Chapter 129 - Episode 126: To the Royal Capital
"...Now then, regarding the selection of personnel for the trip to the royal capital for the ceremony and banquet."
Noein began the conversation in front of Chief Retainer Yuri and Deputy Chief Retainer Pence.
The season was June. It was the time when the harvest of winter-sown wheat began; once the major task of collecting taxes from the harvested wheat and converting them into cash was complete, they would depart for the royal capital for the ceremony and banquet.
"It will be difficult for us former mercenaries to accompany you this time, won't it?"
"Especially for me, it's absolutely impossible."
Pence and Yuri answered respectively.
This time, Noein would almost certainly come face-to-face with Maximilian. It was out of the question for Yuri—the very man who had been hired by Maximilian as a mercenary captain in the past, killed his territorial army knights, and fled with his subordinates—to go along.
Furthermore, knights would likely serve as Maximilian's guards, and the Kivileft territorial army soldiers would be in the royal capital as his escort unit for the round trip. Pence and the others, whose faces might be remembered by the knights and soldiers, should not accompany Noein either.
"That's true... To think that none of my close retainer-officers can come along... Assuming Henrik handles the driving and one of the maids handles the caretaking, I'm at a loss for who to choose as the guard captain."
From the Arqvist territory at the northwestern edge to the royal capital, it was approximately two weeks one way. About five or six people from the territorial army would accompany them as guards, but the problem was who would serve as their captain.
The guard captain would likely accompany them to the banquet as well. A certain level of conduct would be required, so it couldn't be just anyone.
"About that... how about Dant?"
"I recommend him as well."
The two of them proposed this in unison. Dant had originally come as an early immigrant along with Edgar, but he had now become the coordinator for the territorial army soldiers.
"I see, Dant... His ability as a guard is beyond reproach."
"Yeah, and I've been drilling him on military conduct and speech so that he can be an example to the other soldiers. He's no longer a country peasant. He's a fine officer."
Yuri asserted this. Beside him, Pence nodded in agreement.
"You both seem to recommend Dant, but what about Rick?"
"He's also excellent enough to serve as an officer, but he's more so blossoming in his ability as a firing squad leader for the crossbows and ballistas. I want him to continue gaining experience in that direction and keep him in the territory. As the person in charge of the unit, we recommend Dant."
"I see. If Yuri and the others say so, then it's decided—Dant it is."
Noein left the operational management of the territorial army entirely to Yuri and the others. They knew the soldiers best. If they said so, there was no doubt.
...
As the latter half of summer approached and the harvest and tax payments of the winter-sown wheat ended, the day arrived for Noein to depart for the royal capital.
This time, Matilda, Clara, the guard captain Dant and several soldiers, the driver Henrik, and Kimberly the maid as the caretaker accompanied him. The total number exceeded ten people, but this was a very normal scale for a party of lower nobility heading to a major event. Noble travel required a great deal of manpower and money.
"Lord Noein... no, Your Excellency the Baronet. I, Dant, as the guard captain, shall protect Your Excellency and the Madam even at the cost of my own life."
"I'm counting on you. I have high expectations for your performance."
Dant, showing his resolve with a sharp salute, was indeed a fine officer just as Yuri and the others had said. Noein responded to him as the territorial lord.
Since departure was imminent, the subordinates had also gathered to see Noein off.
"I'll hurry back as much as possible, but I'll be away from the territory for a month and a half. Please take care of things while we're gone, Yuri."
"Leave it to me, Your Excellency. I will do my utmost as the acting lord... well, nothing will probably happen here. Don't worry."
With both Noein and Clara leaving the territory, the person with the highest responsibility would be Chief Retainer Yuri.
"Listen, Mary, Rosetta. Even though the lord and his wife, the masters of the house, will be absent, Damian-san and Christy also live in the mansion, and the retainers will be coming and going. The Chief Retainer-sama will also be reporting to his office every day. Do not let your guard down and strive in your work."
"I understand, Head Maid!"
"Leave it to us~"
Beside Noein and the others, Kimberly, who was accompanying them as the caretaker for the lordly couple, was giving instructions to the two remaining maids. The two responded firmly.
"...Well then, shall we depart soon?"
"Yes, Lord Noein."
"Yes, dear. Let us go."
Matilda opened the carriage door, and prompted by her, Clara entered the carriage, followed by Noein. At that moment, he spoke to Henrik, who would serve as the driver.
"Henrik, it'll be a long journey, but I'm counting on you."
"Understood, Lord Noein."
Noein smiled at Henrik, who answered with a charming grin, then climbed into the carriage and took his seat. After that, Kimberly entered, and finally Matilda boarded, closing the door and sitting opposite Noein and Clara.
According to Clara and Matilda, they had decided to take turns sitting in the seat next to Noein during the journey.
Seen off by their subordinates and the territorial residents, the party of the Arqvist Baronet house departed for the royal capital.
...
The Kingdom of Rhodeberg had the royal capital and the central cities of each region connected by large highways, and each highway was named after the lords who performed heroic deeds in the early days of the kingdom's founding.
After first moving to Bechtoria, the capital of the Marquis Bechtolsheim territory, Noein and the others were proceeding along the Ladislav Highway, which connected Bechtoria and the royal capital, Lichthagen.
"...In the towns and villages we've passed through so far, the effects of the war aren't very visible, are they?"
"That's true. It's probably partly because we're using the main highway connecting the northwest and the central regions."
About a week after leaving the Arqvist territory. In a room of a small inn where they had rented an entire floor for the city they were staying in today, Clara and Noein exchanged such a conversation.
In the southwestern part of the kingdom, there were many areas where public order had clearly deteriorated, but since the areas along the large highways leading to the center of the kingdom tended to prosper, no particularly miserable sights were seen during Noein's journey this time.
Still, food and metal products had risen in price, so many people at the individual household level were likely struggling, but at the very least, it didn't seem to have reached a situation where people were flooding the streets in desperation.
"In the southwestern area we passed through during the mobilization, there were indeed many places where public order had visibly deteriorated... right, Matilda?"
"Yes. I saw sights where vagrants and orphans sat on the streets, and the markets were deserted."
"I see... Even if it's something that can't be helped, it's sad that so many people are becoming unhappy."
Since Clara had also been educated as a noble, she understood the reality, but the fact that she still grieved for the unhappiness of the people was due to her own kind nature.
"Once potatoes spread to various parts of the country, this situation will probably improve... So, even if they are people of other regions, it's not as if there's absolutely nothing we can do for them."
"...In that case, I'm glad."
Clara showed a slightly relieved expression at Noein's consolation.
In reality, the northwestern faction would not stop the monopoly of potatoes, which could become strategic supplies, anytime soon. They probably wouldn't keep it secret from the royal family, but they wouldn't actively try to spread it to other regional factions.
Therefore, even if potatoes spread to other regions, it would take years. Noein naturally understood this, but he deliberately did not tell Clara that much now.
"At this rate, we might arrive at the royal capital a bit earlier than planned."
"Yes, it's been a long time since I've been to the royal capital, so I'm looking forward to it."
When Noein changed the subject to clear the slightly darkened atmosphere, Clara replied, striving to keep her voice bright.
...
Another week passed, and the party arrived at the royal capital without incident along the way.
The royal capital, Lichthagen, was the largest city in the kingdom with a population of 150,000. It possessed a vast royal palace housing the royal castle and numerous mansions large and small, a noble district lined with the residences of court nobles and the villas of influential regional nobles, the headquarters of large-scale nationwide merchant guilds, and furthermore, countless workshops, shops, inns, and houses, its vigor surpassing any other city.
"..."
"Are you surprised, Kimberly?"
"...Hah, m-my apologies."
"Ahaha, it's fine. It must be your first time seeing the royal capital."
Noein spoke to Kimberly, who had a rare blank expression on her face as she looked at the scenery unfolding outside the carriage window. To her, born as a town girl in the countryside, the giant royal capital must have looked like another world.
"For us, it's the royal capital after three and a half years, isn't it, Matilda?"
"Yes. It has been since we stopped here when Lord Noein was moving to the Arqvist territory."
"At that time, there was anxiety because the future was unclear, but the stay in the royal capital was quite enjoyable, wasn't it?"
Noein, who had been cut off from his family upon reaching adulthood at fifteen, had traveled with Matilda for the first time in his life from the southeast to the northwest where his territory was located. It was a journey while swaying in a cargo wagon pulled by horse-type golems.
Both of them remembered passing through the royal capital at that time and staying for several weeks since it was the middle of winter.
"When I was young, I only asked my father to take me along twice when he went to the royal capital for socializing... but coming back again as an adult, I can truly realize how tremendous its prosperity is."
"Especially when you're in a position to manage a territory yourself."
Noein agreed with a faint bitter smile at the words of Clara, who looked somewhat overwhelmed by the energy of the royal capital.
While they were talking, the Baronet house carriage, led by Dant and the guards, proceeded along the main street of the royal capital, entered the noble district, and arrived at their place of stay—the royal capital villa of the Viscount Koenitz family.
As a newly risen lower noble, Noein naturally did not own a villa in the royal capital. There were luxury inns in the noble district for nobles like Noein, but since his father-in-law, Arnold, had a mansion and told him he should stay there, he decided to accept the kindness.
"Noein-san, Clara. You must be tired from the long journey. The rooms are ready, so please come in immediately."
"Thank you, Eleonore-sama."
"Thank you for having us, Mother."
The one who welcomed Noein and the others at the mansion was not Arnold, but his wife, Eleonore. Arnold, an influential regional noble, was apparently absent and busy with things like making rounds of greetings to connected court nobles.
Thus, after a journey of about two weeks, the social activities of Noein and the others in the royal capital began.