Chapter 154 - Episode 149: Daily Life in the Arqvist Territory ⑥ In Bart's Case / Again, In Noein's Case
Serving the Arqvist Baronet family and handling external affairs, Bart's duties are wide-ranging.
He contacts merchants outside the territory for matters not important enough for the Lord Noein to attend to personally, or delivers letters to other nobles as Noein's messenger; there are even times when he disguises himself as a commoner to infiltrate taverns in cities of other territories to gather information.
As part of such duties, one spring day, Bart visited the mansion of the Viscount Koenitz family. He arrived with a large entourage consisting of two wagons and five attendants.
"I am Bart, a retainer of the Arqvist Baronet family. I request an audience with His Excellency Viscount Koenitz."
"Thank you for your hard work. May I ask the nature of your business today?"
When Bart made his request to the Koenitz territorial army soldier guarding the mansion gate, the soldier asked in return. Since Bart visited the Viscount's mansion frequently, he was already widely recognized, and the other party's response was practiced.
"I have come to deliver the new agricultural tools ordered by His Excellency Koenitz."
"...Understood. Please come inside and head toward the warehouse."
The "new agricultural tools" were a fake; the actual cargo was a disassembled ballista. Understanding this, the soldier nodded and let Bart through.
The ballistae were being manufactured at the Arqvist territory's workshop upon orders from various territories. After completing the scheduled deliveries to the Royal Family, Marquis Bechtolsheim, Earl Marcel, and Earl Shuvalov, the portion for Viscount Koenitz was finally completed after the turn of the year.
Since the ballista is a powerful weapon that has not yet fully spread even to the northwest, it is referred to as "new agricultural tools" outside, where one does not know who might be listening, in order to prevent information leaks.
Entering the Viscount's mansion, Bart led the wagons and attendants toward the warehouse at the edge of the grounds. These attendants were also disguised as mere laborers for hauling cargo, but their true identities were territorial army soldiers meant to protect the cargo during transport.
After exchanging greetings with the Viscount's servants at the warehouse and waiting for a while, Viscount Arnold Koenitz himself appeared, accompanied by a civil official.
"Your Excellency Koenitz, it has been a long time."
Bart spoke while showing the highest respect, dropping to one knee and placing his right fist against his left chest. Behind him, the attendants took the same posture.
"Good work. I hear you have finally brought the ballistae to this house."
Because Bart had visited the Viscount Koenitz house many times as Noein's messenger, Arnold replied in a casual tone.
"Yes. As ordered, I have brought three ballistae. I have been told by His Excellency Arqvist to convey my apologies for the delay in delivery."
"Tell Lord Arqvist not to worry about it. In addition to orders from other noble houses, he was told by the Royal Family to present them urgently. It is only natural that it would take time."
Of the three units delivered this time, two were to be actually operated by the Koenitz territorial army, and the remaining one was to be disassembled for analysis to create replicas.
He had Arnold inspect the ballistae loaded on the wagons, actually assembled one unit, and had him confirm that it operated correctly, though no bolts were loaded.
"...There seem to be no problems. Please speak with this civil official regarding the payment. I want you to convey my gratitude to Lord Arqvist, and to the craftsman who made this ballista... Damian, was it? Please thank him as well."
"Understood. Thank you for your own confirmation, Your Excellency Koenitz."
As Arnold was about to leave after finishing the confirmation, he stopped and looked back as if remembering something.
"...Ah, also, I would like to ask you to deliver a message to Lord Arqvist."
"Yes, what would that be?"
"Frederick—my eldest son—has retired from the Kingdom Army and returned to the Koenitz territory, so please tell him that if he ever comes to Retovik, I would very much like him to come and see him. Clara would likely want to see her big brother as well."
Bart had heard the story that Noein had become comrades-in-arms with the eldest son of the Viscount Koenitz house during the war with the Lancel Kingdom, and that the son would retire from the Kingdom Army and return to the Koenitz territory this year.
"I shall certainly convey it."
"I'm counting on you. Well then."
Bowing to Arnold, who was leaving for real this time, Bart firmly kept the new task of the message for Noein in his mind.
.....
One day in late March, when it had become completely spring-like. Noein was visiting the church of the Milleon Holy Religion Mission, located at the edge of the territorial capital, Noeina.
"Priest Hasel, I apologize for visiting while you are busy. I hope I am not an inconvenience?"
"There is no way that your visit, Your Excellency Arqvist, could be an inconvenience. The immigrants being protected by this church will also be delighted."
After winter ended, refugees wishing to migrate began coming to the Arqvist territory again, but perhaps because food was scarce throughout the Kingdom and the people were in distress, many were emaciated by the time they arrived in the territorial capital, Noeina.
Those whose physical strength had dropped so much that they could not immediately lead a daily life were looked after at the church until they recovered. Since there were currently no poor people or orphans in the Arqvist territory, this was the first time the church was being utilized as a protection facility.
"It helps that you say so... First, may I go to the communal cemetery?"
"Of course. I shall guide you."
There had been several immigrants who arrived in the Arqvist territory completely emaciated and died despite the efforts of the church and the clinic.
In the Lordberg Kingdom, where the Milleon Holy Religion is the state religion, cremation is common. To pray for the peaceful sleep of the dead who had already become ash, Noein clasped his hands and closed his eyes before their graves. Behind him, Matilda likewise prayed for the deceased.
Even if it was only for a few days, they had been the people of the Arqvist territory, Noein's subjects.
Did they pass away thinking they had reached a new land of hope? Did they love me, who accepted them as immigrants and gave them mercy, even just a little?
Thinking this, Noein felt inwardly appalled at himself for thinking such self-centered things even at a time like this.
"...Now, to the immigrants being protected."
"Yes, please come this way."
Guided by Priest Hasel, Noein entered a room inside the church. There, from adults to young children, six people were currently lying in beds. Besides those six, there were others who seemed to be family members who had already recovered and had come to visit.
"Everyone, the Lord, Baronet Noein Arqvist, has arrived."
At the visit from the Lord himself, the visitors jumped up from their chairs and immediately performed the commoner's bow.
"You who are in bed may stay as you are."
Since some were trying to get up from their beds, he spoke to restrain them, and Noein looked around at all of them.
"I am glad to see that some of you have regained your strength. Those whose strength is still depleted, please focus on recovering slowly, and then I want you to begin your life in this territory."
"...Your Excellency Arqvist, truly, truly thank you. To show such mercy to us who have not yet been of any use, I do not know how to show my gratitude..."
"There is no need to worry. You subjects are treasures to me as your Lord. For it is my wish that you live here diligently and happily."
When Noein replied thus, the man who spoke on behalf of the group bowed his head many times while choking up. The other people also bowed deeply, and some were weeping, overcome with emotion.
"After you recover, I will also help you look for work and housing. Well then, I have intruded."
If the Lord stayed too long while they were resting due to poor health, it would instead be tiring. Thinking this, Noein ended the visit early and left the place.
Priest Hasel offered him tea in the reception room, but Noein politely declined and announced his departure. The priest, who had to care for the emaciated in addition to running the church, likely was very busy, though he did not let it show on his face.
"Well then, thank you for your time despite being busy... I also ask for your help with that matter."
"We are the ones who are grateful for your visit. Yes, I believe I can deliver it by next month. I apologize for the delay."
"No, it is sufficient. It is a precautionary measure, after all."
"That matter" was the additional purchase of the secret medicine of the Milleon Holy Religion Mission, "Angel's Honey," which could be either a poison or a medicine depending on the concentration. As the situation in the Kingdom worsened and even clashes between factions occurred, Noein thought that this might become necessary in various senses.
After being seen to the gate by Priest Hasel and leaving the church, Noein took a breath after walking for a while until the church was no longer visible.
"...Phew, the inside of a church makes me kind of nervous. Did I behave properly like a Lord to the immigrants, Matilda?"
Even though it was within the territorial capital, the church grounds were a separate world distanced from the secular world. Since Priest Hasel could not be called simply Noein's subject, he had to be a bit mindful.
"I believe it was a wonderful demeanor overflowing with affection for the immigrants. They must hold deep respect and love for Noein-sama, and Priest Hasel must have been moved by Noein-sama's benevolence."
"I see, if it looked that way, then I'm glad."
Laughing as if to hide his embarrassment, Noein walked the path back to the mansion together with Matilda.