Chapter 39 - Episode 38: The Territory's People and the Traitor ①
The governance of Lord Noein in the Arqvist Knight-Bachelor territory would likely be praised as exceptionally benevolent among all the lords of the current Lordberg Kingdom.
While this was based on the fortunate circumstance of the lord's income being high relative to the population thanks to the lapis lazuli veins, the attitude of investing that income unsparingly into the lives of the people and the stability of the territory was due to Noein's personal qualities.
Naturally, the loyalty of the people, who enjoyed this generous protection, toward Noein was incredibly high. Public order was good, and everyone was a good child.
However, in any era and any place, there are always exceptions.
"Noein-sama, excuse me for interrupting your work."
The one who entered Noein's office after announcing himself was Pence. Normally, he handled a wide range of duties, such as maintaining public order within the capital city of Noeina, supervising the reclamation work by the people, and instructing the male residents in training for emergencies.
His expression was strangely stiff. Noein braced himself, sensing that Pence had come to report something difficult to say.
"What is it, Pence?"
"Actually... there is a resident who has caused a major problem. The nature of it is such that I believe you must be the one to judge it, Noein-sama."
"Could that perhaps be the new settler reported in the recent meeting?"
"That is correct. I have warned him sternly many times, but this time, truly..."
In the recent regular meeting, Noein had received a report from Pence that "there is a guy among the new settlers who causes an inordinate amount of trouble." He was a young man named Vendera, if he recalled correctly, who had arrived as an immigrant about half a month ago.
The nature of the problems he caused—pestering young women, cutting in line to use the well, entering fields without permission to cross other people's farmland—were things that were not yet severe enough to warrant harsh punishment, but were all seeds of discord.
Since he caused trouble every few days, Pence had reportedly given him a strict warning, saying, "Next time, you will be judged by the Lord."
"So, what kind of problem did this Vendera cause?"
"...Please listen calmly. First, Matilda is safe."
"!"
Upon hearing Pence's words, Noein's expression instantly became grim. It was enough to make Pence, who was reporting, instinctively flinch.
Noein had asked Matilda to call Edgar to discuss future agricultural plans. It had not even been ten minutes since he sent Matilda as a messenger, but judging by Pence's tone, it was clear she had been caught up in this trouble.
"It seems Vendera tried to attack Matilda, but he was repelled before he could even touch her. Therefore, Matilda is completely unharmed. Right now, several men who were near the scene have subdued and restrained Vendera. He is apparently arguing that 'attacking a woman of slave status shouldn't be a major crime.'"
"...I see. I understand."
"Could you come to the scene?"
"Of course. I'll go immediately."
.....
The scene where the incident occurred was a spot behind a street lined with single-person households, on the road leading from the plaza that served as the center of the urban area to the farmland on the north side.
Listening to Pence while heading to the scene, it seemed that Matilda, who was walking to deliver the message to Edgar, was called out to by Vendera, who had a troubled expression, saying, "Sorry, but please help me," and she followed him to provide assistance. She had not known that he was a resident with many problems.
Then, she was suddenly attacked behind the street, but it seemed she literally kicked him away with a roundhouse kick without letting him touch a single finger.
The capital city of Noeina's urban area was still narrow, and there were not many buildings. Even if it was behind a house, it was clearly visible from the surroundings, and there were reportedly three residents who witnessed the scene. That was a sufficient number of witnesses.
"Matilda! Are you okay!?"
Arriving at the scene, Noein rushed to Matilda, who was standing alone a short distance away from where the residents were restraining Vendera.
"Noein-sama... I am sorry for causing you trouble due to my carelessness."
"That doesn't matter. As long as you are safe, that's all that matters."
"...Thank you, Noein-sama."
To Noein, who hugged Matilda without regard for the eyes of others, she replied with a rare softening of her expression.
Having confirmed Matilda's safety, Noein next walked toward Vendera. His eyes were cold as ice.
"Tch. Am I really that bad?"
However, even in front of such a Noein, Vendera answered in a sulky manner.
The residents restraining him and Pence, who stood behind Noein, were half-impressed by how thick-skinned he had to be to make such a face in this situation.
"...Do you understand what you have done?"
"Yeah, yeah. I understand. 'Attempted minor damage to another's slave,' right? For a first offense and moreover an attempt, I reckon it'll be about ten strokes of the rod?"
"...!"
At Vendera's way of speaking, Noein fell silent.
It was indeed as he said. In the customary law of the Lordberg Kingdom, a slave is the "property" of the master. Furthermore, rape of a female slave, even if completed, is only "minor property damage if no visible injury was inflicted," and the sentencing is light. Of course, it is considered a shameful act.
Even considering that the victim was a slave owned by a noble, the rod punishment Vendera mentioned was the most that could be expected.
A lord has almost absolute discretionary power in the judiciary within the territory, but Noein believed that if he were to establish unique regulations that deviated significantly from the general legal common sense of the kingdom, they should be widely proclaimed in advance.
Personally, Noein hated Vendera beyond words, but if he were to make a new rule after the fact saying "in this territory, violence against slaves is also heavily punished" and judge a resident, that would become a dictatorship.
Even if he were to establish rules that deviated greatly from the general understanding of the law, he should not apply them retroactively.
"...In the name of Lord Noein Arqvist, I sentence this Vendera to ten strokes of the rod. Execution shall be tomorrow morning in the central plaza. Ensure this is made known to the other residents."
With an expression as if he had chewed a bitter bug, Noein conveyed this to those present.
.....
Early the next morning, while everyone in the territory watched in the central plaza, the punishment for Vendera was executed without a hitch.
That said, the punishment was merely striking the back with a wooden rod. The executioner was Pence, but he could not strike so hard as to kill the criminal with a mere rod-beating.
After the execution, several wounds remained on Vendera's back, and he seemed to be in considerable pain, but a dissatisfied spirit of rebellion still appeared to remain on his face.
Despite being glared at by other residents as a scoundrel who attempted a despicable assault, Noein couldn't help but think that he had quite the nerve.
Noein's work today was not just overseeing the execution of the sentence. He declared a new rule to the residents gathered there.
"From this moment on, I proclaim a new regulation to everyone living in the Arqvist Knight-Bachelor territory. In this territory, all crimes such as assault, injury, and murder against those of slave status shall be punished with the same sentencing as those against commoners. This has been decided by the authority of the lord. From now on, please keep this in mind in your lives."
Regarding this, he had also proclaimed it to Yuri and the others staying at the mining camp in the Lestio Mountains during the regular report via 'Far-Talk'. The application of the new law began from this moment.
Noein thought that he should have done this sooner.
It was obvious to anyone that Noein valued and favored Matilda, and the attendants and residents naturally understood this and treated her with appropriate courtesy.
That was why no problems had occurred until now, but if there were those who thought "since she is a slave, it's fine to look down on her even if she's owned by the lord," this kind of situation could happen.
"...I'm sorry that I was too soft, Matilda."
When Noein murmured this to Matilda, who was waiting beside him, after finishing the proclamation,
"There is no way that Noein-sama is at fault. Please, do not make such a dark face,"
Matilda said, gently touching Noein's hand.
.....
A few days after making the proclamation to protect Matilda legally, and thinking that Vendera would be cowed by this and become a bit quieter.
Noein would come to realize his own softness, and that fools are fools to the very end.
"Noein-sama. It's Vendera again. This time, he tried to attack a farmer's daughter..."
To Pence, who reported this with an expression containing both anger and exasperation, Noein responded with a sigh.