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The Marquisate of Hohenberg was elevated to a marquisate and at the same time incorporated part of the direct territory managed by Hillidar County and the Imperial Palace.
Wham!
The territory had significantly increased.
A large-scale expansion reaching two or three times!
Boom!
How can I efficiently manage this territory?
To figure that out, I headed to Hillidar County accompanied by Rue and Elizaveta. Since Ludmilla and Zebeline were busier than anyone else, I didn’t include them.
“Um, welcome…! I’ve been waiting.”
Ding dong!
After arriving at the lord’s castle of Hillidar County, I stepped down from the carriage, and the elderly head maid along with the servants showed their respects with poise.
Rustle!
Quite a modest reception.
Only about ten servants were summoned to the lord’s castle!
Gasp!
The end of Hillidar County, which boasted wealthy resources, was truly miserable. After the Hillidar family participated in the racial war and was wiped out, the servants must have left one by one.
Sob!
Looking at the gloomy atmosphere of the lord’s castle, I felt the futility of life.
Long sigh!
“First of all, we definitely need renovation work…”
Clang!
Even though the loyal servants reminisced about their memories while meticulously managing the castle, they couldn’t stop the effects of decline.
Crash!
Collapsed walls.
Uneven roads and farmland turned into wasteland.
Thud!
Visible signs of decay seemed to scream the despair of a land bereft of its lord. Hillidar County was rapidly falling into desolation.
“You don’t have to be so cautious. I’m just visiting as a guest.”
“Yes, yes…!”
Swish!
As the blonde princess took graceful steps, she urged the maids. The bowing maids looked flustered like they were meeting their lady.
Humble bows!
The head maid had already regarded Elizaveta as the lady of the house.
Bows!
The servants’ wariness towards outsiders lessened somewhat. Elizaveta captured the servants completely with her overwhelming charisma.
Wow!
As the beautiful princess gestured, the maids hurriedly followed her.
Rush!
“If we consider the costs for renovation work, the overdue salaries of the servants, and the conscription of guards for maintenance of public order, it will definitely cost a fortune…”
Cha-ching!
I folded my arms and gazed over the collapsed wall.
Look!
Did word spread that the Platinum Princess had visited? Countless citizens had flocked like clouds.
Gather!
A vast amount of funds was needed.
And I also had to recruit talented individuals to govern the Marquisate of Hohenberg.
Talent scout!
I understood why many nobles hesitated despite their eagerness to seize the now desolate Hillidar County.
Ponder!
If they carelessly swallowed the territory, it would just lead to a situation where only money was wasted.
Gulp!
“The funds from the Hohenberg family are ridiculously insufficient. Besides, I’ve been delaying the compensation payments to the Valtarian Imperial Family… Should I ask Ludmilla and Zebeline? If I beg them while promising to repay with interest later…”
Fingers crossed!
Poverty and hardship are bound to gnaw at one’s pride.
Ugh!
Damn it.
Already thinking about something regretful.
Facepalm!
I’m not a husband who keeps begging his wife!
Slap!
It’s true that my number one dream during school was to be that husband, but I didn’t want to directly voice my regrets to Ludmilla and Zebeline.
Hmmm…
First, let’s use my trademark cunning!
“Rue.”
“Yeah, what is it?”
Whisper!
I had been thinking about this brilliant idea before we left the marquisate.
Hmm?
Would it actually work?
Ponder!
I couldn’t be sure, but there was no other choice.
Deep breath!
In order to break through this murky situation, I desperately needed Rue’s help. So I stared at her with significant eyes.
“…There’s something I want you to do.”
“Didn’t you say you didn’t want to sound regretful to an adult…! But asking a child is fine?”
“Hmm. If you refuse, I’ll dump all the jelly candy in the carriage into the well.”
“Yikes! A fully grown adult is threatening a child!”
Shocked!
We’re partners, right?
High five!
We can definitely inconvenience each other a bit.
You know it!
I guess my sincerity was conveyed.
Thumbs up!
Rue reluctantly nodded in acceptance.
Agreement!
*
Who should I select as a daughter-in-law?
Rummage!
The head of the Hohenberg family was currently scratching his head over a serious matter.
Thinking cap on!
The Empire’s Red Dragon and the Holy Kingdom’s White Dragon.
Ding ding!
He had to choose one side, and this harsh dilemma was pushing Otto into the abyss.
Thud!
Choosing the princess would turn the Holy Kingdom into an enemy.
Boom!
Choosing the saintess would turn the Empire into an enemy.
Rumble!
Is this how a soldier feels while defusing a time bomb?
Tick, tick!
No,
Scratches head!
It’s an even more sinister situation.
Gulp!
If you can somehow defuse the time bomb, you can survive.
Exhale!
But the choice facing the Hohenberg family would lead to tragedy no matter which side was chosen.
Sigh!
No matter how desperately they struggle, they can’t escape the will of the gods.
Alas!
“For the Hohenberg family, who has remained loyal to the Valtarian Imperial Family, I’ve prepared a humble gift. I hope the marquis will accept it.”
Gift delivery!
As Ludmilla gestured, the knights of the Imperial family began transporting supplies.
Chop chop!
It was almost like a military operation.
March, march!
A grand transport convoy was lined up like an army of ants carrying food.
Scurry!
Ludmilla the princess boldly sent gifts, and the servants who witnessed it gossiped about the precious gold and jewels and clothing.
Whisper!
Servants who witnessed the radiant glow gasped in astonishment.
Wow!
“Is that perhaps Edan…? He’s not being sold, right?”
“Hmm. If I were the head of the family, I would have sold him dozens of times by now.”
LOL!
Afterward, the Holy Knights also launched a massive supply campaign to rival the Imperial knights.
Clash!
Zebeline matched this with brilliant gold and jewels and clothing as well.
Shiny!
To prove her fierce determination not to lose to the single woman, there were also holy relics from the Holy Kingdom among the supplies.
“May the Hohenberg marquisate, with its excellent faith, be eternal by the blessing of the Earth Mother. The wedding gifts granted in the name of the saintess… No, they are rewards for the devout believers.”
Blessing!
Should I really accept this?
Panic!
I was already getting scared.
Shivers!
The servants watching the spectacle began to feel increasingly bewildered as the warehouses of the lord’s castle reached capacity due to the supply campaign from the Empire and the Holy Kingdom.
Overflow!
“E-Edan…! What on earth did you do in the Imperial City?”
Gasp!
Otto, watching the situation from the office window, collapsed with a shocked expression.
Thud!
What the heck is this scene?
Facepalm!
What did his second son do when he returned from the Imperial City?
Uh-oh!
Even a perfect host, capable of guest reception and horse tricks, wouldn’t go this far.
Right?
Finally, the best host from the Hohenberg family was born, and Otto pressed his brow, sincerely apologizing to past heads of the family.
My bad!
“The treasures granted by the princess and the saintess must be returned to the Empire and the Holy Kingdom. I might hear slander for using my son to make money.”
Yikes!
Excessive greed for wealth will only turn into a curse.
Curse!
Though I feel grateful, I sincerely want to decline the brilliant gold and jewels.
Nope!
Otto, who was a man of integrity, had lived simply for half his life.
Simple life!
That’s why the supply campaign from the Empire and the Holy Kingdom felt burdensome instead.
Yikes!
Even if it were gifts meant for future daughters-in-law.
Uh-oh!
“Is the Marquis of Hohenberg here?”
“Got gifts for the devout believers, may I come in for a moment?”
Knock knock!
When the head of the Hohenberg family made a firm decision,
Tap tap!
He heard a knock on the door.
Knock!
Soon after, Ludmilla and Zebeline entered the office.
Enter!
The fierce competition between the Red Dragon and the White Dragon had finally reached the father-in-law!
Drama!
Otto swallowed hard as he looked at the incoming daughters-in-law.
Swallow!
*
After returning from Hillidar County, I headed straight to the office.
Run!
It was 3 PM.
Clock ticking!
It was just when father was enjoying tea time.
Tea time!
I opened the office door to share stories over snacks.
Open!
“…Ah, father?”
“……”
Gulp!
In the office chair was my father, adorned in luxurious garments and jewelry like a ruler of the brilliant Golden Empire.
Shiny!
Decorated with various jewels, his crown.
A crown!
A rich wig caked with white flour.
Flour power!
A cloak made of rare silver fox fur and a robe made from the finest silk.
Luxurious!
For some reason, he was holding a solid gold scepter that symbolized the authority of wealth.
Woah!
Even giant rings adorned with large gems were on every finger.
Bling bling!
I could guess that my father hadn’t suddenly gone mad, given that Ludmilla and Zebeline had visited the office.
Phew!
“D-Don’t misunderstand! The princess and the saintess asked me to wear this for a bit…”
“Father’s feelings are completely understandable.”
Sympathy!
It’s the fate of shrimp to always get caught in the whale’s fight.
Bohhh!
I empathize.
Completely!
Since I’ve experienced it for a month.
Yeah!
If Ludmilla and Zebeline both entered the Hohenberg family as daughters-in-law at once, my father would clearly not last half a day before heading to a nursing home.
Uh-oh!
“Father, there’s something urgent I need to discuss.”
“Y-You don’t mean! Have you chosen one among the princess and the saintess?”
Gasp!
My father asked in shock.
Shocked!
To his frantic question, I shook my head and opened my mouth.
“Nope, starting tomorrow, I’m heading to the land of fairies.”
Exciting!
With a serious voice, I introduced the plan to revitalize the Marquisate of Hohenberg.
Drumroll!
Then my father smiled kindly.
Smile!
“You madman.”
Ha!
My twenty-three-year-old second son rambled about the fairy land that seems to belong in a children’s storybook, and immediately a coarse curse flew out.
Cue the curse!
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