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Now that Kenneth Angus has passed away, it was impossible to ascertain his true intentions regarding his actions. However, it was reasonable to assume that his close confidants may have some insight into his motivations. Kenneth Angus was born as the eldest son of the previous Marquis, destined to inherit the title and estate and lead the people.

Kenneth himself never questioned or resented this fate. He possessed a strong sense of responsibility and considered it his duty to devote himself to the well-being of the people.

Upon assuming the role of a lord, although he did not have any striking achievements, he governed the territory effectively and earned the admiration of his subjects, who regarded him as a benevolent ruler.

Witnessing the peace and praise of his people, Kenneth found contentment and deemed it a success.

However, he knew that his reign would not last forever. Kenneth believed that even after his departure, the well-being of his people should remain secure. Consequently, he diligently educated his successor, Julian, instilling in him the qualities of an exemplary lord.

Kenneth believed that Julian, like himself, should possess a strong sense of responsibility and willingly sacrifice for the welfare of the people. However, Julian was inherently timid and indecisive by nature.

Kenneth became worried. Even after passing on the succession, he wondered if the people and the territory would be secure. The passage of time weighed heavily on Kenneth. Each time a difficult morning dawned, and each time his reflection in the mirror revealed increasing wrinkles.

Considering it an investment for the benefit of all his subjects, Kenneth assembled exceptional teachers from across the land to instruct Julian. Sometimes strict, and at times… even stricter.

Progress was made. Julian grew to be strong, resilient, and wise.

Yet, Kenneth remained unsatisfied. He fretted over his son’s tendencies to be rebellious towards him and questioned whether he genuinely held the well-being of the people in his heart.

And with Kenneth’s demise, his concerns were put to rest.

“This is all that the lord’s duties amount to. Once you grasp the methods, it becomes quite simple,” Julian commented from his seat, resembling a throne, in the lord’s office.

As he surveyed the piles of mostly completed documents before him, Julian let out a slight scoff.

The relentless study, devoid of day and night, had undoubtedly shaped Julian. With knowledge of geography, he understood what needed to be done in each region. Understanding the flow of wealth, he knew how to enrich the domain. The tasks he had inherited from his father felt remarkably effortless, enough to induce a yawn.

It was a testament to his father’s guidance… no, that wasn’t entirely accurate. Even if his father hadn’t pushed him, Julian was convinced that he could have reached this level of proficiency through self-learning.

The primary duty of a lord was to determine the course of governance. Despite the multitude of issues that had crumbled like cargo on a suddenly halted carriage with Kenneth’s untimely demise, Julian could reach conclusions without wrestling with indecision, no matter the challenges he faced.

“….Hmm? Hey, Dex!”

Julian, engrossed in reading through the documents, suddenly frowned and summoned his secretary.

“Bring the Caller. Connect me with the attorney general of the domain.”
“Yes, sir.”

As Julian continued to process another set of documents, a few minutes later, a carefully presented tray arrived, carrying a parchment inscribed with a spell.

It was a remote communication item known as Caller. If they needed to quickly communicate within the same city, they could use it without relying on a communication room or similar facilities.

The Caller allowed for a two-way conversation, and on the other side of the talisman was the attorney general of the domain, Viscount Simon, a loyal retainer of the Marquis Angus household, who had been previously notified and was on standby.

“Is this Attorney General Simon?”

Tracing his finger along the surface of the talisman to activate it, Julian called out, unable to conceal his irritation.

“Yes, indeed. How may I be of service?” came the weathered voice of an elderly man from the token.

Viscount Simon, knowledgeable in criminal justice, had served as the attorney general of the Marquis Angus’ domain for approximately twenty years.

In Maltgartz (and in most countries, for that matter), lords held jurisdiction over judicial matters within their territories.

However, it should be noted that they couldn’t enact legislation freely. Their authority was confined to establishing local laws that did not contradict national laws, and their role primarily involved adjudicating those who violated those laws.

While most cases were handled by judges (either appointed from the common populace or nobles, depending on the circumstances), particularly serious or politically significant crimes were subject to direct adjudication under the lord’s name. This was known as the “lord’s trial.”

“The verdicts of the lord’s trial have reached me, but what is this? The leader sentenced to lifelong imprisonment, and the others to mere terms of imprisonment? Why such lenient judgments? These are bandits we’re talking about, with a significant number of reported casualties.” Julius demanded an answer.
“The culprits were once farmers, part of the local population who turned to banditry in the aftermath of a severe famine two years ago. Your esteemed father believed that failing to save them was his own responsibility, and judged they had to be given a chance to start over…”

As the chief justice’s words unraveled slowly, Julian felt an inexplicable surge of anger.

“So, you’re suggesting that those who have taken lives can be spared on such grounds? Impose the death penalty on all of them.”
“Sir… considering that they only resorted to necessary killings during their acts of pillaging…”
“Even among the impoverished farmers, there are those who seek aid and survive. Some would rather face starvation with dignity than embrace a life of crime. Begging would be a more honorable path compared to becoming bandits. They willingly chose the path of lawlessness. Where is the compassion in that? Moreover, if we simply behead them, it would also diminish the cost of the food. It only seems rational.”

The Caller remained silent, Viscount Simon unable to find a suitable response.

“I see now that you and my late father governed based on whims and ambiance,” Julian expressed, his frustration palpable. “However, moving forward, you will follow my approach. Rest assured, everything will take a turn for the better.”

With a gentle stroke on the surface of the Caller, Julian ended the call and firmly stamped the verdict document with the seal of “Veto.”

“…My lord, may I?” the secretary, who had been listening to the conversation nearby, cautiously inquired, displaying a hint of unease.

“What, do you object?” Julian asked.
“No, not at all… I wish to report something else.” He answered. “Mount Kuguse Capture Unit has just been formed…”
“It seems that we made it in time before the imperial family could intervene. They sure kept me on edge.” Julian responded calmly, feeling a silent sense of uplift.

Everything was a simple calculation. Nothing more than a process to rewrite what has been wrong correctly.

But he found joy in that. For Julian, it was the ultimate pleasure to carve his own path freely.