Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 381: What’s Left

Chapter 381: What’s Left

Lyan took in a deep breath as he stood in the meeting room, the fire in the hearth flickering, casting warm light across the stone walls. The reality of their situation was beginning to settle in. They weren’t just a band of mercenaries anymore, and their success in battle had brought them something that was proving far more complicated to deal with: territory. Or rather, more territories. The newly acquired cities of Norhallow, Valmere, and Dunbridge were theirs now, but managing them was an entirely different kind of challenge.

(Well, we ended up skipping the part of Griselda’s backstory because of my backstory yesterday, but I at least managed to tell them the truth about the Grimoire’s Space and the existence of these eight high spirits. Surena, Alice, and Emilia has saw the eight of them appearing at the goblin king subjugation first-handedly after all. I guess Griselda’s case could be told later on in the near future)

Wilhelmina stood at the head of the room, her expression composed as always. She glanced over the gathered companions, her eyes briefly meeting Lyan’s before she began. "The situation is more complex than we initially imagined," she said, her voice steady. "We have three cities more now under our rule, but each faces distinct challenges. If we don’t address these issues quickly, we risk losing the people’s trust before we even earn it."

Lyan nodded, leaning back in his chair, his fingers brushing his chin as he listened. Wilhelmina pointed to a detailed map spread across the large table. The cities were marked with ink, and there were annotations showing the troubles in each.

"Norhallow," she began, tapping her finger on the map, "is facing severe food shortages. The previous noble had neglected the people, hoarding supplies for himself while the townsfolk went hungry. The granaries are nearly empty, and the winter months are approaching fast. If we don’t find a way to provide food, there will be riots."

Lyan furrowed his brow, imagining the dire straits the people must be in. He could almost see the thin, desperate faces of the townspeople, their eyes hollow from hunger. It gnawed at him, that old feeling of helplessness.

But the new fresh thing as well is:

(We need to move quickly, Lyan. Starving people are more dangerous than an enemy army) Arturia’s voice chimed in, her tone stern as always.

(The girls start to join in conversationi again as well) (Lyan)

Wilhelmina continued, her gaze shifting to another point on the map. "Valmere—their trouble is different. There are two rival merchant factions in constant dispute. With the fall of their previous leader, there’s no one to keep them in check, and it’s causing unrest. It’s not just bickering either; the disputes have turned violent. If we don’t intervene soon, it could escalate into an all-out civil war."

Lyan let out a sigh, rubbing his temple. "Merchants fighting over scraps while the people suffer. Typical," he muttered under his breath.

(They’ll tear each other apart if given the chance, you know) Griselda added, her voice laced with irritation.

(We’ll need to show them who’s in charge.) (Griselda)

(And Griselda also talks more somehow) (Lyan)

"And then there’s Dunbridge," Wilhelmina went on, her finger landing on the third city. Her expression grew more severe. "Dunbridge has descended into lawlessness. Bandits have taken advantage of the power vacuum left by the nobles. They’ve been raiding the countryside, terrorizing the people. The guards that were supposed to protect the city have either fled or joined the bandits. The people are living in fear."

Lyan closed his eyes for a moment, letting the weight of their new responsibilities settle on his shoulders. It was a heavy burden—one he hadn’t exactly asked for, but one he couldn’t turn away from now.

"We need to stabilize these cities," Wilhelmina concluded, looking at Lyan with a determined gaze. "The people are looking to us for leadership, and we can’t afford to fail them."

Lyan nodded slowly, meeting her gaze. "Then let’s get to work," he said, his voice steady. "We’ll need more capable hands to manage these territories."

Wilhelmina sighed, her expression softening slightly. "That’s another problem, Lyan. We don’t have enough domestic officials. We need administrators, and we need them now. Without them, we can’t properly govern these cities. Reports are already coming in of riots breaking out in Valmere—people are scared, and without proper leadership, that fear will turn to chaos."

Lyan frowned, tapping his fingers against the armrest of his chair. "We’ll have to start recruiting then. But we can’t just hire anyone. We need people who are competent and, more importantly, loyal. The last thing we need is for someone to infiltrate our ranks and turn on us when we least expect it."

(You’re right. We can’t afford any traitors among our people. Let’s hire some cute and sexy ones!) Cynthia’s voice echoed in his mind, her usual gentle tone edged with concern.

(I feel like I just heard an outrageous proposal from Cynnthia...) (Lyan)

Lyan turned his gaze to Belle, Alina, and Xena, who were seated nearby. "I need the three of you to vet the potential candidates. Make sure they’re trustworthy. We can’t take any risks."

Belle gave him a confident nod, her eyes filled with determination. "You got it, Lyan. We’ll make sure no one slips through the cracks."

Alina smiled, her gaze steady. "We’ll do whatever it takes. You can count on us."

Xena remained quiet for a moment, then gave a firm nod, her expression serious. "We won’t let you down."

Lyan then turned to Josephine. "Josephine, I need you to start recruiting domestic officials. We need people who can handle the day-to-day operations of these cities. Make sure they’re competent and willing to work for the people."

Josephine placed her hand over her heart and bowed slightly. "I’ll see to it, Lyan. We’ll have the best people for the job."

Lyan’s gaze shifted to Wilhelmina and Solia. "Wilhelmina, I want you and Solia to work on a security plan for these cities. We need to ensure that the people feel safe and that order is maintained."

Solia, who had been leaning against the wall, pushed herself upright, her expression serious. "Understood, Lyan. We’ll make sure those bandits regret ever stepping foot in Dunbridge."

Wilhelmina nodded, her eyes meeting Lyan’s. "We’ll have a plan ready soon. We can’t let the people down."

Lyan leaned back, letting out a sigh. It was a lot to take on, but he trusted his companions. They had come this far together, and he knew they could handle whatever challenges lay ahead.

—--

The journey to Norhallow was quiet, the landscape shifting from rolling fields to dense forests as Lyan and Althea rode along the winding road. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of pine and the distant promise of winter. The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the horizon. It was peaceful, but Lyan knew better than to let his guard down. The world might appear serene, but beneath the surface, trouble was brewing.

Althea rode beside him, her eyes scanning the surroundings with a cautious gaze. She was dressed in simple traveling attire, her sword resting at her side. She turned to Lyan, her brow furrowed slightly. "Do you think they’ll accept us, Milord? The people of Norhallow, I mean. After everything that’s happened, they must be wary."

Lyan sighed, glancing at her. "I don’t know, Althea. They’ve been through a lot. The old noble treated them like cattle, taking what he wanted and giving nothing in return. Trust doesn’t come easy after that. But we have to try. If we’re going to make this work, they need to see that we’re different."

Althea nodded, her expression softening. "You’re right. We’ll just have to show them through our actions. Words won’t be enough."

The road ahead eventually opened up to reveal the city of Norhallow. It was a modest settlement, its stone walls showing signs of disrepair, the gates manned by tired-looking guards. As they approached, Lyan could feel the weight of countless eyes watching them from behind the walls. The people of Norhallow had suffered, and their suspicion was justified.

The gates creaked open, and Lyan and Althea entered the city. The streets were quiet, the usual bustle of a city reduced to a hushed murmur. People watched from doorways, their eyes filled with a mix of hope and suspicion. Lyan could see the gaunt faces, the hollow eyes—signs of hunger, fear, and uncertainty.

As they made their way through the streets, Lyan spotted a group of children playing in the dirt, their clothes tattered and their faces smudged. One of them looked up, his eyes widening as he spotted Lyan. The boy tugged on his friend’s sleeve, whispering something, and soon, all the children were staring at them.

Althea smiled softly, waving at the children. "Hey there," she called, her voice gentle.

The children hesitated, then slowly waved back, their expressions cautious. Lyan’s heart ached at the sight. These were the ones who suffered most in times of turmoil—the innocent, caught in the crossfire of greed and power.

They continued on until they reached the central square, where a group of community leaders had gathered. The men and women were dressed in simple clothing, their faces lined with worry and exhaustion. An older man stepped forward, his back bent with age, his eyes sharp as they studied Lyan and Althea.

"You’re the new lord, then?" the old man asked, his voice raspy but firm.

Lyan dismounted his horse, nodding as he approached the man. "I am. My name is Lyan. And this is Althea, one of my trusted companions. We’re here to help."

The old man eyed him for a long moment before nodding slowly. "Help, you say? We’ve heard those words before, from the ones who came before you. They promised help, but all they brought was misery."

Lyan met the man’s gaze, his expression earnest. "I won’t make promises I can’t keep. I know you’ve suffered, and I know words mean little. But I’m here to listen, to understand what you need, and to do what I can to make things right."

The old man studied him for a moment longer before nodding. "We’ll see if your actions match your words, young lord." He turned, gesturing for Lyan and Althea to follow. "Come. We’ll show you what’s left of our city."