Chapter 179. A strong supporter (1)
Lloyd’s hand moved.
A seat next to the count across the street.
He pointed to his daughter, Lady Namaran.
The count’s white beard wriggled.
“My daughter? A good ruler?”
“Yes that’s right.”
“What does that mean?”
Following the beard, the eyebrows twitch.
The Count could hardly understand Lloyd’s words.
He is old and his health is greatly damaged, and he needs recuperation.
It was a situation where a ruler was needed to manage the city on his behalf.
Unfortunately, he had no son.
He has only one daughter, an only child.
So I thought about it for several days.
Who is the right person to hand over the governance of this city?
Wouldn’t it be better if I had to endure a little more?
Lloyd was the person the Count came up with after thinking about it.
In his opinion, Lloyd was a very good candidate both for practical reasons and for justification.
‘You’re young and capable. Not only is he clever and sincere, but he has also done great deeds for the city. Is that all? Since he is a talented person who has been generously received by the King, who can manage this city better than him?’
That was Count Namaran’s conclusion.
So it was.
suggested to Lloyd.
to marry his daughter.
Inherit this city and rule it.
And expected.
I thought Lloyd would accept the offer.
It was a natural expectation from the count’s point of view, or from a general point of view.
Isn’t it a great opportunity to rise to the rank of count at a young age and rule a large city?
but….
‘It’s not enough to refuse it, so my daughter is a timber that would be more suitable as a ruler?’
I had never thought of it that way.
A daughter is just a daughter.
I just hope that she will marry a young man from a good family and help her family in the future.
Although he was a count who cherished and loved his daughter, he had never even imagined that he would hand down the county to such a daughter.
It’s gold, it’s jade. My only daughter who was raised well.
A golden jade leaf that has never been in a bad situation.
It was because I couldn’t imagine seeing a daughter who looked like a flower in such a greenhouse rise to the Countess’s throne.
“Are you trying to make fun of this old man?”
Count Namaran’s eyes widened in deep wrinkles.
There was an uncomfortable feeling between the wrinkles.
Even though he was old and sick, he felt the same pressure as Lee, who had lived as a ruler all his life.
However, even in front of the count’s eyes and voice, Lloyd was not intimidated.
He didn’t even smile or shrug.
Rather, he received the count’s gaze with a more serious look.
“Count, this is my sincerity.”
“Sincerity?”
“yes.”
He nodded slightly.
He spoke slowly and clearly, keeping his eyes on the count and the young lady alternately.
“What can I gain by daring to make fun of the Count? I have no intention of doing that. I hope you understand my feelings.”
“Then what does that mean? My daughter is going to be the ruler of this city.”
“That was also my sincerity without the slightest exaggeration.”
“Sincerity?”
“yes.”
“On what basis?”
“Because I saw it myself. The dedication and sacrifice that the count’s daughter made without hesitation on the day the wall was erected with the curse of the black magicians.”
“Dedication and sacrifice…?”
“The old maid and servants in the mansion were exhausted while moving them to the shade.”
A faint smile crept across Lloyd’s lips.
Namaran young girl.
The more I thought about it, the more I smiled.
It was because of the stories she showed in the novel Iron Blooded Knight and here.
‘Maybe that’s why people are so consistent.’
In the novel and here.
In both places, Lady Namaran was wearing a pendant.
It was a birthday present she received from her father when she was a girl.
It wasn’t just a pendant.
It had a rare and expensive function that prevented various evil spells and curses even a little bit.
Thanks to this, she did not faint right away even when the Namaran barrier was erected.
I was able to move even if I had to crawl.
‘I crawled like that and grabbed the ankle of the warlock Cannavaro. He was killed while sabotaging Cannavaro while he was trying to summon a Hell Knight. Thanks to the few seconds he earned, Xaviel was able to stop the Hell Knight summoning.’
That was her end in the novel Iron Blooded Knight.
So what about here?
did not meet the end.
Instead, he did good deeds while barely moving with the power of the pendant.
He tried to take care of the old maid and servants of the mansion.
I moved them to the shade and massaged their limbs.
She continued to care and take care of her even in a difficult situation to the point where she fainted.
Then, finally, I passed out myself.
“I happened to see it while busily moving for first aid. I also heard The maids and servants of the mansion were praising it in unison. I saw it while I was losing consciousness. That the young lady was trying hard to protect them, who were nothing more than insignificant subordinates. I mean, I will never forget it for the rest of my life.”
Lloyd gave the young lady a hearty look.
Maybe he thinks that his good deeds have been exposed(?).
The young lady’s face was already completely red.
Lloyd’s smile grew even more hearty.
“That’s the kind of person the Count’s daughter is. He is always ready to sacrifice himself and shed his flesh for the sake of this city and its people.”
“But this child knows rule….”
“Yes I know. You will lack experience.”
The Count who wants to argue.
Lloyd spoke slowly to him.
“Of course, there will be a lot of mistakes in the beginning. You’ll have to go through trial and error. But would it be different for me? Even when the Count was young, it wouldn’t have been much different.”
“…Curm! Hum! Why are you suddenly using me as an example?”
“I wanted to tell you that it is natural that everyone is not used to it at first. Especially if you’re taking on the role of ruling the city and taking charge of the lives of many people. That’s why.”
Lloyd pointed at the young lady again.
“If anyone is going to be clumsy at first, wouldn’t it be better if someone who is ready to sincerely devote himself to the city takes over the governance?”
“Are you?”
“I am not a vessel for that. No you can’t.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I have a lot of greed. You might raise your taxes tenfold right away. It’s not my hometown anyway, and I’m not particularly attached to it. Well, to put it bluntly, it’s none of my business whether the citizens starve or not.”
“It’s obvious that he said it on purpose.”
“I just wanted to tell you that at least your daughter will never do that.”
“….”
“Besides, you are a local. Because this is my hometown You will know more about the situation here than an outsider like me.”
“….”
“How is it.”
After speaking, Lloyd smiled.
Count Namaran threw a meaningful glance at him.
“What is your reason for doing this?”
“yes?”
“You showed off your courage to be coveted by anyone. With my daughter on top, it was a commitment that even guaranteed legitimacy. But how can you be so calm while refusing it?”
“As I said before, I have a lot of greed.”
“what?”
Count Namaran frowned.
Lloyd said casually.
“To be honest, I am greedy for money, but I also have a lot of greed to play. That’s why. Every night, I secretly pray to the sky. I want our Count Prontera to live long and strong until he is over 100 years old.”
“…There seems to be a reason different from filial piety.”
“you’re right. I will be able to live comfortably only if he stays in good health for a long time.”
It was sincere.
Of course, he liked Count Frontera.
He was a respectable human being.
As much as that, I sincerely hoped that Count Frontera would live a long and healthy life.
The count’s son would have far fewer responsibilities than the count’s.
There will be enough to enjoy in abundance with less responsibility.
Because you can only suck honey that comfortably.
“I am that kind of guy. After going through a bit of physical and mental trouble, I think I must be tired now. I’d like to get some rest. I don’t want to take on too much responsibility and it’s burdensome. I just want to live a quiet life enjoying only the things that have been given to me.”
“Don’t you have grand ambitions or aspirations that you should be born as a man to have?”
“Wouldn’t ambition or aspirations feed you?”
Really.
just petty.
just plain.
no shortage.
I want to live comfortably in my own body.
Such an unemployed-style landlord’s life was Lloyd’s final future hope and wish.
“…Got it. If you go that far, I can’t force you to make an offer.”
“Thank you for understanding my meaning.”
“But I have no intention of blindly accepting your radical advice to nominate my daughter as your successor. I’ll consider it positively.”
“Fortunately, the. I was worried that I might have given presumptuous advice.”
“Hehe, look at this brazen guy.”
“I would appreciate it more if you praised me for my tips.”
“Tsk. It would be nice to have a friend like this in charge of my city.”
“Your daughter will do much better than me.”
“Where is the friend who was concerned that he had just given presumptuous advice?”
“Have you ever had such a friend?”
“Heh heh heh. Interesting. Strangely, I don’t hate it.”
“What am I good at? This is all thanks to the generosity of the elder, no, the Count.”
“Heh heh heh! Look at this dude!”
Count Gireco burst out laughing.
He looked at Lloyd with deeper eyes than before.
“…Got it. I will really consider your advice.”
“thank you.”
“No. Rather, I should be grateful. If it weren’t for you and Lord Asrahan, I and my daughter and everyone in our city would have been slaughtered. I’m going to say this while the words have already come out. Thank you very much. I will definitely tell His Highness the details of your merits.”
“…um, that’s it.”
“Why not?”
“Even if there are too many achievements, it keeps getting into trouble.”
Lloyd smiled bitterly.
The Count’s gaze at him was pleased.
“Heh heh heh? is it? Then you get it. Even if I hire a person with exceptional writing skills, I will tell His Highness that your exploits are more detailed and dramatically packaged.”
“Please take a look.”
“I don’t like it. This is a poor recompense and revenge for the bitter refusal of the old man’s request.”
“….”
“Well, anyway, let’s talk about this. What is that?”
The Count, who had been laughing behind his back, pointed to his side.
A blush spread across Lloyd’s face.
“Ah, these are the drawings and plans related to the slope stabilization construction to be implemented this time.”
I just wanted to change the topic, but it worked.
Lloyd quickly took out the papers and unfolded them.
“First, we analyzed the nature and condition of the cliff slopes supporting the city of Namaran. As a result, the destruction of slopes has already progressed considerably…blah blah…The lateral earth pressure is expected to be higher than expected…This and that and this and that…Therefore, piles are installed in a row in the ground and frictional resistance is increased with anchors…Blah blah….”
He pointed at various places on the map before the Count had time to say something.
In the meantime, a rewarding smile crept across his lips.
I safely rejected the unexpected marriage proposal.
The crisis (?) of taking over the city has passed.
So now it’s done.
Once this work is finished.
After earning money like that, go back to the Prontera estate.
Now you will be able to fulfill your dream of sucking only honey.
Anticipating that, Lloyd continued his practical explanation to the Count. We were promised support such as necessary materials.
In the meantime, Count Namaran looked at Lloyd with the utmost satisfaction.
The count’s eyes were like those of a grandfather looking at his grandson who had received the first-class report card in the entire school.
Admiring Lloyd’s eloquent explanation?
Or because his achievements are so great?
Not all.
‘A truly coveted talent.’
Lloyd Frontera.
He is young and capable.
However, there was something else that the Count paid attention to.
He has the ability, but he knows how to keep the good without being arrogant.
Calmly evaluate yourself and do not cross your limits.
That, the Count judged, was not something an ordinary young man could show.
‘Usually, if you have the ability, you will have that much confidence. Then they become more and more conceited and arrogant and cross the line. I lose my eyes to judge myself soberly and finally fall into illusion. make an accident like that Hurting yourself and hurting everyone around you. But what about that friend? no. Even though I have that kind of ability, I already know how to control myself.’
Self-discipline that transcends Jijinba’s ability.
It was a far greater and rarer skill than possessing outstanding abilities.
At least that’s how the Count judged it.
‘I must have tried to acquire such talent too easily.’
He is not a person that he and this city can carelessly contain or embrace.
Count Namaran realized that when he saw Lloyd.
On the one hand, I reflected and made a promise.
‘No matter how hard you try to hide a sharp awl, the tip sticks out of your pocket. The same goes for talent. No matter how much you want to live a peaceful life, in the end, someone will covet that skill.
In that case, this old man will step in and protect you.
That young man, the benefactor who saved his daughter and the city.
The moment comes when Lloyd Frontera is swept away by the winds of the world.
I will do my best to protect that young man’s peaceful future.
Even if you mobilize all the materials and abilities you have.
I will definitely repay the favor once in a while.
With a firm resolve in his heart, Count Namaran looked at Lloyd with the most benevolent gaze.
It was the moment when a strong supporter was born who would be of great help in Lloyd’s future life.
