Chapter 304 The Exhausted Envoy and the Crumpled Oath A Tale of Noble Treachery
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Summary:
Neil, the Frontier Administrator, is left with a sour, moyamoya¹ feeling after his inconclusive meeting with Espera-san. He then faces a political threat as Viscount Pelant’s envoy returns—disturbingly exhausted—to force an oath contract regarding Dhru Wheat upon him. His loyal retainer, Diana, immediately smells treachery, suspecting the envoy is a fake due to glaring inconsistencies in his behavior and the handling of the document. A dramatic, unexpected revelation from the high-ranking noble, Marquis Rubal, is about to expose the truth of the envoy’s desperation and the political intrigue surrounding the valuable grain.
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My meeting with Espera-san had ended on such a frustrating, inconclusive note that I was left stewing in my moyamoya¹ mood while waiting in the reception room. Diana was out fetching Viscount Pelant’s envoy, and I honestly couldn’t shake the nagging question: just what in the world did the Viscount want this time? I wasn’t getting a good feeling about it at all. The moment the thought crossed my mind, a timid knock sounded on the door.
”Neil-sama, I’ve brought Viscount Pelant’s representative,” Diana’s calm voice announced.
”Please, come in.”
I was about to utter the standard words of welcome when the sight of the envoy entering the room caused me to lock up completely. I reckoned it had been about five weeks since our last encounter, and even then, he’d looked utterly spent—forced to act as a representative and sent all the way from the Empire’s far north to our southernmost frontier settlement. But now? I could categorically state that he looked infinitely worse. The man was completely and utterly exhausted.
”A-are you alright?” I blurted out, my concern overriding any formal greeting. That was how truly ragged he looked.
”Y-yes… I’m quite alright, thank you.”
”Well, please, take a seat here immediately.”
He clearly was not alright, but I gently guided the envoy to one of the sofas. I then took the opposite seat, with Diana positioning herself respectfully behind me.
”So, what business brings you here today?” I asked, keeping my tone gentle.
”Yes, well, it concerns what we discussed previously, actually. When I conveyed the verbal agreement to my master, he simply yelled at me, ‘You think I can trust the word of an Empire noble’s promise?’ He demanded I return with a properly formalized, written agreement—something that would last!” The envoy’s voice was strained and thin.
”You told him? Wait, are you saying you returned all the way to the Pelant territory and then came back here again? In just five weeks?” I asked, completely staggered.
”Yes…” The man affirmed weakly. His single, tired syllable seemed to contain all the sheer fatigue of those last five weeks.
”But how? It takes almost three weeks just one way to Viscount Pelant’s domain. A round trip should take nearly seven weeks!” I insisted, trying to puzzle out the impossible arithmetic.
”That would be if one traveled only on the main city roads by carriage, certainly. But by utilizing the smaller, intricate city roads that branch out like twigs, it is possible to complete the round trip in five weeks. However, these side roads are often impassable for a carriage, so they must be traversed on foot…” The man trailed off.
Was that why he was so terribly thin and worn out? He had shaved two full weeks off a journey that normally took seven. I could easily imagine the brutal, punishing itinerary he must have endured. The man reached into his breast pocket and produced a small, tightly folded piece of paper. He placed it on the desk and then pushed it toward me with a single, weary finger.
”This is a sworn oath summarizing the matters we discussed before.”
”An oath?” I murmured, already sensing a problem. Despite my hesitation, I unfolded the paper and read the contents.
In essence, the document stated that I was not to distribute the Dhru Wheat² outside of the frontier settlement. If, however, the Dhru Wheat cultivated here did somehow leak out and consequently affect the sales price of the grain cultivated in Viscount Pelant’s lands, then I would be liable for damages. Due to the Spirit’s power, our frontier settlement can reliably cultivate Dhru Wheat, which is normally extremely difficult to grow. Because of its scarcity and its primary use in luxury confectionery, Dhru Wheat was sold at incredibly high prices among status-conscious nobles. If a stable supply suddenly became available, the scarcity would be lost, and the price would crash. This, clearly, was Viscount Pelant’s greatest fear.
I’d already promised Harmon-san that I wouldn’t sell the Dhru Wheat externally, so that part of the agreement wasn’t an issue. But the part about requesting damages… that caught my attention. Before, it was only a simple verbal promise, and I could gladly agree. However, with the actual written oath, I felt a strong reluctance.
”Hmm…”
”Please, please agree to this… if I don’t return with your promise, my master will surely…” The envoy’s plea was desperate.
I was truly troubled. I wanted to help him, but this was not something I could easily sign. As I debated what to do, Diana leaned in and whispered to my ear.
”Neil-sama, may I have your permission to speak?”
”What are you going to say?” I whispered back.
”I merely wish to ask how long he has been in Viscount Pelant’s service.”
Why on earth would she ask that? I was puzzled, but the question seemed harmless enough, so I nodded slightly, granting her permission.
”Forgive me for the impertinence, but may I ask you something?” Diana’s voice was crisp and polite.
”W-what is it?”
”How many years have you been serving Viscount Pelant?”
”Huh? Why would you ask that?”
”It simply piqued my interest.”
”…It must be about six months now.”
”Six months, is that so.”
Only six months, and he was already being tasked with the role of personal envoy? Were there truly no other reliable people in Viscount Pelant’s employ? The Viscount’s bad reputation was infamous, and I’d heard his irrational demands caused a constant stream of servants to quit. Perhaps six months was actually a long tenure there. Even if I signed the oath, all I had to do was not sell the Dhru Wheat. If, by some remote error, the grain did leak out and I had to pay compensation, I would only lose money. But for this man… an unpleasant imagining began to race through my mind.
”Wait—”
”Neil-sama,” Diana called my name from behind, her eyes serious as I turned to look at her.
After a moment, I faced the man again and spoke slowly.
”You are clearly exhausted today. I shall have a room prepared for you to rest. I will give you my answer tomorrow.”
”Tomorrow?! I assure you, I am fine! I cannot imagine what my master will do if I delay any further…” The envoy’s panic was palpable.
”I understand your anxiety, but you might collapse from exhaustion on your journey back. If that happens, won’t you incur Viscount Pelant’s displeasure anyway?”
”That… that is certainly true, but…”
”Don’t worry. I will take the blame for the delay as our fault and prepare a letter and a gift of apology. That should appease Viscount Pelant’s anger somewhat,” I assured him.
”But…”
”Neil-sama,” Diana whispered my name again, a quiet signal asking for permission to speak. Sensing the urgency, I nodded slightly without turning around.
”We understand your feelings, but surely you realize this is not a matter that can be decided so lightly. If you insist on an immediate decision, we would, unfortunately, have no choice but to refuse your request,” Diana stated, her voice as smooth as marble and utterly firm.
”No! You can’t!” The envoy gasped.
”However, Neil-sama is a generous master. If you can grant us the time, I believe we can present you with terms that will be better than an outright refusal.” She was masterful, a true protector.
”My retainer speaks the truth. If you wait one day, I believe we can come to an understanding that benefits both sides. Please, rest today and gather your strength for your return journey to the Viscount’s territory.” I added my weight to her words.
”…Understood.” I expected him to continue arguing, given his desperation, but perhaps our sincerity and Diana’s firmness got through to him. The man acquiesced with a defeated slump.
”Very well. I will prepare an inn room for you now. Please follow me.” Diana said, escorting the man out of the reception room.
My initial thought was to give him a room in the mansion, but on second thought, if I were in his shoes, spending a night in a noble’s residence wouldn’t be restful for the mind, even if the body was resting. An inn might actually be better.
Since I had no further appointments, I returned to my office and waited for Diana’s return, but she was later than I expected.
”I have returned,” she finally announced, entering the office.
”Welcome back. You were a bit late. Was there no vacancy at the inn?” I wondered.
”No, Neil-sama. I stopped by Narsht-san’s kitchen on the way and requested that he deliver a meal to the envoy as well.” Diana explained.
”Ah, I see. I hadn’t even thought of that. Always on the ball, Diana.” I remarked, appreciating her foresight.
Despite her clear suspicion of the man, Diana still treated him properly as a guest, which made me trust her all the more. However, I still had one pressing question.
”I understand why you’re cautious about this whole arrangement, Diana, but why did you ask the man, ‘How long have you been serving Viscount Pelant?’”
”Because he did not look like a servant to me.”
”What do you mean?”
”A brief examination of his conduct makes it quite clear. Firstly, his manner of speaking: it was quite grating for a retainer. His use of polite language, while present, was stiff and inconsistent.” Now that she mentioned it, compared to Diana, the envoy’s use of formal speech did feel like the maximum effort of an inexperienced person. It wasn’t consistently polished.
”If he had been a servant for six months, his speech would not be so half-hearted. Secondly, the oath paper.” Diana turned her gaze to the crumpled document on my desk.
”He folded the oath into a tiny square to place it in his pocket. It is strictly forbidden to fold such an important document. Even if it were impossible to deliver it directly and a sealed envelope were required, only a trifold is permissible. To fold it into a grid pattern like this is utterly inconceivable.” Diana’s observation was sharp and cutting.
”True, I’ve rarely seen a contract with so many creases… but still, is it enough?”
”There is also a strange feeling about his attitude while we spoke. He was completely slumped back against the sofa, his legs spread apart, in the presence of his negotiation partner. That is not the demeanor of a man sent to conclude an important discussion.” Diana countered.
”Couldn’t that just be because he was so exhausted? He looked absolutely spent, and had no energy left to maintain his posture,” I reasoned.
”A man who so fears his master’s reprimand that he rushes back despite his body’s ailments—would such a man take such a casual attitude during a critical negotiation? If he were so thick-skinned as to feel comfortable doing that, he wouldn’t be so terrified of the Viscount’s wrath.” Diana’s logic was irrefutable.
”So, to sum up, you’re saying that man isn’t actually a servant of the Viscount Pelant house but an impostor? But he had a legitimate letter of attorney the last time, with the Viscount’s seal on it.”
”The letter of attorney did not appear to be a forgery, that is true… Neil-sama, may I examine the contents of this oath once more?”
”Go ahead. I’ve looked at it a few times, but I couldn’t find any suspicious points.” I granted.
Diana took the oath from the desk and scrutinized its contents, reviewing it from top to bottom, taking her time.
”…No suspicious points are immediately apparent. It is not ambiguously worded in a way that allows for multiple interpretations by the reader. A common fraud would not use such a roundabout contract, either.” Diana admitted.
”See? I figured you were just being overly cautious. There were a lot of red flags, sure, but we verified the letter of attorney before.” I sighed, coming to my own conclusion.
Just as Diana looked unconvinced, a sudden, booming voice erupted from behind the office door.
”I think it would be premature to make that judgment!”
Diana and I jumped, turning toward the door, completely surprised and on high alert. A moment later, a polite, softer knock followed.
”Neil-sama, it is Narsht.”
”Huh? Oh, yes, come in!” I called out, still reeling.
”Excuse me.” Narsht-san entered, holding his activated Item Box in his arms. But the space opened up by the Item Box revealed a rather disgruntled-looking Marquis Rubal.
”Narsht, you imbecile! I said you should have thrown open the door with my booming voice! This utterly destroys my grand entrance!” The Marquis scolded, still partially within the Item Box.
”I cannot commit such an act of disrespect toward my master,” Narsht-san replied calmly.
I realized the mysterious voice was the Marquis’s. But what was he doing here?
”You look confused, young man. It’s no great mystery. I was enjoying a tasting of Narsht’s cooking, as is tradition, when that maid of yours came to him and quietly requested that he check on the supposed Viscount Pelant’s envoy while delivering a meal. I simply overheard the gossip.” The Marquis explained.
Ah… so that was Diana’s real plan when she told me she was having Narsht-san deliver a meal. I made a wry face as Narsht-san picked up the narrative from the Marquis.
”I quickly prepared something light and took it over immediately, but…”
”Did something happen?” I asked, seeing Narsht-san hesitate.
Marquis Rubal gave me the shocking answer, his voice ringing out with dramatic finality.
”That so-called envoy? He had already fled the frontier settlement!”
—
T/L:
¹ Moyamoya: A Japanese onomatopoeic/mimetic word describing a hazy, foggy, or unclear emotional state, often one of vague anxiety, frustration, or irritation. It perfectly captures Neil’s feeling of being unsettled and unable to resolve the situation. ↩
² Dhru Wheat: A fictional, highly valuable crop within the story’s world setting, often used for luxury goods due to its rarity and difficulty in cultivation. Its value is the core source of the political conflict. ↩
Notes:
• Espera – An Inquisitor (middle clergy rank) of the Pentis faith from the Theocracy, serving as the official point of contact. She is characterized by her crisp tone and brutal honesty, defending the necessity of charging high fees (“fair compensation”) to maintain their resources and aid the suffering. She possesses a cool, assessing gaze and is highly perceptive, noticing Bearty and closely examining her distinctive features before choosing to leave without incident.
• Marquis Rubal – Another noble, who is famous as gourmet.
• Harmon – An experienced hunter and guard who came to the settlement and stayed. He is part of a hunting group with Demar, Dominic, Jott, Victor and Kilk. He knows Nick and Lewya, and discusses business ideas with Nick. He first appears in Chapter 220.
• Narsht-san – MC’s chef.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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