so this was the current situation.
However, in reality, the other Margraves did not bow to Steve either.
Aurora was in a position to command Steve at that time, and Margrave Adams died in battle, and thanks to Steve being at Marquess Mackintosh's place by chance, she was able to prevent losing territory.
Regarding Margrave Remington, when Steve visited by chance, Merda Kingdom's work was discovered, and Steve stuck her neck in herself without orders or requests.
If Margrave Cleiman did not view Steve as an enemy, an accident would have occurred when Steve visited, and her territory should have increased by now.
No, it was not necessarily the case.
However, if there had been a good relationship, it was certain that more damage could have been stopped in the initial response to this disaster.
"Looking at Father's state, I think the eastern region is near its limit.
Hey Scarlett, can you contact Lord Archibalt?"
At Evelyn's question, Scarlett was startled.
She felt her life span shorten thinking she knew the history between herself and Lord Archibalt.
"We have no acquaintance. However, what do you intend to do by contacting her?"
"It is a pity we have no acquaintance. I think I will ask Lord for support myself."
Scarlett was relieved that Evelyn did not know the past history, but instead, the talk of asking Lord Archibalt for support shortened her life span again.
"It is unknown if the other party will agree, and if agreed, it will become known to Lord."
"If my being scolded saves the people, don't you think it is cheap?"
"I do not think so. For me, Lady Evelyn is prioritized in everything. Even if all the people were to die, I will prevent Lady Evelyn from being scolded."
That was Scarlett's true heart without falsity.
There was nothing prioritized over Evelyn.
However, Evelyn would not back down even with that.
"Can't you accept my wish to be prioritized in everything?"
Being said this, Scarlett had no words to reply.
"After sending a letter to Lord Archibalt, I will head to the Royal Capital immediately."
"To the Royal Capital?"
"Yes. I cannot meet Lord here. I will wait for Lord's reply in the Royal Capital.
I will tell Father I am going out to the social circle to find the next fiancé and leave the house."
"I think Lord decides the fiancé."
"Then I will find another reason."
Scarlett was surprised at Evelyn's strong-willed self, which seemed like the first time.
She should not have tried to force her opinion so forcefully until now.
Actually, at this time Evelyn had a change of heart.
The trigger goes back further.
Evelyn, who had lived as her parents said, when Alfred broke off the engagement, could not think of any flaw in herself at all.
The frequency of meeting Alfred, gestures, etiquette, everything was done perfectly as her parents said.
However, the result was Alfred chose Daphne and she was discarded.
At that time, she held the doubt that what her parents said was not necessarily correct for the first time.
And this disaster.
Not blindly trusting parents, if compared with information from Scarlett, she knew Father Margrave Cleiman was wrong.
However, just that was not enough to be this active.
There was another trigger there.
That was Daphne's existence.
Even though she married and gave birth, and the position of the next Duchess was confirmed, the story that she aimed for the Royal Guard Knights Order Commander had reached Evelyn.
When she heard that, she understood she lost because she was destined to lose.
At the same time, she wanted to become someone herself.
At that time she only thought vaguely like that, but now a flash ran that this was the time she could do it.
Thus, Scarlett followed Evelyn's instructions, arranged to send a letter to Lord Archibalt, and prepared to head to the Royal Capital with Evelyn.
On the other hand, Steve, Nick, and Barney were putting their heads together.
"I understand cedar prices for reconstruction are soaring, but I didn't expect persimmons and red pines to rise in price too."
"President, the loggers say cedar is profitable, so they are postponing cutting other trees, and it seems the circulation volume decreased, causing other trees to rise in price too."
"Wakasama, regarding the ordered portion, the contract money is decided, but shouldn't we renegotiate?"
"If we continue like this, wood mold production will be in deficit due to material costs. For educational toys, there is no problem if we raise the sales price."
"I wish you would say it's a lie, Barney."
"It is the truth."
Wood prices for reconstruction materials were soaring, and the wood mold prices were rising due to that.
Even if they wanted to pass on the material cost increase, educational toys for end users could decide sales price based on manufacturing cost, but for wood molds processed after contracting, it was hard to ask for price increases now.
It was a form where having a large number of back orders backfired.
"It seems the East is still not starting reconstruction. Prices might rise more."
"Instead of buying from Emmanuel Trading Company, shall we cut trees in our own territory?"
"There is time for drying and such, but that might be good. In the old Archibalt territory, there are few trees, but in the villages where it increased, there are quite a few trees. I will ask Father."
The original Archibalt territory had thin land and few trees.
There were no trees growing densely like mountains, and they relied on importing timber, but the added territory was not so.
Until now, they judged buying was cheaper overall, but now cutting trees at their own place would be cheaper.
With the direction decided, there was light communication via mirror, and it was conveyed to Steve.
"Visitors to the Main Village? I'll go. I was thinking of visiting Father anyway."
"Understood."
"Have a good trip."
Steve immediately teleported to the Main Village mansion.
Then, an envoy carrying a letter from Evelyn had come there.
Receiving the letter and checking the contents, it was to meet in the Royal Capital.
Brian and Christina in the room also peeked at the letter.
"Do you want to urgently meet in the Royal Capital secretly from parents?"
"Steve-sama, is there anything else you have in mind?"
"No. We have no acquaintance."
As for Christina, since it was an invitation to Steve from an unmarried young woman, she worried about the reason.
Steve knew that too.
"Please tell her I will agree if my fiancée also attends."
"Understood."
"Then, shall we go now?"
Steve said that, and with Christina, Nancy, Bella, and the envoy, teleported to the Royal Capital.
The envoy immediately went to report to Evelyn staying in the Royal Capital.
And, with permission to attend, the meeting took place.
Thank you always for typo reports.