After dinner, Victor went to his study with Shona, and as soon as they took their seats, he scrutinized the girl once again.
All this time, the lord had been trying to discern something unnatural or peculiar about her: did she pose any threat?
Due to the incidents he had experienced in this world, the young man had grown increasingly suspicious, and he hated it. Victor was accustomed to the predictability of his former life. Ignoring someone was enough to keep them from affecting his life.
Sadly, that didn't apply here. Perhaps because he was now an influential figure, unlike his obscure past. But even if that were true, it didn't solve the problem of his rising suspicion.
The lord didn't want to get entangled in other people's schemes and squabbles. There were unavoidable matters, such as inter-kingdom wars or conflicts with other aristocrats, but if the current predicament arose from sheltering a girl in distress, he wanted to be certain he was on the right track.
Were she to approach him directly, his male ego wouldn't allow him to decline, partly because Victor wasn't particularly confident in himself. Despite maintaining a composed demeanor, he was just an earthly man who, in his previous life, saw girls like Linea or Shona only in movies. In real life, such beauty was practically nonexistent.
Of course, this led to countless issues, like being unable to say no and constantly wanting to show off. Indeed, this was his fundamental struggle in communicating with women. Occasionally, he made choices solely to impress the girls who happened to be nearby.
Although logically he knew that with his looks, status, and skills, finding a breathtaking partner wouldn't be challenging, a persistent seed of doubt undermined his confidence each time he encountered one of these women.
This insecurity was intensified by the residual influence of the previous body's owner, who had absolutely no experience with women, spending his entire life cloistered in a mansion.
Even now, looking at the girl before him, he searched for a way to ask questions that wouldn't offend her, but something had to be done, and he decided to overcome his reluctance.
— Miss Shona, I don't know what secrets or problems you're hiding that compel you to conceal your origins, — the lord began, gazing at her from across the table. — But there's one thing I want to know: are you a threat to my lands and their inhabitants?
Whichever other questions he might have raised, she would either lie or omit key facts, but what he truly wanted to know was exactly what he asked.
Shona was no fool; indeed, she was perceptive and intelligent, understanding the inevitability of this conversation, especially after her previous missteps.
— Before I reply, I'd like you to give me your word as a nobleman that if you determine I'm a threat to you or your domain, you'll release me, — she requested, because she herself wasn't certain whether she posed a direct threat to the baron.
Victor was taken aback by her request, but fundamentally, he had nothing to lose. Even if there were a reward worth her weight in gold, it wouldn't interest him. Generally, anything related to personal gain held no significance for him, knowing that with his expertise and position, anyone could prosper given enough time.
— You can trust that promise, — he replied without hesitation.
The girl hesitated briefly but eventually began speaking.
— I am the daughter of Count Brent, — she revealed. — My betrothed and I wished to wed, but my father refused because he was only a knight, thereby compelling us to flee.
Victor stared at her in amazement, because he hadn't anticipated such a romantic subplot. For a moment, he felt like he was reading an ancient tale where a princess falls in love with a commoner.
"Wait a minute, who is this Count Brent? Is he some sort of landless count? I've never heard that name before."
In the Kingdom of Lantharis, power was centralized among landed nobility. Among them were six counts, two dukes, and one marquis, along with their vassals. However, there were also titleholders without land, often serving as bureaucrats in the capital or receiving stipends from the crown.
These nobles enjoyed great advantages but led simpler lives compared to landed aristocrats and had much less influence on state affairs.
Titles like "count" could also be conferred for outstanding service to the king, but he couldn't grant them land, as there were no available estates, and no ruling family would allow such a redistribution.
— I'm sorry, I'm unfamiliar with this count, — Victor admitted, trying to comprehend whom she was referring to.
— My father, Count Brent, is an Armondelian aristocrat. Our holdings are located far to the east of Lantharis,— she clarified.
"This Armondale again... intriguing, why does everyone seem to flee here from there? Should I anticipate a wave of political refugees?"
While pondering this, she explained that their escape was aided by Nolla Blame, whose family traded between kingdoms. However, as they crossed the border, they were intercepted by the count's guards, forcing her companion and Blame's troops to remain behind to delay them, while she was transported here.
Listening to her account, Victor felt profound sorrow in her words—something that couldn't be faked. The countess didn't shed a single tear, but each word seemed to emanate from someone walking toward their demise.
Shona didn't invest emotion into her explanation; instead, her speech was devoid of any sentiment... The lord couldn't describe it, but he keenly felt her melancholy. Desperate to console her, he had no idea how to proceed.
— You may remain in my domain and continue working with me. I assure you, as long as you are within my territory, you will be safe, — the lord declared, wanting to appear chivalrous, like a knight shielding a helpless maiden. Truthfully, there was no falseness or exaggeration in his words; he genuinely meant what he said.
The girl thanked him calmly, and after an awkward pause caused by the lack of additional topics, Victor dismissed her and tried to focus on his plans. However, he couldn't regain his concentration afterwards.
Instead, he summoned Lulu, requesting tea and a backgammon board, and spent the evening playing with her, listening to the little maid revel in the roll of matching numbers. Watching this carefree servant, he momentarily forgot his worries and responsibilities.
Perhaps she was the only person in this world he truly cared for, and it delighted him that she was exactly who she was.
***
Early the following morning, Victor headed to Ironwood accompanied by Linea and Shona, intending to witness the trading process in person.
Needless to say, the lord had no intention of conducting the auction himself; for that, he had the stunningly beautiful Shona, who was far better suited for the role.
Upon arriving in the village, they found approximately two hundred people gathered on the market square—all traders eager to purchase the secret of salt production.
Despite the cold outside, the crowd was vibrant and lively, engaging in friendly conversations, bantering with each other, and even negotiating various deals. The scene resembled a bustling marketplace, causing Victor to smile as he observed the activity.
The lord had no clue what month it was relative to Earth, but based on the weather, it felt like October.
Generally, this was a peculiar world, as they lacked a precise calendar here. Only years were counted, and the chronology began with spring, with the date itself being quite vague.
It was the 1187th year since the founding of the kingdom in Lantharis—the only date mentioned in official documents. More specific indications of months and dates usually relied on natural phenomena, such as the end of winter or the beginning of spring.
Incidentally, this caused significant confusion during the period between 843 and 844 AD, as there was no winter that year due to unexpected climatic anomalies, necessitating subsequent adjustments to the calendar by consulting the northern kingdoms, where winter always arrives "on schedule."
Additionally, there were four seasons here—just like on Earth—and they lasted roughly the same duration. The climate resembled that of Central Europe, with no Siberian frosts or tropical heat. Victor's own lands were considered the warmest, being closest to the sea.
Determining the continent's orientation relative to the poles was impossible, as astronomers did not exist in this world. Instead, stars were studied by astrologers who attributed everything to magic and divine forces.
Noticing him on horseback, everyone fell silent and watched his every step. None of them had ever participated in such events, as these gatherings were exclusively organized for noblemen, where weapons, artifacts from underground worlds, potions, animals, and certain sapient creatures were sold.
The last category was an exception, and generally consisted of orcs, goblins, and rarely ogres, purchased specifically to be executed. It was a form of entertainment, as ogres couldn't be controlled—they had monstrous strength, and feeding them was an arduous task.
However, hanging an ogre's head on the wall enabled a nobleman to invent endless tales about battling the monster, each version adorned with new details, sometimes diverging drastically from the original story.
Returning to the events on the square, Victor contemplated that he couldn't afford to lose these people's trust by lying about the theft of the salt recipe. However, disclosing the full truth might expose vulnerabilities in his territory, inviting potential attempts to steal the wine secret, which the lord could definitely not tolerate. Therefore, he reinforced the guard around the winery, ensuring that the castle gates were permanently shut, accessible only with Alganis or Jin's permission.
The young man took two steps toward the crowd, but everyone stepped back from him, forming a semicircle.
Standing before the tavern, he paused dramatically to allow the traders to examine him closely.
— As the ruler of this land, I declare that at this auction you will have the chance to purchase the authentic secret of salt production, — Victor proclaimed loudly. — However, I must also caution you that, to my knowledge, there is another nobleman who is equally close to discovering how to produce such salt.
Immediately, murmurs rippled through the crowd upon hearing this revelation. What had mere moments earlier seemed an invaluable treasure now became somewhat less appealing, but Victor had no intention of ruining business prospects, continuing his speech.
— This salt is produced from seawater; its manufacture costs are negligible, yet the demand for it spans the entire continent.
The traders fell quiet again, recognizing the veracity of his statement. If what the baron claimed was accurate, they would still earn substantial profits regardless. Considering that only one additional nobleman joined the existing five traders, this factor hardly affected their overall situation.
As discussions continued, they grew progressively more enthusiastic, reinforcing their conviction that acquiring this secret was indispensable.
Observing the renewed sparkle in the merchants' eyes, Victor invited Shona forward to outline the auction rules, specifying that it would take place in the tavern, where space was limited, and participation required a silver coin fee, effectively filtering out those unable to cover the expense.
Shona nodded and, stepping ahead, began explaining the auction procedures in her melodious voice, captivating even Victor, calling it an "auction" to distinguish it from traditional noble gatherings.
Following her explanation, she invited everyone to line up and approach Seleasia, who collected fees and confirmed participants.
Ultimately, around 120 traders entered the premises, surprising Victor, but he was pleased that they paid the entry fee in silver coins, yielding him a slight surplus in gold.
Their enthusiasm amazed him even more, considering that the "secret" was no longer unique, yet he had still managed to generate income. Anticipating ongoing salt production, the buzz surrounding this auction further bolstered his spirits.
Nonetheless, glancing at the gloomy sky, he reflected on the approaching cold, which seemed to stall his efforts to assist commonfolk.
Resources were scarce, most notably hands and funds. Gold continuously drained away on buying cloth and food supplies. However, good news emerged: the brick factory worked tirelessly, producing almost thirty thousand bricks in two days across three kilns. Accounting for defective ones, this yielded approximately twenty-five thousand usable bricks for construction purposes.
The primary obstacle remained cement. Experiments with lime were underway, but the finished product wouldn't be ready for at least two weeks, by which time the weather would grow colder.
Victor was dissatisfied with this situation. Unlike the nobles of this world, he did not view himself as superior to others, understanding that they shared similar qualities aside from birthplace. Reflecting on his past, he acknowledged that in his own world, he might have been regarded as a serf, despite society's rhetoric about freedom.