Chapter 117

The Hartmann ducal territory.

The exact scale of the territory governed by the Duke was not known.

In the original work, only a few lines were written about the ducal territory.

-One of the reasons the royal family could not ignore the Duke of Hartmann was precisely the vast territory of Hartmann.

Nobility and royalty do not pay taxes by virtue of owning fiefs.

However, the people living on that land, from the moment the land is granted to a noble, effectively borrow the crops and game that come from the noble's land.

Thus, naturally, farmers and hunters had to offer a certain portion of their yield.

The wider the land and the more people there were, the more abundant the storehouse of the noble who owned the land became.

That's why, generally, nobles desperately try to protect their territories.

The royal family was well aware of this fact,

And this aspect was clearly revealed in the letter Amelia had brought.

"W-what k-kind of r-response came?"

"Would you like to read it yourself?"

Amelia's eyes rolled quickly as she took the letter.

"It s-says they'll e-examine the H-Hartmann f-finances and then r-return the t-territory."

"That's about right."

"It's a p-pretext."

Pretext.

A noble who owns a territory has the obligation to be responsible for it.

They are responsible for the security within the territory, implement relief measures during famine on their own, and prevent the mass migration of residents.

Of course, this was a very fundamental principle.

Most nobles were busy exploiting the territory's residents.

Marriage? Go ahead and breed to increase the labor force.

Death? If there's no suitable adult male relative within the territory when someone dies, all property goes to the noble who owns the land.

Robbers? Thieves? Don't bother the great lord with such trivial matters.

Most maintained such a stance, so at a time like this, there weren't many people who would talk about a lord's duties.

Amelia fell into thought, holding the letter.

"B-but according t-to this letter. It s-seems like an i-inspector or someone w-will come to the d-ducal territory soon."

"That's probably the case."

And who would take on the role of the inspector was as clear as day without even looking.

Amelia, seemingly unaware of this, poured out her concerns.

"If the r-royal family f-finds fault with Y-Your Grace's assets or c-capabilities, then..."

"That's right. I suppose even from the Lady's perspective, I seem insufficient to govern all of that ducal territory well."

"M-managing a c-castle and a t-territory are entirely d-different matters. I c-could teach you q-quickly, even if..."

"One way or another, don't you think it would be difficult for me to take the lead completely?"

Amelia immediately nodded.

Even if there were no issues to be picked on by the inspector, it was uncertain whether the return process would pass. Unfortunately, he was not flawless as a lord.

He was young, had no experience in territory management, and hadn't even shown his face in social circles.

And hadn't the family once gone completely bankrupt?

He asked Amelia.

"What do you think would be best for me to do?"

"That..."

She hesitated, then said.

"It's j-just my p-personal opinion, but. S-since there's a l-limit to improving finances. You c-could s-submit a plan that c-could improve the t-territory compared to the p-past."

"That doesn't sound bad. It's rather good."

"T-then starting right now, h-how about v-visiting a v-village that used to be p-part of the t-territory..."

"That's good. Let's take a look. But can we request the temple's help for touring the territory?"

"W-what kind of h-help?"

"I've heard that while it's forbidden to raise private soldiers unless one is a noble with permission, the Central Temple possesses a Holy Knight Order."

"I-it's s-similar. Are you a-asking for a f-favor this time?"

"No, my own knight should be sufficient for now. But please contact the nearby temple in advance."

"But t-they might r-respond that m-mobilization would be d-difficult."

Hmm.

He traced his memory for a moment.

"Let's do this. First, emphasize that it's about the Dikenter Mountains, and suggest that it would be a good opportunity for knights who are going on pilgrimages. Also mention that they'll likely encounter many demonic beasts. And slightly mention a donation. I'll leave it to you."

Amelia slightly bowed her head and turned around.

Ah, right. He almost forgot.

"Lady Arnold."

"Y-yes?"

"If you have time later, could you tell me what it was like when you were sick?"

"...Pardon? M-me?"

For the first time, Amelia showed an expression that seemed to say, 'I want to smack you one.'

He already knew it was impolite to ask such a question to someone who had been an actual patient.

Seeing Amelia's cold reaction, the snowman, who was playing alone at the table beside his bed, muttered.

"No human heart. My worshipper, not human."

"I don't want to hear that from you."

Aside from such incidents, preparations for the territory patrol were going smoothly.

Leandros, as always, silently accepted his mission and departed for the inspection.

Thanks to riding Sleigh, the time required for the inspection wasn't long.

Upon returning, Leandros submitted a report summarizing the state of the villages that had once been part of the territory, the number of demonic beast intrusions, and encounters with thieves and bandits.

The report was clean and concise, making it good reading for him, who was bedridden.

He urged Arndt to study the report thoroughly.

And about a week after that.

The royal inspector arrived at Hartmann Castle.

To be precise, Yurik den Menadia, who had come to play the role of 'inspector.'

* * *

Leandros had expected an inspector from the royal palace, but he didn't know it would be the Crown Prince.

So naturally, Leandros, who had been waiting in front of the castle gate, became displeased when he spotted Yurik from afar.

Conversely, Crown Prince Yurik looked very much in a good mood.

Though he drove his horse leisurely as if out for a stroll, a gentle smile overflowed on his face.

"Well, if it isn't Sir Leandros. You shouldn't be out here greeting me."

"As His Grace the Duke of Hartmann is unwell, I, who have met Your Highness before, came out."

"The Duke is always sickly. That's good for me. Because I get to see a face I've missed."

Not that it's good to see a missed face, but that it's good the Duke is sick?

Leandros swallowed the urge to ask that back.

Besides Leandros, other ducal employees had come out to greet Yurik, but Yurik acted as if only Leandros was present.

Yurik, who leaped down from the black horse adorned with elaborate trappings, examined Leandros's icy face.

"Aren't you surprised to see me?"

"I am surprised, Your Highness."

"You don't look surprised."

"My face is always like this. I'll escort you inside."

Leandros, who disliked mingling words any further, turned around first.

His own footsteps, Yurik's footsteps.

Was the reason even the overlap of two types of sounds felt abhorrent because of what His Grace had told him in the north?

Leandros, suppressing the urge to strangle Yurik immediately, guided him to the reception room.

Yurik looked around the well-maintained interior, then sat on the teal sofa and smirked.

"It's much tidier than when I last saw it. Less extravagant. Quite noticeably cared for."

The last time the Crown Prince visited here.

Leandros maintained silence, exercising superhuman patience while keeping his gaze elsewhere.

Yurik, seemingly not pleased with Leandros's lack of response, pouted.

It was quite an affected behavior.

"Even if the new Duke of Hartmann is unwell, it's not right to keep a visitor waiting like this."

"I apologize."

"He should have at least provided a servant for conversation. What if I grow old and die here? How will he take responsibility? Perhaps I should directly go to the Duke's office..."

While Yurik was in the middle of taunting.

With a knock, knock sound, the reception room door was flung open.

Standing beyond the door were two people.

Arndt and Arenheit.

Arndt was carefully supporting Arenheit while holding a stack of documents,

And Arenheit was covering his mouth with a white handkerchief that had come from somewhere.

His complexion was so pale that he looked like he might collapse at any moment.

Arenheit raised his head, then showed a surprised expression upon seeing Yurik.

"I am honored to meet Your Highness the Crown Prince. I heard the royal family was sending an inspector, but why has Your Highness personally come to this humble place?"

"I decided to oversee this matter myself. But Duke, I heard you were unwell, but..."

Before Yurik could finish his sentence, Arenheit burst into a cough.

Arndt, standing beside him, looked as if he was about to die from pity.

After coughing a few more times, Arenheit murmured.

"I apologize, Your Highness. I've been unwell since birth, and the ducal territory's night air is cold..."

"You caught a cold because the air is cold?"

"Yes. My lungs are weak, you see."

"The Duke didn't cover himself with a blanket well, so,"

"Cough! Cough, cough, cough!"

"It's not that,"

"Cough! Cough! Cough!"

"...Are you in a state to have a conversation right now?"

Arndt promptly responded to Yurik's exasperated question.

"I apologize, Your Highness. His Grace has just risen after being severely ill, so his sickly appearance is still evident. He almost collapsed several times on his way here, so I implore you to bestow the vast forgiveness of the ocean."

"You almost collapsed because of a mere cold?"

"He suffered from a cold along with a fever. His muscles are weak, so the fact that he can walk is a miracle."

"Didn't you just say his lungs were weak?"

"His muscles are weak too."

In the meantime, as Arenheit staggered, Arndt spoke as if he was spitting blood.

"With such weakness...! Your Highness, it's because His Grace hasn't eaten for a long time. Please forgive the rudeness!"

"He couldn't even eat? Why on earth?"

"His stomach is also weak, so food doesn't go in at all!"

"Weak lungs, no muscles, and a weak stomach? Is there any healthy part in the Duke?"

"Cough! Cough, cough, cough! Cough! Khhhh, khaaaak!"

"Your Grace! Oh, Your Grace! You mustn't lose consciousness here!"

It was a mess.

Leandros and Yurik, lost for words, blankly stared at Arenheit, who seemed about to collapse, and Arndt, who was wailing.

Arenheit, with trembling hands, barely removed the handkerchief from his mouth.

"Your Highness, I am concerned that with my condition, I might pass an illness to you... If it's alright with you, may I have my servant and Sir Leandros explain on my behalf?"

Me?

Leandros's head turned toward Arenheit.

Upon hearing the plea of Arenheit, who looked like he might not last the day, Yurik waved his hand with a completely disgusted expression.

"Fine, I don't want to be accused of assassinating the Duke after coming here, so withdraw."

"I am m-most h-humble, khhhh, khhhh, khhhh, khhhh!"

As if they had been waiting for those words, Arndt and Arenheit moved swiftly.

After guiding Arenheit to an employee, Arndt closed the reception room door and sat opposite Yurik.

Leandros slipped into a seat beside Arndt and whispered so quietly that Yurik couldn't hear.

"Since when has His Grace been this ill? Surely, even until last night..."

As Leandros recalled, Arenheit had been lying in bed flipping through a book with a bright red cover until last night.

How could he be this sick just a few hours after waking up?

But Arndt, who heard Leandros's whisper, simply kicked Leandros's foot under the table without losing his smile.

What was going on?

As Leandros wondered, Yurik said to Arndt with sharp eyes.

"The return of the ducal territory is indeed a difficult matter. After the previous Duke of Hartmann lost his title, the ownership of the territory reverted to the royal family. However, I understand the logic behind the current Duke of Hartmann's request for the return of the past ducal territory after his restoration."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"If a lord cannot govern his territory, the damage extends not only to the residents but also to the kingdom at large. Prove it. Does Hartmann have the ability to manage the territory well if it's returned?"

"Yes, His Grace has also been deeply concerned about that issue. Before I speak, Sir Leandros will report on the current state of the villages and towns that were once part of the Hartmann ducal territory."

"Sir Leandros? Let's hear it."

Me?

Leandros blinked at the sudden designation.

Arndt nodded, tilting his head minutely towards Crown Prince Yurik.

When Leandros looked at Yurik, Yurik's sharp gaze had disappeared without a trace.

Instead, his face showed that he found this immensely amusing.

'Damn it.'

Only then did Leandros realize why he was sitting here.

Arenheit was using him as a 'Yurik's carrot' to soothe Yurik's mood.