Nia’s jokingly serious quip got a friendly reply back from me. I really wasn’t that bothered about the situation. Actually, I was more happy that she actually seemed to guess that I was just kidding. It felt like we were understanding each other more than we did back when we first met, though in a lot of ways, both of us were still holding back from each other. But that was better than completely not caring what the other thought.
“Whoops, looks like the count is coming,” I said, hearing footsteps heading our way.
“Huh? Ah, yes, you’re right!”
Nia looked confused for a moment before nodding and standing up. I was a little glad that she trusted my senses. It was with that thought in mind that I stood too. We were meeting someone of a higher rank, after all.
“My apologies. Were you waiting long?” Count Farlon asked.
“Oh, not at all,” I said, taking care to make sure my tone didn’t sound like I was adding any notion of “compared to yesterday, at least!” at the end. If we were trying to keep each other in check, it’d be one thing, but we had no intention of that today. It seemed that he understood me, because he looked a little relieved. Judging from the atmosphere, it would probably be okay to get moving things along.
“Before we speak, allow me to introduce you to my wife. This is Nia.”
“I am Viscount McGuine’s wife, Nia. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
When I introduced her, she gave the count a neat curtsy. I didn’t quite know what was different about it compared to other curtsies, but it was so polite and unshowy that it astonished me for a couple of reasons. To put it shortly, she didn’t quite move as a royal would, but in a way suitably humble for the wife of a viscount. She still maintained an air of respect that communicated how well-versed she was in greeting nobility. I knew she’d been taught like that, but to think she was this good at it...
It seemed like Count Farlon felt the same way, because he looked impressed. “I thank you for your polite greeting. I am Farlon, the commander of this brigade.”
From the moment he walked in, the count’s vibes had been different than they were the day before, and they were getting even softer. It wasn’t that Nia’s beauty had softened him, but like he had somehow decided over the course of this brief interaction that we were worth cooperating with.
I’d previously mentioned how fatal it was for a noble to look down on you, but the opposite was also true; being judged worthy granted power. Whether or not you had good manners or were educated were among the social metrics for nobles, and you’d often decide how you’d act based on them.
Count Farlon might’ve been a member of the Order of Knights, but he wasn’t completely boorish, and he seemed to possess a sense of discernment. As a count palatine with no territory of his own, he probably stood between the higher ranks of nobility and the Order of Knights, which would make such sharpness a necessary skill.
He really was someone I should get on my side.
Once all of the greetings were out of the way and we had each sat down in our chairs, I cut to the chase.
“As I explained briefly in my letter, we’ve come to you today to discuss how we might deal with the bandits. To be specific, I’d like to first borrow a few knights to act as messengers.”
“I see,” Count Farlon replied. “That shouldn’t be a problem. After all, while we wouldn’t know how long it would take to search for the brigands, for example, a mere errand wouldn’t take more than two days total.”
I nodded in understanding at what the count said. A knight on horseback could get to Stonehunt’s and Diamoncut’s central towns in a few hours. If they stayed the night to let their horses get a good rest, then they’d be back the next day. In contrast, I didn’t even want to think about how long it’d take any knights we requested from the capital to get here. And on top of that, if we requested help from the capital, the brigade here would lose face. My requesting aid was probably a big help for Count Farlon when he’d been stuck trying to figure out what to do next.
“And after that...” I began, before explaining the next step.
It was, of course, necessary to get some administrative officials sent to us, and it wouldn’t be a problem to have some of the Special Battalion knights come along as guards. The way we were doing it, it wouldn’t harm the brigade’s honor, even if those knights stayed afterwards to help with my stuff. There were no problems with any of that, but there was still one hiccup.
“But bringing the viscountess along with you...” Count Farlon said, trailing off, his disapproval evident.
Yeah, that was a perfectly normal response. But we’d imagined he would say that, so I gave him the answer Nia and I had come up with during our meeting last night.
“Actually, Nia has visited the towns around here before,” I explained. “She has some acquaintances in the area, so we thought that things might move faster if she introduced me to them.”
“What? That’s...” the count exclaimed, before collecting himself. “Then it does seem as if it would be wise to accept her help.”
The count might’ve been surprised by my statement, but that wasn’t odd. The average noblewoman would never go to towns and villages near the border unless they were part of their own family’s territory. To get around that expectation, we were using the cover story that she was the daughter of a scholar.
The guy who thought that story up was a genius, and that was why we couldn’t fall short of his expectations, nor did we even want to.
“My wife herself has asked to come along,” I added. “It doesn’t sit right for her to do nothing while people she knows suffer.”
“And, while I am ashamed to say it, I have only just become a noble through our marriage. I believe that I’ve been given this chance to show my readiness to be noble through my actions,” Nia said, following up my statement with such dignified strength in her soft voice that it shocked Count Farlon into silence.
She was a former princess, after all, and a true one who worked for her people, at that. The noble air that she could take on (when she felt like it) was far beyond that of a viscount’s wife. Which was exactly why it shouldn’t be overused, but in this case, it had an immediate impact.
“Goodness... Madam, your heart truly is that of a lady,” Count Farlon said. He wasn’t pretending; Nia had genuinely moved him with her words.
For knights, ladies were to be respected at all times. While knights beaten into shape on the battlefield might not take that very seriously, a count palatine knight like Count Farlon would often be in situations where the teachings were necessary. The rule largely pertained to political marriages and politics in general.
The ability to act not unlike a knight from the stories was actually a skill those of us in public-facing positions needed. The presence of a knight—someone to be respected and admired—helped keep the common people in check, and it could work to inspire them to become knights themselves, or at the very least, soldiers.
Oh, but Nia truly was worthy of being called a lady.
Seeing his reaction, Nia gave the count a bashful smile.
It’s okay, I’m not jealous. I’m fine. I’m not that petty.
“Thank you. It’s an honor to have a true knight such as yourself say that to me.”
It’s okay, I’m not jealous. I’m fine. Nia thinks I’m a true knight too. I’m FINE. Nia is going to have to interact with a lot more knights and higher nobles from now on. If I get worked up over every bit of social etiquette, then I’ll never survive.
“The honor is mine, my lady,” Count Farlon said, his expression saying exactly the same thing as his mouth. As you can see, it was super effective.
My heart was full of admiration for Nia and ugly jealousy and possessiveness, but I held on to my restraint. I needed to handle my feelings on my own. Work and emotions were two different things. I mean, if I couldn’t even handle that, then I couldn’t be Nia’s husband. She was just that wonderful of a woman.
After that, everything went swimmingly. Our cooperation on this case was so positive it was ideal.
Having safely finished our meeting with Count Farlon, we headed back to the lord’s manor no worse for wear. We then decided to take a little break in the parlor.
“You really were a great help, Nia,” I said, bowing my head a little as we waited for our tea to be prepared.
I had managed to sort my feelings out by the time we arrived home. Splitting up—me on my horse and Nia in the carriage—had been a good idea; the rhythms of horseback riding helped me cool my head.
If I’d been inside the carriage with Nia, my tone of voice or expression would have probably given something away. I was (unfortunately) pretty sure that she’d realized how little romantic experience I had, but letting her see me get emotional with jealousy was something else entirely.