After breakfast, Reese was in front of her bronze mirror bench in her room, forcing Eira to tie her hair up.

The hairstyle Leese is now making is what is commonly called a cygnon.

Also known as the dough head.

According to a story I heard from Ichigo at the breakfast table earlier, he will be working on installing a water wheel in the barn area until this evening.

Traveling is about walking without using a lata, so not only are you changing your lightweight outfit, but your hair is also easy to move.

"Hey, just now, what do you think Eira is?

Until then, Leese, who was silently tied to Eira's hair, accidentally shifted her gaze from her figure in the mirror to Eira and spoke.

"Uh... are you talking about me serving as Kazura's squire?

"Yeah, that. There were other samurai attached to Master Kazura, so why do you think Eira was nominated?

"Why..."

Without stopping the hands that tie her hair, Eira roars "hmm" as she thinks.

"Is it because of the relatively long experience of my samurai and because my age is close to that of Master Kazura? From what I've seen, Master Kazura looks like he's in his mid-twenties, so maybe that's why."

"... hmm"

That's not true, Leese said.

"Or"

I've covered my words with it.

"Doesn't Master Zirconia intend to make sure that Master Leese is interested in Master Kazura? It also seems to me that I was addressed to Kazura's squire to make contact with the two of you. Considering that you are inviting Master Kazura to dinner seats that you have only ever had with your family, I'm pretty sure that's what you think."

"Yeah, that's what I thought too"

Reese nods in agreement with Eira's opinion, which is the same as her own.

"A few days ago, my mother went out of her way to come to my room and talk about Master Kazra, and I'm pretty sure she's trying to interest me. But there's one thing I don't know."

"Something you don't understand?

When Eira listened back, Reese looked at him with a slightly inclined neck with a surprised look.

"Your mother won't tell you where Kazura is a nobleman. Don't you think it's something else to hide?

"... Indeed"

When Reese heard about Ichigo from Zirconia, he said Ichigo was from a great nobility in a certain country.

But Zirconia wouldn't answer Leese's question as to which country he was a nobleman.

Normally, I don't see the need to hide such information from Reese, and I don't know what that means if I'm trying to interest Reese.

"Maybe he was a nobleman in Barbell"

"What, that's just not..."

"But the great aristocrats of nearby countries can only think about the northern Barbell? There shouldn't be that many distinguished aristocrats in the eastern Clayrats, and Protia isn't so close to Arcadia on the other side of Clayrats."

In Clayratz, our eastern neighbour, there is no great nobility with great power.

The reason for this lies in the political form of direct democracy, which Kreilatz has long taken.

Direct democracy is a political method whereby every citizen can participate directly in politics.

In Kreilatz, all citizens over the age of eighteen are given the right to participate in politics and to vote on projects put to Parliament.

All those who hold all key positions, such as promoters of national politics and diplomats in ordinary times, are elected by lot, and their term of office is limited to one year.

As a result, it does not happen that rights are concentrated on a particular person.

There are remnants of the past where political operations were conducted in the centre of nobility and some nobility, but the position in Kreilatz is not significantly different from that of the civilian population.

The point is, Kreilatz is a country where the general public is at its heart.

Of course there is a difference between the rich and the poor, but the rich and the poor are equal in rights, most of them ordinary citizens.

In addition to the capital, there are several cities in Kreilatz, forming a group of urban states in which they are strongly allied.

Therefore, it is sometimes referred to as the 'Clayrats City Alliance'.

The country of Protia, which exists east of Clayratz, is a royal government, and there are powerful nobles, but until recent years Arcadia and exchanges between the states were not very flourishing.

In the war up to four years ago, exchanges between nations finally flourished as a result of an alliance forged by the intermediary of Clayrats to counter Barbell.

Until then, the transactions themselves were flourishing by land and sea, so the relations between the countries are good.

Incidentally, the relationship between Clayratz and Protia is currently very good.

Until four years ago, when the war broke out, maritime rights issues and so on sometimes became dangerous, but we held hands with each other because of the formation of a common enemy called Barbell.

Most importantly, we do not know what will happen after the war with Barbell has calmed down, as the relationship is temporarily improving due to the convergence of interests in countering the common enemy.

In addition, to the further east of Protia exists a kingdom called El Tire, and this country also joined the same alliance as Arcadia in the last war.

The size of the country is similar to that of a protier.

Arcadia's relationship with Ertile is even thinner than that with Protia due to distance problems.

Transactions are mainly made by sea, as they cross the border three times over too many distances by road.

"But if the great Barbell hater Zirconia only invites the Barbell aristocrats to his mansion, I still don't think he's going to let them live in the mansion or sit in your family's dining room."

"But that's only about Protia... speaking of which, why does your mother hate Barbell so much? I know it's natural to hate you because you've suddenly invaded me with difficulty, but there's something awesome about it..."

For those who live and work in this mansion, it is a well-known fact that Zirconia hates Barbell furiously.

It is a famous story that Zirconia was arguing with Nalson in a rather intense tone when it was decided in discussions between states four years ago that truce agreements would be reached.

Rumor has it that Zirconia insisted strongly that it should attack Balberg in tandem with the movements of the Barbarians of the North, without entering into truce agreements or anything else.

It seems Zirconia did not change its claim by describing the current situation in Arcadia or in other countries, and even called back about Narson.

At that time, he cursed Barbell rather filthy, saying that all Barbell humans should be killed, but not so sure as to be true or false.

Zirconia was also in a bad mood a few days after the signing of the truce agreement, and certainly couldn't even talk to Narson or Reese.

Apparently after a few days, her head finally got cold, and Zirconia apologized to Narson and Reese and has been back to her usual warm ever since.

Instead, the more my personality felt rounded up than before, the softer I became in contact with my surroundings.

However, apart from talking about military relations, it remains the case that we will not allow any compromise on training, etc.

But Leese dares to avoid that topic because Zirconia's eyesight suddenly turns into something horrible when it comes to the subject of past wars with Barbell.

"... I heard rumors about it"

Eira leans down and opens her mouth to Reese as she contemplates.

"A few months before the war against Barbell, he said some of the Istaire villages in the northern mountainous areas had been attacked by bandits. The villages that were attacked were either slaughtered or captured by all the inhabitants... the..."

Reese stares at Eira, who clogs her words so hard to say.

"Master Zirconia seems to be the survivor of the village that was attacked at that time. I don't know how it went, but then I volunteered for the Isterian army as a soldier, and Master Narson saw me and married you just before the war."

"... who told you that from?

"I happened to hear senior samurai talking rumors when Master Narson and Master Zirconia were married... it's just rumors, so I don't know if it's true"

……

Reese silenced on the story of Zirconia's past, which she hears for the first time, in such complicated ways.

If the rumor were true, the bandits who attacked the villages that were in the northern mountainous areas probably belonged to the hands of Barbell.

That would also convince me that Zirconia strongly hates Barbell and that it is sensitive to the subject of Barbell.

I'm not even sure why I was supposed to marry Narson, but I was somewhat predictable that it probably had something to do with Barbell.

"How come you haven't talked to me before?

"It's not like I dare talk about it... and it's just a rumor."

"Yes... right? Ella, my hand's stopped."

"Oh, I'm sorry"

Noticing Eira, whose hand stopped at some point, Reese returned her gaze to herself in the mirror.

When Reese was getting herself together, in one of the rooms of the Louson Mansion, Havel had a relative (I want to) with his father Knoll across the table.

Knoll's expression is rugged, while Havel is flat.

"Father, that is a misunderstanding. We don't imitate Marie from me."

"Then why did Marie get nominated? It's normal to assume that Marie took care of a nobleman named Kazura when she stayed at home in anticipation of you."

Nor asks Havel to question him, but he does not absurd his voice.

But there was a little anger hidden behind his eyes.

"Marie's arms are slightly inferior to those of other samurai skilled in cooking, so I just offered to take care of Kazura around me after letting her help with cooking. It sounds like Father's words are meant for you."

"... Hmm. Then why did you take Marie as a squire when you were away during this time? Nothing else would have been better."

"That was the day my father and brother came back from Gregorn territory, so I chose one of the servants who would have no problem pulling it out of their correspondence. Besides, my brother hates Marie, and Marie misses me. Given that, I thought it was natural flow to choose Marie for your squire"

"Much better mouth... well, let's get it over with"

Until then, he loosened his rugged expression and Norr exhaled gently.

It's pretty much certain in Knoll that Havel sold Marie in, but I'm impressed with Havel for giving a good reason.

"On a suggestion from here, Marie was temporarily to be loaned to the Istell family. When the man leaves Isteria, Marie is supposed to come back to the Rouson family again"

"… lend, is it"

"Uhm."

Hearing of the loan, Habel glanced slightly.

Earlier I heard from Knoll that Zirconia had immediately come to the Louson residence to offer Marie a subcontract, so I thought the ownership itself had been transferred to the Istell family.

"Havel, do you remember the promise we made before?

"Yes, of course."

"Then you know. Even if you're in no hurry, Marie will give you up if you get promoted to the right position in the military and start benefiting the Louson family. With funds for Marie to become a liberating slave."

"... Yes"

"If you know what I mean, stop being such a bad small-timer. Even you would be in trouble if you made my mind feel bad and my promise was rebellious?

When Knoll said that, Havel's gaze at Knoll just got a little sharper.

I'm concerned that I might be able to make this difficult for a story.

In contrast, Knoll laughs lightly and lets him wave.

"Don't look at me like that. I can't let you lose your word. Look, isn't it about time you went to work for the military?

……

Havel gratefully breaks his hips to Knoll and heads to the exit of the room.

It's Havel.

When Havel hung his hand on the handle of the door, Knoll stopped Havel.

"Something?

"It was a little too hard this time, but, well, it was a pretty good way. I'll correct what I said about being a lousy small-timer. Do better next time."

"... excuse me"

Havel left the room quietly next time he glanced clearly at Knoll's dialogue.