Another witch
"W-Why would Your Highness want to learn how to hunt? I mean...I know that certain nobles like to go hunting on their horses but they usually own a safe perimeter for hunting where nothing relatively dangerous can happen. And my style of hunting is completely different." Iron Axe assumed that Roland wants to go hunting as a sport and fun but that was completely out of Iron Axe's style.
"Why would you assume I want to go "hunting" like those snobs. That can't even be called hunting...The real thrill of the hunt is where the sense of death closes in on you each second you spend catching the trail." Roland said with a faint cold smile.
'Maybe I don't have any experience hunting wild animals but I have experience hunting humans behaving lesser than animals'
"...Heh, well, who am I to refuse Your Highness' request" Iron Axe was momentarily stunned by Roland's words but when he saw his smile, a ferocious smile appeared on Iron Axe's face.
[+ 50 Gold Coins for gaining Iron Axe's genuine respect]
'A hunter can recognize fellow hunter, it's just that both of us were operating in different departments.'
"We shall start in a week's time, I will also pay you handsomely. I will need your help on how to orientate myself inside the wilderness." Roland smiled and lightly tapped the side of Iron Axe's shoulder before returning to his seat.
"In a week's time?!" Iron Axe exclaimed with a surprised tone.
"Is there a problem with it? We can arrange it a bit later if you don't have time." Roland said while flipping through the stack of papers on his desk.
"Your Highness, with all due respect, I don't think it's a good idea to go hunting anytime soon because the arrival of the months of the demon is quite close and some demonic beasts can already roam the forest. Although they won't attack town yet, some animals are already affected by the evil miasma. Teaching someone how to hunt at such a season is simply too dangerous." Iron Axe kneeled and expressed his disapproval while keeping his head low.
"I see...If it's just my life you are so concerned about, you don't have to be. We will start at the beginning of the forest and once I improve, we can venture a bit deeper. I think a few demonic beasts won't prove to be a problem for us." Roland said nonchalantly while scribbling something on the blank piece of paper.
"Well, with Your Highness' trusted knights, it should be relatively safe" Iron Axe muttered but Roland next words completely shocked him.
"My trusted knights? We are going alone, no one must know about this. I will be going in disguise." Roland looked up at Iron Axe, studying him before lowering his sight and calmly correcting him.
"Wha-?"
.
.
A few days passed and Roland spent his days either together with Anna or all alone in his office, always staying there till late. With the help of Anna, he created the first samples of cement which worked as intended and maybe even better than Roland expected. He also started the operation of digging a trench before they can find a stonemason to start building the wall.
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[Name: Roland Wimbledon
Titles: Fourth Prince (+2 CHA)
Stats:
STR: 6
AGI: 6
END: 4
STA: 6
INT: 8
CHA: 7 (9)
??? [locked]
Undistributed stat points: 4
[Current money: 1000 Gold Coins]
---
'Everything is going well and I finally caught up to all the governing work the previous prince ignored so much. Meaning...I have more free time to spare. I must say that at least this era's teas are incredible or maybe it's just because I haven't tasted any tea for a long time, whatever...' Roland thought, smiling to himself while sipping on the cup of tea with Anna sitting near the bookshelf reading book of Basics of Science with a content smile on her lips.
In the few past days, Roland did a lot of work and also bought a lot of materials from Shop, he already spent more than 500 Gold Coins and that didn't include books. Although his stats were raising, he could tell that it was getting slower the higher stat was which prompted his question of how is he going to earn more money before he can go hunting but that question was quickly answered at night. After raising salaries and inventing a few primitive things that could increase the quality of life, he started gaining passive money. He immediately discovered that this income was at least connected with his subjects' overall happiness.
Barov successfully negotiated with Willow Town and everything was decided, the first batch of supplies should arrive shortly and Roland will be finally ready to start producing gunpowder in bigger quantities
"Your Highness, we finally found experienced stonemason, he is right here with me" It was Barov voice that interrupted Roland and Anna's quiet and peaceful atmosphere.
"Let him in, and only him." Roland put down the cup of tea and straightened his clothes before answering.
"Yes, Your Highness...you may enter" After hearing Barov's muffled words, a man walked in and closed the door behind him.
"Your Highness" The man bowed to Roland.
"Alright, no need for the etiquettes, raise your head and tell me something about yourself...start with your name." Roland waited for the experienced stonemason for longer than he wanted so he was ecstatic to finally find one and couldn't care any less about etiquette.
"Yes, Your Highness...my na- Anna? Is that you?! I-I'm sorry!" The man suddenly and completely changed upon seeing Anna and he even got onto his knees while facing her as if he was begging for her forgiveness.
'...' Roland ecstatic mood was slightly ruined by this turn of event as he watched this unfold with one raised brow, although he might have looked nonchalant on the surface, he already had a grip on his dagger under the desk in case the man was to run away and spread the rumour but it didn't look like a weapon would be needed here.
"Teacher? P-Please stand up." Anna muttered with a surprised expression before glancing towards Roland who just gave her a faint smile.
"It is really great that you are alive!" The man said in a relieved tone before rising to his feet.
"Please enlighten me on what is going on, I feel like I am being kept in dark." Roland said with a playful smile.
"Ah, I apologize for my sudden outburst, Your Highness. My name is Karl van Bate, a former member of Mason Guild and currently a teacher. Anna was one of my students until...until "that" happened"
Roland looked at Anna and she nodded her head in confirmation. After that, Karl started talking something about the concubine, completely losing Roland's attention but once he mentioned another witch, Roland's ears twitched just like a dog's when hearing his owner coming home.
"Um, look, you may bring her to meet me but if her family still doesn't know the fact that she is a witch, she can't hide here. Also...there is no such thing as concubine here, Anna is working for me and in return, she is getting paid, has free lodging and food. Anyway, since you decided to apply for the job, I already have a project ready for you to work on. Here are the papers that explain everything you need to know. If you will need anything, you can come to me."
.
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"Yes, I understand everything. Thank you, Your Highness" When Karl finally left the office with a stack of papers under his arm, Anna threw a curious look at Roland.
"What is it, concubine? haha" Roland asked with a light laugh at the end, making Anna's face turn as red as a beetroot.
"I just thought that Your Highness would question him a bit more..." Anna said after she recovered, showing that the time she spent around Roland taught her that he likes to do things thoroughly.
"It looks like you trust that man and I trust you." Roland replied lowly with a small smile, returning to his more serious side.
"I-...I should go work and make more cement if we want to build the wall in time." Anna was probably taken back by his words more than expected so she chose to retreat but before she could leave the room, Roland stopped her.
"Wait, take this." Roland took some clothing from the drawer.
"What is it?" Anna took it and inspected it, getting a vague idea.
"Mask, you can get quickly sick in such a dusty environment. I am planning to give those even to the miners. You don't have to wear it if you don't want to, you will have some trouble breathing in it so make sure to have regular breaks."
"No, I will wear it...thank you, Your Highness" She pressed the mask to her heart and answer with a bright smile before leaving. What made her so happy was Roland's thought of keeping her health in check.
Now that Roland was all alone, he started writing several changes he would like to make in the future but while he was at it, he suddenly stopped and looked towards the door.
'...Why does it feel like someone is watching me?' Roland frowned but decided to continue with what he was doing before but keeping his free hand on his thigh near the dagger.