It Seems My Job Aptitude Didn't Come with Human Rights

Preparation 12

I held back Irinya, who was about to explode with emotions and protest directly to Johanson, and focused on preparing for departure.

「Ah, master Lars!」

「Huh? Sigurd?」

When I turned around after being called, there stood the familiar face of the gardener. A former slave, but a master gardener entrusted with landscaping plans. His beard, still untrimmed and bushy, added a touch of humor.

Sigurd, standing with an almost tearful expression, grabbed my shoulders with both hands. The grip was firm enough to startle me.

「W-What's wrong?」

I asked, surprised, and Sigurd frowned deeply and groaned.

「... Is it true that you're being sent to the northern forests?」

「Eeh? You already know?」

I couldn't help but ask. Hearing my words, Sigurd's face twisted in distress.

「That woman...!」

Sigurd, usually gentle and kind, was now visibly furious. It left me so shocked I was speechless. Just as Sigurd was preparing to storm off, presumably in anger, I immediately grabbed his arm to stop him, feeling a dreadful premonition.

「W-Wait...!? Where are you going!?」

「I can't forgive her! Let me go!」

「No, you can't! Acting out of anger won't solve anything!」

I somehow managed to calm the agitated Sigurd and asked him for the reason anew. Then, somewhat apologetically, Sigurd explained.

「... Lady Olivia is arranging Master Lars's departure. She's preparing two carriages and horses and even selecting the servants...」

「Eh? If I can choose, I'd like to do it myself...」

「But she's deliberately choosing servants clearly inexperienced for this kind of duty, claiming people closer to Master Lars's age would be more enjoyable. That's intolerable.」

Sigurd criticized Olivia's actions, seething with anger. However, nothing would change even if Sigurd protested. Unfortunately, Olivia held significant sway within the Count's household, and even my father couldn't ignore her opinions. Truthfully, it was a political victory for Olivia and a failure on my part for giving her too much freedom.

「No, no, there's nothing to be done. It would be more tragic if Sigurd's position worsened for speaking up, so please, don't do anything.」

Resigned to my fate, I consoled Sigurd, who then burst into tears unexpectedly.

「I-I'm sorry...! Damn, what's Lord Johanson watching...?」

A grown man crying and shaking with frustration right before me almost made me want to cry too. However, I knew that if I cried here, Sigurd might actually go and confront Olivia.

「Well, I'll take it slow on the frontier, so don't worry. There might come a day when I return, so please keep the garden beautiful for that time.」

Patting his back consolingly, Sigurd held back his sobs and nodded several times. I realized I had to hurry and involve myself in the selection of the servants. As I turned around with that thought, I saw two small waterfalls.

Irinya was crying waterfalls. The height difference might not have been much, but the volume was considerable. Perhaps, it would become a famous tourist spot within the Count's domain in the future. If I were to name it, it would be Angel Falls... But this is no time for jokes.

「Ir-Irinya. Please don't cry.」

I gently patted her back with one hand, but Irinya showed no sign of stopping. Unfortunately, I couldn't wait for her to calm down. Reluctantly, I took her hand and led her away.

I walked around with the still-sniffling Irinya, and we finally found Olivia. Alongside the butler, she stood beneath the main gate, seemingly intent on sending me off immediately.

As Sigurd had said, two brown carriages were parked, with four horses waiting nearby. Surely they weren't serious about kicking me out right now?

Still accompanied by the tearful Irinya, I approached Olivia. Behind her stood Nils with his arms crossed and Erik sitting on the ground. In front of Olivia and the butler were beastman servants lined up.

「Umm...」

When I called out to the conversing duo, both turned toward me. Four pairs of eyes landed on me.

「Ah, master Lars.」

The butler responded first, adjusting his monocle with his right hand and raising his chin to look down at me.

「Oh, Lars! How are you doing? You must have heard by now, but you'll be assigned as a magistrate of the frontier. Isn't it remarkable at your young age?」

Olivia spoke with a smirk, while Nils laughed with amusement.

「You're going to chop wood, right? I know.」

「... Sounds like a chore.」

Nils made a mocking comment about the forest development, to which Erik responded with disdain.

How blatant. Though this wasn't new. Sighing at their attitudes, I exhaled lightly and forced a smile.

「That's right. It's going to be tough, so I thought I'd choose my companions myself.」

Upon hearing this, Olivia's smile vanished in an instant, replaced by an inquisitive, cold gaze.

-------------= Author's Notes -------------=

If you found yourself curious about 'what happens next,' it would make me happy if you could press the ☆ button at the bottom of the page!

It motivates the author!・:*+.\(( °ω° ))/.:+

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Yeah, this is a typical stepmother/step-sibling bullying tactic. But oh well, as the norm for this type of story, they serve the purpose of making the reader's blood boil.
They will get their just deserts in the future, we just have to wait.