Chapter 35
Chapter 35
Baron Forman frowned.
Sylvia had said that 'Leo was preoccupied with finding someone.'
Seeing that expression, it didn't seem like an exaggeration.
"Who on earth is this person, that you're acting like this?"
Baron Forman asked slowly.
"Does His Highness the Grand Duke know as well? Have you asked His Highness for help?"
"......No."
Leopold let out a low sigh. It was obvious he didn't want to talk about it. He apparently hadn't told Sylvia anything either.
Baron Forman looked at Leopold quietly. Then, setting his fork down entirely, he spoke.
"That young lady of Sears...... managed to raise productivity substantially in that small territory while it was isolated. But that isn't something ordinary knowledge can accomplish. She must know an extraordinary amount about food."
Leopold crossed his arms.
"I didn't know she was that interested in eating."
"Not in eating."
Baron Forman corrected him immediately.
"She's interested in making a living."
"In any case, I didn't know Brisa was interested in such things. I never imagined I'd be hearing advice about wheat from her."
"You had no idea at the Academy?"
"No one would have known. It wasn't even a formal subject......."
Well, that was true.
Baron Forman nodded slowly.
Agriculture, livestock, fisheries—those were commoners' work. At best, medicine, law, accounting, and magic were considered fields of study for the children of nobles who could not receive titles.
What were called high nobles were expected to study history, art, philosophy, and the like.
"In any case, you don't know that young lady very well. If you want to hear what I know about her, Leo......."
Baron Forman raised an eyebrow and proposed.
"You give me information of equivalent value. What is your reason for searching for this person called 'El'?"
Leopold lowered his eyes and fell silent.
Baron Forman noticed that he was struggling fiercely with himself.
'He must want to hear about that young lady quite badly.'
This was also the first time he had seen his grandson like this.
He had always been far removed from words like conflict, worry, and anxiety.
After all, he was the heir to a grand ducal house and could have anything he wanted.
Composure and ease, and a lofty aloofness that made neither enemies nor friends, suited him well.
Of course, grandson or not, Leopold came from an extraordinarily powerful family.
So there were many things Baron Forman didn't know about Leopold. Especially regarding House Nozen, he could learn almost nothing.
"It's related to the curse of House Nozen."
Leopold spoke slowly.
Baron Forman saw anguish on his grandson's face.
Was it because he had no parents, or because he carried such a tremendous burden of responsibility? His grandson had grown up far too quickly. So much so that it was hard to believe he was the same age as the childish Sylvia.
As for the curse of House Nozen, Baron Forman did not know much about it either.
However, he had guessed that the curse had played a part in the deaths of his daughter and son-in-law. The outside world knew nothing about it because the matter was kept strictly secret.
"It seems the person called El may hold a clue that could resolve that curse."
"Is that true?"
"So I would ask that you not tell Grandfather. It's still too small a clue, and it isn't certain, so I'm afraid he might harbor needless hope."
"......Very well."
Baron Forman nodded slowly.
If that were indeed the case, it made sense that Leopold was secretly searching for this person called 'El.'
"Brisa Sears, that young lady."
As promised, Baron Forman gave Leopold the information.
"She is a scholar."
"Pardon?"
"Right now, given the circumstances, she wears the mask of a territory manager, but fundamentally, that child is a scholar who studies making a living."
She doesn't farm directly, but she applies the knowledge she has about agriculture.
She doesn't tend livestock herself, but she thinks about the methods.
She doesn't cook with her own hands, but she considers the nutritional balance of ingredients.
Behind all of that work lay extensive knowledge.
It was Brisa's greatest ability.
"Making a living...... you say."
"As times of plenty continued, many nobles dismissed making a living as beneath them, saying it wasn't their work, but in my view, that too is a field of study. I only came to know it this time, through that young lady."
Baron Forman declared with his arms crossed.
"I am very curious to see how that young lady will distinguish herself in these difficult times."
At that, Leopold sighed and muttered.
"She isn't even the Sears heir anymore. If that half-brother of hers turns out to be a truly wicked sort, then far from distinguishing herself......."
"That could happen."
No information about Alpheus Sears personally had yet come to light. Therefore, no one knew how he would treat Brisa.
Baron Forman continued carefully.
"In that case, I don't think it would be bad for her to spread her wings here in the west."
Leopold frowned.
Baron Forman shrugged.
"It has nothing to do with my grandson. It's true that His Highness the Grand Duke sent me to the central region because of your eccentric behavior, but this is an entirely separate matter."
"......."
"The west is the empire's granary, and I think that child will be able to pursue her ambitions here rather than in the central region."
After pausing for a moment, he sighed and continued with a sensitive topic.
"If the new Marquess Sears is vicious, then all the more so—she is too valuable a talent to wither away there. I intend to report precisely that to His Highness the Grand Duke."
That was Baron Forman's sincere opinion.
She was a young lady who had substantially fed and sustained even one small territory along a river. If, by any chance, that half-brother felt even a hint of rivalry toward Brisa.......
'He would clip her wings at once.'
It was a world where even full siblings who had grown up together readily turned their blades on one another before power. To that extent, that young lady's position was now precarious.
"I'm not saying we should recklessly meddle in another family's affairs."
Of course, it was not something to be done easily.
There was no point of contact whatsoever between Brisa and the Nozen Grand Duchy. It could be seen as interference and invite objections.
Nevertheless, Baron Forman's thinking was firm.
"The immense knowledge and capacity for execution that child possesses......."
Baron Forman narrowed his eyes and murmured.
"I'm already curious what effect they'll have when they meet the vast lands of the west. That is my assessment of her, up to this point."
Then, after pausing for a moment, he continued.
"And now, as for answering your first question."
Leopold's first question had been, 'What would be the fastest way to see Brisa?'
"For the reasons I mentioned above, I intend to bring that child to the west for now."
"......Are you planning to kidnap her?"
Leopold raised an eyebrow.
"The new Marquess Sears might be a good person, you know."
"That's possible. So I won't kidnap her. However, I have formally invited her to a meal."
Baron Forman leaned back into his chair with his arms crossed.
"Once the Warp is active, couldn't we share a meal or so together?"
It wasn't strange at all. Everyone had heard him tell her to stop by the Forman Baronial Residence.
"Leo, will you come too?"
"No."
Leopold refused flatly.
"Absolutely not."
"Your refusal is far too quick. But if that's how it's going to be, Leo."
Baron Forman narrowed his eyes and asked playfully.
"Why did you send the flowers? Anonymously, at that."
"Grandfather."
Leopold answered seriously.
"I'm not going precisely because I feared facing questions like this."
"Hm."
"Furthermore, if Sylvia ever learns of it, I'll inform you in advance that I will never show my face to you again."
"Why? If she found out, she'd help you in every way possible."
"She has a loose tongue."
Leopold ground his teeth.
"Like my grandfather."
"Heh heh."
"I will never, ever encounter her in the west. Especially not in front of family."
"You shouldn't have said 'never.'"
Baron Forman clicked his tongue.
"Life responds to words like that with uncanny precision, and it will surely strike you from behind."