"What is going on!? Why did it suddenly come out of the mountains!? No wonder my damn horses were so spooked!"
The noble shouted for someone to explain.
Victoria shook her head.
"I am unsure as to why. However, I heard a few adventurers mentioned that they went through the forest path and caused quite a mess. Perhaps the dragon sensed that commotion and tried to strike while we were idle."
That was the most likely explanation.
The dragon must've sensed the danger of letting the humans gear up for the battle that might cause its death. Its dwellings weren't that far from the city, after all.
"Why now…! I spent so much of my own capital…!"
The noble gritted his teeth and said under his breath: "That bastard Arnold better compensate me when he gets here."
Victoria could clearly hear that mutter but decided to leave the noble be. He was an insignificant insect so it would be a waste of time to entertain him.
She only spoke with narrowed eyes:
"In any case, what's done is done. We can only hope that the raid party can successfully eliminate it."
"Kuh…But you're right. If they manage to kill the dragon then the merchants can travel past the forest path again. This city is nearly out of supplies and importing from another region would take too long and be more inconvenient for our wealth. The dragon's death will determine if this city will survive or not."
'Is money all you can think about?'
"Indeed."
As a certain subject came into her mind, Victoria spoke again.
"This is purely hypothetical but if they were to slay the dragon then what would we do with the body?"
"Hypothetical you say…It's like you don't believe they can kill it."
"I assumed that the leader is planning on chasing it away. Forgive my wording but killing a dragon is overestimating them. Even if they are such a large group."
'I have a feeling that Al's involvement might change that.'
Although she didn't know why he would bother joining a raid party, she decided to believe that what he did must've had a reason. The fact that he disguised himself led her to that answer.
"I see…Regarding your question, we might have to cut its body in pieces and ship it to a blacksmith chain in the capital. That way, they can pry off the scales on its body. It might take a few weeks but the end results are all that matters." Henry explained.
It was a lengthy process to dismantle the body of a dragon. Not only were the equipment required expensive, the amount of time and work required was also difficult.
However, they couldn't rush it either since there was a worry that the materials might get damaged. In simple terms: it was a delicate procedure.
"While they are out there fighting the dragon, why don't we speak about something else?"
The noble put his hand behind Victoria's lower back.
"Yes. But first, I will prepare tea."
Victoria walked out of his reach. This made the noble scrunch up his face.
"Please wait for a while. I will be back in just a bit." Victoria bowed before leaving the living room.
◇
'Tch. You walk around here with such a seductive body, charming men with those swaying hips.'
His eyes looked at her departing figure walking down the hall, heading towards the kitchen.
Being a minor noble, Henry Fralk had never known the joys of embracing many women. He only had one wife who was a villager girl he took in a few years ago.
Henry was born as the third son of one of his late father's many wives.
Being 48 years old, unmarried, poor and with the status of a baron caused many to look down on him. It was by pure luck that he was able to inherit his family's demesne after his brothers left the household.
One of his brothers won the imperial lottery and the other became a small time business owner. His family members all left one by one.
In the end, Henry was all that was left. The people he called his comrades in the past were no longer with him. Since the land was bound to deteriorate, people began losing hope.
Even the majority of the people who lived here abandoned their homes. The only good thing about this city was the fact that the surrounding land was larger than most of the other fief lords' regions. That included Duke Berkley's duchy which had taken over most of the land.
If only they had the wealth then Henry was sure that the city would prosper again. Perhaps not now but maybe in five to ten years.
'What will become of us all if that bastard takes over this city…Goddammit….'
Henry licked his lips that he had been biting out of frustration that even blood came out.
'Was this woman a high class prostitute before becoming a maid?' Henry thought to himself as he remembered Victoria.
'Fuck, not only will he take this city but also that bombshell of a woman. Fuck, I want to push her down and shove it in. Those wide hips are begging to push out a child.'
His imagination began getting dangerous as he imagined certain scenarios in his head.
'We're the only ones in this house. The servants are serving the knights outside. Should I…'
Henry shifted the boner in his pants as he heard heels tap in the hallway. His breath was ragged and his face was hot.
'That was close. I almost thought about something dangerous.'
Victoria arrived a few seconds later with the tea. She put it down on a table that was brought in earlier.
"Please excuse the tea if it is a bit bland. I have ordered tea leaves from the Empire but it has yet to arrive."
She sat down on her knees next to Henry and poured the tea. It was a motion servants often did when they poured tea yet Henry couldn't help but fantasize about something else when she knelt.
He wiped the drool from his mouth and tried to peek down Victoria's cleavage.
Her perfume and womanly scent from working all morning was intoxicating. He wanted to lick her entire body to get a taste of this hot beauty.
"There you go."
"Ah…"
When he was certain that he saw a black bra, Victoria stood up. She smiled politely and handed him the tea.
He grunted in regret.
"Then, moving on. I have a few concerns about the city's system." Victoria began speaking. "Since most of the nobles have left, there is a worry over who will decide things and such. The city lord needs a reliable team, after all."
"Should it be similar to a government system?"
"Yes. However, I don't think lord Arnold will agree to that. A government is not a term a city on the land of a monarchy is used to. They might let the power run to their heads and try and overthrow the city lord."
"…."
'She's right. Although I have no such desires, the others might.'
Henry was satisfied as long as his domain prospered. He didn't care about fighting for power any longer.
"So they must be similar to shareholders in a company and the CEO would be the city lord."
"Exactly. It can be like the court nobles and the Emperor. However, since we are a small city, we cannot exactly establish a noble circle centered around the city lord himself. There is a lot of responsibilities to fulfil in the likely event that we do manage to get such nobles to control the city under the city lord. Plus, If we dissatisfy them then a civil war is not an impossibility."
"…True. But that is not really an issue at the moment, no? There is probably only about a thousand people in this city. We can request the duke to provide us his knights if a civil war does indeed happen."
Victoria's eyebrow twitched. Henry saw that.
"What? Is something the matter?"
"Lord Arnold was told by the duke to manage the city on his own. He is forbidden from seeking help."
"WHAT!?"
"If a civil war breaks out then we can only flee this city."
Victoria said with a shrug.
"Shit…shit…we're doomed…" Henry muttered under his breath.
Victoria nodded implying that she thought so as well.
"So our only hope is lord Arnold?"
"Yes. We can only wait until he gives the final decision over what we must do. He informed his father that he will search for people on his own to work in the city."
'Do I seriously have to believe in that bastard? Fuck, we're doomed. This city is doomed if it doesn't work this time.'
The previous city lords were all incompetent bastards. It wasn't that surprising since all of them were spare sons of noble houses who had little formal education. No, most had no education at all.
Arnold, on the other hand, was highly educated and was most likely too smart for his year in the academy. It was a fact by now.
Even if he skipped classes, he would always get full marks in his exams. People began thinking that he was cheating and that his mother was helping him. One day, he was forced to write an exam in an empty classroom that had all its windows covered. No one besides the teachers could enter it.
In the end, he still scored full marks again. Although the misunderstanding was resolved, many refused to believe that such a tyrant was so intelligent.
He was so smart yet he never used his intellect usefully.
Perhaps this was the time for him to do it, thought Henry.
He sighed and nodded his head.
"I am in favor of appointing him as the city lord. If you need anything, please inform me. I will do what I can."
"I see. Do forgive me for saying this but whether any of you accept him or not is not my problem. It will happen regardless. If there are some of you who are against it, be prepared to confront lord Arnold about it. As you are the representative of the other nobles who stayed behind, I want you to relay this message."
Victoria said coldly with narrowed eyes.
'This little bitch. She's looking down on me because I'm a minor noble!'
If one were to compare the two, Victoria was obviously higher in status. She was the head maid of the city lord's residence and his acting second-in-command. In his absence, she was the leader of this household and city.
In comparison, Henry was a noble with no redeeming qualities other than his mediocre political skills. It was the bare requirements needed for a village chief.
In fact, he was actually in charge of the surrounding villages at the moment. If Arnold came here then he'd lose that power.
'Dammit…But what can I do…'
Looking at her eyes and expression, he could tell that she wanted him to know his place.
With a resigned sigh, Henry nodded yet again. This time his words sounded forced.
"...I will inform them of your words, miss Victoria."
A smile finally emerged on Victoria's previously cold face.
"See to it then. Now then, let us discuss what we'll do with the empty plots of land in the city—"