The fact that Unja and Vrina are interested in me, and are approaching me in that way, as I've never been in a s*xual relationship, I'm not sure why I'm the subject of that. I was puzzled by this, but when I discussed this with Erdena without a second thought, she sighed loudly.
''.........You have been quite popular with students and fellow female teachers since you were a teacher in the royal capital, right?
What?
　I'm so confused by those words.
　Honestly, I can't think of anything that would make sense to me.
　There was the occasional child who would bring me a lunch box or give me a handmade scarf, but that was just because they felt sorry for me because I wasn't eating well and I was dressed in a cold outfit, so....
　As she said this, Eldena sighed loudly again.
''Well I think it's admirable that you're so blunt.
　That being said... hmmm...
　I folded my arms and thought about it.
　Erdena was looking at me with a wry smile.
''...By the way, what's your perception of Mink?''
'Mink? She's a childhood friend of mine, and I'm sure she thinks of me like her own sister, and I'm sure she thinks of me like her own brother, too.
　When I said that, Eldena let out a sigh as she giggled.
''Well that's why you're so insensitive.
　I mean, you can't say that, but....

　Anyway, they do their job well.
　And I trust them and think of them as my friends.
　I'm not going to lie to you about this feeling.
　So, while I hope that they can continue to help me, I'm also wondering what to do about it because I don't think I can live up to their feelings.

◇ ◇.

　I've decided to shelve this matter for once and get back to work because there is no way I'm going to get an answer on that side of things....it's also called escaping reality.

　I received another letter from Gelter, and it has been officially decided that a messenger from the King's Capital will arrive early in the week.
　Since it's a matter concerning the approval of the Union of Frontier Cities, I've decided to adjust my schedule so that I'll be going to Batcombe on this day.
　I'll have Erdena and Vrina, the deputy lords of the city, come to the meeting right away.
''........Then I'll cancel all plans for Monday's visitors and reschedule the meeting with the other party to reschedule the day.
'Mistress, arrange for a stagecoach and an escort. I'll go to Chief of the Guard's Googs later.
　As soon as they heard what I had to say, they began to work quickly and efficiently.
　In the past, I was the one doing all of this work, and it would often take me a whole day to complete the whole process.
　With that in mind, the two of them have been a great help to me.

　At the same time, the newly established General Affairs and Planning Section, which is an auxiliary body for our Lords and Deputy Lords, has also been very helpful.
　Mink and the rest of the staff mainly take care of matters related to petitions from the people of the city, and for minor matters, Mink does all the work, including site inspections, estimates, and bidding, as well as making arrangements for contractors.
　For minor projects, Mink does all the work for me, including site inspections, estimates, bidding, and arrangement of contractors.
　If there is a problem, he always consults with me and makes sure that he doesn't go off on his own.
　At the weekly department head meetings at the beginning of each week, Mink gives me a precise report on ongoing projects.
　Her reporting is so clear and concise that other department heads have started to follow her lead.

　Such a mink had come to consult with me regarding the repair of the street in the Geghemorse area.

'It would be great if you would, because I didn't expect Sarah to be gone for so long...'
　It has already been nearly half a month since Sarah went to a city in the east quite a bit as my substitute, but since she still hasn't returned, it was mainly repair-related business that was beginning to get in the way.
　This is because the bone humans (skeletons) that Sarah can summon were taking on the task of repairing the city streets and walls during the night.
　Although the skeletons she summoned were working around the clock at the dragon scale mining site, only Sarah, the summoner, was able to give them orders on what to do.
　It's a good idea to have a local contractor to help you with any urgent repairs that need to be made.

　When the work talk was settled, I mentioned to Mink about the conversation with Erdena.
I was told that I think of you as my own sister and you think of me as your own brother, but I was told that you are insensitive.
　As I chuckled at that, Mink smiled at me and approached me.
''Brother Safate, I have no doubt that I thought of you as being like my own brother... but that was a long time ago.
　When I said that, Mink suddenly kissed me on the mouth.
　I was completely caught off guard and couldn't dodge at all.
　I tried to move backwards in a hurry, but Mink hugged me with both hands.
　For a while, Mink and I had our lips on each other inside the lord's room.

　Mink said that while turning away, looking a little embarrassed.
''........By the way, it was the first time I kissed your highness on the mouth......''
　Mink adds that.
'Ki, I know how you feel, and I'm happy for you, but I have a fiancée named Eldena...'
'Isn't Brother Safate a frontier count? If he's the head of a noble family, I don't see any problem with him having a side room?
'Oh, no, no that's true, but then you'll have to...'
'I was shocked when I heard that Brother Safate had a fiancée, but now I don't mind being in a side room if I can be by his side, so... just remember...'
　Mink said with a depressed look on his face.
Well, then, that's that.
　He strode out of the lord's room with a make-believe smile.

　

　I frowned as I put my index finger to my lips, and I was reminded, as if after all this time, that this is what Erdena meant....

◇ ◇.

　On this day, I went to the control room of the underground labyrinth run by Jambalea in the morning.
　It seems that they have received a request to create an underground labyrinth to train magical beasts to participate in the fighting tournament, and they wanted me to consult with them.
''That's why I'm thinking of using the magma pools underneath Mount Gorn.
　Giambalea explains, pointing to the window she has displayed in front of me.
　The shirt she is wearing has 'Cheerful greetings at dusk' handwritten on it.
　
Won't that stimulate the magma and cause Mount Gorn to erupt?
That's not a problem. We've built a separate cave for the magma to escape to in case of emergency.
　Saying that, a large hollow space had been created at the point where Jambalea pointed.
　As a mage with a special skill as an underground labyrinth creator (dungeon creator), Gianbarea must be good at that much.
''Also, we need to take measures to prevent the demonic beasts we brought with us from going out of control, as well as a defense system in case they do go out of control...''
Make sure you do that too. We've modified the system so that we can dispatch hexenbiests from the underground labyrinth to suppress them when they begin to rampage through the city. We can work together with the guards to deal with them.
　When I heard Giambalea's words, I often pondered in my brain and
Well yes, I'll take care of it that way.
　I gave him permission.
'Yes, you see, I'll get right on it.
　With that, Giambalea happily made her way to her workbench.
''Then we'll get on with the work!
Big sister Gianbarea, we're going to make even more money.
All right, Selvyn, Jarvin, keep it tight.
　Jalvin and Serbin, the fusion demons working for her, gathered around Jambalea, and the three of them happily began their work.
　Jalvin and Serbin had been forced to work as slaves for the church forces before.
　Immediately after being rescued by Lilpop, they hadn't been willing to leave his side because they adored Lilpop as a big sister, but nowadays, they called Jambalea a big sister and continued to work happily under him.
　
　I have to create an environment where everyone can enjoy working with a smile like Jambalea and the others....
　As I looked at them, I thought so, but that didn't stop me from wondering about the side rooms and all that.