Lord Summoner's Freedom Philosophy: Grimoire of Love
Chapter 386: The Briarwood Girl (End)

Chapter 386: The Briarwood Girl (End)

Lyan leaned back against the table, observing Arielle as she took a long sip from her mug. The dim light of the room cast shadows across her sharp features, her green eyes glinting with curiosity. She finally put her cup down, gazing directly at him.

"Hm... So you’re the lord of Grafen, Baron Evocatore, huh? I’ve heard quite a bit about you," she said, her voice dripping with a mixture of curiosity and teasing.

Lyan smiled faintly, shrugging nonchalantly.

"Is that so?"

Before Arielle could answer, Althea spoke up, her voice filled with pride.

"Milord is a very great lord."

Arielle raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a smirk.

"Oh, yes, you’re absolutely right. A very great and famous womanizer as well."

Lyan was just taking a sip of his drink, and almost choked, coughing as he tried to keep himself from spitting it out. Inside his mind, the eight spirits burst into laughter, their voices echoing with teasing delight.

(Of course, you are a full-fledged, well-known perverted womanizer, and everyone knows that)

Hestia’s voice chimed in, her usual tone of disapproval tempered with reluctant acceptance.

(Indeed, Master, it’s a well-deserved title)

Lilith added with an amused giggle.

Lyan sighed, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, a slightly strained smile on his face.

"Thank you... for the praise," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Arielle chuckled, crossing her arms as she turned her gaze to Althea.

"Your maid has a very sexy body, and she’s a beautiful black-haired mature beauty, isn’t she? I bet you’ve already laid her."

Althea’s face flushed deep red, her eyes widening in surprise, but Lyan answered bluntly, without hesitation.

"Of course I have. It would be a shame not to."

Arielle blinked at his straightforwardness, her mouth forming a wry smile.

"You really don’t hesitate once you get comfortable, do you?" she said, shaking her head in disbelief.

"But I’ve heard of your greatness—how well you treat your people, and of course, your girls. They say all of them seem very happy, even happier than the average wife of a knight." She paused, her smirk widening. "Apparently, some young girls hope to get ravaged and brought into your harem, Baron Evocatore."

Althea let out an exasperated sigh, her eyes narrowing.

"Stop it, Lady Arielle. Lord Lyan would take up all of their offers if they did ask him." She reached over, placing her hand on Lyan’s crotch under the table, her voice soft but commanding.

"Milord, let’s continue with our original purpose here. I will relieve you personally, so please hold yourself back."

Lyan smiled, a hint of gratitude in his eyes.

"Indeed... Thank you, Althea."

Arielle blushed, looking away as she fidgeted in her seat.

"You both really don’t hesitate, do you...?"

They continued their walk through the mansion, the heavy boots echoing in the empty halls. Arielle kept glancing around, noting the changes in the household—cleaner, organized, and visibly bustling. She nodded approvingly as they passed, noticing the people working with newfound energy.

"You’ve already done quite a lot, and quickly too," Arielle said, her tone less teasing now, more contemplative.

"But it’s still not enough." She pursed her lips, a thoughtful look crossing her face.

Lyan raised an eyebrow, watching as Arielle suddenly marched forward, gathering some of the remaining people—domestic officials who had survived Hektor’s rule. She began pointing at them decisively.

"You, you’re with me. You as well. Yes, you—come on, get up."

The officials blinked in confusion but complied, lining up as Arielle picked one by one. Once she had gathered a handful of them, she started assigning tasks, her voice quick and precise, her instructions leaving no room for questioning.

"You, head the provisions team. Make sure everyone gets a fair share, and report any shortages immediately. You, oversee logistics. You, work with the town’s blacksmiths to set up a distribution system for basic tools—" She spoke quickly, her tone sharp but clear.

Lyan watched, a smile tugging at his lips. Arielle had a commanding presence, and her knowledge of administration was impressive. She turned to him after a moment, a determined gleam in her eyes.

"You said you’d do whatever it takes, right? I’ve already calculated the least costly option for maintaining the city. It’ll be a stretch, but it should work if we move quickly."

Lyan gave her a thumbs up, his smile widening.

"That’s exactly what I want to hear."

Arielle’s eyes lit up with excitement, her cheeks flushing slightly.

"Great! This is going to be great!"

Althea glanced at Lyan, her voice filled with concern.

"Are you sure we can trust her, milord?"

Lyan nodded confidently, his gaze never wavering from Arielle.

"It’s fine, Althea. I believe in her."

Arielle heard his words, her heart skipping a beat. She turned, her eyes meeting his, and she could feel the genuine trust in his gaze. It made her feel something she hadn’t felt in a long time—valued. Her eyes sparkled with determination, her smile turning genuine.

The journey back to Grafen was relatively quiet, the tension from earlier now replaced with a sense of purpose. Arielle rode alongside Lyan and Althea, her thoughts drifting back to the work they had done in Norhallow. The city had been in chaos when they arrived, but now, thanks to their efforts, there was a semblance of order. The temporary measures they put in place were beginning to show results, and Arielle couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride at how quickly they had managed to address the immediate problems. They had recruited new officials, organized the distribution of resources, and quelled the unrest that had threatened to boil over. It was far from perfect, but it was a start. As they traveled, Arielle found herself reflecting on the trust Lyan had shown her, and how she was determined not to let him down.

Soon, the familiar sight of Grafen appeared on the horizon, the city walls standing tall, and Arielle’s eyes widened as they approached. The bustling streets were filled with merchants, townsfolk, and travelers alike, the energy of the place vibrant and welcoming. Arielle could hardly believe her eyes.

"This... This is on a whole different level," she said, her voice filled with awe.

"How could Grafen turn into such a bustling city in such a short time...?"

Lyan smiled, a hint of pride in his eyes.

"A lot of hard work, and a lot of good people helping."

Arielle continued to stare in amazement as they entered the city. The energy was vibrant, the air filled with the sounds of laughter and the scent of freshly baked bread from the market stalls. It was a stark contrast to the lifeless cities she had seen under corrupt rule.

As they approached the barony’s castle, Arielle’s eyes grew even wider, her mouth falling open in shock.

"A-a castle!?" she stammered, her gaze running up and down the impressive structure.

"This is huge... for just a baron!?! Just how many hundreds of gold would it cost to build this?!"

Lyan chuckled, leading her into the building, the grand hallway opening up before them.

"Come on, there’s something I want to show you."

He brought her to the domestic officials’ building—a smaller structure adjoining the castle, dedicated to governance and administration. As they entered, Lyan cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention.

"This girl, starting from now, will be the stewardess of my feudal land," he announced, his voice firm and commanding.

The room fell silent for a moment before murmurs began to spread, a few officials exchanging surprised glances. Arielle stood tall, her expression composed, though her heart pounded in her chest. She hadn’t expected this—not so soon, not in such a public way.

Wilhelmina, who had been standing at the far end of the room, stepped forward, her gaze sharp as she approached Arielle. She stopped just in front of her, her eyes studying the newcomer with an intensity that made Arielle swallow nervously.

"If Lyan believes in you that much," Wilhelmina said, her voice even, "then how about I put you to the test?"

Arielle’s eyes narrowed, her lips curving into a smirk.

"Bring it on."

The two women stared at each other, their gazes locked in a silent challenge. A smile played on both their lips, filled with determination and a hint of rivalry. Lyan watched them, a bead of sweat forming on his temple. He let out a wry smile, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Is this... going to be okay?" he muttered to himself, the spirits’ laughter echoing in his mind.

(It seems you’ve brought in another fiery one, Lyan)

Griselda’s voice was filled with approval.

(Indeed. This one might actually keep Wilhelmina on her toes. Healthy competition is needed especially in management)

Hestia chimed in, her tone amused.

Lyan sighed, shaking his head. He had a feeling things were going to get even more interesting from here on out—and maybe a bit chaotic too. But as he watched Arielle and Wilhelmina, he couldn’t help but smile. They were strong, capable, and ready to fight for what was right.

And that was exactly what Grafen needed.

"Now we’ve got the piece we needed, it’s time to make this territory-handling rock!"