Winter in Kikunoi is harsh and snowy.
Because of this, animals are kept in greenhouse-like shelters that use geothermal heat, and crops are stored in snow-covered cellars to ripen and keep. Naturally, the estate is built around that same system: the chicken coop is fairly warm, and the napa cabbages that Genzo and I hauled in are kept in the snow cellar until it’s time for hot pot.
Last year, I handled all this alone. But this year, whether they're actually helpful or not, I've got Regulus, Kanade, and the trio of elves pitching in. It’s definitely more lively.
On nights when the moon is at least half full, I spend about an hour speaking with Hyorin-sama. Like a bedtime story from Arabian Nights, I’ve been telling him fairy tales—Cinderella, Snow White, and so on—and he seems to enjoy them quite a bit.
The one-hour limit came about after I caught a cold from staying up too late, and now Hyorin-sama discreetly leaves around that time.
As for the rosette I'm making for Regulus’s birthday gift, it's coming along nicely and should be done before New Year's.
Then, one day, a letter arrived from the imperial capital.
It was from my father, commanding me to return to the capital to attend a New Year’s party.
Utsunomiya-san made a truly sour face reading the letter.
“...I know I probably shouldn’t say this, but how can the master always be so spectacularly off-base when it comes to Regulus-sama?”
“Yeah… what is it with him?”
“Doesn’t he realize it’s dangerous to have just me and Regulus-sama take a ten-day carriage trip to the capital?”
“Well, maybe he assumes someone here will arrange for guards…”
“You mean the lady of the house will handle it?”
“Ugh…”
Yeah, no way. That woman would be more likely to say, “Why don’t you come here instead?” and leave it at that.
For the record, my father’s plans to attract industry or appoint a competent local magistrate still haven’t made any progress. In other words, he’s not coming here anytime soon.
But to think of sending a small child on a long trip by carriage…
This called for backup—someone who could crush Father with logic so thoroughly he couldn’t even squeak.
So during our next lesson, I showed the letter to Romanov-sensei. His elegant brows immediately shot up.
“I have business in the capital tomorrow. I’ll take care of delivering a refusal to your father personally.” (Romanov)
“Could I ask you to?” (Ageha)
“Of course. I don't want to speak too harshly of the man, since he’s also your father, but from the look of this, he seems determined to put Regulus-kun in danger. He clearly doesn't grasp the situation.” (Romanov)
Honestly, I doubt that man even thinks of himself as my father. More like I’m just some pawn—an inconvenient hostage used to settle a ridiculous debt. I bet Mother feels the same. Probably even worse. She likely sees me as some monstrous product of her suffering—an unholy thing she wishes didn’t exist.
But then again, I hardly know either of them. And they don’t know me either.
I was just a tantrum-throwing kid, and now all of a sudden I’m this eerily competent little schemer.
Still, the exorcism was performed after I recovered, and the traveling priest who did it declared, “Ain’t no demons here,” and even gave me a certificate. So I’m off the hook there.
(Side note: that almost rhymed. I should start rapping. Hey, ho!)--Ageha
Anyway, the state of Kikunoi itself is fairly stable, but the surrounding areas—not so much.
Romanov-sensei began the lecture:
“Compared to the start of the year, Kikunoi’s economy is on the rise. This is largely thanks to adventurers spending more money here, which in turn has helped circulate funds throughout the region.”
“Ah, right. At the inns and restaurants that use my recipes, I require them to use local produce, grains, and livestock.”
Keeping everything local means less risk of outside economic control and strengthens the local economy. The goal is to eventually relax that rule, but for now I want to maintain a high rate of food self-sufficiency.
Starting with win-win solutions for the locals was intentional—but eventually, we’ll have to expand beyond that.
The lands surrounding Kikunoi include the Emperor’s direct holdings, a certain duke’s domain, and a baron’s fiefdom.
The imperial territory produces high-quality silk and cotton and cultivates safflower. No issues there.
The duke’s family has long been skilled at land management and is even preparing a potential future empress candidate. Also no problems there.
But the baronial fief…
“That region is being hit hard by Kikunoi’s growing prosperity…”
“Weren’t they investing in entertainment districts for adventurers?”
Until recently, the money adventurers earned in Kikunoi was being spent in the neighboring barony’s red-light district.
Because, frankly, Kikunoi used to be lame—high taxes, no specialties, and just plain dull.
But now, taxes are lower, the local inns and eateries serve tasty, unique dishes perfect for souvenirs and stories, and even though our entertainment options are modest, they're improving.
The improvements in the entertainment district were thanks to VIKTOR. I told him (via the princess) about cabarets and clubs from my previous life—well, not the seedy kind, but the musical-theater-style ones. He then whispered the idea to Roland, the guildmaster.
Think small theater venues with cute girls singing and dancing, offering light snacks and drinks—not physical contact or anything inappropriate. Like local idols or indie acts.
Apparently, there are even cabarets for female adventurers with handsome male performers—maybe more like a host club?
Anyway, I digress.
The dungeon isn’t moving anytime soon. The dungeon is destined to remain. So why should adventurers cross mountains to go party somewhere else?
“It hasn’t caused a major shock yet, but the number of adventurers visiting Kikunoi is increasing, while fewer are going to the barony. Bandit sightings on the road to the baron’s lands are also up. For now, the guildmaster has contracted trustworthy adventurers to patrol the area, while local militia and guards are also managing security. However, the effects are bound to spread eventually.
“So a rise in crime is inevitable…”
“We also try to walk the streets when we can, which helps serve as a deterrent.”
“I truly appreciate it. This should really be the lord’s responsibility, though.”
Letting it be known that the Lord is watching—really watching—serves as crime prevention. That kind of oversight should come from the Lord. At the very least, my parents should be asking for support from people like Romanov-sensei, VIKTOR, and Lara.
Apparently, female lords are more common here than in other countries, but sexism still exists, and women are usually raised to marry into lordship rather than take it up themselves. So maybe I can’t really blame my mother for not caring about the fief.
But as for my father… yeah, don’t even get me started.
Wait a second—
“Um… I just thought of something.”
“Yes?”
“Maybe the reason my parents never educated me on managing a fief is because they didn’t have that knowledge themselves?”
“Which is exactly why people like me, private tutors, are in such demand.”
Whoa. Romanov-sensei’s smile just turned pitch black.
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