Baronage

We were now walking down a corridor of the academy after leaving our box.

We were walking at a brisk pace.

"Oi, where are we going!? Tell me already!"

After the loli dragon obediently followed after me, her pride took hold of her like usual and she was now demanding I tell her where we were going.

I would've liked to leave her with the noble mage, but I didn't have time to find him. I'm afraid she's going to cause problems at the castle.

"We'll be going to the castle soon. They'll have many delicious sweets there so please be patient."

"Do you think I can be so easily persuaded by food?"

"The sweets at the castle are extremely delicious."

"are you making fun of me?"

"I'm not making fun of you. I was the one that asked you to come with so I don't want you getting mad or upset. Unless, of course, you want me to tease you. If so, I'll gladly do so and won't hold back."

"."

"So, please, be quiet."

"hmph."

After speaking more emphatically, the loli dragon fell silent.

"By the way, was I interrupting?"

"What do you mean?"

"W-Why were you and the dragon together?"

"Ah, she's Lord Fahren's guest."

"really?"

"Yeah, I just met her this morning in the carriage Lord Fahren sent to pick me up."

"S-S-So that's why!"

"Yep."

A smile appeared on Ester-chan's face.

She really has an easy to understand personality.

But there is something different about her. Physically, she's changed her hairstyle. She normally wears her hair straight down, but today, she has two blonde twintails. As expected, a blonde loli looks great with twintails. I don't know how to describe what I'm feeling.

"Your new hairstyle looks good."

"Eh!?"

"I really do think it looks wonderful."

I told her my real feelings without even thinking about it.

I don't think I could ever dislike a blonde twin-tailed loli.

"."

Her face turned bright red and she started playing with the ends of her hair. Her gaze slowly moved towards her feet and she slowly started walking faster. I had to increase my pace to keep up with her.

I guess she's embarrassed.

She's so cute.

"L-Let's go to the carriage!"

I could only see the back of her head but I could see even her ears had turned scarlet.

She may act rashly at times, but a blonde twin-tailed loli is unbelievably cute.

A twin-tailed loli can commit no sin.

After leaving the box seats and walking through the corridors of the school, we reached the outside courtyard. From there, we walked through one of the gardens towards the main gate. There seemed to be more people than usual, but I guess that's due to today being the first day of the conference. I continued walking as I was sandwiched between two lolis.

That's when I noticed a large crowd gathering ahead of us.

The crowd was gathered around a stage that had been set up along the street. It was some kind of impromptu stage that was designed to be quickly set up and taken down. There's probably going to be actors or a singer performing.

There was a steady rhythm echoing down the street towards us.

"Whatis that?"

The person that answered was the loli bitch ahead of me.

"That's the stage where the Magic Knights will perform."

"They need a stage?"

"They do this every year to improve the public's opinion of them."

"I see."

"Yep! Let's go watch!"

Even in this world, government organizations must keep up good relations with the public. It's kind of like the JDF putting on an air show. Based on what Ester-chan said, this seems to be a regular occurrence.

Whatever their show is, it seems to be very successful. It's hard to tell just by looking, but I'd say there are nearly a thousand people gathered in the streets.

It actually reminds me of the crowd that would form whenever a guy brought an adult magazine to class.

"."

"W-What's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing."

Come to think of it, I haven't had a chance to experience this world's adult entertainment.

While walking along the street towards the crowd, I was looking up at the stage trying to see what was going on. As we got closer, I was able to see several men playing instruments with a lone woman at the centre of the stage.

The stage itself resembled a bandstand. I know stage shows like this exist based off what Edita Sensei told me. At the very least I want to be able to admire the face of the girl up there.

Wait a minute.

"Uh."

I inadvertently let my voice out.

"W-What's wrong?"

"Isn't that Sophie-san?"

"eh?"

She was unexpectedly making her idol debut. She was singing a song while casting her charm over the crowd. If I look carefully, the crowd consists mainly of commoners but those closest to the stage were mostly nobles.

"i-it really is her."

Ester-chan also spotted her after I pointed her out.

She muttered her name while looking very surprised.

"She seems to be singing."

And it actually sounds good.

"Oi, what are you both talking about?"

"But that girl is the daughter of a noble family. What is she thinking putting on a display like that in front of a bunch of commoners? I wonder if Earl Bitch knows she's doing this." (TN: For those that have forgotten, Sophie's real name is Cyan Bitch. So her father is Earl Bitch. Seriously.)

"If he doesn't, isn't that kind of like your adventuring career, Ester-san?"

"T-That's not the same!"

"."

She must not do this often based on Ester-chan's reaction.

But Sophie seemed to be enjoying herself on stage. And there were several people in the crowd chanting "Cyan-sama~." Whenever someone yelled out her name, she'd spin on the spot, point at them and wink.

The crowd seemed to really be enjoying the show.

Looking at the scene before me, I couldn't help but think that the role of idol really suited her.

Then, Idol Sophie looked our way.

Our eyes met for a moment.

We were only about twenty metres away.

"That girl, shejust saw us."

"You saw that too?"

"Yeah."

"W-Well, she's just working."

"I guess so."

"Oi." [Christina]

Ester-chan stared off into space as Sophie did another spin on stage.

We both fell silent for a while, unsure of what to say. It's like she just found out her friend has been working as a secret idol in Akihabara.

I just realized that I've been ignoring Christina.

***

After travelling in a carriage, we arrived at the castle.

Just as before, we were allowed entry to the castle after Ester-chan spoke with the guard. We then followed her through the halls of the castle. This is now my third time being here so I think I could find the way myself.

We arrived at the familiar great hall, walked down the red carpet, and knelt down before the King.

Only the loli bitch was with me.

Christina is in the waiting room with her own personal maid. Even though she's owed a lot of credit for what happened during the conflict, I can't risk bringing her in here. She would've been complaining nonstop if I brought her in. Now, she's nice and calm outside with as many sweets as she can eat.

"Raise your heads."

The King sat on his throne on the raised platform.

As was usual during these audiences, the hall was filled with nobles lined up along the walls and on either side of the carpet that run down the centre of the hall. Every time that I've been here I've felt that the number of nobles filling the hall has increased, and this time is no different. I think the great hall is filled to capacity.

The nobles at the outer edge of the crowd were pressed up close against the walls in order to fit everyone in.

The reason for this is clear. A simple foreigner has been invited to join the ranks of the nobility. It's no wonder so many nobles are interested. Not to mention the fact that a newly promoted female viscount with a beautiful face was the one that nominated the foreigner for this position.

"We shall raise you into the esteemed ranks of the nobility."

The King started the audience with an incredible statement.

There were many gasps and low, angry voices coming from the crowd. If I didn't hear it from the King himself, I wouldn't be able to believe it myself. I still can barely believe it.

The King raised his hand and the crowd fell silent.

"However, there are some conditions that come with this new title."

The King glanced to the old man standing at his side.

"The Prime Minister shall provide further details to you."

"Yes!"

The old man responded as he always does. He removed a piece of parchment from his breast pocket and held it out in front of him before unfolding it. He began to speak in an extremely grandiose manner.

I have a bad feeling about this.

"These are the conditions that must be maintained for this man to retain his position amongst the nobility."

Every man and woman in the hall anxiously waited for the old man's next words.

My stomach hurts.

It's a similar feeling to that time I got a parasite after eating lunch at a place near my work.

"If any of the following conditions are broken by this man, he shall not only lose his position as a noble in the Penny Empire but shall also relinquish all claims he has to be a free man within our great country. He will agree to become a slave."

"."

Is he serious?

That's a severe punishment. If I fail, I become a slave.

I glanced over at Ester-chan who looked almost as nervous as me.

She was trying to remain composed as she stared down at the carpet.

"The first condition. This man will be granted territory within the Penny Empire but shall be required to pay taxes owed to the Kingdom immediately. No delays or any other postponements will be allowed for any reason. Even if there is a legitimate reason for a delay to occur once the formal procedures have been taken care of he is required to pay on time."

I see. So the nobility pays taxes to the kingdom.

That's the first I've heard of it.

I guess that condition is to show whether or not I have the ability to properly manage a territory.

That should be doable.

"Second. Viscount FitzClarence shall be held responsible for this man's actions. She shall be allowed to provide assistance to him, but no other noble families are permitted to assist in any way. If this rule is broken, equal punishment shall be given to any house that tries to intervene."

That shouldn't be an issue. I don't know who I could even ask for help.

I guess that may have more to do with Ester-chan potentially asking for assistance from other nobles. But I'm not sure a prideful girl like her would even do that.

"."

Once again, I glanced over at Ester-chan.

Her expression was difficult to read, but she seemed to be intently listening to the Prime Minister.

That second condition was probably within her expectations.

"Third. The payment made by this man must come entirely from profits made by his territory. He is not allowed to make payments using money borrowed or gifted to him. When he makes his payments, he must also bring a ledger that accounts for all profits and expenditures made by his territory. He will personally bring this to the King. If any forgeries or falsehoods are discovered, he shall immediately be stripped of his title and put into servitude."

This must be to prevent Ester-chan from managing my territory for me. They want to know that I can manage the territory, my finances, and be able to put in the work on my own to keep things running properly.

"."

"."

This is unexpected.

All of these conditions are reasonable so far. There's nothing that I'm guaranteed to fail.

I was worried about what the Prime Minister may be planning but maybe I was worried over nothing. If these conditions were ridiculous, I'd decline and accept the fact that I'll never be a noble. But if these are the conditions, I should at least try. Even if the punishment is extreme.

I want to be permitted to have sex with a commoner whenever and wherever I want.

"Fourth. When this man loses his position amongst the nobility, Viscount FitzClarence will also forfeit her title as viscount and cede control over her territory to the Kingdom. From this point onward, the actions of this man will be considered the actions of Viscount FitzClarence."

This is fine too. What he's saying isn't unreasonable.

She's the one that started all of this, so it makes sense that she should also be held responsible.

However, since she is a member of one of the great noble houses, the Prime Minister can't punish her family as a whole. More than anything, this fourth condition is there to prevent Ester-chan from acting selfishly in the future.

But that's not all.

There's a hidden meaning to this condition.

"."

I've known for a while now that many powerful people want something within Ester-chan's territory. This is the real reason for this fourth condition. In fact, if I had to guess, I'd say that they begrudgingly allowed me to become a noble in order to gain control of her territory.

In other words, this is the old man's endgame.

"Fifth. The territory to be given to this man will be the Radius Grassland."

"Wha "

The moment the fifth condition was mentioned, Ester-chan let out a groan.

There wasn't much to the condition so the territory itself must be the problem.