Chapter 3

As cherry blossoms petals danced in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

Xiaoming stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

In the border barony's capital sightseeing course, Freya, the captain, was in charge, and after leaving the city walls, they proceeded on a flat road. Since the road was well-made, there was little shaking.

With the window open, she looked outside.

"Katy, smoke is rising from the mountain!"

"There's a volcano. In the past, it has erupted, and there are also terrifying places filled with toxic gas."

"If there's a volcano, are there hot springs too?"

"There are, but they haven't been fully utilized yet."

"Why not? Hot springs are very popular, and I'd like to try one."

I've heard they're good for shoulder stiffness, so I really want to try one.

With the window open and moving slowly, the conversation turned to the border baron mentioning a lack of manpower.

"This land is in the top 10 of places people don't want to live in. There's a shortage of surplus personnel, so we can't develop tourism."

Currently, both agriculture and commerce are running smoothly. While there are some poor people, there are no slums that have deteriorated the land.

"The unemployed are mostly elderly or ill and don't have the physical strength to work in tourism."

"Even if it's not a tourist destination, it would be difficult for frail old people to run a hot spring resort."

Impressions greatly affect sales in the service industry. Of course, good quality sells, but if the staff's attitude is terrible, even good products won't sell.

If we're going to make hot springs a product, we need energetic, healthy labor.

"Even if it's a hot spring for the residents, we'd need lodging, souvenir shops, cleaners, security, doctors, and perhaps shared carriages."

Wow, a simple calculation shows we'd need at least a hundred people.

"Hot springs are nearby. Since only locals go there, if you want to go, you should take at least five guards, including Katy."

"That many aren't necessary."

"Young and beautiful girls taking a bath. It's better to have more guards."

Being surrounded by guards at a hot spring... I don't think I'd be able to relax at all...

While I was thinking this, Freya, the captain, said to the border baron and me:

"By the way, there's something I'd like to share about the manpower, though it's not confirmed yet."

The border baron asked, "What is it?"

"The Third Knight Regiment patrols the roads and talks to travelers when they see them..."

I've seen several groups that clearly looked like commoners in shared carriages.

The people in them were families, couples, or single individuals, a mixed group. They weren't criminals; they were ordinary commoners.

And they all wanted to move to the border barony.

"I haven't met them yet, but they all say they moved from the Rynx Viscount's territory."

I was surprised.

I don't know the exact number, but according to the reports Freya received, there are forty or fifty people.

So many people... really?

"As the number has increased, I think the reports from the town hall will come soon. The people who want to move say that at least a hundred, or two or three hundred, will come..."

The border barony is very far.

I almost died on a month-long journey.

Yet... why?

I don't need to ask. There's no other reason. Everyone... is worried about me?

Tears welled up.

When I was told to leave the viscount's territory, or when I parted ways with my parents, I didn't cry.

But this time, I couldn't hold back.

Being treated kindly makes me weak. When people worry about me, I want to rely on them.

Crying loudly, I thought about leaving the castle as soon as possible to see everyone's faces.

I don't have any money saved or any place to go, but if the people from the viscount's territory are there, we can live together and think of ways to earn money.

I said goodbye to the border baron, fully intending to leave, but he refused, saying he couldn't allow it.

"I can't allow you to leave the castle, but I will allow you to meet the people who came from the viscount's territory. I want to meet them too."

"Really, the border baron too?"

"Is there a problem with that?"

"No, everyone will be surprised. The border baron is such a handsome man, and I've never seen anyone like that in the viscount's territory. Even if there are, it's not just the good looks, but the style, posture, and aura... the noble and dignified presence that commoners can't match."

"Is that... a compliment?"

"Of course not. It's an objective opinion. Don't worry, I won't fall in love with someone just because of their looks."

The border baron's attendant chuckled, and when I glanced back, Katy was trying to suppress a laugh.

The border baron cleared his throat.

"In any case, I want to hear from the people who want to move. After consulting with the immigration officer, we'll call a few representatives, so please wait patiently."

If the border baron says so, I can trust him.

I took advantage of his words and spent a leisurely day in my room.

The food is delicious, and I get snacks. I even feel like I have more clothes. Not just clothes, but hair accessories and jewelry... it's exciting, but my debt is increasing, which is nerve-wracking.

I hope I won't be charged when I leave.

The day to meet the representatives from the viscount's territory.

In the morning, not only Katy and Merrill, but three other young maids came and polished me from head to toe. It wasn't a luxurious evening gown, but a refined dress different from my usual casual dresses. The base was black, but the intricate silver embroidery made it very elegant and expensive.

Over the dress, I wore a lace shawl and pearl accessories. Even the shoes hidden by the dress were adorned with pearls.

Thinking about the price made me dizzy.

In any case, after being made up, I headed to the conference room in the castle.

By the way, why is the border baron escorting me? He's wearing black, almost like a knight's uniform, but with a longer coat.

Long coats can look very uncool on short people. I'm not very tall, so stylish clothes don't suit me.

"Today, three representatives are here. One of them was a butler in the viscount's household..."

"Huh?"

I was surprised.

"Is Butler Evans here?"

"Yes, we can't tell if he's the real one, but Hadley will know if she meets him."

The others are Dr. Deena, a female doctor, and Tylson, a tax officer.

"I'm glad to see such reliable people, but is the viscount's territory okay?"

"We've received reports that the situation is not good."

Reports... did he specifically investigate? If the reports are bad, my marriage might be even further away.

I have no responsibilities now, and if I did, I could run away. But my father can't. Or can he?

I knew he was a bad father, but this is worrying.

For the viscount's household to lose Evans, the backbone of the house, is shocking.

Evans, though elderly, managed the entire viscount's residence alone. The housekeeper was Evans' wife, and their three children worked in the viscount's household, as did their spouses.

The family was close, so it's unlikely they would move as individuals.

Dr. Deena is a veteran doctor, and Tylson, the tax officer, was a clean and upright official who helped me manage the territory. At first, I couldn't read ledgers, but thanks to Tylson, I grew to the point where I could spot fraud.

The castle is large, and the conference room is far.

On the way, I noticed something.

The border baron... is walking slowly to match my pace?

A servant and two guard knights stood in the corridor, opening the heavy door for us.

"You look well, Miss."

Dr. Deena was the first to run over and pick me up.

"You look well too, Doctor. Was the long journey difficult?"

"Haha, I'm built tough."

That's true. Dr. Deena, whose age and gender are unknown, has a very robust physique and is rumored to be able to crush rocks with her fists. Her face is masculine, but her heart is feminine.

After being put down, I greeted Evans and Tylson.

"Thank you for coming. I'm so happy. I cried like a child when I heard the news."

"Hadley, it's been a while. I came to offer my assistance if needed."

"I was invited by Evans. Rather than wasting away in the uninteresting viscount's territory, I wanted to spend my remaining years by your side."

I was getting carried away, but the border baron suggested I sit down.

"I'm sorry. I haven't introduced you yet..."

"It's fine. If we're going to talk, the sofa over there would be better."

The conference room had a comfortable sofa area behind a partition with potted plants. When I sat down, the border baron sat next to me.

"The reason for this meeting is not only to see Hadley but also to discuss the move."

A few or ten people moving wouldn't be a problem, but for a hundred, the receiving side needs to prepare.

"About 300 people are expected to come. We'd like to ask for permission to build a small village near the capital."

"Evans originally wanted to run an inn. But now, even those who weren't invited want to move, and nearly a hundred have already arrived. We need to create a place for them to stay before they become homeless."

That's... a good opportunity.

The border baron nodded.

"Actually, there's a place I want people to live. It's not well-developed yet, but with manpower, I want to develop it."

Build inns and rest areas, attract tourists and hot spring visitors. Inns, restaurants, souvenir shops... there will be a need for many workers.

"I see. If I manage the hot spring town and Tylson handles the finances, that would work."

"Right. A hot spring town is also a health resort, so we need a doctor too."

"Sure, I'm interested in hot springs. I've heard they can help with back pain and knee pain."

They do work. I'm glad they can help with my shoulder stiffness.

"Among the immigrants are the innkeeper of 'Tiger Cat Manor' and the owner of 'Barbecue Paradise,' so they can quickly come up with signature dishes for the hot spring town."

"Really? So we can have Tiger Cat Manor's cheesecake again? Barbecue Paradise's stew is delicious too."

It's supposed to be a barbecue place, but the most popular dish is the stew.

"For future town planning, we want to work with the town hall. We'll prepare housing and jobs for the immigrants, so please make sure no criminals are among them. Even if they're Hadley's acquaintances, we can't keep criminals in the town."

"Of course. If there are any, I'll beat them up and kick them out before the border barony's guards do."

When Dr. Deena said this, it didn't sound like a joke.

We confirmed the general plan and discussed the current situation. I understand they came to check on me, but moving is a significant change in life.

"It's something I've been thinking about for a while, even before you decided to come to the border barony."

It wasn't a hasty decision after you decided to come to the border barony, but a plan from four or five years ago.

Evans had heard about my father's mistress and illegitimate child early on and probably predicted I would be driven out.

"I had considered all possible marriage scenarios for you. This time, it was a sudden engagement with the border baron, so we waited and then followed."

If it had been a worse match, they would have helped me escape like a midnight flight.

"Lord Rynx didn't tell us the departure date, so you had an anxious journey. I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize. I'm living very well now, thanks to the border baron's family."

Still... my father, as usual, tends to run away from trouble.

He probably rushed to drive me out to avoid complaints from Tylson and others. He didn't consider that the anger of the people might double.

Even if they're angry, they'll somehow help. In fact, they've managed so far, but...

I was driven out from the viscount's household, and the free-moving people fled. Some have escaped to other territories nearby because the border barony is too far.

In the end, the number of immigrants might exceed a thousand.

"By law, people can move between territories. If the border barony had lured the viscount's people with money, it could be a crime, but if the people want to live where they choose, they can't be stopped."

That's right. The law allows people to move between territories. They can leave freely, but the receiving territory can also refuse.

The border barony, being unpopular due to the cold, welcomes immigrants.

"Once we have enough people, we can build a hot spring town. With a butler, we can create a high-end spa for the wealthy, increasing profits."

"The housekeeper, maids, cooks, and gardeners from the viscount's household are here, so we can provide service comparable to the viscount's household."

"Hot springs are a natural gift. Initial investments are needed for buildings, but once built, only maintenance and renovation costs are required. With good marketing, we can turn a profit in five years."

"Marketing... then, let's use the completed hot spring town for our honeymoon. We can file the engagement and marriage notices in advance, but the wedding preparations will take time. If we go on a honeymoon, it would be at least a year and a half from now... Winter would be good for a hot spring town."

He nodded, but something bothered me.

"Border Baron, just to be sure..."

"What?"

"This is a very self-centered question..."

Is the marriage partner me?

I asked with some courage, and he nodded reluctantly.

"Who else?"

"Who else... I don't know. You said you wouldn't marry at all until recently."

"Never mind."

"But I do mind. What changed your mind? If it's just for show, I think it's better to choose someone based on family background."

"It's not for show, and I have no intention of taking a concubine."

"Is that so?"

"I'll explain the wedding plans later. First, let's talk about the hot spring town."

Indeed. People are already gathering. We need to quickly plan the city, budget, and arrange for carpenters.

The town to accommodate the people from the viscount's territory was surprisingly welcomed by the people of the border barony.

I visited several town halls and heard various opinions, but there were almost no objections.

"Of course, our territory is always in the top 10 of the least popular places. If the new people build a hot spring town, it might bring new trends to our territory."

"There are no places to visit here."

There are some entertainment facilities in the town, but no one- or two-night tourist destinations. Honeymoons often involve returning to the hometown village, which lacks the feel of a honeymoon.

"It would be good to have places where young people can have fun, not just hot spring facilities."

"Then, please include stylish cafes. There are few places for couples to date."

In larger towns, there are cafes and high-end restaurants, but many have been the same for decades, lacking freshness. There's also a high chance of running into acquaintances.

"I see. Honeymoons, family trips, dates... and outings with friends. We need to consider them separately from hot spring visitors."

I listened to the young people at the town hall and took notes.

"Is that notebook... all the content of the interviews?"

"Yes. I need to hear from many people to avoid bias. I'm currently focusing on the town hall, but I plan to talk to the townspeople as well."

In the viscount's territory, there was always a shortage of manpower, so it was faster to hear things myself rather than rely on others. Without a third party, I could hear both good and bad opinions.

Sometimes, town hall officials try to hide inconvenient truths, which is problematic.

However, if I try to proceed without the town hall, it might create a bad impression and hinder future public projects. It's a hassle, but I need to start with the town hall. After setting the general flow, I can talk to the townspeople.

This time, the project can't be done without the cooperation of the border barony's town hall, so I want to involve a few interested people in the plan.

"Excuse me, can I give my opinion too?"

A woman around my age asked, and I nodded.

"As women, we find large public baths a bit embarrassing... We prefer private baths or reserved baths."

"Yes, I feel the same. I want to be surrounded by people I know."

I don't think everyone is watching me, but it's still embarrassing.

When I learned that noble ladies have maids help them bathe, I was shocked.

"In other countries, there's something called a foot bath."

You sit in a chair and warm only your legs below the knees.

"Then, even if a man sees, it's okay... and you can go with your partner."

"Yes, I suppose... from the knees down..."

"No."

The border baron suddenly appeared. I was surprised, but the people at the town hall looked even more shocked. That's understandable.

Why did he come? His presence makes it hard to hear opinions freely.

"Even if it's a ball gown, showing skin to a man... I can't allow it."

"Only from the knees down?"

"The hot spring Hadley goes to will be a private or reserved bath. I won't compromise on this."

"But I want to enjoy the hot spring with everyone."

"Then, we can have women-only days."

"That's so troublesome..."

I thought it would be nice to enjoy it casually with everyone...

The border baron thought hard.

"Then, how about serving cold fruit water and sweets on women-only days?"

Not only my eyes but also the eyes of the woman who suggested the foot bath sparkled.

"That sounds like a great deal."

"It's embarrassing to be lured by such things, but I can't say no to fruit water and sweets."

"To prevent drunk male guests from entering, how about a women-only inn?"

"That's a good idea. Would the border baron prefer a men-only inn?"

The border baron made a very displeased face, and the people at the town hall smiled awkwardly.

An older person in the group hesitantly but helpfully said:

"In the border baron's case, regardless of gender... it might be better to have a completely private inn."

Wow, that's a problem.

"Then, I'll prepare a private inn for the border baron."

"Right. Hadley will stay with me. We can decorate it to our liking."