My villains episode 270
interlude. His lovers (2),
Dionea, were far from outgoing in her own judgment.
Even when she was a ‘Dionea of Bennett’, rather than learning to make fun of others, she enjoyed sitting in a corner of the mansion and spinning the wheel.
I had often heard that he was wise since childhood, perhaps thanks to such a habit compared to his cousins.
Even after she became ‘Dionea of Noig’, nothing changed much.
To be honest, it was not that difficult for her to support her husband, who was hiding in the permanent residence and dreaming of a comeback.
Because the ‘attitude as a noblewoman’ who silently kept her place was exactly what suited her personality.
But lately things have changed a bit. It was because she could not play the role of a lord with only the virtues required of a noble lady.
Dionea knew this well, but she couldn’t change her personality overnight. The 18 years she lived as the daughter of a count and the 5 years she lived as the wife of an upright lord were long enough.
Thus, his transformation as the lord of Dionea was a bit gradual.
It was left to the retainers to soothe the soldiers undergoing training, touring the outer wall construction site, and to negotiate with landlords and merchants.
Even when discussing matters of great importance in the territory, only three or four key vassals close to her were called to her office, and she seldom left the yeongjugwan.
On the contrary, when she was a noble lady, she often hung out with Yeongji’s daughters, but not anymore.
Of course, few people found this strange. Being a ruler behind the veil was not uncommon, and Dionea was even pregnant.
Among the vassals who had been summoned and gathered in the office, none of them showed any doubts.
“There are interesting rumors from the capital, madam.”
Among the vassals, the first to speak was the scribe Veldin.
As a young man, he was able to speak before the other vassals thanks to the justification that he was carrying out the mission of the herald on behalf of the decrepit Tolamy.
“What if it’s an interesting rumor?”
“It’s a rumor related to the Dawning Council, and all twelve delegates have been convened.” Dionea was sitting on a chair with a maroon sheen and caressing her stomach. Even wearing a voluminous blio, it was slightly obvious that she was full.
“All twelve delegates… isn’t that rare?”
“It is said that it has been 16 years. I don’t know the details, but it doesn’t seem like a normal thing.”
Veldin glanced over at the office, which was only occupied by Dionea and his retainers, and then lowered his voice.
“After the meeting, four delegates disappeared.”
“Are they disappearing?”
“yes. Well, it’s not too strange that high-ranking mages are new to the world. There are many people who don’t take it seriously. But don’t you wonder that four of them disappeared at once?”
“O uh……”
—.
Clutching her chin, Dionea half-closed her eyes and caressed her stomach. It was a habit that I had recently developed by showing myself when I was thinking about it.
“Will it affect our work?”
“Speaking of work…
“Wizard.”
Master Castlight, the only manor sorcerer in Longville, died after being crushed by a collapsed gate tower while fighting Confucius Doyle’s army.
Dionea, who had a close friendship with her, was very saddened and simmered the gods, saying that they needed to find a new wizard as soon as possible.
Beldin, the young scribe, or the deputy heraldry, shrugged.
“Uh, maybe not a good thing. Now that four delegates have disappeared, the organization under his command will be cracked down, and then it will be difficult to conciliate the defectors. If you insist, yes.”
“If you have to ask, is that so?”
“yes. Well… I’m sorry, but with the current circumstances of Longville, it’s close to impossible to find a wizard of the Dawning Council.”
The Council of Dawn is considered one of the most famous magical families in the entire kingdom and is closely related to the royal family. The possibility of a wizard belonging to the Council of Dawn committing himself to the small barony was very low.
“Still, just in case you don’t know, keep your ears open. If you can get a good wizard, you can spend any amount of money. The same goes for knights. If there is a knight without an owner, somehow catch it and bring it back.”
Beldin bowed his head and stepped back, and the next step was Steward Edita.
“The amount of mining in the mine jumped significantly, and among them, the production of copper doubled.”
“That’s a good thing. Would saving the alchemists help?”
“Of course, ma’am. The increased quantity is the quantity, but the quality has improved significantly, so profits have increased significantly.”
Contrary to the name ‘alchemy’, most alchemists cannot create gold.
However, it was common sense to hire an alchemist when developing a bar that showed excellent ability in extracting useful ores from soil and stones.
Editta put down the parchment document in front of Dionea, giving her a wrinkled smile.
“I felt sick to my stomach because they gave me five gold coins a week, but
Edita, a middle-aged woman who seems reasonable now, muttered, ‘I shouldn’t be so lax,’ and Dionea smiled lightly and looked at the documents. .
From the end of October until now, in less than two months, the profits from the gold mine were 700 gold coins. Of course, after deducting the huge amount of payroll, or even taxes, in addition to various wages and equipment costs, less than half would be left.
However, even that much was an enormous amount of money for a small baron’s income.
Dionea’s dark green eyes turned to Amias.
“How is the situation at the mine? I’m worried about the weather, so is it okay to continue operating?”
“The supervisor says the miners are fine, but the workers carrying water and food must be very hard. The alchemists use so much water in their workshops that they have to lift the cart eight times a day.”
“Uh, 99
5 Dionea
looked over the documents again and opened her mouth.
“When it snows, cut the alchemy water supply by half. The working speed of the alchemists must be properly adjusted on the spot.”
“Are you okay? Profit”
“The mine development is just beginning. There is still a long way to go, but there is no need to rush things while injuring people.”
Dionea put down the document and leaned against the backrest.
“How are the negotiations with the slave traders going?”
“They said they would save 100 young men and women by next month. I decided to buy it for fifteen pieces of silver per head.”
If you give the priest four or five pieces of silver, even the most infirm child will be baptized with holy power and will be saved.
Thanks to this, despite countless wars and outbreaks of monsters, there were overflowing people everywhere in the kingdom.
It was thanks to such circumstances that a slave could be bought for only fifteen pieces of silver.
“Did I tell you that only healthy and obedient slaves will be accepted?”
“of course. However, since they are all descendants of heretics or traitors, it will not be easy to deal with, no matter how much you choose and buy them.”
“It can’t be helped. I can only hope that the landowners appease them well.”
Dionea paid generous wages to the miners, so most of those who worked in the estate flocked to the gold mine.
Thanks to this, the landlords who were idled the land expressed their dissatisfaction, and Dionea was planning to buy slaves for this purpose and rent them out to the landlords at a low price.
“As a water gatekeeper, select the troops to manage the slaves in advance. You don’t have to be so elite, so you can borrow from the guards.”
“Yes ma’am. But…
Amias hesitated for a moment and glanced sideways, and the training leader, Chester, opened his mouth after receiving that gaze.
“Ma’am, by any chance, why don’t we select some strong ones from among the slaves and use them as soldiers?”
“That doesn’t work.”
Dionea shook her head in an uncharacteristically determined manner.
“Slaves cannot be warriors.”
“Madam, I agree with you, but we are too understaffed. If you don’t want to put a scarecrow on the wall, hurry up
and recruit troops.”
Chester shut up. An old vassal, he sometimes forgets, but Dionea was born into Count Bennet, one of the families guarding the northern frontier.
The story of a brave knight who single-handedly sliced 20 savages is the northern part of the story. Dionea, who was born in such a place, could not accept the opinion of giving weapons to slaves to replenish the army.
In her common sense, yangbyeong (養兵) is choosing the right talent and raising them into warriors of one hundred and one hundred, not collecting ragtags.
In that case, it was Dionea’s idea to hire a mercenary or use a conscript.
“Don’t worry too much, trainer. As soon as spring arrives, I will send recruiters to the surrounding cities.”
Next to Chester, who lowered his head, steward Edith narrowed his brows.
“But more than 40% of your wife’s budget is spent on repairing the walls and maintaining the army.”
“Four? Are you still not half way through? We should either hurry up and get a knight or speed up the recruitment of troops.”
“yes? No… Including the guards, the standing army is already over 250, so they’re increasing more troops here. Where is the baronial territory with so many troops like this, madam?”
“As a mere baron, there are many things to protect. The number of people to protect must also increase.”
“Yes, you are right. But the development of the estate must be in balance
.” “No.”
Dionea cut off Editta’s words with a faint smile.
“I have no intention of stopping until I have an army comparable to that of the Mullins.” “Madam…
“Aren’t you anxious, Edith?”
“yes? What is that?”
The faint smile slowly faded.
“When Doyle showed up at the gates with over a thousand troops, everyone here should have been killed, enslaved, or imprisoned. Why didn’t that happen?”
Steward Edith was silent. Dionea, who had been patting her stomach for a while, spoke softly.
“It was thanks to Sir Phoenix.”
“But now he is not here. There is no red bear that breaks rocks, and there is no fire witch that flies and burns everywhere.”
“But ma’am.”
The one who mustered up courage was Beldin, the deputy sentence officer.
“Your family and territory cannot be defended only with a spear. Harmony through diplomacy”
“Conversation is with someone you respect, and respect equals fear.”
Dionea quenched her thirst with wine that had been boiled for a long time with all sorts of herbs and the alcohol completely evaporated.
“Does anyone have a conversation with an ant you can kill with a simple tap of your finger?”
“Building windmills, building bridges, filling ranches with cattle and widening roads? Of course it’s important. But if the great lord’s Ugh Park Ji-reum takes everything away at once, what value would they have?”
She slowly looked around at the silent vassals, then leaned back on the backrest.
“If you have nothing more to report, everyone go back. Oh, the water gate remains.”
As the vassals left their offices, Dionea beckoned to Amias.
As Amias carefully sat down on the chair, Selma, the butler who had been standing silently in the corner, came out and filled the glass in front of him. Instead of the smell of alcohol like Dionea’s, it was wine with a scent of herbs.
“Have you chosen someone?”
Dionea gave Amias special instructions about a month ago.
Instructions to tear down Dionea’s wealth secretly scavenged from the gold mines and raise friendly soldiers who will only follow the lord’s orders.
“yes. We selected them with their own strengths, and since they all have their wives and children in their estates, there is no need to worry about betrayal.”
Despite that confident attitude, Dionea stood up instead of speaking.
“Put loyalty first. I have to do something important.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, ma’am.”
“And I’ll give you my first mission.”
She approached the coat hanger in the corner of the office. There was ‘Lupus’, an heirloom of the Anig family and a magical armor.
“You mean already?”
“It’s urgent, but it won’t be too difficult. Selma?”
While the old woman, Selma, handed Amias a note, Dionea slowly admired the armor.
The wolf fur on Lupus’ shoulders, neck and back was tanned.
It was said that this happened because of being hit by a thunderbolt called by a powerful magician, but Dionea liked her current appearance more. The armor is the mark of protecting its master, and there’s no way it wouldn’t be beautiful.
“…what is this, ma’am?”
Amias smirked at the scribbled note, and Dionea, who had closed her eyes before she knew it, opened her mouth, chasing the scent remaining faintly between the scales.
“These are the positions that Veldin picked after collecting various rumors. These are the places where rumors circulate that an unscrupulous wizard has been hiding.”
A wizard is a being who draws in and uses the energy of another dimension spread throughout nature.
Perhaps because of this, the notion that each time someone uses magic, various different dimensions are pulled little by little toward the Middle Earth spread like an orthodox theory.
Some sorcerers say that’s not true, but most people who say what they say have a negative view of wizards. It is to treat them as selfish beings who bring about the destruction of the world for their own greed.
Of course, magicians who worked for a powerful person, belonged to a powerful organization, or studied in a traditional school were excluded from this treatment. Only wizards who lacked skills or connections lived by hiding their identities and avoiding public attention.
“Madam, why are you doing this to me?”
“Bring them all.”
Amias made a blank expression for a moment, then narrowed his brows.
“Are you sure you want to collect the wandering wizards?”
“that’s right.”
“It is too dangerous!”
“Do not worry. I have no intention of making it openly.”
Dionea still had her eyes closed. His slender fingertips slowly ran across Rufus’ neck, shoulders and chest.
“Tell them that you will keep it a secret and protect it. I’m sure there are people who want a well-equipped laboratory and a comfortable home.”
“I don’t know what your wife is thinking. If you’re discovered by another wizard or a noble church…
“I told you not to worry.”
Dionea, who approached as if to bury her nose in the shoulder of the armor holder, cautiously reached out with both hands. Her imaginary touch with her eyes closed was firm and warm.
“A secret means is a law that everyone needs.”
“…okay ma’am.”
In fact, the touch I felt at my fingertips was harsh and cold enough to be harsh. Dionea quickly withdrew her hand, fearing that her imagination, which was slowly taking shape, would collapse.
“Sluice gate.”
“Please say yes.”
“I heard about Genesa. congratulation.”
When the lord brought up the story of his recently pregnant wife, Amias quickly bowed his head in gratitude.
“Soon the gatekeeper will understand me.”
“Some……
“There are no parents in the world who want to raise their children in the anxiety of losing their house even tomorrow. I want to raise my children safely.” Moving slowly, she sat down on the maroon chair and leaned back.
“I’d rather drop everything and go back to my hometown than keep my seat, anxious about when someone will covet the territory.”
“ma’am.”
“But if that happens, my son will live the rest of his life as a fallen nobleman…
Dionea sipped her wine and smiled lightly.
“Ha what? I hate that too.”
“Sluice gate.”
“Yes ma’am.”
“What kind of person and what kind of lord will my child grow up to be?”
Dionea asked Amias who was confused.
“You guessed it? I saw him up close.”
“Yes… yes?”
When Amias opened her mouth, Dionea naturally continued.
“I will pass on this territory to my child with a well-trained army, an overflowing treasury, and unsurpassed authority. No matter what grand dream you have, it can be a handful of money to achieve it.”
Wiping the cold sweat, Amias quickly blinked. It was because of the cold sweat running down her eyebrows and her eyes shining softly like an afterburner.
“The child will grow up to be a hero like his father. Then you and your children will be honored together with him, gatekeeper.”
“So be loyal.” It was not the eyes of an innocent lady. It wasn’t even that of the country lord.
“Don’t question anything enough to risk your life.”
Amias swallowed his saliva at the gaze of the beast embracing its cub. Having neither the courage nor the method nor reason to refuse, he nodded vigorously.
“great.”
Dionea smiled softly.
“I need to take a nap soon.”
Amias, who had been sitting idly by her order to celebrate, quickly bowed and left the office.
Dionea stood up and took out a sheet of parchment from a drawer. He sat down on the velvet couch that tilted at an angle.
“oh. Any new stories?”
Dionea glanced at the parchment containing news from somewhere far to the northwest, and whispered in a kind voice as she stroked her stomach.
“Now…the story of defeating ruthless bounty hunters, savages, and terrifying demons from hell.”
Dionea, who sat near the fireplace, whispered stories of heroism until she fell asleep.
