Chapter 230 - Episode 223: Worries and Joys
"――And so, as a result of the recalculations, this is the projected income for the House of Viscount Arqvist for this year. It is slightly better than the worst-case scenario we calculated in winter."
"...It really does feel like it's only 'slightly better.'"
Late May. Noein was receiving report documents from Anna, the financial officer, who had visited the lord's office.
The content concerned the projected income of the House of Viscount Arqvist for this year. Depending on how much this year's income was, it would determine how much budget could be allocated for the territory's management next year.
And as for those projected results――it had to be said that the numbers were quite disappointing.
"A decrease in the sales volume of lapis lazuli, a decrease in sugar production, and this year's oil production was catastrophic... We cannot make up for it at all through food exports to the Viscount Koenitz territory alone."
"Even if we're selling food in the midst of a great harvest failure, there's a limit to how much we can take advantage of the other party... He is my father-in-law, after all."
For example, even if they sold potatoes at an unprecedentedly high price, Arnold would likely buy them because he would have no other choice. However, doing such a thing would make everyone in the Koenitz family hate them. Clara would feel distressed, and above all, it would leave a grudge in the future relationship between the two families.
Since they were taking the risk of sharing food during a year of great harvest failure, selling at a higher price than usual would be acceptable. However, it was not nearly enough to compensate for the loss of income from other businesses. In the end, it was just food.
"Still, really... the effect was like a sparrow's tears in economic terms."
This year, the farmland that was supposed to be planted with sugar beets was used for increasing food production, so they couldn't produce much sugar, and while the mining schedule for mineral resources had finally returned to normal, buyers for the luxury item lapis lazuli had plummeted. Outside the country, the Republic of Betumia, their largest buyer, had apparently refrained from importing gemstones from the Kingdom of Roadberg starting this year. There truly were no decent buyers.
As a result, the projected income for the Arqvist territory was a decrease of over fifty percent compared to the previous year. It was a loss too large to be filled by potatoes.
"The Viscount's reserve fund is about 30 million Rebro, but one-third of that is converted into gold, silver, and lapis lazuli, so there are about 20 million Rebro in the vault as cash. If the projected decrease in income is this much..."
"...If we spend money like we usually do, the cash reserves will vanish in a year."
"Yes. Fortunately, since we stopped immigration from the royal lands, the support costs will be saved... but even so, we will likely have to dip into the reserve funds to some extent. Regarding Noein-sama's lifestyle, such as social expenses and money for hobbies, I ask that you save as much as possible."
"Of course I understand. I'll hold back on collecting books this year, and as for socializing, there probably aren't many nobles who have the luxury to play in the first place."
Having spoken that far, both Noein and Anna sighed somewhat instinctively.
The timing overlapped, and the two looked at each other and gave a wry smile. This year, there were only depressing stories, so sighs naturally increased.
"...Come to think of it, Anna's house plants soybeans too, right? Is the cultivation going well?"
Soybeans, which require little care to grow, were encouraged to be cultivated within the premises of each household. Now, in the yards of every house in the territory, soybeans that had grown to the edamame stage were swaying.
"Yes, after all, my husband is the agricultural officer. I've even picked up the tricks for soybean cultivation myself, and I've been giving maintenance advice to Mai-san, Gina-san, Michelle, Rosetta, and even the wives of Rick-san and Dant-san."
Anna answered with a wry smile. It seemed she had become the instructor for all the women of the retainer families. As expected of Edgar's wife.
"Contributing not only to finance but even to increasing food production, I can't thank you enough as the lord."
Noein also laughed while speaking jokingly.
.....
"...The first cultivation of this farmland was a success too."
"Yes. To think they grow normally even in a place where we simply dug up a vacant lot; as expected, the cultivation efficiency of potatoes is wonderful."
The evening of the day he received the report from Anna. On the lord's owned farmland within the premises of the lord's residence, Noein was talking side-by-side with Zadrek. Before them stretched potato fields and soybean fields on the verge of harvest.
"I heard from Edgar that other farmlands can expect sufficient yields, so it looks like our own food and the export portion for the Viscount Koenitz territory will be enough... thank goodness."
Confirming that the cultivation from early spring to early summer had succeeded, Noein breathed a sigh of relief.
He knew that potatoes could grow to some extent even if it wasn't proper farmland, but still, he couldn't be completely at ease until he saw the food production increase plan get on track. He felt relieved that they had successfully produced the amount for planting from summer, consumption within the territory, and furthermore, the seed potatoes to be given to the Viscount Koenitz territory.
"...And so, Noein-sama. Regarding the second cultivation starting from summer, are you truly going to expand the cultivated land even further within the residence's premises?"
"Of course, you can go ahead and do it. The courtyard, the front garden from the gate to the entrance—turn all the usable land into fields."
Like wheat, potatoes and soybeans cannot be grown in continuous cropping on the same farmland. Planting soybeans after potatoes, or potatoes after soybeans, is also no good. Diseases are more likely to occur in the crops. This was known from experiments Christy had conducted in the past.
Therefore, the second planting of this year had to be in farmland different from the first. From this summer, they would have to plant potatoes and soybeans wherever land was available, regardless of appearances, whether it be by the roadside or around the entrance.
The lord's residence was no exception. Noein had ordered Zadrek to use even the front garden, which should originally be kept tidy to show guests, as farmland.
"...Understood. I believe the appearance of the premises will become considerably poor, but I shall do it."
"I'm counting on you. The residents are digging up their own house premises, so I can't be the only lord who protects his garden."
Noein nodded with a wry smile at the solemn-faced Zadrek.
.....
"Haa~ah. I'm tired today too~ Eleos~"
"Puaa-u"
Having finished his work and flopped down onto the sofa in the residence's living room, Noein picked up his child, and Eleos responded while making a strange sound. Eleos, who would be one year old in about a month and a half, had recently been entertaining Noein with various reactions.
"The prospect of producing food as calculated has been established, so I can finally take a breather."
"Thank you for your hard work today... I am sorry for placing an extra burden on you for the sake of the relationship with my parents' home."
"There's no need for Clara to apologize. This is also a judgment as the lord... the food production increase and exports are based on various calculations, such as maintaining the relationship with the House of Viscount Koenitz and wanting the neighboring territory to remain viable."
Told this by Clara, who sat beside him, Noein smiled but clearly conveyed that this was for profit and loss. In her case, it would be more painful to think that her husband was enduring unnecessary hardship out of obligation to her parents' home.
"...Thank you."
Seeing Clara finally smile, Noein also felt a bit relieved.
"Puuu~, pooo"
As if he had grown tired of being held by his father, Eleos reached out toward Matilda, who was sitting to Noein's right.
"Ahahaha, as I thought, Eleos prefers Matilda's hugs over mine... Can I ask you to take him for a while?"
"Of course, Noein-sama."
Noein handed Eleos over to the nodding Matilda.
Eleos had now become less interested in Matilda's rabbit ears, but instead, he had started to show a great interest in something else.
"..."
"Eleos really loves breasts, doesn't he."
"Perhaps the size of his birth mother's is not enough for him..."
Held by Matilda, Eleos was pushing and shaking her bountiful breasts with a serious expression.
Looking at his child, Noein spoke with an exasperated face, while Clara spoke with a hint of frustration. Compared to the average human, Clara was also sufficiently large, but she could not match Matilda, who had bountiful breasts as a racial characteristic.
"Listen, Eleos, allowing that act is only while you are a baby. Originally, Matilda's breasts belong only to me."
"Oo, oo~pu?"
"My, are you jealous of a son who isn't even one year old yet?"
Clara laughed at Noein, who was talking to his son with a dead-serious face. Meanwhile, Matilda had an expression that suggested she didn't mind the possessiveness her master directed toward her.
"Oo, o~, ...o, ppai? Oo-ppai?"
Eleos said, while patting Matilda's breasts. Hearing that, Noein and the others froze, and the place fell silent.
"...Eh,"
Noein broke the silence.
"Eleos spoke!"
"My, that's amazing, Eleos!"
"Oo...ppai?"
"He spoke again! Even though he's not even one yet!"
"This child might be a genius!"
Noein and Clara were overjoyed. Matilda also opened her eyes in slight surprise and looked at Eleos. Eleos himself looked blankly.
After sharing the joy for a while, Noein and Clara sat down, calming down a bit. Then, they slumped their shoulders and sighed.
"...It's good that he spoke, but..."
"...Of all things, his first word in life is 'boobs'?"
The father and mother were enveloped in the joy of their child uttering a meaningful word, and the shock that the meaning was far, far too much.
"...What should we do. If he starts saying it in front of the servants and subordinates at this rate, it'll be a problem."
"That's true... It would also be a problem if he says the same thing at my parents' home, in front of my parents and my brother's couple."
"Ah, there was that. What should we do, this is a major problem."
Noein turned pale at Clara's words. There was no doubt that his parents-in-law and brother-in-law's couple would ask what on earth kind of child-rearing they were doing.
"..."
The lord couple began to worry with serious faces. Matilda also fell silent, not knowing how to speak to the two. It should have been a celebratory occasion, but even saying "congratulations" now felt hesitant. Since it was a result of Eleos taking an interest in her breasts, she also felt a bit of responsibility.
"...We just have to make him learn another word. If we overwrite the memory."
Noein muttered as if he had suddenly thought of something.
"T-that's right... Matilda-san, please lend me Eleos."
Receiving Eleos from Matilda, Clara spoke while staring at his face.
"Listen, Eleos? I am your mama. Try saying it? Ma-ma."
"Ma-ma?"
"Yes, that's it, Eleos! Look, Matilda-san is your mama too, right?"
"Y-yes... Eleos-sama, I am also a mama. Ma-ma."
Perhaps because she was shy, Matilda also spoke to Eleos while her face turned slightly red.
"Ma-ma. Maaa-ma."
"You're good, Eleos, as expected!"
"...!"
Clara praised Eleos. Matilda smirked at the corners of her mouth from being called "mama."
"N-next is me, Eleos. I am your papa, pa-pa."
"Paaa... pao... oo-ppai?"
"Why!"
Noein's face was enveloped in shock, and seeing that, Eleos laughed, clapping his hands, wondering what was so funny.
From this day onward, the sight of Noein and the others trying to teach Eleos words to overwrite his memory would frequently unfold in the residence's living room.