Chapter 471 - Final Episode: A Tale of Happiness
The Grand Duchy of Arqvist had entered the eighth year of the Public Calendar. At the national army training grounds in the capital city of Noeina, a mock battle was taking place.
As a yearly spring tradition, most of the Grand Duchy's military personnel, excluding those stationed for border security, gathered for a rally to mark the end of winter. The mock battle that followed was also an annual custom, serving as an event where the military's strongest and those of commander rank competed to prove their prowess.
And now, fighting with wooden swords were the Chief of Military Affairs, Yuri, and Baron Dant Kirschstein, who was responsible for the defense of the mining city of Kilde.
"Hup!"
"Guaah!"
After a battle lasting several minutes, Dant closed the distance quickly and knocked Yuri over with a shoulder tackle. Yuri attempted to stand up quickly and recover his stance, but Dant seized that momentary opening and thrust his sword, stopping it just before Yuri's throat.
If this had been a real sword, and if it had been thrust with full intent, Yuri would have had his throat slit. It was obvious to anyone watching that Dant was the victor.
The crowd stirred at the defeat of Yuri, the highest operational commander of the national army and the combat instructor for many soldiers.
"Oh, the Chief finally lost to Dant-san."
"I'm surprised. To think a day like this would come..."
Alain spoke with wide eyes, and Gustav added his comment while slightly raising an eyebrow. The married couple, Jeremy and Cecilia, were absent as they remained at the fortress city of Aspida for border security.
"It can't be helped, the Chief is getting old. A human can't win against age, after all."
"While you say that, I wonder why Radley-san stays strong forever..."
Baron Rick Beilefeldt retorted with a somewhat exasperated look toward Radley, who was speaking while nodding with his arms crossed. Despite being only a few years younger than Yuri, Radley still maintained a strength unchanged from his prime. The title of the strongest in the Grand Duchy had belonged solely to Radley for several years now.
"Chief, are you alright?"
"Yeah, no problem... Honestly, once you pass fifty, you're done for. I finally can't beat you anymore."
"I've been training every day even now. I was thinking it was about time you handed over the leading role in close-quarters combat."
Yuri gave a wry smile at Dant's words as he stood up. Yuri was fifty-one this year. As a general taking command, he could still work for a long time, but in terms of combat while personally wielding a sword, he had reached an age where he should step back from the front lines.
"Please leave the fighting at the front to us from now on. Chief, you just stay firmly in the back and give the orders."
"I'll do just that. If I keep pushing myself too hard at this age, Mai will start nagging me."
.....
"Say, are you making progress on the children's preparations for studying abroad?"
In the office of the Grand Duchy of Arqvist Women's Association, the president, Mai, asked her subordinates.
"For the most part... we're gathering the things we've heard are necessary."
"But, even if the things are ready, the mental preparation is just so..."
The ones who answered were Bart's wife, Michelle, and Radley's wife, Gina.
This autumn, Eleos, the heir to Sovereign Noein, would study abroad in Lichthagen, the capital of the Kingdom of Rhodeberg, to broaden his horizons. However, it was impossible for the son of a nation's sovereign to study abroad in a foreign land alone. One child of appropriate age from each noble house would accompany him as an attendant.
For the nobles of the Grand Duchy, this was a peerless opportunity to have their children study in the great metropolis of a major power and learn much, all while receiving support from the sovereign's house. However, as parents, there was a sense of loneliness in being separated from their children for several years, even if they would return home for long vacations a few times a year.
"Well, it's certainly a bit worrying... but since they are the children of the Grand Duchy's sovereign and nobility, the Rhodeberg royal family will treat them courteously, so it'll be fine."
"Besides, it seems only we parents are lonely; the children seem to be doing nothing but looking forward to it."
Mai and Michelle spoke to Gina, who had a worried expression with her hand on her cheek. The children going to study were all slightly older than Eleos. They were approaching adulthood, or had already reached it, and were mentally capable of separating from their parents.
"...Until just a little while ago, I thought they were still babies. Children grow up so fast."
"They really do."
"Yes, truly."
Mai and Michelle deeply agreed with Gina's murmur.
.....
The Grand Ducal mansion, the office for retainers. Bureaucrats were gathered there.
"Well then, as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, I'd like additional funds for the repair of the magic carriages. Setting aside the exterior, some parts of the interior have become a bit worn... It's spring now, so it's not urgent, but I want to secure a budget to renew the heating magic tools."
"Ah, along with the carriages, I'd like to renew several pieces of equipment for the stables."
The ones who spoke were Bart, serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Henrik, the head of the stable hands.
"Ah, as for the direct-run workshop, I'd like a budget to add more furnaces. And a budget for expanding the workshop. More blacksmiths joined last year, so it's becoming a bit cramped."
Next, Christy, who served as the practical person in charge of the Grand Ducal direct-run workshop, spoke. Damian, who was the head in name but completely hopeless with money matters, was merely present, grinning beside Christy.
"As the Minister of Agriculture, I'd like to purchase about five cows. Along with that, additional funds for the purchase of wheeled plows. The farmland is expanding again."
"Edgar-san. Also the addition of iron farming tools for loan..."
"Ah, that's right. I'll ask for that too."
Edgar and Kenooze put forward requests as the ones responsible for agriculture.
"As the House Steward, I would like a small budget for the household equipment within the mansion."
"I want to renew the kitchen magic tools with ones made by the Alessandri Magic Tool Workshop~"
"Also, I want to buy that magic tool Daphne-san newly developed that sucks up dust from the floor!"
Kimberly, Mary, and Rosetta, attending as representatives of the servants, also gave their opinions.
"Alright, I believe most of the opinions have been put forward... Even if we grant everyone's requests, there will still be a budget surplus, so I'll calculate the rough estimate and consult with Noein-sama."
The one summarizing the meeting was Anna, the Minister of Finance, who practically stood at the top of the civil officials.
What everyone here was discussing was how to allocate the remainder of the reparations obtained from the Republic of Betumia as a supplementary budget, after deducting the necessary expenses for the military.
"Even so... this country really doesn't struggle with money, does it?"
"True. The only time we fell into a money shortage was around the time of the First Betumia War, wasn't it?"
"Even then, we were better off compared to other territories."
Anna replied with a faint smile to the words of Christy and Bart.
The Grand Duchy of Arqvist had been wealthy since the era of noble territories. Since they began making enormous profits through trade, that tendency had accelerated further.
And then, a considerable amount of reparations had rolled in. Believing that windfall money is best spent, it was typical of Noein to leave the handling of the surplus to the bureaucrats.
"For the foreseeable future, there's no worry of war... it'll only get easier from here."
Every time a war or disaster occurred, the civil officials had also fought their own battles behind the scenes. That was precisely why everyone rejoiced from the bottom of their hearts for the peace they had won.
.....
Spring, after the year had turned since the Great War. Noein was immersed in a peaceful daily life.
"Well then everyone, thank you for the many proposals. This has been a productive time once again."
In the mansion's conference room, Noein spoke to the assembled subjects. At Noein's words, the important figures in the commoner society of the Grand Duchy of Arqvist—the court merchant Philip, the head of the construction guild Dmitri, the head of the mine development guild Victor, the artisan Daphne who ran a magic tool workshop, Liris who served as the director of the Grand Ducal Selfers Clinic, and Hasel, the bishop of the Milleon Holy Religion—all bowed.
Seen off by them, Noein left the room together with Matilda.
To make his reign as Grand Duke even better, Noein had established a place to regularly gather influential citizens to discuss national management, separate from the routine meetings with his retainers.
"Thank you for your hard work, Noein-sama."
"Thank you, Matilda."
Exchanging words with Matilda, Noein returned to his office.
Meetings with retainers, inspections of various locations within the territory, dialogues with the people, paperwork. The work of a sovereign in peacetime is plain. However, steadily performing that plain work and living days surrounded by retainers and people within the country was, for Noein, the ultimate life.
Entering the office, Noein confirmed and summarized the contents of today's discussions together with Matilda. By the time this task was finished, it had become evening. There was no more work to be completed on this day.
Noein left the office with Matilda. He entered the section on the opposite side of the mansion, which served as the Grand Ducal family's private space, and sat on the sofa in the living room.
"Ah, Father. Thank you for your hard work today."
"Thank you for your hard work! Father!"
Eleos, and Philia, who seemed to have been having a book read to her by him, ran over. Eleos sat next to Noein, and Philia sat on Noein's lap.
"Thank you. Did you both study well today?"
"Yes. Today we focused on learning history. As expected, Mother's history lessons are interesting."
"I practiced writing letters too! I can write my name now without looking at anything!"
Eleos spoke in a calm tone, and Philia spoke energetically and proudly.
"Ahaha, I see. That's good. You're both very impressive."
Noein laughed softly and patted the heads of his beloved children.
"Dear, thank you for your hard work at your duties."
"Clara, thank you for your hard work today as well."
Noein exchanged smiles with Clara, who had already returned home.
Then, Matilda brought tea. She placed the tray on the table and handed a cup to Noein.
With Eleos in the middle, Clara sat to the left, and Matilda sat immediately to the right. Surrounded by his beloved family, Noein took a sip of the moderately warm tea. It was tea brewed by Matilda, perfectly matched to Noein's preference.
"...Ah."
He felt from the bottom of his heart that he was happy.
A beloved country, people, retainers, and family. A perfect life in every way. That was here, now. He had obtained the things he had pursued.
Noein Arqvist had made his dream come true. Noein had obtained happiness, protected it to the end, and was living within that happiness. He would continue to live on.