Chapter 128 - Episode 125: Tea Party
"What kind of person His Majesty is, huh... that is a difficult question."
"I apologize. It is just that I only know His Majesty's name... Since I have been granted the opportunity to meet him and receive his words directly, I wish to be informed."
"I shall be meeting him as well, so I am curious. Father."
It was late May, after receiving the royal letter and deciding to go to the royal castle in autumn. Noein, together with his wife Clara, was having a tea party with the head of the house and his wife—his parents-in-law—at the home of Viscount Koenitz, Clara's family home.
For Clara, it was a long-awaited gathering with her parents, and for Noein and Arnold, it was an occasion to report to one another regarding the recent war.
Furthermore, it was a place for Noein and Clara to receive advice from Arnold and his wife, who were great seniors as territorial nobles, regarding the ceremony where they would be granted rewards.
"Let me see, to put it simply, he is a young man overflowing with vigor. He possesses a dignity befitting the king of a nation... or so it seems to me. In terms of experience, there is likely still room for growth, but regarding that point, the former king's loyal retainers are supporting him."
"I see..."
Regarding the current King, Oscar Roadbelg III, Noein only knew that he was a king who had ascended the throne at a young age. Since he had still been under house arrest at the House of Count Kivileft during the time of the coronation, he had no means of learning the details of the political situation in the center of the kingdom at that time.
Information from Arnold, who, due to his position as a powerful regional noble, had actually met the king, was precious.
"I wonder if he will treat someone as eccentric as me without showing disgust?"
"So you are aware that you are an eccentric..."
"I am sure he will treat you the same as any other noble. I have heard that His Majesty is a tolerant person, and I felt the same when I met him."
Arnold muttered as if giving up on something, and Eleonore answered with a small, wry smile.
"Indeed, if it is that king, he would likely laugh and forgive you even if you brought beastman slaves... By not making an issue of a vassal having beastman slaves as attendants, he would likely seek to demonstrate his own tolerance."
Nodding to his wife, Arnold spoke as well.
"Is he that kind of person?"
"Yes. Perhaps because he is still young, he is keen on demonstrating the breadth of his own capacity. Of course, there is also the matter of his personal character, possessing progressive ideas because he is young... surprisingly, you might get along well? You might even become good friends."
"That... that would be far too daunting."
When Arnold spoke teasingly, Noein replied with his face twitching slightly. Being a friend of the king was exactly the kind of position that would invite unnecessary jealousy. As someone who wanted to live peacefully in the frontier, Noein wanted no part of it.
"But in reality, His Majesty likely already knows of you and is interested, don't you think? The report regarding the crossbows should have reached His Majesty as well."
"...The crossbow units were active on the main army's side as well, weren't they?"
Noein asked, turning back toward Arnold.
"Yes, upon Excellency Bechtolsheim's proposal, about 1,500 crossbowmen were gathered into one unit. By having them fire and reload in groups of three without pause, they wore down a corner of the enemy's field fortifications and created a breakthrough."
"...That is a method of operation unique to a large force."
To think that 500 arrows were flying incessantly. The Lancel Kingdom army must have been quite troubled.
"The cavalry unit under Excellency Marcel's command carved through that breakthrough, and the matter was settled. Excellency Marcel is the hero who decided the victory in this war."
According to Arnold, the General, Marquis Bechtolsheim, Marquis Galdwin of the southwest, the commander of the First Corps, and Count Marcel, who became a great hero, along with about 30 others who achieved notable accomplishments, would receive rewards directly from the king at the ceremony. Noein was one of them.
"However, those who will be promoted in rank are only you and a Baronet mage who is said to have defended another fortress on the front line to the end. That person will become a Baron."
"Ah, I've been curious about that person."
A highly skilled mage who, in a situation without special weapons like crossbows, ballistae, or golems as was the case at Barrel Fortress, defended a fortress from a large army by his own power. He was a person who inevitably piqued one's interest.
"I hear he was originally the heir to an unknown Baronet house in the southwest, but he was born with a terrifying talent for earth magic. After succeeding his father who died in conflict, he achieved great results in his first battle as the head of the house and was promoted. A truly formidable man... if I recall, the family name was Rosbroke or something like that."
He is like the protagonist of a war chronicle, Noein thought.
"...I'm sure he is a manly and splendid person, unlike me."
"Hahaha, what are you saying? You are also a great hero who succeeded in frontier development in a single generation while playing a major role in the war."
"A hero... I am not at all the type for such a thing."
To Arnold, who spoke in a completely teasing tone while laughing, Noein replied with a somewhat exasperated face.
"...Seriously, I think you could be more proud. To achieve such success as a territorial noble in a few years without any backing is something that wouldn't be strange to be talked about as a minor great man by future generations. There are many nobles who act more important than you with far smaller achievements."
"The reason I could come this far is because I was blessed with subordinates and luck. It was not the power of one person. If I were to be proud as if I had worked hard all by myself, the hearts of the people would drift away."
"I see... as I thought, you are strange."
Of course, Noein had also worked hard, but the fact that he became a success who received a promotion in his fourth year was largely due to luck.
If there were no potatoes, the territory would not have the leeway it has now, and if the lapis lazuli vein had not been found, tent living might have lasted longer. If he hadn't met Yuri and the others, he would have lacked excellent subordinates, and if he hadn't discovered Damian, there would have been no crossbows or ballistae.
If Anna hadn't been there. If Edgar hadn't been there. If he hadn't bought Christy and Zadrek. If he hadn't become acquainted with Philip and Benedict. If Selfers and Daphne hadn't migrated. If Dmitri and Victor hadn't moved their bases.
He could only say that all encounters with them were luck.
He would not say he came this far on luck alone, but it was certain that luck had strongly favored Noein until now.
Now, he felt nostalgic for the early days of development, when he planted potatoes in the forest—not even sure if the cultivation would succeed or if they were even truly edible—while doting on Matilda in the tent every night.
Because he was younger and more reckless back then, he could be that carefree. Now that he had grown and become a person who held many citizens, it could not be like that.
"Yes, I think I am an eccentric myself. I must be grateful to the subordinates who follow such a lord."
Answering Arnold's words, Noein laughed self-deprecatingly.
"...Ah, and also. Regarding the attendees of the banquet after the ceremony."
Changing the subject, Arnold began to speak. His tone was somewhat hesitant.
"Not limited to war, ceremonies where His Majesty grants rewards to those who have contributed to the country are held once every few years... but for the subsequent banquet, high-ranking nobles who have nothing to do with the rewards also gather from all over the country, partly to show their faces."
"! That means!"
"Yes... Excellency Count Kivileft should also be coming from the southeast."
Hearing the name of his hated father, Noein's eyes widened. He desperately suppressed his expression from twisting evilly, but seeing that Arnold, Eleonore, and even Clara had slightly surprised faces, it seemed he had not completely suppressed it.
"My apologies. I got a bit excited."
"No, it is only natural to be shocked. For you, it is a name you cannot hear with a clear mind... Are you alright? Would it be painful to face him?"
When Arnold asked considerately—Noein grinned.
"Painful? No way! Rather, I cannot wait for that ba—that person to see the current me. There is nothing I could be happier about than having him know that I have grown and succeeded this much."
Living happily was Noein's revenge against his father. For now, it could be said that it was succeeding. For Maximilian, who had thrown him away expecting Noein to die in a ditch, it could not possibly be amusing.
That was what was amusing to Noein. To be able to see Maximilian twisting with regret and hatred with these eyes. Just imagining it made him feel as if he would laugh out loud.
"...Dear."
Perhaps thinking that Noein was putting on a brave face, Clara touched his hand with a worried expression. Arnold and Eleonore also looked at Noein with eyes that were somewhat sympathetic.
Without noticing the gazes of those two, Noein told his wife "I'm okay" while taking a sip of his tea.