Chapter 47 - A Letter from a Friend
--- How fortunate it is to have a friend.
The son of a high comital family, whom I met at the Alchemy Tower and who had continued to show concern for me since, was undoubtedly a friend. Even now, after returning to this distant frontier far from the royal capital and laboring daily in this remote borderland to keep the ominous Demonic Forest at bay, he continued to express his gratitude for my efforts.
Many in the royal capital had little understanding of these distant frontiers. To them, it was merely a place shrouded in deep forests, teeming with monsters and magical beasts... That was the extent of their comprehension. Unfortunately, that was the reality. They could not grasp how much effort went into protecting the living spaces of humans.
But among them all, he understood. That was why I considered him an invaluable friend. He even took the time to write letters updating me on the state of affairs in the capital. At times, I wondered if he expected something in return, but there was little I could offer the son of a high count. The best I could do was send him detailed compilations of my research findings from the Fortress.
This time, his letter spoke of the current talk of the royal capital. According to him, certain nobles who backed the Second Prince, seeking to profit from their association with him, and those who forged stronger ties with foreign powers while neglecting the safety of our kingdom, were now being relocated to new territories.
The problem was that the marquisate—our knightly family’s primary lord—was among those affected. The marquis himself held the trust of the Minister of State Affairs in the capital. The people from his family line had faithfully served the kingdom, but it seemed that the offshoots had caused various issues.
Needless to say, the Second Prince’s "touchstone (making a choice)," the fourth daughter of the marquisate family’s retainer, the vicontiel family, was currently facing the imminent threat of downfall. Furthermore, her mother's baronial family was being dragged down with them. Noble rumors were a terrifying thing; once one's reputation began to fall, it didn’t take long before they were financially undone.
What’s worse, the turmoil caused by the Second Prince was deemed unforgivable by the royal family. If that was the cause... then it was no wonder. While it was unfortunate for the family members who had little to do with it, such was the nature of aristocratic society.
Exactly, this relocation could indeed serve as a touchstone. If these nobles could forge new relationships in unfamiliar territories, establish themselves as reliable bulwarks of the kingdom, and prove their abilities as capable lords, they would have a chance to restore their family’s reputation.
However, failure to unify their new lands would mark them as incompetent, making it nearly impossible for them to maintain their noble status. In such cases, relinquishing their titles would be inevitable.
This punishment, handed down by His Majesty, was also a chance for redemption—a rare opportunity for those who could recognize its value. I could only hope that many would rise to the occasion and awaken to their potential in the face of such peril.
Given the circumstances, even our direct lord, the comital family, had been swept up in this wave. They were criticized for their inadequate supervision. Out of the twenty-eight families within the offshoots of the Minister of State Affairs, two-thirds were issued relocation orders.
The new territories they were assigned to were in the southern region... Well, it was a place notoriously difficult to govern. While it might not differ much from life here on our frontier, these lands were far removed from the homes their ancestors had cultivated for generations. They would undoubtedly face significant hardships adjusting... or so it was said.
The vast expanse surrounding the Demonic Forest, once managed by numerous low-ranking noble families and their overseeing count, had now been consolidated under the rule of a high comital family. My friend detailed this development in his letter. It appeared this particular high comital family was involved in military scandals and had been close aides to the Second Prince, even present at that notorious incident. I didn’t know exactly who was responsible, but considering the scale of their mistake, their fate seemed inevitable.
The fact that the head and heir of the high comital family would come to govern the Demonic Forest at the border, which included this land, was enough to give me a headache. However, the letter continued. It mentioned that before the relocation was finalized, the father and son had passed the title of head of the house to its rightful successor. In that situation?! I was astonished. How had they managed to obtain approval for such a thing? Apparently, they had connections in the Management Registration Institute, which oversaw the noble registry.
Ah, that explained it. But if my friend knew this, it meant the truth was out in the open. Their future would likely be bleak, as the higher-ups in the kingdom—especially His Excellency, the Prime Minister—would surely be keeping a close eye on them. And then, as I read the name of the high comital family tasked with governing this region...
I could see the corridor of the Magic Academy and the scene from the gratitude banquet as clearly as if they were before my eyes.
I see... she would be coming here as a high countess. Or perhaps, given her extraordinary competence, she might appoint a steward to govern on her behalf while she stayed by the grand ducal lady’s side. This prediction, however, was quickly dismissed by what followed in the letter.
"That person has also led a rather tumultuous life. Now, in the face of this relocation to the frontier—a desolate place with no support—she has no choice but to dedicate herself to the kingdom’s stability. You know her, don’t you? I imagine even the grand ducal lady must have made this decision with a heavy heart. If you ever find yourself before her, lend her your strength. As a fellow noble of the same rank, all I can do is pray for her future happiness."
So, my friend, being a member of a high comital family, knew that person. The high comital family bearing that name was known for having a brave and resolute military force under their command. It seemed this army would accompany her to the frontier. While it remained uncertain how well she could manage them... I believed she would find a way to see it through.
After all, she had been the shadow supporting the grand ducal lady in both public and private matters. She had been educated by the grand ducal family. There was no way she could be incompetent.
――――
Clutching my friend’s letter, I hurried to see Father and Eldest Brother. Acting before the official proclamation would surely give us an advantage. Father would likely reach out to the surrounding knightly families as well. The titles of knightly families are granted by the lords of their domains. In other words, when the governing family changes, the knightly families must formally receive their titles again from the new head of the domain, as stipulated by the kingdom’s laws.
This wasn’t a simple succession of titles. Therefore, Father would consult with the heads of the surrounding knightly families, and they would likely request an audience with the high countess shortly after her arrival. The heirs of these knightly families would probably join them to formally request the renewal of their titles as knight lords.
Given the current circumstances, I doubted she would make unreasonable demands. Based on the information in the reports, she should be well aware of the realities of the Demonic Forest. She likely understood the origins and roles of the knightly families entirely. Her approach mirrored that of the grand ducal lady. Whenever a significant decision was required, she would meticulously gather information about the surrounding situation. I learned this firsthand during that day, in that moment, at that place. For that reason, I was confident she wouldn’t act to our detriment.
Thanks to my friend’s letter, we now had a little more time to prepare. This would give Father opportunities to communicate with the heads and heirs of the surrounding knightly families. I was certain that she would listen to us. How vulnerable commoners and non-combatant nobles are against the threats of monsters and magical beasts...
She, of all people, would know through personal experience.
I could only hope that Father would earnestly convey the true state of this region to her.
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