The Noble Girl

“Um… Mr. Hans, may I ask you something…?”

The moment they returned to the Hagenberg mansion, Jonah called out to Hans.

Marguerite had quickly retreated to her room and was no longer with them.

“What is it?”

“It’s about what happened in town earlier…”

Even though Hans surely knew exactly what Jonah meant, he responded with a gentle smile without showing it.

That alone made it clear just how capable a servant he was.

“To put it simply, there are quite a few people dissatisfied with the Master’s governance of the domain. This happens to some degree in every territory, not just here.”

“…………………………”

Was it because he couldn’t reveal internal matters to an outsider like Jonah, or was it consideration to keep a child out of it?

Either way, Hans clearly had no intention of saying more.

“If that will be all, I have other duties to attend to.”

He bowed politely and left.

Jonah started to reach out but quickly pulled his hand back and began heading to his own room—

“Ah…”

Marguerite, who should have been in her room, was waiting with a serious expression.

“Jonah, may I speak with you for a moment?”

“Y-yes…”

Invited by Marguerite, Jonah entered her room.

The room was girlishly decorated with bright curtains and stuffed animals, but hidden behind them were books on domain management.

She must have been diligently studying in secret as the daughter of the Hagenberg house.

The fact that she never showed off such effort only made Jonah like her more.

“I’ll answer the question you asked Hans earlier.”

It seemed she had overheard the earlier conversation.

While Jonah looked embarrassed, Marguerite gave a soft smile.

“The reason the townspeople direct hostility at us… is because Father raised taxes three months ago.”

Marguerite lowered her gaze and began speaking haltingly.

Until now, taxes in the Hagenberg domain had been lower than in neighboring territories, and those who reclaimed new farmland were exempt from taxes on the new land for ten years. The people had been overjoyed, and many had migrated from other domains.

But three months ago, Count Hagenberg suddenly reversed policy.

He raised taxes by fifty percent and abolished the tax exemption for newly reclaimed land.

Since the Hagenberg domain relied primarily on agriculture, this tax hike made life painfully difficult for the majority of its people—the farmers.

The people protested to the Count, but he did not listen.

“…That’s not all. Many merchants have been visiting Father lately, and it seems some kind of dealings are taking place.”

“Merchants, you say…”

From what he heard, it sounded like the Count might be starting some new venture—or perhaps something shady.

That was what Jonah thought, but before that, there was something he needed to ask Marguerite.

And that was—

“…How do you feel about the Count acting this way, Lady Marguerite?”

“…! Of course I know! My father would never make the people suffer for no reason! There must be a reason!”

She must have disliked the way Jonah phrased the question.

Marguerite glared and stepped closer to him.

“You believe in the Count, don’t you?”

“Ah… o-of course! I’ve seen with my own eyes how Father has always done everything for the people—he’s a kind lord. I’ve respected him ever since I was little…”

Embarrassed by Jonah’s gentle smile, Marguerite turned away as she answered.

“But… that’s only how I feel as his daughter. You must be disillusioned with Father after hearing all this, right, Jonah?”

“No.”

Jonah firmly denied the question as Marguerite looked down.

“…Why…?”

“To be honest, I only met the Count briefly last night, so I don’t really know what sort of person he is. But… the very fact that you, Lady Marguerite, respect and believe in him—”

They had only known each other for a single day, yet Jonah fully understood that Marguerite was meddlesome, pushy, kind, and absolutely wonderful.

Above all, she was the first person—the very first—who had ever praised Jonah’s eyes… no, praised Jonah himself.

That’s why—

“I’ll believe anything you say. I’m sure the Count has his reasons… wait—!?”

“Uu… uwaaaaaaaa…!”

Marguerite threw herself into Jonah’s chest, rubbing her cheek against him as she burst into tears.

She must have been the target of the people’s resentment all this time.

Even so, she had never let it show; she had bravely kept believing in Count Hagenberg all by herself.

Jonah gently embraced the sobbing, trembling Marguerite and softly stroked her back.

With all his heart, wishing that even a little of this noble, beautiful girl’s pain could be eased.