The Town Head’s Daughter

“Even for those living on this land, it’s not often one gets to enter the Town Head’s house. You two have had a good experience, haven’t you?”

Verna puffed out her chest, which was slightly more voluminous than Caro’s, and spoke with a high-handed attitude.

“Now, both of you sit here and wait.”

Caro and I were guided to a room that looked like a reception parlor and were instructed to sit on the sofa and wait. Verna left the room just like that, leaving the two of us alone.

“For a Town Head’s house, it doesn’t feel particularly luxurious. There don’t seem to be any servants either.”

“Since a Town Head’s main job is to relay and execute instructions from the Lord to the people, they might live better than the average commoner, but since they live on a salary from the Lord, it doesn’t mean they have a vast amount of money.”

“I see. Even so, Verna’s attitude feels rather noble-like, doesn’t it?”

“A Town Head is supposed to be a resident chosen from the town, so they shouldn’t be of the aristocratic class. There might be a reason for that attitude.”

When I asked Caro about my doubts, she explained it to me politely.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. I brought some tea. Receive it with gratitude.”

Verna entered the room carrying tea. While her tone was overbearing, her movements as she arranged the tea on the table were efficient, looking as if they would pass even in front of nobility.

“You two are wearing similar clothes; are you siblings?”

Verna asked me as she sat down on the sofa opposite where Caro and I were sitting. Since our clothes were made from fabric from the same shop, the colors matched, which likely led her to think that.

“No, we are lovers.”

“Oh, is that so? Indeed, you two don’t look alike at all. My apologies.”

Verna offered a light apology to me.

“So, what kind of business brings you to this town?”

Verna asked with interest.

“We are students, and for our independent research project—it might sound a bit rude—we are investigating the actual state of territories ruined by a Lord’s tyranny. We are working on a project to think of improvement measures based on what we find. Since this place was a reasonable distance from where we live, we came to investigate the reality of this town over today and tomorrow, while school is out.”

Part of what Caro answered was the truth, and part was a lie. I figured she intended to keep our identities hidden since we were traveling incognito, using the school project as a cover.

“Caro, were you a student? I thought you were younger than me. That means you’re older than me, then. I plan to enter school next year.”

Since I was a second-year and Caro was a first-year, from my perspective she was two years younger, and from Caro’s perspective, Verna was one year younger.

“Kent-san. Do I really look that much like a child?”

Caro said to me discontentedly. I gently patted Caro’s head.

“Er, about the project. The Lord changed the other day, and we’ve heard that the new Lord’s instructions are to maintain the status quo until further notice. Therefore, since there’s a possibility that policies and measures might change significantly, I believe I can provide information if it’s about the previous Lord’s era. Since the information is about to change drastically, speaking about the current state has become quite useless anyway. Although, there are confidential matters that I can’t provide for just a school project.”

“Thank you, Verna-san.”

“So you’ll cooperate with us. Thank you very much.”

It seemed Verna was willing to help with Caro’s investigation. Caro and I thanked her honestly.

“Oh, it’s rare for Verna to bring friends home.”

“Ah, Father. Welcome back.”

“I’m home, Verna.”

“Let me introduce them. These are Kent and Caro. We became friends just a moment ago.”

(Based on our interaction so far, I definitely don’t remember becoming friends, though.)

I thought this to myself but didn’t say it out loud.

“I see. I am Verna’s father, the Town Head of this town. Well, I say Town Head, but it’s in name only. Ha ha ha.”

“I’m Kent. Nice to meet you, Mr. Town Head.”

“I’m Caro. Nice to meet you.”

We introduced ourselves to each other.

“So, Father. What happened with that matter?”

Verna asked her father. Since Caro and I didn’t know the context, we just listened to the exchange.

“As expected, it seems a considerable amount of wheat was ruined by bird damage. If the damage increases any further, we won’t be able to secure the amount to pay the Lord. I’m worried about what to do, considering our own portion has already vanished.”

“Is it that serious? Even though the townspeople are already in a state where they can’t make a living after summer. Can’t you ask the Lord to reduce the amount of wheat to be paid?”

From the content of the conversation, it sounded quite dire.

“I’m sorry to discuss such things when you have friends over.”

“It’s fine, Father. Kent and Caro are here to investigate the town’s situation for a school project. It’ll be a good reference for their project, so you don’t need to worry about it.”

“Now? Was there such a project at the school?”

When Verna explained, the Town Head seemed to find it odd.

“Even though we look like this, Kent-san is the top of the second year and I am the top of the first year in our grades. Those at the top are given projects to test if they can work for the country in the future.”

It was true that both of them were currently the top of their grades, but Caro added a convenient reason. It seemed that being sent to the academy at a certain age also served the purpose of securing talented personnel to work for the country in the future. It was a fabricated excuse, but to someone who didn’t know how top students were treated, it sounded like a convincing answer.

“Working for the country. That is a wonderful thing. It’s not a town I can boast much about, but please take a good look for your project.”

““Thank you very much.””

Having gained the Town Head’s cooperation, Caro and I expressed our gratitude.

“Father has to put together a report on the matter from earlier, so in the meantime, I will show you around the house. Kent, Caro, follow me.”

Led by the ever-authoritative Verna, we were shown around the house.

“First, about this house, it was built by the Lord as the Town Head’s residence. This side is the residential area where we live, where we were just now is the office area, and the rest—though it’s rarely used—is divided into an area for when the Lord or his family stays here.”

Verna explained the layout of the house.

“Based on your explanation, you say ‘areas,’ but you mean rooms, right? You and your father live in these two rooms, the office is that one room from before, and more than half of the rest belongs to the Lord?”

“Ugh, you’re sharp. You certainly live up to the title of top student.”

When I poked a hole in her description, Verna answered while breaking a sweat on her forehead.

“I’m curious about the Lord’s rooms, could you show them to us?”

“I can’t do that. Even if the Lord never comes, I cannot allow anyone other than the Lord’s kin or our family inside.”

I made a request, but Verna refused.

“Verna-saaan. We’re friends, aren’t we? Won’t you show us?”

Caro said to Verna with a carefree smile. I felt a sense of nostalgia from this interaction. Yes, I realized it was exactly like when my younger sister would ask for a favor.

(The pure Caro-san is being gradually encroached upon by my sister… They’ve been getting along well lately, after all.)

“F-friends… Yes, we are friends. I suppose I can’t refuse a friend’s request.”

(Even though you refused my request…)

Verna gave in easily. While I thought that to myself, since Caro had secured her word, it looked like we would be able to see them.

“Then, I shall guide you from here. First, the drawing room. The furnishings were arranged by the Lord… well, the previous one, since he’s changed now. Beyond that is the study, and next to it is the dining room.”

Caro and I followed behind Verna as she explained the rooms on the first floor. Then, we went up to the second floor.

“And from here, these few rooms are guest rooms. Anyone other than the Lord stays here… though they’ve never been used. And, at the back here, is the Lord’s room.”

Being the Lord’s room, the furnishings were grand. However, to me, they didn’t seem to be in very good taste.

“Ugh, this is in a bit of poor taste.”

“Caro, you mustn’t complain about the Lord’s possessions! You don’t know what kind of punishment you’ll receive if the Lord finds out.”

“It’s the previous one’s… right?”

Verna overheard what Caro had accidentally let slip and gave her a warning.

“That’s right. But since these possessions should have been handed over to the current Lord as they are, I think you should be careful with your words.”

“…I’ll have to replace them immediately.”

Caro said it so Verna couldn’t hear.

“We’ve looked around everything, so how was it? It was more luxurious than you could have imagined, wasn’t it? Isn’t it amazing that I live in such a grand house?”

“I guess so.”

“It is.”

Against Verna, who spoke with her nose in the air, Caro and I gave lukewarm responses. Then, the three of us returned to the office room on the first floor where we were first guided.

“How was it? The house tour. Verna and I, along with people who come from the town in shifts to help, manage the Lord’s rooms. While I handle the management of the territory as the Town Head, my real job is actually managing this house, which is the Lord’s villa.”

“Is managing the territory something that can be done as a side job?”

I asked, feeling doubtful about the Town Head’s explanation.

“Even though I say management, the job is just relaying exactly what the Lord has decided. Tax collection and maintaining public order are handled by the guys at the station at the town entrance… the guards. It feels like those guys are effectively running things.”

“I see… that’s helpful as a reference.”

Caro scribbled the Town Head’s previous statement into her notebook. After that, she conducted an interview regarding the territory’s financial situation and living environment within the scope of what they could tell us.

“Is there anything you’re troubled with right now?”

Caro asked the Town Head.

“Well. The wheat harvest season is approaching soon, but there’s significant crop damage from birds. We’re struggling with how to handle it.”

“I heard that wheat cultivation in this territory was being done in secret?”

I asked a question.

“You’re well-informed. Indeed, that was the case until a little while ago. By the Lord’s will, a decree was issued to cultivate wheat in almost all the fields; we started from not even knowing how to grow it, and after two years, we finally managed to get it to the point where it could be harvested… To keep it top secret, entry and exit to the town were also restricted, but just before the Lord changed the other day, a national inspector came and grasped the whole reality of the situation. Once that happens, there’s no longer a need to hide it. So now, it means we are cultivating it openly.”

“So that’s how it was.”

The Town Head explained the current circumstances in detail.

“Due to the bird damage, the harvest volume has decreased from the original plan, and things have become quite difficult. Since the amount that must be paid as tax is fixed, it’s touch-and-go whether it will be enough, but all the wheat will likely be turned over to the Lord. If that happens, the farmers who make a living from agriculture will have nothing left in their hands and won’t be able to live going forward.”

“How did everyone spend their time last year?”

Since this year was the first time they could have a proper harvest, I was curious about what they did last year and asked.

“Last year… or rather even now, since income has been cut off, people are selling household goods, taking on debt… it’s a miserable state. Some have even sold their children to reduce the number of mouths to feed.”

The situation seemed quite grave.

“In that case, could you guide us to the fields where that wheat is being grown?”

Caro made a request to the Town Head.

“Well, I don’t mind. Then, let us guide you.”

We decided to head out to inspect the place where the wheat was being grown.