“Lord Marius is also a Marquis. He’ll need dedicated attendants soon. We’ll also need to procure an estate for him.”
Bernhardt III’s remark ignited a new fire.
For Counts, it was acceptable to maintain their position as retainers of the Royal Family, Dukes, or Marquises. This was the current state of affairs in the Kingdom of Filat, where barons and viscounts, possessing little territory and living on court stipends, were not uncommon.
Conversely, Dukes and Marquises, as high-ranking nobles, had the duty to assist the Royal Family and command the lower nobility. Whether Counts were considered high or low-ranking varied by country, but in Filat, they leaned towards the latter. This explained why Marius had never had dedicated attendants and could reside in the royal palace. Even appointing a governor to manage his territory had not been a particular issue.
(Either way, it’s impossible for me.)
Marius had given up from the start. He lacked the confidence to surpass even Lovisa, who would be classified as “immature” in matters of political maneuvering. Having chosen to enter the heart of the nation, he felt he had to accept certain things to some extent.
(Otherwise, I’d just be selfish…)
That was something he wanted to avoid.
“Lord Marius, would you select at least two dedicated attendants and an Executive Officer for your new territory?”
“I have no acquaintances among the Executive Officers, so I can only say that I would like someone trustworthy…”
He assumed that if he made it clear that any corruption could be detected instantly with magic, it would be sufficient.
“And what about dedicated attendants? If you like, I can assign noble young ladies to you under the guise of etiquette training.”
This was, of course, likely a jest from the King. It was disappointing that he would say such a thing now, knowing it would be inappropriate.
“Personally, I would prefer Aina or Remika.”
They were somewhat familiar, and while not as beautiful as the princesses, they were certainly within the bounds of beauty. If he were to be completely honest, Emma was his preference, but he knew that was unlikely to be approved. As he thought this, he noticed a subtle shift in the atmosphere. Lovisa, for Marius’s benefit, who didn’t grasp the situation, began to explain.
“Aina might be acceptable, but Remika would be difficult. She is from the family of the executed Wilson.”
“Eh…?”
This was news to Marius, like a bolt from the blue.
“She bears no fault herself, and she is a very good girl, so she wouldn’t resent you, Lord Marius, even if she knew the truth, but…”
Her voice trailed off. Not only their personal feelings but also public perception had to be considered. Rumors could arise that she was only saved because she had used her body to gain favor with Marius.
(Would it worsen things if I tried to protect her…?)
In conflicts between women, it was rare for a man to intervene without causing further trouble. At least, that had been Marius’s experience.
“But if you don’t choose one, won’t you be criticized for that too…?”
They might say that Remika wasn’t chosen because of Wilson, “how pitiable,” feigning sympathy on the surface. Since he would be criticized either way, Marius proposed letting her make the choice herself. Remika, her face pale at the sudden summons, grit her teeth and responded. She seemed to have mistakenly thought it was her turn. After hearing the explanation and blinking several times, she spoke carefully.
“I consider it the highest honor, but if you were to choose someone like me, it would tarnish your valor and authority, Lord Marius. There are other capable individuals, so it would be wisest to choose from among them, I believe.”
To the girl who stammeringly expressed her refusal, Marius responded with a casual air.
“If it gets tarnished, it can be healed.”
Remika, unable to answer such an easygoing remark, was speechless. Others, too, were momentarily at a loss for words. Should they caution him about taking honor lightly, or should they agree, suggesting that Marius could indeed heal any damage?
“The attendants’ injuries are my injuries. Isn’t that how it works?”
Marius asked with a calm demeanor. While those around him felt intimidated by his apparent dignity, his internal thought was, “My understanding isn’t wrong, is it?” Since he couldn’t voice that thought, they acted as if nothing was amiss.
“Lord Marius is correct.”
When Bernhardt III affirmed his statement, Marius grinned defiantly.
“If there’s anyone who wants to wound me, let them come. I will repay them in kind.”
He said this, deliberately putting on a fierce expression. This was a declaration of war of sorts, and those present felt like small, helpless animals encountering a ravenous, bloodthirsty dragon. Only Remika found him incredibly reassuring. Marius smiled gently at the maid, her cheeks flushed.
“Don’t worry, just follow me.”
“Y-Yes!”
Remika nodded repeatedly, her eyes moist. She was so moved that she firmly resolved in her heart, “I will follow Lord Marius for the rest of my life.” Later, Marius would recall this moment, stating, “It was because I felt sorry for her being treated coldly through no fault of her own.”
For the estate, they would select from those who had served the Ashton Faction. An increase in the unemployed would affect the domestic economy. Although they had been employed by the Ashton Faction, only a minority had agreed with their ideology; most were motivated by the need to make a living. And Marius could discern whether they were trustworthy as individuals. If they possessed ability, experience, and were trustworthy as people, there would be no problem. This further enhanced Marius’s reputation, and the Ashtons’ notoriety only worsened, with people thinking, “They slandered such a good person.”
***
“No sign yet of what appears to be the Demon Lord’s sealing location.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
King Garius of Venuto II sighed at his vassal’s report. Places known as the “Demon Lord’s sealing locations” had a unique atmosphere, with abnormalities in the ecosystem. Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate that no such place could be found within Garius was unclear.
“I wish I could cooperate further with Filat, but…”
There seemed to be nothing more he could do. He idly thought of his two daughters. The elder was sixteen, and the younger was fourteen. Without parental bias, they were both accomplished young ladies, and it was time to decide on their marriages. King Venuto II, even without Marius, wanted to send one of them to Filat. The other he intended to marry off to a powerful domestic noble, with the throne going to his youngest son. He firmly believed this was the best course for Garius’s peace.
If he were to disregard the relationships with neighboring countries, arranging for Marius to marry one of his daughters would be ideal… The refusal of his proposal to marry a daughter to Marius was not entirely unexpected. The priorities of friendly nations did not always align. Nevertheless, Marius seemed to be a man devoid of greed or ambition. He was content with a leisurely life in a position like Marquis or Count, which seemed unsuited to his abilities, without a single complaint. However, if he were given treatment comparable to that of a great noble, it would create its own set of problems. This was likely why Seraeno and Hordia were not enthusiastic about acquiring him, he surmised.
(What concerns me more than Marius are the demon forces…)
Even though the demons and the Demon Lord had been defeated, they were disturbingly quiet. Were they in disarray due to the succession of unexpected events? The incident of the Filat King’s attack also remained a concern. While demons were the most likely culprits, the fact that it was a single attack suggested it might have been a human. If it were a demon, they should be able to command ten or twenty Wyverns; there was no reason they wouldn’t launch a second strike. This made a human culprit more likely. For humans to control monsters, they would need to be summoners or possess the special skill “Monster Taming,” but the latter was rare and not widely known. It was a skill that had faded with the spread of summoners and summoning magic. Therefore, it was often overlooked, and there was no denying the possibility of users among the Filat, Ranleo, and Boltner people.
(I should give them a word of warning.)
The younger princess had an aptitude for magic. He decided to write a letter expressing her desire to seek guidance from Marius or Princess Barra, and in a postscript, he would mention “Monster Taming.”
“Someone. Deliver this to the King of Filat.”
