Park's Fury
The residents of the territory quickly adapted to Legrian Territory. As always. There was no such thing as territorialism in Legrian Territory. On the contrary, they welcomed newcomers.
"Hahaha! You don't know this!? Of course I'll help!"
"What? You don't know how to use a faucet!? I'll teach you!"
"Oh dear! Why are you trying to do something so hard alone? I'll help!"
"You know how to use the tavern, right?"
It was as if they were teaching the most basic things, like "This is what a mouse click is." The residents helped with all their heart and soul so that the new arrivals could adapt.
"Right! You want to become a farmer too? Of course you're welcome! What? You don't know anything!? That's fine! Just come along. But do you have courage? Any aversion to people buried in the ground with only their faces showing…… Ahaha, why am I asking that? You'll find out when you go."
They eagerly guided those who wanted to become farmers.
"You want to become a blacksmith!? Good choice! You can learn from the dwarves right now! But do you have good ears? Any sensitivity to the sound of iron…… or smells? Why am I asking? Well, you'll find out when you go!"
They also guided those who wanted to become blacksmiths.
"You want to join the guard? Well…… I don't mind, but why? Ah…… You want to become a shield that protects the territory……. That shield might end up being a meat shield…… Ah, never mind. But you, do you like exercise? Any aversion to muscles…… Do you like protein? Why am I asking? You'll find out when you go."
They also eagerly guided those who wanted to join the guard. Of course, the strange remarks kept coming, which was puzzling, but they soon learned why people asked such questions. With their own bodies.
Anyway, the existing residents welcomed the newcomers in that manner.
'New labor is always welcome!!'
Labor that couldn't be missed. They clung desperately, as if afraid the newcomers might run away, to the point of bringing tears to one's eyes. If these people ran away, they would have to fill the empty spots themselves, so they were frantic.
"I'm thinking of hiring servants to work at the mansion as well."
"The mansion?"
"Yes. We can't keep leaving everything to the nanny forever. So I'm planning to hire some people to manage things."
Cleaning, laundry, meal preparation, brewing tea, tending the garden, cleaning the graveyard, and so on. The nanny had been handling all the mansion's work alone. She was shouldering a considerable burden by herself. That was why Elena intended to hire servants to manage the mansion and give the nanny some leisure time. The nanny, who always worked hard, needed rest.
"Not a bad idea."
"Then I'll post the notice right away."
Elena posted the notice immediately. There were surprisingly many applicants, so the positions filled quickly, and their training was left to the nanny and Hans. If possible, Elena wanted to hire an administrator as well, and people who could help with various tasks. But among the residents, there was no one capable of handling that kind of work.
'There will be even more work from now on.'
As the territory continued to grow, the amount of work increased. Along with that, the duties of Elena, the lord, were also growing. Starting with business plans and agricultural plans, she had to organize ledgers and receive petitions from the people. On top of that, there was the prioritization of tasks to be done in the territory. All of it was the lord's responsibility. Right now Hans was helping with document preparation, but he wasn't a professional.
"There's nothing we can do about it now. I'll have to handle it alone……."
She thought she would need to hire someone skilled in this kind of work when the opportunity arose later. As the territory grew, the work increased and became more specialized. She needed someone who could properly assist her. Suddenly, one man came to mind, but Elena soon shook her head and pushed the thought away.
'If it were him…… No, that's impossible…….'
"How could I possibly…… again."
With a sigh, Elena moved her feet.
A week passed. A guest arrived at Legrian Territory. A man was seated in the noble reception room. He was a handsome youth who looked about eighteen years old. He introduced himself briefly to Elena, who sat across from him.
"My name is Park Lucri. I've come to ask for your help."
"Help…… you say?"
"Yes. There are people heading toward our territory right now, and we need strength to stop them."
He was the son of Baron Bentri Lucri. As the eldest son of the family, he had come to Legrian Territory on his own, brushing aside his father's objections, in order to overcome the territory's crisis. When he arrived, he had come with only a coachman and one knight. It was quite a small number for a noble to visit a territory adjacent to Monster Land. It meant that Lucri Territory had no leeway left.
"From what I see, your territory seems to have some capacity. I formally request your support."
Though he spoke politely in formal language, his attitude was extremely arrogant and haughty. It was as if he were addressing subordinates. He was insolent. Was this really the attitude of someone who had come to ask for help? He was casually demanding troops as if asking a bank to hand over deposited money.
'Even among barons, the ranks differ.'
There was a reason for his attitude. Even if it had once been a count's family, it was now a fallen house. Moreover, the Legrian family had completely collapsed due to treason, leaving them with neither power nor wealth—a shabby place. Just as there is ground beneath the floor, even among barons at the bottom of the noble hierarchy, there had to be differences in rank. People naturally seek someone beneath their own position. Park was exactly that type of person.
Elena frowned at his arrogant attitude.
"At least show some courtesy."
"I am showing courtesy, aren't I? More importantly, the support……"
"Where is the request form?"
"What?"
"According to Kingdom Law, Article 4, Clause 10, when requesting support from another noble, a formal request document must be prepared and submitted."
Elena smiled faintly and spoke in a gentle yet subtly pressuring tone.
"If you want support, follow the proper procedure."
"I don't have time to write such a request form right now. The situation is urgent, so we should skip that……"
"Why should we do that?"
"Because when times are hard, we should help each other. Isn't that the duty between nobles?"
"……Duty?"
Elena's eyebrows twitched. Anger filled her beautiful amethyst eyes. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Did you just say duty?"
"Yes, duty! At the very least, basic business ethics……"
"Four years ago."
At that moment, Elena cut off Park's words with a strong, firm tone. Park tried to flare up, but he found himself overwhelmed by her heavy presence without realizing it.
'I…… was overwhelmed by someone my own age? That's ridiculous…….'
Though he thought it absurd, the powerful pressure emanating from her was enough to silence him.
"I once asked the Lucri family for help. I begged them to lend me a little money and food."
"……"
"But at that time, Baron Bentri Lucri refused. Even though I got down on my knees and begged. It wasn't even a large amount—I only asked to borrow five sacks of rice and twenty thousand gold……"
When everything had reached a dead end after their fall. Elena had bowed her head to other nobles to somehow feed her people. Relying on duty. Depending on trust. But all that came back was a devastating refusal that felt like the floor collapsing beneath her.
"You didn't help us when we were struggling, and now that you're in trouble, you want our help? Duty? Is this the business ethics you're talking about?"
"……The situation is different now. Back then……"
"What's different?"
"If we can't stop them, the next target will be Legrian Territory."
Once we're finished, it'll be your turn. He was implying that this matter wouldn't end with Lucri Territory.
"Those enemies are too strong for our knight order to handle. Do you really think you can deal with them on your own?"
He raised his voice as if to turn the atmosphere around and tried to persuade Elena.
"Forget the past and think about the future! If you don't cooperate with us, you'll see what happens later…… You know that, don't you?"
If they succeeded in stopping the enemies on their own, he was saying there would be consequences for Legrian Territory's lack of cooperation. He was telling her to think about the future.
"Are you threatening me right now?"
"If that's how it sounded, then so be it. So make your choice quickly—whether you'll help or not."
A glint appeared in Park's eyes.
'With this much explanation, she should understand.'
He was certain Elena would accept. Honestly, after explaining this much, there was no way she could misunderstand. Then Elena's small, cherry-like lips moved.
"I refuse."
"Of course, I knew you would. Then right now, gather some people…… What?"
Park, who had been confidently assuming she would accept and already savoring his victory, suddenly choked on his own words. His eyes widened in shock.
"Refuse!? Why!? I explained everything! We're next after them! So!"
Flustered, he even forgot to use formal language and spoke in casual speech.
"I heard the situation clearly. If something happens to our territory, we'll handle it ourselves. So."
Elena calmly sipped the tea in front of her, moistened her lips, and continued.
"Get lost."
'Please go back.'
"……"
"Ah…… My mistake."
What she had thought inwardly had come out instead. Elena smiled awkwardly.
"Please get lost."
"……That doesn't really soften the expression just because you added 'please,' does it?"
Elena smiled faintly, showing no intention of taking back her words. Park's face turned red and blue. He never imagined that the head of a fallen family would disregard him to this extent. His anger reached its peak.
'I can't go back like this.'
"……If you keep refusing my offer, then there's no choice."
When Park raised his hand, the knight standing behind him half-drew his sword and released his aura. His presence was extraordinary. He was likely one of the top knights even in the Lucri family. A sharp aura pressed down on Elena. It was a warning that if she continued refusing, he would show her what would happen. Even more.
"……"
Before she knew it, a small cut had appeared on Elena's cheek. It wasn't from the aura—the knight had swung his sword at an invisible speed to threaten her. He hadn't intended to cut her, but had deliberately nicked her cheek to intimidate her. Blood trickled down her cheek. Elena wiped the blood flowing down her face with her hand. Then she looked up at him with an incredulous expression and glared fiercely.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"You'd better think carefully. Whether you'll cooperate obediently, or……"
"Or what? What are you going to do?"
"……!"
At that moment, Park and the knight were startled out of their wits. It was only natural. Because in the noble reception room, where there had been only three people moments ago, an outsider had appeared. The outsider, Albert, revealed a sharp aura as he looked at those who were threatening Elena with force.
"You crazy bastard, what the hell were you trying to do to my sister? You must be dying to get killed, huh?"