Chapter 90
Chapter 90: The Reference Room After the breakfast was over, Kazura and Lieze arrived at the reference room. This reference room was quite wide, but a large amount of tall doc.u.ment shelves placed inside the room made it felt a bit cramped.The s.p.a.ce between the shelves was only wide enough for one person to walk, that two people can’t avoid colliding if they walk from opposite direction.
There were openings for ventilation at the wall, but there was no window.Because of that reason, the room was dark and the only illumination came from the candlestick that Lieze held in her hand. 「Since it is dark, please be careful with your step. The waterwheel design plan is this way.」(Lieze) While illuminating her feet with the candlestick, they proceed deeper into the reference room.Kazura was taking a glance around the shelves inside the room while following Lieze’s back who walked between the shelves. 「This are such an amazing amount of doc.u.ments…… Are every important doc.u.ment stored in this place?」(Kazura) 「Yes, excluding the doc.u.ments placed in Father’s office, every important one is stored in place. But since the amount is too much, I don’t really know which and where the doc.u.ments are.」(Lieze) There were long wooden planks nailed at the shelves, where a memo of what kinds of doc.u.ments are stored on the shelves was written.Beside the parchments that were piled up on the shelves, there were many large rolled up parchments stored in it. Lieze continued deeper into the room without change and lighted the candle in the candle stand that was furnished at the wall.Deep inside the room, there was a bit open s.p.a.ce, where a 2 meter long table was placed.Lieze took a big rolled up parchment from the innermost shelves and then placed the candlestick on the desk before unfolding the parchment on the desk.It seemed she want to show the design plan to Kazura at this place. 「It’s the wheel and the wooden box parts. It seems that the craftsmen modified them a bit to increase their strength. Since I couldn’t judge whether or not this is good, I want Kazura-sama to take a look at it……」(Lieze) Lieze said this while pinning the design plan with one hand so it won’t be rolled back as her other hand restrained the hair that touched her cheek by putting it behind her ear.This action was curiously seductive, that made Kazura’s heart throbbed unconsciously. 「L-let me have a look……」(Kazura) While being careful to not glance towards Lieze, Kazura also pinned one of the parchment ends with his hand and took a look at the design plan.The water drawer wooden box of the design plan’s waterwheel was a bit bigger than the waterwheel on Kazura’s design plan and to increase the wheel strength it had more framework.From a glance, there shouldn’t be any problem in the design. 「Fumufumu, perhaps to increase the amount of drawn water? Do they feel that the amount of water of the current waterwheel is not enough?」(Kazura) 「No, it isn’t actually insufficient, but…… When I consulted with the craftsmen, if we want to collect the water into the pond at the end of the aqueduct then it will take a lot of time. And then, the next day the craftsmen immediately bring a new design plan that they had drawn……」(Lieze) 「T-the next day? The craftsmen are really working hard.」(Kazura) 「Yes. Furthermore, they don’t desire any payment, so I say that for the time being, I will see if the design could be used or not…… I apologize for this.」(Lieze) It seems that the craftsmen were under the impression that Lieze was troubled by this matter, and then they drew a new modified plan.They might urgently drew the design utilizing their spare time between their busy work, all for Lieze’s sake. 「I see. So that means, the construction of it hadn’t begun yet, is that correct?」(Kazura) 「Yes, at the present time, the waterwheel production is using the existing design plan. Perhaps if this design production is approved then I will quickly inform the craftsmen to start production using the new design plan.」(Lieze) 「I see…… Then, for the moment, let’s make one trial prototype. Let’s use it in a test run and if there are no problems, then ma.s.s produce it. The waterwheel that already in production could be used in another place, so there will be no problem if they complete it for now.」(Kazura) When Kazura expressed his permission, Lieze smiled in relief. 「Thank goodness…… Ano, kazura-sama, I am truly grateful for your various help for Isteria Province. How should I express this grat.i.tude……」(Lieze) 「No, that’s fine. Please don’t be troubled by it too much.」(Kazura) When Kazura replied so, Lieze showed a delightful smile towards him.While tightly grasping her own hand close to her chest, she made a look of respect and affection towards Kazura. 「Until now, when the situation in the province worsened, it had become tough for Father and Mother…… But since Kazura-sama came to this place, we can now have a hope for the future. If there is anything that I can do, then I will do it. Please let me stay at Kazura-sama’s side to help from hereafter.」(Lieze) 「Y-yes, then I hope we can keep getting along well.」(Kazura) Lieze came and looked at him with a slight flushing on her face. Kazura somehow nodded to her even when he clogged his words.Lieze’s eyes looked a bit moist but it might be the fault of the candle’s light that was flickering in this dark room.When Lieze was about to speak, she suddenly turned her eyes at Kazura’s chest. 「…… This is?」(Lieze) 「Ah, this? This is called aroma pendant.」(Kazura) Kazura held the pendant in his hand and showed it to Lieze. Then she approached Kazura and touched the pendant with her fingers. 「What a beautiful image of flower…… Furthermore, it has a very nice scent. Is this made from fragrant wood?」(Lieze) 「No, inside this wood there is a cloth that had been soaked in a liquid called essential oil. This scent came from that essential oil.」(Kazura) 「Is that so…… Ano, where do you get that pendant?」(Lieze) Lieze’s expression when asking this had unconsciously taken Kazura’s breath away.Lieze’s eyes that were looking up towards his direction right in front him, certainly were a bit moist with tears.However, there was a different anxiety compared to her previous expression, there was a transient-like fear for Kazura’s answer.Her face that was illuminated by the subdued light of the candle was extremely beautiful, that made Kazura looked at her without him realizing it. 「I-I received it when I return to the village several days ago.」(Kazura) 「Village…… From a commoner?」(Lieze) 「Eh? Yes, that’s true.」(Kazura) When Kazura nodded to her question, Lieze’s eyes showed a slight rejoice.But that was just for a few moment and Lieze cast her eyes down at Kazura’s chest with an anguishing expression as her hand that had touched the pendant began to approach Kazura’s chest. 「Kazura-sama……」(Lieze) 「Y-yes!?」(Kazura) Lieze showed a sorrowful-clad expression and looked up at him, that made Kazura turned the other way and replied with a nervous tone.Why the situation became like this, his head couldn’t comprehend at all. 「Kazura-sama…… I……」(Lieze) ![]()
Lieze was going to say something with a resolved expression, but just at that time, there was the sound of the door opened from the room’s entrance.Surprised by that sound, both of them immediately distanced themselves. 「Hm? Kazura-dono, so you are still here with Lieze?」(Nelson) Nelson peeked his face from the entrance and showed a surprised expression when he discovered that Kazura and Lieze were still inside the room from the gaps of the shelves. 「Yes. I just showed the waterwheel’s design plan to Kazura-sama……」(Lieze) Lieze erased her previous sorrowful-clad expression and replied to Nelson with her usual calm expression. 「Even so, you didn’t need to look at it in this dim place as you may take it out outside. Won’t it be better to use the nearby lounge?」(Nelson) 「There is no need to do that since it will be finished just by taking a quick look at the content…… Father, what kind of doc.u.ment you are looking for?」(Lieze) 「I see. I come to retrieve doc.u.ments about conscription. I need to inquire the population property once more, and sort over the equipment and organization division of the conscription again.. Since I recently had become busy, I had left it unfinished midway. Since Zill seemed to be overworked, before she starts working on it, I need to do it first. If I don’t do it, then she will be worried about it.」(Nelson) 「I see…… How is Mother’s condition right now?」(Lieze) 「She is a bit unsteady and there are shadows under her eyes, but she doesn’t look that worse. If she rest today and tomorrow, then she should be able to return back to her duties.」(Nelson) 「I see…… I’m glad.」(Lieze) Seeing how Lieze smiled in relief made Kazura felt a very unendurable guilt.The cause for Zirconia’s worsened condition was himself, but he couldn’t say this at this place. 「Nelson-san, can you let me look over the matter of that work even for a moment?」(Kazura) 「…… Will it be fine for you?」(Nelson) Nelson made a surprised expression at Kazura’s proposal.Until now, Kazura didn’t lay his hand on military related work at all, so it was understandable that this was outside his expectation. However, though Kazura had indirectly refused when he was asked to give military related support, it didn’t mean that he decided to absolutely not give any support at all.At that time, he didn’t know anything about this country’s diplomatic situation and the province’s situation, so he was only avoiding a situation where he just accept their request blindly For the present, he began to give a.s.sistance in province related domestic matters as he began to grasp little by little which area that needed his help.It might be better for him to know about military related information before long. Although he couldn’t say that the suggestion he offered this time was out of guilt towards Zirconia 「Yes, please showed me how the military preparations in the province are done. I don’t know if I could interfere in it, but let put it aside for now, I hope you could tell me each and every situation.」(Kazura)
「I understand. Then, let’s quickly go to my office. Lieze, help me carry the doc.u.ments.」(Nelson) 「Ah, let me carry some too.」(Lieze) Lieze was looking at Kazura’s back who was walking beside Nelson while gripping his fist hard.Although her expression was her usual calm self, inside her heart it wasn’t calm at all. 「(…… Even though it’s just a bit more‼)」(Lieze) If there was no interruption just now, Lieze would surely have conquered Kazura.She didn’t have that intention when she came to this room, but when she heard the talk about the pendant that Kazura wore with him, she changed her mind. Kazura had said that the one who gave him that pendant was a commoner.If Kazura was a n.o.ble, then he wouldn’t always carry a commoner’s present with him, so in other words, Kazura himself was without any doubt, a commoner.If a commoner like him could be that close to Nelson, then Kazura surely is an influential person who came to support from Claylatz, a country where commoners held great power. An influential person from neighboring country that even recognized by Zirconia, furthermore that he was generous with his tremendous wealth was also nice, his personality was calm and full of consideration but also a hardworking person.Lieze never found someone with such superior quality until now.It seemed that there was a sign of a woman close to him in his own country, but the other day he received the 『Dearest Bracelet』 that Lieze gave to him, so that means he had considerably taken an interest in Lieze.In that case, there was nothing but to preemptively attack.If she made Kazura’s heart as her own in one way or another, slowly but sure she could get him to sleep with her, what happens next will already be decided. Once he slept with a daughter of a High n.o.ble Lord like her, then even if he was an influential person from Claylatz, as Kazura was a commoner, he couldn’t do anything else but to a.s.sume responsibility for her.In this happen, then it will surely be a straight road to marriage.The naïve Kazura would surely be taken into Istelle House as a son-in-law. However, the important first step for that to happen, had been obstructed by none other than her own father.Lieze had predicted that since there were only limited people who could enter this room, surely there would be no hindrance that will come, but that judgment turned out to be a mistake.If no hindrance enter and the situation kept at it, surely he would have been carried away by the good mood.If it goes smoothly, then being pushed by the mood, perhaps she could draw out the words of romance out from Kazura.While thinking this, Lieze was so vexed that she wants to grind her teeth. 「Lieze-san, is something wrong?」(Kazura) Noticing that Lieze was just standing in place, Kazura turned back and tilted his head. 「No, nothing is wrong.」(Lieze) Lieze lovely smiled towards Kazura, and released her gripped fist, and walk towards Kazura’s side.Chapter 90: The Reference Room After the breakfast was over, Kazura and Lieze arrived at the reference room. This reference room was quite wide, but a large amount of tall doc.u.ment shelves placed inside the room made it felt a bit cramped.The s.p.a.ce between the shelves was only wide enough for one person to walk, that two people can’t avoid colliding if they walk from opposite direction. There were openings for ventilation at the wall, but there was no window.Because of that reason, the room was dark and the only illumination came from the candlestick that Lieze held in her hand. 「Since it is dark, please be careful with your step. The waterwheel design plan is this way.」(Lieze) While illuminating her feet with the candlestick, they proceed deeper into the reference room.Kazura was taking a glance around the shelves inside the room while following Lieze’s back who walked between the shelves. 「This are such an amazing amount of doc.u.ments…… Are every important doc.u.ment stored in this place?」(Kazura) 「Yes, excluding the doc.u.ments placed in Father’s office, every important one is stored in place. But since the amount is too much, I don’t really know which and where the doc.u.ments are.」(Lieze) There were long wooden planks nailed at the shelves, where a memo of what kinds of doc.u.ments are stored on the shelves was written.Beside the parchments that were piled up on the shelves, there were many large rolled up parchments stored in it. Lieze continued deeper into the room without change and lighted the candle in the candle stand that was furnished at the wall.Deep inside the room, there was a bit open s.p.a.ce, where a 2 meter long table was placed.Lieze took a big rolled up parchment from the innermost shelves and then placed the candlestick on the desk before unfolding the parchment on the desk.It seemed she want to show the design plan to Kazura at this place. 「It’s the wheel and the wooden box parts. It seems that the craftsmen modified them a bit to increase their strength. Since I couldn’t judge whether or not this is good, I want Kazura-sama to take a look at it……」(Lieze) Lieze said this while pinning the design plan with one hand so it won’t be rolled back as her other hand restrained the hair that touched her cheek by putting it behind her ear.This action was curiously seductive, that made Kazura’s heart throbbed unconsciously. 「L-let me have a look……」(Kazura) While being careful to not glance towards Lieze, Kazura also pinned one of the parchment ends with his hand and took a look at the design plan.The water drawer wooden box of the design plan’s waterwheel was a bit bigger than the waterwheel on Kazura’s design plan and to increase the wheel strength it had more framework.
From a glance, there shouldn’t be any problem in the design. 「Fumufumu, perhaps to increase the amount of drawn water? Do they feel that the amount of water of the current waterwheel is not enough?」(Kazura) 「No, it isn’t actually insufficient, but…… When I consulted with the craftsmen, if we want to collect the water into the pond at the end of the aqueduct then it will take a lot of time. And then, the next day the craftsmen immediately bring a new design plan that they had drawn……」(Lieze) 「T-the next day? The craftsmen are really working hard.」(Kazura) 「Yes. Furthermore, they don’t desire any payment, so I say that for the time being, I will see if the design could be used or not…… I apologize for this.」(Lieze) It seems that the craftsmen were under the impression that Lieze was troubled by this matter, and then they drew a new modified plan.They might urgently drew the design utilizing their spare time between their busy work, all for Lieze’s sake. 「I see. So that means, the construction of it hadn’t begun yet, is that correct?」(Kazura) 「Yes, at the present time, the waterwheel production is using the existing design plan. Perhaps if this design production is approved then I will quickly inform the craftsmen to start production using the new design plan.」(Lieze) 「I see…… Then, for the moment, let’s make one trial prototype. Let’s use it in a test run and if there are no problems, then ma.s.s produce it. The waterwheel that already in production could be used in another place, so there will be no problem if they complete it for now.」(Kazura) When Kazura expressed his permission, Lieze smiled in relief. 「Thank goodness…… Ano, kazura-sama, I am truly grateful for your various help for Isteria Province. How should I express this grat.i.tude……」(Lieze) 「No, that’s fine. Please don’t be troubled by it too much.」(Kazura) When Kazura replied so, Lieze showed a delightful smile towards him.While tightly grasping her own hand close to her chest, she made a look of respect and affection towards Kazura. 「Until now, when the situation in the province worsened, it had become tough for Father and Mother…… But since Kazura-sama came to this place, we can now have a hope for the future. If there is anything that I can do, then I will do it. Please let me stay at Kazura-sama’s side to help from hereafter.」(Lieze) 「Y-yes, then I hope we can keep getting along well.」(Kazura) Lieze came and looked at him with a slight flushing on her face. Kazura somehow nodded to her even when he clogged his words.Lieze’s eyes looked a bit moist but it might be the fault of the candle’s light that was flickering in this dark room.When Lieze was about to speak, she suddenly turned her eyes at Kazura’s chest. 「…… This is?」(Lieze) 「Ah, this? This is called aroma pendant.」(Kazura) Kazura held the pendant in his hand and showed it to Lieze. Then she approached Kazura and touched the pendant with her fingers. 「What a beautiful image of flower…… Furthermore, it has a very nice scent. Is this made from fragrant wood?」(Lieze) 「No, inside this wood there is a cloth that had been soaked in a liquid called essential oil. This scent came from that essential oil.」(Kazura) 「Is that so…… Ano, where do you get that pendant?」(Lieze) Lieze’s expression when asking this had unconsciously taken Kazura’s breath away.Lieze’s eyes that were looking up towards his direction right in front him, certainly were a bit moist with tears.However, there was a different anxiety compared to her previous expression, there was a transient-like fear for Kazura’s answer.Her face that was illuminated by the subdued light of the candle was extremely beautiful, that made Kazura looked at her without him realizing it. 「I-I received it when I return to the village several days ago.」(Kazura) 「Village…… From a commoner?」(Lieze) 「Eh? Yes, that’s true.」(Kazura) When Kazura nodded to her question, Lieze’s eyes showed a slight rejoice.But that was just for a few moment and Lieze cast her eyes down at Kazura’s chest with an anguishing expression as her hand that had touched the pendant began to approach Kazura’s chest. 「Kazura-sama……」(Lieze) 「Y-yes!?」(Kazura) Lieze showed a sorrowful-clad expression and looked up at him, that made Kazura turned the other way and replied with a nervous tone.Why the situation became like this, his head couldn’t comprehend at all. 「Kazura-sama…… I……」(Lieze) Lieze was going to say something with a resolved expression, but just at that time, there was the sound of the door opened from the room’s entrance.Surprised by that sound, both of them immediately distanced themselves. 「Hm? Kazura-dono, so you are still here with Lieze?」(Nelson)
Nelson peeked his face from the entrance and showed a surprised expression when he discovered that Kazura and Lieze were still inside the room from the gaps of the shelves. 「Yes. I just showed the waterwheel’s design plan to Kazura-sama……」(Lieze) Lieze erased her previous sorrowful-clad expression and replied to Nelson with her usual calm expression. 「Even so, you didn’t need to look at it in this dim place as you may take it out outside. Won’t it be better to use the nearby lounge?」(Nelson) 「There is no need to do that since it will be finished just by taking a quick look at the content…… Father, what kind of doc.u.ment you are looking for?」(Lieze) 「I see. I come to retrieve doc.u.ments about conscription. I need to inquire the population property once more, and sort over the equipment and organization division of the conscription again.. Since I recently had become busy, I had left it unfinished midway. Since Zill seemed to be overworked, before she starts working on it, I need to do it first. If I don’t do it, then she will be worried about it.」(Nelson) 「I see…… How is Mother’s condition right now?」(Lieze) 「She is a bit unsteady and there are shadows under her eyes, but she doesn’t look that worse. If she rest today and tomorrow, then she should be able to return back to her duties.」(Nelson) 「I see…… I’m glad.」(Lieze) Seeing how Lieze smiled in relief made Kazura felt a very unendurable guilt.The cause for Zirconia’s worsened condition was himself, but he couldn’t say this at this place. 「Nelson-san, can you let me look over the matter of that work even for a moment?」(Kazura) 「…… Will it be fine for you?」(Nelson) Nelson made a surprised expression at Kazura’s proposal.Until now, Kazura didn’t lay his hand on military related work at all, so it was understandable that this was outside his expectation. However, though Kazura had indirectly refused when he was asked to give military related support, it didn’t mean that he decided to absolutely not give any support at all.At that time, he didn’t know anything about this country’s diplomatic situation and the province’s situation, so he was only avoiding a situation where he just accept their request blindly For the present, he began to give a.s.sistance in province related domestic matters as he began to grasp little by little which area that needed his help.It might be better for him to know about military related information before long. Although he couldn’t say that the suggestion he offered this time was out of guilt towards Zirconia 「Yes, please showed me how the military preparations in the province are done. I don’t know if I could interfere in it, but let put it aside for now, I hope you could tell me each and every situation.」(Kazura) 「I understand. Then, let’s quickly go to my office. Lieze, help me carry the doc.u.ments.」(Nelson) 「Ah, let me carry some too.」(Lieze) Lieze was looking at Kazura’s back who was walking beside Nelson while gripping his fist hard.Although her expression was her usual calm self, inside her heart it wasn’t calm at all. 「(…… Even though it’s just a bit more‼)」(Lieze) If there was no interruption just now, Lieze would surely have conquered Kazura.She didn’t have that intention when she came to this room, but when she heard the talk about the pendant that Kazura wore with him, she changed her mind. Kazura had said that the one who gave him that pendant was a commoner.If Kazura was a n.o.ble, then he wouldn’t always carry a commoner’s present with him, so in other words, Kazura himself was without any doubt, a commoner.If a commoner like him could be that close to Nelson, then Kazura surely is an influential person who came to support from Claylatz, a country where commoners held great power. An influential person from neighboring country that even recognized by Zirconia, furthermore that he was generous with his tremendous wealth was also nice, his personality was calm and full of consideration but also a hardworking person.Lieze never found someone with such superior quality until now.It seemed that there was a sign of a woman close to him in his own country, but the other day he received the 『Dearest Bracelet』 that Lieze gave to him, so that means he had considerably taken an interest in Lieze.In that case, there was nothing but to preemptively attack.If she made Kazura’s heart as her own in one way or another, slowly but sure she could get him to sleep with her, what happens next will already be decided. Once he slept with a daughter of a High n.o.ble Lord like her, then even if he was an influential person from Claylatz, as Kazura was a commoner, he couldn’t do anything else but to a.s.sume responsibility for her.In this happen, then it will surely be a straight road to marriage.The naïve Kazura would surely be taken into Istelle House as a son-in-law. However, the important first step for that to happen, had been obstructed by none other than her own father.Lieze had predicted that since there were only limited people who could enter this room, surely there would be no hindrance that will come, but that judgment turned out to be a mistake.If no hindrance enter and the situation kept at it, surely he would have been carried away by the good mood.If it goes smoothly, then being pushed by the mood, perhaps she could draw out the words of romance out from Kazura.While thinking this, Lieze was so vexed that she wants to grind her teeth. 「Lieze-san, is something wrong?」(Kazura) Noticing that Lieze was just standing in place, Kazura turned back and tilted his head. 「No, nothing is wrong.」(Lieze) Lieze lovely smiled towards Kazura, and released her gripped fist, and walk towards Kazura’s side.