The Northern Noble is a Grinder (Volume 2: Chapter 13) (Patreon)

The Northern Noble is a Grinder (Volume 2: Chapter 13)

…

The mansion was beyond my imagination. It was more of a palatial estate with multiple gardens, wings, and buildings solely for servants. Gardens for different flowers were being tended to by small creatures with gossamer wings. Centaurs moved about groves with fruiting trees. Raised beds with vegetables being harvested were present. There was also a pasture nearby alongside a forest, both of which provided food. Fountains ran with clear water, and there were lampposts and signposts both to make traversal through the estate that much easier.

It was practically a small town writ small, all for the sake of supporting Lord Trelawney’s bride-to-be and her retinue.

My household could support something of this magnitude, but we would have nothing to spare whilst maintaining our other duties.

That is without the magic permeating every aspect of the place.

I could feel it. The trees, flowers, and even the vegetable gardens were coursing with magic. Simply by staring long enough in passing, I could see sprouts from where seeds were placed moments ago. Branches from which a fruit was plucked would soon have a flower awaiting pollination, and once that occurred, its petals fell and the transformation from bud to fruit began. The air itself seemed to course with passive power, which fed the workers as they did their labors, and there was not one worker out of place. I was sure that if I looked more deeply, the very structures themselves would be enchanted.

Trying to do all of this in a similar manner would beggar my house and leave us in debt if we stayed our current course and maintained our responsibilities. If we extracted all we could from our people and neglected our duties as nobility, then we could sustain this sort of life.

But what if we could provide all this power ourselves?

What if we were as strong as the lords and ladies of this land?

Just on my own, I was bringing great wealth to my people.

If my entire family were as strong as I, and all our knights just a stratum below us in strength, then we could maintain this standard with ease. The food we would eat would be filled with power, our servants invigorated and made strong in passing, and the likelihood of their children being mighty increased as well. A land rife with magic will come with stronger beasts, but that will simply give us more creatures to hunt and bring low to sell or gain strength from.

The more I looked upon this land, the more I realized how they embraced danger and the strength to surmount it, rather than curtailing it and controlling it. We had more people and vast lands, but this isle was filled with incredibly powerful individuals and greater wealth. Ours were more stable, with many working alongside one another rather than feuding, but in the face of a threat such as the seaborne invasion we now faced… was that stability worth it? The same creatures we repulsed would’ve been laid low by the guards of the port alone here.

As I considered the possibilities, the carriage came to a stop, and we were led to wait inside the mansion while I remained engrossed in my thoughts.

“My lady is currently out on a hunt. She promises a strong meal prepared for you from a mighty beast.” Sir Erlich explained as he stood by the door. The other knights manned positions at the hall outside. The sound of trolleys soon came. “We offer refreshments and guest rights in my lady’s stead.”

I turned to look at the trollies, but Lord Trelawney spoke with a casual drawl.

“They will accept. I will only do so when I have your lady’s measure.” I froze at his words. To my surprise and the knight’s sudden pause, he explained. “Blame my course on Lady Aigen. Her actions have made me ill at ease with her bloodline, even if they are in contention.”

I thought that the knight captain would be affronted, but he gave a small smile at Lord Trelawney’s words.

“My sister made quite the impression. Perhaps, if I apologize for our bloodline, you would accept us being genial hosts?” Sir Elrich’s words almost made my head turn to him in shock. Alice froze outright, while Chloe visibly stared. Once I looked at him with Lady Aigen in mind, I saw a faint resemblance. They had similar, sharp jawlines and shared almond-shaped eyes. Still, it was shocking that this stalwart knight was related to that woman. He was a picturesque knight in full armor with even a fluttering cape at his back. She was a witch dressed to attract the eye in the presence of anyone and was like a coiled snake ready to bite at any moment. “If such is the case, you have my most sincere apology on behalf of my lineage.”

The knight’s offer to apologize for his wicked sister spoke of great humility, but it was ultimately the wrong move.

Lord Trelawney had little care for humility.

“No, I want to hear it from my possible wife. You can be as ashamed as you like for Aigen. The only thing that matters is how her cousin acts.” Lord Trelawney admitted his with little care. He sat in an oversized chair, which left his legs dangling. Meanwhile, I accepted a small, freshly baked roll and a refreshment from the knight captain. He served us to properly showcase that we were guests in his eyes, the eyes of the servants, and the eyes of the gods of these lands. I felt more at ease as soon as I consumed it and felt no ill effects nor even a trace of magic. “Even if she can manage to have allies and have knights to call upon, unlike Aigen, they have similar goals and ends. They want me so that they can unify the isle under their rule.”

“Their goals are not the same. My sister wished to rule as a tyrant for eternity and spurn those who protect our lands from the predations of those beyond by never joining them after a century of rule.” Sir Elrich spoke with an impassioned voice, but not a raised one. Lord Trelawney listened intently. “My lady will rule, but she aims to do as former rulers did. She will join the protectors of the realm after a century and leave it in the hands of her descendants. She upholds our ways even as she seeks to better the realm.”

“All while the rest of her family has her ear, while the current lords and ladies are able to influence her, and while her period of rule has an assured ending.” Lord Trelawney pointed out with a huff. “I may not want a wicked sorceress who does anything and anyone for power as a wife, but neither do I want a puppet who bears children for strength.”

Lord Trelawney’s words were sharp but also displayed his uncanny intelligence. It was easy to forget that he was not just powerful. He had a keen mind that was able to dissect his foes with ease. All the monsters and beasts we faced had their tendencies, powers, and weaknesses written by him in incredible detail. He was not just a brute with power but someone who made use of magic in clever ways to supplement his strength, and he was eager to use clever methods to succeed.

Of course, he would see the aims of his future wife. Lady Aigen had aimed to fashion herself a strong, new body from the child born of their coupling. His new wife may have done us a service, but it was to secure his strength as well. However, the one we were to speak with now was a more classical ruler, one that will pass on to join the guardians of the nation, and so her aim is to have her bloodline strengthened. It would not be her taking a new form and ruling forever, but still it would be her children carrying the mission she set forth for their family, because to do otherwise would be to lose the support of loyal knights and supporters of the dynasty.

Some would say that he was being foolish doing this and ostracizing himself from his new wife, but he was also placing firm boundaries and establishing he would not be easily bought. They saved us from Aigen, but once she is dealt with, he truly has no reason to maintain a bargain with them. He had the right as one whose students were attacked to wage war against her. That he would show our saviors respect and consider the marriage was more than enough for them to be unable to rescind their protections.

In essence, Lord Trelawney was showing them that he would ask much of them in return for the power that they desired from him and that what was done was not enough to gain his favor.

Given his strength and power and the needs of his lands, it was a wise move.

The knight captain’s brow was furrowed thanks to Lord Trelawney’s words, and it was obvious he was discomfited by them, but then a bell tolled and the knight captain stood.

“My mistress is here, Lord Trelawney. Would you prefer to wait here or to meet with her?” The knight tried in vain to see if Lord Trelawney's display of arrogance could be used against him.

My teacher just snorted.

“Nice try. No, I’ll wait here. I’ll meet with your lady under her terms in her household.” He shook his head and stepped towards a fireplace. With an idle gesture, nearby firewood filled it, it was cleansed of ash, and he set it alight. A display of control over truly immense amounts of power. “I look forward to being her guest.”

And, with that, he reminded the knight captain that he was not yet a guest.

Nor were they his hosts.

Only people as strong as him can remind them that guest rights also stipulated that guests were to not harm their hosts either.

The knight stood and gave a hurried bow before leaving the room.

I closed my eyes.

If I were in the new fiancé’s place, what would I do?

But I found my thoughts derailed, as within moments of the knight captain leaving, there was a knock on the door, and Lord Trelawney smiled for a split second.

“She’s got guts.” He stated simply as the doors suddenly opened.

“Lady Arta, please wait—.”

“Lord Trelawney, I will not have you treat my knights with such disrespect!” I thought that his new fiancé would be Lady Aigen but mirrored. Instead, I looked upon a young woman barely a year younger than I in age, and she wore riding boots and pants beneath a long white coat. Her hands were gloved, and her hair was tied up in a long ponytail with a large blue bow in her house holding it together. A faint sun-kissed tan graced her face, while her eyes were a vibrant green, and it was only in the delicateness and sharpness of her features that she resembled Aigen. She very much appeared more like a girl from rural nobility who were not strangers to working their own fields. That is, if not for the overwhelming power she exuded, along with glowing blue sigils that coursed over her body and converged upon an eye-like symbol on her head. “They have every right to speak in my stead when I am away, for they have my trust!”

She strode up to him without fear, even as he firmly held back his strength. In the face of that overwhelming strength, she did not allow her stride to be broken, and a glow came upon the staff she held. It was a long and refined cylinder of black metal with shining golden striations atop which a brilliant crystal floated, surrounded by a myriad of rotating metals covered in enchantments. It was a symbol of her station but also a way for her to endure the march his way.

I beheld Lady Arta with no shortage of surprise and respect, along with Alice and Chloe, but Anisette’s eyes were practically shining with glee.

“Go, get him!” She whispered under her breath with glee, like a mother who has found an undeterred playmate and friend for her son. How she was so motherly towards Lord Trelawney baffled me, and in all honesty, I worried that she had other intentions towards him, but now it was clear. She was simply overbearing in her matronly instincts. “Don’t let him get away!”

Lady Arta reached him and stood before him with a glare. She was short for her age and was thus just a bit taller than him.

For a long moment, the two simply matched glares before Lord Trelawney sighed and held up his head in defeat.

“Very well, then. You pass. I’ll accept our engagement.” I blinked, Alice snorted, and Chloe nodded while Anisette suddenly gave a squee of delight. Lord Trelawney sent a glare our way and aimed it squarely at me, while the others decided to look elsewhere. Why was I—he hadn’t even told me to take charge of these three!? I am the daughter of a duke, but in matters such as this, I should be told my capacity and responsibilities anyway! “If you’re wondering why, I just wanted to make sure you’re truly nothing like Aigen, and you’ve proven that with your lands, your knights, and your actions. Here. Take it if you wish.”

He held out a small box from his pocket; it opened to show a simple golden band with a diamond stud.

I thought that Lady Arta would take it, but she kept her gaze on him.

“I may have passed your test, but you have not passed mine! I thought with your repelling of Lady Aigen and sparing her life that you were honorable and true, but your actions today demand caution.” The young woman declared, and I had to blink as she stayed firm in her convictions in the face of such a bounty. “I will take your measure as we hunt my wayward cousin. Until then, you shall be my guest… and your students as well, if they wish.”

The young woman turned to me and gave a nod and a smile.

“I acknowledge your arrival here as proper gratitude for waylaying my cousin’s vile efforts. Please, rest here if you wish or return to your homes at peace.”

Thankfully, I was aware of my role, and I was able to cover Anisette’s mouth before she squealed with delight at Lady Arta’s words and demeanor.

I had to agree, though.

This steely young woman would do Lord Trelawney good.