Chapter 226 - Episode 219: A Busy End to Winter
Mid-February. The cold wave that had lasted for over a month since the start of the year departed, and the climate returned to a certain degree of normalcy. Now, it was only at a level where one might wonder if it was slightly colder than the same period in an average year.
However, a month of abnormal weather had left deep scars upon the land. The wheat growth was poor, many crops had withered, and the harvestable amount was estimated to be around forty percent of a typical year. It was roughly as Edgar had predicted.
Furthermore, the fact that the start of the year's commercial and industrial activities had been delayed across the entire territory had affected many areas, and Noein, as the lord, was overwhelmed with dealing with the aftermath.
Since similar situations were occurring not only in the Arqvist territory but throughout the entire kingdom, the import and export of goods had stalled, and neither daily life nor the economy could be said to be running normally. The entire kingdom was beginning to be enveloped in great confusion.
One such afternoon, while Noein was buried in paperwork in the lord's office, the Chief Retainer Yuri visited.
"Noein-sama, it's me."
"Yeees. You can come in—"
Having received permission, Yuri entered the room and raised an eyebrow upon seeing Noein, who looked exhausted with documents scattered across the executive desk.
"...You look busy."
"Geez... seriously, I wish they'd give me a break. Snow still remains in the mountains, so there will be hindrances to ore mining for a while longer, and because the roads are muddy from the snow, the transport of resources from Kilde to Noeina is stalled, and the procurement of supplies that cannot be produced within the territory from outside is also stalled... Confusion is piling up due to various delays, and requests and petitions are coming in from all directions, like the Merchant Guild and the pioneer villages."
Beside the lamenting Noein, Matilda was silently organizing bundles of documents by category at her own desk. The volume of those documents spoke volumes about the weight of Noein's current burden.
"I see, that's tough... There are probably many tasks right now that only the lord can handle."
"It's so tough... Well, I have no choice but to do my best... So, Yuri, do you have some report?"
"Yeah. I received a report from Konrad that a communication from the royal family arrived via 'Far-Talk.' He said that His Majesty the King has given his consent regarding the temporary suspension of immigrants from the royal lands. I came to tell you that."
"...I see. That's a relief."
Since the interactions with the Princess Faction Alliance began last year, dialogue mages of the royal court had been stationed in Retovik, the territory of Viscount Koenitz, and including Konrad, a 'Far-Talk' communication network had been connected from the royal capital to the territorial capital, Noeina.
Noein had used that network to send a request to the royal family, stating, "Because the impact of the great crop failure is severe, I want you to temporarily stop the transfer of immigrants."
"If you're that busy dealing with the confusion within the territory, stopping the immigrants was the right call."
"Right? Even if immigrants came in units of a hundred at a time like this, I couldn't possibly handle things like housing and jobs... And the territorial residents, no matter how much they aren't struggling to eat, would probably hate seeing immigrants coming from outside in units of a hundred during a year of great crop failure."
"...True. Even if the opportunities to eat bread are already decreasing, if that decreases further because of immigrants, many people would likely feel dissatisfied."
As a result of having Edgar recalculate the food production volume, it was found that if all the potatoes stored within the territory for food were temporarily diverted to seed potatoes, and if much of the soybeans were used for food rather than as raw materials for oil, it would be possible to produce more than enough food for the current population of the Arqvist territory.
Rather, if they exerted themselves to that extent, they could produce enough food to feed more people than the previous year in terms of quantity alone. As expected of the potato, praised as the "crop that saves nations," and the soybean, which boasted a cultivation efficiency no less impressive.
However, to do that, they would have to plant potatoes and soybeans even in places that were not originally farmland, and this year they would live a life of eating only potatoes and beans while reducing bread consumption. If a large number of immigrants were to push in under such circumstances, it could invite resentment from the existing residents, who might say, "Our share of bread decreased because of them."
Noein had spent considerable nervous energy on the harmony between the long-time residents and the new immigrants. He could not afford to create seeds of conflict within the territory at a time like this.
"Besides, it was a great crop failure across the entire kingdom this year. Even if we can get full stomachs in our territory, if territories we have deep ties with, like Viscount Koenitz's, are devastated by famine, it will eventually have a huge impact on us too. I want to use the surplus food for aid to places like that, rather than feeding it to immigrants."
For now, it was fine because everyone had reserves left from last year, but after the harvest period, confusion due to food shortages would almost certainly occur in various parts of the kingdom.
At that time, there was no telling what would happen even to the neighboring Viscount Koenitz territory. As long as they were members of the kingdom's society, they weren't safe just because they themselves were okay. At the very least, he wanted the noble territories they were closely involved with to remain peaceful.
"...I see. Indeed, such preparations seem necessary."
"Well, I thought of this after I made the request to stop the immigrants, though."
Noein replied with a faint, bitter smile to the impressed Yuri.
"And before all that... in the first place, my income this year is precarious for taking care of a large number of immigrants."
Noein muttered the last part while dropping his shoulders.
Resource mining in the mining village of Kilde did not proceed as planned, and many of the soybeans that were supposed to be raw materials for oil would be diverted to food this year. Furthermore, luxury goods such as lapis lazuli and sugar would likely not sell as they usually do this year, when a famine is expected to occur throughout the kingdom. Orders for weapons like the Ballista should also decrease. On top of that, he had made wheat tax-free this year.
No matter how he thought about it, Noein's income as a noble would plummet. He had prepared reserve funds for such a time, and every noble would likely face a significant decrease in income, but it was still a situation that made him want to sigh.
"According to Anna's calculations, the projected revenue for this year is less than half."
"That... well, it can't be helped just for this year. If things get truly dire, you can put my salary on tab, okay?"
"Ahahaha, no matter how it is, I won't be driven to desperation to that extent all of a sudden."
Noein also forced a smile at Yuri's joke. This year was full of unexpected troubles; he couldn't get through it without smiling, even if he had to force it a bit.
.....
Early March. An envoy from the Kingdom of Lancel arrived via the Bezel Great Forest Road. As usual, the representative was Baron Bartholomew.
Having received the report of the envoy's arrival from the Aspida fortress, Noein headed to the fortress, taking his strategist Yuri, his adjutant Matilda, and the Guard, including Pence, as escorts.
"Excellency, thank you for your hard work."
"Good work, Radley."
The one who greeted Noein and the others with a salute at the east gate of the fortress was Radley, who had come to be in a position to command the border defense.
Upon receiving news that the Princess Faction Alliance had triumphed over the Cadne faction, the stationed armies of the northwestern nobles finally completely withdrew at the end of this winter. One reason was that the northwestern nobles wanted to return their territorial armies to their lands to deal with the confusion accompanying the abnormal weather and great crop failure.
To compensate, the border's defensive power was maintained by deploying a larger number of Arqvist territorial army soldiers and Claymore golem users to the fortress.
"And, where is Baron Bartholomew?"
"I have shown him to the conference room. He said, 'I have come with New Year's greetings and joyful news.'"
"Joyful news, huh... well, whatever. Then let's meet him immediately."
Led by Radley, they headed to the conference room of the fortress's headquarters facility. Seeing Noein enter the room, Baron Bartholomew stood up and greeted him with a smile. Since he hadn't brought the civil and military officials who served as monitors, perhaps he had finally gained the trust of the Princess Faction Alliance.
"It has been a long time, Viscount Arqvist-kakka. I am glad to see you in good health."
"Thank you. You also seem well, Lord Bartholomew."
Noein also showed a smile as he shook hands with the baron and took a seat, after which he responded appropriately to the baron's various greeting words.
Once the long greetings had reached a lull, Baron Bartholomew straightened his back slightly.
"...The reason I have requested this audience today is that there is, in fact, good news to convey. I believe it is something that Your Excellency will also be pleased with."
"I would certainly like to hear it."
Thinking that they were finally getting to the main point, Noein also adjusted his posture.
"On this occasion, Her Majesty Queen Anrietta Lancel and we of the Princess Faction Alliance have triumphed over the faction of the former King Cadne, and have exiled Cadne to the northern part of the continent. Furthermore, at the beginning of this March, a coronation ceremony was held, and Her Majesty Anrietta formally became the Queen of the Kingdom of Lancel."
"That is... congratulations. As a noble of a neighboring country, I only hope that under the reign of Her Majesty Queen Anrietta Lancel, your country achieves ever greater prosperity."
After raising an eyebrow in surprise for just a moment, Noein replied with a smile.
He had heard at the end of last year that the civil war in the Kingdom of Lancel had been settled, but that the coronation had already finished was news to him.
"I thank you for your kind words; I offer my thanks on behalf of the Kingdom of Lancel. By now, the same news has likely reached His Majesty King Oscar Roadberg III. I believe you will receive word from His Majesty Oscar shortly."
"I see... regardless, it is celebratory. It was a happy surprise. His Majesty will surely be surprised as well."
Noein implicitly suggested that since the coronation was already finished, this country had heard nothing in advance. Whether he picked up on that intent or not, Baron Bartholomew's face became slightly apologetic.
"I apologize for this being a post-facto report. Normally, it would be proper to inform you in advance and invite the royalty of the Kingdom of Roadberg... however, an abnormal cold wave continued at the start of this year. Considering future events, the coronation was concluded early to avoid a political vacuum. Regarding this matter, an apology should be noted in the personal letter from the Queen to His Majesty Oscar."
"...So you were also affected by the cold wave."
Word had been spreading that the January cold wave had apparently struck not only the Kingdom of Roadberg but the entire southern region of the continent. The neighboring Kingdom of Lancel must also be suffering a great crop failure, so it was understandable that they finished the coronation as quickly as possible for the sake of swift future responses.
A Queen who had formally completed her coronation could exert a coercive power that a mere Princess did not possess. It was convincing that an absolute monarch was needed immediately to overcome the crop failure following the civil war.
"I sympathize with the circumstances of the Kingdom of Lancel. I cannot know how His Majesty Oscar will take it, but at the very least, please do not worry about me."
"It helps that you say so... Now then, while this is a matter that still depends on the response of His Majesty King Oscar Roadberg III..."
As he spoke, Baron Bartholomew let a bit of tension seep through.
"Both countries will likely face great confusion due to crop failures this year. Therefore, a proposal to postpone the timing of the signing of the peace treaty will be made from Her Majesty Anrietta to His Majesty Oscar."
"...I see, that would be unavoidable."
"Yes. However, regarding the ceasefire agreement, we shall both continue to strictly observe it... At the very least, I promise that the side of the Kingdom of Lancel will absolutely not revoke the agreement. I promise in the name of Her Majesty Anrietta that it is unthinkable for us to invade out of a desire for food, so I ask that Your Excellency also..."
Noein thought that this was the purpose of sending an envoy here specifically, simultaneous with the contact to King Oscar.
Following a civil war and a crop failure, if they were to receive an invasion from a starving Kingdom of Roadberg, the Kingdom of Lancel would truly perish. If they faced the desperate resistance of the Kingdom of Lancel, the Kingdom of Roadberg would not escape unscathed either, and both countries would fall together.
To prevent that, Queen Anrietta called out to King Oscar, and meanwhile, Baron Bartholomew had come to warn Noein, who held territory bordering the frontier, ahead of time.
Normally, it was unthinkable for Noein, a single noble, to arbitrarily invade the Kingdom of Lancel, but one never knows what a cornered person might do. There was the example of the remnants of the Cadne faction attacking the Aspida fortress last year.
While the Arqvist territory expected to have a surplus of food this year as well, the Kingdom of Lancel did not know such circumstances.
"Of course. I am a proud noble of the Kingdom of Roadberg and a loyal subject of His Majesty King Oscar. No matter how much I may suffer from crop failures, I shall strive to resolve it by my own means as a problem of my own territory. I solemnly swear that invading your side is unthinkable."
To Noein, who spoke with a voice that conveyed confidence and mental composure, Baron Bartholomew replied, looking relieved as he let go of his tension.
"...Thank you. We strongly desire the maintenance of friendly relations with the Kingdom of Roadberg. First, may both countries overcome this hardship and enjoy peace for a long time to come."
"Yes, let us both do our best."
While keeping their words gentle, Noein and Baron Bartholomew confirmed with each other, "Since both our domestic situations are dire right now, let's absolutely make sure we don't clash."