Ch.525525. Tasha Works (1)

The domain’s residents, in truth, don’t care much about changes in lordship or which family’s banner flies over the land they inhabit.

What matters to them is whether their immediate lives are prosperous, how much tax the lord will extract from them, and whether the lord is a warmonger who might bring harm to them.

The reality is that most live guided by practical concerns and the inertia of familiarity with lands they’ve inhabited since childhood, rather than by the history or traditions of the domain and its ruling house.

For these commoners who live day by day, how willingly they pledge loyalty to the nobles who rule them is what determines the reputation and virtue of those nobles.

“Lady Tasha will be coming to report on the situation shortly, so let’s discuss until then.”

Benner, who faithfully assisted the head of the house, Ray Carpel, couldn’t help but smile as he heard about the current situation again.

“Lord Benner, public support for our house has increased exponentially.”

“Is this data… from after the expansion of the slum relief project that the lord mentioned?”

“Indeed it is. Not only has the crime rate decreased there, but the discomfort caused by armed outsiders has been greatly reduced thanks to more thorough management of mercenaries by the Mercenary Guild. Please read this as well.”

Since voluntary loyalty cannot be achieved through power and force alone…

“Since the lord became her guardian, Lady Tasha’s contributions have been remarkable. When I first heard she was a street orphan, I thought, ‘What could this ignorant child possibly accomplish?’ But she’s been serving admirably as a bridge between the slum dwellers and the regular domain residents.”

“Lady Tasha is certainly clever. Hmm… but still, prejudice against the poor isn’t something that disappears easily. Has there been any resistance?”

“Many of the poor were mercenaries who fled from war… and thanks to Tasha taking care of soldiers struggling with war memories and their families, I heard the two groups found common ground in their experiences.”

“So that’s why Lady Tasha earned the nickname ‘the young priestess of the barony.'”

“That’s right, Lord Benner. As conditions in the slums improve and the two groups gradually reconcile, it seems those prejudices are diminishing faster than expected.”

Benner thought to himself.

It was good that he had brought up the slums to the lord while he was resting.

Perhaps it was because they had already experienced similar projects at the County. Rather than suppressing them with guards to appease the domain residents, there was no accumulation of complaints and anxieties.

“How is the cooperation with the Mercenary Guild going? I heard their branch manager has been quite cooperative.”

“Since the barony treats the injured and gives special consideration to experienced mercenaries, even those wanderers are showing respect toward us. It’s working out well. Those once wild and rough mercenaries now voluntarily subdue their own kind when they cause drunken disturbances in the streets.”

“Haha, they must be quite pleased with the support. They probably realized that if they acted up, they might lose what they’ve been enjoying.”

“Precisely. And… in return for what they’ve received from us, the Mercenary Guild’s branch manager personally offers simple requests to the poor and citizens who lost their jobs. How could the atmosphere in the domain not be good?”

Since they couldn’t forcibly recruit commoners who weren’t serfs for labor…

Thanks to these previously worthless people who only took up space and did nothing now jumping into society through more diverse opportunities and choices…

The vassals couldn’t help but laugh heartily, in stark contrast to the struggles they had faced cleaning up after the previous lord.

“At this rate, the number of taxpayers will continue to increase. Even domain residents who used to sigh every time taxes were collected now pay without showing displeasure. I’m already looking forward to the increased salary that will come with the increased tax revenue.”

Increased taxes! Proportionally increased salaries!

And beyond that, a more stable situation for the house than when it was under direct royal control!

Such a secure position in a harmonious and peaceful domain isn’t easily obtained.

How could those who had served the Carpel Barony for a long time dislike this situation?

But as they say, human greed knows no bounds. The vassal couldn’t help but express one more desire.

“That said, I wonder if the lord is spending too much time in his office even now that the situation has stabilized.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“Well… I hesitated to say this directly as it might burden Lord Benner more, but the barony still has no heir.”

“……”

“I think it might be better for the lord to take some leisure time and spend it with Lady Sione. Though this would increase Lord Benner’s workload… I think we senior vassals could help sufficiently…”

“Certainly—”

“Both of you are Master’s knights. Surely your child would become an excellent warrior to support the house, and in such matters, sooner is better, isn’t it?”

The elderly vassals wanted an heir for the lord so that they could pass on these sweet positions to their own children without worry.

“Lord Benner, having come from the County, you understand well. Beyond the marital relationship, having a child would strengthen the ties between the Barony and the County.”

Benner, who had served Ainel at the County, had similar concerns before the birth of the firstborn, Siabel.

After a moment of silence at the vassal’s words, he revealed a gentle smile and softly replied.

“Hehe, I don’t think you need to worry about that.”

“…Do you know something we don’t?”

“I’ve had conversations with Lady Sione about this matter. After all, I am from the same County as Lady Sione.”

“Oh, Lord Benner, you already had everything planned.”

“You just need to wait patiently until the joyous news arrives.”

After awakening her Divine Power…

Unlike the priests of the order, Tasha’s senses had been honed as sharply as knights who had awakened mana.

She hesitated at the door, quietly listening to their conversation.

‘…The Baron and Baroness are going to have their own child?’

Tasha thought about the conversation she had unintentionally overheard.

‘Since I’m just a little girl with them as my guardians… they’ll probably love their biological daughter or son much more than me, their adopted daughter?’

To them, she was a daughter in a spiritual sense.

There’s nothing wrong with that, but inevitably there would be distance between her and their biological child.

For Tasha, who had finally found kind parents after losing everything and falling into the slums, she didn’t want their trust and faith in her to diminish.

She felt a small desire growing within her and, startled by it, pinched her cheek.

Squeeeeeze!

“Ugh…”

Having awakened Divine Power and become a proper priestess…

How could she, Tasha, harbor such base desires?

After studying doctrines about forging one’s own destiny, here she was thinking about giving up rather than overcoming.

‘In a way, it’s like I’m getting a new sibling.’

So Tasha made a resolution.

‘If I become a capable enough daughter that I won’t be overshadowed by a sibling, they’ll still treat me like their firstborn even after their biological child is born…!’

The Baron was God’s representative. She was a priestess.

She had always known what needed to be done.

If she did her best, she would receive the same trust and affection from Ray and Sione as their biological child.

And someday, she would become a respected older sister to her new sibling and become a real family.

‘Since they even became my guardians…!’

God’s representative. Why would he awaken her Divine Power and care for her so much?

To subtly plant realizations in people’s minds without the Order knowing, and someday gather and unite them all.

Wouldn’t proving her competence and usefulness mean eliminating those who block that path?

‘…Come to think of it, people told me there seem to be more strangers in the barony lately? And some suspicious ones at that.’

Today, as always, while caring for people around the slums, she had heard some suspicious stories. Already, she had found a way to prove her worth.

Having gained both enlightenment and confidence, Tasha slowly knocked on the door.

“Lord Benner, I’ve completed today’s tasks!”

Tasha’s face, after making such a resolution…

Showed only subtle traces of fanaticism beneath a deeper faith than before.

* * *

“Achoo…!”

“Are you okay, Sione?”

“Mmm… it’s nothing. Just a sudden itch in my nose.”

“Is someone talking about you behind your back?”

“…I haven’t done anything deserving of gossip since meeting you, you know?”

Despite having once severely beaten someone with flower language.

Since I’d likely be caught and folded in half if I mentioned it, I kept that thought to myself.

Well, it’s been a while since we enjoyed leisure time in the garden Sione tended, rather than in the office.

Better to have a more harmonious and fun conversation than dwell on such things.

With that in mind, I asked something I’d been curious about for a while.

“So, about that barrel of liquor you brought from the brewery we visited last time. When are you planning to use it?”

It’s strange that someone who can’t handle alcohol well brought liquor back to the lord’s castle.

I’ve never seen her drink even once.

‘Moreover—’

I still remember her going on about some secret liquor recommended by Lord Benner.

When I asked about this, Sione, who had been walking ahead of me explaining the garden landscaping here and there, twirled gracefully making her dress flutter beautifully as she turned to face me.

With her hands behind her back and her upper body slightly bent forward.

Despite her pure white dress, she wore a straw gardener’s hat with a distinctive white ribbon, saying it enhanced the atmosphere. Under the wide brim casting shadows over her eyes, her blue eyes shone brilliantly.

“Curious?”

Here it comes.

That devilish smile.

“If you’re curious, why not try it tonight?”

“…It’s not poisoned, is it?”

“Would I give poison to my husband? Besides, you could purge any poison with mana anyway.”

“If Sione drinks first, then I—”

“But I’m not going to drink it?”

“…?”

“You’re the curious one, dear. The curious person should try it first.”

What could be the identity of that liquor?

Why is she showing such an expectant reaction?

Honestly, by this point I’m curious too, so I reluctantly agreed with her.

“Fine… since I’m of common birth, you want me to be your royal taster for our Sione, right?”

“No, I didn’t mean it like that…!”

“If you’re that worried, then I’ll try it tonight.”

“…You never give an inch, really. My husband seems to lack any cuteness.”

Me trying to act cute would be a bit…

While we were still playfully bickering, Lord Benner and Tasha approached from the distance.

‘What’s going on?’

The fact that Lord Benner came along suggests something has happened.

As Sione and I greeted them and asked what was going on, they responded.

“It would be faster if Lady Tasha explained the details. Lady Tasha, if you please.”

“Yes, Lord Benner.”

Tasha smiled briefly like a puppy bringing something helpful, then continued with a rather serious expression.

“Today… while helping people in the domain, I heard something. People told me that suspicious individuals seem to be increasing in the domain… and there were some concerning aspects about this.”

“Concerning aspects?”

“They said these people lurk around the slums, and specifically focus on areas touched by the Mercenary Guild or our barony. They move mainly at night and cover their entire bodies, giving off a rather unpleasant feeling.”

…Moving only at night. That is certainly suspicious.

Is it the Order making moves? Or perhaps an investigation from the Third Princess’s side after I thoroughly exposed her?

Since there are genuinely concerning aspects, it’s not something to dismiss lightly.

With such complicated thoughts, I looked at Lord Benner. He nodded silently as well. His experienced intuition must also sense that this matter requires caution.

“Um… was that helpful?”

They say she earned the nickname of priestess. Thanks to the people around her becoming her eyes and ears, she caught something that could have been easily missed.

Sione and I smiled at our thoughtful Tasha.

“Thanks to you. Being cautious never hurts. Thank you, Tasha.”

“You’ve been studying hard too, and now you’re helping with this. Since you’re here, would you like your big sister to show you around the garden she designed?”

As we took turns patting her head, Tasha bowed her head and smiled.

“I’m so glad…!”

We didn’t notice that behind her drooping bangs, her eyes formed crescent moons of satisfaction, as if everything was going according to plan.

Having successfully earned points with her adoptive parents…

“I’ll tell you right away if I hear anything like this again!”

She could only smile more deeply with her newfound confidence.