Chapter: 661
Although he’s the youngest, thanks to his time as a politician, Erich is starting to look the part.
“Long live the Krasius Empire! Long live Marquis Melrsina!”
“May Enen’s blessing be upon the new marquis!”
“He saw me! He will guide me to the heavens!”
Sitting atop a magnificent white horse, Erich waved at the crowd with a gentle smile, casting aside any previous complaints he’d shown me, graciously accepting the cheers of the nobles.
Under the blue sky, the young marquis received enthusiastic support and hospitality from the nobles. With his looks heavily influenced by the blood of the Krasius line, he was truly the quintessential lord. I bet some painters will rush to create a portrait of this scene to spread it around.
“Marquis!”
Running up alongside Erich was a young girl holding a flower necklace.
Of course, this was all part of the planned performance. Even a small and innocent commoner child welcomed their new lord. What could be a better sight than this?
Yet, if one thought about it rationally, it was absurd that a commoner would interrupt the procession of a new lord—especially one as high-ranking as a marquis. But, the sight of Erich donning the flower necklace and placing the girl on his horse completely dulled the nobles’ rationality.
Instead of being reprimanded for such rudeness, the lord treated them with kindness. This was almost like a dream for nobles who must have faced hardships under the Leon Kingdom.
“This young marquis has received such a wonderful and precious gift, how can I simply overlook it! For the next three years, the tax rate of the Melrsina marquisate will be reduced to a third of the existing rate!”
Adding on actual benefits, they couldn’t help but go wild with excitement. A tax cut was a big deal, after all.
“Wow!”
“Long live the marquis! Long live our benevolent lord!”
“Your Excellency! Please lead us forever!”
Thanks to this, the cheers erupted, filled with genuine admiration, unlike the earlier orchestrated excitement.
“What’s this?”
“How embarrassing; can you keep it down?”
Seeing the nobles act like this made me smirk, and Erich whispered to me, still smiling, just loud enough for me to hear from my horse.
I couldn’t help but feel happy watching him tread the political path. To outsiders, it would appear like siblings sharing a warm conversation.
“Seems like he’s adjusting well.”
I sighed in relief internally. It had been about a year and a half since Erich graduated from the academy. It’s been a year and a half since he went from being just a student to a member of the Imperial Assembly.
If he hadn’t adapted well and was struggling in the council, I would have worried about having to rescue the uncommunicative uncle or cousins. Fortunately, that didn’t seem to be the case.
“I need to leave him there for a long while.”
At the very least, until Pedi graduates from the academy.
Maybe even until Pedi formally becomes Count Tailglehen.
“Long live Marquis Melrsina! Long live Count Tailglehen!”
“Long live Krasius! Long live the Krasius Empire!”
“Hey, they’re calling your name before mine.”
“I get it, so please…”
Erich’s face turned increasingly red at the cheers that felt like they were unheard of.
He must be feeling shy and embarrassed right now. It’s natural for a lad just over twenty, the youngest in the assembly, to feel flustered at the cheers from numerous nobles.
But once he gets used to it, he won’t find a more electrifying experience or a heavier burden knowing that so many people’s actions hang on his every word and gesture.
As time passes and he reaches that level, Erich will truly become not just my brother but a legitimate marquis.
“Hang in there.”
I smiled as I watched Erich, fidgeting with the flower necklace awkwardly.
Work hard, so you can reach the state I want. Your success means I get to enjoy a bit of ease.
“Long live Erich Krasius of Melrsina!”
Well, seeing him adapt to his duties well, I figured he’d manage just fine.
After the riding parade, Erich returned to the marquisate and exchanged greetings with the staff responsible for managing the territory.
It was a positive action that made me smile. He had considered making a fuss about heading back immediately after the parade, but he took it upon himself to stay and learn the names and faces of the staff. Just from that single parade, it seemed his mindset had shifted a little.
“So, all the positions like housekeeper or steward are vacant then?”
“That’s correct. However, the deputies in those positions have the corresponding authority, so it won’t hinder the territory’s operation.”
Hearing this from the chief steward acting in place of the housekeeper caused Erich to stroke his chin in thought.
It’s a bit odd. An acting lord and an acting housekeeper? Where exactly did they gather such acting personnel?
“Just so you know, the housekeeper for the marquisate is usually a count.”
When I kindly advised him, Erich’s body shook slightly.
The fact that the housekeeper is a count means that Erich could bestow the title of count on someone with his own hand. Given that Erich’s identity as a marquis is still overshadowed by his identity as a baron, this was a rather daunting revelation.
But it couldn’t be helped. Only marquises and dukes can truly command counts. If Erich wants to feel the authority and dignity of a marquis, he’ll need to have a count assisting him.
“There’s really no rush to decide immediately. This is about appointing close aides to support you and your descendants for generations. You can take your time to think it through.”
“I heard you made your decision on the spot─”
“And don’t forget that there are plenty of baron titles in the marquisate too.”
I cut off Erich’s attempt to hit back with a fact.
*
I returned to the Imperial Assembly.
I had exited the assembly filled with annoyance, but now, returning had me lost in various thoughts.
“Territory, huh?”
Thanks to my brother’s unilateral summon, I ended up in the Melrsina marquisate. I was aware that it was mine, but since it was a territory received out of the blue, I didn’t hold much attachment or interest.
In fact, it’d be more bizarre to have affection for a territory I had never even visited. If my brother hadn’t sent me money regularly, I would have likely forgotten about its existence entirely.
“My territory.”
And upon setting foot for the first time, it stirred something deep within me.
“Long live the marquis! Long live our benevolent lord!”
“Your Excellency! Please lead us forever!”
It was truly the cheers of the nobles that captured my heart.
This was an emotion I had never felt before. While I had the Hadenir barony, that territory belonged to Tailglehen’s count. To the nobles and officials there, I was already a familiar face from the Krasius family.
But what about the Melrsina marquisate? It was a completely foreign land, lacking any connection to me. Yet here they were, calling me their lord and marquis, even though I had forgotten about this new territory.
“I’m not saying you have to focus on the territory. I too leave my lands in the hands of the housekeeper, so it’d be crazy for me to just nag you.”
“Still, it’s good to at least have some awareness. If something comes up, the vassals must believe their lord will step in when needed.”
“I could step in, but like I said, it’ll feel like I’m not really there. I can step up any time, but quietly; that’ll be enough.”
I recalled my brother’s advice before leaving the Melrsina marquisate, where he had patted my shoulder.
Coming from someone who seems to neglect his lands more than anyone else, it was quite persuasive.
“Just keep some level of interest… but make sure it feels like there isn’t any…”
I unconsciously fiddled with the flower necklace hanging around my neck.
It was all part of the act, just a slightly shabby crafted from a pre-selected child.
Yet, strangely, even though I knew it was all an act, the necklace felt significant. It felt like the hope of the nobles directed towards me.
“Erich, are you inside?”
While I was just absentmindedly playing with the flower necklace, a soft knock accompanied my sister’s voice.
“Uh, I just got back.”
“Then I’m coming in.”
It wasn’t until the door slid open that it hit me.
I had left abruptly for a sudden summon without telling my sister. If I was heading to the territory anyway, I should have brought her and Sara along.
“She’ll soon be the marquis’s wife…”
A laugh slipped out at the thought. Just a moment ago, I had barely considered him a marquis, now she would soon hold the title of marquis’s wife.
“Huh? What’s with the flowers?”
As soon as my sister stepped inside, her eyes widened at the flower necklace around my neck.
It indeed was an eye-catching item. Oddly, despite not feeling like taking it off, I kept it on.
“I just went to the territory for a bit. I got it there.”
“From Hadenir?”
“No, from Melrsina.”
Seeing her eyes grow round again, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter. The notion of a lord visiting his territory was shocking to her. Just how much had she noticed that I had neglected Melrsina all this time?
I resolved to ensure such things don’t happen in the future.
*
“—Jo-kaaaaa! How are you!? It’s been a while, huh!?”
A sudden contact from Wise Duke blasted through the line, his voice ringing loud enough to damage my eardrums, so I quietly pulled the device away.
“Yes, I’ve been well.”
Before you showed up, that is.
“Hyihih, it’s been fun~ You busy, Jo-ka?”
“…I might get busy soon…”
“Oh wow! Jo-ka, you can’t leave me behind! I’ve got things to show you, it’s super cool!”
I quietly closed my eyes at those words.
Karma really exists. I was having a conversation similar to the one I had when summoning Erich.
“Did you find something unbelievably amazing!? You have to come see, it’s honestly incredible!”
It felt as though he was saying, “We have a golden calf at my house, wanna come check it out?” and I nearly burst into tears.
If it’s something incredible, shouldn’t you just enjoy it alone? Why drag me into this—
“This is an artifact from the ancient Trika period!”
“Yes?”
His next words jolted me back to attention.
“Trika Empire?”
If there’s an artifact from Apels’ time, then the continent would surely shake. But one from even earlier than that, from the Trika period?
“Insane.”
What’s been discovered is even more unimaginable than I thought.
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