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Chapter 22
“What?”
Viscount Nemar’s face turned pale in an instant.
“Guarding the border is an imperial command His Majesty granted to House Hazeit! S-surely you don’t intend to defy an imperial order…?”
“As it happens, I was planning to visit the Imperial Palace about this matter anyway, Viscount. The snowstorm that’s been such a headache has finally stopped, so the road’s open.”
“If the defenses are withdrawn, this place will be reduced to ruins in no time…!”
“The security of the Nemar territory is the responsibility of House Nemar, not Hazeit. You do have private soldiers, don’t you?”
“……”
“If you need help, come in person. The road’s clear now—whoever has business can make the trip.”
“Y-Young Lord. Even so, how can you decide something so suddenly? The lives of the entire populace are at stake…!”
“It’s my decision.”
Glenn tilted his head and smiled faintly.
“The one who gives gets to decide. Isn’t that right?”
“Th-that’s…!”
Viscount Nemar’s eyes began to brim with tears.
“Teacher, did I do well?”
Glenn’s earlobes were slightly flushed.
Grinning foolishly with his teeth showing, he looked like an overexcited large puppy.
Nineteen really is nineteen.
Arilleti, who only remembered him as the steadfast Margrave of the frontier, found this fresh-faced version of Glenn Hazeit strangely endearing.
When I was nineteen, I didn’t know how to smile like that.
Well, I never lived past nineteen in the first place.
“You did well. —Yes.”
“That’s a relief. Thank you. I learned something important thanks to you.”
Just moments ago, they had secured a written pledge from Viscount Nemar to return the money he had unjustly extorted over the years.
“Retrieve all the account books from the past twenty years of transactions with the Hazeit territory and conduct a full audit. Calculate exactly how much you’ve overcharged, Viscount. As for how we will settle relations with Nemar going forward, I will consult with my father, Count Hazeit, and notify you.”
Now that the snowstorm isolating Hazeit had ceased, there were plenty of other places to procure food and resources besides Nemar.
It was only natural that the viscount’s face had turned as white as paper.
“To be honest… I can’t say I feel entirely at ease. It feels like we’ve pushed the powerless people of this land into danger.”
Glenn scratched his brow awkwardly.
“But we have to think first of those who are truly our responsibility. If we cling to grand causes, humanitarian ideals, sacrifice—and lose our own people in the process, that would make us blind fools.”
“Still, that’s not a bad thing.”
She had spoken coldly earlier, but in truth Arilleti liked this side of him.
His inability to ignore the weak.
His conviction to uphold a greater cause.
That hopelessly upright nature that valued everyone’s peace and safety over his own gain.
Thanks to that, I survived in my second life.
Because of that, the knights and people of Hazeit trusted their young lord deeply. That trust was both Hazeit’s sword and shield.
“Don’t worry, Young Lord. We’re not going to make them cough up every last coin they swallowed.”
Though the viscount had skimmed quite a bit in the middle, House Nemar wasn’t particularly wealthy to begin with. After twenty years, it was unlikely the money remained untouched in their coffers.
To repay Hazeit in full, they would have to squeeze their own people dry—and go bankrupt in the process.
Not that I particularly care what happens to this territory.
But Glenn would carry the guilt for years.
Look at him now. His expression is already brightening, even though he’s the one who got played.
Besides, Nemar is the bridge between Hazeit and the great inland cities. The viscount’s house has built up its credit over time. Annoying as they are, it’d be wasteful to throw them away.
So better to make full use of them.
One corner of Arilleti’s lips curled upward.
“In exchange for overlooking their past abuses, tell them to offer half their annual harvest for free. If the tribute doesn’t arrive, we pull the guards immediately.”
“For how long?”
“How long? There’s no time limit.”
Unless the heavens and earth overturn, they’re bound together for life.
The goods Viscount Nemar scraped together from the lord’s granaries filled more than twenty wagons. What couldn’t be supplied in kind was paid in gold.
“Five hundred gold coins….”
Sniffling, the viscount presented a sack of gold.
“Do better from now on, understand? A lord’s supposed to protect his people. Got it?”
“I-I will remember that….”
He wiped the corners of his swollen eyes with a handkerchief.
Perhaps softened by his pitiful appearance, even Hazeit’s knights let their expressions droop.
Ugh, hopeless.
Thinking about rebuilding the territory with these people made Arilleti’s vision darken.
Glenn stepped closer and lowered his voice.
“By the way, Teacher Aril, what about the samples we brought? Weren’t we going to sell them in Nemar?”
“No. Just groundwork.”
She had never intended to truly start business here. The territory was too small to make serious money.
And there were no customers here who needed potion ingredients.
Then why did we come?
As Glenn pondered, workers handling a wagon of meat complained to Nemar’s knights.
“At this rate it’ll spoil quickly. The temperature’s been strangely high these past few days. We need to freeze it solid in the valley’s underground ice storage and pack it properly for preservation. If we transport it at room temperature, it’ll all rot.”
“So they say, Sir Hazeit….”
The viscount, already gaunt, glanced nervously at Glenn.
“Even if it takes time, we will treat these with proper cold storage and send them to Hazeit. It may take about ten days at the soonest. Would that be acceptable…?”
“What should we do, Teacher Aril?”
Arilleti shook her head, rummaged through her forsythia-yellow bag, and took out a small glass orb.
The moment she opened the lid, something trapped inside shot upward like fireworks. Fine snow particles burst outward in all directions.
“S-Snow Fairy?”
The Snow Fairy spun in the air, scattering snow powder over the wagons. A fierce gust of wind swept through. The food froze solid in an instant.
Viscount Nemar stared blankly.
“Snow Fairies are as ferocious as wild beasts—how in the world did you tame one…?”
“Viscount.”
The man who had become timid overnight jumped and turned around.
A girl with cold, sharp eyes was gazing at him.
“Spread the word. In Caspel.”
“Pardon…? What word?”
“That Hazeit has an abundance of ice-attribute potion ingredients.”
Did I just use honorifics to a child?
Yet the unwavering composure in her eyes made her seem nothing like a mere four- or five-year-old.
Her dignified posture with hands clasped behind her back. The cool teal eyes contrasting with her soft cheeks.
And the way the Hazeit party subtly deferred to her.
In truth, he had felt something odd from the moment the young lord carried her in. The way he kept asking her opinion.
She might not actually be a child.
She’s the real power. For some reason, that little girl is the true authority of Hazeit!
The moment he reached that conclusion, the viscount bent deeply at the waist.
“Understood, Teacher. May I ask your name?”
Why does he need my name?
Perplexed but seeing no reason to hide it, Arilleti answered.
“Aril.”
Aril!
The name struck the viscount’s mind like lightning.
“Leave it to me, Teacher. I’ll make sure the word spreads!”
In Hazeit… there is a master who possesses numerous ice-attribute potion ingredients. Her name is Teacher Aril!
A slogan formed instantly in his head.
O mages seeking rare materials, go to Hazeit and find Teacher Aril!
“……?”
Arilleti blinked at him, then hurried over to Glenn.
“Smile, Young Lord.”
“Huh?”
“Confidently. Don’t say anything—just smile.”
This was the perfect chance. A chance to leave a strong impression of Hazeit in the viscount’s mind.
Glenn and the knights all turned at once and grinned broadly. Sunlight and drifting snow mist shimmered brilliantly above their sturdy frames.
I didn’t tell them to give a thumbs-up.
Arilleti felt slightly embarrassed.
And the viscount’s fervent gaze was rather burdensome.
Still, part of her felt refreshed.
Now they won’t dare look down on us so easily.
