Baron Frederick

【This time, it was from Caro’s point of view】

“Caro-san, then let us go.”

“Yes, Josette-sama.”

I was guided by Josette and climbed into the Duke’s household carriage. The ride from the academy to the Duke’s residence did not take very long.

“This matter is about my father, isn’t it?”

“As expected of you, Caro-san—you are perceptive. That is correct. He should have been released today, so I believe he is already on his way to my family’s home.”

Just as I had expected, this errand concerned my father, who had been released. From here on, I would be required to behave as a noble, and I could easily imagine that I would no longer be able to spend my days together with Kent like before. Thinking that made my feelings complicated.

“We have arrived.”

After Josette said that, the carriage door was opened. The carriage had already stopped in front of the Duke’s main residence. I stepped down first, took Josette’s hand, and followed her. We were then led straight to the reception room.

The reception room was kept at a comfortable temperature by air conditioning. Thinking that Kent must have had a hand in this room as well, memories of the days I spent with him came back to me, and the realization that returning to a noble’s life would bring all of that to an end made tears naturally spill from my eyes.

“Caroline, I am sorry to summon you when you are busy. Oh? What is the matter?”

The Duke had been waiting in the room, and when he saw my face, he asked me.

“No, it is nothing at all. I apologize for showing you such an unsightly state.”

I composed myself and answered the Duke.

“I see. You have been through much trouble this time. It seems I caused you considerable inconvenience.”

“No, thanks to this, I was able to have precious experiences I had never known before.”

“I understand. You have gained many experiences.”

With those meaningful words, the Duke moved on to the main topic.

“The reason I called you here is this: Baron Kroise—no, he has already lost his title, so simply Kroise—committed illegal acts, and as a result, your father, Baron Frederick, was detained as collateral damage. His name has now been cleared, and he was released today. That is why he has been asked to come here.”

At the Duke’s signal, the door opened, and Baron Frederick entered the room.

“Caroline, I am relieved to see you safe.”

“I am also relieved that you are unharmed, Father.”

My father and I embraced, savoring our reunion as parent and child.

“I am truly glad.”

“I am so glad as well.”

Watching our reunion, both the Duke and Josette took out handkerchiefs to wipe away their tears.

“This is all thanks to Your Grace’s assistance. Thank you very much.”

“No, I merely lent a small hand. The greatest contributor in this matter was Kent-dono.”

The Duke said this to my father as he thanked him.

“What kind of person is this Kent-dono?”

“He is a commoner student working at a certain bakery, but…”

“A commoner… is that so? Still, it is the first time I have heard Your Grace address a commoner with ‘-dono.’”

Ordinarily, the Duke addressed commoners without honorifics. Yet toward Kent, he used ‘-dono’ with clear respect.

“That is certainly strange.”

“Now that you mention it, it is.”

Both Josette and I only noticed it after it was pointed out, and we looked puzzled.

“Indeed. Baron Frederick, it is hot today, is it not?”

“Yes, indeed. It feels as though summer is drawing near.”

I thought it was simply the sort of small talk used when conversation ran dry.

“Then how is this room?”

“Well… it is neither hot nor cold, and quite comfortable.”

“That is the answer.”

“Pardon me… what do you mean by that?”

My father asked, unable to grasp the Duke’s meaning.

“This room is fitted with a device called an air conditioner, which keeps the temperature comfortable. Kent-dono was the one who installed it. Moreover, the bakery where he works is filled with facilities and equipment I have never seen before. He has not said so himself, but those too must have been installed by Kent-dono.”

“Does that mean this Kent possesses the ability to wield unknown technologies?”

“Exactly. And furthermore, that shop has a shop-bound fairy—one of considerable level, from what I could tell.”

“What! A high-level fairy? That is rare indeed.”

“Father, what do you mean by a shop-bound fairy?”

Josette asked back, surprised by a topic she had never heard despite visiting the shop many times. I, on the other hand, had heard about it directly from Kent himself, and that very morning I had even been healed with recovery magic after injuring myself through carelessness, so I knew it well.

“A shop-bound fairy is a fairy said to dwell in a shop since ancient times. If the shop owner can form a contract as its master, the shop gains various benefits. The fairy’s power changes greatly depending on the master’s abilities and the shop’s prosperity. In a small shop, it may merely help with work, but in a thriving shop, its power becomes immense, granting abilities such as guarding the shop and healing injuries sustained within it. Its influence is limited to the shop itself, but if used well, it can generate enormous wealth.”

“I had no idea something so incredible was in that shop.”

Josette exclaimed in surprise at the Duke’s explanation.

“And the one who commanded that shop-bound fairy was not the shop owner, but Kent-dono. Judging by your reaction, Caroline, you already knew this.”

I realized too late that my expression had betrayed me.

“Caro-san, have you met this shop-bound fairy?”

“I believe Josette-sama has met her as well.”

I answered Josette’s question.

“Be that as it may, the number of people who can command fairies is extremely limited. Those without aptitude cannot even see them. Only when they are visualized under their master’s command while helping in the shop can they be seen. However, ordinary people cannot distinguish them and perceive them as normal humans, which is why they go unnoticed. I possess the knowledge and witnessed it myself, so I understood—but most people never would.”

“How does that relate to this matter?”

My father asked the Duke.

“Shop-bound fairies are quite troublesome. If guided in a good direction, they can bring vast wealth, but if abused, they can even lead to the collapse of a city. The Duke’s household has no intention of interfering directly, but we must enclose and protect such talent to guide it along a proper path. Moreover, Kent-dono’s abilities are exceedingly rare in this country. If left unprotected and misused, the consequences would be unimaginable. How exactly we enclose Kent-dono still requires consideration, but that is the direction we intend to take.”

“I understand. I will also think about whether there is a good approach.”

“I am counting on you.”

Although the Duke said so, he already seemed to have some effective plan in mind.

“Now then, let us move on to the main issue. Though it has not yet been announced publicly, Baron Frederick’s innocence has been confirmed. His assets will be restored, and he will return to his former way of life. The servants who worked for him previously have already been contacted, and some will return. However, those who have already established new lives will be difficult to call back. As for filling the remaining positions, I am afraid that task will fall to you.”

“That is only to be expected.”

“And one more thing. All of Kroise’s assets have been confiscated and transferred to the national treasury. He was unusual for a baron in that he possessed land, so as compensation for this affair, the land he owned will be transferred under Baron Frederick’s jurisdiction. Congratulations—you are now officially a landed noble.”

“Th-thank you very much.”

For nobles, owning land was a form of status. Middle- and high-ranking nobles took it for granted, but many lower nobles, such as barons, did not possess any. Land granted to lower nobles was often a reward for service to the nation, making it something they deeply admired.

“Congratulations, Father.”

“Thank you, Caroline.”

I was happy that my father had become a landed noble.

“The thought that we can live together again fills me with joy.”

“Yes, indeed.”

My father said happily at my words of blessing. Yet this also meant parting from my life with Kent. My feelings were conflicted.

“By the way, Caroline, what kind of life did you lead while I was away? You must have had a hard time.”

My father asked me.

“I am sorry to say this, Father, but I spent very fulfilling days. This was all thanks to Josette-sama’s support.”

“I merely provided financial assistance. Should you not first thank Kent-san?”

“What? Are you saying that this Kent-dono helped my daughter?”

After I thanked Josette, she said that Kent should be thanked first, prompting my father to ask me.

“Yes. In every aspect of food, clothing, and shelter, Kent-san supported me.”

“I see. Then I must also thank him personally. Once the estate is prepared, I shall invite him properly.”

Though Kent was a commoner, my father believed in showing proper gratitude to anyone who had helped his daughter.

“Is that not a good thing? Once you meet Kent-dono yourself, you may come up with a fine idea for enclosing him.”

The Duke said this to my father.

“Is that so? In that case, I am looking forward to meeting him.”

“Indeed. I already have a very effective method in mind. Ha ha ha.”

The Duke said this after glancing briefly at Josette.

“And now, Caroline.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

I answered hurriedly when the Duke suddenly addressed me.

“Until the estate is ready, Baron Frederick will stay at a nearby inn. What will you do?”

“I… I have not yet conveyed my thanks to Kent-san, so until the estate is ready, I intend to remain where I have been staying.”

“I see. Very well. Baron Frederick, that is how it will be. You may feel lonely for a while, but endure it. We will prepare a carriage later—Caroline, you may take it.”

“Understood.”

“Thank you very much, Your Grace.”

Once the Duke had spoken, my father could only accept it. He told himself it would only be for a few days.

“Then I shall excuse myself. Caroline, please endure it for a few days as well.”

“Yes. Until then, Father.”

My father withdrew and returned to the inn.

“Now then, I shall also take my leave. Until the carriage is ready, you two may chat for a while.”

With that, the Duke also left the room.

“It felt as though Father was plotting something.”

“I felt the same. I only hope nothing disadvantageous happens to Kent-san…”

“That is true. But judging by his manner, I do not believe he intends anything bad. Let us take it as things moving in a good direction.”

“I hope so…”

“And now, Caro-san. To be honest, which is it?”

“What do you mean by that?”

Josette asked me with a serious expression.

“Will you continue living at Kent-san’s home, or return to your estate?”

“Given the difference in status, it may be impossible to continue living with Kent-san now. Returning to the estate seems to be the appropriate choice.”

“Do you truly mean that?”

Josette spoke sharply to me as I sounded half resigned.

“But isn’t that how it is…? Even if I want to live with Kent-san, a noble and a commoner cannot do so… There is nothing I can do.”

With tears welling up, I said this to Josette.

“You have quite a good expression right now. This is the first time you have truly faced me and argued back. If that is how you feel, then I am relieved. It seems the carriage is ready. Make full use of the remaining time and let Kent-san pamper you. Now, go.”

Pushed along by Josette, I boarded the prepared carriage and headed for Kent’s home.