The Elf Saint is a NEET, so I Forced Her to Work in Another World

Commission (Side Chapter)

***The Dupree Palace, official residence to the lord of the Duchy of Maverny***

Perched atop a man-made hill on the outskirts of the city of Maverny, the Dupree palace was a wonder to anyone who happened to pass its vicinity. Though not as wide and grand as the Holy Palatial Gardens, it was still an imposing symbol of power and wealth. White alabaster pillars held the big glass windows that served as its 'outer' walls. Glazed blue tiles interspersed with gold trimmings made up the palace's roof, supported by stone columns with carved designs of the local flora and fauna.

"..."

Surrounding the pleasant place was a wide garden of well-trimmed shrubbery and grasses. Small flower figurines served not only for aesthetics but also as mini-fountains that water the nearby plants. A ring of trees could be seen around the entire perimeter, near the thick stone ramparts meant for its defenses. And a wide cobblestone path dissected the courtyard from the palace itself, up to the very gates of the property. Heading to the middle, the path would part in opposite directions, and end in the same point on the other side, forming a circular road that was marked with a big fountain. A gilded statue of what was supposed to be a 'romantic rendition' of the hero, Lady Cassandra David stood in its center as well.

Kuro can't help but smirk at the sight of his former student's stone likeness. Even the Demon Saint herself is in awe of that nude statue; she never thought she can be that beautiful and...well, erotic.

"..."

Guess the late viscount fantasized about the old hero a lot of times...

In any case, after he was made into an Imperial noble, Kuro surveyed what he inherited. Counting on the help of Ruro, he traveled to the several villages that dotted his duchy, using her teleportation skill at times. His purpose was not only to meet his subjects, but to also know their needs, if there's any. After that, Kuro met with the leaders of his fief's central city, Maverny, to check on the state of things, especially the economic and financial matters. On this part, Eris and Salis worked with him to take notes on the concerns of the city's population, so he could come up with solutions and recommendations for later.

Then, once he was done with the people, Kuro was free to explore his newly-acquired property, the Dupree Palace.

"You sure have a lot of things going on in your hands, huh?" the Lady Hinwe commented as they take a rest. While Eris, Salis, Noir and their other companions went inside the palace to see its condition, Kuro and the Elf Saint opted a break, so there they were...sitting under the shade of one of the trees, eating and drinking some snacks.

"Hm? Well, yes...that's to be expected," he replied. "Running an army is already a headache, how much more a duchy such as this place?"

"Aren't you going to hire people to help you? Maintaining this place as well as the entire territory can be a handful."

"That's what I'm thinking," Kuro admitted. "Though, I'd like to keep things trimmed down."

"You mean?"

"No unnecessary expenses, such as lavish parties, and similar stuff. And a staff with well-defined duties and responsibilities."

"I see..." the Elf Saint took a deep breath. "You're pretty much a cheapskate."

"I'd like to be seen more as a 'thrifty' person, than someone who spends his money for stupid things."

"You're really a different noble," the Lady Hinwe chuckled. "No wonder the locals immediately took a liking to you."

"I'm not a noble, originally," Kuro countered. "And we'll see about the locals. It's only a few days since I took over, and the late viscount ran this duchy well. I'm afraid I got a big pair of shoes to fill."