#16. Count Coleman's Territory (1)
2023.08.16.
Melburn, who had listened carefully to Rita's words, let out a groan and stood up. Rita asked, bewildered.
"Where are you going?"
"......."
He kept his mouth shut and looked around. As Rita had said, the interior came into view, organized beyond recognition. The broken bricks, the cracked window frames, and the shattered staircase—all had been neatly repaired.
He had not remained here because he liked the place. He had simply stayed because the pay was higher than that of other servants. Come to think of it, the reason his family—nothing more than ignorant commoners with no claim to nobility—had been able to serve as stewards here for three generations was thanks to the previous Grand Dukes' indifference and apathy.
Occasionally, a former Melburn, or the current Melburn, would feel the desire to change something for the better, but it would only circle in his head before fading away. He had neither the grounds nor the confidence to persuade the previous Grand Dukes.
And so the former Melburn could only strip away courage from the later Melburn and bequeath nothing but helplessness.
But.......
Melburn spoke in a low voice.
"Should I not show at least a minimum of sincerity to the master?"
Then he turned and left the inner chamber. No doubt to consult with the servants on how to decorate the Grand Ducal Castle before the carpenter arrived.
"......."
Rita, watching his retreating figure with her mouth hanging open, clenched her fist without realizing it. She turned her flushed face toward the newly fitted panes gleaming brilliantly in the window frames. Beyond them, bare branches swayed in the cold wind.
Though winter was in full swing, spring had already come to her heart.
In the evening, Amy set down the letter she had finished reading onto her lap and pressed firmly between her eyes with her hand.
'I'm glad the steward of the Grand Ducal Castle is sharp.'
She had wanted to finish repairs and renovations before Noah arrived, so she had pushed the work forward somewhat recklessly with Joseph. Fortunately, they had worked well together and everything had proceeded smoothly. She had thought that no matter how much effort she poured in, if the other side didn't cooperate it would all be a wasted effort, so she would have been grateful for even half success.
Amy rolled her stiff shoulders.
'Not much farther until the North, so I must push on.'
She buried her nose once more in the documents Joseph had poured his heart into creating. It was a report on the land reclamation and commercial street reconstruction of the village directly below the Grand Ducal Castle.
Through mercenaries, she had gathered information on artisans working with gold, silver, brass, and bronze, as well as armorers and skilled blacksmiths, then encouraged them to come north.
The conditions were radical: she provided the funds and storefronts needed to emigrate and lowered tax rates until they could establish themselves. While some had refused, most had agreed, and with the cooperation of the Grand Ducal Castle's steward and the village's influential figures, they were building shops and houses.
'The severe winter can be managed if all goes well.'
Amy set down her quill and fell into thought. The Grand Duchy was a land of opportunity hidden beneath ice. It wasn't for nothing that she had coaxed the Second Prince to put down roots there. The black mountain range located at the northernmost tip of the Grand Duchy arose in her mind, which was always drawing big pictures.
'Of all names, it's called the Black Mountain Range. How ironic.'
Since it was covered in ice and snow year-round, the White Mountain Range would have suited it better; why had it been given such a name? Had its existence been known in the past?
'Perhaps there might be a record in the history books, so I should look when I reach the Grand Ducal Castle.'
In truth, the chances of any records remaining were almost nil. If anyone had known, the North would have become one of the wealthiest places on the continent by now.
Lost in thought, she suddenly raised her head. The crackling sound of firewood burning in the fireplace was comforting. It was fortunate she could rest here, as the temperature had dropped sharply since entering the North.
Just then, a maid knocked and entered.
"Head Maid. It is time for dinner."
"Very well."
She organized her documents and stood up. It was time to meet the master of this mansion.
"......."
Amy furrowed her brows without realizing it. The master of the mansion was not in the dining hall.
'What is this?'
When their party had arrived at this lord's castle upon entering the North, Count Coleman had not shown his face to Noah either. Only the steward had come out to receive them with extreme courtesy.
The steward had been extremely apologetic, saying the master could not come out due to circumstances, but until then, Amy had not thought much of it. She had assumed he had briefly stepped away. But to not appear even for dinner......
'So there are forces in the North opposed to Noah-nim's succession to Grand Duke. Is Coleman also one of them?'
Amy glanced at Noah standing beside her. Though he had every right to feel slighted by the vassal house's cold treatment, he looked calm and unconcerned, which secretly improved her mood.
Then Noah asked the elderly steward calmly.
"Is this Count Coleman's choice?"
"......."
Amy revised her assessment. So he was in a bad mood after all.
"T-that is an outrageous thing to say, Your Highness!"
The experienced steward understood Noah's words and panicked. He quickly gestured and shooed the servants out of the dining hall. Then he locked the door himself, approached Noah, and knelt on the cold floor.
"I shall speak honestly. Count Coleman is currently hovering between life and death."
"!"
Noah and Amy's mouths fell open. Amy quickly checked again with her eyes that the door was properly locked.
"Then what of his successor?"
"Pardon?"
At Amy's question, the steward's face went blank for a moment before turning troubled.
"That is......"
Amy quickly rummaged through her memory for information on the House of Count Coleman.
'Count Coleman's territory is about one-sixth the size of the Grand Duchy and lies on the road to the Empire; it has the most temperate weather in the North, and its main source of income is the sale of sturdy black timber from dense forests. The current count is advanced in years and has no children.'
"Good heavens......"
With the Empire and the Grand Duchy now separate, the new Count Coleman was for Noah to appoint. But if Count Coleman truly was part of the opposition......
'How unfortunate that we arrived at this exact time. It could give rise to troublesome rumors.'
Rumors that the Second Prince had killed the aged count to reclaim the title from the opposition, for instance. The public had no interest in whether rumors were true or not. So long as they were sensational and entertaining, that was enough.
'The opposition will gleefully add fuel to the rumors.'
It was a headache. She already had a mountain of tasks; why were obstacles piling up like mountain ranges upon mountain ranges? Amy was cursing inwardly when Noah spoke.
"Where is Viscount Burton?"
"!"
At those words, the steward's face took on the pallor of a dead man. Amy narrowed her brow and once again rapidly searched her memory.
'Viscount Burton is one of the titles held by Count Coleman...... If there is no successor, who holds that title?'
The steward dropped his shoulders in resignation and answered honestly.
"Viscount Burton is...... currently on holiday...... no, he has run away from home."
"......."
Amy pressed her forehead again. Since entering the North, she had stopped avoiding nobles as she had done with the House of Baron Falren out of fear of trouble. Since she would have to interact with them, whether she liked it or not, she had tried to start off on warm and amicable terms......
'Why is the road to the Grand Ducal Castle so treacherous......'
It was as if foreshadowing that her path ahead was thickly strewn with such traps, and a chill ran down her spine.
"At any rate, Count Coleman is still alive right now?"
At Noah's question, the steward wiped his sweat and nodded.
"Y-yes, that is correct. Though he will not last much longer......"
"We will depart at dawn tomorrow. Make it known that we require no send-off."
Noah spoke firmly, then seated Amy in a chair. Amy, whose mind was half elsewhere, sat absently before starting up in surprise.
'No, I should be the one attending to Your Highness!'
But Noah was already seated at the head of the table. Amy reluctantly sat back down. At Noah's signal, the steward opened the door again, and the servants brought in the food.
After dinner, Amy and Noah held an emergency meeting. Amy started with what she was most curious about.
"How did you know about Viscount Burton?"
"When I was in the imperial palace, I heard the Prime Minister speaking of it."
Amy furrowed her brow.
"Count Coleman definitely has no children. Then who is Viscount Burton?"
"A bastard son, apparently."
Ah, as expected. The Prime Minister had known, but since it had not been officially approved, it had not been recorded in official documents. That was precisely why Amy had not known.
"So it's not an official title, but one used for convenience in the North? The previous Grand Duke must not have approved it."
"That wasn't the only thing he neglected. I was told to brace myself."
"By whom? The Prime Minister?"
"Yes."
Amy pursed her lips inwardly. The Prime Minister, who looked like a pot-bellied weasel given human form, was the Empress's man. He had likely mocked Noah thoroughly before he left the imperial palace, dressing it up as advice.
"Ignore such people."
Whether Noah knew Amy was indignant or not, he smiled gently. He nodded with a slightly bashful expression.
"Yes, because I have Amy."
"......Well, yes."
Amy gave a small cough and returned to the main point.
"Of the entire territory of the Grand Duchy, the directly governed domain that you, Noah-nim, will rule directly is about one-third. The remaining land consists of the fiefs of northern vassal nobles such as Count Coleman. Therefore, cooperation with them is essential."
"If they cause trouble, it becomes a headache."
"Exactly."
Noah looked at Amy and said.
"And likely, at someone's behest, they are prepared to obstruct me."
"......."
Amy could not bring herself to lie and say no. Noah, as if he had expected this, quietly lowered his gaze. Silence hung between the two for a while.
How much time had passed.
"Amy."
Noah raised his head and called to her.
"Yes. Your Highness, speak."
Noah swallowed dryly and cautiously opened his mouth.
"What must I do?"