Ch.124124. Praise

I’ve made Ember into this.

I was feeling unfamiliar with Ember’s skill at training the Burko clan.

If I had to say, there were signs from before.

Her talent as a manager was evident when she noticed the Delirose family’s plan to flee overseas, and when she was looking around to make herbal soaps and bath products. But back then, it was at a cute level.

Now, it seemed difficult to call it cute anymore.

‘Did she grow up watching these harsh situations?’

Although I only briefly heard Ember’s clear voice outside the workshop, I could easily imagine how things had progressed.

John Burko probably overestimated his position and made some trivial demands to Ember. And Ember pretended to go along with his scheme before giving him a taste of his own medicine.

“Using cigarettes as bait was wise. They don’t supply cigarettes to penal battalion members at the border for nothing. While smoking a cigarette, you can temporarily ignore the hardships of reality. Tobacco has a higher dependency than most hallucinogenic herbs.”

“I couldn’t give them cash. No need to elevate them too much.”

Ember turned her head abruptly, perhaps embarrassed about being praised for such things.

“Ah, giving John Burko an armband was also a good move. It won’t be easy for him to act as a supervisor when he’s already lost the respect of his clan.”

“That’s true. He’ll probably lose even minimal authority in less than a month. At some point, he’ll just be quietly producing scrolls in a corner of the workshop.”

Yes, that’s it.

The ability to intuitively predict the near future based on a few circumstances. It seemed Ember had also awakened to this ability during our time apart.

She might have had the talent originally, or perhaps she was forced to acquire it because times were so harsh. Either way, in times like these, possessors of such talent might be far more valuable than experts or mages.

To exaggerate slightly, it felt like I had gained a comrade.

I decided to praise Ember more while I had the momentum.

“Ah, I noticed when I returned that there’s now a shop specializing in desserts?”

“…It’s nothing special.”

“Don’t dismiss it. Most cities don’t even have a demand for desserts. How many people would pay good money for tarts or puddings loaded with sugar as snacks? …Though in the Imperial Capital, anyone would buy them.”

“Actually, I recommended it to the merchants in the direct territory because I thought there would be demand. Adventurers and merchants frequently pass through.”

“That was also well done.”

Ember raised her eyebrows, seemingly having shed her embarrassment.

An expression revealing subtle pride. She seemed to feel satisfaction in developing the territory even while dealing with the influx of refugees. Though she probably hadn’t had time to feel pride or anything else until I praised her.

She even boasted about her achievements that I hadn’t asked about.

“Um, Erick. Actually, I recently discovered something. While searching through documents from Count Delirose’s time to see if there were any resources to exploit in the territory, I found out there’s a coal mine here. It was closed about 90 years ago when it reached the end of its life, but given the nature of coal mines…”

“If we blast some rocks, we might discover new coal seams.”

“Yes. It’s dangerous work so we haven’t touched it yet. Should we hire dwarves…?”

“I’ll handle it myself. Even if the tunnel collapses, I can emerge without a scratch.”

“You’re a dragon, yet you’d do such work?”

“I should put these abilities to use somewhere. If we can partially substitute fuel with coal, forest management will become easier.”

Even from this brief conversation, I could tell how hard Ember had worked to develop the territory.

Most noble ladies don’t deeply involve themselves in governance. Unless they’re sons.

I knew better than anyone that Ember hadn’t been working this hard simply because she felt sorry for her father.

She deserved at least one person who acknowledged her efforts. That way, she wouldn’t feel discouraged midway and could live happily.

“You’ve done well, Ember. Really.”

“Hmm.”

Ember scratched her cheek as if it tickled.

I didn’t intend to just pay lip service; I had a gift prepared. It was a carriage designed by a dwarf craftsman, with excellent road shock absorption for a comfortable ride.

A gift I prepared so Ember could travel to and from the Imperial Capital more comfortably, already being manufactured in a workshop in the capital. It was expensive, but nothing compared to Ember’s hard work.

I looked at Ember, thinking I should tell her about the gift at the right timing. She would be pleased to worry less about motion sickness from now on.

But…

“It feels really good to be praised by Erick.”

Ember’s expression as she said this didn’t look entirely happy.

There was a subtle dissatisfaction even as she smiled. I had praised her to acknowledge her hard work, but I couldn’t understand why her response was lukewarm.

‘Why exactly…?’

Fortunately, the time of confusion didn’t last long. Being quick-witted when faced with complex female emotions.

Ember seemed to want praise for something other than her management abilities.

I closed my mouth briefly and looked at Ember.

Flawless skin, large blue eyes reminiscent of blue topaz, and the subtle scent of lemon balm wafting from her.

Though she must be under extreme stress, her appearance showed no signs of fatigue. Probably thanks to her regular self-care. Without the help of maids, using her own efforts.

This much remained the same as before.

What had changed was my gaze upon Ember.

In the past, I merely thought, “Yes, she has a pretty face…” but now I was willing to compliment her. And quite gladly so. Though I’m more specialized in provocation and negotiation than compliments, it was worth trying despite the awkwardness.

***

Walking leisurely with her arm linked with Erick’s, Ember wore a bright smile.

It was nice. Really nice, but…

“Actually, I used succubi in the process of capturing Iclit.”

Ember couldn’t understand why Erick was saying this. Surely he wasn’t trying to tell her tales of his exploits.

“Oh, um. Yes.”

“Given their nature as a species, as soon as they became confident they could survive, they immediately revealed their true nature and started flirting. It’s in their nature, so it can’t be helped. If I had shown even the slightest interest, they would have pounced on me.”

“…?”

Ember tilted her head, but soon understood why Erick had brought this up.

He was saying that he felt no attraction even before succubi, whose nature is to seduce men and whose beauty far surpasses humans. And he wanted to say that it was thanks to her that he could remain so indifferent.

‘It doesn’t seem to be a lie.’

Erick truly seemed uninterested in the beauty of succubi.

It might not be entirely because of Ember, but rather because he was fixated on killing the Tetrad member called Iclit, but there was no need to question it. A compliment was a compliment. And a pleasant one at that.

“Ah, I heard you set up a tavern for the succubi.”

It was a comment Ember made while hiding her embarrassment.

Erick casually replied, “That place must be heaven for them. They’re a race that seduces anyone without any sense of chastity.”

This too seemed to be an effort to please Ember. After all, Ember was pure, despite having experienced a broken engagement.

Ember felt her self-esteem rapidly rising. She almost wanted to abandon all territory matters and run away somewhere with Erick.

Unfortunately, there weren’t many places for young couples to enjoy themselves in the countryside.

Though the main castle of the Wellesley Marquis territory was quite a sizeable city for a rural area, it was still essentially a village in terms of lacking proper dating spots.

There were even fewer places where the highest-ranking man and woman in the territory could enjoy time alone together.

‘In the Imperial Capital, I wouldn’t have to worry about this.’

The Imperial Capital had six indoor gardens. Plus museums, commercial districts, theaters, exhibition halls, and more. These were things Ember, a native of the capital, had naturally enjoyed.

That’s why she was surprised when she first came down to the territory. Because there was truly nothing.

Now she was too busy with governance to even think about cultural activities, but she couldn’t help feeling somewhat regretful. No matter how much the territory developed, there would never be theaters or museums built.

But now, even that slight regret had completely evaporated.

‘Who cares about theaters, I can live without them.’

The secret to such unpretentious thinking was simple.

It was because Erick was by her side.

More precisely, it was because Erick, who felt happiness because of her, was by her side.

“Oh my, Lady! Is that beside you… Gasp!”

“No need to kneel.”

“But how could I dare…!”

With people almost reflexively kneeling and showing respect wherever they went, it wasn’t a very good environment for dating. If they showed excessive affection, engagement rumors would immediately surface.

Engagement. It was like a dream just thinking about it.

Right now, Erick was the most valuable bachelor across the continent.

Not only did he have overwhelming wealth, but he also wielded power comparable to, or in some ways exceeding, the Imperial Family. There must be numerous families desperate to match their daughters with Erick.

In fact, Ember was sensing subtle movements beneath the surface. Though they didn’t dare approach the Hyde father and daughter directly, some families were probing through Lord Garland.

Most people connected to Erick were probably experiencing similar situations. This phenomenon occurred because Erick had no family.

‘…But the fact that the topic doesn’t surface is probably because Erick is ignoring it. I should also be patient until the Demon Lord is defeated.’

Ember decided not to press Erick.

Not simply because he was busy, but because Ember or her family might become his weakness.

She couldn’t add to the burdens of Erick, who might soon infiltrate the Demonic Land.

‘How much would people want to tear apart a man who gets engaged to a woman who’s been through a broken engagement? It’s obvious.’

Of course, if a woman appeared trying to get close to Erick during this time, she would thoroughly check her, but she wouldn’t show it.

Because Ember herself couldn’t tolerate making a second mistake.