Published: January 4, 2026
“Master, what are you thinking about?”
“Hm? Oh, Zoe.”
When I looked up, a familiar maid was standing by the serving cart, somehow looking at me with a worried expression.
Lately, I’ve been seeing her more often.
After buying her entire village, which had been devastated by flooding, she offered to repay me in some way. So, I gave her more work around the mansion.
Perhaps out of gratitude, she’s been working hard and has become attentive to details. It’s not bad having her take care of my daily needs.
Even now, she’s standing by my side in the mansion’s hall, attending to various things as I ponder.
“You’ve heard that I’ve been appointed as the examiner for the upcoming knight selection, right? I was thinking about the best way to handle it.”
“I see!”
“Do you know about the knight selection?”
“Yes! It’s the only gateway for us commoners. Everyone with skills trains every day aiming for it.”
“Right. Well, I was considering how I should go about it… Are there challengers from your village?”
“Yes, one person every year from my village.”
“I see. Well, since I’ve scrapped the preliminaries this year, anyone can come.”
“…Yes.”
Zoe’s vague reply caught my attention.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry!”
“I’m not upset. Tell me, what are you thinking?”
“It’s nothing serious. The reason only one person comes from our village isn’t because of preliminaries but because of travel and living expenses to the capital.”
“Hm?”
“The capital’s cost of living is high. Everyone in the village chips in just to barely cover the living expenses for that one person. So…”
She looked conflicted as she said this.
I see, that explains it.
“…Is that a lot? For the village to gather money to send out just one person?”
“Yes. And since they carry the village’s expectations, everyone is very serious—”
“All right, then I’ll eliminate that.”
“—Huh?”
Zoe looked puzzled.
“What do you mean eliminate?”
“Travel and living expenses. Since I want to select from as many talented people as possible, I can’t let such things filter them out. So, I’ll cover all their food, lodging, and clothing while they’re in the capital.”
“C-Can you really do that?”
“I can.”
I said firmly.
“I’m the person in charge of the upcoming knight selection. It’s just a matter of me providing the money. I can decide this right now.”
“But… it would cost a lot of money…”
“Someone.”
At my summons, a male servant entered.
I ordered him to check how many vacant houses are currently available in the capital.
If buying up all the vacant homes covers what’s needed, fine. If not, I’ll build something like a dormitory.
Also, food supplies—depending on numbers—we might need to procure enough to support a village or a small town.
Now, which grain merchant does the thirteenth prince’s residence deal with? I searched my memory.
“Master… you’re amazing…”
Next to me, Zoe looked utterly stunned as I worked my mind furiously.
☆
On the way back from the grain merchant’s place.
After securing a promise that he’d supply a stable amount during the knight selection, I was content as I headed home.
The capital’s main streets were bustling with all sorts of people today as well.
I wondered if talent was among them. The thought made me want to stop each person and talk.
Suddenly, pedestrians began to part, creating a path to the side.
From that path came a carriage.
It stopped to let the carriage pass first, and the emblem on it was—
“Noah, isn’t it?”
The carriage stopped beside me.
After the horses stopped neighing, a young man poked his head out.
“Brother.”
I gave a slight bow on the spot.
Oscar Alarate.
The eighth child of Your Majesty, my older brother.
Of course, also a prince. That’s why people gave way on the street.
Oscar, said to be the kindest among the princes, spoke with a gentle face.
“What are you doing here?”
“Just wandering a bit. And you, brother?”
“I’m heading to Cobalt Street. Hey, why don’t you come along?”