Chapter 133 : There Is No Such Thing as a Free Lunch (1)

“By royal decree. Based on the merits just stated, the Frontera Estate is hereby elevated to a countship.”

A hush blew through the end of that solemn declaration.

No one dared open their mouth.

Not the herald who read the proclamation.
Not his attendants.
Not even Javier Asrahan, kneeling beside him.

All were the same.

Then, after a moment.

The baron — no, now the Count Arcos Frontera — began to sob.

“…Huh, huff, huff!”

He clapped a hand to his mouth in a panic.

Still he could not stop crying.

Emotion bubbled up despite his effort to hold it in.

His shoulders trembled like a deflating balloon caught in a whirl of feeling.

‘My goodness. My goodness. My goodness, such a thing…!’

He heard it and could not believe it.

But there was no denying it.

The herald before him.
The scroll of decree in his hand.
The solemn voice as it read on.
Everything was real, true, and factual.

‘Such a blessing for our house…’

Count Arcos Frontera bowed his head deeper, fighting back his sobs.

The herald continued to read the royal edicts.

“Decree No. 2. Due to this elevation, confusion in hierarchical ranks may arise between the Countship of Frontera and the existing principal domain of Cremona in this region. Therefore, it is hereby ordered that the Countship of Frontera be detached from the administrative organization of the Cremona Region and be established as a special directly governed city.”

‘Oh ho.’

Lloyd Frontera’s mouth twitched at the corner as he listened.

‘Separating it as a special directly governed city — a measure to prevent the noble lineage order from getting tangled.’

It made sense.

Originally, the Frontera Estate had been a subordinate administrative unit under the Countship of Cremona.

What happens if it is elevated to a countship?

It immediately attains equal status with the Count of Cremona.

Two count families coexisting in one region would be an awkward sight.

In other words, the hierarchy between the Count of Cremona and the Count of Frontera would become muddled.

‘So better to split the administrative districts and make it independent. Smart move, Her Majesty the Queen.’

She was not only skilled with a blade but had formidable political acumen as well.

As he thought that, the herald went on to enumerate the benefits that came with the elevation.

“Decree No. 3. Henceforth, the Countship of Frontera shall be designated as the center for the reconstruction of the eastern provinces, and accordingly shall be exempt from all royal tax remittances for the next twenty years.”

‘Oh!’

Eyes widened.

The perks did not stop there.

“Decree No. 4. The Crown hereby announces that for the next ten years budgets and materials for the reconstruction of the Countship of Frontera will be specially allocated and provided.”

‘Hahaha?’

A grin stretched to Lloyd’s ears.

More honeyed benefits followed.

“Decree No. 5. The Viscounty of Lacona adjacent to the Countship of Frontera is hereby granted as a subordinate fief to the special directly governed city of Frontera.”

‘Viscount of Lacona… Hahahaha!’

Lloyd could not help but let his shoulders shake.

He almost burst out laughing.

More benefits were announced after that.

The right to receive investment funds from the royal central bank at the lowest interest, the right to attend the House of Nobles, eligibility to enter into marriage alliances with the royal family, the authority to conscript troops from subordinate fiefs, and even personnel authority over appointments and dismissals of subordinate lords.

A string of minor privileges were listed like Vienna sausages on a skewer.

All of them were powerful rights and benefits.

They were incomparable to the days when this was merely a barony.

“Thus, with congratulations and blessings upon the Count of Frontera, I convey the will of the Crown. Proclaimed by Her Majesty the Queen Alicia Termina Magentano in the royal capital Magenta, January, Common Era Year 618.”

Thud!

The scroll was rolled up.

The herald smiled politely.

“Congratulations, Count of Frontera.”

“Ah, thank you… no, I am grateful.”

The former Baron, now Count of Frontera, still felt dazed.

When the herald offered his congratulations.
When the servants and maidens cheered.
Even as the raucous news spread through the villages of the estate.
Until he returned to his manor and faced a dinner unchanged from every other evening.

He remained stunned.

His legs felt like floating.
His mind was adrift.
He felt as if he were on a cloud.

In short, it did not sink in.

‘Me… a count?’

He picked up his spoon in a daze.

Scooped mushroom soup, let it slip back to the bowl, scooped again.

‘I never even dared to imagine it.’

He had thought such a thing would never happen in his life.

Only last year he was struggling under crushing debt.

“But precisely because of that, everyone must keep their wits about them from now on.”

“…….”

“Um, are you listening to me?”

“Huh?”

A voice came through his daze. The Count snapped to attention.

He raised his head and looked across the table at Lloyd.

A small smile played on Lloyd’s lips.

“You must be feeling unreal, dazed, and stunned. To be honest, I feel the same.”

“Ah, hmm, that’s true.”

“Yes. So from now on we must be all the more alert. Me, and everyone.”

“Be more alert?”

Lloyd’s voice came calmly.

It helped the Count of Frontera calm himself a bit.

Lloyd continued.

“The intention behind this countship elevation is very clear.”

“Intention. You mean Her Majesty?”

“Yes.”

Lloyd grinned.

“The monster domino phenomenon shattered many estates across the Eastern Mountains. By elevating our estate, where refugees have gathered, to a countship, the Crown is effectively declaring this place the center for reconstruction.”

“Center for reconstruction.”

“It means we’ll be busy.”

“That seems so.”

Count Arcos Frontera nodded slowly upon hearing his son’s words.

“Along with a higher rank comes correspondingly grave responsibility. Moreover…”

“Now the modest life of a rural noble who quietly enjoys small comforts is over. The scale has expanded.”

The smile on Lloyd’s face turned into a faint sardonic curve.

It was good that the Frontera house had been elevated to a count family.

They received a multitude of benefits and strong authority.

But with that, the amount of responsibility increased too.

They would no longer live as country gentry who only enjoyed a humble life.

‘Of course, that doesn’t mean we’ll get dragged into treason.’

At least not while Queen Alicia sits on the throne.

Thanks to the praise he possessed — ‘One who bears Magentano’ — he was safe.

‘The praise tier is royal favor. The effect is “no suspicion of treason or rebellion.” In short, it’s amazing. And the effect applies across the kingdom and lasts for as long as Queen Alicia reigns.’

It was an incredible boon when examined closely.

He thought it was the most delicious of the praises he held.

‘The worst fate for a noble is to be caught up in a rebellion accusation.’

History was full of such cases.

Even the most powerful aristocrat could lose his head with a single whisper of treason.

Even if the charge was an unjust suspicion, one could still be forced to drink poison.

‘It’s no different in this place.’

So the assurance of never being suspected of treason was a tremendous boon.

Especially now, having been elevated to a prominent count family.

“Therefore I say this. Since our family’s prestige has risen and our authority increased, we must make proper use of that authority.”

“Make use of the authority. Do you have a particular plan in mind?”

“Yes.”

“Then what plan is it?”

Count Arcos Frontera asked.

Lloyd collected his thoughts.

Their status had just risen.
They had been granted formidable authority.
Now was the time to taste the sweetness of power.

“The Viscount of Lacona.”

“The Viscount of Lacona?”

“Yes.”

The Viscount of Lacona who had troubled them before.

The one who had received a capital punishment in the capital.

Lloyd decided to teach that viscount the true taste of power.

He smiled contentedly as he resolved it.

“Call the Viscount of Lacona tomorrow morning.”

♣

Morning came the next day.

The Viscount of Lacona literally came running with his moustache fluttering.

He had been visited by the herald the previous night.

He had been informed of the royal edict.

He knew the Frontera Estate had been elevated to a countship, and that his lands were now subordinate to the Countship of Frontera.

To the region’s prosperous, well-off lord, the news was a bolt from the blue.

‘What… The Baron of Frontera, that insignificant wretch, became a count? And he’s my superior now?’

He wanted to dismiss it as nonsense.

It was so absurd he did not want to believe it.

But he could not deny it.

A royal decree was absolute.

Upon proclamation it took effect immediately.

The Viscount of Lacona could not sleep all night, knowing this.

‘What will happen to me now?’

The quilt that once felt soft and light suddenly became unbearable.

Worries piled up and made the blanket heavy, hot, and unpleasant.

Even his pillow and pajamas felt wrong.

‘Why on earth did I do those things…?’

With every sigh his past misdeeds played like a panorama in his mind.

He had belittled the Baron of Frontera whenever he pleased.

He had mocked him at feasts.

Lately he had even stoked conflict over the Marez reclamation lands.

He had polluted the river flowing into the Frontera Estate to threaten them.

‘What do I do from now on?’

The more he thought, the darker the future looked.

He tossed and turned all night, thinking what to do.

Should he prepare a gift and fawn?
Or apologize for past wrongs to earn some points?

It was a night of worry and unrest.

When morning arrived, men from the Frontera Estate came at once.

They said the Count requested his presence.

‘Gah.’

His heart dropped.

So soon, he thought, here it comes.

He hurriedly dressed and ran like the wind.

Before Count Arcos Frontera he bowed his head.

“H-hem. Long time no see, Viscount.”

“C-count… I am at your service.”

“Is something the matter? You seem uncomfortable.”

“Ah… no, it’s just the clothes are a bit warm… By the way, congratulations on your promotion to count.”

“Hahaha. Thank you. Actually, I called you because I wanted to receive that congratulations in person.”

“R-really?”

“No, I was joking.”

“I… I see. Ah, ahahaha.”

He kneeled and showed courtesy.

He forced a salesman’s smile at the Count’s lame joke.

Only then did the reality begin to sink in.

Once, Frontera had been treated like a mere pest.

Now that person was his superior.

That realization sharpened further during the private meeting with Lloyd, the new count’s son.

“Long time, Viscount?”

“…….”

“You look a bit haggard since we last met. Your complexion is dull, dark circles have formed. Aren’t you short on sleep? Should I sing you a lullaby?”

“…….”

“Oops, that was an unnecessary greeting. Shall we get to business? Now, please, have a seat.”

“Th-thank you.”

He sat, hands trembling under the table, unable to lean back, fingers opening and closing nervously.

Lloyd smiled broadly at him.

“Are you nervous?”

“No.”

“Relax. I won’t eat you.”

“…….”

“See? You should at least sit comfortably.”

Lloyd smiled even brighter.

That made the Viscount even more uneasy.

If he was told to sit comfortably, surely the Count planned to bring up a load of uncomfortable matters.

He felt that premonition in his bones.

Three seconds later, the premonition became reality.

“To be frank, we’ll need to raise the water tax.”

“……What?”

“Don’t be so startled. The reason is simple. Winter is approaching, yes?”

“Y-yes.”

“When winter comes, water in the pipes will freeze, won’t it?”

“Yes.”

“If the pipes freeze and burst?”

“Yes, yes….”

“If pipes burst, the water used to dye your Lacona fabrics won’t be supplied, right?”

“Th-that may be so.”

“Therefore, we plan to pay close attention to prevent freezing of the water mains. Maintenance is necessary. But maintenance costs money, doesn’t it?”

“…….”

“All of this is effort and labor expended for you, Viscount. Think about it. If we don’t maintain the mains, who loses out? Whose tear glands will spout blood? Shall we just look the other way? Of course not. What kind of relationship do we have? Isn’t your misfortune my misfortune?”

“I… I suppose so….”

“Of course. So the water tax increase to cover maintenance costs is inevitable.”

“How much will you raise the water tax?”

“Modestly, perhaps about triple the current rate.”

“…….”

What a mad extortioner!

The Viscount almost cried out before he could stop himself.

That Lloyd was a devil incarnate.

He suppressed his outrage with superhuman patience.

Clenching his fists under the table, he managed to stammer in a tiny voice.

“Th… three times?”

“Surely you don’t think that’s excessive?”

“…….”

“See? You’re relieved that it’s not merely double; now you’ll finally pay a proper water tax, aren’t you?”

“…….”

“Viscount, I thought we were very close and understanding of each other.”

Lloyd beamed.

Watching the Viscount’s face flush red and pale in real time was simply delightful.

Is this absurd tyranny? Unreasonable bullying?

Not at all.

Because the Viscount’s past offenses against the Fronteras were part of the calculus?

No.

‘This is an utterly pragmatic measure.’

The sudden water tax hike was not mere petty revenge or emotional pleasure.

It was a cold, calculated action based on the reality facing the Countship of Frontera.

‘Exempt from royal taxes. Large-scale support funds. Yet money keeps flowing out. We must secure funding by any means.’

And now the Viscounty of Lacona had been made a subordinate fief.

Moreover, Lacona had not been shouldering refugee burdens.

In short, it reaped benefits from being safe from the monster domino phenomenon without taking on refugees itself — pure honey-sucking.

‘I can’t let that pass.’

Solidarity, mutual aid.

The burden of refugees that Frontera shoulders should be shared by the subordinate Viscounty of Lacona as well.

That is a perfectly reasonable, pragmatic measure.

Furthermore, Lloyd had checked and found the viscounty to be relatively well-off financially.

So tripling the water tax?

It was a strain, but one they could bear with difficulty.

“Therefore, I plan to expand our estate’s engineering corps. We’ll selectively conscript Lacona’s forces for this purpose.”

You can’t be the only one enjoying the honey.

If I can’t drink, neither can you.

If I slave away, you will too.

No, you’ll work much harder than I will so I can rest easy.

Lloyd’s orders, based on that thoroughly parasitic motto, followed in rapid succession.