Chapter 81

It was a question that slipped out because of the lingering unease that felt like a knot in her heart.

“Kids grow up and go through puberty and things like that.”

“…I suppose so?”

“I heard it from my sister, but she said adjusting the balance is important.”

“Adjusting the balance?”

“Yes. From a parent’s perspective, a feeling that weighs no more than a dandelion seed can feel as heavy as a drum to a child. Haha, maybe that’s a bit exaggerated.”

“…”

“You can’t misjudge the weight. If it keeps piling up, it goes pop and bursts. They call it emotional overload.”

“…That’s it.”

“Pardon?”

The mage who had been walking ahead turned back to look at Reina.

Reina lowered the hand that had been holding her cheek, her mouth opening and closing before she stammered out.

“T-That, that’s it!”

“What?!”

“We were so focused on researching something new that we didn’t consider the most basic problem!”

Reina couldn’t hide her excitement.

“It’s just a hypothesis, but may I say it?”

* * *

One month later, they succeeded in fully stabilizing the magic stone powder.

The reason the machines had kept exploding was magic power overload.

By its nature, the magic tool used magic stones in many of its components.

As the stones rotated, friction occurred due to speed, and as acceleration increased, the magic power inside collided.

Up until now, calculations had simply added magic power together, but as acceleration increased, the amount of magic power grew relative to the flow speed.

In other words, the actual amount of magic power flowing through the circuit was greater than what mages or magicians calculated.

Leaning back against the sofa, Damian read the final report with admiration.

“You really pulled it off.”

“Indeed.”

“We won’t need the merchant guild I prepared.”

In truth, Damian hadn’t expected Reina to succeed, so he had prepared a backup guild just in case.

Peter spoke with a moved expression.

“The next page is even better. Did you know this? The magic stone powder produced that way didn’t have uniform quality. Reina Botn figured out the reason for that too in a very short time.”

“It says in the report that it was done together with the mages.”

“Even with their help, isn’t it an incredible achievement?”

“That’s true.”

“Using the principle of insulation to create a protective barrier. Going simpler turned out to be the right answer.”

“People tend to assume what they don’t understand must be complicated. Since Reina Botn’s formal education was limited, she could approach it differently.”

“If she had even a little magic power, the mage tower would’ve tried to snatch her up.”

“Such a waste of talent.”

“U-Um.”

Between the two men basking in pride, a thin, trembling voice was heard.

“Is there a reason you’re having this conversation right in front of me?”

“It’s pure admiration.”

“Pure praise.”

“…”

Reina clenched her lips and trembled, her entire face burning red.

“So, shall we talk about how to handle the contract now? There are several options. An exclusive contract with the Winternight duchy, or selling the machines themselves.”

Reina rubbed her overheated face lightly with the back of her cold hand and spoke.

“Could we sell the technology instead?”

“The technology?”

“…Yes. If the duchy monopolizes it, there’ll be issues commercializing magic stone powder stably. If we sell machines, someone could buy one, dismantle it, and steal the technology.”

Her eyes darted uneasily as she continued.

“So instead, we take a small commission each time.”

“Hm.”

“If magic stone powder is distributed, there’ll be records. We can calculate by weight and add a fee.”

Damian listened quietly, then asked.

“Has Peter ever taught Reina Botn economics?”

“No.”

“Then confidence training?”

“That neither.”

Damian stared straight at Reina.

“…It’s a good idea.”

“Th-Thank you. And I have one more request.”

“What is it?”

“Could the Winternight duchy handle the entire contract process?”

“You want to borrow the duchy’s name.”

“…Yes.”

Reina nodded slowly.

Her hands, neatly folded on her lap, fidgeted slightly.

“In return, I’ll give part of the profits to the Winternight duchy, and I want the name listed not just as an investor, but as a partner.”

“So the imperial family won’t have room to interfere?”

At Damian’s question, Reina hesitated, then nodded.

She didn’t want to be entangled with the imperial family, or any noble house at all. It would be better to be recognized firmly as part of Winternight by the time things reached the capital.

Standing half in and half out would only lead to being battered from all sides.

Whatever Reina was thinking, Damian observed her closely.

Over the past few months, she had been changing little by little.

Her timid nature hadn’t fundamentally changed, but at times she spoke or acted like a different person.

Strangely enough, those sudden shifts felt familiar.

‘How odd.’

But he had no intention of telling anyone that.

If he told Peter, he’d recoil in disgust. If he told Reina, she’d surely fixate too much on the word sudden.

“To produce perfect results by the time spring begins. Reina Botn, you advanced the empire’s history by several years in just a few months.”

The string of praise made Reina’s face grow hot.

“It’s all thanks to your help, My lord.”

Damian kept praising her, but in truth, his help had been immense.

If he hadn’t found the materials for her, organized them clearly, hired skilled mages and magicians, and occasionally watched over Bonita.

The help piled up endlessly. She owed him far too much.

Even though she said she wanted a title for legitimate reasons, it felt like she had used a shortcut.

Ignoring Reina’s complicated expression, Damian spoke.

“Reina Botn, you shouldn’t call me My lord anymore.”

“Then what should I call you?”

“Once you receive a proper title, you won’t be just a maid. You’ll become one of my vassals, and Estelle’s governess.”

“…”

“Then isn’t there only one proper way to address me?”

The corner of Damian’s lips lifted slightly.

* * *

With the approval of all vassals, before everyone’s eyes.

Amid applause and congratulations, admiration and blessings.

Reina stepped forward alone, wearing a dress made of fine fabric she had never worn before.

Damian, dressed in splendid ceremonial uniform, watched her approach and bow, then drew his sword.

Reina knelt, watching as Damian drew the blade.

[No matter how pitifully the maid begged for her life, the duke’s expression did not change at all.
The sword he held pierced her without mercy.]

In the original story, the reason Damian drew his sword before Reina was to kill her.

But now, everything was different.

Damian lifted the sword and placed it on Reina’s shoulder.

“Reina Botn. In recognition of your achievements, I grant you the Lian Barony in the northeast. From this day forth, you are my loyal vassal, Reina Botn, Baron of Lian.”

She was no longer afraid of the sword Damian held toward her.

When Damian finished the appointment, Reina smiled and replied.

“It’s an honor, Your Grace.”

The moment to step onto the stage had arrived.

* * *

“What kind of place is the Lian Barony?”

Reina asked Peter for information about her new territory.

Peter brought territorial reports, maps, and administrator resumes.

As he stacked them neatly into a large attache case that was too heavy for one person, he asked.

“You’ll have a proxy managing it anyway. Didn’t His Grace tell you?”

“He did, but I thought it’d be good to know. I’ll visit someday.”

Originally, Reina was going to head to the capital with Damian. So for at least a year, she wouldn’t visit the barony herself.

Damian hadn’t truly expected her to manage the territory either.

He had simply given her property in name to secure her position, and planned to entrust the territory to capable people.

“It’s neither particularly good nor bad.”

Reina glanced through the case and tilted her head at the vague description.

Seeing her reaction, Peter lifted the corner of his lips and continued.

“Other vassals doubted Reina Botn’s results. They wondered if His Grace had done everything and simply added your name.”

“…The results did come out unbelievably fast.”

“That’s true. Even pouring in people, money, and time without restraint, it was unprecedented. His Grace himself had been thinking about more efficient uses of magic stones. That would greatly improve the lives of the people in the territory.”

As he spoke, Peter slipped in complaints about the vassals. From his words, they all sounded less like loyal vassals and more like Damian’s enemies.

The reason Damian didn’t deal with them all at once was the balance of power.

Understanding that much, Reina said nothing and listened quietly.

After grumbling for a while, Peter regained his composure and cleared his throat.

“…You listen so well, Reina Botn, that sometimes I end up saying completely unnecessary things.”

“S-Sorry?”

“I’m not asking you to apologize. I still haven’t fixed that habit.”

Peter almost sighed, then stopped when he noticed Reina watching him carefully.

If he sighed, she’d surely think it was her fault and grow even more self conscious.