Chapter 333 - Episode 325: The Daily Life of the Grand Ducal Family of Arqvist
Autumn of the year 220 of the Royal Calendar. The progress of the Grand Duchy of Arqvist began with efforts to establish and stabilize trade systems with both the Kingdom of Lordberg and the Kingdom of Lancel.
"—Therefore, moving forward, we shall proceed with trade from my Marquisate of Bechtolsheim under these terms. I would be most grateful if His Highness the Grand Duke Arqvist would extend his consideration to the merchants coming from my territory."
"Of course. The Marquisate of Bechtolsheim is the most prosperous great territory in the northwestern part of the Kingdom of Lordberg. I shall instruct my subordinates well to treat the merchants of your territory with exceptional courtesy."
One afternoon, Noein was attending a meeting in the drawing room of the mansion. His counterpart was Marquis Siegfried Bechtolsheim, the leader of the faction he had once belonged to, and the man who, through today's discussion, had been decided as a major trading partner.
Despite being the head of a great noble house, he had visited in person, believing that the beginning is crucial for trade. While consulting with Noein on the general trade plan, he also showed his shrewdness by putting in a good word for the merchants of his own territory.
"...How should I put it, speaking with Your Excellency Bechtolsheim from this position is still something I'm not quite used to."
"Hahaha, I understand the feeling, but for me, as a Marquis, to be called 'Your Excellency' by you, a Grand Duke, leaves me with no standing at all."
To the wryly smiling Noein, Marquis Bechtolsheim responded in a private tone, relaxing his posture.
"However, in the Kingdom of Lordberg, position is not determined simply by age or the simple magnitude of power. The same should be true for the Grand Duchy of Arqvist, which was the same country until just a few months ago. You should get used to your position as quickly as possible. After all, I can no longer interact with you so casually in public."
"You're right, I'll be careful. My apologies, Bechtolsheim... Lord."
To Noein, who replied as if it were difficult to say, Marquis Bechtolsheim now gave a wry smile.
After that, they exchanged some small talk, and Noein asked the steward, Kimberly, to guide the Marquis, who was staying at the mansion today, to the guest room.
Once the Marquis had left the room guided by Kimberly, Noein let out a sigh of relief, having finished a piece of work, in the drawing room where he was now alone with Matilda.
"Thank you for your hard work, Noein-sama."
As Matilda offered words of appreciation, she refilled the tea in Noein's cup placed on the table. Sipping it, Noein directed a smile toward his beloved attendant.
"Thank you, Matilda... come here beside me."
Saying so, Noein shifted to the edge of the sofa and let Matilda sit in the empty space. Leaning against her, feeling her warmth and softness, he let out another sigh of relief.
"Last week it was Lord Oggoren, and today it was Marquis Bechtolsheim. If I recall, the commissioned merchants of Earl Marcel are coming in a few days."
"Yes. After that, in the middle of next week, Baron Wikander-sama will visit in person, and a few days later, the eldest son of Earl Shuvalov-sama will arrive as an envoy. From the week after next, nobles and great merchants from the Kingdom of Lancel are also scheduled to visit."
"Ah, that's right, there was the Kingdom of Lancel side too."
Various parts of the Grand Duchy of Arqvist were in the midst of urban development, but even so, the capacity to accept foreign merchants could not yet be called sufficient. The number of domestic merchants was also in the process of being hurriedly increased.
Therefore, the nobles planning to enter trade from the beginning held preliminary meetings with Noein, informing him of what goods their merchants would bring, at what pace, and how many people were planned to visit, seeking convenience to ensure the buying and selling proceeded smoothly.
"It can't be helped until the trade system stabilizes, but I really have to welcome guests incessantly... well, it's easier now that everyone has started coming to me."
Now, the only ones who held a rank "higher" than Noein were King Oscar and Anrietta. Even if the nobles had business, they could not summon Noein, who was in a superior position.
Noein only had to wait in his own country, and everyone would come to talk to him. In that regard, it was undoubtedly more relaxed than before.
"...Noein-sama, you do seem a little tired, after all."
"I suppose so. I haven't been able to take a slow rest since the founding... so Matilda, just for a little bit."
"Of course. As you wish, Noein-sama."
Noein, who called out to Matilda with a spoiled expression, was pulled close by her, and their lips overlapped.
Since the steward Kimberly should have informed the servants that the master was using the drawing room, no one would enter without knocking. And it was impossible for Matilda to refuse Noein's request.
Furthermore, since Noein was the most important person in this country, there was no one who could complain about when or where he flirted with his beloved attendant.
After spending a quiet moment of healing alone with Matilda, Noein returned to his work in the lord's office.
.....
With the full support of the Grand Ducal House of Arqvist, at the Grand Ducal Noeina High School, where the Grand Duchess Clara Arqvist served as principal, a wide range of education was provided, from the absolute basics to somewhat advanced content.
Even children of tenant farmers now mostly came to learn simple reading, writing, and arithmetic during the agricultural off-season. Many heirs of independent farmers with financial leeway attended school daily, even outside the off-season, to acquire high culture as future landowners.
And now, in one room of the school building, which had increased in scale due to extensions, Principal Clara was personally teaching students learning advanced content. What she taught was history, and the current topic was modern history up until the founding of the Grand Duchy of Arqvist.
"—In this manner, the great Noein Arqvist-sama achieved the defense of Barrel Fort during the Southwestern Great War. His achievement in defending the line to the death in an overwhelmingly disadvantageous situation was recognized by His Majesty Oscar Lordberg III, and His Excellency was promoted from Knight Bachelor to Baronet. This was proclaimed throughout the territory, so I believe you all remember those times."
Those receiving higher education were primarily the eldest sons and daughters of independent farmers. Most were around twelve to fourteen years old, though some in their late teens were relearning after becoming financially stable as adults.
The Southwestern Great War was six years ago. Since most students had reached the age of reason by then, they nodded at Clara's words.
"And from around this time, the name of Arqvist-sama began to be heard little by little not only in the northwestern part of the kingdom, but throughout the entire kingdom. From praise for His Excellency's talent to groundless ill repute, the number of kingdom nobles speaking of His Excellency increased. For His Excellency, and for this Grand Duchy of Arqvist, the Southwestern Great War can be called an important act... yes, Yakov Granat-kun."
Clara called upon the boy, the heir to a Baronet's house, who was eight years old yet in the higher education classroom, as he raised his hand to ask a question.
"Yes. Principal-sensei, you said 'groundless ill repute,' but why were there people who spoke ill of Arqvist-sama?"
"That is a very good question. Why were there nobles who spoke ill of His Excellency? It was because some nobles, in order to protect their own positions and values, strengthened their vigilance and hatred toward Arqvist-sama, who had risen to prominence in the world... to put it simply, it is the same as jealousy or ostracization."
Perhaps because familiar words like jealousy and ostracization came out of a talk about noble society, the students, including Yakov, made subtle faces.
"Among the nobles with long-standing traditions, there were people who thought their own positions were threatened by the rise of Arqvist-sama. Also, His Excellency opened paths with numerous innovative ideas and held values different from the kingdom's social structure until now, such as correctly evaluating and employing the abilities of beastmen. Among the nobles who believed that tradition and custom were justice, there were those who found this unpleasant... Hearing such a story, how do you feel?"
"...I think it's a bad thing."
One student—a beastman girl—who was looked at by Clara, answered so.
"That's right. Tradition and custom are for maintaining order in the world, but the time to change them eventually comes. To condemn ideas for moving the world in a better direction solely on the grounds of tradition and custom is putting the cart before the horse, and is very foolish. However, in reality, there were those who resorted to such words and actions."
Shaking her head slightly and sighing as if to say it was lamentable, Clara continued.
"Voices speaking ill of His Excellency in this way still exist even now. Even regarding His Excellency's groundbreaking strategy that saved the Kingdom of Lordberg in the Betumia War and created the opportunity for the founding of the Grand Duchy of Arqvist, there are those who spit out insults, calling it 'the thinking of a demon'."
The students stirred upon hearing Clara's words. For them, who had grown up in this land without leaving since childhood, the fact that there were people who cursed Noein Arqvist-sama—whom they had been taught was practically a living god—as a demon was difficult to comprehend.
"But His Excellency does not pay heed to such rumors. Because for His Excellency, the most important things are the happiness of the people and the development of this land. His Excellency believes that loving the people he protects and being loved by the people is far more important than ensuring he is not spoken ill of by distant nobles."
Turning to a smile, Clara spoke to the entire classroom.
"His Excellency's mercy and that strength that spares no effort for the people are what realize our happiness. Grand Duke Noein Arqvist-sama can be called a true noble, a true statesman. Everyone, please keep that in mind, be aware that you are members of the citizens of the Grand Duchy of Arqvist who receive His Excellency's protection, and spend your days without forgetting your respect and love for Arqvist-sama."
"""Yes, Principal-sensei!"""
Mixing patriotic education occasionally into history education, the lessons of Clara, who was both Grand Duchess and principal, were carried out daily.
.....
Eleos, the eldest son of the Grand Ducal House of Arqvist, turned three this summer. Since he was still young, during the daytime when his parents were working, he spent his time mainly playing in the mansion's living room.
Taking care of him was the job of the mansion's servants. Basically, those who were free took turns being his playmate.
"Hey Mary, how do you read this?"
"This is 'Orc,' young master!"
Today, Eleos was spending his time looking through a monster encyclopedia. He couldn't read letters yet, but this encyclopedia with many illustrations was something that attracted the interest of a toddler like him.
Beside him was the head maid, Mary, who had become Eleos's caretaker from just after noon until before evening.
"Orc... is it the Orc meat that sometimes comes out for dinner?"
"That's right! Originally, they are monsters with such scary looks!"
To the head-tilting Eleos, Mary answered while pointing to the illustration in the encyclopedia.
"Hey, hey, are Orcs big?"
"I haven't seen one directly, but I hear adult Orcs are two meters tall! Um... about the same as, or a little bigger than, the golems Noein-sama usually uses!"
When Mary stood up and stretched out her hand to show the size, Eleos's eyes sparkled.
"Amazing, they're that big... I want to see them moving. Where are Orcs?"
"They are in the depths of the Bezel Great Forest... but it's dangerous, so I'm sure you won't be taken there yet, young master. When you grow up, you might have a chance to see them!"
As Mary answered with a wry smile, Eleos muttered things like "I want to grow up quickly."
Then, Eleos suddenly turned his gaze toward Mary—specifically, a curious look toward her abdomen, which had grown large enough to be visible due to pregnancy.
"Hey, hey, is there a baby in Mary's tummy too?"
"That's right! It's my first baby with my husband, Alain!"
"Hmm. You know, there's a baby in Mother's tummy too. My little brother or little sister... Hey Mary, how are babies made?"
At that question, Mary froze. Of course, since she was carrying a baby in her own belly, she knew how they were made, but it was not something to teach a three-year-old child.
"Hey, hey, Mary."
"T-That is... ah, Kimberly! Young master, Kimberly is clever, so I'm sure she can tell you in detail!"
Mary threw the conversation onto the steward Kimberly, who happened to be passing by, and Eleos also turned toward her.
"Hey Kimberly, how are babies made?"
Hearing that, Kimberly directed a somewhat cold gaze toward Mary. It was a gaze of accusation, asking why such a difficult topic had come up and why she had passed it to her. In a position where Eleos couldn't see, Mary pressed her hands together as if to say sorry.
Sighing softly, Kimberly crouched down to meet Eleos's eyes.
"...Young master. For a person to conceive a child is a very special and sacred thing. Therefore, as a mere servant, I cannot simply teach the young master on my own. I believe such an important story should be asked directly of your Father or Mother."
And so, Kimberly also threw the answer back. While attaching a plausible logic for the time being.
"I see... then I'll try asking Father at dinner."
At those words, Mary let out a "pfft" sound, and the corner of Kimberly's mouth twitched.
Noein did not yet know that during tonight's meal, he would end up spraying his wine due to an unexpected question from his son.