Chapter 174 - Episode 169: A Peaceful Year-End
The end of December, with only a few days remaining of the year 215 of the Royal Calendar. As was the case for nearly all noble territories within the Kingdom of Roadberg, quiet days were flowing through the Arqvist Baronetcy.
Travel to and from outside the territory had almost ceased, and the residents spent their time consuming the preserved foods and living supplies they had prepared for winter while waiting for the arrival of spring.
The lord, Noein, also had no work that needed to be rushed at this time of year, and he spent peaceful days relaxing with Matilda and Clara.
"...The capital, Noeina, has grown again this year."
Sitting on a sofa in the study created on the second floor with a book open, Noein muttered as he happened to cast his eyes toward the scenery of the capital through the window.
Because it was currently winter, there were few people walking in the streets, but compared to the beginning of the year, the number of buildings had certainly increased, and the urban area had expanded. Two-story, and in some cases three-story, collective housing for new immigrants had been built, and the city walls surrounding the city were nearing completion.
Unlike last year, when Noein had brought back hundreds of beastmen, this year the population had increased by nearly 500 people consisting purely of those wishing to migrate. The capital, Noeina, had grown into a city where approximately 1,200 people lived, and the population of the mining village, Kilde, had reached 200. Three pioneer villages on a scale of several dozen people were also developing steadily.
"This development is only possible because Noein-sama is managing the territory with such splendid skill. It is because the reputation of the Arqvist territory is spreading outside the borders that so many people aim for this place."
Matilda snuggled beside Noein and replied in her usual earnest tone, though her voice and expression were soft. A book was also held in her hand.
"Thank you, Matilda... well, the fact that there were so many immigrants was also partly due to luck."
In last year's war, a great army had gathered at the southwestern border, and in order to secure their sustenance, a vast amount of food had been bought up by the military; as an aftermath, an exceptionally large chaos had spread through the southwest from last year into this year. Due to that influence, the number of refugees abandoning their towns and villages to flow toward the northwest had also increased.
He had heard that not only in the Arqvist territory, but in other territories of the northwest, the population was slightly increasing. With the conflict with the Kingdom of Lancel and the accompanying chaos, combined with the increase in agricultural productivity due to the spread of potatoes in the northwest, the power balance between the Northwestern Faction and the Southwestern Faction had changed significantly.
"Besides, it's not just immigrants; I'm happy that the population is starting to increase through the birth of babies as well."
The population increase in the Arqvist territory was not solely due to immigrants.
The average age in this territory was young. If there are many young people, it naturally follows that many children will be born.
Influenced by the territory's prosperity, the next generation of residents was being born one after another, and happy news continued to surround Noein: Anna had safely given birth to her first child, a first child was born to Bart and Michelle, Rosetta was pregnant with Pence's child, and Mai was pregnant with her second child with Yuri.
Not only the population but the economic scale was also steadily growing, and public order within the territory was good. Although there had been the unexpected event of being deployed to the south due to factional strife, it could be said that this year had passed generally peacefully. Despite the various chaos outside the territory.
"I'm glad that the post-war chaos seems likely to settle down starting next year."
Sitting on the opposite side of Matilda from Noein's perspective, also with a book in hand, the one who muttered this was his wife, Clara. So that the three of them could sit together like this, a wide and expensive sofa, similar to the one in the living room, had been placed in the study.
The collection of books requested from the Miles Company was proceeding steadily, and nearly fifty books were already lined up on the study's bookshelves. They were all famous books that were easy to order, which Noein had read at his birth home, but even so, it was enjoyable to pick up the books directly and turn the pages like this.
During the leisure time of this winter, Noein's standard way of spending time had become indulging in reading in the study with the women he loved, or engaging in idle chatter and board games while drinking tea in the first-floor living room.
"That's true... finally. The conflict with the Kingdom of Lancel had been continuing for years before I even began the development of the Arqvist territory."
"Thinking about it that way, they've been fighting for nearly ten years... You went through a lot of hardship because of it, so I truly hope it becomes peaceful from now on."
At the Northwestern Faction's dinner party in December, information had been conveyed that the conflict with the Kingdom of Lancel occurring at the southwestern border of the kingdom had almost completely ended.
Apparently, the scale of the conflict had already been shrinking since after the Great War, but before winter, the harassment by the Kingdom of Lancel stopped abruptly, and the enemy bases that had been near the border were themselves dismantled. Considering that, it seemed the Kingdom of Lancel no longer had the will to continue the conflict.
Since the agricultural productivity of the southwest had also been striving for recovery throughout this year, the food shortages within the kingdom and the accompanying chaos would likely be visibly resolved starting next year... with this long-awaited bright news, the faction dinner party had become quite lively.
"...Why did the Kingdom of Lancel, which had shown such territorial ambition toward the Kingdom of Roadberg, suddenly retreat?"
The one who voiced this doubt was Matilda. Having assisted Noein's administrative work for a long time as his adjutant, although she was a beastman slave, she was capable of thinking about matters concerning military and politics like this.
"I wonder why... perhaps they're withdrawing the army for a while to build up strength due to national power, or maybe King Cadne over there changed his mind and will attack a different neighboring country... either way, I hope they just give up on invading the Kingdom of Roadberg."
In a sense, the Arqvist territory had developed rapidly precisely because there was a war with the Kingdom of Lancel, but as for Noein, he felt that he didn't need any further rapid growth.
In just five years, the population within the territory had exceeded 1,500, and Noein himself had even achieved a promotion in rank, so it was enough. From now on, he could just continue managing the territory steadily and peacefully, letting it develop at a leisurely pace.
From Noein's values, the price of rapid development—such as being conscripted into war or participating in armed conflicts within the country—was not worth it.
As Noein let these thoughts wander while unconsciously turning the page of his book, a cute "kyuuuu~" sound echoed softly within the study.
"...Clara, are you hungry?"
"N-no, I'm sorry! I'm so unladylike..."
"Ahahaha, don't worry about it. You get hungry quickly in winter, don't you?"
"How embarrassing... I'm sorry..."
"It is almost past three in the afternoon. Shall I prepare some tea and sweets?"
"...Please."
Without laughing at Clara for her stomach growling, Noein simply spoke with a gentle smile, and Matilda asked with the expression of an attendant to the lord and his wife. Clara herself answered with a red face, thinking that it might actually be easier if she were teased.
"If we're having tea, let's all move to the living room. We've been cooped up in the study since noon."
"Y-yes, that's true. It's not very good to eat and drink in the study too often."
"Then, I shall go down first to prepare the tea..."
As Matilda said this and stood up to leave the room quickly, Noein grabbed her hand.
"There's no need to rush. Let's go together."
Noein smiled, and beside him, Clara also directed a gentle smile toward Matilda.
"...Yes, Noein-sama."
Matilda entwined her arm with the arm of the standing Noein, and Clara snuggled against Noein's other arm. Side by side in harmony, the three of them headed downstairs.
The above concludes Chapter Seven. Thank you for reading this far.
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