Baron Foman furrowed his brow.
Silvia had said that “Leo is completely obsessed with finding one person,” and judging by that expression, it didn’t seem like an exaggeration.
“Just who is this person that makes you act like this?”
Baron Foman asked slowly.
“Does the Grand Duke know about it too? Have you tried asking His Grace for help?”
“…No.”
Leopold let out a low sigh. It was obvious he didn’t want to talk about it. It seemed he hadn’t told Silvia either.
Baron Foman quietly looked at Leopold. Then he set his fork down completely and spoke.
“That young lady from the Sayers family… in a situation of isolation, she managed to greatly increase productivity in that small territory. But that isn’t something you can do with ordinary knowledge. She must have tremendous knowledge about food.”
Leopold crossed his arms.
“I didn’t know she was interested in eating.”
“Not eating.”
Baron Foman corrected him at once.
“She’s interested in making a living.”
“Either way, I never imagined Brisa would care about things like that. I never thought I’d be getting advice from her about wheat, either.”
“Did no one at the Academy know?”
“No one knew. It’s not even a formal subject…”
Indeed.
Baron Foman nodded slowly.
Agriculture, livestock, and fishing were considered the work of commoners. At best, medicine, law, accounting, and magic were recognized as fields for the children of untitled nobles.
So-called high nobles studied history, art, and philosophy.
“So you really don’t know that girl well. I’d like to hear what you know about her, Leo.”
Baron Foman raised his eyebrows as he made a proposal.
“In exchange, you should give me information too. Why are you searching for that person called ‘El’?”
Leopold lowered his gaze and fell silent.
Baron Foman noticed how fiercely he was struggling internally.
‘So he really wants to hear about that girl.’
It was the first time he had ever seen his grandson like this.
Conflict, worry, and concern were words far removed from him.
After all, wasn’t he the heir of a grand ducal house who could obtain anything he wanted?
Leisure, composure, and a proud aloofness that made neither enemies nor friends suited him well.
Even so, Leopold had inherited the blood of an extraordinary family.
That was why there were many things Baron Foman did not know about him—especially matters related to the House of Nogen, which were almost completely unknown to him.
“It concerns the curse of the House of Nogen.”
Leopold spoke slowly.
Baron Foman saw pain on his grandson’s face.
Was it because he had no parents? Or because he bore such enormous responsibility? His grandson had grown up far too quickly. It was hard to believe he was the same age as the childish Silvia.
Baron Foman himself did not know much about the curse of the House of Nogen.
He only suspected that it had played a part in the deaths of his daughter and son-in-law. Since it was kept strictly secret, the outside world knew nothing.
“It seems that the person called El may have a clue to resolving that curse.”
“Is that true?”
“That’s why I ask you not to tell Grandfather about it. It’s still such a small clue and not even certain. I’m afraid you might hold on to false hope.”
“…Very well.”
Baron Foman nodded slowly.
If that was the case, it made sense that Leopold was secretly searching for this ‘El.’
“As for Brisa Sayers, that young lady…”
As promised, Baron Foman gave Leopold information.
“She is a scholar.”
“Pardon?”
“Because of the circumstances, she is wearing the mask of a territorial administrator right now, but at her core, she is a scholar who studies how people survive.”
She does not farm with her own hands, but she applies her knowledge of agriculture.
She does not raise livestock herself, but she thinks about how it should be done.
She does not cook with her own hands, but she considers the nutritional balance of ingredients.
At the top of all those efforts was vast knowledge.
That was Brisa’s greatest strength.
“A scholar… of survival.”
“As times grew more abundant, many nobles dismissed making a living as something beneath them. But in my view, that too is a form of learning. I only realized that through her this time.”
Baron Foman crossed his arms and declared firmly,
“I am very curious to see how that girl will act in these difficult times.”
Then Leopold muttered with a sigh,
“She is no longer the heir of Sayers. If that half-brother of hers is truly a bad person, then instead of thriving…”
“That could happen.”
Little was known yet about Alphius Sayers. Therefore, no one could say how he would treat Brisa.
Baron Foman continued carefully,
“Then I think it wouldn’t be bad for her to spread her wings in the West.”
Leopold frowned.
Baron Foman shrugged.
“This has nothing to do with my grandson. It’s true that His Grace sent me to the Central Region because of your strange behavior, but this is a completely separate matter.”
“…”
“The West is the granary of the Empire, and I believe she can fulfill her ambitions here better than in the Central Region.”
After a brief pause, he sighed and continued with a sensitive topic.
“If the new Marquis of Sayers is cruel, then all the more reason it would be a waste for her to wither away there. I intend to report exactly that to His Grace.”
That was Baron Foman’s sincere thought.
She was a young lady who had managed to sustain even a small territory by a river. If her half-brother were to feel even a hint of rivalry toward her…
‘He would clip her wings at once.’
Even full siblings easily turned blades on each other in front of power. That was how precarious her position had become.
“I’m not saying we should recklessly interfere in another family’s affairs.”
Of course, it was not something to move on lightly.
There was no connection at all between Brisa and the Grand Duchy of Nogen. It could be seen as meddling and cause trouble.
Even so, Baron Foman’s thoughts were firm.
“The vast knowledge and ability to execute that child possesses…”
He narrowed his eyes and murmured,
“I’m already curious what kind of effect it would have if those met the wide lands of the West. That is my assessment of her.”
After another brief pause, he continued,
“And now, as for the answer to your first question.”
Leopold’s first question had been, “What is the fastest way to see Brisa?”
“For the reasons I mentioned earlier, I plan to bring her to the West first.”
“…Are you planning to kidnap her?”
Leopold raised an eyebrow.
“The new Marquis of Sayers might be a good person, you know.”
“That may be true. So I won’t kidnap her. I simply formally invited her to dinner.”
Baron Foman leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed.
“When the warp gate becomes active, wouldn’t it be fine to share one meal together?”
There was nothing strange about that. Everyone had heard him invite her to visit the Baron Foman estate.
“Leo, will you come too?”
“No.”
Leopold refused sharply.
“Absolutely not.”
“That was a very quick refusal. But if that’s so, Leo—”
Baron Foman narrowed his eyes and asked teasingly,
“Then why did you send flowers? And anonymously, at that.”
“Grandfather.”
Leopold answered seriously,
“This is exactly why I’m not going.”
“Hm.”
“And if Silvia finds out about it, I’ll inform you in advance that I will never show my face to you again.”
“Why? If she knew, she would help you in every way.”
“She has a loose tongue.”
Leopold ground his teeth.
“Just like my grandfather.”
“Hahaha.”
“I will absolutely, absolutely never meet her in the West. Especially not in front of family.”
“You shouldn’t say ‘absolutely.’”
Baron Foman clicked his tongue.
“Life reacts amazingly well to words like that—and it always ends up hitting you in the back of the head.”
