Marius becoming a Marquis was a happy ending, but it didn’t resolve everything.
First, a discussion arose about the family name.
Filat was a country where one could rise based on merit.
However, this didn’t mean that every successful person had a family name.
Indeed, many families had gone extinct.
“Someone as talented as Marius should be able to revive and inherit a prestigious family name, shouldn’t he?”
This suggestion sparked the debate.
Reviving an old, prestigious Filat noble family would greatly enhance Marius’s standing.
The proposer, Duke Emou, was from Chancellor Falk’s lineage, and the idea was genuinely well-intentioned, thus it became an agenda item.
The Bergenstein Family, whose ancestor was a celebrated hero who rose rapidly through numerous war achievements despite being of common birth.
The Richlarden Family, a prestigious magical lineage that produced two Arch-Mages of the Court and ten Mages of the Court.
The Gallibal Family, founded by the first Chancellor Fanash, and which had produced three other Chancellors.
There were many families that had tragically ended, but these three were the ones everyone agreed Marius was worthy to inherit.
When asked which he preferred, Marius was bewildered.
“They are all equally eminent families. I apologize for my indecisiveness, but it’s difficult to choose immediately…”
To Marius’s hesitant words, everyone felt an increased sense of approval.
They interpreted it as him recognizing the value of these prestigious families and considering the matter seriously.
From Marius’s perspective, however, they all looked the same, leaving him no choice but to be perplexed.
“I also have an attachment to the name Tuban.”
It was the name he had used since the start of the game.
A feeling that the people of this world would never understand.
“Isn’t it fine to just remain Tuban?”
Lovisa murmured.
Everyone exchanged confused glances.
“It’s not like Filat needs to gain prestige from Marius, but rather that Filat gains prestige because of Marius, wouldn’t you say that’s more accurate?”
Her statement was so self-evidently true that no one could refute it.
Bernhardt III spoke, wondering what their previous discussion had been about.
“What are your thoughts, Lord Marius?”
“If I don’t need to change it, then I’d prefer to stay as I am. I feel apologetic about disregarding everyone’s kind intentions.”
Marius’s words were received favorably by everyone, and they told him not to worry about it.
Thus, the family name was decided, and the next matter was the residence.
It was suggested that inheriting from an extinct family might carry bad luck, but even this was settled with a simple statement from Marius:
“I don’t worry about such things.”
The residence became that of a former noble family, with only the interior and furnishings changed.
“And now, regarding those who will manage the residence…”
Bernhardt III clapped his hands, and the doors opened, revealing women dressed in maid uniforms.
Their ages varied, from those with streaks of gray in their hair to young girls.
Aina and Remika were there, as expected, but Helka’s presence was a surprise.
There were others he recognized as well.
When Helka met Marius’s gaze, she winked, only to be admonished with a cough by Lovisa.
“Even if some of you are acquainted, please introduce yourselves one by one.”
Following the King’s command, they began to greet Marius, likely in order of age, with a bow.
“I am Amelia, formerly head maid of the Baron Duke’s household.”
Her gaze towards Marius held no particular emotion.
Perhaps due to her experience, she seemed to have already made the mental switch to a new employer.
The other experienced women also seemed to have served high nobility.
“I am Helka, formerly a maid directly serving the Princess, and I have now officially returned.”
Helka offered a smile that seemed incapable of harming a fly, but Marius’s instincts issued a warning. Why?
Next, the younger attendants introduced themselves.
“I am Aina, formerly an attendant at the Royal Palace.”
“I am Remika, also formerly an attendant at the Royal Palace.”
These were the girls Marius had specifically requested to be transferred. So far, so good. However, there were two more girls.
“I am Millie, adopted as a trainee from the Leganda Duke’s household.”
“I am Farna, also adopted as a trainee from the Galar Family.”
He remembered their faces, names, and voices.
These were the noble ladies who had nearly caused him to become “that scoundrel who showed affection to multiple women at once.”
Moreover, in Marius’s impression, they seemed to be the leaders of their group.
He wondered if their families had also fallen into ruin, when the King casually explained.
“They are all at an age where they should be undergoing etiquette training. It was decided that a place where experienced individuals gather would be most suitable.”
Marius cursed internally, “That’s not an explanation at all!”
Surely the Royal Palace would have had more experienced individuals.
Furthermore, having other girls undergoing etiquette training there would also be beneficial for building connections.
There could only be one reason for them to come to a newly risen Marquis.
(Well, they must realize that too. It’s not like they’re completely oblivious.)
He trusted the King implicitly on this matter. It seemed to be a situation where even if they knew, there was nothing they could do.
If so, then these girls were not part of the Ashton Faction, but was that too simplistic a conclusion?
(I can’t figure it out…)
Marius gave up easily.
Asking Emma or Lovisa, or simply using “Read Sink,” would solve it.
What was more problematic was why all of them were women.
Marius, who expected a diligent, older male butler for a noble household, found their selection rather surprising.
(Do I really seem that fond of women?)
He wanted to become close with Lovisa, and would be happy if he could get along with Emma and Barra.
Since making Zofi and the others his Familiars, his days had been enjoyable.
While he couldn’t entirely deny being perceived as fond of women, he had believed he was on good terms with Lucas, Nilson, and Raymond.
He had expected an explanation for this situation, but the King moved on without a word. He decided to ask Aina or Remika later.
The fact that Helka didn’t even cross his mind as an option indicated a subtle psychological blind spot of Marius’s.
“Today marks the beginning of Marquis Marius Tuban’s journey!”
Bernhardt III’s solemn declaration marked the end of the meeting.
The investiture ceremony was unusually brief for a high-ranking noble, and subsequent events were also out of the ordinary. However, if Marius objected, no one could overrule him.
Above all, Marius’s very existence was an anomaly, and anyone who harbored dissatisfaction with that fact had been purged from noble society.
There were still remnants, but they were so weakened that it was laughable to deal with them.
Marius, meanwhile, felt like saying, “Are you still planning to party?”
There had been a party during the Demonplay, and upon returning, Barra had visited within days, followed by Catherine a few days later.
While an occasional party was rare and appreciated, the high frequency now felt tiresome.
When Falk told him that it was rarer for nobles *not* to party, Marius slumped.
Marius’s emotional state hadn’t quite shed its commoner sensibilities, but he thought, “It’s better than my sense of money becoming numb,” with a sense of near resignation.
“Then, Lord Marius, if you would please follow me.”
Helka called out to him, and Marius began to walk.
Today marked the end of his life in the Royal Palace.
Leaving a place he had lived in for over a month brought a tinge of sadness.
(I’ve gotten used to it before I knew it…)
When he first arrived, he was surprised by the simplicity unbecoming of the King’s residence, and the sight of the young, attractive maids walking was a feast for his eyes.
However, from now on, he would lead an even more lavish life.
He had been warned about this repeatedly.
He had questioned whether it was appropriate to live more lavishly than the Royal Family, but he was told, “If you don’t, the economy won’t flow.”
The reason the Royal Family did not spend excessively on their lives was to leave room for military budgets and so on.
In Filat, the Royal Family’s wealth was equivalent to the national budget.
On the other hand, nobles accumulated wealth by levying their own taxes and conducting business.
It was possible to live more luxuriously than a king of a nation, depending on one’s talent.
However, if one didn’t moderate their spending, they risked incurring the displeasure of the Royal Family or the envy and resentment of other nobles.
“I don’t think you need to worry about that, Lord Marius.”
Marius didn’t know how to respond when Lovisa said that.
Was she implying that he was trusted to know his limits, or was she referring to his combat prowess, which meant he could disregard the animosity of nobles?
But then again, it was Lovisa, so he concluded to himself that it was the former.
If it were Helka, it would undoubtedly be the latter.
Even though he was moving, the mansion assigned to him was still in the Royal Capital.
Originally, he was supposed to establish his main residence in his territory, but as he had none, the mansion in the Royal Capital would serve as his main residence.
He was an anomaly through and through, but Emma subtly advised him to visit his territory periodically.
Even the noblest of individuals could fall into depravity if their work was never overseen.
Even without that, there was a high possibility of complacency.
It was a reasonable point, so Marius readily agreed.
The Tuban Marquis’s mansion was a red brick structure, giving the impression of enduring the wind and snow for many years.
With a building area of approximately 200 tsubo (about 660 square meters), it was quite spacious, considering its location in the Royal Capital where many noble residences were concentrated.
It was certainly larger than the adjacent residences.
“All of you will be working on a live-in basis.”
Amelia suddenly made a shocking declaration.
The older women, at least Helka, were married.
Was it alright for them not to return to homes where their husbands were?
Marius, with his hood on, couldn’t have been read, but she seemed to have deciphered his unspoken concerns with her years of experience.
“Serving the Marquisate is precisely that.”
Marius had no choice but to accept.
It could also be said that he gave up trying to find fault with everything.
Besides, the fact that Marius was the only man there was already strange.
Thus began his new life, which promised to be a series of turbulent events.
“I’ve been had!”
Barra, after properly casting soundproofing magic, screamed.
With Marius’s departure from the Royal Palace, most of her carefully devised plans to get closer to him had become futile.
However, Filat’s reasoning was undeniable.
It was only natural to reward someone who had defeated the Demon Lord.
Promoting a Count to Marquis, or providing a new mansion to someone who had become a Marquis, was not just natural but expected.
And with a new mansion, came new servants.
It was just that Barra and Catherine were the only ones disadvantaged in specific ways.
It was clearly a measure against Barra and Catherine.
More than that, it was a signal to encourage relationships between Filatians and Marius.
Otherwise, there would be no need to staff the household entirely with women.
She hadn’t expected such an overt tactic, but she realized now that if it were presented as “Marius’s choice,” it would be fine.
Barra, who wasn’t one to lament for long, immediately began devising new strategies.
(I foresaw this and forged connections with Marius’s Familiars!)
Barra was far from discouraged.
In fact, it was as if a fire had been lit within her.
