We moved to the lumber yard to test the staff; with the thick carpet of fallen leaves and the quiet surroundings, it was an ideal place to talk. Not that I really needed much help to test a rake—a few experimental swings were enough to get the feel of it. I certainly didn't need to go out of my way to ask for assistance for something so trivial.
"Master Takebayashi, how exactly should I assist you?"
"What I’d like to ask of you, Eleonora-san, is to help me prepare the negative emotions I need for the spell. To put it plainly, I was wondering if you would let me vent to you... and perhaps you could do the same for me. I’m sorry to dredge up the past, especially after what we discussed last night.
"But after our talk, I felt that you were someone I could be more honest with—someone with whom I could share my grievances more easily than with others. I trust the others, of course, and I know they would listen if I asked, but..."
"...I think I understand what you mean," she replied. "Our circumstances differ, but I can sense that you have experience dealing with difficult people. Setting aside the matter of trust, I believe the act of venting itself requires a certain level of familiarity."
"Exactly. If you have a friend you regularly drink and complain with, the words probably come out effortlessly. Without that established relationship, it’s hard... Complaining isn't exactly a pleasant thing for someone to listen to, so you end up suppressing it as much as possible."
While words might occasionally slip out subconsciously, expressing them with intent was a hurdle of a different magnitude.
Venting brought risks—information leaks and damaged reputations. If you picked the wrong listener, it just became a hassle; they might start preaching at you, telling you to "be more positive" or arguing that you were wrong.
I believed the people I had met in this world would listen sincerely if I complained, but knowing that made speaking up feel like an indulgence, or even a form of cowardice. It was a lingering sense of aversion I couldn't quite name. Ultimately, it always felt easier to just keep my mouth shut.
"I feel the same," Eleonora admitted. "Whether during my student days or my time in the military, it was not as if the opportunity never presented itself. However, when the moment actually came, I would hesitate. By the time I found my courage, the conversation would have moved on."
"I know that feeling all too well. And missing your chance is one thing, but when the conversation grinds to a halt because of you, it’s absolute hell, isn't it?"
"It was a standard routine for me: I would find out later that the people who were there were whispering behind my back, calling me an 'arrogant, boring woman'... Come to think of it, I have always wondered why such people cannot be more discreet. It is pointless to worry about, but it always baffled me to see them gossiping so boldly."
"Ah... I suppose they think they’re being quiet and hiding, but to the person they're talking about, it’s often painfully obvious. Sometimes they’re even snickering while looking right at you from across the room."
They were in plain sight, their gazes were like needles, and their voices were perfectly audible. Just when I would think they were harassing me on purpose, our eyes would lock, and they would look away in a frantic panic. It seemed they truly believed they hadn't been heard.
"Maybe it's a mob mentality? They feel safe because their peers are doing it. As the rumor spreads, they feel emboldened because 'everyone' is saying it. But the moment your eyes meet, it becomes a confrontation between individuals again. They realize they’re the one speaking, and the 'safe group' vanishes, so they hurriedly pretend to be uninvolved."
"The logic is sound... but even as children, they were the sons and daughters of nobility. The Academy has countless secluded spots, and even cafes specifically for secret meetings. I often wondered if they couldn't at least have the sense to change locations."
"That's true. Wait—a cafe for secret meetings? Does the school in the Royal Capital really have facilities like that?"
"To be precise, there are private rooms available by reservation in the cafe attached to the Academy, which students use for clandestine talks. Since the Academy is not merely a school but a 'socializing practice ground,' student politics are quite fierce. From the fourth year onward, students are expected to help manage Academy events, and the various student factions are very active. For noble students, the first through third years are a mere preparation period; they say that the fourth year is when student life truly begins."
"...That sounds much more troublesome than I expected. If you'll excuse me for saying so."
"It is incredibly troublesome. It may be unavoidable for those born into noble houses, but even beneath a peaceful conversation, people are constantly trying to check their opponents and gain the upper hand. Those from baron houses like mine are low in the noble hierarchy, so we are rarely treated well. Since there are so many of us, many try to gain a better standing by endearing themselves to higher-ranking houses. Sabotage and backstabbing are daily occurrences.
"Between the high tuition and the difficulty of the classes, many commoner students drop out by the third year. Those who remain in the fourth year and beyond are almost exclusively the children of exceptionally wealthy families or those who received scholarships for outstanding academic performance."
I had been invited to attend the Academy once before, but hearing this made me realize from the bottom of my heart that I was glad I hadn't gone.
"Thank you for telling me that. And I'm sorry for interrupting your story. But just now, you were able to vent a little to me, weren't you?"
"Indeed. Rather than simply listening to a grievance one-sidedly, it was much more relieving to speak with each other."
"Exactly! That's exactly what I wanted to say!"
She had put it into words perfectly, and I felt a weight lift from my shoulders. It was just a matter of my own arbitrary mood, but if I vented and then received a similar complaint in return, I felt much more at ease. Of course, I wouldn't force her to talk about things she wanted to keep private.
However, in Eleonora-san's position, it would probably be difficult to refuse a request from me. I felt my own lack of social grace in moments like these, but...
"As I told you last night, I have made my peace with the past. I am not a particularly skilled conversationalist, but if that is acceptable to you, then I will help."
"Thank you. I appreciate it."
Fortunately, she agreed without appearing distressed, so I pulled up a nearby log and used it as a chair.
"Well then, let's continue... Since I proposed this, I'll start with something that’s hard to say to others. It’s related to not being used to venting, but since coming to the town of Gimul, have you ever felt... somewhat out of place? For what it's worth, I have, just a little."
I had no complaints about my work, my pay, or the people around me. Everyone was incredibly kind and treated me better than I deserved. I could say without any lie that my current life was a happy one.
...And yet, there was a persistent sense of incongruity. Even in a space where I should have been able to relax, I felt restless. When I explained that it was a minor, nagging discomfort, Eleonora-san looked up at the sky as if lost in thought before turning back to me.
"I agree with that as well. I am satisfied with my current life, but I know the sensation you described. It is absolutely not that I am ungrateful for the kindness shown to me, and I could never bring myself to say to my benefactors that their kindness feels... stifling."
"I'm glad to hear that—though 'glad' might be the wrong word. But you're right. I couldn't say it to them either."
"If I may speculate... is that discomfort why you intend to keep returning to the dangerous Sea of Trees?"
"I think it's a major factor. It’s not the only reason, given what’s happening in Kormi, but it’s part of it."
The forest was dangerous, but I couldn't deny the sense of liberation I felt during my last trip. Deep in the wilderness, there were no people, no complicated relationships, and no need to worry about anyone else. It was a world of pure freedom where you were entirely responsible for your own life and death. I genuinely liked that simplicity.
"I'll say it again: it's not that I dislike my current life. In fact, I love it. I just can't seem to get used to it... It's a luxury of a worry, I know."
"It is as you say, but perhaps it is unavoidable. In my case, after being forced to marry a man I didn't love and being treated coldly, only to nearly be executed for his family's scandals, my life suddenly turned around and I became free. It is only natural that I am bewildered by the shift. The proximity of people in my current life... perhaps I had become too accustomed to the bare minimum of human interaction. Positive gazes were never something I was familiar with."
"I can't argue with that. I suppose we just have to get used to it bit by bit."
"I hope I can resolve these concerns eventually, but—"
Eleonora-san trailed off. Her expression grew noticeably darker. She seemed to be reflecting on her own words.
A long silence followed, but perhaps because we had built some rapport through our venting, she slowly began to speak of what was weighing on her heart: her family home and her relatives.
For a long time, her family had been effectively controlled and exploited by four other noble houses. Their crimes had been exposed last year, and they had all been punished. This was information I already knew.
But then she got to the heart of the matter: "My family home and the territory have not actually been liberated from that past control."
The exploitation had taken many forms. One was the demand for compensation regarding mine development and human resources. Funds had been steadily drained through personnel sent by the four houses.
These people were ostensibly technicians or managers, but in reality, they were members of criminal organizations based in the territories of those four houses. To put it simply, they were no better than common gangsters or the mafia. And the situation was even more dire than I had imagined.
"When the investigation into those lords was conducted and evidence of their crimes came to light, there was a move to eliminate those criminal organizations as well. However, the organization leaders, who had worked with the lords for years, were quick to sense the change in the wind. They fled before the subjugation unit could arrive. And since my family's territory had been their base for exploitation and was relatively safe, it became their destination. The survivors from all four organizations have now established new strongholds there.
"For now, they are merely wary of one another and haven't turned to open crime, but it is only a matter of time before it erupts into a gang war. The people of the territory are in extreme danger, and action is needed... but the problem lies with the lords who should be taking that action—namely, my father and my two older brothers."
She let out a heavy sigh and rubbed her eyes, her face tight with disappointment.
"When I was released from my former husband's house and returned home, my younger brother vanished, leaving a note saying he despaired for the family's future. My older brother is the heir, but he has succumbed to alcoholism for the same reason. My father, the current lord, refuses to move at all, taking advantage of the fact that the gangs haven't started fighting yet.
"In the past, these organizations had the backing of nobles and operated with a veneer of legality. They refrained from blatant crimes so as not to embarrass their patrons or disrupt the mines that provided their income. They left no evidence. But now? Their restraint was never for the sake of the people; it was for the sake of the nobles who protected them. Now that they have no patrons, they will commit any atrocity to maintain their profits and status!
"And they are already criminals! The moment their patrons were driven out, they became fugitives. By sheltering them, my father is legally an accomplice. There is no more interference from other houses, and more than enough justification to arrest them... and yet!"
As she spoke, her disappointment sharpened into fury, and her voice grew more intense. I could only imagine how much she had suffered under this situation before her marriage.
"...Though, even if they had the will to act, they lack the power."
She calmed her voice, as if suddenly realizing she was shouting.
"The mansion I returned to was in ruins. The gates were wide open, with not even a single guard. The interior hadn't received even basic maintenance. All the servants, except for one butler, had fled. I spent days questioning my family and conducting secret inquiries in town until I faced the truth: the House of Baron Lansol had been abandoned by its guards, its servants, and its people."
While Eleonora-san had been away, her family had completely surrendered to the four houses. They had become puppets of the criminal organizations—who served as the overseers for the four houses—and simply followed their orders to keep the mines running for their benefit.
The rights to the mine, the territory's lifeblood, had been carved up by the four syndicates, with all disputes settled through their own collusion. The lord had no room to intervene. By contenting themselves with being mere figureheads who kept up appearances while doing exactly as they were told, the House of Baron Lansol had lost all shred of credibility.
"Most of the loyal retainers are gone, and the guard force is struggling just to keep the peace. Exterminating four criminal organizations, even remnants like these, is impossible for the House of Baron Lansol to do alone. Absolutely impossible."
"Alone, perhaps. But your family is currently under the supervision of the Jamil Ducal House, right? I'm sure you've thought of this, but couldn't you request their help?"
"It is only natural that you would think so, Master Takebayashi. I thought so as well. But my father and brother are adamant: 'We will not request support.' Without a formal request from the lord of the land, even the Ducal House cannot interfere unless the trouble spills over into other territories. A territory is governed by its lord; that is the lord's right and responsibility. If criminals enter the land, it is the lord's duty to lead his own troops to remove them."
"That sounds like the discussion we had about the technology theft the other day."
"This kingdom expanded by incorporating many different nations, and many regions still hold onto their unique cultures and customs. There have been many rulers who were overthrown because they ignored those traditions for their own gain. To prevent that, laws and customs were established to guarantee a territory's independence... In modern times, a territory is essentially a 'micro-nation' within the kingdom, and the lord functions as its king."
"So if the Ducal House breaks that custom, they’ll be disgraced. They have no reason to risk that just to help someone who hasn't asked. It’s a mess."
Inside a territory, the lord's power was absolute. Even a higher-ranking noble couldn't simply ignore them and intervene. The higher the rank of the noble, the more they had to lead by example, making direct intervention nearly impossible.
But to put it plainly, this could all be solved if the lord just went to Reinhardt-san and asked. There would be noble complications, but the path to a solution was clear. Eleonora-san was furious because her family wouldn't even try to take it.
And given how she was talking...
"This is just a guess, but did they even give you a proper reason for not asking the Ducal House for help?"
"You read the situation perfectly... No, they gave me nothing. They dodged the question with vague excuses, saying it wasn't the right time or that there was no budget. When I pressed them, my father finally lost his temper and told me I was disowned."
"He went that far?"
"He did... The Duke and Madam were there and managed to talk him into retracting it, but he still stubbornly refused to ask for support."
I learned that she had actually forced her way into the meeting held regarding last year's incident. At the risk of being punished for her insolence, she had pleaded directly with Reinhardt-san and her father. For a baron’s daughter to do that in front of a duke, especially when her own family was at fault, required incredible courage.
And yet, her words hadn't reached her father. However, the Ducal Couple had been moved by her bravery and had stepped in to stop the disowning and take her under their protection. That was how she had been released from her former husband's family and brought to the Jamil household.
"In a territory where the lord's power is absolute, the lord's responsibility is equally heavy. It is the lord's duty to protect the land and the people, and for that, strength is indispensable. A man who cannot fulfill his responsibilities has no right to be a lord. Needing to rely on another house is, in itself, a grave failure.
"The common view among nobility is that if you cannot solve your territory's problems, you should step down and hand the land to someone who can. I... I cannot help but feel that it might have been better for the people if my father had been executed instead."
She wasn't crying, but her eyes were bright with unshed tears. She looked up at the sky, the moonlight reflecting in them.
I stayed silent for a while, waiting for her to find her peace again.