Chapter 181 ◯◯ Disease
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The day after my birthday, I was bombarded with questions from my mother in the morning, but my father said he had something to talk about, so I was able to escape from my mother’s questioning.
My father’s talk was about the future management policy of the settlement, and usually I wouldn’t interfere until I failed and learned, but with so many people, firms, and even His Majesty involved, I judged that there was no room for me to learn from failure and received very detailed criticism.
”I wanted to teach you directly by your side, not just with verbal criticism, but I have my own territory. I have to leave here today.”
”What about Viscount Hedmar?”
”The viscount’s territory is nearby, and he is expected to stay for a few more days. There is no point in me agreeing with him, rather I think it’s the real deal after I’m gone.”
”So he’s trying to take advantage of me while you’re not here?”
”That’s what I would think. When I visited the viscount, I subtly hinted at it, but it’s unthinkable for an imperial noble to visit someone else’s territory for sightseeing without any purpose. The fact that he accompanied me after I hinted at it means that he must have some purpose for being here.”
”So, even if something happens with Viscount Hedmar, it won’t be fatal?”
”I don’t see any ambition in the viscount to kick others out and rise up like other nobles. While he has the ruthlessness typical of imperial nobles, he lacks greed. I could see that he prioritizes surviving in noble society.”
”Rather than rising up, he prioritizes survival… So, the three who were sniffing around the secret of the settlement before are separate from Viscount Hedmar?”
”I didn’t say that. When I entrusted the work, I had several people in between to hide the true client, but regarding that matter, it’s almost certainly the viscount’s doing. I said he lacks greed, but that doesn’t mean he’s completely selfless. He takes what he can get, that’s the kind of person the viscount is.”
It means that I have no choice but to deal with Viscount Hedmar, and I feel very heavy about it.
”Don’t worry, the viscount is relatively better among the imperial nobles. It will be a good experience for you to interact with many nobles in the future.”
Wow… those words sound very familiar. Yesterday was special after all, and I understand once again that this is how things normally are for my father.
”It may indeed be an experience, but while gaining that experience, I might be taken advantage of in various ways, right?”
”If you’re worried about that, then make an effort not to be taken advantage of in the first place――that’s what I want to say, but I know it’s unreasonable. However, if that would bring something fatal to the settlement or the Count Atmiras family, I won’t let you do something so reckless.”
”So even if Viscount Hedmar takes advantage of me, it won’t be something fatal?”
”I don’t see any ambition in the viscount to kick others out and rise up like other nobles. While he has the ruthlessness typical of imperial nobles, he lacks greed. I could see that he prioritizes surviving in noble society.”
”Rather than rising up, he prioritizes survival… So, the three who were sniffing around the secret of the settlement before are separate from Viscount Hedmar?”
”I didn’t say that. When I entrusted the work, I had several people in between to hide the true client, but regarding that matter, it’s almost certainly the viscount’s doing. I said he lacks greed, but that doesn’t mean he’s completely selfless. He takes what he can get, that’s the kind of person the viscount is.”
In fact, when the existence of elves became public knowledge, I had already disclosed the fact that we use the power of spirits for crop growth in the settlement. I did this because there were always those who sought to uncover the secrets of our crops, and dealing with such individuals took a toll on both the settlement and our bountiful harvests.
I decided that if I made this information public, there would be no need for further investigation. Originally, the secrecy around the existence of spirits was to protect the secrecy of the elves, but now that it is no longer necessary, there is no reason to keep it hidden.
Even if I were to make it public, negotiating with spirits would still be impossible without the presence of elves, and there would be no concern about competition.
As a result, while strange added value was born as crops nurtured by spirits, people who were studying spirits flocked to the pioneer settlement, trespassing into the fields without permission to investigate, and people appeared who begged to have a conversation with the spirits and invaded the mansion.
However, thanks to the people from the Shouhyou spears, there was no major confusion and it was able to be suppressed for now.
”Has a new purpose emerged, or perhaps they were never interested in the secrets of the pioneer settlement from the beginning?”
”Huh? What does that mean?”
”It means exactly what it says. The viscount was not investigating the secrets of the crops from the beginning, but was investigating the pioneer settlement for another purpose. And because that purpose has not yet been achieved, he came all the way to the pioneer settlement like this.”
”But it’s certain that the trio came to the pioneer settlement to investigate the secrets of the crops, and they didn’t mention any other purpose.”
Since they had become criminal slaves and could no longer go against their master’s orders, falsehood and silence were not allowed. In other words, it should be a fact that the trio came to the pioneer settlement to investigate the secrets of the crops and had no other purpose.
”The requested content may not be the true purpose. It is a common method to conceal the true purpose with a false purpose and achieve the true purpose without others noticing.”
”I see, so that’s also a possibility.”
If the true purpose of Viscount Hedmar had nothing to do with the secrets that the father mentioned from the beginning, what could the viscount be aiming for?
If it was the lively pioneer settlement now, there should be nothing other than crops that the nobles would desire. If that’s the case, the viscount had a purpose other than crops…
”Well, let’s leave the conversation at this point. I should start preparing to leave here soon.”
”Ah, okay…”
”Don’t look so anxious. If you show that face, you’ll only be taken advantage of. Learn how to kill your emotions if you’re an imperial noble.”
”…I understand.”
”I understand, huh? Well, never mind. Your anxiety is understandable, so I don’t intend to leave everything to you completely. In addition to the support personnel, I will leave Lucena here as your assistant for a while.”
”Lucena?”
At my father’s words, I turned my gaze behind him. Although she hadn’t said a word to avoid interrupting our conversation, Lucena, who is Diana’s mother and also a servant of my father and mother, was also present in this place.
”Is it okay? If Lucena is gone, won’t things become difficult for you too?”
”Indeed, Lucena is an exceptionally talented person who cannot be easily replaced. But do you think Lucena would educate the servants to the extent that they would become useless just because she is gone?”
”…That’s true.”
Diana’s strictness is inherited from Lucena, but Lucena’s strictness is even greater than Diana’s, and it is reflected in the education of the servants who are her subordinates.
That strictness seems to be somewhat known to other nobles as well, and I have seen servants of other nobles, and sometimes even young ladies, coming to the Count Atmiras’s house to receive Lucena’s education. Lucena’s education is famous for being strict.
”Lucena, transport the luggage to the carriage and tell Ronald to prepare the carriage at any time. I want to talk to Neil alone for a while.”
”Huh?”
”As you wish.”
Suddenly being told that he wanted to talk privately, and disregarding my surprise, Lucena obediently followed my father’s orders and left the reception room.
Lucena is my father’s secretary, or rather, his right-hand person, and to dismiss her means that the content is something that even someone he trusts cannot hear.
I couldn’t help but feel a heightened sense of tension within myself. Even after Lucena left the room, my father didn’t start talking immediately, and from his hesitation, which is unusual for him, I could sense that the upcoming conversation was not something trivial.
”Neil.”
”Yes, sir!”
”You turned sixteen yesterday. Your body has grown to be no different from an adult, but on the other hand, there is still immaturity in your mental state. It’s the age where you stubbornly stick to trivial things and try to act mature.”
…Huh? Is the conversation going in a strange direction that is different from what I was thinking?
”I, too, had a time when I thought like you do now, at your age. But I believed you were different from other people, that you had no interest in such trivial matters, and even though no one was listening, I made it known to those around me. So I believe I understand your feelings well.”
”Father? What are you talking about…?”
”……”
In response to my question, my father remained silent, leaning back deeply on the sofa, and after a moment of contemplation, he slowly turned his face towards me.
”Neil, it is not shameful to have an interest in the opposite sex. Many nobles have preferences, and it is a natural feeling for anyone. So, um… it would be best to abandon the idea of considering oneself elegant for not being swayed by appearances.”
Huh…? Could it be that my father thinks I have chuunibyou…? Since there is no chuunibyou in this world, nor the corresponding term, I am simply speaking based on my own experiences. But anyway–
”Why, why did you think I had such thoughts?”
”You wrote in the report that you were practicing to create an heir.”
Ah! Diana did tell me that creating an heir is a noble’s duty, and I agonized over whether I should include it in the report, ultimately deciding to mention that I was practicing without going into detail. But I never expected that topic to be brought up here and now.
”Wait a minute! Diana told me to do it, and it wasn’t your instruction, right?”
”I don’t recall giving such instructions. I understand the feeling of shame when one is thought to have an interest in s*x, but attempting to defend oneself with a self-evident argument that it is just practice for creating an heir will only lower one’s dignity.”
”No, no, no! I only did it because Diana told me to, I have no intention like that at all!!”
”Neil, I can understand the desire to blame others and be overwhelmed by shame, but the ugly attempt to escape responsibility and make excuses is something to be ashamed of as a person, even before being a noble.”
”Hey, it’s different, I’m telling you it’s different!”
No matter what I say, he won’t listen. It’s infuriating to see my father, who usually never shows any expression on his face, now wearing a gentle smile as if he’s comforting me.
It sounds like I’m just making excuses when I appeal emotionally, but I can’t explain rationally why Diana acted that way, and in the end, my father leaves with a huge misunderstanding. Left behind, I bury my face in the pillow, screaming with inexpressible emotions.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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