No matter how busy my father was, he would visit the estate once every three months to personally observe the problems within the estate and the inconveniences experienced by the people living there.
My father's belief was that simply sitting at a desk and looking at the documents given to him by managers would not only narrow his vision but could also lead to distortions and corruption.
I also agreed with my father's opinion and, following his wishes, went out to inspect the territory myself.
When I was away from the territory, I asked Perdes to take my place.
Today was the day to go out to inspect the territory.
I woke up early in the morning and prepared to go out for an inspection.
This was my first time inspecting the territory after becoming an official Duke, so I was a little excited.
I was curious and worried about how the people of the duchy would react.
Everyone said they wanted me to become a Duke, so I guess there's no need to worry too much?
“Phew.”
I was taking a deep breath to calm my slightly agitated mind when I heard a knock on the door.
“Excuse me, Miss.”
It was a Haness.
He put the letters he had brought down on the table and spoke to me.
“The carriage and the knight's escort are ready.”
“Knights-in-waiting? I clearly said I was only taking Air Aldor with me.”
“I have also told Sir Aldor that, but since it is a special day for you to inspect the territory for the first time as a Duke, he said that you might look ridiculous without a proper escort, so he prepared about ten knights.”
Huh. Not two or three, but ten.
The thought of being surrounded by knights in dazzling uniforms made my head spin.
Many noblemen and noblewomen dreamed of being surrounded by knights in fancy uniforms, but that wasn't the case for me.
Rather, I felt embarrassed, ashamed, and bothered.
Because whenever I tried to do something even a little bit dangerous, they would chirp like a sparrow telling me not to do it.
If one person is crazy enough, it drives me crazy to think that several people are like that.
Actually, I had that experience.
“Sir Aldor will be in the hall?”
"Yes."
"Let's go."
I was almost ready, and I thought he would listen to me if I spoke to him directly, so I headed out alone.
Sir Aldor, who had been waiting in the hall, approached me as I came down and greeted me politely.
“Welcome, Your Excellency.”
...Even the title has been changed to be more polite.
I was grateful that Sir Aldor was thinking of me, but it was still not the case.
“I heard that you prepared 10 knights to escort you. Is that true?”
"You're right."
“I clearly said I was taking only Sir Aldor with me.”
“But today is the first day that Your Excellency the Duke will officially go on an inspection tour of the territory...”
“Dismissed. I won’t accept any reason, so just reject them all. I repeat I will only take Sir Aldor as my escort knight.”
When I spoke firmly, Sir Aldor replied that he would do so, though he looked noticeably sullen.
“Then, would it be okay if I only assign one person to Lord Perdes’ escort?”
“Well... Wait a minute, wait a minute.”
Why is Perdes' name mentioned here?
No way...
“Is Lord Perdes also going to inspect the territory with you?”
“...Weren’t you going together?”
I asked because I was curious, but what do you want me to do if you ask me again?
As I and Sir Aldor stood there in bewilderment, Haness, who was standing behind me, joined the conversation.
“Young Lady, you always go on inspection tours with Sir Perdes, so I thought it would be natural for you to do the same this time, but it seems I was mistaken.”
"...I know."
“Then I will convey this message to Sir Perdes who is outside.”
"For a moment!"
As Haness tried to get out, he grabbed him urgently.
“Yes. You’ve already prepared everything... Why don’t we just go together?”
As he said, since Perdes came to Duke Leopold's residence, we had always gone on inspection tours of the estate together, so if we suddenly went on separate tours, people might have thought it was strange.
The Emperor was already watching us closely, so it would be a headache if rumors of discord spread at this time, so it was right to just go together.
The only thing that bothered me was that I hadn't done anything with him since receiving a confession from Perdes that wasn't really a confession.
We've been so busy with each other's work for the past week that we haven't even sat down for dinner together, so I was really embarrassed to be unexpectedly faced with this situation.
The same would apply to Perdes.
I couldn't even imagine what kind of expression and thoughts he had as he waited for me.
If we ever meet, we probably won't be able to even look each other in the face, let alone exchange a proper greeting.
“It’s finally out.”
I expected that to be the case, but unexpectedly, Perdes greeted me in the same manner as usual.
Seeing that made me feel like an idiot for being so nervous.
As the tension eased, the strength in my legs gave out slightly and I began to stumble, and my hands reached out from both sides.
"Are you okay?"
“Are you okay?”
The one who stretched out his hand in front was Perdes, and the one who stretched out his hand behind was Sir Aldor.
“...”
“...”
In the air, the gazes of the two people crossed fiercely.
I felt like a fight was going to break out if I left it like this, so I stood up on my own two feet and waved my hands.
“It’s okay. Weren’t you busy than that?”
“It’s okay. I can take a day off.”
"Is it so..."
Should I consider this a blessing or a curse?
As I looked straight ahead with a sense of excitement, I soon encountered another problem.
The idea was that I had to get into the carriage with just Perdes.
It was burdensome to be with him in such an open space, but the thought of being alone with him in a confined space made me feel suffocated.
But now that I couldn't leave Perdes behind, I had no choice but to get into the carriage, but he grabbed my arm.
This wasn't the first time he had grabbed my arm, and maybe because of what had happened before, my heart skipped a beat and all the sensations in my body were focused on the arm he was holding.
I looked back, slightly surprised, and Perdes spoke, slightly raising the corners of his lips.
“Should we ride a horse instead of a carriage today?”
"Yes?"
“The weather is nice, so I think it would be better to ride a horse rather than a carriage.”
He raised his head and looked up at the clear, cloudless sky.
“I think it would be better to ride a horse than a carriage to see the situation of the territory. What do you think?”
“I think that’s good too.”
I was already nervous about riding in a carriage like that, so I had no reason to refuse.
When I nodded my head quickly, Perdes smiled.
I don't know if it was my imagination, but that smile seemed more bitter than usual.
Since it is the time to focus on farming, we decided to focus our inspection of the estate on farmland this time.
The Duchy of Leopold was originally located in a cold northern region with a volcano nearby, making it unsuitable for farming in many ways.
There is a record that when this land was first established, it was a wasteland where not a single blade of grass could grow, so that says it all.
However, as a result of the continuous efforts of the previous generation without giving up, they were able to become self-sufficient, although not very rich.
I was proud to see with my own eyes the fields covered in lush green leaves.
I also felt a sense of mission that I had to protect this beautiful estate.
“I hope the farming is going smoothly?”
The farm manager who had been following me with my question answered me while following me closely behind.
“Yes. As long as there is no severe drought like last summer, I think there will be no problem this year.”
“There is no news of drought this year, so you don’t have to worry.”
“Haha, I hope so too.”
I didn't mean to wish it to be, I just meant that it was okay.
No matter how definitively I tried to answer, it would sound like a simple guess to them since they don't know the future, so I just let it go.
As I was walking along the path around the field, receiving reports from the manager, I saw a boy running towards me from afar, holding a bouquet of flowers.
Are you going to give it to your parents?
Or to your cute girlfriend?
I don't know which one it is, but it looks quite cute.
As I was looking at him with a happy smile, the boy who was running towards me, out of breath, stopped in front of me.
When Sir Aldor, who had been following behind, tried to step forward as if to protect me, I raised my hand to stop him.
“Over here!”
The boy held out a bouquet of flowers to me, a smile as bright as sunlight on his dirt-stained face.
It was a bouquet just made by tying together flowers blooming in the fields and mountains, but to my eyes, it looked prettier than one made by a professional.
It was also cute that he wore a ribbon to decorate himself.
“Are you giving it to me?”
“Yes! Thank you for always working hard for us, Your Excellency the Duke!”
My heart was filled with gratitude for the pure praise, completely free of pretense.
I held the bouquet in one hand and stroked the boy's messy hair with the other.
"Thank you."
"Hehe."
“You, you, what are you doing there!”
A woman who appeared to be the boy's mother ran toward me, hugged the boy tightly, and bowed deeply to apologize.
“I’m sorry, Your Excellency! Please forgive me for my actions, which were done out of ignorance!”
“It’s okay. And instead of forgiving, I think I should express my gratitude. Because I received the best gift.”
When I smiled and showed the boy the bouquet I had received, she finally felt relieved, thanked me, and left with the boy.
As I watched their backs moving further and further away, the manager said with a smile.
“You look like a bride holding a bouquet.”
...Bride?
As the words suddenly came out, my gaze unconsciously turned to Perdes, who was talking to someone on the riverside.
Perdes turned to look at me, perhaps sensing my gaze.
I quickly turned my head away from him to make eye contact, and this time I made eye contact with the manager.
Then the official, who looked to be around my father's age, smiled kindly.
“His Highness the Prince is a very good person.”
“...”
“I guarantee you won’t regret choosing him.”
My father's belief was that simply sitting at a desk and looking at the documents given to him by managers would not only narrow his vision but could also lead to distortions and corruption.
I also agreed with my father's opinion and, following his wishes, went out to inspect the territory myself.
When I was away from the territory, I asked Perdes to take my place.
Today was the day to go out to inspect the territory.
I woke up early in the morning and prepared to go out for an inspection.
This was my first time inspecting the territory after becoming an official Duke, so I was a little excited.
I was curious and worried about how the people of the duchy would react.
Everyone said they wanted me to become a Duke, so I guess there's no need to worry too much?
“Phew.”
I was taking a deep breath to calm my slightly agitated mind when I heard a knock on the door.
“Excuse me, Miss.”
It was a Haness.
He put the letters he had brought down on the table and spoke to me.
“The carriage and the knight's escort are ready.”
“Knights-in-waiting? I clearly said I was only taking Air Aldor with me.”
“I have also told Sir Aldor that, but since it is a special day for you to inspect the territory for the first time as a Duke, he said that you might look ridiculous without a proper escort, so he prepared about ten knights.”
Huh. Not two or three, but ten.
The thought of being surrounded by knights in dazzling uniforms made my head spin.
Many noblemen and noblewomen dreamed of being surrounded by knights in fancy uniforms, but that wasn't the case for me.
Rather, I felt embarrassed, ashamed, and bothered.
Because whenever I tried to do something even a little bit dangerous, they would chirp like a sparrow telling me not to do it.
If one person is crazy enough, it drives me crazy to think that several people are like that.
Actually, I had that experience.
“Sir Aldor will be in the hall?”
"Yes."
"Let's go."
I was almost ready, and I thought he would listen to me if I spoke to him directly, so I headed out alone.
Sir Aldor, who had been waiting in the hall, approached me as I came down and greeted me politely.
“Welcome, Your Excellency.”
...Even the title has been changed to be more polite.
I was grateful that Sir Aldor was thinking of me, but it was still not the case.
“I heard that you prepared 10 knights to escort you. Is that true?”
"You're right."
“I clearly said I was taking only Sir Aldor with me.”
“But today is the first day that Your Excellency the Duke will officially go on an inspection tour of the territory...”
“Dismissed. I won’t accept any reason, so just reject them all. I repeat I will only take Sir Aldor as my escort knight.”
When I spoke firmly, Sir Aldor replied that he would do so, though he looked noticeably sullen.
“Then, would it be okay if I only assign one person to Lord Perdes’ escort?”
“Well... Wait a minute, wait a minute.”
Why is Perdes' name mentioned here?
No way...
“Is Lord Perdes also going to inspect the territory with you?”
“...Weren’t you going together?”
I asked because I was curious, but what do you want me to do if you ask me again?
As I and Sir Aldor stood there in bewilderment, Haness, who was standing behind me, joined the conversation.
“Young Lady, you always go on inspection tours with Sir Perdes, so I thought it would be natural for you to do the same this time, but it seems I was mistaken.”
"...I know."
“Then I will convey this message to Sir Perdes who is outside.”
"For a moment!"
As Haness tried to get out, he grabbed him urgently.
“Yes. You’ve already prepared everything... Why don’t we just go together?”
As he said, since Perdes came to Duke Leopold's residence, we had always gone on inspection tours of the estate together, so if we suddenly went on separate tours, people might have thought it was strange.
The Emperor was already watching us closely, so it would be a headache if rumors of discord spread at this time, so it was right to just go together.
The only thing that bothered me was that I hadn't done anything with him since receiving a confession from Perdes that wasn't really a confession.
We've been so busy with each other's work for the past week that we haven't even sat down for dinner together, so I was really embarrassed to be unexpectedly faced with this situation.
The same would apply to Perdes.
I couldn't even imagine what kind of expression and thoughts he had as he waited for me.
If we ever meet, we probably won't be able to even look each other in the face, let alone exchange a proper greeting.
“It’s finally out.”
I expected that to be the case, but unexpectedly, Perdes greeted me in the same manner as usual.
Seeing that made me feel like an idiot for being so nervous.
As the tension eased, the strength in my legs gave out slightly and I began to stumble, and my hands reached out from both sides.
"Are you okay?"
“Are you okay?”
The one who stretched out his hand in front was Perdes, and the one who stretched out his hand behind was Sir Aldor.
“...”
“...”
In the air, the gazes of the two people crossed fiercely.
I felt like a fight was going to break out if I left it like this, so I stood up on my own two feet and waved my hands.
“It’s okay. Weren’t you busy than that?”
“It’s okay. I can take a day off.”
"Is it so..."
Should I consider this a blessing or a curse?
As I looked straight ahead with a sense of excitement, I soon encountered another problem.
The idea was that I had to get into the carriage with just Perdes.
It was burdensome to be with him in such an open space, but the thought of being alone with him in a confined space made me feel suffocated.
But now that I couldn't leave Perdes behind, I had no choice but to get into the carriage, but he grabbed my arm.
This wasn't the first time he had grabbed my arm, and maybe because of what had happened before, my heart skipped a beat and all the sensations in my body were focused on the arm he was holding.
I looked back, slightly surprised, and Perdes spoke, slightly raising the corners of his lips.
“Should we ride a horse instead of a carriage today?”
"Yes?"
“The weather is nice, so I think it would be better to ride a horse rather than a carriage.”
He raised his head and looked up at the clear, cloudless sky.
“I think it would be better to ride a horse than a carriage to see the situation of the territory. What do you think?”
“I think that’s good too.”
I was already nervous about riding in a carriage like that, so I had no reason to refuse.
When I nodded my head quickly, Perdes smiled.
I don't know if it was my imagination, but that smile seemed more bitter than usual.
***
Since it is the time to focus on farming, we decided to focus our inspection of the estate on farmland this time.
The Duchy of Leopold was originally located in a cold northern region with a volcano nearby, making it unsuitable for farming in many ways.
There is a record that when this land was first established, it was a wasteland where not a single blade of grass could grow, so that says it all.
However, as a result of the continuous efforts of the previous generation without giving up, they were able to become self-sufficient, although not very rich.
I was proud to see with my own eyes the fields covered in lush green leaves.
I also felt a sense of mission that I had to protect this beautiful estate.
“I hope the farming is going smoothly?”
The farm manager who had been following me with my question answered me while following me closely behind.
“Yes. As long as there is no severe drought like last summer, I think there will be no problem this year.”
“There is no news of drought this year, so you don’t have to worry.”
“Haha, I hope so too.”
I didn't mean to wish it to be, I just meant that it was okay.
No matter how definitively I tried to answer, it would sound like a simple guess to them since they don't know the future, so I just let it go.
As I was walking along the path around the field, receiving reports from the manager, I saw a boy running towards me from afar, holding a bouquet of flowers.
Are you going to give it to your parents?
Or to your cute girlfriend?
I don't know which one it is, but it looks quite cute.
As I was looking at him with a happy smile, the boy who was running towards me, out of breath, stopped in front of me.
When Sir Aldor, who had been following behind, tried to step forward as if to protect me, I raised my hand to stop him.
“Over here!”
The boy held out a bouquet of flowers to me, a smile as bright as sunlight on his dirt-stained face.
It was a bouquet just made by tying together flowers blooming in the fields and mountains, but to my eyes, it looked prettier than one made by a professional.
It was also cute that he wore a ribbon to decorate himself.
“Are you giving it to me?”
“Yes! Thank you for always working hard for us, Your Excellency the Duke!”
My heart was filled with gratitude for the pure praise, completely free of pretense.
I held the bouquet in one hand and stroked the boy's messy hair with the other.
"Thank you."
"Hehe."
“You, you, what are you doing there!”
A woman who appeared to be the boy's mother ran toward me, hugged the boy tightly, and bowed deeply to apologize.
“I’m sorry, Your Excellency! Please forgive me for my actions, which were done out of ignorance!”
“It’s okay. And instead of forgiving, I think I should express my gratitude. Because I received the best gift.”
When I smiled and showed the boy the bouquet I had received, she finally felt relieved, thanked me, and left with the boy.
As I watched their backs moving further and further away, the manager said with a smile.
“You look like a bride holding a bouquet.”
...Bride?
As the words suddenly came out, my gaze unconsciously turned to Perdes, who was talking to someone on the riverside.
Perdes turned to look at me, perhaps sensing my gaze.
I quickly turned my head away from him to make eye contact, and this time I made eye contact with the manager.
Then the official, who looked to be around my father's age, smiled kindly.
“His Highness the Prince is a very good person.”
“...”
“I guarantee you won’t regret choosing him.”
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