Assignment Report

In the kitchen, Marie, Catherine, Josette, and Elnette were surrounding Kent and Caro. As expected, with this many people gathered, the kitchen felt cramped. Patty was watching the register, while Emily and Al seemed to be working in the dining area.

“Since this is something nobles do, I do not know how it is handled, but because it is you, Kent-san, I think there were no problems. Still, managing a territory must have been difficult, wasn’t it?”

Marie said.

“I think we did everything we could, but… the rest depends on how Caro-san’s father judges it…”

“Caro’s father is someone who judges matters fairly. If you worked hard, I believe he will evaluate that properly.”

When Kent said that, Josette encouraged him. After that, with Kent at the center, their conversation became lively, partly because it had been a long time since they had last met.

““Thank you very much.””

Emily and Al’s voices came from inside the shop. It seemed the customer who had been in the dining area until just now had left. Kent and the others did not notice, but once that customer left the shop, the two of them stopped the surveillance activity they had been carrying out until then. Patty had been watching that from the register, but the tense atmosphere that was different from usual made her break into a strange sweat.

“Ah, we should be going soon…”

Caro said that after looking at the clock hanging on the kitchen wall. The shop was also just about to enter its busy evening period.

“Oh dear. We got too absorbed in talking. If I do not bake bread, we will run out of stock.”

Realizing that a fair amount of time had passed, Marie hurriedly returned to the workshop to bake bread. In accordance with that, everyone returned to their own positions, leaving only Kent and Caro behind.

“Well then, I have to go report to Baron Frederick, so while I’m at it, I’ll carry your luggage to your house.”

“Thank you, Kent-san.”

Kent headed to Caro’s mansion to escort Caro home and report on the territory management.

After passing through the town center and entering the noble district, Caro’s mansion stood a short distance farther in. Gatekeepers were stationed at the gates of upper nobles, but since Caro’s mansion belonged to a lower noble, no such stiff people were posted there. They entered the grounds as they were and rang the doorbell at the entrance. Then a servant appeared from inside and confirmed the visitors.

“Ah, Young Lady. Kent-sama. Welcome home. Please come inside. I will take your luggage. I will go report to Master, so please wait in the reception room.”

Since a member of the household had returned, there was no need to announce them, and they were guided inside.

“Kent-san, this way.”

Guided by Caro, he was shown into the reception room. Last time, he had been shown into the guest room, but this time, he was guided to a different room.

“I see. This room seems better for having a discussion.”

The guest room was a room for entertaining visitors, but the reception room had sofas and a table arranged in a way suited for discussion. Kent and Caro sat side by side and waited for Baron Frederick to appear.

“Sorry, it seems I kept you waiting. First, even though it was for my daughter’s sake, I feel sorry for making you use your precious summer vacation.”

“No, thank you for allowing me to gain valuable experience.”

Baron Frederick sat in the seat across from them and apologized first thing.

“Now then, may I evaluate this assignment?”

“Yes, please do.”

“Sorry, bring me that.”

“Certainly.”

The Baron asked the maid standing nearby to bring him something.

“Master. Here it is.”

“Mm, leave it there. Good work.”

What the Baron had brought seemed to be some kind of documents. Looking at the papers placed on the table, the Baron spoke.

“First, you remember the assignment I gave you, yes? I told you to produce results that would surprise me, but the results that came out far exceeded my expectations. First is income. Regarding the profit from selling the crops produced through the agricultural reforms… what exactly did you do? In just one month, you surpassed the expected tax revenue equivalent to one full year for the territory. Of course, by tax revenue, I mean tax revenue including not only farmland but also earnings from business and everything else. To produce this figure through agricultural production alone… thinking with common sense, the period required until harvest does not match, but I suppose you used means that cannot be made public.”

The Baron said that as though he had sensed something.

“Next is the improvement of the territory’s food situation. By distributing the harvested agricultural products to the farmers as well, food for their own consumption spread throughout the town, and they sold the surplus to earn income. Because the farmers spent money in town, those who conducted business also became able to earn income. The town was revitalized through a synergistic effect. This, too, can be greatly evaluated.”

The Baron said that with satisfaction.

“And then there is the improvement of relations between the residents and the guards. I do not know what kind of plan you used for this, but although I had previously received reports that their relationship was poor, I am told it has improved. Those three points are the results produced by what you did during this period.”

Then he stacked the documents he had spread out until just now and placed them on the table.

“Now then, here is the main issue. Regarding the assignment, you have passed. As promised, I will acknowledge your relationship with my daughter. However, I hear that you have other women with whom you are also close. I would like to hear what you think about that matter.”

Baron Frederick had acknowledged his relationship with Caro, but then came a painful question.

“Yes, there are multiple such women, but I could not choose someone among them. For that reason, I have decided not to reject those who come to me. However, with my current power, I cannot keep multiple women by my side. Therefore, as a way for even a commoner to keep multiple women by his side, I set the goal of paying a fixed amount in taxes.”

Kent explained the basic policy he had thought of after he began dating Marie.

“I see. So you intend to use this country’s unique policy granting privileges to the wealthy class. However, to obtain that privilege, you will need to pay a considerable amount of tax. How much tax have you paid so far?”

“Ugh, about that… none at all.”

Kent’s position was that of a part-time worker at a bakery. Part-time workers had no obligation to pay taxes, and the profits recorded as shop profits were taxed through Marie, the shop owner who had the obligation to pay them. Because of that, Kent had currently paid no taxes at all.

“Kent-san, I am a noble, so I do not know much about business matters, but even though you are earning that much money, you have not paid any taxes at all?”

“My position is only that of a part-time worker, after all. The money earned basically becomes shop revenue. Because of that, Marie-san pays the taxes. Then, from the shop’s profits after deducting the tax portion, wages are paid to me and to you, Caro-san. As I think you know, the shop’s revenue is quite large, so our wages are higher than if we worked at other shops. Depending on the shop, some owners might just put it straight into their own pockets, but Marie-san distributes it fairly.”

“So that was how it was…”

After learning the shop’s internal circumstances, Caro felt uneasy. Incidentally, Marie seemed to dislike creating wage differences among the part-time workers, and as Kent said, she distributed the money fairly without factoring in differences in ability. Because of that, the hourly wages of Kent and the others who worked part-time were almost the same across the board. Incidentally, Catherine was not a part-time worker, so she was treated separately.

“Does that mean that as long as Kent-san continues working at Marie-san’s place, you cannot achieve your goal?”

“Th-that is…”

Kent was at a loss for an answer. It was not that there was no way to solve it under the current circumstances, but if he said it, he was worried about how Caro would feel.

“Well, never mind. You are still a student. It may still be too early to come to a conclusion. When the time comes, I have a good idea, so I will teach it to you. Ha ha ha.”

The Baron said that while laughing. Kent thought he was probably saying that because if Kent married into the family, he would automatically obtain a noble title, and if he became a noble permitted to have multiple wives, the matter would be resolved. He thought that would be fine too, but because of his promise with Caro, he decided to aim for his original goal and leave that as a last resort.

“Now then, Caroline. I have acknowledged your relationship, but while you are attending the academy, behave with moderation as a noble daughter. Though it is a little late to say that now…”

“I-I understand, Father.”

Caro answered while turning bright red.

“Then, Kent-dono, I entrust my daughter to you.”

“Yes, likewise, I look forward to your guidance.”

Kent and Baron Frederick exchanged a firm handshake.

“Oh, I almost forgot… Could you bring the bag from the other matter as well?”

“Yes, certainly.”

“Kent-dono, could you wait a little? There is something I want to give you.”

Saying that, the Baron asked the servant to bring him something and urged Kent to sit down.