Although spring had arrived, bitter winds still swept the Northern Frontier. Even a thick cloak could not keep out the bone-deep chill.
"My lord, we're nearly there," a Knight said, drawing in his reins and reporting quietly to the elderly man at the head of the party.
Bradley nodded slightly, his expression unchanged, and continued riding silently over the frozen ground.
The party traveled across the desolate land of the Northern Frontier without a word.
It was not that they had no complaints about this assignment, but that they held Bradley in awe.
He was Duke Calvin's longtime steward, a man of considerable power and standing. Within the Calvin Family, his status rivaled even that of some nobles from its branch lines.
Even if the Knights had questions, they dared not speak casually in his presence.
They had passed through several frontier fiefs along the way, all of them dilapidated and desolate.
Even Frost Glaive City, home to the Northern Frontier's Governor's Office, was little more than a shabby military outpost in these southerners' eyes.
No one expected Red Tide Fief to be any different.
Neither did Bradley.
As he remembered him, Louis was merely one of the duke's twenty-odd children: unremarkable in talent, mild in temperament, and even somewhat dull.
He had received little attention since childhood, and a few months earlier, the duke had sent him to this bitterly cold region of the Northern Frontier to fend for himself.
Yet now, in his letter to the duke, he claimed that his frontier fief was well managed and developing steadily, and that he had even discovered precious demon marrow ore.
Bradley was skeptical of the letter's contents.
Could a young man not yet twenty really bring order to a stretch of wilderness with virtually no resources to support him?
That seemed far too exaggerated.
Moreover, demon marrow ore had always been an exceedingly scarce resource in the Ironblood Empire, which relied almost entirely on imports from the Jade Federation.
And now large quantities had supposedly been discovered in his frontier fief?
There was probably some exaggeration involved.
Still, Bradley had come, without complaint or the slightest neglect of his duties.
Because he was Bradley, the Calvin Family's most loyal steward.
He intended to see whether this young lord could truly live up to everything he had described in his letter.
If Louis proved worth nurturing, Bradley would give him his full support.
If Louis disappointed him, he would withdraw all assistance without hesitation.
Amid the cold winds, the outline of Red Tide Fief gradually came into view.
On a distant mountain road, Louis sat astride a black warhorse, wearing a thick wolfskin cloak, his black hair stirring in the wind.
He bore a strong resemblance to the duke, though he looked less imposing and more refined.
A sleek Tundra Wolf pup stood beside his mount, radiating untamed wildness.
The sight quietly raised Bradley's opinion of Louis a little.
At the very least, he was far better than the useless young master Bradley had imagined.
The Knights were surprised as well. They had expected a disheveled, down-and-out young master trapped in an impoverished fief, not someone so calm and composed.
He had even tamed a Tundra Wolf.
Louis rode forward and bowed respectfully to Bradley. "Mr. Bradley, thank you for making the long journey. Welcome to Red Tide Fief."
Bradley returned the bow with a steward's impeccable etiquette. His manner was not warm, but there was nothing to fault. "You're too kind, young master. His Grace sent me with some assistance. I hope it will be of use to you."
"I will always remember my father's care."
Bradley quietly studied Louis, his impression of him already beginning to change.
After all, maintaining such composed, aristocratic grace in this harsh and barren Northern Frontier was no easy feat.
Louis urged his horse slowly forward, his gaze sweeping over the party and supplies Bradley had brought, and felt a faint stir of surprise.
Three Elite Knights, ten Official Knights, and thirty Apprentice Knights.
Dozens of skilled people, including craftsmen and physicians.
Several large wagonloads of grain, wheat flour, dried meat, and pickled vegetables.
Seeds for cold-resistant crops, dozens of Black-Horned Cattle, Coldland Sheep, Cold-Resistant Warhorses...
He had not expected much support from his father. After all, he was not a son his father valued.
But from the look of things, this shipment had far exceeded his expectations.
The old man had coughed up some gold after all, though this was still only a drop in the bucket for the Calvin Family.
Bradley said evenly, "Young master, these supplies aren't much. Consider them an opportunity."
He paused, then repeated the duke's exact words:
"If you manage your fief well, the family will invest further. But if you show any sign of incompetence, the family will immediately withdraw all support."
Louis merely smiled faintly. "I will make the most of this opportunity."
While Louis inspected the assistance, Bradley was inspecting Red Tide Fief.
When they first entered the territory, it looked no different from the other fiefs of the Northern Frontier: desolate, barren, and lifeless.
Bradley nodded inwardly. It was just as he had expected.
But as the party ventured farther in, his expression began to change subtly.
The first things to catch his eye were vast stretches of thriving crops, along with one tract after another of wasteland being cleared for cultivation.
The people worked with vigor, sweat mingling with dirt. Yet there was not a trace of resentment on their faces. Instead, they were filled with hope.
This isn't right. How did he accomplish this?
Most other frontier fiefs in the Northern Frontier are still sowing at this time of year, yet Red Tide Fief's crops are already nearly ready for harvest?!
Even the work of clearing new farmland was proceeding at the same time.
What did that mean?
It meant that Louis was far ahead of the other frontier lords in agricultural management.
Bradley noticed the neatly arranged, partly sunken longhouses on both sides of the road. Though simple, they were all new.
Clearly, they had only recently been completed.
In other words, Red Tide Fief had not only solved the problem of survival but also expanded its infrastructure in a short time.
In that respect, it surpassed even some fiefs that had been developing for years.
As they traveled on, Bradley saw more and more.
Detail after detail made Bradley's brow furrow ever more deeply.
But what truly startled him was the people they passed along the way.
The looks they gave Louis held genuine affection and respect!
It was neither the fearful deference shown to nobles nor gratitude toward a benefactor, but something close to devout faith.
Could this boy be a born ruler?
A tremor ran through Bradley's heart, and he began to reassess this unassuming young master.
It could be said that Louis's control over Red Tide Fief was even more complete than the duke's rule in the south.
He had written that he governed well, but now it seemed he had vastly understated things!
Everyone had underestimated him, and it seemed everyone had been wrong.
Perhaps he would not inherit the Calvin Family, but his future achievements would certainly be considerable!
At that thought, the corners of Bradley's mouth lifted slightly, and he found himself in a rather pleasant mood.
"At least I won't be bored in the Northern Frontier."
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