Chapter 112

As I stepped out of the Great Cathedral, Frost immediately came out to greet me.

“Thank you for your hard work, Your Excellency. But your face…”

“It’s nothing. It seems I haven’t had a single day off since the war ended, so that must be why.”

“Is that so? Chris, what does the schedule look like for His Excellency tomorrow?”

Chris, who was near Frost, spoke up after hearing that.

“Yes, Captain. Currently, there are no particularly important appointments for His Excellency.”

“Understood. Your Excellency, you’ve overworked yourself so far. If you fall ill like this, the Croilet Count realm will suffer an irreparable blow. So how about taking a break?”

Normally, I would wave my hand and say I was fine, but perhaps because I was already exhausted and had just received the shocking news of the Great Cathedral building in Romania, my condition felt really bad.

If I pushed myself a little more, I might collapse.

“Fine, then I shall take a break for several days. During that time, let Baron Walt handle military affairs, and let Sub-Noble Laurent take care of administrative matters. Aside from issues of war or visits from counts and above, do not call for me.”

At those words, Chris and Frost bowed their heads in response.

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

Although I had shown the maximum abilities a human could wield in this world, I am still human…

It seems I can take a break from scheming evil plots and spend some time with Ela.

After all, there are no urgent matters right now, and I have completed everything I could do.

“Chris, go ahead and contact Ela for me.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

**

The floor, laid with white and black marble in a grid pattern, was adorned with Eastern pottery at intervals, while the walls displayed various portraits and paintings whose artists I did not know.

Some paintings explicitly depicted the beauty of the goddess, perhaps reflecting Schwabin’s taste, and the mansion’s pillars were decorated with swords symbolizing our family’s military power.

Though I observed them from a distance, seeing the gleam of light indicates they are well-maintained even as mere decorations.

After entering through the main gate and walking for five minutes, I arrived at my bedroom door, where Ela was waiting.

After knocking three times, I heard Ela’s voice.

“Come in, Master.”

Upon hearing that, I opened the door, and unlike usual when I called for her while she wore lingerie or pajamas, today she greeted me in a maid’s uniform, which was unusual.

It struck me as a bit odd, but since it was still bright outside…

She probably wanted to spend some comfortable time talking with me rather than doing such things, just as I had missed her.

So I hugged Ela, who must have waited for me for a long time, and said.

“I’m back.”

“Master, you said you returned from the war.”

“I just wanted to greet you personally. Well, how have you been, Ela?”

“Yes, Master. Thanks to you having Rain and Alice stay under me, I’ve been well and not bored. And most importantly… I’m so glad you returned safely.”

Though Ela said that, she must have felt very lonely during my absence.

Nevertheless, she probably said that to avoid putting pressure on me after coming back from war.

That thought made me feel both impressed and pity for her.

“Really? Thank you for saying that. But why are you wearing a maid’s uniform? There are plenty of other dresses and pretty clothes.”

“Oh, that’s… well, Baron’s coming soon. When Chris passed the message that you were coming, she said you were psychologically stressed, so… I thought it might cheer you up to eat something delicious and reminisce about the past like we used to.”

Right, since I returned Baron to be under my command, he can come when called.

And can I finally play with Baron and Ela like in Windheim after almost ten years…

Thinking about it, I realize I’m only in my late 20s here, yet now I feel like an old man in my 50s or 60s reflecting on memories.

Then Ela leaned towards my ear and whispered.

“Also, Master, I…”

Just as Ela was about to say something important, I heard a knock on my room’s door, followed by Baron’s voice.

“I have come at Your Excellency’s call.”

That guy is a true master of showmanship; I should give him a task that I can handle later to make him work a bit…

“Come in, Baron.”

As I finished speaking, Baron entered, holding a bottle of wine in his right hand and a basket of cheese in his left.

“I’m glad to spend a joyful time with Your Excellency and Lady Ela after ten years. I brought some Architel wine and fine cheese for the two of you! Let’s enjoy it together!”

“Architel wine and cheese, you must have spent quite a bit?”

“Now that I have my own territory, such an expense is nothing! On the contrary, I’m worried that what I brought might be too shabby to enjoy with Your Excellency.”

I pointed to an empty chair.

“Sit down. And don’t say the wine and cheese are shabby… that alone cost five gold coins?”

“Still, for someone who is said to be the richest in the world, it might seem a bit shabby. Even so, please accept a drink.”

“Now that you’ve become a baron, you’re already being formal… Alright then, please pour me one. And for Ela too.”

At that, Ela waved her arms as if she felt burdened, but since Baron and Ela were almost of equal status, pouring one glass of wine was not a problem at all.

However, Ela persistently declined.

Baron poured wine only into his and my glasses, then placed the cheese on the table and said.

“This is the mozzarella cheese we had ten years ago in Windheim. Back then, we also had no money, so we ate cheap mozzarella.”

“The mozzarella cheese made by the townspeople wasn’t particularly expensive, but it wasn’t bad quality either.”

“Still, neither of us eat things like that anymore. Well, I heard Your Excellency’s daily meal costs ten gold coins…”

“If I didn’t eat like that, other nobles would take notice. It can’t be helped… And as the count of the richest domain, I have to wear clothes worth hundreds of gold coins and armor worth thousands. Otherwise, merchants wouldn’t be able to survive. But I don’t build a golden room for Ela or myself like kings do.”

Then, Baron looked at me playfully and said.

“In that sense, Your Excellency, could you spare a bit for this poor baron’s wedding expenses…”

“Wedding expenses? That’s for you to cover yourself. Anyway, Windheim… maybe one day after I retire, I should visit? I reckon the old traces are long gone since sweet beet farms and various factories have popped up there.”

“Isn’t the territory you granted to me near Ransburg Castle and Windheim? But Windheim has already become a city with thousands of residents. I heard that the village chief we knew, Rintel, has become a city councilor this year.”

I had reported almost all information about Windheim, a key area for producing sweet beets, so I knew it had become a city, but…

I never imagined the former village chief Rintel would rise to become a councilor; it truly shows how unpredictable the world can be.

“And the guy we first met during civil inspections, Zackri, joined my army last year, claiming he needed to support his child. I didn’t know, but he earned merit during the Rottingen campaign and received the First-Class Knight’s Sword Medal.”

To receive the First-Class Knight’s Sword Medal, one would need to achieve significant accomplishments in their unit, possibly even at the company level…

For someone who used to be a farmer like Zackri to achieve such a feat, what a world it is…

“However, his injuries are severe, and it seems he can’t hold a spear anymore. He got some deep cuts on his left shoulder… That said, it doesn’t mean he has to be discharged forcibly; I think I’ll have him be an instructor at the training base.”

Thinking about it, Ela is truly the only former serf around me, and since Ela has been under my protection since childhood, she doesn’t know such things well.

But Zackri was just a serf until a year ago, so he understands well what is needed as a serf.

It would be a shame to discharge someone who has earned the First-Class Knight’s Sword Medal due to injury, so I could employ him as a lower-level official to utilize his experience and achievements.

“Then, pass Zackri over to me. I feel he might be of help to me someday.”

“Understood.”

Thus, we spent several hours sharing funny and difficult stories from our days in Windheim while playing card games we used to enjoy.

Interestingly, Baron played in exactly the same pattern as before, and Ela intentionally let him win several times.

I also let Baron win a few times since he was losing so much…

But Baron didn’t seem to notice and took the competition very seriously.

As night fell, Baron left the room where Ela and I were, and though I approached Ela to unleash my pent-up desires after a long time…

Ela surprisingly declined my advances and cautiously said to me.

“Master, I don’t know what worries you have, but lately, I’ve noticed you seem to be running hard all by yourself, and it makes me worried.”

“But if I don’t work hard…”

At that, Ela smiled and replied.

“Just like in Windheim, whether back then or now, you’re the same, Master. You can take a rest. No, please do rest. If you push yourself too hard and collapse, not only will Ela be sad, but Croilet, which has no one to replace you, might collapse quickly.”

“How can you know that, Ela?”

“The truth is, this is something His Highness the Count asked me to tell you after he finished rewarding services. He said if you were to push yourself and collapse, no one could replace you, and it would be unacceptable. He said the Croilet family would end, so please let him rest.”

Hearing those words, I envisioned the process of the Croilet family’s destruction vividly in my mind.

First, if I die, the Northern Emperor will retreat, giving up on Vladimi Count and Mainz.

Next, the Union of Maxburg and Franche will come to divide the Croilet Count domain and Helzman Count domain amongst themselves.

Upon hearing that, Duke Brussels will think this is the time to attack Nante.

Because to them, our domain seems to be maintained only by an outstanding lord. Surely, they’ll eye us like fat pigs ready to be caught.

In that case, no matter how strong the soldiers are, they won’t be able to defend against invasions pouring in from three directions, and our domain will fall.

As a consequence, Ela, all the nobles and retainers, and unfortunately, even the commoners could be sold into slavery or killed.

Just thinking about it terrifies me and makes me tremble.

Noticing my tension, Ela hugged me and patted my back.

“Calm down, Master…”

Taking a deep breath, I spoke.

“Just as Ela said, if… I die…”

“His Highness the Count also instructed me to convey this. If you die, that position cannot be replaced by anyone, but for a few days, the subordinates below will manage somehow, so please rest.”

Well, with all the recent wars, I haven’t had a chance to rest since I was busy juggling things in the Maxburg domain…

“Alright, then I’ll take a full week off. But tell me, Ela.”

“Yes, Master.”

“If, during this time I’m resting, something happens… what do I do?”

Hearing that, Ela looked really vexed, as if she still thought I wouldn’t rest, and said.

“Other nobles or the villages will manage it themselves. If you’re really worried, how about helping everyone live like the people of Windheim after you’ve rested, Master…? And if you don’t rest, I might cry.”

… If I say I won’t rest anymore, Ela might really cry, and given that my legitimate wife will be coming soon, I don’t want to worsen the situation any further…

“Alright, for a while, I’ll truly take a break. So…”

Just as I reached out instinctively toward Ela’s chest, she gently pushed my hand away and cautiously began to speak.

However, her words did not reach my ears.

What on earth is she trying to say, and why is Ela rejecting my hand…?

As I was engulfed in those questions, Ela looked serious and brought my hand to her belly.

Touching it, I felt a slight bulge compared to usual; could it be that she has gained weight?

As I thought that, feeling a mix of emotions, Ela spoke to me.

“I think I’m pregnant with your child, Master. After you left, I didn’t get my period for next month, so when I asked the doctor… he said I was pregnant…”

“… Really?”

“Yes, I’m in my fourth month now. Master…”

In Ela’s expression as she said that, I could see her joy at bearing my child as well as her anxiety about having conceived before my legitimate wife.

However, I don’t think Ela and my legitimate wife would fight merely over the child issue…

Neither Ela nor I intend to place their child in a position to inherit titles that could threaten my successor.

Moreover, Ela is humble enough to not have connections, and other nobles might be so rude as to go too far.

And if they provoke her, I wouldn’t remain silent either.

So I stroked Ela’s head and said.

“What does that mean? It’s not like I don’t have a territory to share with your child. And I don’t know who my wife will be, but I’ll persuade her well, so don’t worry.”

Hearing my heartfelt words, Ela seemed satisfied and smiled as she replied.

“If I have a son, I want to raise him to be someone who can help my Master. You don’t need to give him a territory; instead, I want him to serve in the military like Sir Frost and earn merits… No, I’d prefer if he didn’t get hurt, so I want him to go to university to help the busy Master.”

Then I turned off the lights and laid down in the same bed as Ela.

Following that, for an entire week, I truly didn’t worry about any tasks and spent my time resting with Ela.

Thanks to that, my physical and mental state fully recovered.

And now I am about to begin preparations for implementing a plan to completely revamp the countryside.

It has been said since ancient times that successful economic development must accompany rural development…

From now on, we in Croilet will start the Saemaul Movement.

---