episode_0109

Miss Eleonore is acting strange!

Recently, the most talked-about topic among the servants of the Beaureng Estate was this.

Even the gardeners who tended to the estate’s gardens.

The chefs who prepared their meals.

Not to mention the butlers and maids who served them up close.

Whenever they gathered, they would exchange worried conversations in hushed voices.

Although it was just the talk of the lowly workers, their sheer numbers had naturally made the atmosphere of the estate a bit peculiar.

Despite the return of the precious youngest daughter to her hometown, the Beaureng Estate was shrouded in a strange tension.

The Beaureng Viscount’s family oversees the western part of the empire.

Of course, there was no official decree designating them as such. The imperial family did not command them to oversee the west.

From the Galatea Imperial Palace, only the title of Baron in charge of guarding the borders was bestowed, and there was no justification for the head of the Beaureng family to command the west.

However, the nobles of the west were united under the Beaureng family.

In fact, it wasn’t just Beaureng who held the title of Viscount over the vast plains of the west. There were a few noble families with similar prestige.

Yet, despite the presence of these noble families, the loyalty of the western nobles, even to families of the same rank as the Viscount, remained with Beaureng.

This loyalty was not merely a tradition passed down through generations from a forgotten past.

From ancient times, the west had been considered the granary of the continent. If the harvest in the west was poor, the entire continent would suffer.

Before the rise of Galatea, a kingdom that was the loser of the continent fell into ruin due to consecutive poor harvests in the west, as recorded in history.

Such was the power of the vast plains of the west. Therefore, vast amounts of wealth circulated above the golden fields.

Although industrialization and modernization were gradually progressing due to the development of magic stones, this world was still a backwater feudal empire in a fantasy world.

It was a time when one had to take care to ensure that the Bell Epoch’s hair was slightly visible. It was a time when grain prices were most important to feed the growing population.

It was still a time when the economic hegemony was in the hands of agriculture.

So, the saying that even dogs on the streets in the west carried gold coins in their mouths was not just a rumor among the capital’s people.

Humans, as animals, were not creatures who would easily give up the temptation of shining wealth for the sake of a mere sense of dignity passed down through generations.

The land of the west was no different.

To claim dominion over the vast plains, factions that claimed to be the masters of the west would periodically rise.

Yet, the fact that the Beaureng Viscount firmly held onto the leadership of the west.

That the western nobles still united under Beaureng.

Beaureng had protected the wealth and honor of the west from ancient times, and this principle was still ongoing.

The Beaureng Viscount had protected the land of the west from the barren and desolate lands beyond the rugged mountains.

When the growing Galatea Empire reached out to swallow the granary of the west, it was Beaureng who sacrificed their own bloodline to preserve the autonomy of the west.

Therefore, there was no clear reason for a new power to challenge Beaureng, who firmly held onto the leadership of the west.

The western nobles who had tasted the sweet fruits under Beaureng had no reason to venture into adventure.

Since the disbandment of the noble soldiers, only Beaureng had their own armed forces, and any unseemly movements had disappeared.

Well… whatever the truth may be.

For the people of the west, the name Beaureng held a special significance. Beaureng was their protector, their ruler, and their master.

More so than an emperor whose face they did not know, Albert, the Baron who visited the western cities every harvest festival, was a greater presence to them.

Therefore, the servants working at the Beaureng Viscount’s estate showed infinite loyalty to the Beaureng family, as if it were their own family. They loved, suffered, and endured together.

It was to the extent that such words came out of their mouths.

“Our lady… What kind of ordeal has she experienced in the capital…”

The situation was serious.

Of course, the servants had also heard of the mysterious incident that had occurred to the lady in the capital.

Suffering from an unknown illness.

At the brink of death from the fever, she wandered aimlessly and returned with the price of losing all her memories.

And now.

“Ha….”

Under the sunny summer sky,

Lady Eleonore sat in the shade of a parasol in the garden, sighing deeply with just a teacup in front of her.

The steam rising from the teacup was no longer visible, despite the hot weather.

The maids and servants standing behind her watched her with concern, but they could only observe her in silence.

Seeing Lady Eleonore after a long time, she appeared more mature than in their last memory. When she left, she waved with a girl’s smile, but upon her return, she greeted them as a dignified lady.

Therefore, it was difficult for them to approach her easily. Even Lady Ojene, who had been accompanying Lady Eleonore, and even the maid Sophie, had temporarily returned to their own territories and hometowns.

“Um…. Lady.”

Approaching cautiously, Lady Eleonore’s lady’s maid, Marda, spoke, causing Lady Eleonore to startle.

“Oh, um. Why?”

“The black tea in the teacup has cooled down. Shall I warm it up for you?”

“Huh? Black tea?”

And only then did Lady Eleonore check the teacup in front of her.

The black tea inside the teacup remained as it was, with no signs of cooling down. The teacup was clean, with no tea stains on the rim.

“Oh…. right. I have something to think about.”

Lady Eleonore smiled lightly, then quickly grabbed the teacup and gulped down the lukewarm black tea. The bitter taste of the cold tea filled her mouth, causing Lady Eleonore to scrunch up her beautiful face.

Although the sight was quite comical, none of the servants around her could even muster a smile. They only looked at their lady with worried eyes.

“Oh, Lady. Have some sweet cookies.”

“Um, thanks, Marda. Ugh… it’s bitter….”

“Lady…. if you drink black tea in one go….”

That’s right.

Lady Eleonore was truly acting strange!

Thanks to the incident that happened that morning, the story had gained even more power among the mansion’s servants.

When Lady Eleonore’s mind was in turmoil due to her relationship with Dmitri,

Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate for her, Dmitri himself was busy with his own affairs.

Starting with the provisions to be brought back on the way to the north,

Discussing with the officials of Beauregard how much food was needed to survive the coming winter.

He also met with scholars from the west to inquire if there were seeds that could grow well even in the harsh climate of the north.

And most importantly, his current schedule was to impress the nobles of the west by standing by Aubert Blancbaek’s side.

“To think I could see the Empire’s sword in person….”

The eyes of the elderly nobleman he faced were filled with emotion. Just by looking at his eyes, Dmitri could tell that the trembling hand reaching out to shake hands was not due to old age.

“You’ve made me feel like a child again with this display.”

Despite the significant age difference, Dmitri smiled slightly and replied to the nobleman who looked up to him so much.

In the territory of Galatea, the only place where constant conflicts occurred was here in the western lands. Unlike the peaceful and serene landscapes of the Golden Valley, the people of the west had a rather rough demeanor.

Even the elderly nobleman standing beside Aubert, with his white hair, had a robust physique that could still hold his own on the battlefield.

The strength in the grip of the hand reaching out to shake hands was enough to show that this old man was not to be underestimated.

“Will the Viscount finally be at ease now? To receive such a sturdy companion.”

The nobleman’s wife standing beside him smiled and spoke. As the nobleman chuckled, Dmitri glanced at Aubert, but Aubert only smirked without saying a word.

At the time when Lady Eleonore’s mind was in turmoil due to her relationship with Dmitri,

Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate for her, Dmitri himself was busy with his own affairs.

Starting with the provisions to be brought back on the way to the north,

Discussing with the officials of Beauregard how much food was needed to survive the coming winter.

He also met with scholars from the west to inquire if there were seeds that could grow well even in the harsh climate of the north.

And most importantly, his current schedule was to impress the nobles of the west by standing by Aubert Blancbaek’s side.

“To think I could see the Empire’s sword in person….”

The eyes of the elderly nobleman he faced were filled with emotion. Just by looking at his eyes, Dmitri could tell that the trembling hand reaching out to shake hands was not due to old age.

“You’ve made me feel like a child again with this display.”

Despite the significant age difference, Dmitri smiled slightly and replied to the nobleman who looked up to him so much.

In the territory of Galatea, the only place where constant conflicts occurred was here in the western lands. Unlike the peaceful and serene landscapes of the Golden Valley, the people of the west had a rather rough demeanor.

Even the elderly nobleman standing beside Aubert, with his white hair, had a robust physique that could still hold his own on the battlefield.

The strength in the grip of the hand reaching out to shake hands was enough to show that this old man was not to be underestimated.

“Will the Viscount finally be at ease now? To receive such a sturdy companion.”

The nobleman’s wife standing beside him smiled and spoke. As the nobleman chuckled, Dmitri glanced at Aubert, but Aubert only smirked without saying a word.

Recently, it had been a repetition of such encounters.

In the morning, discussing official matters with Beauren’s officials, and in the afternoon and evening, marking their presence in front of the nobles who came to visit.

In the meantime, Dimitri, who had resolved to be recognized by Eleanor, naturally felt uneasy as the time spent facing Ellie in the unfamiliar land decreased.

At that moment when Obert led the noble who looked at him with a sullen expression elsewhere,

Etleros approached him, slumping wearily into a chair.

“Are you feeling very tired, Your Grace?”

Having grown quite comfortable handling official duties together, Etleros spoke. Dimitri ran his hand through his neatly swept bangs and replied,

“Sigh… Dealing with nobles is something I still can’t quite get used to.”

“But aren’t the people here better than the commoners in the capital?”

“Well, that’s true.”

Indeed.

The nobles in the west were more akin to those who were closer to being commoners than nobility.

Moreover, in a broad sense, they were meant to become his people.

However, no matter how much that was the case, it wasn’t exactly comfortable to be so welcoming to strangers.

Etleros, who had come closer to him, glanced around with his blue eyes and then spoke softly.

“By the way, Your Grace.”

“Why are you speaking so seriously all of a sudden?”

Although Dimitri responded with a hint of humor to his serious tone, eventually, Etleros’ deep blue eyes flashed as he faced Dimitri.

“It’s about Ellie. She’s acting very strange lately.”