Chapter 109: The Contagion of Tears

"His Grace the Grand Duke will probably hire freelancers again this time. Who’ll come?"

Since there was no mandatory clause requiring tournament participants to actually fight, it was possible to hire free knights to fight as proxies. These hired free knights were commonly called freelancers—the term we know originated here.

The most famous freelancer in Germany was a free knight named Wilhelm von Terese. He participated mainly in team competitions rather than individual ones, and because his win rate was so high, he was hired at enormous fees to work as a freelancer. His profits were so substantial that he even had his own retainers, and apparently his career wins surpassed 500.

In short, he was a monster of capital born from tournaments.

"Personally, I hope Wilhelm von Terese comes."

"Oh, trying to restore your honor?"

Apparently even the legendary Lord Steinhof had lost in a tournament 10 years ago. His grandson Fiel wanted to defeat Wilhelm and restore his family’s honor. There was no guarantee a freelancer would participate, but Wilhelm was a professional tournament freelancer, so the odds of him showing up were high.

"By the way, what are you going to name the knightly order? It got overshadowed by your becoming a lord."

Oh right, I was founding a new knightly order. I was the first commander, and they’d given me the right to name it. I’d forgotten while talking about the tournament. If Michael hadn’t reminded me, I would’ve remembered only while eating dinner at home. Since it didn’t have as much impact as being appointed lord, it had been relatively overshadowed.

"Since my title is Gale Knight, wouldn’t Gale Knights be fitting?"

"It’s straightforward, but since it’s a cavalry unit focused on mobility and surprise attacks, it suits the purpose."

"I think it’s good. There’ll be a place for me in that order, right?"

If I had the authority to appoint people, then sure.

I didn’t know exactly how it would work out, but the plan was to establish the order after the tournament ended. That meant between the tournament and establishing the knightly order, it would be difficult to visit Feuzen, my new fief, for a while. That was why I was planning to appoint August as estate manager and dispatch him. He was more than qualified.

"Your choosing Feuzen was a wise move."

At Grand Duke Karlus’s summons, I was receiving drinks at his side.

This is wine, right? Why is the alcohol content so high?

"It’s thanks to Your Grace’s hint."

"The fact that you understood that hint is proof of your wisdom. Do you know you’re the fastest rising among the Crown Prince’s associates?"

"That’s why I’m trying to be careful with my conduct."

"It’s tiresome, but that’s politics, so just navigate it well."

I couldn’t tell if the wine was going in through my nose or my mouth. I hadn’t even been this nervous in front of my father-in-law. As befitting Beren’s highest authority, the pressure he exuded was on a different level. The Crown Prince looked like he wanted to talk to me but in the end just moved his lips slightly. The Princess, on the other hand, asked boldly:

"Are you the wonderful husband who gave Hilda that brooch?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Hilda, who’d never shown off jewelry or even accessories, showed it off for the first time. For the first time in my life, I felt envious. My own match hasn’t been decided yet."

It was unusual for none of the direct royal line to be married, but Grand Duke Karlus didn’t seem particularly concerned. The Princess was only 12 anyway, so she had time, but the problem was that there was no Crown Princess. The Administrative Minister and my father-in-law were most worried about this. Would they bring in a princess from a neighboring country?

Surely not a Habsburg?

"Just keep doing what you’ve been doing. If you remain loyal, I’ll grant rewards."

Grand Duke Karlus promised rewards, but I felt uneasy.

After the audience with the Grand Duke, Hilda and I slipped out of the banquet hall.

Michael and Fiel tried to hold us back, but I was sick of banquets by now.

I’d overused the Scouter in the north and accumulated a lot of fatigue.

A day or two of good rest should help.

Actually, what I most wanted to ask Grand Duke Karlus about was the secret history of Constance. But I couldn’t ask directly. It wasn’t as though I had power rivaling Beren’s—how could I dare demand that the Grand Duke tell me the truth? The dying warning not to trust the royal family still remained in my heart.

"Wolf, can you tell me what Feuzen is like?"

"It’s close to the Euz border, quite a beautiful place. It’s August’s hometown."

"Oh my, really? That’s why you were planning to appoint him estate manager."

In the carriage on the way home, I satisfied Hilda’s curiosity about Feuzen. Actually, I didn’t know much about Feuzen in detail either. I was just passing on what August had explained to me. And Feuzen was a suitable place to raise cavalry.

There was a plain in front of the village wide enough for a cavalry charge.

To the north were mountains, and a stream branching off from the Main River wound around the village. That was why animal husbandry had developed there. I was thinking of building a horse ranch on the site. At first I’d thought of the idea as a joke, but now, with a sufficient budget, it had become a feasible plan.

There’s also the method of raising fine horses and selling them at high prices.

Demand always outstripped supply, and the biggest market (Breisburg) was nearby.

That’s why the territory of Rosenheim was evaluated as having rich potential.

"A party all of a sudden?"

"Ooh, sweet bread and meat!"

Before making my announcement to my retainers, I gathered them in the Rose Garden for a party. At the banquet hall I’d only drunk wine, so I actually hadn’t eaten much. Since it wasn’t a late-night banquet, I let my retainers eat their fill as a celebration. Hans and Ted were the most excited. Sabine took care of Maria, acting like an older sister.

"Now, attention! I’ve thrown this party because there’s something to celebrate. As a reward for this war, I was granted Feuzen as my fief... Hey, Hans. Don’t spit out what you’re eating so disgustingly."

"I-i-i-is that true? You became a lord?"

Hans was shocked, trembling like a leaf, and Ted spilled the wine he was drinking. Those two had the messiest but most entertaining reactions. August must have been most shocked by the part about my receiving Feuzen as a fief. Since they’d been on guard duty, they hadn’t heard any news from the assembly hall.

In a day or two, news of the new lord’s rise would spread throughout the capital, wouldn’t it? It was tiresome to think that people would swarm around me again, but it was something I had to deal with anyway. Then suddenly Hans burst into tears. Everyone was flustered when the big man abruptly started crying.

"Why are you crying all of a sudden?"

"I remembered when I first met Lord Wolfgang. Back then, you took in my sister and me, letting us live in abundance! How could I not be happy that Lord Wolfgang, who rescued paupers like us without asking anything in return, has finally become a lord by the Lord’s grace!"

"..."

Then, starting with Hans, Ted and Oscar confessed their gratitude that I had employed them as soldiers when they’d been ordered by Rüdiger to spy on me, and Daniel, together with Sabine, said he’d been given so much—not just being freed from drunkenness—creating an ocean of tears.

"How are you going to handle this?"

"...You’re crying too."

"T-this is just because dust got in my eyes!"

In the end, Bodo burst into tears too. Wait, what was happening? Hilda, Priscilla, and even young Maria started crying along with them. It was as if the contagion of tears had spread among my retainers like an epidemic. Meanwhile, Anton and Winter were visibly flustered, carefully reading the room.

Having only just become retainers, they were naturally bewildered by the atmosphere.

I’m sorry. Even I can’t handle this.

"The fact that retainers can sincerely express gratitude to their master like this is only possible because Lord Wolfgang has been so generous and caring. Winter, could you shed tears for Count Épinay?"

"Don’t say such horrible things!"

"But they’re shedding tears for their master."

At August’s words, Anton and Winter seemed to feel something too.

Damn it. In this atmosphere, even I was about to cry.

To somehow change the subject, I said to August:

"Because of the tournament and establishing the knightly order, I won’t be able to go out for a while. During that time, you’ll become Feuzen’s estate manager."

"...Me? But I..."

"You know Feuzen better than anyone. You’ve led the militia and even have command experience, right? Is there anyone more suitable under me? From the start, the estate manager position was yours."

August felt burdened but eventually accepted.

"Understood. As your proxy, I, August von Einbeck, will do my best to manage Feuzen."

I also let them know I’d asked Michael to select 10 duchy cavalry soldiers to assign as subordinates. I planned to do the selection myself. I was thinking of picking ones with good potential using the Manager Scouter. It would be troublesome for both of us if some crazy bastard got mixed in who practiced "widow-love" like that cavalry commander.

"Huuungh! Maaaster!"

"Hey, man! Stop crying!"

I didn’t know my retainers were this emotional.

Well, it wasn’t a bad feeling, though.

It was proof that I’d been a good master.

A few days later, Hilda’s and my wedding finally took place.

Now... there was no need to hold back anymore.