After my trip to the main church, our main priority was shifted to preparing for the future. Many things were set in motion. Firstly, there was a provision. I revisited Count Issac. When I asked him to redirect his grain supply to our region, he was somewhat hesitant. It was only after I informed him about my deal with Marquise Larose that he agreed to my request. It hurt my pride a little. I felt like my authorities were not as solidified as I thought.

  The second thing was holy water. However, that was not a problem with Lilia and Iris when we were with them. Lilia began to make holy water. We also increased our storage. Lilia had to push herself to the limit. With Bishop Leon, Iris, and Lilia, we could secure around two hundred bottles per day if we pushed them to their limit. Just imagine buying them; it would drain our finances to the bottom. That was our saving grace.

  The third thing was medicine. However, it was supplied by Marquise Larose. Yet, many unusual medicines were sent to us. They were newly developed medicines. He also sent some specialists and alchemists. Their skills were top-notch; I had to admit it.

  At first, I allowed them to live in one of our annexes as I tried to solicit them for our domain; however, rather than welcoming us, they showed hostility to us. They also distance themselves from us. Because of their behavior, several accidents between them and our knights happened. I could only give up. Ultimately, I had to relocate their base to new locations. I wonder how much he paid them.

  Half a year ago, Marquise Larose also opened a branch of his merchant guild in our domain. Our trade would be conducted through his guild. He sent many personal. Other domains of the Eastern region also sent their personnel. That was a massive step for our corporation. It felt like this was the first time everyone was this united in the face of the demon king’s resurrection. If I had to point out an unusual point, it was that those personnel, all of them, showed hostility toward us. Perhaps the inside story of that incident spread among them. Yet, I could not voice my complaint since all of them performed their tasks flawlessly. I really made a big blunder.

  However, what set my mood to the lowest was my last interaction with Count Issac.

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  It was a party to celebrate my birthday.

  When I spot Count Issac standing on the balcony, lost in thought all alone, I call him. “Count Issac.”

  “Your Grace.” He turned to face me.

  “It is rare for you to leave your domain.”

  “… Yes. I have been held in my domain for too long.”

  It was true that for the past decade, he had never left his domain. Even when I personally invited him, he would not show his face. Together with his wife, he always stayed by his daughter. He left everything to his eldest son to manage.

  “Has your daughter recovered well?”

  “Yes, Emilia began to walk around the mansion recently.”

  I could sense a glimmer of happiness in his voice. So, it was true that he found a cure for his daughter.

  “I am happy for you. Next time, please bring her with you if she has made a full recovery. It has been five years since I last saw her.”

  I also thought of introducing her to Lillia. I wished for them to be friends. “It would be nice to introduce Emilia to Lilia. They would make a good friend.”

  Yet, somehow, he showed hesitation to my proposal. “… Your Grace.”

  “… are you unsettled? I want them to be friends. I believe they don’t have many friends. That is all.”

  Perhaps he is afraid that I would make Emilia a follower of Lillia. Considering how the relationship between Seth and my other sons turns out, I could understand his unsettling. When they were young, they were like… playmates or friends. However, as they grew up, their relationship evolved into that of a master and underling. I always want them to be just friends, like Count Issac and I.

  Yet, I believe Lillia and Emilia would not become like that.

  “It is not like that.” Count Issac weakly shook his head. Then, he softly asked me. “Your Grace, do you remember my request?”

  “Which request?”

  “If you don’t remember… it is fine. Please forget it.”

  “… your bad habit is still here. Don’t leave me hanging.”

  I jokingly said so as I leaned my back on the balcony.

  “… Your grace, your self-centered personality… You should keep it in check.” He said that as he put down his drink. “Your grace, … You should learn to listen to other people more.”

  “Count Issac?”

  It was rare for him to retort to me.

  “All seedlings bore no sin. It is we who sinned against them.” He bowed to me.

  “Your Grace, I will bring Emilia with me next time. For now, I would like to excuse myself.” After saying that, he left the balcony. I looked at his back. It was so near, yet I found it so far. I could tell that our distance… will never be shortened again. I wonder since when… when did we drift apart this far?