Polite Conversation Clears the Air
Thanks to a polite conversation, the awkward atmosphere had finally eased. Fortunately, my sincerity had gotten through.
Oh. I almost forgot.
I rummaged through my pocket and pulled out a check with a hefty sum written on it. This was the perfect time to hand it over.
“Please accept this.”
“This is…?”
“It’s a check. After distributing all the supplies to the territory residents, there won’t be much left. You have debts to repay as well.”
“Ah…!”
Amelia let out a gasp of realization. Of course she understood.
“How could you possibly go this far……”
“While the viscount’s conduct was admirable, this is truly a token of gratitude for the young lady’s devotion. Consider it my personal way of showing respect, so please accept it without feeling burdened.”
Handing someone a check directly would have been poor manners. It would imply a superior-inferior relationship. That was why I placed it on the table between us. Very politely.
Amelia stared at the check for a long moment before finally reaching out. Her fingers trembled as they touched the paper.
“…Thank you.”
“No, thank you. Thanks to you, I’ve found some peace.”
The incompetent emperor had caused them so much suffering. That guy was a real bastard. I swallowed the curse that rose in my throat and offered calm consolation instead. We weren’t close enough for that kind of language yet. Who knew what might happen later.
“With this much support, I will definitely revive the territory.”
Amelia gripped the check tightly, her resolve visibly strengthening. She was finally showing some life in her eyes.
“I’m confident you will. I wish you the best of luck.”
We wrapped up the conversation on a warm note and stood. There was nothing more to say. We had exchanged enough.
Amelia nodded and rose as well, bowing politely. Her golden hair, tied in twin tails, cascaded downward like a waterfall of light. Or perhaps like the finest silk unfurling.
Whoa. Just look at that.
It wasn’t just the hair. Especially her chest. The sheer volume threatening to burst through her green dress completely captured my gaze.
“I’ll show you to your room. It’s quite humble, but please rest well there.”
“Thank you.”
Amelia took the initiative before I could even move. I was grateful for it.
Wow……
I left the sparse room and followed her to the one prepared for me. This one was empty too. They must have sold off every last possession—there was no furniture, not even a bed. It was literally nothing. Emptiness to an almost absurd degree.
“It’s nice.”
At least it wasn’t filthy like a ruin. It felt like a vacant studio apartment. For these circumstances, it was excellent.
“Thank you for viewing it so favorably.”
Amelia blushed and lowered her head. There was truly nothing to be embarrassed about.
“I mean it. There may be no furnishings, but it’s clean and the maintenance is impeccable. I’ll make good use of it.”
“I’m relieved you like it. Please rest well.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Amelia bowed once more and left. Being alone in the wide, empty room gave me the same flutter of excitement as moving into a new place.
It’s actually pretty good?
They say minimalism is good for mental health. Maybe I should consider it seriously.
Late that night, Amelia was summoned by Viscount Rodel.
“Well then. How did our honored guest seem?” Rodel asked.
Having escaped their destitute situation, he now showed open affection for his daughter. Just like before. Yet it wasn’t entirely the same. There was calculation in it. And fear.
“Fortunately, he seemed satisfied.”
Even though Amelia read his true feelings, she answered calmly. This much was still relatively gentle.
“Hmm. I heard you spoke with the guest alone. What did you discuss?”
For a moment, Amelia’s face flushed red. Recalling the rather embarrassing exchanges made her heart flutter.
“Yes. That is… I……”
Amelia kept stumbling over her words. For a hero who had survived a hellish battlefield, she was surprisingly full of shyness.
Rodel nodded as he observed his daughter. His eyes flashed.
This is an opportunity.
They had received an enormous favor, and the count’s household held high rank. The conditions for a marriage alliance were more than sufficient. In truth it would be closer to tribute than alliance, but that was fine. His daughter had nowhere else that would accept her anyway. If the benefactor’s family took her in, there could be no greater joy.
So the title of hero wasn’t just an empty shell.
Any ruler desired a powerful weapon. For their own safety. To make their dominion even more secure.
However. If that weapon possessed the autonomy to think and judge for itself—if there was no absolute obedience—it became something else entirely. Dangerous. Frightening. Because there was no telling when that autonomy might turn into a blade and stab its master.
The AI rebellion. The robot uprising trope had emerged from exactly this context.
It seemed fine for now, but his daughter had been a source of anxiety from the moment she returned. It was better to send her away. For her sake. And for the sake of the family and the people of the territory.
“If your heart is willing, would you consider going to his side?”
So he asked his daughter’s opinion first, carefully, so as not to offend her.
Naturally, Amelia’s eyes widened. Sending her now was no different from declaring he would bind her to them.
“Father. What are you saying…?”
“Didn’t that person treat you with respect? In that case, recuperating there doesn’t seem like a bad idea. You could win his favor in the process.”
Rodel swallowed dryly. If she truly hated the idea, he added that she could remain at home.
To that person’s side…?
Amelia’s eyes trembled. Political marriage was the fate of nobles. She had lived with that resolve, but her heart had never been moved by it. It had simply been duty. She had only planned to obey because the head of the family commanded it.
However. Now her heart was drawn.
“…I’ll think about it. Would that be acceptable?”
“Yes. Since your will is what matters, I will respect your wishes completely. If you wish to go, I will convey the request on your behalf.”
“I’ll reach a decision tonight.”
Think, but since time is short, reach a conclusion quickly. Amelia understood his meaning perfectly.
“Understood. Go and rest.”
Rodel sent his daughter away with a heavy heart. It was terribly burdensome. A presence even greater than the emperor. The oppressive feeling as if a blade were pressed to his throat caused cold sweat to run down his back. It was the result of extreme tension.
How pathetic.
Rodel let out a long sigh and leaned back. It wasn’t that he lacked affection for his daughter, but his fear was stronger. That emotion brought self-loathing. Yet he couldn’t control it. Because the daughter who had walked into hell herself had returned far too powerful.
Originally, when you made a donation you got it certified, took commemorative photos, and exchanged greetings with important figures. But the world inside a romance fantasy was different. Greetings and thanks, and that was the end. There was nothing more to do.
This should be enough.
It wasn’t as if I had come to show off in the first place. Preventing Amelia from falling into darkness and seeing the people’s happy faces was more than sufficient. The viscount would handle the rest well enough. I had simply reaped more benefits than expected. He wasn’t incompetent when it came to territory management.
“Everyone worked hard. No one’s injured, right? Don’t say no just because you feel pressured—be honest. If you hide it and the problem grows, that’s even worse.”
Early morning, in the castle’s rear courtyard. I had gathered the coachmen and soldiers for a headcount.
“There are none.”
The people answered in low, heavy voices. Everyone’s expressions looked good.
“Good. We’ll eat breakfast and depart this morning. Since we’ve already unpacked, let’s move a little faster than on the way here. Everyone tired?”
“Yes!”
The people shouted in unison. The desire to go home was the same for me and for them. Leaving home always meant hardship.
“Alright. Dismissed. Everyone get ready to eat and depart.”
After saying only what needed to be said, I sent them off. They each moved with purpose. Some retrieved food from the luggage compartment. Others brought firewood and started fires. It was surprisingly well-organized. It almost felt like we were on a picnic.
I joined them in the meantime. Since I had already told the butler who visited that morning that I would eat separately, there was no problem.
“Um… Excuse me. Did you sleep well?”
However. While I was chewing on roasted beans and baked potatoes, Amelia came looking for me. A subtle tension hung in the air.
I understand. I do understand.
She looked a little scared, yet at the same time she watched like an audience member enjoying someone else’s romance. The sight made me sigh. Even in modern times, it was rare to get this much dopamine.
“Um… Yes. Would you like to sit? It’s a bit shabby, though.”
“Thank you. I used to sit on dirt floors every day, so this is quite nice.”
Amelia promptly sat beside me on the edge of the luggage compartment. She remained composed even when our shoulders touched. Am I the only one whose heart is racing? Just me?
“Want some potato? There are beans too.”
“I’ll eat well.”
She even accepted the potato I casually handed her on a twig and ate it without complaint. Wasn’t this favorability a bit too high? The men also relaxed after seeing her unpretentious demeanor. Their eyes still held wonder, but the tension had eased somewhat.
The effect of repeating it often is showing. This is how it should be.
War heroes were people. Not monsters. They were benefactors we should respect and honor. I had continued saying so both during and after the war, and now I was seeing the results. As expected, repetition really was a form of brainwashing.
“It was delicious.”
“I’m glad.”
I nodded at Amelia’s soft smile. Bean oil glistened on her lips.
That’s kind of hot.
After letting my mind wander for a moment, I asked.
“By the way, what brings you all the way out here? We’ll be leaving soon, but I was planning to say goodbye before departing……”
“There’s a favor… I’d like to ask of you.”
“I’m listening.”
A favor? It didn’t seem like an ordinary request, judging by her somber expression. I waited nervously, and then—
“If you’ll permit it, I would like to accompany you on your journey. Would that be alright?”
An entirely unexpected sentence struck my ears. For real?