TL: Etude
Paul Grayman yawned and stretched.
“Young Master Paul, forgive my frankness, but your actions just now hardly befit the heir of your esteemed family,” Butler Philip pointed out his ‘misconduct’ once again.
“Here we go again.” Paul muttered internally, straightening up.
Since waking up that morning, whether dressing, washing, or eating, the butler had been meticulously critical of his actions. And, to his chagrin, he discovered that ‘toothbrushes and toothpaste’ were twigs and salt, and ‘soap’ was made from pig pancreas – all natural.
Father Anderson had just visited again to confirm his health was no longer in jeopardy.
Upon waking up, Paul’s mind was filled with fragmented memories of this body’s past life. Apparently, he was the son of a count, and his previous behavior wasn’t much different from the unruly and spoiled scions he knew from his previous life. Luckily, his body hadn’t matured enough to have done any truly reprehensible deeds.
Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately for his current situation, the body’s father, the count, had led troops against pirates a few days ago. Deeming his son of age to witness combat, he had brought him along.
They were ambushed en route, and the count died heroically during their escape, while his son was knocked unconscious by a pirate’s stone. Thanks to the family knights and guards who fought fiercely, they managed to return to the lord’s castle with the body of the old Grayman and the unconscious young master.
With Paul in a coma and showing no signs of waking, the castle had to hold a funeral for the old count in his absence. By the time Paul awoke, a week had passed since his injury.
Butler Philip had been trying to help him recover his memory by recounting past events and answering any questions arising from his ‘amnesia’, saving Paul much effort.
“So, my father and I were ambushed by pirates, and my father has passed away?”
“Yes, those cursed, damned pirates. You must avenge the Count!” Philip, having served the old Grayman for decades, was visibly moved to tears by the memory.
“Don’t worry, I’ll avenge my father. I wish I could flay those pirates and eat their flesh,” Paul said, knowing well what was expected of him.
“The pirates, emboldened by their recent victory, have been raiding the shores, taking advantage of the leaderless state of our land.”
“Are they likely to attack here?”
“The knights have arranged defensive measures. Lakeheart Town is currently safe. Given your previous unconscious state, everyone decided to wait for your recovery before taking further actions. I’ve informed the stewards of your awakening. They will come this afternoon to discuss future strategies.”
“Right, Philip, take me to my father’s grave first.”
As more fragments of ‘Paul Grayman’s’ memories surfaced, he wondered whether he had usurped this body or if this was a reincarnation with retained memories. The thought of mourning at his father’s grave stirred a sense of kinship, inclining him towards the latter.
If so, he resolved to live well in this new world as the heir of this family.
“I neglected that. Please, young master, do not be overly saddened. Your body has just recovered. The graveyard is behind the castle. Follow me.”
…
In the afternoon, all stewards still in Lakeheart Town gathered in the castle’s great hall. The mood was somber due to the recent loss of the lord, with everyone showing visible grief, a testament to the old count’s popularity.
Sitting in the lord’s seat, Paul felt incredibly nervous. In his past life, he had only attended meetings to take notes in a corner, never having experienced being the center of attention. Additionally, the sight of a room full of people in medieval attire added an air of unreality.
“Ahem…” Paul cleared his throat awkwardly.
Butler Philip, standing by his side, spoke up, “Young Master Paul is still recovering from a serious illness, and his health isn’t in the best condition. Now that everyone is here, let’s discuss how to deal with the current situation.”
The crowd began to discuss in small groups.
“I’ll start. Now is the time to regroup and teach those pirates a lesson. Their raids on the coast have already aroused great public anger. If we let them continue unabated, we’ll have no face to meet our people.”
A broad-shouldered, square-faced man stood up, voicing his opinion loudly.
“Agreed!”
“I second that.”
His words garnered considerable support.
“This pirate invasion is unusual. They’ve never ventured this deep inland before. Since the Count’s passing, our troops’ morale is low. We shouldn’t act rashly but should seek assistance from neighboring lords.”
Voices of dissent were also heard.
“But even if the nearest lord agrees to send help, it won’t arrive for at least half a month, right?”
The room soon became divided between these two views. Paul wanted to interject but was unsure what to say. He picked up a cup of water from the table to mask his discomfort.
“Enough, everyone,” the square-faced man suddenly called for silence. “We should listen to the young master’s opinion and let him make the final decision.”
“But he’s just a boy. What does he know?” a somewhat sinister-looking man muttered.
“Watch your tone. Paul Grayman is the only legitimate heir of this land and our future lord.”
The square-faced man stood up fiercely, confronting the naysayer. His surrounding knights also glared at the man, some even resting hands on their swords.
Intimidated, the sinister man shrank back, lowering his head.
Philip, the butler, quickly intervened, “Let’s not fight among ourselves. We face a common enemy. Young Master, please say something.”
Realizing silence was no longer an option, Paul spoke confidently, “Yes, we must remain calm and united to overcome this crisis.”
Addressing the square-faced man, he asked, “And you are?”
“Bryce. Bryce Ald, your military commander.”
Philip had already informed everyone of the young master’s memory loss, so Bryce introduced himself without expecting Paul to recognize him.
“How many soldiers can we muster?”
“We have 263 soldiers ready for battle, including 15 knights and 20 attendants. There are also about 300 militiamen from various villages, though their quality is mixed and they lack formal training.”
“Are our soldiers a standing army? I mean, do they train daily throughout the year?”
“How is that possible? These men are essential labor in their homes, usually gathered for training once a month or quarter. They’re assembled in Lakeheart Town now due to the pirate invasion.”
“How many pirates are there?”
“About 500, based on estimates during the ambush. Such a large-scale incursion is unprecedented. We’re at a disadvantage, but they don’t all raid together. We could ambush them in return.”
Bryce reiterated his proactive stance.
“What about logistics… how long can our supplies last?”
“No worries there. Soldiers brought some rations, and the town’s stores can feed a few hundred easily. We’re not besieged.”
…
Paul’s questions earned him some respect, dispelling any lingering doubts about his competence. He seemed more responsible than his previous frivolous image suggested, aware of the responsibility he now shouldered.
“We could expand our military to match the pirates, then train for a month before seeking an opportunity to annihilate them. Meanwhile, we can send envoys for reinforcements.”
“I think that’s a good idea!” Paul agreed, striking a balance between showing courage and avoiding recklessness.
With his agreement, no one opposed. They discussed details of recruitment and, finally, Paul’s formal inheritance of the title and land. As the rightful heir, there was little debate, and it was swiftly agreed that the chief steward would report to the royal court for official recognition and seek assistance against the pirates.
Feeling more comfortable in his new role, Paul remembered his ‘grand plans’ from the night before. Faced with a troubled land and leaderless people, he saw an opportunity to shine the light of industrial civilization on this wild land. His determination surged.
Philip whispered, “If there’s nothing else, young master, we should conclude the meeting. The knights need to inspect the defenses.”
“Yes, defending against the pirates is the priority,” Paul announced the meeting’s end, and everyone began to leave.
“Hold on, everyone!” Paul called out as they were exiting. “Considering the current unrest, I’ve decided to review our troops in the square to boost morale.”
He wanted to see for himself what his army looked like.