This is Side: Frederica.
What should I say at a time like this?
No, it was desirable to complete this request early, and I thought those two could do it, but I never expected them to capture the Noblesworn, who had barricaded themselves in the Trader’s Guild, alive, and apprehend all the hunters without killing a single one.
I knew they had the potential, as they had easily defeated Abnormal Species and Catastrophe Species that could topple or destroy countries, such as Black Fenrir, Green Fang, Goblin Queen, and Evil Drake, but I still thought one or two would at least lose their lives.
“Lady Frederica, a messenger arrived a moment ago. They said they would arrive in about thirty minutes. Also, Lady Apricot wishes to attend. What are your wishes?”
“Let her attend. Since her arrival in Feel, you haven’t met Lady Primrose, have you?”
“Understood.”
Myun, a G-rank Butler and Lamia who has served the Marquis Amatista family since my father’s time, bowed and left.
Although he is a butler, he is also one of my father’s wives, and I also admired him as my mother. However, since I couldn’t have children, he has continued to support me as my chief attendant after my father’s death, and is a reliable woman to me.
My biological mother is not here as she is handling miscellaneous tasks in Memoria, the capital of the Marquisate of Amatista, but she has been able to rely on him fully in her stead.
Just as I was thinking that, I remembered the current problem.
It was good that the children who came from Prada Village became new hunters, but with only one C-rank and two I-ranks, they are frankly insufficient as a fighting force.
Of course, this is normally the case, and the two of them becoming G-rank hunters upon registration is the anomaly, but considering Feel’s current situation, I want as many excellent hunters as possible.
Normally, I would call for support hunters from nearby towns, but since it would be entirely for our convenience, I may have to make it look like an actual request.
“Excuse me. Lady Frederica, I have brought Lady Apricot.”
“Thank you.”
“Excuse me, Lady Frederica. I am grateful that you have granted my request.”
“Please don’t mention it. Rather, you saved Feel, and yet you are being confined to the mansion. While it cannot be helped, I apologize for the current situation.”
Lady Apricot is currently staying as a guest of the Marquis Amatista family.
Since she is also Lady Primrose’s mother, Count Sofia and Viscount Archlight are cooperating willingly.
Furthermore, Count Sofia is very interested in the Hippogriff that they formed a familiar contract with, and Viscount Archlight is very grateful for the hunter who killed his wife’s familiar, a Wyvern. Thus, our relationship with them can be said to be good.
However, the current shortage of hunters is indeed becoming a problem.
Of course, I decided on the apprehension knowing this would happen, so the Order’s Guild is currently fulfilling requests from the Hunter’s Guild for a while, and those registered with the Hunter’s Guild who are my subordinates are also helping. However, prioritizing them would cause problems with public order and security.
Fortunately, no one has been killed by monsters, but many have been injured, and some are going out on overnight hunts, so we are completely short-handed. This is a truly troublesome issue.
“So, Lady Frederica, I heard that Prim and Yamato will be coming soon. Has the problem been resolved?”
“Yes. As you have likely heard, we have tasked them with apprehending the hunters whose licenses were revoked, and I received a report that they have all been captured. What remains are the dismissed Hunter’s Master Saches Trennel and his escort, a raid known as Patriot Pride. They have not yet returned to Feel, and there is a possibility they are being detained in the Royal Capital, so I believe we will be fine for a while.”
There are several G-rank hunters in the Royal Capital, so there is a possibility that they are being detained.
Of course, there is also the possibility that they have fled after sensing an uneasy atmosphere. However, I have strictly ordered my subordinates, who were sent to the Royal Capital to report, not to make contact, so I hope they have not been discovered yet.
“I see. Then I will likely no longer be targeted, so I will stay in the same inn as my daughters starting tonight.”
I messed up.
Originally, the reason Lady Apricot was staying at the Marquis Amatista family was to curb the actions of Lady Primrose, who was highly likely to be hostile due to the rampant disorder in Feel caused by hunters. However, by capturing all those hunters, her reason for staying has disappeared.
Of course, that’s a good thing, but I want to maintain as strong a connection as possible with the G-rank hunters, so I must find a way to keep her here.
“No, as long as Saches Trennel and Patriot Pride remain, your safety is not guaranteed. Therefore, I would like you to stay with us for a while longer.”
However, it must be difficult to be confined to the mansion all the time, and I feel extremely apologetic, so perhaps it’s acceptable for today. You likely want to talk with Lady Primrose after a long time as well.
“However, they will not be returning immediately, and it is not good to be confined to the mansion all the time. Therefore, perhaps it would be alright to join the young ladies today.”
“Thank you. I will take you up on your offer.”
Even if Lady Apricot is not entirely convinced, from our perspective, we want to minimize any risk.
Lady Apricot, who was also a former Duchess, likely understands this, so it is fortunate that she does not push us too hard.
Speaking of which, I heard from Lady Primrose that Lady Apricot had something she wanted to do in Feel.
Since it’s an opportunity, I wonder if I should ask her about it.
“By the way, I heard that you are skilled in healing magic, Lady Apricot. Are you not registering with the Healer’s Guild?”
“When I first came to Feel, I intended to do so, and I still wish to register if the opportunity arises. Is that alright?”
The Healer’s Guild is the newest guild, established about eighty years ago by a guest who married into the royal family.
It took a considerable amount of time to resolve various issues, and I believe it was officially established forty years ago. By then, her spouse, the then-King, had already passed away. She herself did not become the Grand Healer’s Master due to her advanced age, but in recognition of her achievements and contributions, she became the first O-rank Healer. She was also recognized for her culinary skills at the Crafter’s Guild and became an O-rank Crafter. She is the only person to have become O-rank in multiple guilds.
The headquarters of the Healer’s Guild is in the Royal Capital, and branches are established in every small village. Although they are gradually expanding to other countries, the Solemn Empire has outlawed all guilds, and the Retysentia Empire was a potential enemy from the start, so there were no plans to expand there. Valentia also has the potential to withdraw, given the recent situation.
“In that case, why not register later? Feel would also appreciate an excellent healer, and if you register, you will be able to use healing magic, which will allow you to use your time effectively, Lady Apricot.”
Did I say something wrong? No, because the hunters are gone now, I can say this. It’s not that you’ve been wasting time until now.
“Thank you. Actually, I was planning to register as a healer someday, and I’ve been practicing my healing magic during my stay. However, I’ve only been practicing on cooks and gardeners who cut their fingers, so I feel a bit guilty for using them as practice dummies.”
I know about that; Myun also reported it. Even if they are practice dummies, we are grateful for the free treatment of injuries, so there is no problem.
“That is not a problem at all. Rather, we should be thanking you. Even for minor injuries, you would need to pay a certain amount at the Healer’s Guild.”
The treatment fees at the Healer’s Guild range from tens of El to hundreds of El, and sometimes exceed 1,000 El. Generally, the higher the level, the higher the cost. This is because high-level individuals have higher self-healing abilities, and naturally higher magic power, causing their magic to interfere with each other and requiring the healer to consume more magic. Also, people with higher levels tend to have higher incomes, so they don’t mind paying a bit more.
Naturally, emergency treatments are often required for Orders and Hunters, and the treatment costs in such cases can sometimes exceed 1,000 El. However, the Healer’s Guild has partnerships with the country and the Hunter’s Guild, so in such cases, the country or the Hunter’s Guild covers half of the treatment cost. That treatment fee is also deducted from the Order’s salary or the Hunter’s reward by 20% until it is fully paid, so there is little risk of it being defaulted upon. I believe the Crafter’s Guild and the Trader’s Guild are also considering a partnership.
“Thank you. Then, I think I will ask Prim and Yamato to guide me around later.”
“That would be good. While we’re at it, I’d like you to see the town of Feel as well.”
Lady Apricot has been staying at the Marquis Amatista family since her first day in Feel and has not been outside the mansion until today, so she has not had a chance to tour Feel. It is entirely for our convenience, but it is fortunate that she understands. Although it was a state of confinement, it was not actual imprisonment, so we made arrangements to ensure as little inconvenience as possible, but being unable to go outside must have been stressful.
“Thank you. Then, I will stay at the same inn as Prim and the others today, and from tomorrow onwards, I will stay with you for a while longer.”
“Understood. They will be arriving soon, so please enjoy your time together, though it may not be exactly a parent-child reunion, as it will be with them.”
There is no doubt that Yamato and Lady Primrose harbor feelings for each other, and Lady Primrose has certainly fallen for him, so I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to call it a parent-child reunion. Ideally, I would like Yamato to enter into a marital relationship with me or one of the other Amister nobles. However, given that we don’t know how the Second Princess, who is close to Lady Primrose, will react, I cannot act rashly.
No, even if marriage is not possible, having his child is an option. I have several candidates for a partner, but none of them are particularly impressive. If I don’t have children, the Marquis Amatista family will end with my generation, and that must be avoided. Fortunately, if the partner and their family agree, I can become a single mother, so I might consider asking after the relationship with Lady Primrose becomes clear.
