“As you said, nearly three hundred people have already gathered here. So tell me—if you tax those few hundred, would it even be enough to set up a tax office?”

“…”

He wasn’t wrong.

About 300 people—people who had only just arrived, with nothing to their name. Even if you taxed them, it wouldn’t bring in nearly enough revenue to solve any of their immediate problems.

“And besides, we can’t keep squeezing money out of them forever just because the protective barrier is in place.”

If Dietrich was right, the heretic would be caught within a month or two — possibly even sooner. Once the heretic was no longer a threat, people would have no reason to remain in Faradel. Those who had grown accustomed to living without paying taxes would simply drift away from the system as soon as it tried to tie them down again. However, if too many people left, all hope of rebuilding Ideana would vanish overnight.

“We need scale first and foremost, before anything else in this place.”

At Shed’s words, Eclace, who had been quietly observing from the sidelines, let out a soft laugh.

‘I was worried Luise Ideana had made him a complete fool, but maybe not.’
‘At least when it comes to business, his judgment still seems sharp.’

After all, whether you’re trading goods or building a town, nothing happens until you have a certain number of people.

‘And as for running out of money? What a joke.’

The victories won by the undefeated hero weren’t just empty glory. With victory always came material rewards: prizes for service, spoils of war, rights gained through negotiation and bargaining.

Ever since Shed entered the Lester family, its finances had doubled compared to before. Even the once-proud Lester vassals—who had once looked down on him for being a Lupus—had all quieted down once he started making the family richer than ever.

Frankly, outside of the Vitels and the imperial house, there was no other domain that could rival the wealth of the Lesters.

With the resources he had, Shed could easily rebuild Ideana for a year or more without breaking a sweat.

“Fortunately, the House of Lester isn’t so poor that it has to scrape by on a few coins from the destitute,”

Shed said, almost carelessly. One of the vassals spoke up at that.

“Then… are you planning to pour the entire family’s finances into this?”

And, of course, that was the real concern.

Shed Lester was indifferent to fashion and immune to the gossip and trends of high society. If something needed doing, he would repair walls instead of buying diamond necklaces; build stone bridges instead of commissioning jackets with opal buttons; and dig wells instead of buying expensive leather shoes.

But the other nobles saw things differently. Even though it wasn’t their own money, Shed was still the lord who paid their salaries from the funds of the Lester domain. They couldn’t just sit back and watch their future wages being spent without a second thought.

“We left our families behind in Munich and traveled all this way, even with heretics on the loose. Please remember our loyalty and dedication.”

“Of course! Aren’t you all loyal individuals destined to save the Empire?”

Shed nodded in response to the subtle pressure from his vassals, but there was a hint of cynicism in his voice.

“Don’t worry. I’ve already made enough to fatten up all the finest in the Empire. I’m not saying the House of Lester will take sole responsibility for every venture.”

He glanced over at Eclace, his violet gaze deliberate.

The quick-witted merchant responded with a bright smile.

“The Vitel family plans to handle the harbor and road repairs. Basic supplies already arrived yesterday.”

He went on to explain in detail the partnership between the Vitel and Lester families. At least for this project, Eclace was ready to support him fully.

Given the substantial investment he was making in this land, Eclace would be granted the exclusive rights to distribute the timber and stone that would be used to rebuild the city. He would also be the first to gain financing rights for businesses.

“Of course, there won’t be any real tax revenue for the first year. However, if word of the tax exemption spreads, more people will come, and our funds will be much fuller next year.”

Shed was a man who could see the bigger picture. Anyone wanting a settlement grant had to officially register, which made it easier to track the population. Knowing the population size would also enable them to accurately identify future taxpayers.

In other words, rather than squeezing every last coin from the poor right now, Shed intended to collect much more from the well-established next year.

Upon hearing this, the vassals and knights who had objected fell silent.

“That’s all for this discussion.”

Shed said, closing the meeting and absently glancing out the window.

His gaze came to rest on a single spot.

A woman with deep brown hair was crossing the garden. She was moving very slowly, headed toward the lake on the east side of the estate.

Hadn’t Dietrich recently finished purifying the groundwater there?

“My lord, about the city planning revisions—”

“We’ll end the meeting here. We can discuss the details tomorrow when everything’s ready.”

🌺⟡───⟡🌺 🌺⟡───⟡🌺

Today, Liana decided to walk a little further. She thought of the lake on the east side of the estate.

When she was a child, Anteros Lake was the furthest place she had ever ventured to on her own. It was also the spring that supplied Faradel with all its water.

A narrow path led to the lake. In the past, the entrance to this path had been framed by a wisteria arch covered in soft lavender blooms. Now, however, the shriveled vines hung grey and lifeless, unable to produce even a single leaf.

Liana walked down the overgrown path, keenly feeling the passage of time. As she followed the lonely trail, a small iron gate eventually came into view.

Another thirty minutes through the woods lay ahead before she would reach the lakeshore.

She pushed open the rusted gate — the lock had long since disappeared — and the hinges screeched in protest.

Just then—

“Liana.”

Startled by the voice calling her name, she quickly turned around.

“Y-Your Grace.”

“To come all the way out here alone…”

“I—I wasn’t trying to run away or anything—”

“I know.”

Shed placed his hand on the old iron gate she had just opened.

That familiar scent wafted from him as he drew closer.

“Are you planning to just stand there and block the gate?”

“Ah… I, um…”

He took a step forward, nudging her gently aside with his presence. Liana found herself being swept along as they walked towards the lakeshore. Although she had arrived first, she now felt as if she were simply following in his footsteps.

‘Is it really all right to just go with him like this?’

She hesitated, watching his back, then forced herself to keep walking. She didn’t want to change her plans just because he’d shown up.

The two of them walked together in silence down the dappled forest path, the only sounds being the soft whisper of the wind and birdsong, and the distant voices carried on the breeze. With every step they took, the grass whispered and sighed beneath their feet.

Shed walked three or four paces ahead, with Liana following behind. Although they were heading to the same place, they walked as if they were going in completely different directions.

Liana felt a deep sense of déjà vu when she saw his silhouette. Memories from the past slowly came to the forefront of her mind.

The forest path ended much sooner than she remembered. When she was a child, it had seemed much further away. Perhaps she had simply grown older since then.

Beyond the trees, the lake stretched out before her, sparkling emerald green. Liana stopped in her tracks, captivated by the view. Sunlight shimmered across the water like scattered gold dust. A cool breeze swept across the clean, crisp water, filling her lungs with fresh air.

Near the shore, a small rowboat that had likely been used during the recent purification was tied up. Liana gazed at the boat, motionless. The person at the water’s edge also stopped, then turned to look at Liana.

For a moment, their eyes met in the bright, open air.

At that moment, they both remembered the same thing:

Luise Ideana had loved this lake as a child. Afraid of the outside world, she rarely left the house, and the lake, close to the estate, was the only place she could sometimes reach alone when she was well enough.

A day spent boating on the lake was a very special outing for her.

Because of that, he had grown to love this place, too. Coming out here together meant that Luise was well enough to go on an outing, and that he had survived another battle and returned home safely.

Whenever they came to the lake, Luise would pack a picnic basket as though playing house, always bringing one or two favourite books.

He would quietly follow behind her, watching the girl and feeling thrilled at the prospect of their day on the water.

Whenever she skipped along, the ribbon tying back her shimmering golden hair would flutter behind her.

Her white dress billowed lightly with every step, like petals from the lemon trees drifting through the air.

“Shed, hurry up!”

Luise would run ahead and wave her little hand to hurry him along. Although she didn’t walk particularly quickly, the impatient way she beckoned him made it seem as if he was always too slow — a trait he found endearing.

Once they reached the lakeshore, she would hum a little tune. As always, he took her hand as she climbed into the small rowboat, and the two of them settled in.

While the boy rowed, Luise would dip her hand into the rippling water. The clear, cool surface of the water felt refreshing against her fingertips.

That was how the two of them came to love the blue waters of Lake Anteros.

From somewhere beyond those memories, Shed Lester met Liana’s gaze.

With practised ease, he placed his foot at the bow of the boat to steady it. He was much taller than before, yet his body still moved with the same familiar grace.

For a moment, Liana’s heart pounded as if she had been transported back to her childhood.

Shed reached out his hand to her, calm and unhurried.