Chapter 80: Shadow creeping in the border
“I see… A cottage-style hotel, huh.”
The village chief, Roberto, murmured and took a sip of tea.
“Yes! I think it’s a great idea to enjoy country living while diversifying the business risks!”
Diana appealed eagerly to the village chief.
This was the central part of Pabst village, in the residence of the village chief.
A cat wandered around and settled on Roberto’s lap.
While stroking the cat’s back, Roberto spoke.
“However…”
At that conjunction, Diana’s expression clouded.
“Diversifying the risks is not the priority. The first thing is to secure accommodations.”
Diana nodded.
“I understand what you’re saying, village chief. Once the war is over, that hotel will become useless, right?”
“Well, yes…”
“If we turn it into cottages with a villa-like atmosphere, we can sell them as vacation homes or rent them out in the future!”
“Oh, I see. You’ve thought that far ahead.”
“Yes! Because life continues even after the war. So, it would be better to have a building that can be used afterward, don’t you think?”
“Well, that’s true… The problem is who will manage the diversified hotel.”
“I have someone in mind. I’ll reach out to acquaintances.”
“Acquaintances?”
“Yes! I have many connections.”
Roberto widened his eyes and then chuckled.
“Oh, I see. You are the daughter of Heinz Trading Company. Your network is beyond my imagination.”
“Fufu. As someone providing the land, I won’t interfere.”
“I see… You are quite assertive for a woman.”
“I’m not a man. I am a woman, you know.”
“Hahaha. You got me there. Indeed, women are more practical and money-minded than men. In any era, it is women who continue to live on without losing to the chaos of war. It is always men who lose to war…”
Roberto laughed amusingly and then suddenly looked down as if remembering something. Diana was curious and asked,
“Village chief, is something the matter?”
“Well… I wonder how long this war will continue… Lately, it’s been depressing.”
“Yes, I understand. That’s why the nobles say they find solace in country living.”
“…We, the people of the countryside, haven’t had much change in our lives so far. But whenever something happens, it’s always the countryside, the lower class, that is exposed to sudden changes… Do you understand?”
Diana opened her mouth in surprise.
“If our country wins, it’s still fine. The problem is when we lose. We must be prepared for the influx of uncontrollable masses to these borderlands.”
“…Lose…?”
“Yes. Maybe I shouldn’t say such things… but Heinz Trading Company has fallen because they couldn’t recover the war funds from the royal family… that’s the situation.”
Diana understood what Roberto meant and nodded sadly.
“Yes…”
“A country that can’t even pay the moneylenders, do you think they can win this war? Ishtar Trading Company, for example, has the luxury because they can recover their funds… “
“…”
“To be honest, this country will probably lose. And when we lose, the burden falls on the common people.”
“…”
“That’s why, in a way, the borderlands where you and Leon live might become the last stronghold…”
Hearing that, Diana raised an puzzled expression.
Suddenly, Roberto snapped back to reality and wiped the sweat off his forehead with a nervous look.
“Oh, sorry for scaring you… Well, in a way, it’s lucky for you to marry into a farmer’s family during this time. The city of Latgip is apparently full of hungry people now.”
“Well, I suppose so…”
“Stock up on potatoes and make cheese. It would be good to prepare dried meat as well. Autumn is coming. It will be a crucial time.”
“…Yes, you’re right.”
“Please convey this to other nobles as well. Oh, and let me know how many nobles want to build vacation homes. I need to calculate the amount of land to purchase.”
“Yes! We will come to you as soon as the discussion is concluded, right?”
“Ah… I’ll be waiting, Diana.”
Diana left Roberto’s mansion and rode off on a horse, leaving the village behind.
・・・
『”𝐀𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬.𝐜𝐨𝐦” – 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 “𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬” 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 “𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬”.』
・・・
Roberto watched her departure from the window and let out a deep sigh.
Then, he turned around and spoke towards the wall.
“…Did you hear?”
The wall remained silent.
“That’s Diana, the daughter of the fallen Heinz Trading Company.”
In the quiet room, Roberto raised his voice in frustration when he realized there was no response from the wall.
“She lost her parents, managed to escape from the war, injured and bleeding from her head…!”
Trembling and pale, Roberto walked forward and struck the wall with all his might.
“Say something! Your Majesty!!”
There was no response from the wall.
“The king escaped comfortably and hid in a rural house… and on top of that, not a single word to the daughter of his benefactor!”
There was no response from the wall.
“Pathetic… Truly, pathetic…”
Roberto bit his lip and walked with resentment, then slumped into the chair in his office.
There was no response from the wall.
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