Zwalter spoke gravely.
"Who would willingly send their daughter to Perdium? If you don't want to end up like me, you must not miss this chance. You need to marry while you're still young and thriving."
"…Ha."
As painful as it was to hear, it was objectively true.
A husband spent half the year on northern expeditions, leaving the household empty. At first glance, it might seem appealing to live without a husband constantly around, but the reality was stark—he wasn't the only thing missing.
No money, no safety, and a lonely existence in a remote countryside—such a life appealed to no one.
That's why the Perdium family always had to beg neighboring lords for marriage alliances.
Even Ghislain and Amelia's past engagement was arranged in such a manner.
If an engagement was secured, it was considered fortunate. Zwalter himself had failed to find a proper match in his youth.
"Look at me. If I hadn't met your mother by chance, I wouldn't have married at all. And since she came from a fallen noble family, you don't even have maternal relatives."
At Zwalter's words, Belinda awkwardly averted her gaze, scratching her neck. Ghislain's mother had come with no dowry, accompanied only by Belinda as a maid when she married into the family.
Even then, the people of Perdium had been so grateful for the marriage that they had bowed deeply, expressing their thanks.
The sobering recount of these facts left everyone silent for a moment. The difficulties of marriage were not unique to the lord's family.
Homerne cautiously broke the silence.
"Since the young lord's prestige has risen, how about re-proposing a marriage with Miss Amelia of the Rayfold family?"
"Amelia? Should we?"
Zwalter's expression lit up with interest.
Amelia Rayfold was the daughter of the northern region's most prominent lord, known for her noble grace, wisdom, and kindness.
Becoming the son-in-law of the Marquis Branford would be a dream come true, though admittedly an overly ambitious one.
That's right, to survive in these harsh northern lands, you need someone kind and good-hearted. And since they were once engaged, it should be easier this time. The first time is hard, but the second time? Not so much.
The Rayfold is one of the great northern lords.
Although their relationship with Perdium had cooled somewhat due to past incidents, their territories were geographically close, and they had been nominal allies for generations.
Previously, the Count Rayfold had consented to Ghislain and Amelia's engagement as a gesture of goodwill, given that he had many children.
Now that Ghislain's reputation had improved significantly, the chances of the Rayfold family agreeing again seemed high.
One by one, the vassals voiced their support.
"Miss Amelia Rayfold would be a perfect match. She's more than we could hope for."
"I've heard that Count Rayfold is looking for marriage prospects again."
"In that case, a renewed alliance with us, their long-time allies, would make the most sense. Relationships can always be reestablished."
As the atmosphere grew increasingly optimistic, Ghislain's expression darkened proportionally.
Finally, unable to hold back any longer, Ghislain shouted.
"Don't you dare contact them! I'd rather die than marry that woman."
"What? Why? Frankly, there's no one better than Miss Amelia in the entire north."
Homerne asked, baffled.
She had a strong background, was beautiful, famously kind-hearted, and was known for her calm and composed demeanor. She seemed like the ideal wife who could handle household affairs well. There was no one else like her.
"Is this because of what happened in the past? Marquis Branford is backing you now, so any issues would be smoothed over. They might even be more eager this time. That's just how politics work."
"I said no. Absolutely not. Make a move, and I'll destroy everything. We'll all go down together."
Ghislain's voice grew louder, and his gaze sharpened in an unusual display of anger.
Marrying two people who were practically grinding their teeth to kill each other?
The wedding would likely involve plotting each other's assassinations from the very first night.
Faced with Ghislain's vehement refusal, the others reluctantly fell silent.
'Why does he hate this so much? Didn't he like her before? Did she reject him when he returned with the support funds?'
Zwalter clicked his tongue inwardly.
A mismatch in family standing could lead to bruised egos.
Still, relationships tended to improve with time. People learned to live together, even if they didn't get along initially.
Most people around them had ended up that way.
However, seeing Ghislain's extreme reaction, Zwalter decided not to force the issue for now.
"Fine… We'll talk about this later."
"No, don't bring up marriage again. I'm leaving. Hey! Sort out the supplies already! I'm heading back to the estate!"
Ghislain stormed out, fuming.
Zwalter watched his son's retreating figure with a wistful look. No matter how he thought about it, there was no better daughter-in-law candidate than Amelia.
***
"We're finally back! Home really is the best!"
Belinda exclaimed happily as they passed through the outer walls of Fenris.
The capital mansion had been luxurious and beautiful, but Belinda couldn't rest easy there, always worrying about what trouble Ghislain might stir up next.
Home was undoubtedly the most comfortable place, a timeless truth.
Though the rest of the entourage didn't openly express it, their faces also betrayed signs of relief.
Here, they didn't have to walk on eggshells or worry about the gaze of high-ranking nobles.
As news of the lord's return spread, the estate's people gathered in droves.
"The lord has returned!"
"Wow! But what are all those?"
The people were amazed to see the long line of carts following behind Ghislain.
Weapons, various materials, splendid warhorses.
And behind them, carts loaded with all kinds of necessities.
The scene resembled a merchant caravan entering the estate, but the sheer volume of goods was unprecedented.
"Look at those carts. They're incredible!"
"They said he was selling cosmetics, but it looks like he hit the jackpot!"
The people's eyes sparkled as they inspected the carts, their faces full of anticipation. They were excited by the prospect that Ghislain's latest haul might again be poured into the estate.
Whenever Ghislain brought something back, it was always for the benefit of the estate—solving food shortages, improving facilities, and more.
Anyone willing to work had access to employment and fair wages.
While the estate wasn't yet wealthy, it was a far cry from the constant starvation of the past.
"I'm glad he returned safely."
"Me too. I was so worried."
"I couldn't stop worrying the whole time the lord was away."
The people still harbored fears from past experiences with tyrannical lords and nobles.
They had lain awake at night, anxiously awaiting news of their lord, dreading the possibility of his downfall and the return of such oppressors.
The mere fact that Ghislain returned safely was enough to fill them with joy.
"Thank goodness you're back safely!"
"My lord! Look this way!"
"Please don't leave again!"
Unlike other estates, the people of Perdium didn't prostrate themselves before their lord in fear. Instead, they openly expressed their affection.
This was thanks to Ghislain's approachable demeanor and his generous support for the people.
Claude, the estate's administrator and head butler, seized the moment.
He dismounted his horse, climbed onto one of the carts, and shouted.
"Listen, everyone! This journey of the lord's has been exceptionally successful! He has brought tremendous gains and strengthened his ties with the kingdom's high-ranking nobles! Notably, Marquis Branford, the member of the Ministry of the Royal Palace has become the lord's guardian…"
The people blinked blankly.
Farmers and common folk had no idea who Marquis Branford was.
However, what followed made everyone perk up their ears.
"…and with the proceeds, the lord has purchased a large quantity of supplies needed by the estate! As part of a policy to stabilize the skyrocketing prices, these goods will be sold to the people at below-market rates… Let us all give thanks for the lord's generosity, who always puts the well-being of his people first!"
"Wooooaaaahhh!"
"Our lord is the best!"
"He's the only one who cares about us!"
The crowd erupted into thunderous cheers, the ground practically shaking with their enthusiasm.
Some were so moved they wept openly, collapsing to the ground.
While food shortages had improved thanks to abundant harvests of wheat, people needed more than bread to live.
They needed clothes and the occasional treat.
Yet, due to the dire situation of neighboring estates, acquiring basic necessities was difficult.
Even simple cooking tools like pots had to be shared between neighbors.
Merchants visiting the estate's market provided goods, but the quantity was always insufficient, especially in remote villages.
But now, the lord had brought back a bounty of supplies, all for the people's benefit.
Seeing the carts loaded with goods not for the lord's luxury but for practical use moved the people deeply.
Amid the deafening cheers, Claude grinned triumphantly and continued.
"There's no need to worry about the future! If any problems arise, the lord and I will handle them! Remember, the best way to repay the lord's kindness is to do your utmost in your respective roles! Never forget this!"
"Woooaaaahhh!"
"Long live the head butler!"
"We'll work hard!"
"Head butler's stealing the spotlight!"
"Who said that? Show yourself!"
"You misheard! Hahaha!"
Watching the cheering and joking crowd, Ghislain shook his head with a chuckle.
He had planned to announce the news officially, but Claude had beaten him to it with this impromptu proclamation.
"Well, it's not bad."
When he first arrived at the estate, the people were hopeless, slowly wasting away.
Seeing their now-bright faces filled him with pride and satisfaction.
'I should prioritize road maintenance.'
Most northern merchant guilds didn't bother coming to Fenris, choosing instead to stop at Rayfold, which was larger and wealthier, and had better roads.
Improving the roads would make it easier for merchants to travel and distribute his cosmetics across the kingdom.
As he basked in the people's endless cheers, Ghislain slowly made his way to the lord's castle.
Like everyone else, he felt a sense of relief upon returning home.
Now, it was time to proceed with his next plan…
Boom!
Before he could finish his thought, a massive explosion erupted near the lord's castle, sending flames shooting high into the sky.
The red burst tore through the clouds, leaving a gaping hole.
"…?"
Ghislain stared at the castle in shock.
What on earth had just happened? Was this an attack?
As he tried to assess the situation, a memory of the facility in that location made his eyes widen in alarm.
[T/L: Please support me and read extra chapters here: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]