Dear Baron Atreus.
I personally congratulate you on your recovery.
We hope the Vermillion family understands the needs of the Thornvale family.
Signed, Baroness Cecile Thornvale.
Every ti I read a letter from the Thornvale family, I feel it’s more than just empty platitudes.
It’s impossible for the Thornvale family, who have been silent since Baron Atreus severe sicknes and Vermillion family mysterious death, to take the initiative to write such letter. Especially after I destroyed the artificial dam.
Most likely, the letter was a warning to the Vermillion family.
Well, I don’t give a fuck to begin with, anyway.
A month has passed since the river flow to Vermillion territory returned to normal, and we were able to quickly repair the damage to the farms and wheat fields.
Great hope has grown, and many people have felt the relief of the river water.
From my last observation, the Vermillion family has fewer than thirty soldiers.
Those soldiers are busy speeding up the recovery of the farms and corn fields, so defense against external enemies is truly in the hands of Leysha and .
"Just keep this letter, Leysha. I’m not sure why I need to read it," I said lazily, giving the letter back to Leysha.
"Earlier, Baron Atreus wanted to confirm sothing... that’s why you asked to hand over the letter," Leysha reminded .
"Oh really? Hmm... it’s been a month since I received the letter. Maybe I just wanted to confirm whether there would be a ssenger from the Thornvale family at so point. But maybe that’s just my guess."
"...speaking of ssengers, the maids just received a ssage from Arod."
"Arod? Is he the representative from the northern region of my domain?"
Leysha nodded quickly, "Yes, Baron Atreus. Arod said he wanted to et with the Baron tonight if possible."
I paused for a mont, considering the urgency of the eting.
So far, I heard nothing but positive news about the developnt and restoration of the farmland from Leysha and the knights under my control.
So why did Arod want to see ?
"Just tell him to co in now, Leysha," I said after a long pause.
"Really, Baron Atreus? Do you perhaps still need ti for this eting? We can help inform Arod about it," Leysha replied quickly.
"No need. Tell him to et . Now."
"But Baron...we—"
Leysha suddenly fell silent, her face serious.
"What’s wrong, Leysha? Is Arod soone I can’t trust?" I asked sharply.
"I-I would like to express my opinion, but—"
"Don’t be shy. Just tell ," I quickly retorted.
"V-Very well...thank you for your permission, Baron Atreus. I don’t think we should trust Arod too much. Since your illness, Arod has been the representative of the northern Vermillion Territory, who has never shown any sympathy for you and your family. We fear his loyalty to you is highly questionable."
I chuckled.
A typical enemy within, huh.
"I advise Baron Atreus to expel Arod and his loyalists from the Vermillion Territory! Their absence is far better than their re complaint!", Leysha asserted.
It was a bold idea, but I sensed there would be significant consequences for resistance if I did so.
"Thank you for the warning, Leysha... Have him co to now. I’ll deal with him my way," I demanded without further question.
Leysha can’t encourage to reject Arod.
She preferred to obey and submit to my decision.
The door opened, and I saw the tall man in the gray coat enter with a sad expression.
The man imdiately knelt down, refusing to stand even when I asked him to.
"Baron Atreus...! The northern part of the Vermillion Territory is still very dry! We can’t even begin to repair our livestock and grain fields! Everyone is starving!", he exclaid firmly.
This was strange.
I had already confird that rivers flowed in each of the four Vermillion Territory regions: north, east, west, and south.
"...it seems like sothing is blocking the river flow to the northern territories, though I don’t know what it is. It’s still just a guess."
"Y-yes, Baron Atreus! Th-that’s a possibility, and we request Baron Atreus’s assistance in checking it out," Arod suddenly asked, seemingly panicked.
"Is that true?" I asked, testing his response.
"Y-yes, Baron Atreus! Our situation is extrely dire, and we request Baron Atreus’s wisdom in this urgent situation!" Arod exclaid firmly.
I seed to have gotten a sense of what Arod was trying to convey from his words.
"Very well. I will deploy my troops to bring food aid there for temporary survival. I will also visit the northern Vermillion territories to observe the situation firsthand."
"B-Baron Atreus...! Please don’t be rash!" Leysha whispered anxiously.
Arod, on the other hand, imdiately bowed his head, grateful for my willingness.
"Thank you for your wisdom, Baron Atreus! We await your arrival in there!" Arod said, excusing himself and leaving the throne room.
After Arod left, I got up to get ready.
But I noticed Altha still looking at worriedly.
"Why, Leysha?" I asked casually.
"Many of the Vermillion troopers don’t trust Arod. It would be very dangerous for you to go there alone, Baron..." Altha replied, still worried.
"It’s okay. I own the Vermillion territory, and it is who should be responsible for it and the people within it. Besides... I’m not going alone," I said lightly, holding Leysha’s hand.
"A-ah... Baron... do you want to take too?" Leysha asked, her face already flushed with embarrassnt.
"Yes, co with , Leysha."
"B-but... I’m just a maid."
"To , you’re more than just a maid, Leysha. You’re more than that." I replied calmly, kissing her lips.
"Ah, Atreus..."
Leysha sighed softly as she continued her caresses.
We paused for a mont, catching our breath, as our caresses seed to have gotten a little too passionate.
"I-I have healing and protective magic that can help Baron Atreus later. I hope I’m useful..." Leysha whispered.
"Yes, you will definitely be useful, Leysha. You’re always useful to ." I whispered soothingly to Atlhea, gently kissing her neck to signal that if anyone targeted my maid, they would be finished by my hands.
*
The distance from Vermillion Fort to the northern Vermillion region wasn’t too far, only about half a day’s journey by horse.
Upon arrival, as Arod had described, much of the area was still barren, with livestock carcasses scattered about, dead corn and wheat fields, and seemingly deserted residential areas.
I ordered my knights to provide imdiate aid to those in need, while Leysha and I headed alone towards the river in the northern territory.
Arod and his soldiers were already there, about 15 in total.
I considered that number too many for just one territory.
The river was quite a distance from the residential areas in the northern Vermillion territory, so my troops and I separated quite a distance.
Midway through the journey, I saw Arod and his soldiers gathered at a eting point near the dry riverbed.
Leysha took my hand. I could feel the tremors in her grip.
"Baron Atreus, be careful..." Leysha whispered cautiously.
"Don’t worry, Leysha, I—"
Suddenly, five of Arod’s warriors unleashed their earth magic, causing the ground behind to rise into a slab that enclosed and Leysha.
"Baron Atreus...! T-this...!"
Leysha and I were instantly frozen, she instinctively activated her magical protective shield to protect herself and .
From a distance, I saw Arod staring at with a sinister gaze.
I knew Arod had been planning this for a long ti.
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