Chapter 31 - Chapter 31: They Were Happy ①
"It really is cold, isn't it?"
"Well, it's almost December, after all."
A few days after the name of the capital was decided as "Noeina" during the meeting, Noein was walking, accompanying Bart, who was heading to Retovik for supplies. Two residents had come along to help Bart, and Matilda followed as Noein's adjutant.
The purpose of this trip was to show their faces to Viscount Arnold Koenitz and the merchants they did business with before winter fully set in and travel to Retovik became difficult. In a sense, it was a year-end greeting.
Noein was wearing a reasonably high-quality overcoat, but cold was still cold. For Noein, who had grown up in the southern part of the kingdom where the climate was relatively mild, the cold of the north was particularly harsh.
Upon arriving in Retovik, the first place they headed to was Eliza's shop.
"Oh, Noein-sama has come as well today."
"It's been a while, Eliza-san. And Marco-san as well."
Since it had been some time since he had personally gone for supplies, the opportunities for Noein to meet them had decreased.
Leaving the transaction for food supplies to Bart and Marco, Noein chatted with Eliza for a bit.
"Is Anna working hard?"
"Yes. She is very capable. The reason the Arqvist territory is running smoothly now is precisely because she is supporting it from behind the scenes."
Without any flattery, Noein appraised Anna's work in that way. It was undeniably thanks to Anna that Noein was able to concentrate on his duties as a lord and the land reclamation work using golems.
"It puts my mind at ease to hear that directly from Noein-sama. I'm glad I drilled the desk work into that girl."
Being praised for her daughter, Eliza also seemed quite pleased.
"Also, the name of the residential area in the Arqvist territory was decided the other day."
"Oh, what name did it become?"
"That is... No, Noeina."
"Hahaha, so it bears Noein-sama's name."
"Personally, it's a bit embarrassing, but my retainers insisted strongly that 'it should be so'..."
Explaining a village name that was almost exactly his own name to another person from his own mouth was quite embarrassing.
After that, he showed his face at the Miles Trading Company, the inn they used as their regular lodging when visiting Retovik for overnight stays, several other shops they did business with, and the workshops where they often ordered or requested repairs for farming tools.
The last place he headed to was the Koenitz Viscount's estate. He had sent letters of gratitude for the introduction of the excellent mining engineer, but this was the first time Noein had met the head of the house, Arnold, directly since their meeting regarding the lapis lazuli raw stones.
...
As before, he was shown to the reception room and exchanged greetings with Arnold, who entered the room slightly later.
"So, what brings you here today? I hear it is for year-end greetings, and that there is something you wish to convey."
Arnold asked, sounding somewhat guarded. He seemed to be wary that Noein had come to engage in some kind of bargaining again.
"Yes. As a rookie lord in my first year of holding territory, I have been indebted to Viscount Koenitz many times. I thought I would definitely come and express my gratitude in person before winter begins... Also, the name of the first residential area in my territory has been formally decided as a village, so I have come to report that matter."
"...Is that all?"
"Yes, that is all."
"What, you really just came to give greetings?"
Arnold relaxed his shoulders as if deflated.
"Ahaha, you don't need to be so guarded; I wish to be a good neighbor to your Excellency."
"That is because you seem capable of sweeping the rug from under my feet if you felt like it. As the head of a noble house, I cannot afford to be careless."
Arnold replied with a wry smile to Noein, who wore a smile that, at first glance, looked like that of a mere pleasant young man.
From their past interactions, he knew there was almost no possibility that Noein would suddenly bare his fangs, but still, given his position as a lord entrusted with many residents, he could not trust him completely. Noble friendships are difficult to establish.
"So, what is the name of the village?"
"Um... it became 'Noeina'."
Noein said it sounding a bit ashamed. Seeing him unusually embarrassed, while he usually only showed a composed smile, Arnold muttered to himself internally, So he can make expressions appropriate for his age after all.
"I see. That is quite a direct take from your own name."
"Embarrassingly, my retainers and residents strongly wished for this name..."
"You are quite beloved by your residents. Is that not a joyful thing?"
Normally, even if one took the lord's name for the capital, they would add some kind of twist. This Retovik was the same. Arnold thought that for a name to be desired almost exactly as is, this youth must be exceptionally loved by his residents.
"It seems you have talent as a lord. From now on, that Noeina will likely develop as a village, and eventually as a town. I hope it maintains a good relationship with Retovik here as well."
"I am honored by your praise. On my end, I also wish to deepen our friendship in the future."
Since it would be bad to take up too much time for a simple year-end greeting, Noein left the Koenitz Viscount's estate shortly after exchanging some small talk.
...
In this world, setting aside royalty and nobility, the system of "marriage" for commoners is simple.
If a man and woman who decided to become a couple reported that intent to a responsible party such as a lord, deputy, or village head and lived in the same house, the marriage was established.
Of course, celebratory banquets were held upon marriage. In urban areas, it was common for each household to gather relatives and friends to celebrate, but in sparsely populated villages, a seat was often prepared at the end of the year, when farm work had settled, to gather and celebrate the men and women who married this year all at once.
In Noeina of the Arqvist territory, such a banquet was about to be held. Because it also served to commemorate the birth of the name "Noeina" for the village, it was an exceptionally lavish banquet for a marriage celebration in a small settlement.
Fires were lit in the plaza, and lavish dishes such as freshly grilled meat and warm soup were lined up.
Noein, the lord, had also provided a large amount of alcohol bought in Retovik for today, as well as the meat of one whole plump deer.
Plump deer were known for their pelts selling at high prices, but their meat was also famous as a high-class ingredient. Noein bought the ones the retainers hunted during their patrols around the village and released them as a treat from the lord to the residents.
Once the food was all served, Noein stood before all the residents gathered in the plaza.
As the residents buzzed before the banquet, the Captain of the Retainers, Yuri, called out in a loud voice, "Be quiet. These are the words of Lord Noein Arqvist," and before long, everyone stopped talking.
While receiving the gazes of the residents, Noein began to speak.
"Everyone, today is a happy day. It is the first marriage festival since this territory was born, a day to celebrate and praise those who have been joined in this land. And, it is also a day to celebrate the fact that this village has received a name."
The residents listened intently to Noein's words.
"The name of this village was decided as 'Noeina,' taking from my name. My loyal servant Matilda proposed this name, and the retainers who swore loyalty to me strongly agreed with it. I hear that you, the residents, were also satisfied with this name. I wish to believe that this is proof that I have gained your affection and respect as a lord."
When Noein said that, the residents each nodded.
Regarding the name "Noeina," he had received reports from the retainers that the reputation among the residents was very good. That it was an evaluation close to unanimous acclaim.
"About nine months ago, I entered the Bezel Great Forest with Matilda and the golems. In the middle of a forest where there was nothing, I found a slightly open piece of land, pitched a tent, and made a small field. It's around where my mansion and the lord-owned fields are now... from there, I gradually cut trees, leveled the ground, and increased the fields."
Putting it into words like this, it felt deeply moving.
"Eventually I met Yuri and the others, I met Edgar and the others, and after that, many people decided to become residents here. In the middle of a forest where there was nothing, there is now a village called Noeina. This is my territory, but at the same time, it is a new land for all of you, a place where new lives begin."
The residents listened as if savoring Noein's words, and some among them were shedding tears.
"And, this new land has received a name. Today is a day that symbolizes our beginning, a starting point that symbolizes the new lives that will continue through next year after the turn of the year, and forever beyond."
Noein himself endured the feeling of almost tearing up. A lord cannot cry in front of the residents on a day of celebration.
Quietly closing his eyes to calm his feelings, he turned his gaze toward the men and women, including Yuri and Mai, who stood one step ahead of the other residents. They were the protagonists of today.
"Here today, there are four pairs of men and women who have newly become couples this year. They are existences that symbolize that a new society, our future, has been built here. Let us bless them."
As Noein said this and raised a glass filled with wine, everyone present followed his lead.