Chapter 117 - Episode 116: Waiting for the Return ①
Even though a large-scale war is occurring at the border with the Kingdom of Lancel, the entire country does not switch to a tense wartime atmosphere.
Even in the southwestern part of the kingdom, in places far from the border, people are not swept up in the vortex of war; moreover, in other regions, social life continues much as usual, with only slight effects felt in logistics and prices.
The Arqvist Baronetcy, located at the northwestern edge of the kingdom, is one such land spending its days in such normality.
Although the lord, his aides, and half of the territorial army have gone to war, the Baronet's wife is capably serving as the acting lord, and thus the residents live their lives without feeling any particular inconvenience or anxiety. Those who feel the effects of the war strongly are likely only the families and relatives of those who have deployed.
Lord Noein's subordinates carry out their respective duties to maintain and develop the territory even while their master is absent.
Noein's intellectual slave, Christy, was visiting the blacksmith workshop on the outskirts of town for her work.
"Damian-san, are you here?"
Entering the workshop, Christy looks for Damian, the technical retainer and head blacksmith. He seemed to be working on some kind of prototype at the edge of the workspace.
"Hmm—with this, the durability is too thin... It's no good if crossbow bolts can penetrate it so easily..."
"Damian-san, do you have a moment?"
"But I don't know how much weight a golem can withstand... I should have asked Noein-sama..."
"Damian-san!"
"Whoa!? Oh, it's Christy... Don't suddenly shout right in my ear!"
"No matter how absorbed you are in your work, you must answer when called," Christy replies with an exasperated face to Damian's protest.
"I've come regarding the new press I requested. Have you made it properly?"
Along with the expansion of soybean cultivation, the scale of oil production is also planned to expand. For that purpose, Christy had requested Damian to increase the production of presses.
"Ah..."
"Don't tell me you forgot?"
"No, it's fine! I'll make it by the deadline you gave me! There's still plenty of time!"
"...I now understand why Noein-sama told me to periodically check the progress whenever I ask Damian-san for work."
Christy sighed in front of Damian, who was insisting while breaking into a cold sweat.
"By the way, Christy! I'm developing a new weapon, what do you think?"
"...To me, it looks like nothing more than a weirdly shaped iron plate."
"Noein-sama was worrying that 'wood golems are weak to fire,' so I was thinking of equipment that could compensate for that weakness. I wish I could have started on it before Noein-sama's deployment, but I was busy with the increased production of crossbows and ballistas. By combining these iron plates—"
"I won't understand much even if you talk to me about weapons. Please tell Noein-sama when he returns."
Christy has given advice on Damian's work before, but weapons are completely outside her expertise. It is troublesome to be addressed with such joyful enthusiasm.
"When was it that Noein-sama is coming back?"
"You don't even remember that? It should be... around early March. If the war ends smoothly."
"Since it's now late February... that's still two weeks away! Ah, I want Noein-sama to see it soon. I want him to cooperate with the experiments, too."
"...First, let us pray for Noein-sama's safe return."
"That'll be fine. After all, he's taken a mountain of weapons I made with him."
Whether it is an immense trust in the weapons he developed, Damian puffs out his chest proudly. Seeing this, Christy let out another deep sigh.
.....
"Noein-sama and Matilda-san are probably on the battlefield right now, aren't they? Since the Arqvist territory remains peaceful, it doesn't feel like the country is at war!"
"That's true. If the war ends smoothly, I suppose there are about two weeks left until their return. It's a long time."
"...Pence-san is fighting, too, isn't he~"
The mansion of the Arqvist Baronetcy, where the master is absent. In the kitchen, the three maid girls—Mary, Kimberly, and Rosetta—were chatting over tea during a work break.
Since the number of residents in the mansion they must care for has decreased, the three of them tend to be more idle than usual.
The usual energetic Mary and the calm Kimberly. Normally, Rosetta would join them with a gentle smile, but her expression is somewhat dark.
"It's okay, Rosetta. Pence-san is strong too!"
"That's right. He serves as the deputy head of the retainers because he's strong."
"...But no matter how strong you are, when it's time to die, you die~"
Even though she is encouraged by Mary and Kimberly, Rosetta's face remains dark. As she says, on the battlefield, no matter how strong one is, if luck is bad, one dies.
Mary flinches at Rosetta's words, which looked at reality without mercy in a certain sense.
Kimberly, on the other hand, spoke matter-of-factly without changing her expression.
"But Rosetta, you like Pence-san, don't you? You want to marry him, right?"
"O-of course I do~"
"Then believe and wait. Isn't that what it means to become a soldier's wife?"
Being told this, Rosetta's expression becomes one of realization.
It is as Kimberly says. A soldier's job is to fight, and sometimes they head to distant battlefields. To wait patiently and protect the place where the husband returns is also the duty of a wife.
"Pence-san will surely return exhausted. Very exhausted. That's why you must become the place Pence-san returns to and heal him... and then, marry and make children quickly."
"C-children!?"
"Yes. Children. Leave a physical form of the proof of your love with Pence-san. That will be for your sake as well as Pence-san's."
"...It's as Kimberly says. I understand, as soon as Pence-san returns, I'll marry him and pin him down~!"
"That's the spirit, Rosetta."
Though the direction of the conversation shifted slightly, Kimberly nods to Rosetta, who seems to have cheered up for the time being.
"...Sometimes, I can't believe Kimberly is the same age as us!"
Mary's mutter was brilliantly ignored by Kimberly.
.....
"—And so, food prices are rising due to the influence of the start of the war, but for us, who export a lot, it has actually become an advantage. Profits from mine development are also increasing because the prices of iron and copper have risen. According to the government merchant Philip, we can expect this trend to continue for a while."
"I see, I understand. Thank you."
Clara replied thus after receiving a report from Bart, who had risen from a mere transport captain to the person in charge of foreign affairs for the Arqvist territory.
Even in the absence of Lord Noein, adjutant Matilda, head retainer Yuri, and deputy head retainer Pence, the regular meeting of the Arqvist territory's executives is held.
Listening to reports from Bart in charge of foreign affairs, Radley in charge of defense and public order, Damian in charge of industry, Edgar in charge of agriculture, Anna in charge of finance, and Mai who operates the Women's Association, Clara, the acting lord, proceeds with the meeting capably. She also reports on the operation of the school.
"It seems the operation of the Arqvist territory is going smoothly this month as well. Thank you all very much."
"It is only because Clara-sama is exerting her strength as the acting lord."
"That's right. Thank you for bringing us together."
When Clara looks around at the retainers and gives her thanks, Anna speaks as if to encourage her. Then Bart continues with a smile that is not sarcastic.
"That is... I am still inexperienced and my abilities are insufficient, but I will continue to do my utmost in my duties."
Clara answers with a faint, bitter smile.
In reality, even from the retainers' perspective, she is performing her role as acting lord more than sufficiently and contributing to the stability of the Arqvist territory, but she herself still seems to lack confidence.
The meeting ends, and the retainers leave the room for their next tasks. Anna, who remained until the end, did not leave immediately and spoke to Clara.
"Clara-sama, are you alright?"
"Anna-san... yes, I am alright. Thank you."
Clara answers Anna's inquiry. However, there is no strength in her voice.
"...You are worried about Noein-sama, aren't you?"
"...Yes. To be honest, I am worried and very anxious. I believe I understand that unexpected things happen in war, but..."
It is already the end of February. According to the original schedule, the war should have ended long ago. However, news of the end of the war has not yet arrived.
The general war situation is delivered to the Marquisate of Bechtolsheim by mages, and from there it is conveyed to each territory. According to that, while the Kingdom of Roadberg is expected to win, it seems to be dragging on due to the enemy's unexpected strategy.
Furthermore, she doesn't even know if Noein is safe.
From a personal communication sent to her own territory by Viscount Koenitz—namely, Clara's father—she knew that Noein had been stationed at a frontline fort along with Frederick. If the fighting is dragging on, she cannot help but think that those holed up in the fort might also be falling into danger.
Radley, Bart, Mai, and others told her that "unforeseen circumstances are a given on the battlefield, so it's better not to dwell on it too much," but bad imaginations inevitably cross Clara's mind.
"...But I mustn't make this face. The anxiety will be transmitted to the retainers and even the residents. I must believe in Noein-sama's safety and protect the Arqvist territory."
Anna also smiles at Clara, who is behaving bravely.
"It might be overstepping for me, a mere retainer, to say this... but when you need someone to talk to, if I am acceptable, I would be happy to accompany you anytime."
"Overstepping, not at all. Anna-san, thank you."
.....
Having finished the day's work, Clara collapsed onto the bed in her bedroom.
"...Noein-sama."
On the bed, Clara unconsciously mutters. The bed, which is normally wide enough for Noein, Matilda, and herself to sleep in as a trio, now conversely makes her feel loneliness.
During the day, it is still fine. If she busily carries out her work as acting lord and her work managing the school, her feelings are distracted.
However, when she becomes alone like this, there were times when anxiety inevitably welled up.
Even at this very moment, Noein is on the battlefield. Matilda is too. Furthermore, her eldest brother Frederick is in the same fort as Noein, and her father Arnold is said to be fighting on the main battlefield.
The worst imagination occasionally surfaces—that she might lose her beloved husband, the woman who is her peerless best friend and comrade, and her brother and father, all at the same time.
Out of anxiety, a single tear fell.
Still, Clara strives to breathe quietly and try to calm her consciousness. She must work from early tomorrow morning. For that reason, she must sleep quickly.
Matilda is likely supporting Noein on the battlefield right now, continuing to protect him. Therefore, she will continue to protect Noein's territory, the place where he returns.
This is her battle. Just as Matilda fights the enemies that threaten Noein's life, she must fight this loneliness.
Noein will surely, no, definitely return. As his wife, she must believe that more than anyone.
Clara falls asleep all alone again today.