Chapter 96 - Episode 95: If Only There Could Be Peace
By the third year of development, the population of the Arqvist territory exceeded 500 people.
Near the foot of the Lestio Mountains, a group of nearly 100 artisans and miners resided, while in the capital city of Noeina, over 400 farmers, artisans, and merchants lived, already boasting a scale that was exceptional for a Baronet's territory.
And that scale was still expanding. Along with it, the urban area continued to grow.
The development of the capital city, Noeina, began from the location where the current Arqvist Baronet family mansion stands. From there, houses were built primarily toward the north and east, and the formation of the urban area progressed.
Because of this, the lord's mansion stands at the southern edge, and the streetscape continues to the north... that is the current sight of Noeina. It could be called the appearance of a very ordinary village, common within the kingdom.
From here, Noein intended to expand the city toward the west as well. A river flows from the west to the south of the capital city Noeina, but he planned to eventually perform flood control works to incorporate this river into the urban area, allowing the river to flow through the center of the capital.
Additionally, in conjunction with that, he planned to incorporate the public baths, blacksmith workshops, and watermills in the southwestern part into the city limits, and ultimately surround all of them with stone walls to construct a full-fledged city.
This was Noein's urban planning from a long-term perspective.
The clearing of the forest toward the west was progressing little by little, while to the north and east from the mansion's perspective, houses and wooden fences lined up, with farmland surrounding them. There, the residents lived their lives vibrantly.
Noein gazed blankly at such a sight from the window of his office on the second floor of the mansion.
It was early afternoon. In Noein's hand was a sandwich the maids had made for lunch.
A sandwich consisting of thinly sliced potatoes harvested in the Arqvist territory and fried crisp in soybean oil, and ham from pigs raised in the Arqvist territory, sandwiched between bread made from Arqvist territory wheat.
With one bite, the juices from the salty ham seeped out and spread through his mouth, and the thinly sliced potatoes made a light, crisp sound.
"...It's delicious, Matilda."
"Yes, it is very delicious. I can feel the blessings of the Arqvist territory's land."
Beside Noein, Matilda was also munching on a sandwich while gazing at the sight of the capital city Noeina together.
Then, a knock echoed along with the voice of the Chief Retainer, Yuri, saying, "Noein-sama, it's me."
"Come in—" Noein permitted entry in a relaxed voice, and Yuri opened the door and entered the office.
"What is it, Yuri?"
"It's nothing major. I just brought this week's activity report for the territorial army. Since it's lunchtime, I thought you might be in the dining hall downstairs, but the maids told me Noein-sama was in the office... Are you so busy that you have to eat in the office?"
When Yuri asked, Noein let out a gentle smile and spoke.
"I'm not particularly busy. If anything, I'm a bit free before winter... I just like gazing at the scenery of the capital city Noeina from the window like this. That's why I have lunch here sometimes."
As he spoke and turned back toward the window, Noein's profile felt somewhat childlike, both to Yuri and to Matilda.
Matilda snuggled close to Noein's side, and Yuri also happened to move closer to Noein to gaze out the window together.
The season was nearly entering winter, but because the sky was clear and the Arqvist territory was full of vitality, the town looked warm.
"As I thought, is it that? From the perspective of a lord, the scenery of one's own territory is something special?"
"I suppose... not every lord and noble probably feels that way, but for me, it is special."
Noein responded to Yuri's casual question.
"...You see, after coming to this land, it was the first time I felt that I was free."
Placing the sandwich on a plate on the desk, Noein took a sip of the tea beside it—which Matilda had brewed—and began to speak.
"Even as a child, I lived a life where I didn't struggle for food at the House of Count Kivileft, but back then, the power of life and death was effectively held by my shitty father. Above all, there was no freedom. I had never even seen the outside of the mansion. I spent my childhood like that."
While listening to Noein's story by his side, Matilda squeezed his hand tightly. Noein responded by applying a little pressure to her hand.
"Then I came into this Bezel Great Forest... At first, I thought I had been pushed into a worthless piece of land. But from there, I continued developing it little by little, met Yuri and the others, refugees migrated here... and now, I love this place. Coming here, for the first time in my life, I feel freedom."
Noein continued to speak as if savoring the words.
"I love the scenery visible from this window. I love all the residents living in this scenery, in this territory. Because the reason I can enjoy this freedom and happiness is thanks to them... thanks to you all."
"The opposite can also be said. We, too, are enjoying freedom and happiness thanks to you, our lord. That is why we swear our loyalty to you."
"That's true, thank you as always."
"...It's a bit creepy when you say it so straightforwardly."
"Eh? How cruel. Even though the lord himself is personally conveying his gratitude."
To Yuri's teasing tone, Noein gave his usual silly grin.
"Come to think of it, the reason I've been diligently working on strengthening the territory without looking elsewhere for the past half year was probably because I was afraid of losing this scenery. I've given the residents homes and land to make them captives of this territory, but I myself have had my heart captured by this land."
He built a school and began education for the next generation, organized a territorial army, promoted the self-sufficiency of supplies within the territory, stockpiled what could not be self-supplied, incorporated new weapons into the military equipment, and began working on reforming the consciousness of the residents to cultivate a wide range of talent.
All of that was because Noein wanted to protect this land. From the current unstable situation of the kingdom, and from the chaos that would likely occur in the future, or perhaps from an unseen upheaval even further ahead. Because he wanted the Arqvist territory to remain here just as it is next year, several years later, and several generations later, Noein had taken action.
"...You've pushed forward with quite a lot of new things in just half a year. You must be tired."
Overlooking Noein's self-deprecating bitter smile, Yuri comforted his master who had worked hard for the development of the territory.
"Yeah, I'm certainly tired... but it's fun. Because I'm shut away inside the beloved Arqvist territory, doing this and that so the territory can develop."
"Noein-sama doesn't want to go outside the territory much, does he? Most lords and nobles love going out for tea parties or dinner parties."
"I lived my life shut in a room since I was a child. I probably just like being closed off in one place."
"Hahaha, I see."
Laughing while exchanging casual conversation with his subordinate, with his beloved Matilda snuggling beside him. This peaceful daily life felt comfortable to Noein.
"I wish nothing would happen, and I could just live peacefully while doing nothing but territory management forever..."
Even though he knew that was a difficult thing, Noein couldn't help but mutter it.
It was two days later that the military order to prepare military equipment for the war with the Kingdom of Lancel reached the Arqvist territory.
[Author's Note]
It's a bit short, but that concludes Chapter Four. Thank you very much for reading.
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