220. On the Masquerade (3)
220. On the Masquerade (3)
- 1 -
"There!"
"Oh! It's the Lord!"
The castle of the County of Anutelunus, the land that had been the center of Elena's governance over the occupied territory.
As Elena made her way to the square, people flocked to her in an instant.
"Lord! Lord! Thank you!"
The voices of the people filling the wide square echoed into the sky.
The merchants, farmers, and villagers each expressed their gratitude toward Elena, and even the nobles standing at a distance sent her looks of respect and admiration.
"Everyone! It's difficult to proceed with the ceremony if you crowd around like this! Please step back a little!"
The soldiers restrained those subjects, but showed little enthusiasm in doing so.
Because Elena was going up to the villagers and holding their hands one by one.
Among them, many had come from villages far away upon hearing that Elena would be here today.
"Is your house alright now?"
"Yes, my lord! As soon as the flood hit, you came with soldiers and helped us, and on top of that, you even caught the mage who caused it!"
"Thank you for recovering our plundered grain! They say you went after the thieves and couldn't sleep for days..."
"That's an exaggerated rumor. Actually, I got plenty of sleep while I was away, so don't worry."
"Thank you for sending a physician, my lord! Our child wants to meet you!"
"Let me see. A healthy child, indeed. I hope you raise him well."
"I'll name him after you, my lord!"
In the people's eyes, Elena, who approached them directly and did not spare words of encouragement and affection, appeared as the image of a true ruler.
"You even reduced taxes... It was so hard before. And now you say you'll make the ledgers public."
"That's right. Now even paying taxes doesn't feel so wasteful."
The merchants praised the transparent accounting system Elena had established.
In the days of the Zenota United Kingdom, they didn't know where their taxes went and were all busy hiding their wealth, but no longer.
They trusted that their property would be used for their neighbors and actively formed associations to take action.
"And you can't leave out the support for the school! Can you believe our child can already write their own name!"
"And during this recent famine, you released grain and distributed it."
There was no end to the praise pouring from the people's mouths.
Stories containing not only martial achievements as a war hero, but also the accomplishments of a benevolent ruler.
Therefore, the knights and soldiers attending Elena were also full of pride and dignity.
At the same time, the people's gazes were filled with regret.
Ever since the rumor spread that such a wonderful lord would be stepping down and leaving, their hearts had been filled with worry.
"May I have your attention—!!"
Today's speech was an occasion to comfort their hearts once again.
"From now on, I will explain the favors that will be granted to you as Elena Ironfield, the former lord, transfers this land to the Hysen royal family. Those who cannot read, please listen now!"
Swish!
"Whoops."
When the administrator on the podium unfolded the document in his hand, it was so long that it fell to the floor and rolled forward, causing a small commotion.
"Ahem. I shall now speak! First!"
The people burst into cheers with every word that came from the administrator's mouth.
A freeze of taxes for one year and further reductions for the next four years.
Half of the local administrators to be maintained as locals.
Financial support for recovery from war damage.
Maintenance of the local militia.
Mandatory establishment and maintenance of schools and medical facilities.
And so on and so forth.
There were things they knew well and things they didn't, but they could roughly tell that these were beneficial to them.
"That is all for the content! Now, the former Lord Elena will give a speech, so please open your ears and listen!"
"... Everyone. Greetings."
*Waaaah—!!*
As Elena Ironfield stepped forward, the voices of the people began to ring out even louder.
But when she began to speak, the cheers quickly subsided.
For they all started to listen attentively.
"I still remember it. The fear and disbelief that were present in your faces when I first came here. In this land ravaged by war, you must have worried about the appearance of yet another conqueror."
Elena's voice was gentle yet firm.
It was a voice that harmonized the dignity of a knight and the warmth of a ruler.
"Fortunately, I was able to sweep away your disbelief and fear with strength. Your doubts became a whip that made me a better lord. Thank you. Everyone."
*Thank you, Lord!!*
*Waaaah!!*
A burst of cheering erupted. Elena waited for their emotions to settle, then spoke again.
"Now I will be leaving this land. But as you have heard, I have taken every measure to secure the future of this place."
*Ah...*
*Don't go!*
This time, there were voices of sorrow.
A complicated emotion also flickered across Elena's eyes.
'It's going to be painful.'
Because it was clear to her how the nobles who would come to this land later would behave.
They might increase road tolls instead of grain taxes.
They would surely bribe the local administrators.
At some point, the funds would end up in the pockets of many people.
And the militia would be disbanded 'voluntarily.'
And what Elena was saying now would make them miss her even more then.
"But even if I had not guaranteed this, you already have rights. And you also possess the strength to protect those rights. I hope that you will trust and cooperate with one another, and shape the future of this land with your own hands."
Her blue-gray eyes shone firmly.
Though she did feel some guilt about making the people her sacrificial lambs, it was erased by a greater emotion.
The desire toward her own sister, and the greed for an even greater glory.
"Everyone. Thank you for trusting and following me. The time I spent here has been a great learning experience for me as well. May the blessings of God be upon your future."
In Elena's eyes as she gave her final farewell, there was already an intense anticipation for the future to come.
It was not so much the look of a pure knight, but rather the eyes of a hero taking a step further for her own desire.
- 2 -
"You handled the negotiations well, Adelaide."
Frederick, the Margrave of Ironfield, set down the documents as he spoke.
A degree of fatigue permeated his expression.
"I am sorry, Father. I could not stop Elena."
At Adelaide's bow, Frederick shook his head once.
His gesture conveyed regret.
"It seems you still don't understand."
"Pardon?"
"Never mind."
Disappointment flickered in the Margrave's eyes.
That his eldest daughter, the current heir, could not see what he and Elena saw. And even Reinhardt beside her was too busy thinking to react immediately.
Both of his successors were too preoccupied with their own paths to pay attention to the greater course.
"Look once. See for whom these conditions are really intended."
But he explained calmly, with the heart of a father and the head of the family.
Adelaide was a politician unmatched in governance.
And Reinhardt was a capable general and warrior who could fully perform the role of guarding the frontier.
"These are all systems that benefit the people."
Wariness rose on Reinhardt's face.
It seemed he had figured out to some extent how this situation was unfolding.
Meanwhile, Adelaide was admiring her sibling's excellence.
'So there was another intention behind this...'
A strange light lingered in her eyes.
A gaze close to respect.
Meanwhile, the Margrave set down the documents and looked out the window, convinced.
'That child has the qualities. The qualities of a king.'
That Elena was not only a monster in combat but also a hero in politics.
Only, he failed to guess that there was someone above her.
- 3 -
Clip-clop...
Looking at the blue sky of the continent while riding in the carriage, I felt oddly out of place.
Despite having seen the red sky of the Demon Realm for only three weeks, I had already grown accustomed to that sky.
Perhaps because time had flowed so densely back then.
"Here..."
"Thank you."
Crunch!
When I put the apple Shue had peeled into my mouth, the sweet and tart taste of the flesh spread across my tongue.
The taste of the fruit grown by a gardener skilled in plant magic in a noble's garden was as sweet as an apple from modern-day Earth.
'This side seems to be going well, too.'
Thus, the sweetness I felt was not limited to my taste buds alone.
For in the carriage dashing toward the royal capital Hylash, I was receiving reports that Elena had carried out my orders well.
*I didn't expect it. That strong attitude of my sister...*
The report was that, despite Adelaide's active opposition, she had succeeded in concluding negotiations on the best possible terms for the people of the occupied territory.
"Considering Adelaide's lovable nature, wasn't it rather expected?"
*That might be... I'm not sure.*
Bitterness was evident in Elena's voice coming through the communication crystal.
Because she, too, knew that her 'true feelings' and her affection were not entirely positive in nature.
Averting my gaze from that smile, I continued with the questions I needed to ask.
"Tell me the results."
*The people's taxes will be frozen and reduced for five years, and during the redistribution of farmland, priority will be given to current cultivators.*
"And how about the fund?"
*We established a fund for post-war recovery and its operation... and we also set the condition that more than half of the local administrative positions be filled by locals.*
There was neither pride nor boastfulness in Elena's voice.
Because she, too, foresaw it.
That these conditions would soon be ignored.
The greed of the nobles would eventually find its own answer. More cunning and more brutal methods of exploitation.
And the more they did, the more the hero I had created would shine.
"Excellent. You did truly well."
At my praise, I could see genuine joy blossoming on her face for the first time.
"I think it's time I gave you your second gift. One for both you and Adelaide."
*Thank you, Master. I shall await the time we meet again.*
"Alright. Stay well."
I nodded and ended the communication.
The spires of Hylash began to appear outside the carriage window.
Soon, it would be time to meet those who remembered the 'previous' me.
'I'm going to be busy again.'
I put the apple Shue had given me into my mouth and narrowed my eyes in satisfaction.
I had just returned from a pleasant time at the royal court of the Demon Realm.
This time, the human royal court. I would have a good time there as well.
'Of course...'
How they would feel about that time might be a little different, though.