Ch.8383. Rest

The Wellesley County was peaceful.

Population? Resources?

Honestly, it was quite ordinary. It wasn’t a place with thriving commerce like the Imperial Capital or its surrounding territories, nor did it have workshops with both expertise and scale. Though to be fair, few cities could even approach the Imperial Capital’s level.

If there was anything worth mentioning, it was that most people here didn’t even know what Cordana was. And surprisingly, there was a bit of everything.

“The general store makes nice herbal soaps.”

That’s what Ember said with a bright smile when she came to greet me. Indeed, I could detect a faint scent of herbs from the soap base on her.

I considered asking if it was good enough to be commercialized, but decided against it.

She would certainly answer if I asked, and given Ember’s nature, she’d probably offer some plausible opinions, but I didn’t want to talk about business right after meeting.

“Sounds nice. First, show me around the mansion.”

It was ridiculous that I, the lord, needed a tour of my own estate, but it couldn’t be helped. Though the family fortune was modest, it was still a Count’s residence, so the scale was considerable.

Actually, walking through the interior, it felt not just large but somewhat empty.

“To be honest, many servants left before we arrived. There were quite a few people connected to the Delirose family in various ways.”

“That’s common with old noble families. What about the staff shortage?”

“We brought in some people from the dissolved Hyde Barony. They were happy to come when we offered to pay their overdue wages.”

“And the atmosphere?”

“They’re not fighting with each other. Honestly, everyone’s busy watching their step.”

That made sense.

The Hyde family, servants from the former Hyde Barony, and servants from the Delirose County who suddenly had to accept new masters. It would be awkward for everyone. They were undoubtedly busy figuring each other out.

And Ember herself didn’t seem fully accustomed to life in the Count’s mansion yet.

While guiding me, she occasionally said, “Oh, not this way,” and changed direction, and she still seemed unfamiliar with the servants we encountered. Though she was certainly approaching them more amicably than I could, considering I was the one who had personally dismantled their previous masters, the Delirose family.

“Ah… um, my Lord Count.”

A small-framed older man immediately knelt when he saw me. He appeared to be the county’s administrator.

He fidgeted nervously while watching my expression, and only retreated after Ember gestured to him. Even as he backed away, he kept monitoring my mood.

I only allowed myself a bitter smile after he had completely withdrawn.

“That’s a bit excessive. Though I suppose from their perspective, I must seem like an occupying force that removed their former master.”

“Actually, that’s not the reason.”

“…?”

Ember hesitated briefly before carefully revealing that the timid man was actually related to the Delirose family.

“He’s one of Count Delirose’s half-brothers. An illegitimate child. Apparently, he’s been serving the county as a retainer for a long time. Naturally, he wasn’t treated as family.”

“That’s common enough.”

“Yes. He was almost caught up in the punishment of the Delirose family. He was exempted after investigations confirmed he wasn’t involved in the nominee trading.”

“…”

So Count Delirose’s half-brother was now serving me. Though in reality, he was probably taking orders from Baron Hyde.

‘He has reason to be cautious.’

Half-siblings were still family, but the Empire wasn’t kind to illegitimate children.

The law wouldn’t prevent someone from acknowledging an illegitimate child, passing on property, or granting them quasi-noble status if they wished. But fundamentally, they were treated poorly. In most noble houses, they were simply regarded as convenient retainers.

Of course, I didn’t need to take him under my wing just because his situation was unfortunate.

Ember seemed to understand this and subtly watched my reaction, probably worried I might say something like “Get rid of him immediately.”

After brief consideration, I met Ember’s gaze.

Her large, clear blue eyes calmly observed me.

“Ember. Is he competent?”

“Father seems to think so. He’s been the administrator managing livestock numbers in the villages outside the main estate for nearly 15 years. I just learned since coming here that livestock in rural villages…”

“Is important. It’s their biggest asset.”

“That’s why Father wants to keep him on if possible.”

After a moment’s thought, I decided to confirm just one thing.

“Was he planning to flee to other countries with Count Delirose? I haven’t paid attention since dismantling the Count’s family.”

“The Intelligence Office said he wasn’t.”

“Then he can stay employed.”

I nodded readily. Ember’s expression brightened slightly.

It wasn’t just about showing mercy to accommodate the overworked Baron Hyde.

Though it’s hypocritical coming from someone who cracked the Hero’s skull and slaughtered 200 beastkin, I generally preferred to minimize casualties.

‘No need to drive away someone who’s still sane and working properly.’

I thought of the more than thirty lords who had entered into futures transactions with me, and those who had refused and left.

In truth, most of those lords would have governed their territories normally, passed their titles to their sons, and died peacefully if not for Cordana.

Of course, considering the damage they caused after being corrupted by Cordana, I couldn’t show them mercy. But I didn’t want to harm those without real power. Especially not when they were necessary resources for a territory short on manpower.

‘And… yes.’

It was also for Ember, who was watching me intently. How difficult must it be for someone who had studied administration for less than a year to help govern a county?

Ember suddenly exclaimed as if she’d just remembered something.

“Oh, Erick. Would it be alright to prepare a banquet this evening? It’s your first visit since your promotion, so it doesn’t seem right to let it pass without celebration.”

“That’s fine. I came here to rest anyway.”

I had expected to be swamped with work as soon as I arrived at the estate, but fortunately, Ember seemed intent on letting me rest. Or perhaps the Hyde family had been working hard in my absence. Either way, I had no reason to decline.

“Are the cooks here any good?”

“I think so… but I guess we’ll find out later?”

What kind of answer is that? When I gave her a puzzled look, Ember confessed with a forlorn expression that she “had never been properly served a banquet,” explaining she’d been too busy with work to enjoy leisurely meals lasting a couple of hours.

‘She’s been quite busy too.’

Now I understood why she had greeted me so enthusiastically.

***

I mentioned Selin’s warhammer to Ember after dinner had concluded.

It had been a grand meal with the Hyde family and some of their retainers.

Fortunately, the food itself was satisfactory. The cooks who had previously only made sandwiches had clearly made an extra effort. After the meal, Ember and I naturally moved to the garden. Though slightly under-maintained, it wasn’t bad.

I shouldn’t bring up weapons in such a pleasant atmosphere, but there was another reason.

“I got it from Selin. Well, technically I borrowed it, but when I tried to return it, she refused, saying it felt uncomfortable.”

“She might have rejected it because it felt like using a holy relic.”

It was a good weapon even apart from its symbolism. Selin’s family, though less influential than even the rural territories that had taken advances from me, produced several knights each generation because everyone in the family was born with natural fighting talent.

Such a family wouldn’t have given their precious daughter an ordinary weapon. But I hadn’t mentioned it just to brag about the weapon.

“Actually, I’ve known about the grudge between you and Selin for a while. I’ve known for some time but I’m only mentioning it now.”

Ember, who had been chatting cheerfully until just a moment ago, fell temporarily silent.

She didn’t seem to be anxiously watching my reaction. We’d moved past that stage long ago. But she couldn’t help feeling some complex emotions.

“Somehow, I’ve settled things with Selin. We called it even after I took her hammer.”

I had never formally reconciled with Selin. We would never return to the days when we were deployed in the same unit for almost every mission, or when we drank all night after completing long-term assignments.

But the relationship between an Imperial noble and a knight of outstanding skill—that much was possible. In fact, when we were hunting beastkin, Selin had diligently transported the ones I captured.

And for Ember, who had been influenced by Selin, there was even less reason for concern.

Though we had already resolved our past conflicts, I wanted to explicitly confirm it once more. To say that there was absolutely no reason for her to feel uncomfortable in my presence.

Above all, she no longer needed to be careful about her behavior around me. This was what I really wanted to convey.

Ember seemed to understand my meaning.

“I don’t have any feelings about Selin either. At least not anymore.”

After inadvertently forgiving Selin, we spent time talking about trivial matters.

We chatted about Silvina, the crazy elf who stole the beastkin’s prey, and about the female knight that Commander Waynelight had tried to set me up with. Ember hesitated briefly at this point, but her expression soon relaxed again.

“She’s ten years older than me. The commander couldn’t understand why I disliked the idea.”

“But he still sent you salt, right? That was a relief. Though with that amount…”

“It’s pocket change for him. Actually, I’m not sure if it’s pocket change or a fortune. His sense of money is different.”

I deliberately avoided mentioning what was happening in the Imperial Capital, and Ember likewise didn’t bring up news of her relatives. It wasn’t something we had agreed upon—we just naturally avoided these topics. Mentioning them would only dampen the mood.

“Erick, how about touring the territory tomorrow? Actually, I haven’t mentioned it, but there are some matters you need to handle personally.”

“That sounds good.”

As I answered, I briefly worried about what might be happening in the world outside the county, but decided not to look into it.

Nothing serious could happen in just a few days, right?