I Regressed to My Ruined Family Chapter 186

＃After returning, the family was ruined (187)

Even in silence, the carriage moved steadily toward its own path. The County of Pernes, once ruled by Count Chayman. We arrived at Hermes, the largest city there.

‘Amazing.’

A castle wall reinforced with solid stone.

The buildings located there had been neatly renovated. That wasn’t the only change. Beautiful gardens and street trees spread throughout.

From shops selling all kinds of luxury goods to tightly packed traveling theater companies. In terms of development alone, it was comparable to Londinium, the capital of the duchy.

I knew at least that tax revenue had increased explosively in recent years. Of course, I thought the county would be much more prosperous than before, but I didn’t expect it to be this much.

“Ilya. Wake up and see. “We have arrived at Hermes.”

Ethan shook Ilya awake. As she looked around with a blank expression, her eyes naturally turned to look out the window. Two cat-like eyes were seen gradually getting bigger.

“…is this where we stopped?”

“right.”

“Oh my… so much has changed.”

Having lived for a long time, change was familiar to her. Nevertheless, the reason I couldn’t help but express my surprise was because I knew that change always requires the investment of time. Just looking at the changes, it seems like ten years have passed, but in reality, less than a year has passed.

Naturally, exclamations flowed out.

“Gaylan is coming.”

As if he had been notified in advance, Gaelan was riding his horse.

He soon got off his horse and bowed his head politely.

“It’s been a long time since I last saw you, Your Excellency the Duke. Miss Ilya was also there.”

“Can you show me around the city?”

“of course.”

Gailen was a very good guide. As he was the administrator of the county, he knew the territory better than anyone else.

Construction was in full swing near Baekryeong. Numerous workers were seen working on the huge structure, creating its exterior. There were more than one building under construction on a large scale.

“What are you building?”

“The building that is being built similar to the Colosseum over there is the Great Hall.”

“Great place?”

“yes. We are planning to gather card game experts in one place and hold an official competition every year. “In order for the competition to run smoothly, shouldn’t there be a lot of spectators supporting him?”

“How many people can it accommodate?”

“We can accommodate up to 20,000 people.”

Ethan stuck his tongue out.

With an audience of 20,000, it was a crowd that could only be gathered at a famous gladiatorial competition. That’s how big the number is.

“Is it that popular?”

“I am rather worried that there may be a shortage of seats. “I’m sure audiences will flock not only to Hermes but also from all over the West.”

“Right. “Then what about that building?”

“It’s an opera house. As the frequency of visits by nobles has increased significantly, it is expected that it will be difficult to keep up with the traveling troupe alone…”

Gailen answered that they were building a grand auditorium to invite prominent figures from the capital to perform music and plays.

Although it requires enormous construction costs and manpower, they boldly chose to invest.

“Londinium’s support alone would not have been enough.”

“So I used my dividends.”

20% of card sales profits.

This was the income that Gylan received for creating a card game. At first only small sums were accepted, but this was different after the card game spread westward and throughout the capital.

This is because the income from not only card bundles sold to commoners but also high-quality card bundles sold to high-ranking nobles has increased explosively. Therefore, a huge amount of dividends were being paid every month. It looks like it went into that building. I just have one question…

“Can I handle it?”

This was it. Hermes is developing to a level similar to Londinium. Even if dividends were increased, it was not something that could be covered simply with income alone.

It was a conclusion that could be made because Londinium’s financial situation was understood at a glance. Right now, wasn’t Londinium pouring in everything from the income from the card game to the amount earned through the contract with the Marquis of Bessus? Gaelen smiled awkwardly at that question.

“Actually… that alone isn’t enough to fully handle it. So I borrowed some help from my family.”

It wasn’t difficult to guess why Gylan behaved the way he did. Wasn’t it decided to evaluate the year’s financial statements around the middle of this year and grant a succession noble rank? It seems that he really liked this county. So, I guess they are investing even with their own money.

The higher your progress, the better results you will get in the year-end evaluation.

It was a commendable sincerity.

Ethan said after looking around the estate.

“Is there still about half a year left?”

“…yes.”

“I plan to reorganize the territory around that time. “There is a high possibility that this place will be incorporated into a Viscounty territory.”

Gailen’s eyes sparkled. It was originally a county, but it was easy to guess why it was not made into a county.

‘I guess it’s for the sake of the schemer.’

Lawrence. I’ve heard rumors about him so hard that it hurts my ears. From the time the duke arose from the baronage until now, he has been devoted to his loyalty with all his heart and soul. It wasn’t just about loyalty. All of her strategies were at a level worthy of being called a genius.

Worst of all, wouldn’t even the knight commander of the dragon slayer greatly respect the opinion of the treacherous man?

Even though he has not yet received the title of nobleman and is a commoner.

The maximum number of counts a duke could appoint was two.

‘Perhaps the remaining seat…’

I thought it would be either Lord Myers, the duke’s younger brother, or Lord Theron, who recently returned. It’s not for nothing that they say blood is thicker than water.

This phenomenon was especially aggravated in the case of a prestigious family like Ardan.

‘It’s a little disappointing, though.’

In fact, it could be said that it was a business that would remain unconditionally even if one only received the title.

If you become the owner of the Viscounty Territory, isn’t the land going to be yours anyway?

Since he will be incorporated into one of the vassal families, he will eventually be appointed as the owner of the territory, even though he will have to pay taxes regularly. Because he knew that fact, he attempted to invest all of his own money into the estate.

‘okay. This is enough success.’

It reminded me of my hometown, the County of Halaim. Since he was born third, it would have been best for him to rise to the level of administrator of a small subsidiary territory. In that situation, it was not a disappointing result as he was appointed as the heir to the viscountcy.

Of course, it would have been best to be appointed Count.

It was then.

Ethan, who was looking at Gailen blankly, asked.

“What do you think of Ardan?”

“…I think this is a family that will continue to develop as the guardians of the kingdom.”

That was a clear fact just by looking at the operation in front of us. Not only is it known that he reached the level of a superhuman at the age of twenty, but his basic skills are so excellent that he is highly praised by the transcendent. If the family with such a person as the head of the family developed, would it have developed and declined?

Only then did Gailen realize why Ethan had said such a thing. There was no law limiting the number of inherited nobles to just ten.

However, so far, they have only maintained that number as if it were some kind of tradition. If Ardan had wanted to, he could have increased the number of inherited nobles as much as he wanted. The reason they didn’t do that was probably because this family didn’t care about politics at all.

But it was different now.

Haven’t you already participated in a meeting of the Central Government once? It was nothing short of expressing his intention to enter the political realm.

“We will continue to do our best!”

“Good luck. “Anyway, I’m a little tired.”

“Haha, shouldn’t you relieve your fatigue? We have made every preparation possible. “Please go to Naejeong.”

“I will accept the favor gratefully.”

Glancing.

While moving into the inner room, Gaelen’s eyes turned to Ilya every now and then. She remained dead silent next to Ethan.

‘…did it originally look like that?’

I don’t think it was that quiet when I first visited the city…

It was the same even when I was making magical devices for card games in my spare time. Haven’t you always shown yourself to be very active?

I had doubts, but I didn’t dare to speak up first.

I felt it instinctively.

The reason he looks so gloomy is because of the peacock sitting right next to him.

In fact, I couldn’t have known without knowing.

The wizard’s eyes, as he looked at the duke from time to time, were full of gloom.

‘Did you get into a fight?’

If not, did he at least hear some harsh words from the duke? Thanks to Ilya’s death, the journey to the castle naturally became quiet.

“Hey, Ilya.”

“Did you call me?”

“The banquet is ready…”

“I have a headache. “Please assign me a room.”

“…All right.”

Gaelen, who could not bear to suggest further, nodded.

Ethan and Guylan were the only ones attending the banquet. This happened because Ethan didn’t like noise in the first place. Gaelen, who was carefully filling the glass, asked.

“Um… Your Excellency the Duke, did you have any business with Ilia?”

If there was, there was. After that incident, there was silence in the carriage every day. A surprisingly awkward atmosphere ensued. It was embarrassing even for Ethan. It was his first time experiencing something like this.

“no. “It was… just a mistake.”

No matter how I look at it, I don’t think it was a mistake. At that time, Ilya spoke coldly as if she was trying to cover up this incident.

‘If that’s the case, just cover it up.’

What if you say things like that but actually act the opposite way? But part of me also understood it. This was because I knew something about her life.

To put it in one word, he is just a lone wizard. Since I was born half-human, it must have been difficult to be treated like a human. In general, half-humans were treated as monsters by humans, and they were usually treated like broken toys by other races.

I thought that the slouchy attitude might be the result of experiencing such a life. Although she lived her life wearing the mask of an archmage, wasn’t her inner essence a girl who half lacked social skills?

That’s why there were almost no people within the duchy that were close friends.

Ethan took a sip of his drink and stood up.

“Let’s end the banquet here. “I’m not doing this because I don’t like it, so don’t worry.”

“…All right.”

As he left the banquet hall, he grabbed the maid and asked her.

Long strides.

The place I arrived at without hesitation was in front of the door where Ilya was located.

“Ilya are you awake?”

….

“I’m going in.”

He immediately opened the door and approached the bed.