It was quite a shocking report. How dare they say that illegal slave traders were operating on my territory?
The quick-witted maid, Marie, quickly brought a thick fur cloak and put it on. Enoch, with a sword strapped to his waist, was holding out his hand.
“Is it the first floor?”
“Yes, Marquis. While we were engaged in a skirmish with the soldiers, the knights arrived and were able to rescue the slave traders as well as the kidnapped citizens.”
“Please guide me.”
Agatha followed behind Jashar along with Enoch.
Agatha's face twisted as she passed the cold stone steps and arrived at the first floor, the front yard of the lord's castle.
All four slavers were tied up and kneeling on the ground. Enoch waved his hand towards Knight Aratus, who immediately saluted.
"Report."
“When we arrived, the Consul General and five soldiers were engaged in combat with the slavers. We immediately joined them, subdued the slavers, and returned with fifteen of the fiefdoms who were being held captive in a nearby carriage. They are currently under the care of the Senator, and the First Magistrate of Nobilis is taking statements.”
Fifteen people.
Agatha's eyelids fluttered. And it wouldn't be the first time.
For a moment, she thought of Count Aitier, who had shown a strange reaction.
Only the Florence Forest was visited regularly, twice a month.
Even the suspicious behavior just now.
“Call the First Assistant and the First Executive Officer.”
How dare you do something like this on my territory.
Agatha's purple eyes sparkled coldly like cold jewels.
Enoch immediately called out to his adjutant.
“Chad.”
“Did you call, my lord?”
The adjutant, Chad, came closer and saluted.
“Send a messenger to each castle. Form a siege just in case. Then call Hubert.”
“I will obey your command.”
Enoch must have had Viscount Aitier in mind.
Agatha interrogated the slave trader through the First Executor, Denny Keilor.
She secured a connection to Viscount Aitier.
The quick-witted maid, Marie, quickly brought a thick fur cloak and put it on. Enoch, with a sword strapped to his waist, was holding out his hand.
“Is it the first floor?”
“Yes, Marquis. While we were engaged in a skirmish with the soldiers, the knights arrived and were able to rescue the slave traders as well as the kidnapped citizens.”
“Please guide me.”
Agatha followed behind Jashar along with Enoch.
Agatha's face twisted as she passed the cold stone steps and arrived at the first floor, the front yard of the lord's castle.
All four slavers were tied up and kneeling on the ground. Enoch waved his hand towards Knight Aratus, who immediately saluted.
"Report."
“When we arrived, the Consul General and five soldiers were engaged in combat with the slavers. We immediately joined them, subdued the slavers, and returned with fifteen of the fiefdoms who were being held captive in a nearby carriage. They are currently under the care of the Senator, and the First Magistrate of Nobilis is taking statements.”
Fifteen people.
Agatha's eyelids fluttered. And it wouldn't be the first time.
For a moment, she thought of Count Aitier, who had shown a strange reaction.
Only the Florence Forest was visited regularly, twice a month.
Even the suspicious behavior just now.
“Call the First Assistant and the First Executive Officer.”
How dare you do something like this on my territory.
Agatha's purple eyes sparkled coldly like cold jewels.
Enoch immediately called out to his adjutant.
“Chad.”
“Did you call, my lord?”
The adjutant, Chad, came closer and saluted.
“Send a messenger to each castle. Form a siege just in case. Then call Hubert.”
“I will obey your command.”
Enoch must have had Viscount Aitier in mind.
Agatha interrogated the slave trader through the First Executor, Denny Keilor.
She secured a connection to Viscount Aitier.
We've tracked down the manors that have been selling illegally.
After leaving Nobilis Castle, Viscount Aitier immediately fled, but was caught in Enoch's siege net and was captured after about three days.
An atmosphere of tension and silence hung over the audience room of Lord Nobilis' castle.
Agatha, sitting on the throne, was staring at the vassals standing below her with a cold face.
Jashar knelt before Agatha.
“Forgive me, Madam. It is my fault for not managing the estate properly.”
It has been 18 years since Agatha has been unable to return to the territory.
Since there had been no heirs, let alone a successor, the estate was in disarray.
Even if there was a general consul and the executive, clerical, and executive branches supporting her, there would have been limitations.
Agatha swept the armrest of the seat where she was sitting.
“Can you say it’s only your fault? It’s because there’s no owner that the strays are running wild.”
“I’m sorry, Ma’am.”
“We can bring back the sold-out residents if they haven’t died. The problem is the aftermath.”
Rumors were spreading that the kidnapped villager was returning to the castle and the village.
Although it was all over, they must have felt uneasy.
Let them know that they are safe now and in the future.
It was a time when a good event was needed to dilute the unfortunate events that had occurred this winter.
“I’m thinking of having a festival.”
“Are you talking about the festival?”
Agatha nodded and leaned back into her seat.
Now, they are rooting out all corruption and crime in each province through a thorough investigation of the territory.
With the attention focused on the might of the Knights of Aratus and the Nobilis Army, along with an abundance of wine, food, and gold, it seemed that most territories would find stability.
“I think four days would be enough.”
That should be enough to sort out the turbulent atmosphere in the territory.
The governor general and the vassals of each department expressed their agreement with bright faces.
“That’s a good idea, Madam. We’d better get ready as soon as possible.”
“How about having the knights and the army, who contributed greatly to the recent crackdown on illegal slave traders and the capture of the Viscount, march through each castle?”
“That sounds like a good idea. Go ahead and give it a try.”
Agatha scheduled the festival for about ten days later.
It would take about a week to contact each castle.
A budget was set and plans were made for the four-day festival.
The festive atmosphere was already in full swing in the square, with thousands of barrels of wine already piled up.
A large oven was built.
Wheat and stored meat from the warehouse, as well as cattle, pigs, sheep, chickens, vegetables, cheese, and other products airlifted from each farm, were constantly pouring into the castle.
“Wow, how long has it been since we had such a grand festival?”
“It’s been exactly 18 years since the previous lord passed away. They say the heir has returned to the estate, and it seems like things are finally going well.”
“They said that as soon as she arrived, she got rid of the slave traders who were operating in the shadows?”
“The husband she chose this time is a famous war hero. He’s the one who won the recent battle of the territory.”
“Another procession is coming into the castle! This time it’s a parade of performers, isn’t it?”
The festival was getting bigger and bigger with the addition of various entertainment groups, stalls, and even a line of merchants trying to get a piece of the action.
Agatha worked almost non-stop for ten days.
Check the progress of festival preparations from each achievement and nature department.
Strengthen security.
These were days when she listened to the reports of the vassals dispatched to each castle as thanksgiving and the situation in the capital.
In addition, Agatha was writing a letter to be presented to the Emperor to conclude the illegal slave trade case.
Knock knock.
“Madam, here it is.”
“Come in.”
Agatha raised her head and smiled brightly.
"Enoch."
He came inside, kissed her cheek, and put down the documents he was holding.
“This is a plan to reorganize the police force. I have also drawn up a patrol route for the festival period with the vassals.”
“Thank you. I’m so glad you’re here.”
It's such a relief to know that Enoch is in charge of the Knights and the military.
His gaze turned to the letter he had just signed.
“Shall I present it to Your Majesty?”
"Yes."
The Viscount Aitier and his family were to be sent to the capital for trafficking illegal slaves.
The Viscount will not escape public execution.
The property would remain with the Nobilis family.
“The entire empire will be in an uproar for a while.”
“It was bound to happen. Most of the nobles will be coming down to inspect my lands this winter.”
The problem of illegal slavery occurred at least once every few decades.
They were often mobilized for hard labor such as mine work or rowing, or for secret play or work requiring secrecy.
“Would it be okay if I didn’t go to Aratus’ territory?”
“I have already sent a message to the Consul General.”
He leaned against his desk and laughed.
“I have already told the knights stationed in the territory to move, so they will be able to easily complete the investigation of the territory.”
All of the vassals currently remaining in Aratus were from families that had fought in the war with him.
There is no doubt about one thing: loyalty.
“I’m a little jealous of that...”
Agatha quietly buried her cheek in the large, warm hand that had been extended to her. The hard, callused fingers rubbed her cheek and earlobe.
“Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“I’m happy to just help maintain order. I’m also grateful that you’ve allowed the Knights Templar to march.”
If the knights who have been absent for a long time show up, the people of the territory will stabilize even faster.
A soft laughter tickled her ears.
“You seem to appreciate the obvious.”
“Just because something is taken for granted doesn’t mean I’m not grateful.”
“If you appreciate it, try using me a little more, Ma’am. Is there really nothing more I can do for you?”
Agatha, who had been hesitating, pulled out the documents that had been piled up on the desk and handed them over.
“Would you like to join me?”
“It is an honor, Agatha.”
Agatha moved to the sofa with him. The table was filled with documents stacked up like a tower, but she was happier than before. The man next to her was fiddling with one of his hands.
Until the day before the festival, Agatha spent time in the office with Enoch.
The next day was a warm day for winter.
Agatha woke up early in the morning and was getting ready to go to the castle square to give a speech.
Wearing a red cloak embroidered with a subtle rose pattern.
On her head, she wore a platinum crown that her grandmother, who was a Princess, had brought with her when she became the Duchess of Nobilis.
It was a splendid tiara with dozens of diamonds covering the entire crown.
Each element was set with about 10 oval-cut blue diamonds and 10 round-cut sapphires.
“It’s done, Ma’am.”
Agatha, who had finished her makeup, opened her eyes. In the mirror, a dignified woman, the heiress of a noble family, was seen with long eyelashes fluttering.
"Great job."
“Madam, the Marquis has arrived.”
“Get out now.”
In front of the room, a man with growth just as splendid as hers was waiting.
Enoch's gaze fell on the tiara above her head and then dropped.
“The tiara suits you well, Ma’am.”
“My grandmother brought this.”
Just as Agatha was given a tiara by the Emperor at every wedding.
Her grandmother, who was a Princess, was also granted a tiara.
It was to be passed down through generations as evidence of one's union with the royal family and as an heirloom.
There was nothing more fitting to prove a family's history and lineage than a tiara.
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