~Chapter 43~
If I had just tried to buy the border land outright, Alnor would have been very suspicious.
Since they didn’t know what I was planning, they might not have sold it, even if their territory was running out of money.
But now, since it was “in place of compensation,” it seemed reasonable.
I was in a situation where I needed to settle things before it went to trial, so buying useless border land for a huge amount of money made sense.
“When do you want to sign the contract?”
“They say you should strike while the iron’s hot… How about we do it right now, today?”
“I don’t know. It could take a few days just to check the contract details.”
“Come on, it’s a contract with the Lady of Lombard herself! Of course we trust you. Let’s sign after just seeing the draft.”
Just as expected, the Alnor side was in a hurry to finish the land deal, afraid I might change my mind.
It was funny, so I wanted to tease them more, but the Count looked like he might faint, so I had Ramon prepare the draft contract.
“Madam, please check.”
The capable administrator made the draft immediately.
I took my time turning the pages, and everyone’s eyes followed my every move.
“There’s one thing I want to add.”
“Yes, yes! Please say it!”
“After this, Alnor can never claim rights to the land for any reason. Also, you can’t get involved with your cousin, Viscount Clayton, anymore. Is that clear?”
“Of course! Absolutely!”
Count Alnor threw his family away for money and gladly signed the contract.
Then he hugged the chest full of forty thousand gold coins, grinning from ear to ear.
Go ahead and laugh while you can.
A minor border lord like him would never rise in central politics again.
But soon he’d see the mountain of gold pouring out from the land he sold for cheap.
How could a greedy man like him ever forget the gold mine he lost?
He’d keep remembering the chance he threw away, and it would haunt him for life.
He’d burn with anger and regret, but there’d be nothing he could do. In the end, he’d just keep blaming himself for no reason.
Count Alnor’s life would be a living hell. That was the punishment for helping cause the disaster that killed so many Lombard people when the bridge collapsed.
As he followed the Lady, Ramon the administrator still looked frustrated.
The officials all had different opinions about the contract.
Most high-ranking officials were angry—they thought they’d lost the perfect chance to get rid of the Lady.
They’d always hated her “dictatorship,” so it was no surprise.
But lower officials were split: some were glad the lawsuit ended quietly, while others mocked the Lady’s foolishness, saying she’d soon waste her huge fortune.
But Ramon knew she wasn’t some dumb woman, like people said.
The Lady understood administration—and even politics.
She didn’t deserve to be treated like this, and it made Ramon’s heart heavy.
“May I ask, Madam? Why did you buy such useless wasteland for so much money?”
“Maybe I’ll build a summer villa there?”
“Huh?”
“I can’t ever leave Lombard, so if the Duke bullies me, I’ll just run away and live in my villa.”
Her answer sounded like it meant nothing.
If anyone else heard, they’d laugh and say she still thought she was imperial royalty.
But only Ramon and Berry were around.
He was relieved, but kept going.
“During the cathedral construction, I saw your true self, Madam. You’d rather eat all those gold coins than give them away for nothing.”
“Do you even realize how disrespectful that is?”
I stopped and glared at him.
Before, he would have been scared, but now he just shrugged, like it was no big deal.
He really knew how to pick his battles.
I sighed inside.
I can’t tell him it’s because of the gold mine.
How could a normal person predict the future? Anyone would think I was a demon.
With the inquisitor coming soon, it was too risky.
So I made up a better excuse.
“The land I bought is useful for military reasons.”
“Really?”
“It’s high ground, so you get a clear view. If you dig a deep moat, it can be a great defensive point. If you think about it, forty thousand gold coins isn’t too much.”
“Madam, are you… doing this for Lombard’s future?”
I stopped again.
My foolish past—sacrificing myself for Lombard—already haunted me.
“Don’t get the wrong idea. I’d spend forty thousand gold coins just to annoy the Duke.”
“But just now you said it was for military use…”
“That’s the point. If I build a luxury villa on a military stronghold, won’t it make the Duke and all the knights jealous? I’ll kick everyone out except my people. Just thinking about it makes me happy.”
I laughed, and Ramon looked at me like I was strange.
I didn’t care.
But here’s the real point.
“Anyway, I feel responsible for all this. Lombard, the ruler of the North, almost got tangled up in a lawsuit. That’s serious.”
“If you’re worried about the officials’ gossip, you could just—”
“That’s why I need to lay low for a while.”
“Huh? Why suddenly go on reflection?”
Ramon, who was looking at me with pity, stopped mid-sentence.
After thinking, he jumped up.
“Wait! You’re just using ‘reflection’ as an excuse to take a break, aren’t you? You’re planning to dump all the work on me and Lord Bertolt! Do you think I don’t know?!”
“You really are sharp sometimes…”
“What?!”
Even though I hurried ahead, Ramon chased after me, nagging the whole way.
He complained that I had so much work piled up already, and now I was trying to rest instead of working.
Not long ago, he was against me managing estate affairs.
But even he couldn’t beat overtime.
“Berry?”
“Yes, Madam!”
Berry, following a few steps behind, quickly came closer.
Even bold Ramon jumped back at the giant shadow she cast over him.
Now I understood why Baron Comte hadn’t shown himself lately.
“Lord Ramon is tired. Please take him safely to his quarters.”
“Leave it to me!”
“No, Madam, using brute force is cheating! Wait, wait—!”
Berry lifted Ramon onto her shoulder like it was nothing.
Poor Ramon was still complaining, but Berry just leapt over the banister of the hallway in one jump.
By the way, this was the third floor.
Well, I’m sure he’ll be fine.
Left alone, I stroked my chin in satisfaction.
I’d solved the Council of Arbitration problem and gained a huge gold mine.
I was already rich, but now I was even richer. More money is always good.
But what made me happiest was something else.
“Sweet vacation… No, reflection time is almost here.”
If I could just last until the Count left in two days, I’d be free until the inquisitor arrived.
And in noble society, the Duke usually entertains male guests.
So right now, they were probably drinking port wine in the lounge.
“What should I wear to dinner? Ugh, changing is such a pain.”
But my worries were pointless—because for some reason, the Count left early, without staying the full two days.
And I only learned this when I sat down with the Duke at the table, just the two of us.
