I Inherited a Beautiful Wife and a Territory - Chapter 59

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Inheriting a Beautiful Wife and Estate Episode 059

59. Don’t Pass Down Poverty

Cliff spoke while touching the paper with his hands.

The texture wasn’t bad.

It had better texture than the paper stockpiled for use in the manor.

“Ah. Come to think of it, I was going to mention this too. The paper used in this domain isn’t very good quality.”

Even that not-so-good paper was a burden for the domain.

Unless it was truly necessary, he gave instructions verbally and conserved paper usage.

Anyway, this confirmed it.

‘This gentleman. No, this dark elf has paper.’

As you learn from reading various fantasy novels, paper was expensive.

It was because of that paper that books became expensive.

Naturally, there were few craftsmen who possessed the technology to produce paper.

‘If I could naturally learn that technology from the dark elves…’

Cliff’s eyes sparkled.

Along with pottery, paper was the exclusive domain of nobles. Here on the Yusta Peninsula, just being able to produce paper would allow one to exert influence over the surroundings.

“That paper is goods purchased from outside. Elder, so I was wondering… would it be possible to produce paper in our domain?”

Belgimov chuckled softly upon hearing his words.

He spoke in a firm voice.

“It’s much easier work than the farming Elder Gusillon is doing. Aren’t there trees suitable for papermaking everywhere around us?”

Cliff’s eyes sparkled at Belgimov’s words.

Cliff knew that paper was made from trees. But beyond that, Cliff had no further knowledge or skills.

That’s why he hadn’t thought about paper production until now.

‘So our trees do have their uses after all.’

The soil that was disadvantageous for farming had become pottery.

And now if the trees that were disadvantageous for construction or firewood could be transformed into paper…

“Can you really make paper from the trees around here?”

“Of course.”

“Then would it be alright to request paper production?”

“Hehe. For that task, Elder Mellie would be more suitable than me. Call for her, the alchemist, and her disciples to handle it.”

Belgimov already had an assigned role.

And Belgimov was pleased with this role.

‘City construction…’

What Belgimov had just handed to Cliff was the blueprint for a city.

Though it was far from being grandly called a city, Cliff intended to build a planned city on this land.

The beginning of that was roads.

“You’re saying Mellie can do this work?”

Of course, Cliff was more interested in paper than the city for now.

That was natural. Even calling it a city, it wasn’t a project possible in just 1-2 years.

It was a project that needed to be steadily developed.

Most importantly, it was a project that would devour enormous amounts of money.

‘I was just thinking I needed somewhere to secure those funds.’

Gradually, even the domain that had only been lacking was changing.

There were still shortages, but it felt different from when he first arrived.

Back then, he thought there was truly nothing at all.

‘So things like this were hidden here after all?’

Cliff’s eyes lit up.

He needed to meet Mellie right away too. And Cliff quietly made a request to Belgimov.

“The tribute that the dark elves promised to offer me.”

“Yes, my lord. Please speak.”

“Would it be alright to include this paper in that?”

“I would gladly offer paper for my lord.”

Cliff’s mouth curved into an arc.

Of course, he had no intention of being satisfied with just what the dark elves gave.

“If possible, I’d like to receive the paper quickly…”

At Cliff’s words, Belgimov smiled.

“I’ll convey that message. I’ll send swift messengers, so you should be able to receive paper for your use within three or four days.”

Perfect.

There was something he’d been wanting to do recently anyway.

‘I’ve been restraining myself because I didn’t have paper until now…’

Now he could do what he’d been planning to his heart’s content.

“The twins’ names are Apollo and Artemis.”

The time to bless the children and give them names.

Cliff could finally give the children the names he had prepared.

This wasn’t his first time holding a baby. But thinking that this baby was his own baby made one side of his face twitch.

Apollo and Artemis.

Cliff smiled as he looked at their golden hair, inherited from his bloodline.

“You really worked hard and thank you.”

“I missed you.”

“I felt the same way.”

He was also reunited with Priscilla, from whom he’d been separated (?) due to strange customs.

It had been almost a month.

It was fortunate that she was nearby and he could hear news of her, otherwise it would have been difficult.

And another reason he could endure.

“But… is it really okay to use so much paper like this?”

She asked worriedly.

For reference, the source of paper usage she was worried about was the letters they had exchanged.

Mainly he had written, and occasionally she would write replies too. The month spent corresponding like pen pals had been quite enjoyable in its own way.

‘There were things I could say in writing that I couldn’t say out loud.’

Though he was hearing her voice for the first time in a month, he had received several letters filled with affection.

However, Priscilla had hesitated to write letters.

Not because she had nothing to write, but because paper itself was too precious.

Having lived as a noble of a poor domain until now, it was difficult for her to use paper for such private matters. If Cliff hadn’t sent plenty of paper and ‘ordered’ her to use it, she wouldn’t have done it.

“Don’t worry. We’re not short on paper stock at all.”

Cliff spoke with a confident face.

Her eyes widened.

And having come outside for the first time in a month, she was surprised that the domain had changed even during that time.

“What is… what are they doing over there?”

Facilities that hadn’t existed before had appeared within the domain.

“They’re making paper.”

“Huh?”

Her eyes became round.

Cliff laughed at that adorable expression.

“They said we can make paper from the fiber of trees that grow in this domain.”

This is why people see as much as they know.

Just from Priscilla’s expression after hearing his words, he could tell. Soaking wood in water, pounding and grinding it, rinsing it in water, and scooping it up with a sieve.

The papermaking process was simple yet complex.

Because such technology hadn’t existed before, the Elimis Domain couldn’t utilize the wood even though it had trees. At best, they used it as firewood that emitted harsh smoke or to build houses with weak durability.

Who could have imagined that those unnecessary trees would be reborn as paper?

“…Not only myself, but none of my ancestors could have even imagined that paper could be manufactured from these trees.”

She looked at the estate’s paper factory with curious eyes.

Like that, some of the trees logged in the estate were turned into paper, while others became charcoal.

Of course, the production volume was still very minimal.

‘There’s a shortage of manpower.’

Even so, the reason Cliff could use paper without being stingy was because he brought it from the Dark Elf Village.

They had sent it as tribute from their village, which he had decided to call Shadow Forest for convenience.

‘They don’t even use currency there, so I was wondering what to receive.’

He had decided to receive paper.

Besides that, he was thinking of going on an inspection visit soon. He suspected that the Dark Elves might be hiding more technologies.

‘These guys are like onions.’

As expected of a race that had lived long lives and developed civilization.

“What’s that place…?”

She asked with another surprised expression.

It was mainly women who visited the paper factory. Men had separate work to do.

In one place, they were laying gravel.

Normally, they would simply compact the soil and be done with it, but Cliff had been more ambitious.

‘Even if concrete or cement is impossible, I need to at least make gravel roads.’

The Roman roads that had made Rome prosperous.

It wasn’t quite at that level, but he planned to proceed to a similar standard.

Roads that wouldn’t become muddy even when it rained heavily.

This construction was underway.

“Spread it!”

Piles of stones were positioned on the road.

Roads were being made by laying rocks and filling the gaps with small stones.

Instead of horses, wolves pulled carts over them. From the sacks the wolves carried, stones brought from the mountains poured out in abundance.

“Really… it’s amazing.”

She showed a surprised expression watching this work.

Cliff was also amazed.

‘The work is going more smoothly than I thought.’

This was naturally because monsters who were hundreds of years old were involved.

And there was more.

Not just them, but the Shadow Wolves were exerting great power in the construction. The wolves that had even been farming were flying around even more at the construction site.

‘It would have been difficult without the wolves.’

Road construction was tremendously hard labor.

The road was also very long to proceed with a small number of people.

The fact that this work was being carried out so smoothly was largely due to the help of the intelligent wolves who carried heavy loads.

“It’s only been about 2 years since you came to this estate… I’m really proud that you are my master.”

Priscilla became more talkative.

She looked around with the face of a child and was amazed each time.

It was very enjoyable to show her around as if boasting to her.

“Right? Later, I’m thinking of building inner walls and creating a proper lord’s castle.”

And the outer walls would be built surrounding the area with the lake at the back.

“It sounds wonderful.”

“It would be, if it’s built well.”

The goal was to build a castle that would look magnificent just by looking at it.

“By the time Apollo becomes lord… the current appearance will have changed a lot.”

Cliff said quietly.

Priscilla’s pupils shook upon hearing those words.

She felt that Cliff had also changed a lot. Having a child had given him ambition.

The ambition to leave good things for his son.

‘Thank you.’

She smiled broadly.

Looking at her, Cliff was also satisfied.

And just like the day he first came here, he climbed onto the platform that had been prepared in the square.

Today, he planned to introduce his two children to the people here.

Clang clang.

The bell rang to signal assembly.

People stopped what they were doing and gathered in the square.

Cliff looked them over.

He recalled that moment when he first came here and called them to assemble.

‘Back then, they all… had dark faces.’

An estate where even the lord had left.

The people who remained in the abandoned land had no tomorrow.

That was the expression they had.

So at that time, Cliff had coaxed them with appropriate lies.

“I will make an important announcement.”

Cliff began speaking with the same words as back then.

“My name is Cliff.”

It was an introduction he had made before.

But Cliff no longer introduced himself as a descendant of Aidren.

He judged that it was fine now.

“I am the head of the Elimis family that rules this land, the lord who leads you, and the protector of my wife here.”

These words were enough.

They had already accepted Cliff as their lord.

They no longer had the dying look in their eyes, hoping for support from outside.

Cliff smiled.

“Now I want to share joyful and blessed news with my people. It’s been 3 years since I, Cliff, stood before you… I have finally gained my family in this place.”

Waaaah!

People cheered at Cliff’s words.

Someone shouted from among them.

“Glory to Elimis!”

“Loyalty to our lord!”

That voice filled with mana was loud.

It was Teobaldt.

He who hadn’t been present at the lord’s first inauguration speech was now inciting the people. This was exactly a knight’s attitude.

At that cry, Cliff felt even more moved by the changes.

“I ask you. The estate from 2 years ago, before I came here, and the current estate. Which estate do you wish to live in?”

“The estate ruled by our lord!”

The people’s cheers.

Everyone shouted that now was better than back then.

Various voices mixed together and spread. Cliff raised his hand to quiet the sound.

“Correct. This has become a much better land to live in than 2 years ago. But this wasn’t obtained for free. Since I came, you had to shed more sweat, and you made the effort to prepare despite fatigue to enjoy the true joy of winter. All that effort created today’s estate.”

He had led and they had followed.

There was a time when he had directly picked up a shovel and worked, but that was in the past.

He hadn’t done so recently.

“I promise you. This will continue to be so. You will reduce your sleep according to my commands, and toil and sweat until your bodies scream in pain.”

The atmosphere grew quiet.

There, Cliff spoke.

“And yet, even the fruits we gain from that won’t be ours. We will see those fruits with our eyes, but we may not be able to enjoy them.”

Toiling and toiling again.

The meaning of working so hard.

“When a seed dies, it bears much fruit. We are the seed generation. And when we die like this and bear much fruit, those who will enjoy that prosperity are….”

Cliff lifted up his son whom he had been holding for all to see.

“Here is my son. And also your children. Two years ago, I said I would personally reward those who were loyal to me, but this time I will not do so. Now I am your lord, and as such, I also command as a father in this domain.”

What he had to say to them.

“No longer pass down poverty. No longer let our children go hungry. No longer despair saying there’s nothing we can do. No longer let this place… be called a land where one cannot live.”

The winter’s tale that had spread throughout this domain.

Those gathered here were the generation that remembered it.

They were people who had lived through that time. People of that generation shed tears.

Do not pass down poverty.

Do not let children go hungry.

Do not despair in helplessness.

Do not let this land be called cursed.

“This is the new command I give as your lord.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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