Chapter 354 - 354: Castle Repair Costs

Around that time.

In the conference room in the depths of the former royal castle Count Blade sat at the head of a long table.

On the table a map of the former Valstine territory and reports that had arrived from various places were spread.

Public order of the royal capital, food distribution, repair of collapsed highways.

There was also dealing with remnants of the former kingdom army and residents strengthening opposition to the Kingdom of Wistaria.

All were cases requiring immediate judgment.

But the consciousness of the civil official waiting beside was directed at the uproar ringing from beyond the corridor.

"Count-kakka. The uproar near the main gate seems to have grown even larger…"

"I see."

Count Blade answered without raising his eyes from the reports.

From afar his daughter's voice rang.

Then the sound of something shattering showily.

The civil official's cheek twitched.

"Is it all right not to stop them?"

"You know of the other day's incident. Three soldiers who entered to stop them were carried to the infirmary."

"Then if we send even more soldiers…"

"Do you want to increase the victims?"

"No."

The civil official immediately shut his mouth.

Count Blade stretched a hand to the small bottle placed at the edge of the table.

Inside the transparent bottle muddy purple liquid was contained.

A stomach-pain potion potion well-regarded even in the royal capital.

He pulled the stopper and drank it down in one gulp without hesitation.

"Kakka. That is the third today."

"Still before noon."

"Yes."

"Replenish extra for the afternoon. There should have been stock."

"…Understood."

The civil official said nothing about the dosage.

At that time Rigel's shout rang from the direction of the main gate.

Count Blade placed the emptied small bottle on the table and pressed between his brows.

"I thought if Lord Rigel came my daughter would settle a little."

"It rather sounds like it is worsening."

"I agree."

"Why not proceed with the engagement talk in earnest?"

"My daughter would settle. But this time Lady Mesterica would turn into a fierce god."

"…Then maintain the status quo."

"Aa. That has the least damage."

Immediately after the royal castle shook slightly.

The ink bottle on the table jumped and fine dust fell from the ceiling.

Count Blade after silently looking up at the ceiling stretched a hand to a new stomach-pain potion potion.

"Kakka. Is that the afternoon portion?"

"Moving the schedule forward."

"If consumed at this pace stock will run out immediately…"

"Order additional by the box."

"One box?"

"Three boxes."

The civil official wrote the quantity on the order form.

After thinking a little he rewrote the three to four.

Considering the future there was no loss in preparing extra.

—

Rigel still did not know the details of the problem occurring in the former Valstine territory.

Inside the territory issues that should be solved piled up and there were also complicated circumstances surrounding provisional rule.

Not as a conqueror but as a ruler his qualities would be tested.

He would have to gain the residents' trust, rebuild the territory, and also deal with approaching threats.

However that was talk after settling the uproar at his feet.

"Lord Rigel, you are on my side, right!"

"Naturally you are on the side of me the older sister!"

"I won't be on either side!"

"Why!"

"Why!?"

"So don't even match that reaction!"

Following the two's voices Rigel's yell rang through the royal castle again.

Immediately after this time a sound as if part of a stone wall had shattered.

From the conference room ceiling more dust than a moment ago fell.

Count Blade said nothing and pulled the stopper of the fourth stomach-pain potion potion.

—-

Then, after a while.

Rigel who had somehow separated Mesterica and Cynthia finally reached the conference room where Count Blade waited.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Count Blade."

"No. I understand the circumstances."

While answering that Count Blade turned his gaze behind Rigel.

A little apart Mesterica and Cynthia sat.

Though both were behaving their eyes looking at each other still had something dangerous remaining.

"…I'm glad if you truly understand."

"It's my daughter. Rather I should apologize."

"Older sister is similar so we're even, I think."

"I'm glad you say that."

On the table ledgers and reports summarizing the situation inside the territory were piled.

They would probably discuss the current state of the former Valstine territory from now.

However Count Blade did not stretch a hand to the ledgers and first cut into another topic.

"I prepared the ledgers through once. Only, there is something that must be settled before that."

"…I have only a bad premonition."

At that time the conference room door opened.

Somewhat rough footsteps approached and a young woman around twenty appeared.

Brown hair gathered behind, a tool bag at her waist.

White stone powder adhered to her cheeks and sleeves.

"Count Blade-kakka. Today's portion of repair costs."

"Today's portion?"

"Yes. Separate from the portion up to yesterday."

The woman placed the bundle of documents she carried on the table.

Rigel after seeing that thickness slowly turned his face toward Mesterica and Cynthia.

The two both averted their eyes blatantly.

"…You broke things yesterday too?"

"Only a little."

"I wasn't intentional either."

"Got it. Both of you be quiet for a while."

The woman flipped the documents at hand.

Then she read the damaged places matter-of-factly.

Walls, pillars, doors, windows, floor stones, ceiling beams—the more one listened the larger the damage.

"Up to yesterday one face of the north wing wall, two pillars, four doors, seven windows. Today one front entrance door, thirteen floor stones, a crack in the west corridor wall. Also one ceiling beam is shifted."

"You're doing quite a bit."

"Lord Rigel. I would like you not to speak as if it were someone else's affair."

"I'm sorry. Only, I didn't break them directly."

"You are the cause, no."

"I'm weak if you say that."

The woman pulled out one estimate sheet and held it out to Rigel.

Rigel received it and followed the numbers from the top in order.

At the point he saw the presented amount he immediately furrowed his brow.

"…Isn't it high?"

"I'm making it cheap."

"With this?"

"After the war material prices have risen. Craftsmen are also insufficient."

"Her estimate is appropriate. Rather she is holding it down quite a bit."

"If Count Blade says so it doesn't seem to be a rip-off."

"Please don't treat it as a rip-off from the start."

The woman furrowed her brow slightly.

Though her wording was polite she showed no appearance of fearing Rigel.

Even if the opponent was a noble she seemed the personality to say what should be said.

"Name?"

"Erna. I am entrusted as site chief of the royal castle repair squad."

"Young."

"Skill has no relation to age."

A little prickly.