ITMWG 45

Chapter 45…

Aylesford has changed!

The atmosphere became awkward again as they moved to a quieter place and sat down across from each other. Mrs. Riti seemed very curious about what they were talking about, but she complied with Leon’s serious request when he asked her to leave them for a moment. Perhaps because they seemed a little fishy, she insisted on them not fighting before leaving. But it seems that thanks to it, the war of nerves between Altair and Leon unclicked.

“Now, let’s hear what it is about.”

Altair was the first to speak in the awkward atmosphere. He seemed puzzled by the fact that Nadia tried to take in Leone by bringing up a matter that was not unanimously agreed upon. This situation must have been surprising to him as she always talked to Altair first and proceeded after getting his consent. Leon was also watching her with his arms crossed as if wondering why she made such a proposal. As she received the burning gazes of the two men, her shoulders naturally shrank at her timidity.

I feel like I’m being interrogated…

But she was not a criminal though? Rather, she just wanted to do good for everyone, so there was no need to shy away like this! She tried to pluck up as much courage as possible, still, if timidity could be overcome just as easily as that, Nadia wouldn’t have been such a reserved person in the first place.

“So the thing is…”

Nadia wiggled her fingers, carefully organising her thoughts. This was a fictional world, and having read it, she couldn’t just say that she knew the future, that in a few years, a severe flu would turn the whole continent upside down. No one would believe such a ridiculous story, so she might as well be treated as a crazy woman.

“…I want to make an investment.”

“Investment?”

Perhaps it was an unexpected turn of events, Leon furrowed his eyebrows.

“Yes. I will invest in your research in the name of Aylesford.”

It was not uncommon for nobles to invest in the research of scholars. Nobles who had made more than enough money would invest in the research of scholars in the form of buying honour. In a similar context, there was also an example of sponsoring the activities of artists.

“Recently, Aylesford has accumulated a lot of wealth. We got a magic stone mine and a nice orchard.”

“There is probably no one on this continent who doesn’t know about that.”

It was certainly so. Their estate, which was once said to be poor, became wealthy overnight. What could be a more interesting incident than this? It must have become a hot topic throughout the continent as well as in the empire.

“If one just accumulates wealth, it will only give the impression of a nouveau riche*. It is also necessary to spend the earned amount wisely. That’s why I want to invest in promising things.”

T/n: nouveau riche –  people who have recently acquired wealth, but want to show it off publicly by acting ostentatious.

Unless one was from a prestigious family established from the founding of the empire, this kind of image-making was essential. Those who kept their wealth to themselves and acted cocky in the social world were always shunned. Nadia did not know if Altair would want to extend his influence in the social world, but wouldn’t it be nice to have power anyway?

It would be nice to be given a choice.

Nadia then glanced at Altair as if asking for consent, but he was looking back at her with perplexed eyes. It seemed he still had questions, as he looked troubled and a little surprised.

“So, you’re saying you want to use me?”

Leon asked, narrowing his eyes. He probably didn’t think that she would have told him to be her doctor for that reason.

“Please think of it as helping each other rather than using. You must have something you want too, right?”

From an objective standard, Leon now was nothing more than an unknown doctor. Only Nadia, who had read the novel, knew that he would become a great figure in the future, but to those who did not have such information, he was just a rural physician.

Besides, cold medicine for commoners?

That wasn’t the kind of research nobles wanted. They wanted fancy research, such as studying incurable diseases, rather than curing trivial ones like colds. Since they had no idea that such a minor illness would be driving countless people to death, this thought only occurred to people a few years later.

It might have been possible for Nadia to persuade Leon for sugar-coated and tempting reasons. She knew that it was better to sway people’s hearts that way.

But that would be like tricking.

If the intention was to take advantage of him, wouldn’t it be better to say so from the beginning?

If I were in Leon’s shoes, I’d definitely prefer this way.

Nadia was convinced and continued what she had to say.

“I will make sure to support your research. As you know, Aylesford is overflowing with wealth now. Oh, of course, this would have to be approved by the lord first…”

She glanced at Altair, blurring the end of her words, and he nodded as a sign of agreement, opening his mouth to break the long silence.

“I promise you solid support. I won’t put any limits on the amount. However, the final results must be made available to us first. The drugs that are created through research will be manufactured and sold by us. Of course, the profits from the sale will be shared with you.”

Plans for the future flowed smoothly from Altair’s mouth. It came out so naturally like it was from someone who had been planning this for a long time.

When did he do all those calculations?

She didn’t even talk about it with him beforehand. Did he come to that conclusion in just a few minutes after seeing her making a proposal to Leone?

His intelligence sure is extraordinary.

That’s the very reason why the villainous Prince Orca had his eyes on Altair for becoming his henchman.

The problem is that our estate used to be so poor that such a talented individual like himself couldn’t fully display his abilities.

Now that they had opulence, Altair would only be on his way to rise higher.

And the higher he gets…

Imagining what happened after this strangely made her heart throb. Unlike Altair, who was the protagonist of the novel with great abilities, Nadia was just a meek and ordinary minor person. No matter how hard she tried, it would be difficult for her to keep pace with him.

Nadia strived to hold herself back from being depressed. Right now, it was her role to give birth to the heir that Altair wanted so much.

No matter how elite Altair is, he can’t have a child on his own.

If she could find her role in that way, she might as well be able to create her own place. While her mind wandered, Leon also lowered his gaze for a moment as if deep in thought, then raised his head again moments later. He seemed to have come to a conclusion.

“… If I had heard of such an offer as soon as I met you, I would never have accepted it.”

Leon’s gaze passed Altair and landed on Nadia. When she smiled awkwardly at the stare, he slightly frowned and ruffled his hair.

“I know I shouldn’t trust you, but I’ll accept your offer. I don’t even understand why I feel this way. It’s so strange…”

“It’s sometimes necessary to join hands with your enemy. Whether or not we are your real enemy is something to be judged in the future.”

Altair, who must have felt Leon’s hostility toward him, shrugged his shoulders and said. Altair’s confidence was reflected in his attitude. Seeing that, Nadia reflected it upon herself and decided that she had nothing to shy away from. Whatever Leon was thinking, it would eventually be just a misunderstanding. Leon’s eyes trembled slightly as if he was confused by Altair’s confident appearance.

“Now that Nadia has recovered, it will be okay to leave for Aylesford soon. I don’t think long-distance travel should be a problem. If you feel like it, let’s go together.”

“If that’s the case, you don’t have to worry. Because there is a guy who is pretty good at handling those things.”

As Altair glanced out the window while saying so, for some reason, the tree suddenly swayed and the leaves rained down. Nadia blinked her eyes in bafflement, but Altair looked back at Leone as if he didn’t care about the supposedly strange thing.

“Wait for a couple of days and we’ll find a doctor to take care of the clinic for you.”

Altair’s declaration made the tree shake again.

Altair’s assertion was no bluff. He had indeed been looking for a new doctor to take over the clinic in two days. In addition, the quiet village became very bustling as a handful of workers was brought in to help cultivate the fields.

“Thank you for helping me and my wife. I paid all the wages, so you can work comfortably with some help until the whole field is cultivated.”

The villagers constantly refused, but Altair’s perseverance was also formidable, and eventually, the men he brought helped them with the farming. The speed at which the hired men worked was so fast that the villagers who came out to watch them clapped in admiration. Leon had also finished saying goodbye to the villagers. As if it was a pity to part with the people he had been attached to for a long time for his research, Leone kept glancing back in the village’s direction as they hit the road.

Nadia didn’t feel that way even after leaving the Marquis of Vine. Rather, she felt relieved. She had no desire to go back there someday nor regretted about leaving. That’s why she was a little envious of Leon’s situation, where he had something to regret.

It would be nice if I had a similar place of my own.

It would be even better if Aylesford became that kind of place to her. Nadia took a deep breath as she watched Aylesford getting closer and closer after the long journey. They were finally back home once again.

What is this?

As soon as Nadia got off the carriage, her mouth fell agape. It was certainly Aylesford Castle, but many things had changed since the last time she was here. On the wall, which once had obvious traces of wear and tear, there was a long hanging insignia symbolising the Aylesford family, and all the broken windows had been replaced with new ones.

I had ordered the glass and the insignia for the wall’s decoration before leaving.

Nadia was planning to proceed with it herself after the gathering, but it seemed that the repair was already finished due to her delayed return from the unexpected accident. Aylesford Castle, with the old traces covered, was grand and huge to anyone who saw it.

So this is a noble castle!

Even Nadia, the owner, suddenly felt pressured, so it went without saying for the visitor, Leon. He shifted his eyes here and there with his mouth slightly open, probably stunned by the sight of Aylesford Castle. He seemed to be trying hard not to show that feeling outside, but it didn’t look like it was easy.

While Nadia was looking around the castle, slightly bewildered, Marie rushed out from the inside with hasty steps. A lady-in-waiting bolted to her master recklessly, it was an action unimaginable to the usual Marie.

“Are you all right now? I was so worried because the recuperation took longer than expected.”

Marie groped over her body to examine her condition without even noticing Altair was standing next to her. Pavel, who was at the entrance, cleared his throat several times as if telling her to calm down, but she showed no signs of doing so, thus, Nadia had no choice but to appease her.

“It’s okay, Marie. I’m fine!”

Thinking it would be difficult to for her believe it with words alone, Nadia spread her arms wide and spun around in place. However, contrary to the thought that she would be fine, her head became dizzy and her body staggered. Marie, who had been listening to her, widened her eyes, appalled.

Uh…!

As she staggered and was about to tip over, a firm force supported her on both sides.

Huh…

Altair was on her right, and Leon was on her left. Thanks to the two reaching out and grabbing her arms at the same time, she didn’t fall, but her face turned flushed as she thought about how ridiculous it would look to see her both arms caught and body dangling.

Laughter came from both sides as she quietly tried to remove her arms.

“Nonsense.”

“I don’t think so.”

Altair and Leone rebutted at her simultaneously.

“Oh, no… I was just dizzy for a moment…”

“A normal person doesn’t feel dizzy so easily. Your body is still weak.”

“You can’t set the standards of ordinary people on par with yourself, Altair!”

“Neither Blan nor Cain has ever been like that.”

“No, they are not ordinary people either…”

Her meek protests did not work at all. As she let out a sigh, Altair snapped off Leon’s hand from the other side and swept her up into his arms in a wink.

Ah!

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on her and Nadia was extremely embarrassed, but seeing how Altair was still so calm, he must be very thick-skinned.

“It must be difficult to walk on your own, so I’ll take you to the bedroom.”