AWDC Chapter 49

In a separate room of the hotel, I was introduced to the prominent nobles by the lord.

“This is Toma Misaki, who will be my son-in-law,” William Robertson introduced me to Earl Milona.

He was a stout man with a red face, appearing close to fifty. I had seen him from afar when I went to deliver paper to Earl Milona’s mansion, but this was the first time I had been formally introduced.

“So you’re Toma. It seems you’ve changed this village quite a bit.”

“No, it’s not my power alone. It’s due to the unity of this village, starting with the lord.”

“That’s not how it seems. Manufacturing paper and cultivating the desert are not things just anyone can do. This facility is also well-made. The baron has acquired a good son-in-law.”

The Earl had noticed that I was producing paper to generate funds and planning the desert development. In the capital, they were touting Ladapole’s achievements, but the nearby Earl couldn’t be fooled.

I wondered how the Earl would evaluate me.

“I’m honored that you praise my future son-in-law,” the lord responded smoothly. However, the Earl still pressed me.

“You will be managing the village from now on. I’m looking forward to it.”

The Earl acknowledged me.

However, while he highly valued me, I shouldn’t take it at face value. This man held the Robertson family by the scruff of the neck.

Neither people nor goods could enter or leave Toriholi Village without passing through the Milona territory.

Furthermore, Earl Milona had provided half of the funding for the desert development.

The Robertson family was in a position where they absolutely couldn’t defy him.

I felt this anew while greeting him with a smile.

“He’s quite a handsome man, isn’t he?”

“Indeed, the Robertson family has acquired a good son-in-law.”

It was Viscount Christopher and Viscount Samarkand who joined the conversation.

Among the southern border region, they held the next highest titles and largest territories after Earl Milona.

Viscount Christopher held territory on the western side, directly opposite Toriholi Village from the southern central line, and it was a rich village where many fruits such as grapes grew. Naturally, tax revenues were also high, making it the second-wealthiest family after the Earl.

Viscount Samarkand held five villages across the Mulan River from Toriholi Village, and they harvested a lot of wheat, making them also wealthy.

The territories of both viscounts were less than 1/20th of the Robertson family’s desert, but they were known to be financially wealthy families.

Both families were related to Earl Milona and were always close to the Earl, like his hangers-on.

“With a wise man like you, the baron can rest assured.”

“Truly, I envy him.”

Both showered me with praise to the point of discomfort.

“You can tell the extent of Toriholi Village’s development from the construction of this hotel.”

“I believe Toma’s presence has been a major factor in this as well.”

The nobles were praising me, but I sensed a noble-specific implication.

It’s said that ‘misery loves company,’ but the reverse is also true.

I doubted whether they were truly happy that Toriholi Village had built such facilities.

Ricardo was also introduced to the nobles. The lord announced Ricardo as the official heir, coinciding with his daughter’s marriage.

Ricardo had also been dancing in the great hall until just now, and his face was slightly flushed.

(I’ll check later if he found his target. For now, I’ll concentrate on smiling amiably with these fussy nobles.)

As I thought that, I wondered how the nobles would evaluate Ricardo.

“This is Ricardo, the heir to the family.”

“When I saw him before, he seemed shy behind his father, but he has grown into a fine young man.”

The nobles said commonplace things while looking at Ricardo with sharp eyes.

“How is the eldest son doing?” The Earl asked directly.

“Well, he had some problems, so he was disinherited.”

“Is that so? I thought he was a fine son. That’s regrettable.”

His tone subtly implied that he was aware of Samuel’s misconduct in the capital.

The Earl’s tone was gentle, but it was a fleeting moment that showed the shadow hidden within him.

The next day, our wedding was held at the church. Not only the villagers but also many desert settlers gathered on this day, turning it into a festival.

Margarita was escorted into the church by the lord and his wife, and I was accompanied by Roy and his wife.

It was common practice for weddings in this land to have the bride and groom escorted by their parents. Especially for the lord’s daughter, this ceremony was essential. It would be unbalanced if only the bride was with her parents and I appeared alone, so I asked Roy and his wife.

When it came to Krim, they both wanted a simple ceremony, so there was no such ceremony. It was quite a task to marry the lord’s daughter.

Even so, the grand wedding was a joyous occasion.

In front of the village leaders and the nobles, the wedding vows were exchanged, and we pledged our future together.

In contrast to the ritualistic expressions of the nobles and church officials, the villagers wholeheartedly blessed our marriage with a simple attitude.

“Oh, Mom, this is wonderful.”

“It really is. Toma was so small when he came here, I wonder how happy Ilse would have been if she were alive.”

Tom and Cathy also had crumpled faces.

“He was so scrawny and small when he first came to Ilse. And now he’s become so great.”

“Ilse would have been so proud.”

They recalled the past, and tears even floated in their eyes.

The entire village celebrated our marriage.

And I was mercilessly thrown into the waterway by my single friends.

“Don’t get carried away just because you married a beautiful wife!” Jim said with resentment as he pushed me in.

Margarita was famous for her beauty in the neighborhood.

Because she was the lord’s daughter, no one could dare to make a move on her, and she was a flower on a high peak for the young men around here.

I couldn’t blame them for their jealousy, but it irritated me to hear it from Jim.

“You get married soon too!” I couldn’t help but say.