Chapter 327 - Chapter 319: Spring of Preparations for Nation-Building
"Your Excellency, please raise your left elbow a bit more where it rests against your hip. As for your right arm, spread it slightly to the side and relax your strength. Keep your face in the same direction as your body, and turn only your gaze toward me... yes. Now, please maintain that posture for a while."
"...This is quite a struggle, isn't it?"
"In order to finish a fine portrait, I must ask for Your Excellency's endurance in this matter. Please, bear with me."
One day, as March drew to a close. In a conference room where the tables had been pushed aside to create a wide space, Noein was striking a magnificent pose befitting the head of a noble house.
The person giving instructions in front of Noein was a painter well-known in the northwestern part of the Lordberg Kingdom.
This painter, a half-elf said to be over eighty years old, frequently received commissions for noble portraits; recently, it was said he had also painted a portrait of Frederick, who had come to exercise practical governance over the Count Koenitz territory as the acting lord.
"You look very handsome, dear."
"The attire and the bearing combine to convey Noein-sama's dignity. It is very wonderful."
"Hahaha, thank you both. I'm a bit embarrassed."
Noein gave a wry smile as he received impressions from Clara and Matilda, who were watching the portrait being painted. Today, Noein was dressed in perfect ceremonial attire with all the decorations attached.
If he were to become independent as a Grand Duke, he could not afford not to have at least one portrait of himself displayed in the mansion. This, too, was necessary work as a head of state.
Furthermore, a portrait carried the meaning of "leaving one's face in history as the first head of the Grand Ducal House of Arqvist." Precisely because it is the way of the world that one never knows when something might happen, one puts their likeness into a painting while still alive. In the future, when Noein became middle-aged, he would have another portrait painted with a face appropriate for that age.
Once Noein's portrait was finished, Clara and Eleos would be painted together, and after that, Matilda would also be painted. For the painter, it was quite a large job.
"Your Excellency, in leaving your likeness in a portrait, are there any elements you particularly wish to emphasize? I can incorporate any request you may have."
"Elements I wish to emphasize...?"
As Noein tilted his head slightly, Clara hurried over to him and leaned her mouth close to his ear.
"In noble portraits, it is common to paint things slightly differently from the actual appearance. Making one taller, more youthful, or more dignified; painting a heavier person as thinner, or one with thinning hair as having a lush head of hair... he is asking if you have such requests."
"Ah, I see."
Thinking that this was a story typical of nobles who obsessed over vanity, Noein laughed, thought for a moment, and answered the painter.
"Then, I think I'll have you make me just a little bit taller. Not too much exaggeration, just a slight amount."
"Understood."
The painter nodded without moving his gentle smile at all and took up his brush. Clara and Matilda did not particularly comment on it.
Being considerably shorter than the average height of men in the world was a complex of his, but then again, he disliked the idea of being left in a painting in a form too far removed from reality. Being himself while indulging in a little bit of vanity would be just right. Thinking this, Noein maintained his posture.
Noein's portrait was solemnly painted forward.
.....
In early April, Noein was looking up at his own mansion.
"How is it, Lord Arqvist?"
"It's good. Not too flashy, elegant, yet possessing a sense of solemnity; it's to my liking."
Noein answered the architectural engineer's words while gazing at his renovated mansion with a satisfied expression.
When it came to the mansion of a Grand Ducal house—one that governed a country, however small—it had to demonstrate a corresponding status.
The Arqvist house was practical, but because Noein's preference for avoiding flashiness coincided with the fact that it had been built by Dmitri, who preferred a sturdy and simple construction, it had to be said that it was a bit too plain to serve as the mansion of a Grand Ducal house as it was.
Therefore, Noein had used Dmitri's connections to invite a specialized engineer who handled the mansions of the upper class, deciding to have the walls repainted and decorations added to produce a dignity befitting the residence of a ruler of a country.
"I am glad you are satisfied. For me as well, it has turned out to be a work I can call one of my finest as an architectural engineer."
"Especially the use of 'Blue of the Mother Sea' is good. The fine decorations are delicately dyed and catch the eye. Above all, it feels like the mansion of the Arqvist family, who possess the lapis lazuli veins as their source of wealth."
"Hahahaha. To be able to use the ultra-high-grade pigment 'Blue of the Mother Sea' so abundantly in the mansion's decorations was like a dream. I feel truly happy to have encountered such work."
'Blue of the Mother Sea,' made from lapis lazuli, was a pigment so expensive it was said to "have a value equal to the same weight in gold."
However, that was the case when it passed through the hands of several merchants and was transported far away to be sold at retail. For Noein, who owned the lapis lazuli veins himself and employed processing craftsmen, it was different. While he could not use it infinitely, he could use it without hesitation for the sake of decoration.
Lapis lazuli was the source of wealth that had supported the prosperity of the Arqvist family. Therefore, Noein had the decorations coloring various parts of the mansion use 'Blue of the Mother Sea.'
As a result, the deep blue adorned the white-based mansion, emitting a presence befitting the residence of the head of state who would henceforth govern the Grand Duchy of Arqvist.
"Noein-sama, how is it, the work of this engineer?"
The one who walked over there was the master carpenter Dmitri, who had introduced the architectural engineer.
"It's wonderful. As expected of the talent you introduced."
"I'm glad to hear that. I worked with this person several times back when I was in Retovik. I wasn't worried, but I'm glad you're satisfied."
"I must also thank you, Dmitri-dono. As expected, for a craftsman, connections with good craftsmen are the greatest treasure."
The architectural engineer was a human, but he showed no discrimination toward the dog-person Dmitri. Noein had heard him say when they first exchanged greetings that "it is my conviction to look only at the skill of a craftsman."
"Your own work... seems to be going smoothly as well."
"Of course. I can't afford to lose either."
As they spoke, Noein and Dmitri looked back at the annex currently under construction.
Noein's mansion had all the necessary rooms, but as the ruler of a country, the current state was not enough. A hall for holding dinner parties and spare guest rooms for when guests were invited for such social gatherings were also necessary.
Therefore, Noein decided to build a new small annex and concentrate the social functions there. Both the main building and the annex would be small-scale to match the country, but in exchange, the quality would be high. That was Noein's policy.
"Once I have finished the detailed finishing of the mansion's renovation, I will proceed with the decoration of the annex in cooperation with Dmitri-dono."
"I'm counting on you. Dmitri, you must be busy with various things, but do your best."
"It's what you call a happy scream. Leave it to me."
Dmitri, who was handling the construction of the annex, the urbanization of the Aspida fortress, and the general command of development work in various regions, nodded with an expression full of vitality, as if enjoying the busyness.
.....
In early May, as the stay limit for the theater troupe led by Carlos approached. Having received word that the "play regarding the Arqvist territory" had been completed as originally promised, Noein had gone out with his family to watch the premiere of the play.
The location was the northwestern district of the capital city Noeina, a temporary theater created by stretching cloth as walls on an undeveloped vacant lot and assembling a wooden stage. Upon arrival, Noein and the others received the greeting of the troupe leader Carlos and were guided to the special seats, which were the furthest back among the audience seats and built higher than the others.
"Since I haven't heard the contents, I'm looking forward to it even more."
"Fufufu, please look forward to it. I am sure you will be satisfied."
To the left of Noein, Clara laughed with Eleos on her lap.
Carlos had requested, "In order to write the script for the play, I wish to know in detail about Lord Arqvist's activities thus far," and she, who was compiling Noein's life into a biography, had lent a hand as an advisor. Therefore, Clara already knew the general content of the play.
To the right of Noein, Matilda waited for the start of the play while paying attention to the surroundings, as she also had the role of a guard for the time being. On his mother's lap, Eleos looked around the temporary theater he was visiting for the first time with curiosity.
"I'm not worried because Clara helped. The reputation among the troupe's people seems good as well."
During their stay, the troupe had performed small-scale comedies and romance plays for the residents of the territory, and it was said they had been well-received. With this, if there were no problems with the quality of the play starting now, Carlos and the others would proudly become the official troupe of the Arqvist family.
While they were talking, guests entered one after another, and the audience seats were filled in the blink of an eye, with standing-room-only guests also appearing. Because it was the premiere of a new play related to the Arqvist territory, the attention of the people was high.
And, before the large crowd of guests, the play finally began.
'Everyone who has come! We have kept you waiting for a long time. What you will see now is a new play dedicated to the great Lord Noein Arqvist!'
The voice of the troupe leader Carlos, who spoke these words, echoed and vibrated diversely within the theater, perhaps because he was using a Voice Amplification magic item with special processing. That vibration created a somewhat extraordinary atmosphere.
'Its name is, The Battles of the Hero Noein Arqvist! Please enjoy it until the end!'
Carlos declared loudly, and upon hearing the title, Noein was slightly startled. Regardless of Noein's agitation, the play began, and the actor playing the protagonist Noein—the aforementioned pretty-boy lead actor—appeared in the center of the stage.
The play that began was, as the title suggested, a depiction of the half of Noein's life since becoming a lord noble, styled as a war chronicle.
'—I love the people. If it is to protect the people, I will fight through until this body rots away and the last drop of this blood dries up!'
'—O God! Please grant me the miracle to protect the Arqvist territory and all the people living there! I cannot afford to lose here!'
However, the Noein in the play was always and everywhere dignified and brave, his gestures were excessively grand, he was infinitely kind to those around him, his attentiveness was perfect, and he received looks of respect and awe from everyone; in short, he was incredibly beautified.
If one treated only the attitude Noein showed in public as the truth, it might turn out this way, but as someone who knew the protagonist's raw true feelings, he couldn't help but point out that he was not such a saintly person by any stretch.
To put it bluntly, it was tremendously embarrassing.
"Clara, this..."
"It is a wonderful play with entertainment value that conveys and spreads your greatness, isn't it?"
When Noein turned to his left and spoke to his beloved wife, she, who was involved in the script, spoke with a happy expression. On her lap, Eleos was staring at the stage with sparkling eyes.
"Matilda..."
"I also think it is a wonderful play. Noein-sama's great achievements should be passed down in this manner."
When he turned to his right, his beloved attendant said so with a serious face.
And when he looked around the audience seats, it was clear that the residents were also enjoying the play. Since the quality of the play was undoubtedly good, it was natural, if anything.
"...Sigh."
Half-resigned, Noein decided to enjoy this as a form of entertainment as well.
Surely many plays and storybooks depicting historical figures have exaggerated and beautified the subjects in this way. His turn had simply come a little early. He decided to think of it that way.
The play continued smoothly after that, and just as the protagonist spoke of a new determination toward the founding of the Grand Duchy—it closed with a reproduction of the speech Noein had given previously to the anxious people.
Amidst thunderous applause, the actors gathered on stage at the end, and Carlos gave an elegant bow.
'To everyone who watched the performance, and to the great Lord Arqvist who gave us the venue for the performance, we express our heartfelt gratitude. We all feel deep joy in having been granted the opportunity to convey and spread the many wonderful activities of His Excellency.'
As Carlos spoke while looking toward Noein, the gazes of the residents also gathered on Noein.
It was an atmosphere where he had to say something. Thinking so, Noein stood up.
"...It was a wonderful play. As a lord, it is a great joy that the half of my life, in which I have piled up efforts to make the people happy, agonized at times, and fought at times, is conveyed to the people in a form that everyone can enjoy."
At Noein's words, the expressions of the actors became even brighter, and Carlos pressed his chest as if overcome with emotion, looking up at the heavens with a face like a maiden. Noein thought it was a little scary.
"I declare here and now that I will patronize you as the House of Arqvist. Please continue to use Noeina as your base and contribute to the people."
The residents who heard that declaration raised cheers. The Arqvist territory was wealthy, but somewhat lacking in entertainment. They were likely happy that the theater troupe that had entertained them for these two months would remain as the lord's official troupe.
The members of the troupe themselves also showed their joy through gestures. Carlos shed tears and bowed toward Noein while trembling. Noein nodded to it with a wry smile.
From this day forward, Carlos and the others began to operate in this land under the name of the Grand Ducal Noeina Theater Troupe.