Chapter 37
Girl and Boy
"As you said, nearly three hundred people have gathered here already. So, taxing those few hundred people will secure enough revenue to establish a tax office?"
"......"
His point was valid.
About 300 people. And those who barely have any possessions, just arrived to settle down.
Taxing those penniless people wouldn't generate enough income to solve all the problems right away.
"Besides, we can't keep extorting money just by relying on the Guardian Barrier forever, can we?"
According to Dietrich, the Heretic will be caught within a month or two. Maybe they can deal with it sooner than expected.
Once the threat of the Heretic disappears, people will no longer have a reason to live in Paradel.
Those accustomed to living without paying taxes will try to break away from the system that binds them once again.
If there are too many defectors, the reconstruction of Ideana will fall apart again.
"This place, with nothing, needs scale first."
Eclaus, who had been listening indifferently, burst into laughter at Shed's words.
'I was worried that he had become a complete idiot because of Luise Ideana, but I guess not.'
It was fortunate that he still seemed to have good judgment when it came to work.
Whether you're trying to do business or build something, you need a certain number of people to make it work.
'Besides, saying you're short on money is ridiculous.'
The victories of the man called the undefeated hero were not just empty glory.
Victory always comes with material rewards.
Rewards for achievements, spoils of war, and vested interests obtained through negotiations and deals.
Since Shed entered the Lester family, the family's finances have doubled.
Even the proud retainers of the Lester family had shut their mouths since Lupus, as the head of the family, was making so much money.
I dare say, except for the Vittel family and the Imperial family, no family can match the wealth of the Lester family.
With the wealth he possessed, he could build Ideana this year without any strain at all.
"Fortunately, the Lester family isn't so poor that it's struggling over a few pennies from the poor."
Shed said nonchalantly.
Then, a retainer who was listening to him opened his mouth.
"So, are you planning to use all of the family's finances here?"
As expected, this was the problem.
Shed Lester is a bit behind the times and insensitive to social gossip and rumors.
So, if it's urgent, he might repair the castle walls instead of buying a diamond necklace, build a stone bridge instead of getting a jacket with opal buttons, and build a well with the money to make expensive leather shoes.
But other nobles thought differently.
Even if it wasn't his own property, Shed was the Monarch of the Lester Territory, who paid salaries to his retainers.
They couldn't just stand by and watch their future salaries being wasted.
"We left our families in München and came this long way where the Heretic is rampant. Please remember our loyalty and hard work."
"Of course. You are truly loyal talents who will save the empire."
Shed nodded at the retainers' subtle pressure.
But there was a hint of cynicism in his voice.
"Don't worry. I've earned enough money to fatten the empire's talents. And it's not like the Lester family will be solely responsible for all the projects."
He cast a purple gaze towards Eclaus.
Then, the perceptive merchant smiled.
"The Vittel family is planning to help with the harbor and road maintenance. Basic supplies also arrived yesterday."
Eclaus introduced the collaboration between the Vittel family and the Lester family in detail.
Eclaus was at least willing to actively help him with this.
As much as he invests in this land now, he has obtained the exclusive distribution rights for the wood and stone needed to reorganize this huge city.
He will also be the first to obtain financial business rights.
"Of course, there will be no tax revenue for the first year. But if the number of people who come seeking tax exemption benefits increases, the warehouse will be much fuller next year."
Shed was a man who could see far ahead.
To receive settlement support, you also have to register, so it will be easier to identify the population. Identifying the population means accurately identifying those who can be taxed.
Therefore, Shed's plan was to generously collect taxes from those who have settled down next year, rather than squeezing the little remaining from the poor right away.
The retainers and knights who had been dissatisfied with his words closed their mouths.
"Let's end this discussion here."
Shed finished the meeting and casually glanced out the window.
His eyes stopped at one place.
A woman with dark brown hair was crossing the garden.
Very slowly, she was heading towards the lake on the east side of the mansion.
Didn't Dietrich say that he had finished purifying the groundwater a while ago?
"Then, Your Excellency, the city plan revision..."
"Let's end the meeting here and talk about the details again tomorrow after the preparations are done."
Shed said, closing the documents.
Liana was thinking of taking a walk a little further.
She thought of the lake on the east side of the mansion.
Lake Anteros was the farthest place Luise Ideana could go on her own as a child, and it was also the source of life that supplied Paradel with water.
There was a small path leading to the lake.
In the past, the entrance to this path was surrounded by a wisteria arch with light purple flowers.
But the withered wisteria vines could no longer produce a single leaf and were hanging down in gray.
Liana walked along the overgrown path, feeling the desolate passage of time.
Following the desolate path, a small iron gate appeared.
From there, it was about a 30-minute walk through the forest to the lake.
When she pushed the rusty iron gate, which had no lock, a loud screeching sound was heard.
At that moment.
"Liana."
Surprised by the voice calling her, she turned around in a fluster.
"Y-Your Excellency."
"Coming all the way here alone."
"I-I wasn't trying to run away or anything..."
"I know."
Shed held onto the old iron gate she had opened.
She smelled a familiar scent from him again as he got closer.
"Are you going to keep blocking the gate?"
"Ah... that's..."
Shed leaned his body against her as if gently pushing her.
Liana was inadvertently pushed and moved towards the lake.
Shed passed her and walked ahead.
Liana was the first to come here, but now she was following behind him.
Was it okay to follow him like this?
Liana hesitated, looking at Shed's back, and then took a step.
She didn't want to change her plans just because he had come.
The two were silent as they walked along the forest path where the light and shadows flickered.
But the soft sound of the wind, the sweet chirping of birds, and the voices of people in the distance were enough.
Every time they stepped on the path where the weeds grew, the sound of the grass rustling was heard.
Shed was about three or four steps ahead of her, and Liana followed behind him.
The two walked together as if they were going to completely different places, even though they knew they had the same destination.
Liana felt a strong sense of déjà vu from his back.
The memories of the past were gradually becoming clearer.
The forest path ended in a shorter distance than she remembered.
It seemed quite far when she was a child, but she might have grown a little since then.
As soon as they left the forest path, a wide lake unfolded before them.
Liana stopped walking without realizing it at the emerald color so clear it hurt her eyes.
The sunlight sparkled like gold dust on the water's surface.
A cool breeze blew over the wide lake.
It felt like she could breathe again with the clear wind rushing into her lungs.
A small rowboat, which seemed to have been used for Purification, was hanging on the waterfront.
Liana stopped, looking at the small boat.
Shed's feet also stopped in front of the blue lake, and he turned to look at her.
The two's gazes intertwined in the clear air for a moment.
The two recalled the same memory at the same time.
As a child, Luise Ideana loved this lake.
The frail girl rarely went out, and the lake near the mansion was the only place she could go on her own when she felt better.
Boating on the lake was a special outing for her.
That's why Shed also liked this place.
Being able to come out here together meant that Luise's health had improved, and it also meant that he had returned safely from battle.
On days when they went out to the lake, Luise would pack a small picnic basket like a child playing house, and also bring a book or two that she liked.
Shed would watch the girl's back as she was excited about the boat ride and slowly follow behind her.
When she took light steps, the ribbon that tied her sparkling golden hair fluttered.
When her white dress swayed, it was as if the flowers blooming on the lemon tree were falling and scattering.
"Shed, hurry up!"
Luise, who was walking ahead, waved her small hand, urging him as if he was slow.
She wasn't even walking fast, but the hand that urged him as if he was slow was quite cute.
When they reached the lake, she would hum a song.
Then, as always, Shed would take her hand as she boarded the boat, and the two would get into the small boat.
When the boy rowed, the girl would touch the waves created by the small boat.
When her fingertips touched the mirror-like surface of the water, a clear and cold sensation pleasantly awakened her.
The two loved the blue Lake Anteros like that.
Beyond that memory, Shed Lester met Liana's eyes.
He very familiarly placed his foot on the bow of the boat and fixed it.
Even though he had grown much taller than then, his body remembered the habits of a boy.
For a moment, Liana's heart raced as if she had returned to her childhood.
Shed nonchalantly reached out his hand to her.
