“There’s your secret of being a Child of God too, so we were thinking of dispatching another person to work for you.” [Reinhart]
“You mean other than Yurdum-san?” [Ryouma]
I don’t mind, but aren’t they already supporting me as their Specialist with him? And if they want to protect my secret so much, then having less people who know my secret would be for the best. Or at least, that’s what I was thinking, but as it turns out, there was actually no need to tell my new helper that I was a Child of the Gods.
“They’ll be your aide just like him, but they’ll mostly be working as your secretary. Their job will be to facilitate communication between you and other parties. They will serve as a mediator to help you negotiate. Yurdum-san does a decent job on his own, but I believe it’s better for you to have someone that specializes in communication and negotiations.
You have gotten quite popular, after all, since the events at the end of last year. I’m sure there are many nobles hoping to meet you while you continue to pile up achievements.” [Reinhart]
“I’ve already been employed by your family, though?” [Ryouma]
“They won’t try to solicit you, but they’ll definitely tell you to ‘rely’ on them should you need help. Normally, even that would have to pass through your backing, but there are plenty of people who try to sidestep that… Nobles like that are sure to be a handful.
Specialists that have stores or workshops tend to be contacted more too since it’s easier to find them. You wouldn’t want to have to deal with those people when they drop by and demand that you appear, now, would you?” [Reinhart]
That certainly sounds like something I’d much rather be spared.
“Even as a noble, I myself can’t welcome such behaver. Carm-kun mentioned it as well, I believe, that he might be a successful merchant, but in the end, he’s just a normal commoner. It’s easier for the conversation to progress when nobles talk among themselves, and it’s a good attitude to adopt to avoid trouble as well.” [Reinhart]
As the saying goes, every man knows his business best. Anyway, I get it. Since he’s going out of his way to offer his own person, then I might as well accept. I only worry that I might not get along well with that person.
“Could that person you’re referring to be the maid from earlier?” [Ryouma]
“Oh? How astute of you.” [Reinhart]
“I thought you just brought some people I didn’t know to check my curse, but after what you said just now, I doubt you’d bring an extra person with you for no reason.” [Ryouma]
“I certainly have reasons of my own to check up on your curse, but regardless, if you don’t mind, I would like to introduce the two of you to each other. She is Eleonora Lansor [1]. I’m sure you recognize that name.” [Reinhart]
If I’m remembering right, I believe it was Baron Lansor who owned the gold mines that supplied the funds of the enemy we fought at the end of lat year. True enough, she was apparently the eldest daughter.
“Are you sure about this? Though I doubt you’d introduce anyone problematic to me.” [Ryouma]
“It’s natural that you’d be suspicious. Allow me to explain.” [Elize]
It was the madam who explained the situation. To summarize, apparently, her family, the Baron House of Lansor, was under the administration of other noble houses, and the revenue from their gold mine was continuously being exploited. The current head of the family, her father, and her older brother did what they could to ensure an ethical management of the gold mines despite their pressing circumstances, leading them to lose favor to the four houses administrating them.
In order to quell her family’s rebelliousness, she was forced to marry into the house of Baron Rufred, one of the four houses that managed them. But of course, that was nothing but the official story, and in truth, she was treated like a hostage.
It is said that on the very first day, she was banished to an outbuilding of the mansion, while her husband, the Baron’s heir, indulged in a life of debauchery with his mistress. Married women of the nobility often oversaw the management of the mansion, but she was not allowed to involve herself with such matters and was instead burdened with menial tasks and chores.
But because of the incident last year, it came to light that the House of Baron Rufred had been engaged in various other crimes including tax evasion, and their family came into ruin. The situation escalated to the point where the entire family faced execution, but fortunately or unfortunately, she managed to avoid that fate because of her cruel treatment, which led her to be recognized as ‘legally married’ but not in substance. She narrowly managed to escape with her life only because it was determined that she had not been involved in the criminal activities of the baron.
“She went back home, but they had issues there too, and in the end, she was entrusted to the Jamil family. Now, the House of Lansor has come completely under us.” [Elize]
“…A story full of twists and turns.” [Ryouma]
I didn’t know if that was the right thing to say, but I didn’t know what else to say.
“She came to us with that sort of circumstance, so I do sympathize with her, but you can’t bring personal feelings when evaluating a person’s abilities and personality.” [Elize]
“Her situation is complicated, so she likely won’t betray us. Though, of course, from her perspective, all that changed was the person holding her leash. However, if it’s your place, then maybe…” [Reinhart]
“She did have a tense air about her, so maybe it would be best to change her environment.” [Ryouma]
It would probably do her a lot of good to rest and recover, but she strikes me as the serious and stern type, so not doing anything might actually be worse for her… She sounds skilled, so maybe I can get Yurdum-san to look after her first.
“I have nothing but gratitude to be able to welcome a person who would – on my behalf – willingly mediate between me and other nobles, so if that’s all, then I would love to work with her. She won’t be able to officially start until after I return from the Great Forest, however. Will that be fine?” [Ryouma]
“But of course. We’ll also have to discuss how to communicate in case an emergency were to occur, but anyhow, please be sure to contact us as soon as you return to Gimuru.” [Reinhart]
“Alright.” [Ryouma]
After making it clear that I agreed, Reinhart-san let out a breath, and he finally took a mouthful of the tea that he has left sitting this whole time. He had been so focused on our conversation that he completely forgot about it. It must have gone cold already, but he was so thirsty that he finished it in just a few sips.
[1] Changed Ransore to Lansor.
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