Chapter 161: Predicted Disaster (1)
“Bibeong!”
There came a ringing and clear shout of Bibeong from Lake Kapua in the eastern mountain range, announcing the arrival of the morning across the Frontera county.
“Hmm…”
It was an unusually refreshing morning for Lloyd, for it had been quite a while since he slept this well. The first thing that crossed his mind when he opened his eyes was…
Why do I always wake up so easily when I’m on vacation?
It was truly strange. And it had always been like this. On school days, forcing his eyes open in the morning couldn’t be any more difficult. But strangely, he rose automatically on days there wasn’t any school. The same thing was happening today.
I have nothing to keep myself busy with for a while.
Lying on the floor, Lloyd recollected the events in his fiefdom. The apartment complex construction had gone smoothly. The project picked up its pace after Building 103 was finished because every building looked exactly the same as the other as if they had been copy-pasted. And as the workers grew more experienced and accustomed to the job, the increased speed in their work translated to better performance and results.
And so, I can just entrust the job to them from now on.
The same went for the construction of the sewers. The main sewer and the sludge treatment facility, the central parts of the sewage system, were already completed. The only thing left was to construct shafts across the villages, apartment complexes, and sewage pipes. Then, connect the shafts to the main sewer.
That can be left to them as well. I just need to do the inspection.
Long live Sir Bayern. Long, long live the engineers, elves, and orcs. What a great blessing that he had a huge, reliable team and a system that allowed construction to progress on its own without requiring his intervention.
But, of course, our funds are a bit lacking.
A slight wrinkle appeared between Lloyd’s brows as he lazed around his bed. If he was being honest, the fiefdom’s finances weren’t always enough. There were just too many things to spend on. First, there were tens of thousands of refugees. The cost to feed and clothe them was unimaginable. But the terraced fields in the eastern range had only taken their first step.
Sure, there is the water bill from Lacona viscounty, some other minor funds, and aid from the palace… But it still isn’t enough.
Lloyd first thought that they had enough, but after a string of large-scale constructions, he realized it wasn’t sufficient at all. So, if he ever got the chance, he needed to acquire a stable source of money.
It’s not like the palace is going to assist us forever.
The royal support they received could be cut off anytime. Though the palace said it wouldn’t under the queen’s promise, the world was full of surprises. Promises weren’t the only thing that the universe listened to.
Who knows. There could be a natural disaster, political upheaval, or war that puts the entire palace at risk.
As such, there was always the chance that the support they received from the palace could be cut off. Then, his fiefdom would inevitably die of hunger. Lloyd wanted to avoid such a situation as much as possible. If he could, he wanted to acquire a more stable source of income.
But… I can think about that tomorrow. Tomorrow.
Today, he would really just relax. After all, he had worked on all sorts of projects in the past few months, from the apartment complex to the retaining walls and sewers. Lloyd was filled with exhaustion, feeling as if his body was being torn into several pieces. While Lloyd tossed and turned with that thought in mind, and as his bed creaked, someone knocked on his door.
Knock knock knock.
“Master Lloyd, do you wish to eat your meal inside your room?”
There came knocking on his bedroom door. It was followed by a maid’s question. He didn’t notice that it was breakfast time already. Rising up from bed, he hurried and put on his shirt.
“Yeah, come in.”
The door opened to reveal the maid carrying a tray in her hands. It was Emily, whom Lloyd was familiar with among the manor’s maids.
“How was your sleep, young master?”
“Good,” he said, “Have you been waiting at the door with that tray until I made a noise?”
“I didn’t wait too long,” replied Emily with a grin on her face as though she was telling Lloyd that it was nothing.
“But Master Lloyd,” Emily continued as she placed the sausage, egg, salad, and hot milk off the tray. “I am not sure what you will make of what I will say, but it must be so nice, young master.”
“Hm? Me? Why?” said Lloyd quizzically.
“Why else, young master? Such a gentle and friendly lady has traveled here to propose,” she answered.
“Oh, her?” Lloyd chuckled involuntarily, his thoughts flying back to Lady Cordona he met shortly after the previous day. Indeed, Lloyd thought to himself, she was very courteous and cool. It appeared that Emily felt the same about her.
“Sure, but what can I do? Neither Lady Cordona nor I am interested in an arranged marriage.”
Lloyd spoke with a bitter smile, but this brought Emily to cock her head to the side.
“Um, but I was speaking of Lady Perano.”
“What?” asked Lloyd.
“Oh, I forgot.”
Emily then clapped her hands, and she added as though she forgot to tell Lloyd something, “Come to think of it, I suppose you haven’t met her yet. That is, Lady Perano.”
“Hold on… Lady Perano? Who is that?”
“She came early in the morning,” Emily answered.
“Early in the morning?”
“Yes, young master. Very early. Before the sunrise.”
“Very early. Before the sunrise. While I was asleep”? repeated Lloyd.
“Yes, yes, young master,” said Emily. “I woke up early because I was in charge of drawing water at dawn. That’s how I saw her. She had twelve knights in a very fancy carriage. Even then, how gentle and kind she was.”
“Woah… Hold on. Hold on right there.”
In a panic, Lloyd wondered what Emily was saying.
“I’m still trying to grasp the bomb you dropped on me, so let me ask you one thing,” said Lloyd.
“Yes, Young Master.”
“Could you be saying now that someone else other than Lady Cordona came here? In the early morning?”
“Yes, Young Master. She is having breakfast with the count right now.”
“…”
“Young master?”
Lloyd jumped out of bed, his heart pounding violently. This is nuts! Lloyd shouted internally, thinking that he was wrong to believe everything was taken care of after the situation with Lady Cordona was resolved. He was seriously mistaken. The marriage issue hadn’t been solved. Lloyd feared that the issue would blow out of control like wildfire. He started to put on his shoes before he knew it.
“Yeah, Emily. I’m sorry. I think I need to get going,” said Lloyd.
“Young master?”
“I need to go there right now. No, I need to fix this situation. I’ll eat it in the dining room.”
“Then, what about this food-”
“You eat it,” said Lloyd.
“Excuse me?”
“Eat for me. But don’t tell the others. Okay?”
“Oh, young master-”
“There shouldn’t be any leftovers,” interrupted Lloyd.“You’ll get punished. In hell, they’ll mix up all of your life’s leftovers and make you eat it.”
“…”
Lloyd got out of his bedroom, leaving Emily, whose face was becoming pale. Lloyd quickened his steps down to the dining room.
“Woah.”
The morning passed by like a storm. No, to be exact, a mind-boggling lunchtime had come.
“So… was that when you stopped hesitating to firmly give a blunt rejection during your first encounter with the ladies?”
“Uh-huh.”
Lloyd and Javier were near the main gate of the Frontera manor. Slouching on the wooden bench like wet laundry, he nodded.
“What’s the point of beating around the bush?” said Lloyd.
“Was it to avoid any misunderstandings?” asked Javier.
“Uh-huh.”
Lloyd nodded his head again at Javier’s question. Just then, he recalled what he had gone through in the morning.
“So, when I came down to the dining room, Lady Perano, who arrived at dawn, greeted me with a bright smile on her face. But the atmosphere was just, whew.”
“What was it like for you to react this way?”
“Just one nod from me, and she was ready to settle in here.”
“So?”
“I spoke by reflex because the situation didn’t feel right.”
“What did you say?”
“Nothing special. I flatly told her to enjoy her stay here for a few days and go back since I don’t have any intention to marry her.”
“Your rejection was too straightforward. I wouldn’t be surprised if Lady Perano was offended,” Javier said.
“That’s probably why she berated me with a smile on her face.”
“What was it about?”
“She said that she came here with high expectations but was disappointed when she actually saw me,” answered Lloyd.
“Why?”
“She said she couldn’t tell whether I look like this because I took a weird drug or didn’t take the one I need.”
“It appears the answer is the latter,” said Javier.
“I don’t need you to answer that question…”
“Anyway,” Javier went on ignoring Lloyd, “is that how you also treated the two ladies that came after her?”
“Yeah. I gave my rejection as soon as I saw their faces. I was insulted twice more, thanks to it.”
What Lloyd said did take place. After Lady Perano, the ones that came next in the morning were Lady Esperia and Lady Sicily. Lloyd rejected them the moment they stepped out of their carriage. Feeling severely mortified, the ladies hurled curses at Lloyd. He did feel that he was being severe on them. But he couldn’t do anything else as he was able to slightly presume why this unfortunate event took place.
The count likely gave a vague, ambiguous response.
Though he wasn’t certain, the circumstances pointed in that direction.
The count was very wistful when I asked him to reject the marriage proposals.
Lloyd figured that the count’s reluctance could be seen in his response, leading the recipients to form misguided thoughts.
That’s why the families started to second guess themselves even after receiving a rejection letter. They must have felt that pushing us once more would change my answer. And so, out of such hope, these powerful and wealthy families sent their daughters directly here. They put their trust in the reputation of their family. That is, to obtain my acceptance.
So, Lloyd decided that his answer this time could not be ambiguous. Even if he was a little rude, he had to be firm and straightforward, like a straight shooter. His rejection had to be as sharp as a blade. That was how he could avoid dragging things out and make sure that the other parties would give up soon. Lloyd thought that was the best for both of them.
“Anyway,” Lloyd continued, “I am full. I am not hungry at all, even though I skipped breakfast and lunch. I wonder if all those insults made me lose my appetite.”
Lloyd laughed aloud as he spoke, and Javier chuckled.
“If that was the case, you should be full all the time.”
“Hmm? Why?”
“Thanks to me,” said Javier.
“What? Wait, do you always insult me inside your head?”
“Obviously.”
“Wow. You aren’t even trying to deny it.”
“Sincerity and honesty are the virtues of a knight,” defended Javier.
“Can you at least pretend at a time like this?”
“I cannot.”
“How firm you are.”
“I appreciate the compliment.”
“Forget it. Oh, there. There’s another one coming.”
The usual banter between them came to a halt. Lloyd’s gaze traveled down the hill, and he saw a carriage driving up the sloped approach. It wasn’t a cargo cart. Decked out with flashy ornaments, four white horses led the carriage, and even the horseman was cleanly dressed. Around it were eight knights on horses. It was noble for sure, and it went without saying why they were coming here.
“Woah. She is the fourth person to come today alone.”
Lloyd wondered what kind of insults this lady would hurl at him. Does your breath smell like hot trash? Or do I want to alter your face by punching you so many times? Lloyd got up from the bench, feeling strangely expectant. Meanwhile, the carriage climbed the hill, and he stopped at the entrance.
The eight knights queued up, and the horseman grabbed the door handle. The gold-rimmed door slowly opened, and Lloyd gulped at the same time. He then got ready, the words of rejection right behind his lips. But when he looked at the lady appearing from the door, Lloyd flinched involuntarily.
Eh?
Even though his brain told him to shoot the words of rejection before the greeting, he couldn’t do it. Was it because he fell in love with her? Was she his ideal woman? No. He stopped because he knew who she was.
The Knight of Blood and Iron. The novel contained a couple of illustrations, and I saw her in one of them.
Lloyd searched for his memory in which part he saw it. Which scene? The lady’s heels clacked as they touched the ground. That revived the searching piece of memory.
She wasn’t a villain.
She was a protagonist, but a pitiful one. She sacrificed herself for many people. She threw her life away, her sacrifice granting Javier a chance to fight back. The unbreakable wall crumbled to save countless people and prevent catastrophe. That place of incident was…
“Naraman county. Siluria Namaran.”
Lloyd’s words came out on their own against his will as the memory recovered. The lady grew wide-eyed as she heard it.
“Excuse me? Do you know me?”
“…”
Lloyd intensely stared at her instead of giving a response. In the story, people in the city were on the brink of getting sacrificed by the warlocks. Javier then invented the mana blast for the first time ever to prevent the disaster. But there was one lady Javier failed to save from meeting a tragic end. That was Siluria Namaran, and she was now grinning at Lloyd.