Chapter 146 - Episode 143: Year's End ②
"……Even so, isn't it surprising that the Kingdom of Lancel hasn't collapsed yet?"
At Noein's remark, the gazes of the other three gathered on him.
"They've continued conflicts for years to sap the strength of the southwestern part of the Kingdom of Lordberg, then they launched a large-scale war, and in the end, they were defeated... yet they still continue their conflicts. The burden on society must be considerable, so I wondered how the hearts of the nobles and the people haven't drifted away from King Cadne."
"I see... indeed, your question is reasonable,"
Marquis Bechtolsheim answered and let out a sigh.
"But that too can be understood if you consider the origins of the Kingdom of Lancel. That country was founded about sixty years ago; before that, small nations stood in chaotic proliferation, and before that, it was said to be a land teeming with barbarians. You know this, yes?"
"Yes, I am aware."
"Until just a few decades ago, they were people who engaged in struggles where blood washed away blood. Elders who know of the time before the unification of the country are still alive, and the generation of children who grew up hearing stories of battle from that previous generation are the ones currently occupying the core of society in that country."
Hearing this much, Noein's face took on an expression as if he had vaguely grasped the circumstances of the Kingdom of Lancel.
"Among the nobles and military personnel over there, there are likely many who reminisce about or long for those days of fighting. I heard there were a considerable number of military nobles who thought the first and second kings were weak and boring for not engaging in foreign wars."
"……So, by skillfully securing the support of that stratum, King Cadne is running wild."
"Indeed, he is exactly running wild. Though I do not know how long that will last... it is one thing while he keeps the military factions united using ambition as bait, but what does he intend to do if he continues to pile up failures and brings the country to ruin? His Majesty even refers to King Cadne as the 'Brat of the Kingdom of Lancel.'"
Hearing that, Noein, Arnold, and Count Shuvalov all gave wry smiles. It was quite something to call the king of a neighboring country a brat, but for those plagued by that brat, it was exhilarating.
"The people forced to go along with this rampage must be miserable."
"Yes, indeed... in the not-too-distant future, the country may collapse."
At Noein's murmur, Marquis Bechtolsheim shrugged his shoulders.
"With that country's national strength, they won't be able to maintain such military equipment for much longer."
"It would be easier for us if they just self-destructed internally like that."
The factional banquet at the end of the year in Royal Calendar 214 was supposed to be a gathering to celebrate victory in the war against the Kingdom of Lancel.
In reality, however, it became a place where the various nobles lamented the domestic situation or vented their grudges toward the Kingdom of Lancel, the cause of it.
.....
The banquet, which had an atmosphere slightly darker and more complain-heavy than usual years, came to a close, and the nobles retired to their respective inns in their carriages.
"Noein, are you really setting out for home tomorrow?"
Arnold called out to Noein as he was about to board the Arqvist family carriage.
As it was the end of the year, the temperature was extremely low. In the gap between the outdoors, where breath dyed the air white, and the carriage, which breathed out warm air as the heating magic tool functioned, Noein looked back at his father-in-law and answered.
"Yes, I intend to depart tomorrow morning."
"You're returning in quite a hurry. Is something the matter?"
Asked this, Noein's eyes wandered as if it were somewhat difficult to say.
"That is... please don't laugh, okay?"
"I won't laugh, so just say it already."
"……I want to go home quickly and relax."
"Pfft."
"Ah, you laughed."
Hearing a reason that was so personal and trivial, Arnold snorted before the root of his tongue—which had promised not to laugh—had even dried.
Having overheard this exchange that was unbefitting of a noble, Pence, the guard in the front of the carriage, shrugged his shoulders slightly, and Henrik, the driver, gave a wry smile. The only one present who did not laugh was Matilda, who attended beside Noein.
"I mean, this year I went to war, went to the royal capital, and now at the end of the year I've come all the way to Bechtoria... I've had enough of being outside the territory. Surely it's not a crime to want to spend time relaxing at home?"
"……Ah, that's true. You were that kind of man."
To Noein, who spoke with a pouting face, Arnold replied while still smiling slightly. He already knew that his son-in-law had a personality that preferred to shut himself away in his territory.
"Well then, Baronet Arqvist, see you next year. Do not do anything reckless in your haste to return."
"I'm not that much of a child, and I have an excellent guard and driver, so I'll be fine. Have a happy new year."
.....
"……You've returned remarkably early, Your Excellency."
Seeing the lord return to the Arqvist territory about two days earlier than expected, Yuri instinctively asked at the welcoming party.
"Well, you see, I wanted to return quickly and spend the end of the year relaxing with my beloved wife in our calming home, right? Right, Clara?"
"My, ufufu."
Hearing Noein's playful words, Clara's face showed she didn't mind at all, while Yuri let out a small sigh of exasperation.
"……So, how was the banquet?"
He didn't mean whether it was enjoyable.
Gatherings of nobles like banquets were also precious venues for exchanging information. Anything new Noein had learned about the situation in other regions had to be shared with his close aide, Yuri.
"A lot happened. The conflict with the Kingdom of Lancel is better than before but still continuing, and skirmishes between nobles have started to occur around the border of the southwest and northwest... well, but for now,"
"For now?"
"I'm tired from the travel. So, I'll rest today and we can talk slowly tomorrow."
"……That's true. My apologies. Then, tomorrow."
"Yeah, thanks for welcoming me. Good work."
Since the world wouldn't move significantly anyway until the end of winter, there was no need to force a hurried discussion even if there were reports.
Noein waved his hand flippantly to Yuri, who was departing toward the territorial army barracks, perhaps because he still had work.
As the other attendants and the mansion's maids returned to their respective duties, and just as they were about to enter the mansion themselves,
"……Ah, snow."
Noein looked up at the sky.
From the gray sky that further emphasized the cold, snow began to dance down here and there.
"That was close—if I'd been off by a few more days, I might have been stranded by the snow. Returning in a hurry was the right choice."
"Dear, let us go inside the mansion. Your body will chill if you get wet from the snow."
Being led by the hand by Clara, who spoke while worrying about Noein chilling more than herself, and with Matilda nestling against his other arm, Noein passed through the doors of the mansion.
Incidentally, Pence, Henrik, and the others had already put away the carriage and horses, and the maids had already carried the luggage.
.....
Entrusting his body to the sofa in the mansion's living room, Noein let out a long breath.
On the table before him sat a cup of tea brewed by Matilda as usual, with Matilda quietly by his right side and Clara nestling by his left with a smile. This was a way of relaxing possible only because it was a wide three-person sofa.
The interior was warm thanks to the fireplace, quiet and cozy. Surrounded by the two people he loved, Noein looked out the window.
So that the outside scenery could be seen at any time, expensive plate glass had been fitted into the windows of some rooms, such as this living room and the lord's office.
"……It's really started falling."
"Yes, it may have accumulated by tomorrow."
"Spending the end of the year in a snowy landscape is also lovely."
Beyond the window glass, the silently falling snow was creating a white and delicate twilight scenery.
Picking up the cup, he took a sip of tea and breathed a sigh of relief.
It had been a long and busy year, Noein thought.
His first full-scale foreign war. That painful and harsh battle already felt like something from a long time ago, yet not even a year had passed since then.
And the journey to the royal capital, which lasted over a month including travel. The promotion in rank and the large-scale banquet. The reunion with his hateful father. It had been stimulating, but remembering it at a time like this only made him more tired.
The final factional banquet had not been a pleasant gathering by any means. Since the interior of the kingdom was still in turmoil, it was inevitable that the topics of conversation would inevitably be dark ones.
Among these events, there were new encounters, and it was a joyful thing that some people had migrated because of them, but if asked whether he wanted to spend every year with such tumultuous days, the answer would be no.
If possible, next year, he wanted to spend his time peacefully within the Arqvist territory, surrounded by the women he loved, his subordinates, and the territorial people. That was what Noein thought.