Ch.215215. Welcome!

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Baron Armin Campbell’s days had been following an extremely rewarding routine lately.

When his son first brought him the administrative rights to Viscount Goldic’s territory, saying “You’re a viscount now,” he had no idea what was happening.

But recently, he had more or less adapted to the increased workload, and was beginning to build relationships that could be called bonds with the new territory’s residents, so any complaints had long since faded away.

“The Goldic territory has historically been famous for mining high-quality magic stones.”

As Armin stretched after finishing his work, Hermann, his personal butler, placed a cup of tea beside him and spoke.

“Since unification under the Campbell territory, the residents have been able to obtain quality magic stones at cheaper prices, so everyone is satisfied.”

“Yes. That’s a good thing.”

Armin smiled slightly in agreement.

Though his expression darkened immediately afterward.

“…If it weren’t for that one thing, everything would be perfect.”

“…You mean that, sir.”

Hermann agreed in a gloomy voice.

He wholeheartedly agreed that they had been enjoying quite a decent life lately.

Except for ‘that thing’ which visited around this time.

“Are you in there, Baron Campbell?”

At the voice from outside the office, Hermann and Armin both flinched simultaneously.

It was the tense voice of a servant.

Normally, they would have casually invited the person in with a friendly smile, but now beads of cold sweat were running down the faces of both men who heard those words.

“Is it that again, this time?”

“…It appears so, my lord.”

The servant swallowed dryly in response to Armin’s question.

“From the Tristan Dukedom and the Kendrid Marches.”

“…Let them in.”

Matching the tension in their voices, several servants entered pulling handcarts, their expressions strained.

Two large boxes.

Each accompanied by a handwritten letter from different individuals.

“What’s in them this time?”

When Armin pointed at the boxes and asked, the servant answered with tightly closed eyes.

“…A collection made by the continent’s most famous jewelry workshop, and health supplements shipped directly from the Demonic Spire. Both are items regularly supplied to the imperial family, I’m told.”

“…”

As Armin’s expression rapidly darkened, Hermann, standing beside him, opened his mouth glumly.

“Just selling one component would cover our territory’s operating costs for several months.”

Armin groaned and clutched his head.

It was an unavoidable choice to suppress his dizziness.

“…What do the letters say?”

“As always, nothing special.”

Fortunately, despite such extravagant gifts, the letters contained nothing more than simple greetings.

How are you, I’m doing fine, such and such is happening in the territory—just everyday small talk. The kind of trivial exchanges that close friends might share.

The problem was:

Both senders were high nobles who could blow away a barony like this with just a snort.

So why?

Why were such people?

Sending these regular greetings as if paying respects to a superior?

And including such extravagant gifts every single time.

Without expecting anything in return, they kept stuffing these items into his sleeve as if he should just accept them.

When it should be Armin doing this to them, they acted as if desperate to score points with him.

“…”

Honestly, it was burdensome.

Beyond burdensome—it was frightening.

He was desperate to return it all.

“It must be because of my son?”

“Who else but the young master?”

When Armin glared at the two letters and spoke, Hermann promptly agreed.

Right now, there was no one around Armin himself who could elicit such a response from those people except Darwood.

“…Put them away somewhere.”

Armin waved his hand dismissively.

The servant responded with a grim expression.

“…My lord, the warehouses and empty rooms are already full.”

“…”

“Especially those twenty sets of petrified guardian magical beasts we received last time take up quite a lot of space—”

“—Let’s stop talking about that. I’ll leave it to you.”

Hermann gently interrupted the servant as Armin’s hands began to tremble as if triggered by trauma.

It hadn’t been long since Armin fainted after seeing life-sized statues of magical beasts—capable of tearing humans like cardboard—delivered as gifts to the front yard of his estate.

That kind of military power could destroy a count’s territory the moment the petrification was reversed. Not something that should be prominently displayed in the front yard of a farming barony.

As Armin tried to calm his trembling heart while recalling that memory, another statement flew in.

“…By the way, my lord?”

“Hmm?”

“The Tristan Dukedom included an additional document besides their usual contents.”

His heart sank.

The servant continued with a sympathetic look at the pale-faced Armin.

“It’s an invitation.”

“…What?”

“They say the Tristan Dukedom has an important announcement to make, and they would very much like you to attend.”

“…”

“…They mentioned that the young master and several of his friends will also be there.”

“…”

His son will be there, the Tristan duchess will be there, there will be an important announcement, and they specifically asked for his attendance.

Yes.

It felt like the inevitable had arrived.

“…He’s gotten into trouble, hasn’t he?”

“The probability is quite high, wouldn’t you say?”

“…”

Armin covered his face with trembling hands.

Forgetting his dignity, he rubbed his face dry with both hands.

‘…Please.’

My son.

What have you done this time?

●

I’ve felt this before, but a well-made carriage can actually be extremely comfortable to ride in.

Even from my perspective as someone who rode all kinds of vehicles in the modern world before my possession, that’s quite an encouraging fact.

So, a carriage from the Tristan Dukedom, one of the continent’s most renowned noble families, should provide an extremely pleasant journey.

[Are you comfortable right now?]

‘No.’

That’s what it should have been, I mean.

“…So, Miss Bella.”

“It’s Bella Myers.”

My laboriously uttered words were cut off by a response from across from me.

A full-body suit including white gloves that meticulously covered her entire body. Neatly tied white hair. A monocle.

A beautiful woman who exuded the impression of a capable office worker.

She’s the person who will be attending to me during my stay in the Tristan Dukedom.

“Unlike Lord Darwood, I haven’t received any formal titles and am just a commoner. Please refrain from using honorifics.”

“…”

This rigid person’s name is Bella Myers.

Elnore’s personal maid, was it?

From that alone, how should I put it?

The intention is frightening.

I’ve heard that in noble society, sharing personal servants is something highly avoided unless you’re considered ‘family’…

‘Calivan.’

[Hmm?]

‘This is called a first night right, but what they’re doing is almost…’

[Feels like meeting the parents, doesn’t it?]

‘…’

[They invited your father too, right?]

Right.

Thanks for pinpointing exactly what I was thinking.

It looks like they’re trying to take care of everything they’ve been planning all at once, using this excuse to summon me to their territory.

“By the way, I’d like you to look at this.”

While my stress levels were amplifying as I contemplated these ominous thoughts, Bella suddenly held something out in front of me.

“…What’s this?”

“Please take a look first.”

At her words, I tilted my head and skimmed through the documents she handed me.

They contained comprehensive information about the territories surrounding the Campbell Barony.

The meticulously prepared and neatly organized documents certainly befitted a servant of a great noble family.

“…”

In fact, they were too detailed.

Including security systems, military facilities, and even the deepest personal histories of the lords—everything.

All the top-secret information that only the rulers of those territories should know.

“I’d like you to choose which territory to annex next, Lord Darwood.”

“…”

What kind of crazy talk is this now?

“…Miss Bella.”

Bella’s brow furrowed delicately.

“It’s Bella. Please do me the favor of speaking down to me.”

“…”

“You can use abusive language, swear at me, or insult me if you wish. But please refrain from using honorifics. It puts me in a difficult position.”

“…Bella.”

Thinking this would never end if I didn’t yield, I decided to go along with her.

“Don’t all territory annexations ultimately require His Majesty’s appointment?”

The Goldic territory was a rather unusual case before, and receiving someone else’s territory isn’t something that happens so easily.

When there’s a perfectly functional head of state like the Emperor, doing such things arbitrarily—

“His Majesty has already approved this matter.”

“…”

“Just choose, and it will immediately be incorporated into your viscounty.”

Are you serious?

Feeling my mouth go completely dry, I stared at Bella, who replied with a composure completely opposite to my demeanor.

“The Campbell Barony is destined to be directly related by blood to the Tristan Dukedom in the future. Rather, it would be troublesome if Lord Darwood doesn’t increase his power.”

“…”

“This is something that both the Duchess, the Duke, and His Majesty have all agreed—”

“—But.”

Feeling like I’d get dizzy if we continued this conversation, I tried to change the subject.

“Why do you keep calling me ‘Lord’ since earlier…?”

Strictly speaking, it’s my father who holds the title. Officially, I don’t formally hold any knightly or noble titles—I’m just the eldest son of a noble family.

But at this question, Bella widened her eyes and asked back.

“…You didn’t know?”

“Know what?”

“…”

At my words, Bella silently stared at me for a moment.

Then a shallow sigh escaped her lips.

“…If you don’t know right now, that’s fine. There must be a reason others haven’t told you.”

“What do you—”

“You’ll find out soon enough anyway.”

With those words, the sentence was abruptly cut off.

As an awkward silence was about to ensue, Bella opened the window and turned her gaze outside.

“Rather, look at this.”

The carriage was descending a slope after crossing a high hill.

The altitude was quite high, offering an excellent view of the surrounding landscape.

“The Tristan Dukedom.”

Following Bella’s gaze out the window, before my eyes…

A vast city unfolded like a panorama.

“…Wow.”

It’s vast.

Truly, insanely vast.

I’ve been to the imperial palace before, but that was impressive for the grandeur and magnificence of the building. It didn’t provide this overwhelming level of ‘vastness.’

A massive city covering the horizon, seemingly endless. In terms of area alone, it’s said to be the largest single noble territory on the continent.

The second heart of the Empire alongside the imperial palace, the Empire’s premier stronghold. The Tristan Dukedom.

Elnore’s hometown.

‘This is unbelievable.’

This size is something I rarely saw even in the world before my possession.

The title of the Empire’s greatest noble family isn’t just for show.

Such impressions flooded my mind.

It made me newly appreciate what level of distinguished guest that white-haired lady who always hung around me really was.

“Hmm?”

While I was admiring the view, something strange suddenly caught my eye at the edge of my vision.

At the end of the slope, at the checkpoint entering the Tristan Dukedom.

People were gathered in crowds.

“…”

I’m not sure if “people” is the right description.

They’re clearly a well-trained “army.” Several hundred people, it seemed, standing in formation with solemn expressions.

In such an atmosphere, I would have been tense thinking there might be some problem.

But instead of weapons, they were holding something different in their hands.

[The Tristan Dukedom welcomes Lord Darwood Campbell!]

[We sincerely wish for genuine harmony with the Tristan Duchess!]

“…”

Seeing knights holding such enormous signs with solemn expressions, my face froze stiff.

Besides those, there were photos, paintings, and statues of Elnore and me standing side by side…

“…”

Statues?

When did they prepare such things?

I don’t need to see who ordered this.

‘Elnore, please.’

Stop overdoing it.

Seriously, I’m going to die of embarrassment…!

“Let’s go. We’ll be late for the parade.”

“…Parade?”

“Several events have been planned within the dukedom to celebrate your visit. This is the opening ceremony.”

“…”

Cold sweat trickled down at Bella’s words.

This isn’t going to be easy from the start.

Really.

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