I had never before encountered such a wondrous way of thinking—coming to ask to be hired, yet wanting to verify if one was qualified to serve.
But Daniel was so naturally self-assured it was almost excessive, and the expression on Mina’s face, which had been momentarily stunned, changed.
“Impertinent.”
That single word expressed Mina’s mood.
While Erica was also flustered, Daniel smoothly continued speaking.
“Appearance aside, I am quite confident in managing estates, and from what I see, you intend to entrust such work to me, do you not? I do think Baron Eisen is a suitable liege, but even so, I thought I ought to test one thing. Just as you suspected me of being an Abatus lackey, might not the Baron also change his mind and side with Abatus?”
“I’d like to say that won’t happen.”
I had already spoken with them several times, and estimates had been drawn up.
But I felt as though I understood why Daniel was speaking that way.
“Were I to side with Abatus, I would only end up aiding that place which is like an enemy to you, so you wish to test whether I am confident that I would not do that?”
“It is admittedly terribly rude, but you must show at least that much for us to be able to work well together, no? And I thought it something absolutely necessary even for a prospective liege.”
Daniel spread his arms as he spoke.
“I can see you have many beautiful and capable women around you, my lord, each providing great assistance. However….”
Daniel spoke to me, a little—yet quite firmly.
“Because of that, my first impression was that there is little in this estate which the lord personally conceived and created.”
I furrowed my brows unconsciously.
While Noel was slightly at a loss, Mina spoke, revealing her displeasure.
“Knowing when to step back from matters outside one’s domain is also a virtue.”
“Then allow me to ask in return. Who is the master of this estate?”
Daniel paused briefly, then slowly opened his mouth again.
“Of course, the master is you, Baron Akrite. If so, everything should revolve around you, but pardon me—I get the impression that the Baron takes the initiative far too rarely.”
“A-ah, Eisen has also done a great many things….”
Noel argued softly.
Daniel’s tone softened as well.
“Looking at a hub that has already developed this much, I agree.”
“But even that was ultimately just fulfilling other people’s requests,” I added, slightly bitterly.
And Daniel nodded.
“It is funny to say this after such harsh words, but responding to others’ requests is also an excellent quality. However, you must take the initiative and do something yourself. Otherwise….”
Daniel showed a pained expression.
It was not physical discomfort; it must have been because his own affairs came to mind.
“…Like my household. If you let others almost completely seize the initiative, you will eventually be unable to properly do even what you wish.”
I nodded at Daniel’s earnest words.
“…To be honest, from today I was planning to hole up in the factory again to modify golems….”
“If you work to a degree befitting a baron, no one has the right to stop even that. If the renowned Lady Noel supports you to such an extent, you must have done much and now be organized enough to immerse yourself. So, let us do this.”
Daniel spread his hands.
“Even just one thing is fine, my lord. Be it a system or whatever, show me your rule—one that I can be convinced of.”
“Rule?”
“Be it a law or a policy to be implemented going forward, anything is fine, my lord.”
Daniel looked this way and spoke.
“Show me your rule—one that you create, taking the center yourself.”
It was a burdensome thing to say.
I hesitated for a moment.
But the thought that flashed across my mind simultaneously was—
that this was an opportunity to learn much more.
“Very well.”
I nodded in reply to Daniel’s words.
Daniel, whose eyes had been slightly surprised, smiled faintly.
****
After hearing Eisen’s answer.
Daniel was escorted along with his attendant to the residential area.
“I believe you will be staying here, but….”
“A splendid house in its own right. I was told you even built the foundation with magic?”
At Daniel’s nonchalant attitude, Noel bowed his head deeply.
And the attendant narrowed his eyes and spoke.
“Still, it was quite dangerous earlier, wasn’t it?”
“Baron Eisen wasn’t very offended and seemed convinced?”
“The Saintess and the young lady of House Phoenix were extremely displeased, weren’t they? Lord Galled as well. If Baron Eisen had even raised his voice, blades would have truly flown, wouldn’t they?”
“You would have stopped them.”
It had passed because Eisen had accepted and understood, but Daniel’s attitude just now had been extremely rude.
Outwardly, it was an absurd situation—a free knight without so much as a title telling a baron, a titled noble, to hire him, then saying he would test his employer.
To top it off, Lord Galled had asked Erica for the favor, and Erica had introduced the baron and Daniel in that very setting.
In short, Daniel’s actions had put all three of them in a tight spot at once.
Had Eisen shown great displeasure at that moment, someone from House Phoenix would likely have drawn their sword and tried to cut Daniel down on the spot.
“I am a bodyguard, so I know how to fight, but the young lady of House Phoenix is quite famous among the knights. Lord Galled is also a senior knight of Count Phoenix’s household. Me, against them?”
“We nearly went to our graves hand in hand, then.”
At any rate, due to such circumstances, Noel had taken charge of guiding Daniel to his quarters.
Eisen was clearly the master and a baron, but since he was in a position without a single hired servant yet, someone had to act on his behalf; however, the three people who could have fulfilled that role were all furious at Daniel due to the rudeness he had just committed.
The Saintess had strongly dissuaded him to the point of saying Eisen should not go himself.
Naturally, the remaining Noel had volunteered to take it on, so it had been settled.
In the first place, it was because Noel was there that Daniel could step forward so boldly.
“How did my question sound to you, Noel?”
“I cannot dare discuss Your Majesty’s profound intentions carelessly.”
As his voice and attitude changed, Noel politely bowed her head.
Daniel—the man now called Danimus—spoke quickly.
“Do not kneel. I have granted you the privilege of not kneeling before me, yet you would still do so?”
“How could I dare….”
“It is not because your body is frail. Among the children of my blood, you are the only girl. Is it not fitting to grant a niece at least that much privilege?”
At Danimus’s words, Noel stood straight again.
And the bodyguard had already brought two chairs, placing the two facing each other.
Danusmus sat first; as the bodyguard stood behind him, Noel sat quietly and faced him.
“You perceived my identity well. However, it seems you have much you wish to say?”
“How could I….”
“I ought to have said this first. Speak comfortably. You are a child who clearly inherits the royal house’s blood; you are my niece. Are we not family?”
Noel hesitated but soon nodded.
“…Then excuse me. Uncle.”
“So you shall. Ah, my younger sister who married into House Nexia… yes. I mean that you resemble your mother.”
Danusmus smiled gently.
And then asked quietly again.
“Do you understand why I have come here in secret this time?”
“To strike Abatus, is it not.”
While Danimus remained silent, Noel spoke quietly.
“The location of the estate was blatant enough to make it easy to understand. Nexia, easily gathering the Academy, and if need be, Phoenix and so on….”
“It was also a place difficult for their hands to reach.”
Danusmus said quietly.
“If necessary, one can reach Nexia, Phoenix, or the Academy. Once past the Academy, it connects to the royal capital as well. The land is a bit small, but it is an incredibly useful place.”
“Abatus will catch on.”
“They have. But they could do no more. The greedy often fail to see what lies right beneath their feet.”
Danusmus glanced toward Eisen’s temporary residence.
To be precise, he thought of the two women who would be there.
“Much coin tends to hide much. Thanks to the Saintess’s earnest lobbying, there were those who went over according to plan despite being closer to Abatus. To be precise, we let them.”
“The Phoenix Margrave’s side also went around recommending Cyclops to support Eisen, so the old man of Abatus had to invest more strength there as well. It was not easy, but we somehow managed to create a delayed situation.”
“You have worked hard.”
As she bowed toward the bodyguard, he waved his hand.
“After all, it was luck. It was a die that needed to roll a six, and a six came up.”
“And you were achieving quite significant results. I had heard he was a fellow who caused accidents every day, stirred up dangerous matters, and seemed interested in nothing but golems, but he proves more human than expected.”
“Rumors tend to gather needless embellishments, do they not?”
At the bodyguard’s words, Danimus nodded.
Noel spoke quietly.
“He has a childlike side, and though he seems somewhat lacking in common sense, he is not one who commits rudeness with ill intent.”
“Hm, is that all you have to say?”
Noel looked at Danimus, puzzled.
Danusmus smirked.
“How naive.”
“I was going to say Eisen is more… than naive….”
“I am speaking of you. *Sigh.* This is why one should not keep children close to politics. Gilford is the same, and so are you.”
“Indeed.”
For some reason, Danimus and the bodyguard seemed frustrated.
Noel spoke carefully.
“…I shall devote myself further. And Lord Gilford is merely wandering now; he will soon….”
“That is a given, and naturally how it must be, and how it shall be. Do not fret too much. I have faith.”
Danusmus spoke gently.
And then spoke quietly.
“Will he pass my test?”
“Yes.”
The answer came far too quickly.
The moment he tried to ask the reason.
“It is because that person does not fear failure.”
Noel answered firmly, with a hint of passion.
Danusmus, whose eyes had been slightly surprised, smiled faintly.