Chapter 411: The Great Lord (Not a Grand Duke) of the North (3)

Half of the empire is directly ruled by the great imperial family, while the other half is governed by nobles who have received the imperial family’s grace. The imperial direct territories within the empire are so vast that there’s even a joke that you could form an army with just the local officers managing the imperial direct territories.

I, too, lived as one of those numerous local officers. I lived as a mere civil servant who received the surname Gelbain from the imperial family and the name Alfred from my parents.

A civil servant. That was my identity. A being too far from titles to comfortably call myself a noble, yet one who lived with the pride of being a civil servant, not a noble. That was me, Alfred Gelbain.

It was a decent life.

Though I lived not as a glorious noble but as a silently dedicated civil servant, it was a life without regrets. Thanks to the grace of the Retired Emperor who highly valued someone like me, I rose to become the chief local officer of a region.

Although I had to step down from the position of chief local officer as the Wiridia region I was in charge of was granted to a noble, I felt regret, but not resentment. If I became a chief local officer, I truly did as much as I could and rose as high as I could. I reached the peak in this field and was honorably stepping down.

Of course, since it’s an honorable retirement not due to my mistake, I might receive a new position after waiting, but I can’t guarantee how long that wait will be. There are no vacancies for chief local officer positions, so I wanted to retire completely this time. It’s harmful to juniors if someone who has enjoyed their share clings to a position without duties.

Yes, I was planning to retire, but…

What is this?

What’s going on?

I’m confused. I can’t understand this situation—my situation of kneeling before the Count of Wiridia, the Minister of Inspection.

“Alfred Gelbain. You have excellently managed the Wiridia region with the trust of the imperial family, to the extent that even the Retired Emperor was satisfied.”

I stared blankly at the floor as the Count of Wiridia held a sword over my head. I was terrified when he suddenly summoned me and drew his sword, but now bewilderment fills my chest.

“Wiridia was once a frontier bordering hostile forces. Thus, it suffered considerable damage during the great subjugation war five years ago, but your abilities allowed it to recover from those wounds.”

It’s embarrassing praise, but I didn’t deny it. As the Count of Wiridia said, Wiridia, as a northern outskirt, suffered various hardships, and despair loomed before our eyes during the Great Northern War five years ago. Overcoming those difficulties and normalizing Wiridia is my pride and life’s achievement.

“Therefore, I, as the rightful great lord permitted to reign over Wiridia, declare.”

Saying this, the Count of Wiridia lightly tapped my head and shoulders with the sword that had been over my head.

“I, Carl Krasius of Wiridia, will make Alfred Gelbain the Viscount of Kisele. Simultaneously, I appoint the Viscount of Kisele as the chief steward, so you shall use your abilities for Wiridia.”

My bewilderment grew at the calmly continuing declaration.

Viscount? Chief steward? These are words I can’t comprehend. It’s too much honor for a mere civil servant who’s embarrassed to even call himself a noble to handle. To begin with, the Count of Wiridia and I just met for the first time.

“M-My lord. This order is too generous. Me, a viscount?”

Without realizing it, my hands and feet started trembling, and I even stuttered.

But I had no time to worry about such minor abnormalities. Right now, understanding the Count of Wiridia’s true intentions is the priority.

What on earth is this?

However, no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t grasp his true intentions. Surely the Count of Wiridia isn’t teasing a local officer who’s only looking forward to retirement, and there’s no reason to tease me, either.

The problem is, if it’s not even teasing, then there’s really no reason for this. It’s the first time I’ve wished it were just a prank by a noble with a twisted personality.

“Considering your dedication to Wiridia, this is not excessive at all. Where in this empire is there someone more proficient in Wiridia’s affairs than you?”

As I was hastily organizing my thoughts, the Count of Wiridia patted my shoulder and spoke gently.

“When Great Emperor Amanca founded the empire with the Mandate of Heaven, he dealt with people strictly based on ability and merit, not origin or personal connections. I, too, as a noble of the empire, am following the Great Emperor’s beautiful will.”

Then, he personally placed something in my hand, which was still bowed.

A seal?

It’s a seal. Not the plain seal I used as a local officer, but a somewhat ornate one.

“What I’m bestowing upon you is not excessive at all. You’re receiving the reward for your dedication to the imperial family and Wiridia, which even His Majesty the Emperor deems appropriate.”

At those words, my hands began to tremble for a different reason than before.

I thought I had done enough. I thought I had risen as high as I could. I thought it was time to retire honorably and watch my children succeed.

But the noble before me denied that. He said I still have work to do, that there are still places to rise, that the life I’ve run shouldn’t stop here.

Dedication and reward.

Something welled up inside me. My life was recognized by someone I just met. Even His Majesty the Emperor acknowledged it.

I slowly turned my head to look at the seal in my hand. If I accept this seal, I will become a titled noble. My children, too, become children of a titled noble, not of a civil servant.

As a reward for nothing else but my life.

“…I will serve Your Lordship until the day I die.”

And now, the life I should pursue must become that of a noble who burns his life, not a silently dedicated civil servant.

“Don’t say such ominous things. When you get old, you should retire and rest, shouldn’t you?”

I bowed my head even lower at His Lordship’s words mixed with laughter.

As someone who has received such grace, I dare not rest.

I returned home at His Lordship’s words that there was no urgent business and so I should go home. To a place that’s luxurious compared to where ordinary commoner families live, but can’t be compared to noble mansions.

It was an expensive house when I built it.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. This house was built by investing most of the wealth I accumulated as a local officer. It was meant to be my comfortable retirement home.

Surprisingly, in just one day, I’ve gained something far beyond this house. A viscounty included with the viscount title, a castle in the center of the viscounty, a mansion prepared for smooth operations as the chief steward, and so on. I’ve acquired things that couldn’t be obtained even with hundreds or thousands of houses like this.

I should make this a vacation home.

With that thought, I leisurely entered the house. Although it had become the least valuable among my assets, it held the most sentimental value.

“Huh? Father, you’re home already?”

As soon as I entered the mansion, Lana welcomed me.

My most intelligent child, who proudly decided to follow in my footsteps as a local officer.

…

“Lana.”

“Yes. What is it?”

“Don’t go to the capital. Work in Wiridia.”

“What?”

Lana blinked blankly at my words. Her expression seemed to ask what on earth I was talking about.

I understand. When Lana decided to become a local officer like me, I told her to go to the capital and take the exam no matter what. It’s true that starting in the capital is advantageous for future appointments. It also helps in building connections.

But strictly considering appointments and connections is ultimately for career advancement. If you’re going to become a local officer anyway, isn’t it more rewarding to rise to the highest position possible?

For career advancement, Wiridia is more advantageous.

However, His Lordship the Count appointed me, whom he just met, as a viscount. He didn’t consider other conditions. He’s simply employing those he deems useful.

If that’s the case, there’s no need to go to the distant capital with its many competitors. Showing one’s abilities by the Count’s side is more advantageous for career advancement.

“Um, Father? I do like Wiridia because it’s familiar and I have many friends there, but why suddenly…?”

Lana, who had been blinking for a while, cautiously asked. Fortunately, she doesn’t seem to have any aversion to staying in Wiridia.

“The reason to go to the capital has disappeared.”

“Pardon?”

“Look at this first.”

I took out the viscount’s seal from my breast pocket and showed it to Lana.

The reactions of Lana and the rest of my family that day will be unforgettable for the rest of my life.

After successfully capturing—no, appointing the chief steward, I felt much more at ease.

The chief steward is undoubtedly the second-in-command of the territory. When the lord is in the territory, they serve as the lord’s primary advisor and strategist, and when the lord is absent, they act as a proxy and played a crucial role.

And I’m obviously someone who will spend overwhelmingly more days in the capital than in the territory. As such, the presence of a capable and diligent chief steward was essential.

It’s fortunate that there was just the right person.

In that sense, the chief steward I appointed this time is a heaven-sent figure for me. He has extensive knowledge about Wiridia, rich experience, and will likely have a decent level of loyalty to the person who gave him a title.

Crucially, he won’t complain even if I’m absent since his original job was managing Wiridia. He’s doing his original job with a title and position. He might even express gratitude, right?

Now, I just need to fill the other positions.

I lowered my gaze to the documents in my hand. I’ve appointed the chief steward, but that’s just the beginning. There are many more positions needed to run a territory.

Just off the top of my head, there’s the head butler, head maid, treasurer, secretary, captain of the guard, stable master. If I go into more detail, the list would double.

…There’s a lot.

Damn, when am I going to fill all these positions?

Should I just appoint all the general local officers who are going to other regions? Of course, if I did such a thing, the Emperor would punch me in the solar plexus saying, ‘That’s enough of your nonsense.’ I might be able to take the chief local officer who’s about to become unemployed, but the general local officers are workforce needed immediately.

“My lord.”

As I was considering kidnapping vassals’ family members from Tailglehen if there weren’t enough people, I heard the chief steward’s voice from outside the door.

“What is it?”

“Count Kaitana has arrived.”

I stood up at those words. As expected, Count Kaitana was the first of the thirteen to arrive.

He came quickly.

I let out a small sigh. Starting with Count Kaitana, all the great lords in the North will arrive at the Wiridia County. When that happens, it means we’re moving forward to a point of no return.

No, in fact, we’re already in a situation we can’t turn back from.

The northern faction.

My head throbbed. The reason the northern great lords are coming to Wiridia is to form a faction. There’s no more certain way to form a faction than having the faction members gather in one place to swear friendship and cooperation.

And the great lords gathering in Wiridia don’t plan to just say ‘We had a good time’ and return home after forming the faction. The Emperor’s ascension celebration banquet will be held soon, so they’ll have to move again to go to the capital even if they return to their territories.

In other words, Wiridia will have to host thirteen great lords until the banquet is held.

At the same time, I will have to enter the banquet hall leading thirteen great lords at the ascension celebration banquet, where the empire’s nobles will gather.

Wow.

My mind became dizzy. Entering the banquet hall leading a faction… isn’t that a blatant show of power no matter how you look at it?

I’m afraid of how other nobles will see me.