Chapter 7 Grandchester Castle
The Grandchester territory has a vast granary area, but the Aklar Mountains stretch along its western border, and the capital city is built at the foot of the mountains. The Grandchester Castle, the lord's main residence, is a natural fortress, with an old castle that has been standing for over 500 years.
As expected, the daily living quarters are a 2-story mansion built in the latest style, but even that is nearly 100 years older than the royal palace.
Robert explained, "It's a big but old and inconvenient castle," but the castle grounds have various buildings from different eras, each with its own character. There are many wells dug in preparation for a siege, and the grounds are designed to allow the people to escape and take shelter in times of emergency, giving a sense of practicality.
As it turns out, Sara was also a history buff. She had read many historical novels and fantasy stories, so she would often visit old castles and ruins during her vacations. To Sara's eyes, Grandchester Castle was extremely captivating.
At the edge of the castle, there was a tall spire, and from the top, she could see the entire capital city. The western side was surrounded by the majestic mountain range, and depending on the time of day, the light would change, offering various scenic views.
It's said that beyond the Aklar Mountains lies a vast, unexplored forest, but it's so vast that no one knows what lies beyond.
"Isn't it beautiful?"
"Do you like it?"
"Yes, very much. The Grandchester territory is wonderful."
As the sun began to set, the mountain range was dyed a faint, ambiguous color, neither red nor purple nor blue. Just watching the changing sky made her feel like her heart was healing.
"I also love this territory very much. And, you know, Arthur loved this view too."
"Dad... I mean, my esteemed father also loved it, didn't he?"
I almost slipped up and called him "Dad" like I used to when I was a commoner.
"You don't have to put on airs in front of me, Sara. To you, Arthur is 'Dad,' right?"
"Yeah... I mean, yes."
I almost forgot to use polite language too.
"No need to be so polite. We're family, after all. Sara, you're smart, so you can understand when to use proper language and when not to, right?"
"Hmm, I'm not so sure..."
"Don't worry, Arthur was good at it, and Sara's his daughter, so it'll be fine."
"Huh, was Dad like that too?"
"He was a big fake, deceiving everyone with his outer appearance. Especially the girls!"
"Was Dad super popular with girls?!"
"Yeah, he was. But despite having a similar face, I didn't get any attention at all."
"And yet, why did he marry a commoner like Mom?"
It turned out that Sara didn't know that her parents had eloped and gotten married until her mother passed away, so she thought her father was a commoner too.
"Adelia wasn't fooled by Arthur's fake exterior. When she came to the castle to deliver something, she called him out on his 'thin, disgusting smile.' That was a new experience for Arthur, it seems. After that, he passionately tried to win her over until she gave in."
"That's not very lord-like of him, is it?"
"Yeah, maybe not. But I also admire love marriages, and I have to admit, I was a bit jealous of Arthur."
It seems that Robert is managing the territory as a noble's responsibility, but he's single because he's holding out for a love marriage.
"Uncle Robert should just leave the management to someone else and live freely."
"I wish I could do that too... but the current Grandchester house lacks capable people. There's no one to rely on."
"Why not just hire a governor?"
"That's not an option, unfortunately... Well, I'll explain the details later."
Uncle Robert scratches his head, looking troubled. It seems like there's a lot going on.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know the circumstances and asked something rude."
"It's okay. I'm happy to know that Sara's a smart kid. Rebecca, the governess who's coming tomorrow, will probably be happy too."
"You mean Miss Rebecca, the governess. I hope she'll like me..."
"She's my childhood friend, you know. She loves smart girls, so I think she'll definitely get along with Sara."
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