Fun Territory Defense of the Easy-Going Lord - Chapter 144
TL: Thank you for your patience… I was really busy and didn’t have an opportunity to edit… I now have some spare time and will release chaps as soon as I finish editing them instead of scheduling, so the releases will become random. It will, however, increase the number of releases per month, which is better than scheduling them. That is all for now, thank you.
Regrets of Count Ferdinand
The barbecue had started an hour ago. With wine and barley wine in their hands, His Majesty and his soldiers were savoring the meat. The soldiers continued to eat with the same enthusiasm, gobbling up the meat like ravenous monsters.
“…Even though there is alcohol, how can they eat that much?”
While muttering these things, Arte and I sat at the end of the table and consumed the meat. A member of the Noble Group came over just as I was thinking it was time to finish the meat and bread and have some cookies or something.
The person, a little bent forward, was headed directly for us. It was Count Ferdinand, a man whose eyes held a hint of uncertainty.
Both Arte and her father, Count Ferdinand, are attractive and delicate individuals.
“Good evening. May I have a moment?”
Ferdinand spoke to me after a sidelong glance at Arte.
“Yes. What can I help you with?”
I rose and replied, and Ferdinand gave an apologetic nod while raising one hand.
“Well, yes… about Arte.”
Frowning, Ferdinand turned to face Arte. His father Arte, with whom he has a tangled relationship, tensed up uncontrollably. He was sitting there looking down, and when Ferdinand yelled his name, he lowered his gaze even farther.
Ferdinand cast a melancholic glance at us.
“…It’s probably not the right thing to say to Sir Van, but I’d like you to listen to me for a moment.”
Before all of this, Ferdinand started talking, indicating that he was sorry.
“I was unable to be a fatherly figure to Arte… It was just when my father had fallen, and I had just become head of the family, and when his son, Count Fertio, was made a Marquis and part of my count’s lands were lost.”
He looked at Arte, who didn’t even bat an eye, after stating this, then carries on with his tale.
“…Nobles appear to have a glamorous life, but they also have an ugly side to them. Noble families that are considered to be on the rise attract not only other nobles, but also merchants and mercenaries to rub up against them. On the other hand, noble families that are considered to be declining have been miserable. They are pushed to the edges and removed from important positions in noble factions, and merchants and mercenary companies are finding it tougher to do business with them. Moreover, the vassals who have supported the family all their lives may leave.”
Ferdinand related his depressing tale. He was overcome with a range of bad feelings, including jealously, resentment against others, and feelings of inadequacy.
It must have been very difficult for him. The way he was talking now, the previous head of the family might have passed away suddenly. The burden of being the head of a high-ranking noble family must be immeasurable.
As a nobleman, he must make his presence felt in wars, social circles, and the management of his domain so that his house does not fall into decline. This is no small task, and he must have wanted to eliminate negative elements as much as possible. One of them is Arte, who has an aptitude for magic that is not typical of a nobleman.
However, Arte was innocent.
I felt that way, and I could not resist.
“…I am sorry to hear about your hardship. However, just because you were busy, and it was hard, it doesn’t mean you should ignore your daughter. It was hard, it was tough. Even if you make excuses like that, it is your crime to have neglected your precious family that you should have protected, and it is a blunder that cannot be undone.”
My voice sounded unusually harsh, even for me, and not only Ferdinand, but even Arte looked shocked, but I didn’t want to stop him anymore.
“Ferdinand-sama, you may think this was just the ramblings of a young man, but please listen to me as a human being who cares about his family, the scars on Arte’s heart will never fully heal. She will never be able to forget it. But it is possible to heal it, even if only a little. It should be possible to reduce the pain.”
I told him this and looked at Arte. She looked anxious. I wondered if I had taken the wrong approach. I wondered if I had taken the wrong approach, but I continued.
“As a father, there is one thing you can do. Look Arte straight in the eye and listen to her, even if she lacks confidence, she is a kind and caring person. Acknowledge that.”
With that said, I close my mouth, take a deep breath, and look at Ferdinand. Ferdinand’s face, which had been rolling his eyes, was now tinged with deep regret.
“…Certainly, it is not something that a child who has just become a baron should talk about. But it was a point I couldn’t complain about. Truly… I was a fool.”
Ferdinand said so and turned to Arte.
“…Arte, if you don’t want to answer, you don’t have to say anything. It is said that not long ago, when our territory was invaded by Jiernetta, there was a group of people who saved it. I heard that this group defeated Jiernetta’s army with long-range bows and arrows that looked as if they had been developed by Baron Van and two knights, who moved in a way that was impossible for a human to do.”
At these words, Arte looked at me with a complicated expression. But I dared not answer anything and kept silent. Then Ferdinand shook his head from side to side and bowed to Arte.
“I heard that the group was flying the flag of Count Ferdinand. No one but a countess would do such a thing… Thank you, Arte, and I am sorry.”
When Ferdinand sincerely thanked and apologized at the same time, Arte covered his own mouth with his hand and burst into tears.
After looking at Arte, who was speechless with sobs, Ferdinand turned to face us.
“Like the Marquis Fertio, I treated the child unkindly because I was bound by common sense regarding magical aptitude and by the appearance of being an aristocrat. And yet, I was later saved by that child. Ironic…”
He lets out a deep, deep sigh and after a pause, continued.
“…If Baron Van asks for your help in the future, I promise to lend a hand. This is my pledge as the head of the Count Ferdinand. Even if you and Arte cannot get married to you, it will not be broken.”
Arte reacted to these words with a jerk. She looked at me with a half-crying face, so I returned a wry smile and placed my hand lightly on her back.
“It’s okay, as long as Arte doesn’t dump me.”
“No, I won’t!”
Arte responded to my words with a flustered look on her face. Ferdinand also rolls his eyes, perhaps surprised by that.
“…Haha, hahaha! I see. You two seem to have an excellent trusting relationship already. That’s a relief.”
He says this with a laugh and looks at Arte with kind eyes.
“If it’s not too late, let’s talk. Anything you want to say, even if it’s a grudge. Let me hear your voice.”
Ferdinand tells him, and Arte nods with tears in her eyes.
“Yes…!”
That made me feel for the first time that they had become father and daughter.