Chapter 95

That evening, Noein visited Lillith's house with Matilda and Clara.

Lillith had been instructed to keep Noein's visit a secret, so Russell, her father, was taken aback by the sudden visit from the lord.

"Lord Noein!? And Lady Clara too!"

"I'm sorry to surprise you. Please stay seated."

Russell, who had been hastily trying to stand on one leg when he saw Noein and the others enter the house, was calmed by Noein's words.

Noein sat in a chair facing Russell, with Clara sitting beside him and Matilda standing behind him.

Admia placed cups of water in front of Noein and the others.

"Thank you."

"I'm sorry, we are mere farmers and have nothing to offer you..."

"No, we came unexpectedly... This is your home. Please make yourself comfortable."

Noein spoke to reassure Russell, who was visibly uneasy.

"Well... I've come today to talk about Lillith."

After taking a sip of the water, Noein got straight to the point.

"Has my daughter done something wrong...?"

Russell turned to look at Lillith, who stood behind him, her expression tense.

"I heard from Mr. Selphus that Lillith wants to become a doctor."

"That... I'm sorry! My daughter is overstepping her bounds... I didn't mean to trouble you, Lord Noein."

"No, that's not it. I'm not here to scold her."

Seeing the frightened look on Russell's face, Noein reassured him.

"Actually, it's the opposite. If Lillith wants to become a doctor, I want her to study medicine under Mr. Selphus. However, I heard that you, Russell, are against it, so I wanted to talk to you about it."

Hearing Noein's words, Russell fell silent for a moment, his face showing hesitation, before he spoke.

"...If it's an order from Lord Noein, I have no choice but to allow my daughter to become a doctor."

Noein could sense the reluctance in Russell's words, as if he was only agreeing because the lord had commanded it.

"I'm not trying to wield my authority as lord. Doing so would only create a rift between you and your daughter... Besides, even as lord, I don't think I should interfere in the personal affairs of my subjects."

Noein spoke without reprimanding Russell's attitude.

"Let's start from the beginning... Russell, why are you against Lillith becoming a doctor?"

"I've never heard of a woman becoming a doctor... I've never seen one. Even if my daughter could learn medicine, I don't think she could make a living as a doctor."

Noein asked Russell and listened to his reasoning.

This wasn't because Russell was a rigid person. It was common to cling to customs and common sense simply because "that's how it's always been." This was especially true for farmers like Russell, who had lived in a small, isolated world.

"...We left our hometown and barely made it to this domain. Moreover, I can no longer walk properly. That's why I want my only daughter, Lillith, to marry a good man and live a stable, if ordinary, life. If she becomes a doctor and can't make a living, it might even affect her marriage prospects..."

"I understand how you feel. It's natural to feel great anxiety when considering the world you've lived in. It's true that there are very few female doctors, almost none. But that's the case in other parts of the kingdom."

Noein showed understanding while continuing his conversation.

"This place is different from where you've lived before. It's not just a different region; my way of thinking, values, and the social norms and systems based on them are all different."

Noein spoke in a gentle tone to prevent Russell from feeling intimidated, but he made sure his words were clear.

"Here, former mercenaries serve as knights, and former refugees are land-owning farmers. Some beastmen have even started their own trading companies. Slaves are protected by the law just like commoners. This Matilda, a beastman slave, serves as my adjutant. There's also a women's mutual aid organization. But you no longer feel any discomfort or aversion to these things, right?"

"Indeed... At first, I was confused, but since I was given a new place to live here, I decided to accept these things to live here. Now, I no longer feel any discomfort."

The social rules of the Alquvist domain often deviated from the kingdom's norms, but the subjects generally accepted them. They didn't want to cling to old customs and habits at the cost of a stable life.

"These new norms are based on my belief that people should be evaluated based on their abilities and achievements, regardless of their race, gender, origin, or status. I will continue to run the domain based on this belief, and I will pass it on to my children and grandchildren."

Having spent his childhood isolated from society, Noein couldn't adapt to the kingdom's social customs of distinguishing and discriminating against people based on their birth status.

While he understood intellectually that this was how society worked, he internally considered it unjust and inefficient to impose restrictions on jobs and positions based on gender, race, or slave status.

This belief formed the core of the innovative atmosphere in the Alquvist domain.

"Therefore, if Lillith becomes a doctor, she won't face discrimination or persecution because she's a woman. She will be a respected and admired doctor who supports and helps the people of the domain. I will do everything in my power to make that happen."

Noein spoke firmly, looking directly into Russell's eyes.

"Russell, you've overcome the major decision of leaving your hometown and have accepted the new norms of the Alquvist domain. You have the courage to do so. So, please, trust me this time and open your mind. I'm asking you, please."

"Noein, Lord, please don't bow."

When Noein bowed slightly, Russell hurriedly said this.

It was almost unheard of for a noble lord to bow to a subject, even slightly, so it was understandable that Russell felt intimidated.

"...I understand Lord Noein's thoughts well."

Russell's face showed both understanding and conflict.

While he understood the logic, he felt an instinctive unease about overturning another one of his deeply ingrained beliefs.

"...Lillith, why do you want to become a doctor?"

"That's... because Mr. Selphus helped my father."

As a final push, Noein turned to Lillith, and she responded. Russell's face showed surprise when he heard this.

"When I saw my father, who had lost his leg in a battle with bandits, I thought he was going to die. We had just started a new life in this land, and I was afraid I might lose my father and never see him again."

Lillith spoke earnestly, despite her nervousness.

"But Mr. Selphus saved my father. Thanks to him, I can still be with my father. That's why I want to become a doctor and help people who are injured or sick. I want to prevent the people of this domain from experiencing such sadness."

"..."

As Lillith spoke, tears welled up in Russell's eyes.

"Russell, as your lord, I promise to protect Lillith's desire. So, will you please allow her to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor?"

"...Yes. Lord Noein, please give my daughter the opportunity to become a doctor. I beg you."

Russell bowed deeply as he spoke.

...

"That speech of yours tonight moved me deeply. Didn't it, Matilda?"

"Yes, I was also deeply impressed. Even standing behind you, I could feel the depth of your compassion, Lord Noein."

After persuading Russell and returning to the mansion, having finished dinner and a bath, Noein was relaxing in the living room when Clara and Matilda spoke to him.

"Thank you. I think I did a good job... But it was Lillith's words that really sealed the deal. Emotion moves people more than logic."

As he spoke, Noein took a sip of the tea Matilda had prepared.

It wasn't just about helping Lillith; there were also goals of breaking down rigid social norms, creating a precedent, and cultivating the next generation of doctors for the domain's stability. However, it felt good to be praised by the women he loved.

"Seeing a father cry for his child is something I'll never experience... Well, maybe my father would shed tears of regret if he saw my success in frontier development."

Noein smiled wryly, and Clara gave a slightly bitter smile. Matilda also chuckled softly.

"Did you not find it funny? I thought it was a good joke."

"You, that's..."

"Perhaps a bit too sarcastic."

Matilda sat to Noein's right, and Clara sat to his left. They both leaned into Noein's arms.

"We will be by your side for life. Your words make us cry, and your words make us feel loved."

"So you won't feel lonely."

"...You noticed, huh? Thank you both."

Seeing the love between Lillith and Russell, Noein had felt a bit lonely, reflecting on his own childhood. His sarcastic comment about his father was a reflection of that feeling.

Matilda and Clara had seen through it.

"...Shall we go to bed?"

"Yes, all three of us tonight."

"Please take good care of us."

With Matilda and Clara in his arms, Noein stood up and headed to the bedroom.