Chapter 378: The Ant Lion’s Pit
"Sir Einbeck, did you come all the way out here just to greet me?"
"I have been staying here to inspect public order in Rosenheim."
It seemed they were all handling their duties just fine even without me around. Then again, most of them were positive by nature and diligent to a fault, so the only ones likely to slack off were Bodo and Ted.
As the military officer of House Streit, August was in charge of the domain’s army and public order, so he had come to Rosenheim to review the overall situation. And that was how he ended up greeting me here.
We exchanged pleasantries.
"I heard your wife is expecting as well. No more worries about an heir, then."
"Thank you, my lord. So many wives have unexpectedly become pregnant that Feuzen is being called the holy land of heirs. If a son is born, it will be nothing short of perfect."
The holy land of heirs. I was at a loss for words.
Surely a 20% increase in population hadn’t doubled the number of pregnant women? Thanks to its reputation as the holy land of heirs, the number of visitors had reportedly surged. Apparently, revenue from tolls and lodging fees had shot up considerably.
Well, that’s an income stream I never saw coming.
I suppose that’s how desperately people want heirs.
"By the way, my lord, your armor looks rather damaged."
"It’s taken quite a beating. This is what it looks like after repairs, believe it or not."
"Just how fierce were the battles, for your armor to end up in this state..."
I had entrusted the repairs to a famous craftsman in Radensdorf, but even he couldn’t fully restore the armor. He even recommended that I would be better off commissioning a new set altogether.
I had considered using the equipment repair kit I got from the map, but I decided to save it for a situation where my armor or weapons might be destroyed on the battlefield. That was insurance for a true emergency.
"That’s how I was able to become a prince."
"...I see."
I grinned and patted the worried August on the shoulder. There had been plenty of moments dangerous enough to make Hilda faint if she ever found out, but I had overcome them all, and that was why I stood here in glory today.
Of course, the System’s help had been absolutely essential.
There were still plenty of nobles who believed I had risen through the grand duke’s favor alone. Pathetic people do pathetic things, so I didn’t pay them any mind anymore. August tried to escort me to the castle, but I declined.
"Show me around next time. I have a wife waiting for me in Feuzen, and I need to see her first."
"Ah, forgive me, Baron. I failed to consider your feelings."
"More importantly, Sir Einbeck, there’s something I need you to do first."
Perhaps thinking this was his lord’s first command in a long while, August answered briskly that I had only to give the order. Still a dependable military officer. It was because he protected Feuzen that I could rest easy.
"First, root out the loan sharks. I hear usury is running rampant in Rosenheim, with the estate managers quietly turning a blind eye. Now that the Medici Bank has decided to return, we can’t leave it alone."
For reference, usury is illegal in the Duchy of Beren. The Church condemns it so fiercely that it is treated on par with worshipping Satan.
Any loan shark who gets caught is excommunicated on the spot.
And how terrifying is excommunication? It’s a brand that makes you despised by every Christian alive. There was a time when popes handed out excommunications left and right to bring emperors to heel, though these days the meaning has faded quite a bit.
That is how legitimate banking like the Medici Bank came into being, and with the approval of the papacy in Rome, the bank set up branches in every city and gained recognition as an official financial institution. But usury persisted all the same.
Far from being stamped out by the arrival of banks, it thrived in the shadows, and that was the headache.
It was an ant lion’s pit, endlessly luring in people desperate for money.
"I will round them up at once."
"Sorry to dump work on you the moment I return, but it needs to be done. I’m counting on you."
"Not at all, my lord. It is an honor to punish those wicked sinners with my own hands."
August mobilized his soldiers immediately.
Finding loan sharks is not a difficult task.
Satisfied at the sight of the soldiers moving in perfect order, I left everything in his hands and headed for Feuzen. Rosenheim was about to get noisy, but wouldn’t the people who had suffered under the loan sharks be cheering?
Usury and criminal organizations always go hand in hand. I hoped this opportunity would also let us pull out the criminal organizations leeching off Rosenheim by the roots. August despised that sort of thing, so he was sure to deliver good results.
"Almost there."
On the way to Feuzen, I took in the evening glow. And beneath the red sky, Feuzen slowly came into view. Then I called a brief halt to the march. There was a reason for it, of course.
The company members all swarmed in and stripped off my armor.
Viola, who was tidying up the armor, asked curiously.
"Master, why are you suddenly taking your armor off?"
"I can’t very well hug Hilda while wearing armor, can I?"
"Ah! I see! I can feel the love in your thoughtfulness, Master!"
Viola got all excited, saying it would be such a romantic reunion. As for the company members, they whispered among themselves that I was one devoted husband, taking off my armor for a reason like that.
I can hear every word, you rascals.
Ted, whom I had sent ahead, came galloping back in high spirits.
"Master! The lady of the house has come out! Madam is waiting for you!"
"Goodness, I can’t keep my wife waiting long in this cold. Hyah!"
Mont Blanc seemed to sense my feelings too, breaking into a powerful run. My men charged after me in turn. After I had ridden a while longer, the people who had come out to greet us appeared in the distance.
And there stood Hilda.
My angel, my goddess, my Valkyrie.
I slowed down and dismounted from Mont Blanc. The closer I drew to her, the harder my heart began to pound. Our gazes met tenderly. And without a word, I pulled Hilda into my arms.
She was as beautiful as ever, the one precious person in this world who kept me grounded, one of my reasons for living. Hilda cupped my cheeks with both hands. There was warmth in her gentle touch.
"You’ve gotten so thin, Wolf."
"Not being able to see you took its toll."
"Same for me. Every night I looked at the empty space beside me and missed you."
"Then I guess we won’t need to miss each other anymore."
No more words were needed. There was only her scent and her warmth, drunk in to my heart’s content. Amid the cheers of those who had come out to greet us, I returned home just like that. I had returned to her side.
Home really is the best.
So good. Insanely good.
It doesn’t get any better than this.
For someone like me, a stranger in another world, perhaps home itself had been a kind of romance. And my wife’s side is the finest home I could ask for. Living up to my reputation as a devoted husband, I refused to leave Hilda’s side.
Viktor and Fiel were considerate enough to give me space.
Their way of saying I should spend time with my wife first.
So we held a small banquet, modest but just for us.
"We worked hard to prepare this for you, Master, after everything you’ve been through!"
"Did you now? I’m very much looking forward to it."
Sabine, the first handmaid of our house, had grown from an adorable child into someone seasoned enough to command the kitchen in place of the pregnant Priscilla.
Daniel had shot up quite a bit while I was away too.
He’s fourteen now, so he’ll be an adult in two years.
"Then will you be staying in Rosenheim from now on?"
"That’s right. The Baron asked me to teach you all."
Daniel was overjoyed that Göring, whom he respected, had settled in Rosenheim. Göring was like a grandfather to him, a wise elder whose age and experience made up for what our house lacked.