“Pretty.”
“Pardon?”
“Ah, crap.”
I snapped back to my senses.
“Huh? What did I just say?”
&
Damn it.
I’d meant to keep that thought to myself, but it slipped right out of my mouth.
The corners of Eileen’s lips slowly rose.
“You really are... so amusing every time we meet.”
“Ahem. I’m sorry.”
“Oh?”
Eileen asked back with a smile.
“Why be sorry? I was saying thank you.”
Ah, I need to change the subject. Fast.
“I was hoping to see you anyway.”
At my words, Eileen’s eyes widened slightly again.
“Ah, no, that’s... I mean...”
“Was that a mistake too?”
“No, it’s just that I wanted to bring a merchant guild or a construction guild into our territory, but I don’t know much about the conditions. I thought perhaps Lady Eileen might know.”
I hurriedly added an explanation, but
Eileen only continued to look at me with an amused smile.
“Fortunately, I do handle some of that work in our territory, so I know a fair bit.”
As expected.
To think she was managing things like that from such a young age.
Impressive.
“However.”
Eileen slowly crossed her legs and continued.
“The information I have is quite valuable. I don’t think I can tell you for free.”
As expected, give and take.
She was never someone who took a loss.
“Of course. As expected... I don’t have money right now, so next time...”
“Say it again.”
“Pardon?”
“What you said earlier.”
What did she mean?
When I looked at her in confusion,
Eileen seemed unable to hold back her laughter.
“Think about it.”
What is she telling me to say again...
Ah.
No way.
“I don’t have money right now, so next time...?”
“Pfft.”
So it was that?
Fine.
She probably finds it funny that I look so pathetic.
“Surely not.”
Eileen tilted her head with a smile.
“Did you think I was asking you to say that again?”
Huh?
Wasn’t it?
After rummaging through my memory for a moment, I opened my mouth very carefully.
“Ah... yes, you’re pret...ty?”
Eileen’s smile deepened.
“That’s not how you said it earlier.”
“Pre...tty.”
The smile she wore at that moment was completely different from the artificial smile I knew.
Yes.
Whenever she smiled like that,
I forgot even the fact that we were ill-fated, and my heart began to pound.
“One more.”
“I-I was hoping to see you.”
“You got that one right away.”
But why make me say things like this again?
Could she be planning to use this as leverage later?
Accusing me of flirting with her?
“Good.”
Eileen rose from her seat and said,
“Let’s go to a café and talk.”
***
I talked with her over coffee.
The conditions for bringing in guilds were far more complicated than I had expected.
Each guild demanded something different,
but she explained everything in a clear and easy-to-understand way.
“This is difficult.”
“If it’s Brennan Territory, you should start at about this level for now.”
Eileen continued calmly.
“As the territory grows, the conditions will become more and more complicated. Once that happens, not only merchant guilds and construction guilds, but guilds from other fields will naturally begin to come in as well.”
She lightly traced the rim of her cup with her fingertip as she concluded.
“At first, it’s best to open up the merchant and construction fields. Or the religious side isn’t bad either... but you need to be a little careful with that.”
“Why?”
“Because if a problem arises, it becomes extremely troublesome.”
Eileen’s voice lowered slightly.
“The weaker a territory is, the more religious powers tend to try to assert their influence. Besides, even if a religion looks small in scale, the power backing it is ultimately significant.”
That was genuinely good advice.
“It’s not easy. Lady Eileen, you really are amazing.”
“I’m still learning too, and there’s still a lot I don’t know.”
She was amazing.
Even if I had only just started learning, I had thought I still had more experience in many ways.
But the knowledge she already had at that age was tremendous, so there was no way I couldn’t be impressed.
Well.
That was why the Belmardian family had grown so much.
In one sense, she truly was an incredible and admirable person.
Perhaps she saw my sincerity on my face, because Eileen smiled with her eyes and took a light sip of her coffee.
“By the way, what brings you to the kingdom again?”
As if she doesn’t already know, fishing for answers.
“There was something I filed a patent for, and fortunately, it had a good result.”
“Oh my, really? If anything, aren’t you more impressive than I am? I still haven’t left behind any achievement like that, but at your age, you’ve already got rice, and now a patent too.”
Eileen looked sincerely impressed.
“I was lucky. And it wasn’t my ability, but the ability of a blacksmith from our territory. The rice was also just luck.”
“My mother says luck is ultimately a skill too.”
“So Lady Eileen’s wisdom comes from your mother.”
Eileen, who had been about to drink her coffee, soon burst out laughing.
“What is that? All of a sudden, you sound like any other noble.”
“Ah, do I?”
“Still, when you say it, Mr. Rayon, it feels different.”
Well, how many men must have thrown sweet words at her?
So lines from someone like me must seem ridiculous to her.
Though that wasn’t my intention.
“By the way, Lady Eileen, what brings you to the kingdom again?”
“Mm... I came running as soon as I heard someone would be here.”
If it was enough to make Eileen come running, it must be someone incredible.
“Is that so? Someone impressive must be coming.”
“Not exactly. It’s someone I’ve been very interested in lately.”
“Lady Eileen’s interest... If it’s to that extent, then it must be someone not yet well known, and surely someone with great ability.”
Eileen smiled deeply.
“That’s right.”
Who could that be?
If I think about the people around her... a few come to mind.
But I’m not sure.
It would be good if I could meet such people in advance and get acquainted, but at my current level, they probably wouldn’t be interested in me anyway.
“I’m curious. Have you met them?”
“Yes.”
“Ah, then am I perhaps taking up your time unnecessarily?”
“It’s fine. I’ve already met them.”
She wasn’t the kind of person who would waste time.
“When are you planning to return, Mr. Rayon?”
“Mm. I suppose I should be heading back soon. I’ve used up almost all the money I brought with me.”
“Is that so? Then may I come visit your territory?”
What?
Why?
What are you trying to dig up?
“Whew, I’d love to say yes, but our place is far too shabby to invite you, Lady Eileen.”
“I like places that are more relaxed, peaceful, and quiet than places like this. Truly.”
No, you don’t.
You lived such a splendid life.
“Besides, didn’t you say you had more to tell me about rice? We’ve done some research on our side too.”
“Ah. Mm... Are you truly all right with that? We won’t be able to host you properly.”
In truth, her coming wasn’t only a bad thing.
No, rather, it could only be called a good thing.
Just the fact that Eileen Belmardian had visited would attract quite a lot of attention,
and above all, a territorial war would soon break out, but the surrounding territories wouldn’t be able to attack our territory recklessly.
They would worry that we might have some kind of connection with the Belmardians.
“My favorite meal is bread and soup.”
L-look at her lying without batting an eye.
Anyone who heard her would think it was true.
Since she had gone this far, refusing might offend her instead,
so I had no choice but to nod.
“Then shall we go today? Do you have any other business left?”
“Uh, um... I’m fine.”
Why are you deciding when we go to my house?
“Then let’s go!”
I have to endure it.
There’s nothing I can do but endure.
Back then,
and now.
She stretched out her hand and strode forward energetically.
It’s the first time I’ve seen her look that pleased.
Did she always have that kind of energy?
Well, there wasn’t any act she couldn’t pull off.
I prepared the carriage so we could move together.
When Miles heard that Eileen had decided to come with us, his jaw dropped.
“Wow, what’s your secret? I seriously need to learn this.”
“Stop talking nonsense. I feel like I’m going insane right now.”
A deep sigh escaped me already.
“It feels like I’m walking on a sheet of ice so thin it could shatter at any moment.
Miles looked as if he didn’t understand and glanced at her, who was preparing a short distance away.
“So you’re riding in the same carriage?”
“Yes! Who knows how far she plans to strip me bare.”
“I don’t think that’s it.”
What do you know?
About that terrifying woman.
“Still, for now, that name will serve as a shield.”
I clenched my fist slightly.
“We don’t have the strength or capital to defend ourselves yet.”
Miles shrugged and mounted his horse.
“Yes, well. Good luck.”
How annoying, acting like it’s none of his business.
Then she approached.
“Ride in my carriage. It’s better, after all, so you’ll be less tired on the way.”
“Yes.”
If I get into that carriage, she’ll pressure me the whole way again, won’t she?
Actually, that’s more comfortable for me.
I hope she doesn’t say anything at all.
But contrary to my wish, she was completely different from before during the journey.
We talked a lot.
They weren’t questions. She talked about herself.
“No way, you’re lying, aren’t you?”
“Oh my! I’m telling the truth. It was definitely a dragon, a creature of fantasy!”
“Ahaha, all right. I’ll believe you.”
“How absurd. You’re not believing me, I’m saying it was real!”
“Yes, yes, I said I believe you.”
I lost track of how time passed.
“And then, suddenly—bam!”
“Kyaa! W-was it really a ghost?”
How could this be?
“My Bbi-bbi, the one I raised back then, was so adorable.”
“I like dogs too. Do you know Samoyeds? They’re a breed from the north, and they’re really cute.”
“Oh my! That’s my favorite breed too!”
So time really could pass this quickly.
It felt as if I had simply gotten into the carriage and chatted for a little while, but in the blink of an eye, fifteen days had passed.
“Huh? We’ve arrived.”
“Pardon? Already? It feels like we just got into the carriage.”
“Exactly. I really...”
Eileen looked at me and smiled.
That smile.
Again.
A clearly genuine smile.
“I lost track of time. I’ve truly never felt anything like this before. So it really is real.”
I was also amazed right now.
I had thought I would have to force myself to talk and somehow pass the time.
But to think we would talk so enjoyably.
Whenever I had tried to talk to her somehow, saying anything amusing I could think of, all I got back were short answers or cold gazes.
So I had never thought I would be able to converse well with her.
Ah, I almost misunderstood.
It wasn’t that I was good at talking. She must have been adjusting herself to me.
Don’t be fooled by the way she smiles so sincerely.
She must have found it somewhat amusing in her own way.
In any case, with her coming, it was practically the same as installing a shield for the territorial war.
So I had to do my best to make sure she wasn’t displeased with our hospitality.
“Oh my, it looks so peaceful.”
When we entered the territory, what came into view was no different from any other frontier territory, but she smiled and seemed pleased.
When the passing residents saw my face through the window and greeted me with smiles and waves,
Eileen, who had been watching me carefully, smiled.
“As expected, you get along well with your people.”
“What do you mean, as expected?”
“Just because. I thought you would.”
I didn’t understand, but I let it pass with a shrug.
And when the mansion came into view, I felt a little embarrassed by how utterly incomparable it was.
“We don’t even have a garden, and it’s really small.”
“But the design of the mansion itself feels quite antique, doesn’t it? Minimalism is the trend in art these days. Designers would probably really like it if they saw it.”
Ahem.
She really does have a way with words.
A moment later, I saw my father, mother, and my younger sister Risel hurrying out of the mansion.
They had probably rushed out quickly after learning that someone from the Belmardian family had arrived.
“S-son. What on earth is this...”
“Yes, Father. Well, for now, let me introduce her. This is Lady Eileen Belmardian. Lady Eileen, these are my father, my mother, and my younger sister.”
At those words, my father hurriedly tried to greet her first, but then she stepped forward before him.
“Hello, Father, Mother. And my adorable little sister. I am Eileen Belmardian.”
Normally, my father would have greeted her first, then my mother, then Risel.
No, yes, it was right for Eileen to greet them first.
They were adults, after all.
But in the life of nobles, the power of one’s family came before age.
That was why, even though it must have wounded their pride, they had tried to greet someone far younger first.
But the Belmardian family was greeting a frontier family like theirs first?
No, that wasn’t the problem.
Did I hear wrong?
Father?
Mother?