I, a Holy-Attributed Healer, Am Surrounded by Beautiful, Big-Breasted Women of the Female Knight Brigade - Chapter 58 - My Heart Feels Calm When Salt-Sama Looks at Me [Lana Corias’s POV]

Chapter 58 – My Heart Feels Calm When Salt-Sama Looks at Me [Lana Corias’s POV]

[Lana Corias’s POV]

I got dressed in a gorgeous dress and prepared myself to welcome the guests.

Originally, it would be my brother, Lord Corias, who would do this, but he hasn’t come back here from the Capital for a long time.

He only came back once, two years ago, when I was appointed as the steward.

My brother has always been like that.

He never had any interest in the territory. His dream was to live like an aristocrat in the Capital.

He’s the kind of person who is satisfied if he entrusts the territory to the Steward and sends back money.

He isn’t interested in people, or perhaps he just doesn’t care about the rural countryside.

“Lana-sama, it’s about time.”

“Yes, Freyna. I’ll be counting on you today.”

“Yes!”

It’s been two years since I’ve been working as the Steward.

I have made many big decisions together with Freyna and Krish.

Since I was uncomfortable around men, there were voices accusing me of favoring women. There’s probably a lot of truth to that.

There is no such thing as true gender equality.

If you stand up for one, you have to sacrifice the other.

It’s not surprising that people would see it that way…

My golden dress is not only extravagant but also designed to attract men, with a deeply open chest area that seems like it might spill over at any moment.

The corset around my waist is uncomfortable, even though I’ve been exercising.

My hair is up and it feels heavy.

It’s not that I dislike dressing up, but putting even more effort than usual to welcome the guests makes me feel like I’m just trying to flatter men.

I glanced at Freyna and envied her. She is dressed in a tight dress with a slit that allows her to move easily as a bodyguard.

It suits Freyna because she’s tall and has a toned body.

I don’t have as much muscle as Freyna, and with my big chest, I probably have an unbalanced body. I even feel that my legs are thin and look like sticks.

“Let’s get going.”

“Yes!”

Ninety percent of noble families are inherited by men who are given a title.

Exceptions are when a woman is active in the family or when a head of the family suddenly dies and there is only a woman to inherit the title.

I have done a job that I can be proud of in my two years.

But in the end, I am only a Steward and a Lord’s representative.

My rank is lower than the other nobles, and I am just a woman.

The dance hall, where the guests are waiting, is the largest in the mansion, unlike the small-scale party held for close family yesterday. 

Illuminated by the light of the chandelier, the large crowd is mostly made up of men. It’s actually a rare sight.

Feeling a tightness in my chest as if my heart was being squeezed, I made my way to the platform in the dance hall where the main guest would speak.

The nobles who were considered honored guests have their own tables and chairs prepared at the back.

The guests include nobilities who guard the frontier territories, with Judas Azaman, my ex-husband’s younger brother, at the forefront.

If I were to be rude or appear unreliable here, they would look down on the Corias territory and treat it with disdain.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for attending tonight’s festival in hopes of Corias’ prosperity.”

I closed my eyes and bowed in greeting.

Then, when I opened my eyes and looked at the person directly in front of me, I felt a strange sensation.

My emotions calmed and the tension I had felt earlier was gone.

He clapped his hands and looked at me with gentle eyes.

With so many people staring at me, I feel as if they are piercing my whole body, but that man’s gaze is focused on my eyes.

Because of this, I feel at ease and can speak while looking only at him.

“The Corias territory has made great strides in the past two years. By rearranging the knights’ positions, we are now able to deal with the problems of each region. We are now able to focus on agriculture and the education of civil officials.”

Corias is still a remote region. There are only a few people who can be called civil officials.

The talented ones have left for the Capital or more fertile lands.

Therefore, it is crucial to develop and enrich the frontier, making it an attractive territory not just dominated by strength but also by growth and development.

“Although we didn’t have schools before, we have begun taking small steps to nurture educated individuals who can serve as civil officials.”

Initially, I gathered people by offering meals to poor children, but in two years, children and adults who could understand letters and numbers gathered, and I started educating those who seemed capable of becoming civil officials by keeping them close to me.

“Corias is certainly considered a rural area as it is a remote region, and development may be slow, but we aim to grow in a way different from before.”

I want to create an environment where not only men use force to suppress others.

I want to create an environment where women can think together, work together, and cooperate.

I believe in placing the right person in the right place.

Freyna’s older brother Gain is very strong. However, he isn’t very good at academics.

He has the ability to unite the rough Second Knight Brigade, but not the skills to manage a town.

How many people can understand that?

Even within the Corias territory, there are five towns and over twenty villages.

“This festival is to celebrate future development and prosperity. I would ask all of you who live on the same frontier to please guide and cooperate.”

As I gave my final greeting, applause broke out.

It has always been strange.

I always thought I wasn’t good with men.

And yet…just having Salt-sama look at me in front of me makes me feel calm and encouraged.

“That is all from me. Please enjoy the party.”

From here on out, I must greet the guests.

The Corias territory faces two territories, Azaman and Freegel. Azaman is an equal Earl territory. Freegel is a viscount family, and is of a lower rank, but there is no doubt that they are Corias’ comrades.

Additionally, as we have currently allied with the enemy nation of the Zakran Republic, an envoy was seated among the guests.

The two nobles and a diplomat are my main guests, and the rest are guards and merchants, in that order of importance.

“Thank you all for coming today.”

“Hmm, sister-in-law. There is no need to greet me so formally.  We are family, bound once by the ties of marriage.”

“Lord Azaman, congratulations again on your appointment as lord. Thank you for taking the time to come here.”

“Hmm. Never mind that, won’t you pour me some wine?”

“Yes.”

The three men’s piercing gazes were only on my chest and body, reminding me of how typical men behaved.

“Oh, Sister, it’ll be hard to pour from that far away.”

Just when I thought he’d grab me as he reached out his hand forcefully, his hand went limp, and he slumped deeply into his chair.

What happened?

As I was thinking that, the other two looked at me with puzzled expressions.

“Perhaps he was tired?”

“P-perhaps so.”

I poured wine for the remaining two guests and then excused myself.

I had prepared myself for something bad to happen, so deep down. I felt relieved as I was leaving.