Chapter 97: Explosion
“Ria, Lily, listen to me.”
“What is it, Onii-sama?”
“Onii?”
The dining hall of the Baumgarten Mansion in the Royal Capital. As soon as breakfast began, I called out Cornelia’s and Lily’s names.
“Actually, I’m thinking of returning to the Baumgarten Territory soon.”
“Is that so?”
“Territory?”
“Our family has a fief. It’s small and very rural, though. The academy has been closed, and there’s no reason for us to stay in the Royal Capital. We’ve also come into some money, so I thought maybe we should focus on developing the territory.”
It seems Reinhardt is also gathering more allies, and even if I’m not around, with Reiner, an experienced adventurer, they’ll probably be fine.
“But, Ria and Lily, you don’t necessarily have to come back with me, you know? Ria has friends here, and Lily, leaving your hometown must be unsettling, right?”
Once you get used to life in the Royal Capital, returning to the Baumgarten Territory would probably seem like a huge hassle. The Royal Capital has everything, after all. Lowering one’s quality of life is quite a difficult thing.
“Well, departing for the Baumgarten Territory is still a ways off. But, please decide whether you’ll go or stay by then.”
“Onii-sama, are you developing the territory to fulfill your promise to His Majesty?”
Cornelia asked with a smile that somehow felt intimidating. Lily, too, was looking at me with what seemed like a glare for some reason. Why?
“We’ve obtained an amount of money that’s impossible to spend normally, right? Usually, you’d use it to develop the territory, wouldn’t you? We have to let the people of the fief experience some good things too.”
“That may be so, but… isn’t it to marry the Princess?”
“You say ‘Princess,’ but I haven’t been told whether it’s Clau or El, you know? There’s also the possibility it was just His Majesty’s lip service, right?”
“…Onii-sama, you’re naive…”
“Onii is super naive.”
“Is that so?”
Cornelia and Lily seem dissatisfied, but if it’s true, forming a connection with the royal family would be an unparalleled marriage proposal, wouldn’t it? Lately, I haven’t been getting any marriage proposals at all, so I’m worried. Will I even be able to get married?
Right, speaking of marriage proposals…
“Come to think of it, Ria and Lily have received a lot of marriage proposals.”
“Marriage proposals, you say?”
“Yeah. It seems you two became quite famous from the recent dragon subjugation. We’ve received several offers asking for you to marry their sons.”
It’s gotten to the point where even nobles who, just a little while ago, were saying that an unidentified Gift was ominous are sending marriage proposals. They must see the achievement of defeating the dragon as that significant.
“You can pick and choose your marriage partners. I’ll have them brought to your rooms, so let me know if there’s anyone you like.”
“Tch! Please refuse all of them!”
“Eh? But then you won’t have anyone to marry…”
“Just do it! Refuse all of them! Geez! Onii-sama, you idiot!”
Cornelia, suddenly enraged, stood up without finishing her breakfast and left the dining hall.
“That was Onii’s fault.”
“Eeeh…?”
Lily was looking at me with a half-lidded, reproachful gaze. Her hands moved deftly, making an instant sandwich.
Why?
“Um, Lily? Why did Ria…”
“Think for yourself.”
“Ah, hey?”
“Lili will also refuse all of them.”
Saying only that, Lily also left the dining hall, carrying the sandwich she had made.
“Eeeh…?”
Why did things turn out like this?
◇
“Thank you so very much. I don’t know how I can ever repay you…”
“Please, don’t worry about it. I was happy to be of service.”
I replied with a smile to the young man lying in bed. He is the next head of a viscount house.
I had come to cure this young man’s illness.
Ever since I announced I’d be returning to my territory, a flood of treatment requests had come pouring in, like a last-minute rush.
“Thank you truly. However, I’m ashamed to say, I’m not sure if our house can prepare a reward that would satisfy you, Count-sama…”
“Please, truly don’t worry about it. Your sentiment alone is more than enough.”
This viscount house doesn’t hold much power, and I can’t expect much of a reward. Still, I came to treat him. If I only treated influential nobles and picked my patients, I’d get a bad reputation.
Thanks to that, I’ve earned a reputation as someone worthy of being bestowed the Sage’s Gift.
Honestly, I’d like to hurry and prepare to return to my territory, but since it involves people’s lives, it can’t be helped.
As I was seen off, I left the viscount’s house and boarded my carriage. The upkeep is quite expensive, but owning my own carriage is convenient.
“Klaus, where to next?”
“Next is Baron Moneyless’s place. I hear the head of the house is ill. After that, it will be Baron Nobodies’.”
“Hmm…”
I can’t expect a reward from either, but I have no choice but to go.
However, lately, I’ve been getting called even for illnesses or injuries that aren’t that serious. The kind that even the folks at the church could heal.
Is it that they don’t want to pay the church, or do they want a connection with me, now that I’m a Count? Or perhaps both.
“It can’t be helped. Let’s go.”
“Understood.”
The carriage proceeded slowly through the noble district of the Royal Capital.