Focusing on Territory After Breaking Off the Engagement

Chapter 4: A New Beginning

My name is Elwin.

I am a transmigrator to another world.

My title is Young Lord of Frontier.

And my job is Farmer.

“Farmer…”

After getting the job, I spent several days pondering.

How to use it.

Knock. Knock.

“Come in.”

The door opened, and a maid appeared.

“The Madam is looking for you.”

“Me?”

The place the maid led me to was the conference room.

Brilda sat at the head seat,

and her vassals were lined up to her left and right.

“Welcome, Elwin.”

“You called for me, Mother.”

“Do you know the rumors circulating among the people?”

Rumors circulating among the people?

I hadn't even gone out for several days.

Since I had no allies in the estate, no one told me either.

“I don't know well.”

“Ahem...”

“Ehem...”

At my words, the vassals let out uncomfortable coughs.

Just looking at their expressions, I could tell.

Obvious disregard towards the Young Lord.

They revealed such an attitude without hiding it.

It seemed to be their own way of showing loyalty.

Towards Brilda.

“Elwin, as the Young Lord, you must take an interest in the territory. This time, I will explain.”

According to Brilda, my reputation in the territory was very bad.

‘Why? How could that be?’

When I walked out of the pile of corpses,

the residents had cheered.

They thanked the gods, saying I had resurrected.

Only a few days had passed since that event.

“They say you pretended to be dead, scared of the Black Orcs, right? And only after arriving at South Castle, you got up?”

‘Ha…?’

It was absurd.

I pretended to be dead?

The sensation of the axe was still vivid.

The intense pain.

Even the sensation of that pain disappearing was etched into my mind.

“I pretended to be dead? Do you really think so?”

Brilda's eyes sharpened.

The vassals also wore surprised expressions.

It was the same for me.

I was someone who used to answer ‘Yes’, ‘Understood’ whenever Brilda spoke.

I did unpleasant tasks, difficult tasks, whatever Brilda ordered.

But I was questioning her words?

Me?

Did my personality change after experiencing death?

Or perhaps…

There was something that came to mind.

When I died to the Black Orcs and woke up.

Fragments of memory remained.

I had made some big resolution.

The problem was that I couldn't remember that resolution.

“I will ask again, Mother. Do you think I pretended to be dead?”

“...Elwin, what are you doing right now?”

“It's because I don't understand. You didn't even confirm my death? Don't tell me, you threw me, the Young Lord, onto a pile of corpses without even checking!!”

“Sir Elwin!”

“Sir Elwin!! She is your mother!”

“Sir Elwin!!! Show some courtesy!!”

The vassals standing on both sides shouted.

I met their eyes one by one.

Among them was Wilson, who had participated in the Black Orc subjugation with me.

“Sir Wilson. You were on the battlefield with me. After the battle ended, did you not check on me? I asked if you didn't even check my breathing!”

Wilson was momentarily flustered.

It was natural.

If he said he confirmed my death, it would mean Brilda's words were wrong.

Conversely, if he said he didn't check, that too was a problem in itself.

Because it meant he didn't check the commander's condition after the battle ended.

The condition of the Young Lord, no less.

Brilda stepped forward in place of the flustered Wilson.

“Enough. Everyone, stop. I didn't call you here to determine the truth. Rumors that the Young Lord is a coward have already spread throughout the territory. Therefore, you shall become the Captain of the South Guard...”

“I refuse.”

At the clear and decisive refusal, Brilda was lost for words.

The surrounding vassals were the same.

‘Refreshing.’

I didn't know refusing could feel so relieving to the chest.

Why had I only ever said ‘Understood’ until now?

Saying ‘No’ felt so liberating.

“Elwin, did I hear you wrong? Refuse? Was that directed at me?”

“After dy.ing. to the Black Orcs, I understand. I do not have the ability to perform the duties of Guard Captain. Therefore, I state clearly. I. re.fuse.”

The mistress of the Frontier family.

Brilda Frontier.

The Young Lord of the Frontier family.

Elwin Frontier.

A war without swords or spears between two nobles.

Vassals watching it unfold.

“Sir Elwin!!!!! How insolent!!!!!”

You again, Wilson?

Wilson shouted loudly.

It seemed like a desperate attempt to make up for his earlier mistake.

However,

I had no intention of letting it pass quietly either.

The Elwin who always answered ‘Yes’ died to the Black Orcs.

I Had changed.

“Sir Wilson!!!! Why do you address me like that!!!!”

Step. Step.

I stood before Wilson.

His eyes showed surprise as the arrow turned towards him.

“What do you mean by that all of a sudden?”

“How does the Knight address my father!!”

“Naturally… He is the Lord.”

“Then I am!!”

“You are Sir Elwin.”

“Why is Father the Lord and I am Sir Elwin! Either call Father by his name, or address me by my title as well. I'm telling you to unify it! Understood!!”

“...”

I knew why the vassals called me Elwin instead of Young Lord.

It meant they didn't acknowledge me as the Young Lord.

Because they were all on Brilda's side.

“What are you doing!! Sir Wilson, address me again!!”

“...”

Wilson's eyes wavered.

Then they turned to the right.

From that direction, he must have looked at Brilda.

A moment later, Wilson opened his mouth.

“My apologies, Young Lord. I will unify the address from now on.”

Step. Step.

I returned to the center of the conference room again.

“Mother, Guard Captain is not my role. Therefore, please help me do other work.”

“Other work? What might that be?”

I couldn't say farming.

If I said I would farm on Monster Island, everyone would think I was crazy.

“I want to build a blacksmith workshop and produce weapons.”

So the method I came up with was the blacksmith workshop.

Once I received support in manpower and funds,

somehow, a way to farm would emerge.

After succeeding in farming, no one would be able to say anything.

However, I hit a snag right from the start.

“It cannot be done.”

“Mother!”

“We lack the capacity for additional support. Currently, the territory is struggling even to maintain the status quo. You know this too, don't you? Why we are struggling.”

This time, it was hard to refute.

Because as she said, the Frontier territory was poor.

Land contaminated by Magi.

Monster Island.

Farming cannot be done on Monster Island.

Therefore, imports must come from the continent.

The sea is full of marine monsters, so merchant ships cannot pass.

The only route is the Vampiars Bridge connecting Monster Island and the continent.

“Is it because of Viscount Kallas?”

“That's right.”

Vampiars Bridge.

The bridge extending from the Vampiars Duchy connects to the continent.

That place is the Kallas Viscounty.

To trade with the continent, one must absolutely pass through the Kallas Viscounty,

and the Viscount uses this to charge very high passage tolls.

When exporting the main source of income, monster byproducts,

a high toll is paid.

When importing essential consumer goods like food,

another high toll had to be paid.

Because of this, the Frontier territory is poor.

If the price of monster byproducts from the island hadn't been high,

they wouldn't have been able to endure even this much.

“If you understand the situation, then do as I say and become the Guard Captain...”

“I refuse. If you have nothing further to say, I will take my leave.”

Step. Step.

As I left the conference room,not a single person opened their mouth.

.

.

I returned to my room.

Strength instantly left me, and I slumped into a chair.

“Ha...”

My hands trembled.

My heart beat rapidly.

My breathing was rough.

But my heart felt relieved.

Something that had been weighing down my chest crumbled away.

“Relieved is relieved, but...”

In today's meeting,I didn't get what I wanted.

With only the Land Recovery skill, I cannot farm.

I need land, and I need people.

I also need seeds to plant in the ground.

“The places I can ask for help are...”

I cannot use Frontier's capital.

Because Brilda firmly holds the reins of internal politics.

She would never permit it.

Removing Brilda from the equation,other options emerged.

One was Alencia.

And the other one was…

Knock. Knock.

“What is it?”

“A visitor has arrived.”

“A visitor?”

“It is Lady Alencia Vampiars.”

The moment I heard the name, my chest tingled.

I hurried to the mirror.

I straightened my disheveled clothes.

***

Thump. Thump.

Her heart beat rapidly.

“My lady, please calm down.”

“Calm down? I am already calm.”

Even while saying that, she paid attention to her expression.

‘To make me come all the way here.’

She had been absorbed in the ducal succession competition with her eldest sister, Benia, as usual.

Then, news flew in from the west.

The death of Elwin Frontier.

Her mind went blank.

Setting aside all matters, she departed for the Frontier Viscounty.

In the meantime, new information arrived.

The resurrection of Elwin Frontier.

Only then did her heart calm down.

Her head started working again.

And she remembered an appointment.

She was supposed to be meeting Klan Kent around now.

Since she broke off the engagement with Elwin, she needed a new partner.

For this, she needed to build rapport with the Kent family.

‘What have I done… Still, since I came all this way…’

There was no other reason.

Since she had come this far, she simply visited the Frontier family.

Even though she broke the engagement with Elwin, her relationship with them was still important.

“Why isn't he here yet?”

“My lady, it hasn't even been a minute since the maid left.”

“Has it only been that long?”

Why did the time waiting for Elwin pass so slowly?

‘I should have turned back midway.’

The reception room door opened,and Elwin's figure appeared.

All thoughts from just moments before vanished.

She felt relieved at his healthy appearance.

It seemed she could focus on work again when she returned.

Now that she had confirmed Elwin's face.