Chapter 1: The Lord is Exiled
[space_man][space_man]”Brother-in-law, I can’t leave the territory management to you!!”
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[space_man][space_man]Sandrea, the eldest daughter, declared to her brother-in-law and current lord, Eld, while he was enjoying his after-dinner tea time in the dining hall of Faniaal House, her peach-colored hair swaying.
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[space_man][space_man]Eld, upon hearing this, brought the cup to his mouth and slowly sipped his tea.
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[space_man][space_man]”Hmm, that was sudden again, Sandrea. I don’t think I’ve caused any particular problems, but what are your reasons for saying I’m unfit?”
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[space_man][space_man]Eld placed his cup on the table and looked at Sandrea with his heterochromatic eyes.
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[space_man][space_man]”You haven’t caused any problems!? Since you became lord, Brother-in-law, income has plummeted, and you yourself said that we might have to consider raising taxes!
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[space_man][space_man]This is because the citizens have been flowing out to other territories due to your lack of virtue!!”
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[space_man][space_man]Sandrea said, slamming her hand on the table.
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[space_man][space_man]Eld sighed as he asked a nearby maid for more tea.
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[space_man][space_man]”Sandrea, the fluctuation of the population was happening even before I became lord, and conversely, there are also people coming in from other territories.
[space_man][space_man]Besides, the tax increase was just a joke in case of emergency. Even with the current population, we could even lower taxes without any issues.
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[space_man][space_man]You should know that much since you’re managing the ledgers.”
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[space_man][space_man]Eld drank the freshly poured tea.
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[space_man][space_man]”No! The problem is that you’re the lord, Brother-in-law! Please resign immediately!!”
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[space_man][space_man]Eld sighed again. He wanted to yell at her, even though she was his sister-in-law, for thinking he would resign based on such illogical reasoning.
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[space_man][space_man]”Si-Sister… Surely, that’s an unreasonable accusation.”
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[space_man][space_man]”Th-That’s right… I think Elder Brother Eld is doing just fine.”
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[space_man][space_man]Millenia and Jaylot, Eld’s half-siblings, also protested to Sandrea.
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[space_man][space_man]”Children who haven’t even entered the Central Academy yet should be quiet!!”
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[space_man][space_man]However, Sandrea dismissed the words of her half-siblings.
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[space_man][space_man]”Fuu… Sandrea, even if there was a problem with me, I can’t resign as lord so easily.
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[space_man][space_man]There are several reasons, but the biggest one is that there’s no one to succeed me if I resign…”
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[space_man][space_man]”Oh no, Brother-in-law, but here, I have a royal decree, so there’s no problem.”
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[space_man][space_man]It was Sandrea’s husband, Rufus, who interrupted Eld’s words.
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[space_man][space_man]”This royal decree states that you will retire, Brother-in-law, and Sandrea will become the new lord.”
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[space_man][space_man]Rufus tossed the royal decree to Eld.
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[space_man][space_man]Eld, thinking how ill-mannered it was, caught the thrown royal decree and confirmed its contents.
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[space_man][space_man]”You’ll see it’s genuine if you look inside, right? It has the King’s signature and magic seal properly affixed, so tearing it or burning it is meaningless.”
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[space_man][space_man]Eld placed the royal decree on the table and sighed for the umpteenth time.
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[space_man][space_man]”Oh, is that so? Then I’ll resign as lord. Even so, there’s the handover, so for about a month…”
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[space_man][space_man]”No! I’ve already grasped all of your work, Brother-in-law! Please sign this document and leave this house immediately!!”
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[space_man][space_man]Sandrea presented two pieces of paper to Eld.
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[space_man][space_man]One was a certificate stating that the work handover had been completed without problems. Sandrea’s signature was already on it.
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[space_man][space_man]The other was a document of consent for the resignation of the lord.
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[space_man][space_man]”…Is this alright?”
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[space_man][space_man]Eld silently signed the two pieces of paper. The two papers glowed and entered the jeweled parts of the necklaces worn by Eld and Sandrea, respectively.
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[space_man][space_man]”This is fine. You’ll need to pack your belongings, so please leave within three days.”
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[space_man][space_man]The smile that Sandrea directed at Eld at that moment was the most malicious smile he had ever seen from her during the time they had lived together.
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