Chapter 502 – Roman Is Nervous.

The place the party was guided to for the report was the largest room on the left as soon as they entered the mansion.

From the moment I received word that I would stop by, the public officials finished cleaning the place without a single speck of dust. A place with tables and chairs made of high-quality wood.

It was the right place for Roman and his party, who were visiting for the first time, to sit down and listen to the story.

“···.”

Roman sat down and rolled his eyes.

From what I heard from Eclair, the people here are real elites and high-ranking government officials who would never be dispatched to the outskirts.

‘Are they advertising that the imperial family is paying attention?’

In addition to the two civil servants who came to guide us, there were a lot of people standing there holding their breath due to tension.

I wondered if so much manpower were needed to run a fiefdom the size of the palm of one’s hand.

There is a clear feeling that he has become a fearsome guest who puts pressure on public officials just by his presence.

In reality, it was similar to Roman’s guess.

It is said that the powerful figures of the empire move as a group, so there are a lot of people sent by the imperial family for reasons such as support and understanding of the situation that are not related to territory management.

“Brother… Brother…!”

Roman turns his head to follow the whispering voice.

Chloe and Ceria were seen with extremely serious expressions.

“What’s going on?”

“This…!”

“This?”

“These are cookies from a famous bakery that recently opened in the capital…! You have to wait in line for two hours…”

According to Chloe and Seria’s intelligence, the luxurious refreshments in front seemed to have been imported from the capital, and the black tea and coffee seemed to be similar based on Rike and Eclair’s reactions.

It can also be confirmed that luxurious wines and spirits were stocked there just in case.

‘I heard it’s cute no matter how you look at it.’

Anyway, I’m putting cookies into Chloe and Seria’s mouths, telling them to eat a lot.

The civil servant who was looking at the wall and neatly grooming himself stood in front of everyone to see if he was ready.

Even though the weather was nice and cool, a cold sweat that he couldn’t hide was already flowing from his forehead.

“I, Mabilia Thompson, who is in charge of Bright Territory management and the capital’s management support officer, will report on the current status…!”

“Well, please.”

Eclair sat next to Ricke and crossed her arms, giving permission.

The civil servant, who swallowed his saliva out of nervousness and nervousness, braced his stomach and continued his report.

“Currently, the newly settled residents are based on farmland purchased from the empire.”

Chloe and Seria pretended to listen but were preoccupied with the refreshments.

Lilyne and Alice were quick-witted wizards, but they had no interest in matters such as management and policy.

“I have a question. Is it okay if I ask?”

“Of course! Viscount Bright! Please feel free to ask.”

As Rike shows his palm in a calm tone, the civil servant speaks with a strong voice.

Roman liked the attitude of the civil servant who treated not only Eclair and Atra, but also Ricke properly.

“When benefits were provided for settlement. Are there any complaints from the original residents?”

The civil servant who lifted the ricke continued his explanation, saying that he pointed out the sharp part.

“It was something we had in mind, so we took preemptive measures. Residents who have stayed in the territory in the past were given priority support when electing positions such as guards.”

The moment when a government official, with a sweet smile coming out of his mouth due to nervousness, ends Rike’s question.

Roman and Eclair, who were looking at the documents, asked questions.

“It looks like the security force hasn’t been formed yet. Is security in the territory okay?”

“I would like to add to Roman’s question. They are spending irregularly in the name of expenses. Are they their own vigilante group? Or have they hired adventurers?”

“Have you checked the health status of the settlers in detail? There is a family on the list who came over from Del Maro, and I understand that this is an area where an epidemic occurred not long ago.”

Let’s join Atra, the saint of the church, and add an innocent question.

In Ricke’s eyes, the civil servant looked like his heart was constricted, and he was on the verge of death.

It took about an hour and a half to exchange questions and finish the report.

Eclair looked up from the papers.

“At this level, we have established the basic operating framework. I will send knights from Dritna territory to make sure to clean up the surrounding monsters and thieves.”

“I will complete it even if I die, as the Count has trusted and entrusted me with it…!”

“Don’t die. The empire needs talent like you.”

“Yes…!”

Roman, Eclair and Atra.

The three people who unintentionally entered the political world were able to find a satisfactory solution even if they had to squeeze in a satisfactory solution.

The three of them started talking, so Rike didn’t even need to ask for anything else.

“I guess I’ll stop here and look around the mansion. I’ll find it if I need it, so just rest.”

“Thank you…”

Mavilia Thompson, who finished her report under pressure from the moguls, was about to lose her dehydration.

Her hair was soaked with sweat and a mess.

“Thank you for your hard work! Goodbye!”

Roman and the others leave the room with Seria putting the last cookie in her mouth.

Mabylia Thompson sat down in her seat without struggling against the muscles in her legs.

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Roman and his group left the room to look around, but they went to the yard first.

-··· Gather in one place and worship the goddess to commemorate her deceased.

Before entering the depths of the mansion, it was decided to hold a memorial service centered around Atra to show respect for the deceased.

Roman quickly sends the public servants who rushed out to participate in the memorial service after seeing the divine power emitting brilliant light.

The family gathered together and finished a heartfelt prayer with Atra.

‘···.’

The sky where divine power disperses after Atra’s prayer. Rike, who had been staring endlessly at the ceiling of the world, lowered his gaze.

I am confident that I will now be able to smile, talk, and remember my mother.

The girl strangely felt a sense of relief.

“Thank you, Atra. Thank you all for your sincere prayers.”

Rike, who once again realized her gratitude and grace in many things, held her family’s hands with her moist voice.

Inverse to such emotional behavior.

Ceria and Chloe recalled their first impression of Rike, who was lifeless when they met her at the academy.

“Huh, I’m really glad…”

“Rike. I’ll hug you…”

Unlike then, the condition of my friend and her family has improved almost completely. The three hugged and shared a deep emotional exchange.

Roman, who was watching happily, stroked her head and asked softly.

“Can I enter the mansion?”

“Yes…!”

After Ricke nodded and showed affirmation. Only then did everyone head inside the mansion.

Again. Again. Ttogak.

Everyone slowly looked around the mansion where the government officials had left.

Excluding some spaces to be used for administrative work.

I heard that the Bright family mansion was preserved in its original state as much as possible, but to Rike, everything about this place felt awkward and new.

“···.”

There were portraits of people I had never seen before, labeled Bright.

The names written here and there in the study and office were all first drafts.

I expected this to be something that could not be helped. However, the taste is definitely bitter.

Items belonging to Rike’s mother, Juana Bright, were frantically collected from Nema Natas.

Once swept away, there was nothing more salvageable than you could imagine.

Rike, who had been briefly checking books in the study while suppressing her expectations, widened her eyes.

“Huh…?”

Fluttering. I carefully turned the pages, making noises.

This isn’t Juana Bright’s stuff. A book written by a person believed to be Ricke’s grandfather.

Most of it was personal information recorded separately while running the territory, but the name Juana was included in it.

-Juana made cookies herself and brought them to her office.

– Maybe I didn’t taste it after making it, but it was so salty that it made my tongue tingle, so I must have mistaken it for sugar and salt. Before she went to bed, she drank three bottles of water.

Although it is written in a rough, line-by-line manner, it is close to a parenting diary.

The moment she read the print, the corners of the girl’s mouth rose.

As I flipped through the ink-filled pages, I wondered if I would find at least one line of the story that Rike wanted, but this was enough.

‘Her mom has been making cookies for her since she was little.’

She remembers the sight of her back when she was making her snacks.

In Ricke’s memory, Juana Bright had a part of her that was clumsy and dull, like a bear cub, along with her kindness.

It occurred to her that it was possible to mistake salt for real sugar.

“Hehe…”

I never thought I would make such an unexpected windfall.

The girl smiled happily while holding her book in her arms.

Ah, today I may have to open the cookie box Roman gave me as a gift for the first time in a while.

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I wondered how Rike would accept the empty Bright Mansion that was swept away by Nema Natas.

Luckily, I found something I liked.

Rike returned to the capital smiling brightly, holding a book like a treasure.

Evening time came on the same day that I completed one goal.

Roman took a deep breath to come to his senses, looked around at the lovers gathered in the living room, and spoke.

“Rike.”

“Huh?”

“Can you come out for a moment?”

A lover’s voice filled with tension that cannot be hidden.

Everyone opened their eyes and looked at Roman.