Chapter 309 - Episode 301: Unpleasant Rumors
One day at noon, just as late August had begun. Noein sat at the dining table in the mansion with his family—Matilda, Clara, and Eleos.
To ensure they arrived in the royal capital by early September, Noein and Matilda were to depart the Arqvist territory tomorrow. For that reason, they had made this day a holiday to spend together as a family.
"Alright, everyone, hold hands."
In the dining room where several serving maids stood by, Noein, seated at the head of the table, connected his right hand with Matilda's left and his left hand with Clara's right. Furthermore, Clara connected her left hand with Eleos, who sat beside her.
Then, Noein and the others closed their eyes.
"O God, Father of the vast sky and Mother of the great earth. We thank You for the blessings bestowed upon us today. We thank You for this time spent surrounding these blessings with our family. May we use this as sustenance to live within the turning world."
As Noein recited the pre-meal prayer of the Milleon Holy Church, Matilda and Clara repeated it. Eleos was not yet capable of repeating the words, but he remained quiet, sensing the atmosphere of the occasion.
"...Well then, shall we eat?"
Having finished the prayer, Noein and the others began their lunch of bread, meat, and soup. Since Eleos could not yet eat the same things as adults, a bowl of barley porridge with softly stewed meat and vegetables was placed before him.
Through the Betumia War, Noein had become slightly more devout than before. The habit of pre-meal prayers was an influence of that.
During the war, Noein had witnessed far too many deaths and killed far too many people. And, amidst the crisis, he had experienced miracle-like luck.
It wasn't that he simply and naively thought God would help him if he wished, but he began to think that when one carves away their own life, strives to the absolute limit, and shows their resolve, something beyond human wisdom might bring about luck. Perhaps people throughout history had called exactly that "God."
That was why Noein established the habit of showing gratitude for the miracle that kept him alive here and now.
"...Sigh."
"Noein-sama, are you alright?"
Matilda asked with a worried expression as Noein let out a sigh with a clouded face while bringing soup to his mouth.
"I'm fine, thank you. I just thought that since I won't be able to have lunch at home for a while again, I feel a bit depressed."
"You will be absent for about a month and a half this time. We who wait for your return will be lonely as well."
As she spoke, Clara sought agreement from the son beside her, asking, "Right, Eleos?" However, the Eleos in question was preoccupied with stuffing his cheeks with barley porridge. At finally being two years old, he could not yet understand the detailed circumstances of his parents.
"It turns out I'll be away from the territory for more than half of this year. It's painful not being able to watch Eleos's growth up close."
Noein gave a wry smile while looking at his innocent, hearty-eating child.
Within Eleos, in whom something resembling a sense of self had finally sprouted, his father was likely perceived as "a person who is always away from home for a long time, pampers me when he returns, but then goes somewhere else again soon." Matilda was likely treated similarly.
"This time, the kingdom should truly move toward the path of stability. Once this visit to the royal capital is over, we can stay here together for the time being... though saying that might sound a bit like bad luck."
"Ahaha. True, if this were a story, 'it should be fine now' would be a forbidden phrase."
Noein smiled wryly at Clara, who covered her mouth.
"The peace treaty with the Lancel Kingdom has been formally established. Setting aside the southern regions and eastern borderlands currently under reconstruction, at least regarding the Arqvist territory, it should become peaceful from here on... Even going to the royal capital tomorrow is just about receiving a reward and chatting at a banquet; the work itself isn't hard. I think my mood will improve if I think of it as a trip."
"My, so you mean it's a trip to the royal capital for just the two of you, Noein-sama and Matilda-san, leaving me behind? I'm envious."
When Clara playfully puffed out her cheeks, both Noein and Matilda let out small chuckles.
"By the next time we head to the royal capital, Eleos will be much bigger. Let's take a trip to the capital as a family of four. Only for that time, we'll push all the territory management onto Yuri-san and the others."
As they continued their lunch, exchanging jokes and light banter and laughing harmoniously while enjoying family time, the dining room door opened and the house steward, Kimberly, entered the room.
Only upon seeing her did Noein realize that she, who had been serving them until a short while ago, had left the room once. Kimberly always moved like a shadow so as not to disturb her lord.
"Kimberly, did something happen?"
"Forgive me for interrupting your meal. Retainer Bart-sama has just returned from outside the territory and has come to visit the mansion."
"Ah, he made it in time. That's good."
Bart, the retainer in charge of foreign affairs, had accompanied the transport of goods for the Skinner Trading Company this time, circling around the southern side of the northwestern part of the kingdom and gathering information while blending into the common folk.
It had been uncertain whether Bart could return before Noein's departure, and it was decided that if he didn't make it, Clara, who would act as the acting lord, would receive the information; however, since he had been permitted to use the magic carriage, it seemed he had returned early.
"I understand that you are off-duty from official business today, but how shall we proceed?"
"If it's just a report, it shouldn't take much time, so I think I'll listen after lunch."
"Understood. I shall have Bart-sama wait for a while."
Kimberly answered, gave a quiet bow, and silently left the dining room.
.....
After finishing lunch and post-meal tea, Noein entered the lord's office accompanied by Matilda and met with Bart.
And there, he received a somewhat concerning report.
"A strange atmosphere?"
"Yes. How should I put it... a sense of estrangement toward the Arqvist house, or perhaps wariness. In some cases, I felt a clear sense of loathing. Though it was only from some people in some noble territories."
Saying this, Bart recounted his experiences during this diplomatic mission.
For example, when walking through towns or villages, or when eating at an eatery, there were signs of people directing their gazes at them and whispering rumors.
For example, when staying in a village of a certain low-ranking noble territory and visiting the lord's house to ask to borrow a vacant lot in the village because there were no inns, the reception received was curt, and it felt as though they wanted them to "leave as quickly as possible."
In extreme cases, there were times when people's expressions changed blatantly the moment they learned he was a retainer serving the Arqvist house.
"My subordinates and I, who look very much like soldiers, were fine, but it seems there were some who picked fights and harassed a member of the Skinner Trading Company when they were walking alone. Other residents who saw this nearby stepped in to mediate, so it didn't lead to anything serious at that time, but..."
"...I wonder if the downside of standing out too much in the Betumia War is starting to appear," Noein muttered with a strained smile.
"I believe it is certain that rumors related to the war are circulating. Even when the trading company member was harassed, the opponent apparently said things like, 'Is this a guy from the demon's territory?'"
"Ahaha, the demon's territory, huh. Some impressive words have come out again."
The retainers had been told—as a funny story—that when Noein proposed the strategy using "Angel's Nectar," he received tremendous condemnation from the conservative nobles, who called it the thinking of a demon.
"The ones spreading bad rumors about me are probably the nobles who didn't like my methods... the world is interesting. To be called the 'Hero who Saved the Nation' while simultaneously being treated as a demon."
"...Noein-sama, are you not angry?"
Bart asked, sounding slightly surprised.
"Are you angry, Bart?"
"Of course. There is no retainer who would not feel anger when their beloved lord is spoken of in such a way. Even those spreading rumors had their lives saved thanks to Noein-sama's strategies."
Bart, who usually wore a gentle smile that suited his refined features, showed a rare expression of indignation.
"Having you say that is the greatest reward for a lord... but well, I think that's just how the world is. Even in the books I read as a child, heroes were usually treated as nuisances during peacetime."
Those capable of reversing a critical situation are, by definition, those who possess such abnormal thought processes or distorted powers. Such people become difficult to handle during peacetime, living in solitude, or in terrible cases, being eliminated. In history books and storybooks, there were descriptions of the sad lives of such heroes.
"Not all nobles think with reason. I hear there are many people with conservative thinking, especially among the low-ranking nobles. As for the high-ranking nobles... I want to believe that more than half of them still chat amiably with me, but I suspect there are quite a few who hate me."
Even among the high-ranking nobles of the Northwestern faction, with whom he had spent several years as allies, there were several who did not hide their loathing for Noein's ideas. Those people were assigned to the central main force during the war, and thanks to that, Noein was able to manage the Western Army without major issues.
Their thoughts and attitudes likely would not change even after the war. Rather, the part where they endured it thinking "it can't be helped to protect the country and territory" would vanish, and they would likely view Noein as a heretic even more without hesitation.
"...How should I put it, it's disheartening."
"Ahaha, it certainly is. But there's nothing that can be done about people outside the territory. The essence of my happiness lies within the territory. As long as I can protect the love of my family, subordinates, and people, I'm fine with that for now... I'm alright because I have loyal retainers like you who get angry on my behalf."
When Noein smiled, Bart responded with a slightly embarrassed, wry smile.
"That said, it is a problem that subordinates in charge of foreign affairs like you, or the people of the Skinner Trading Company, have unpleasant experiences. I depart for the royal capital tomorrow and will have the opportunity to speak directly with His Majesty the King. Depending on the war rewards I receive from His Majesty, the situation may improve, and depending on the case, I will ask His Majesty to put in a word for us."
At that, Noein wore a fearless smile.
"The royal family has publicly declared me the 'Hero who Saved the Nation.' While they might not be able to change the inner feelings of people who dislike the Arqvist house or the official trading company, I believe they can at least warn each noble territory not to harass us openly."
"Requesting a direct word from the royal family... it's strange for me to say this, but Noein-sama, you have certainly risen in the world."
Bart said deeply while exhaling. As one of the first five people to migrate to the Arqvist territory when there were nothing but tents and fields, he seemed to feel a deep sense of emotion.
"I suppose so. I was a Baronet in name only living in a tent, and now I'm in a position to speak directly with His Majesty the King; sometimes I surprise myself... well, having power is convenient for protecting happiness. I'm not fond of standing out in a bad way, but rising in the world itself isn't a bad thing."
Noein predicted that the reward for the Betumia War, though its nature was unknown, would be something that led to an improvement in his own position.
To find out specifically what that was, he would depart for the royal capital tomorrow.