Chapter 157 - Episode 152: Demarcation of the Border
Arnold Koenitz, head of the Viscount Koenitz family, took up a certain task following the return of his eldest son, Frederick, to the territory.
It was the demarcation of the border with the neighboring Baronet Arqvist territory to the west.
Until now, it had been roughly decided that "everything up to the Bezel Great Forest is the Viscount Koenitz territory, and everything from the start of the Great Forest is the Arqvist territory," but Arnold decided to discuss this border with Noein, determine a formal boundary, exchange documents, and leave a record of it.
The reason he waited for Frederick's return was that he wanted his eldest son—who would eventually succeed him and likely maintain a relationship with Noein longer than he himself would—to be present at the demarcation of the border.
"For the time being, we have used the Bezel Great Forest as the standard, but shall we establish this as the border as it is?"
"No, for my part, I wish to define the border such that the area up to 100 meters east from the current edge of the Bezel Great Forest belongs to the Arqvist territory. It will effectively expand your territory slightly."
It was around the time spring was drawing to a close. At the Viscount Koenitz estate in Retovik, Noein and Arnold were discussing the specific criteria for the border. Frederick was also present.
"That is... a proposal I am happy to receive, but are you sure? Even if it is only 100 meters east to west, it means the Viscount Koenitz territory will be reduced."
"Yes, I don't mind. I haven't touched it until now anyway, and there are plenty of other uncultivated lands within the territory, so there is no need to go out of my way to develop the area beside the Bezel Great Forest. Think of it as a slightly late celebration for your promotion in rank."
Leaving a bit of a margin from the Great Forest also serves as a buffer zone, Arnold laughed.
"...I understand. Then, I will take you up on your kindness and let it be decided so. Shall we place markers at the border in each other's presence?"
The boundaries of noble territories are often based on mountains, rivers, forests, or passes, but when a border is placed in the middle of a plain, signs are erected along the highway stating "West of here is the XX territory" (with arrows and family crests added since many people cannot read), or checkpoints are established depending on the scale and relationship of the adjacent territories.
To prevent disputes later on regarding the markers being in different positions than discussed, it is considered desirable for the lords to be present during the installation.
"Indeed. We shall place signs along the highway and erect stone pillars at regular intervals in several places across the plain. As long as we both do not neglect to patrol and ensure the signs and pillars have not been moved, there should be little cause for dispute in the future."
"Yes, please do it that way."
Since Arnold and Noein, who are also father and son by marriage, are on extremely good terms for neighboring nobles, they decided the necessary points quickly without any particular conflict.
"When we attend the installation of the signs and exchange confirmation in writing, I am thinking of taking the form of a signing ceremony. What do you think? Considering the future, I believe that would be better."
"...Yes, I think so too. In that case, I will wear ceremonial dress on that day, and I will have Clara and my aides attend as well. I will also prepare witnesses."
.....
After deciding the date for the signing ceremony and finishing the business talk, Noein departed after a bit of small talk, and Frederick questioned his father.
"Even so, Father, why go through the trouble of a signing ceremony? For both families now, the demarcation of the border is surely just a formal task."
The relationship between the Viscount Koenitz family and the Baronet Arqvist family was extremely good, and Frederick thought that he couldn't imagine any problems arising even if they decided the border without an ostentatious signing ceremony.
"You don't understand... Well, it is true that while Noein and I are on good terms, no border disputes will occur. It is likely that you will not have any major conflicts with Noein after you succeed me, and there will probably be no problems until the generation of your children. Especially since Clara is there."
Arnold answered in the tone of a parent instructing their child.
"But what happens when it reaches the next generation? And the one after that? By then, even if they understand intellectually that their ancestors were parent and child or siblings, the awareness of being relatives will have faded considerably. It would be fine if the two families formed a kinship tie again, but that is not guaranteed to happen."
"...I see. You mean the current friendly relationship between the two families is an unstable one, based solely on our personal friendship and a single generation of kinship."
"Exactly. In later generations after the kinship has faded, you would also want to avoid a situation where your descendants and Clara's descendants clash as much as possible."
"That, of course."
While thinking that he didn't even want to imagine such a sad thing, Frederick nodded.
"That is precisely why we take the form of a signing ceremony to demarcate the border. If a record that a formal signing ceremony was held remains in the history of both families, and the documents exchanged at that time are preserved, the descendants of both families will not easily nullify the agreement and cause border disputes."
"True, if it is demarcated that firmly, even if there is a need to change the border, they would first try to discuss it amicably... While I can't say it's absolutely guaranteed, the possibility of suddenly starting an armed conflict would be significantly reduced."
Rather than exchanging a single piece of paper in a room of one of the estates, exchanging ceremonial documents along with a record stating "A signing ceremony was held on [Month] [Day] of the Royal Year 215" in the presence of witnesses increases the authority and strengthens the effect.
Breaking that would be a betrayal not only of the other house but also of one's own ancestors, so any decent noble should avoid such an act.
Seeing that Frederick understood his intention, Arnold laughed softly.
"That's it. For the sake of the descendants, I want to nip the seeds of discord in the bud as much as possible. Since we have managed to build a friendly relationship with a new neighbor, we should make every effort possible to maintain it."
.....
A few weeks after the discussions regarding the border, the Viscount Koenitz family and the Baronet Arqvist family gathered at a venue created on the highway for the installation of the signs and the signing ceremony to define the border.
A carpet was laid on the highway, and a table was placed so as to straddle the border; across that table, Arnold and Frederick sat on the Koenitz territory side, and Noein and Clara sat on the Arqvist territory side.
Curtains were drawn around them, flags bearing the crests of both families were hoisted, and behind Noein stood the retainers Pence and Bart, the official merchant Philip, and Priest Hasel as witnesses.
Additionally, Christy stood as a civil official to handle important documents, and Matilda and territorial soldiers stood to guard the lord and his wife. On the Viscount Koenitz side, witnesses and civil officials including the official merchant Benedict, as well as soldiers, were lined up.
"—Now then, please confirm that there are no discrepancies with the contents specified in the documents regarding the border between the Koenitz territory and the Arqvist territory, and then sign. With the signatures of both parties, it shall be deemed that agreement on the border demarcation has been reached under an oath to God."
The one conducting the signing ceremony was an elderly bishop who was the head of the Milleon Holy Religion Mission in the Viscount Koenitz territory.
The Mission possesses no political authority, but for the reason that a member of the clergy would be neutral, fair, and virtuous, and because it is considered ceremonially preferable to take the form of "swearing to God before a member of the clergy," bishops or priests are often brought in as moderators for ceremonies in the Kingdom of Lordberg.
The reason the moderator was not Priest Hasel from the Arqvist territory side was simply a matter of seniority within the Mission.
"...Indeed."
"There is no mistake."
Both Arnold and Noein confirmed the contents of the document once more, signed one sheet, passed it to the other for a signature, and created two identical documents signed by both parties. The paper used was not cheap plant-based paper, but parchment carefully crafted and decorated for this day.
Furthermore, the seals of both families' crests were pressed onto both documents, and the completed documents were handed to the civil officials of each house—in the case of the Arqvist family, to Christy—and placed in specialized boxes prepared for this day.
"Next, the installation of the signs indicating the border will take place. Everyone from both families, please witness this clearly."
Following the bishop's words, the signs to indicate the border were brought in. Relatively large signs, which anyone passing along the highway would likely not miss, were carried by the two Chief Retainers who were the representatives of both territories.
Beside the laid carpet, on the ground immediately next to the highway, holes for erecting the signs had been dug in advance, and after Yuri and the Viscount Koenitz family's Chief Retainer exchanged a signal with their eyes, they drove the signs into the ground in unison.
Both Arnold and Noein watched the sequence of events closely. The fact that the heads of both families certainly witnessed the border markers being erected by their respective Chief Retainers was also important.
"...Then, as of this moment, the border between the Koenitz territory and the Arqvist territory is hereby established. All those gathered here are witnesses, and surely the God who dwells in heaven has also witnessed this ceremony."
While listening to the bishop's declaration, Noein exchanged a handshake with Arnold.
At the end of spring in the Royal Year 215, the fact that the border between the Viscount Koenitz territory and the Baronet Arqvist territory was formally and accurately demarcated was carved as an important scene in the history of both families.