The Lord Just Wants to Have Fun

“Hurry up! The Countess will be arriving soon!”

Philip rushed to prepare for his guest’s arrival.

Just as the final touches were being made, the carriage carrying Countess Adrienne and her attendants arrived at the lord’s manor.

“Welcome, Countess.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Baron Philip.”

As he greeted her, Philip couldn’t help but admire her appearance.

Her glossy dark brown hair, her smooth, wrinkle-free skin, and her slim yet well-proportioned figure—it was hard to believe she was a woman in her forties.

‘Does she have elven ancestry or something? But more importantly, what exactly is wrong with her health?’

Though her expression was somewhat somber, she looked healthy. She showed no visible signs of discomfort or illness.

Then, Philip noticed something odd.

A strong perfume emanated from her—overwhelmingly strong.

Moreover, despite the weather being mild and the reception room being cool, the Countess kept wiping her forehead and neck with a handkerchief.

‘I think I know what the problem is.’

Feeling fairly certain, Philip carefully asked,

“Do you suffer from hyperhidrosis?”

“Yes, that’s right. Because of it, I can’t even dress properly, and it’s incredibly uncomfortable.”

She explained that about a year ago, she had started sweating profusely, to the point where she couldn’t even wear makeup properly.

To make matters worse, she had also developed a strong body odor—one that even frequent bathing couldn’t wash away.

‘…So she has bromhidrosis too.’

In an attempt to mask the odor, she had doused herself in heavy perfume, but instead of helping, the mix of intense body odor and strong fragrance had become almost nauseating.

With such a condition, it was impossible for her to attend high society gatherings.

“I’ve sought out renowned healers and even priests, but nothing has worked. I was about to give up when I received your letter, Baron.”

“I see. Then, shall we head to the hot springs right away?”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

Philip immediately escorted her to Silon Village, where the hot springs were located.

The moment she settled in, she rushed to the bathhouse, desperate for relief, and sank into the warm, mineral-rich waters.

‘Will this actually work?’

The Countess had low expectations.

She had little faith in the idea that simple hot spring water could cure her condition.

However, she had nothing to lose—this was her last hope.

And something about Philip’s confidence made her want to believe.

Then, after an hour-long soak, she emerged from the bath.

“Wait… My lady, your body odor seems less intense!”

“Yes! And your skin looks smoother, too!”

Hearing her maids exclaim, Countess Adrienne hurriedly examined herself.

‘The Baron… was right!’

Her scent had weakened, and she was sweating less.

From that moment on, she began bathing in the hot springs several times a day.

*****

‘Heh, it seems she’s convinced.’

Philip grinned as a messenger reported that Countess Adrienne was practically living in the hot springs.

“That’s good. But what about the gift I sent her?”

“You mean the Maka powder—ah, I mean, coffee?”

Philip had sent Countess Adrienne a gift of coffee, telling her it was a refreshing drink that could clear the mind and boost one’s mood.

Of course, he didn’t just send plain coffee grounds.

To make sure she enjoyed it properly, he had included sugar, milk, and even a few recipes for different preparations.

‘If I can hook a socialite like her on coffee, I can turn it into a trend.’

Once that happened, demand would skyrocket, making coffee a new lucrative industry for his territory.

And his plan was already working.

“The Countess enjoyed the unique flavor, saying it was unlike tea. She also mentioned that the aroma could work as a substitute for perfume.”

‘Well, there are coffee-scented air fresheners, after all.’

Whether people drank it or used it as a fragrance, as long as it sold, that was all that mattered.

If Philip wanted to continue living lavishly and indulging in his hobbies, he needed plenty of money—which meant securing more sources of income.

Philip waved off his messenger with satisfaction.

The first step in marketing was successfully in place.

But that wasn’t enough.

Through Countess Adrienne, he could promote even more than just the hot springs.

After dismissing his envoy, Philip returned his focus to the documents he had been reviewing earlier.

It was a report from the industrial officer overseeing the mines and workshops in his territory.

And its contents darkened his expression.

“Iron and copper are running low?”

With the expansion of his military forces, the increased production of weapons, and the manufacturing of Zippo lighters, the territory’s iron and copper reserves had been heavily depleted.

The territory had one iron mine and one copper mine, which had previously been sufficient for self-sustenance.

However, as demand increased, they had started burning through their stockpile at an unsustainable rate.

‘We’re barely keeping up, but if we don’t secure enough reserves, it could be disastrous in an emergency.’

Tensions were already rising with the Viscounty of Mirabeau, and monsters in the Prill Mountain Range were showing unusual movements.

On top of that, Zippo lighter production needed to be scaled up.

Philip decided that this issue needed to be resolved immediately.

*****

Adrienne’s condition improved drastically.

As she regained her health, she resumed outdoor activities such as strolling and horseback riding.

And along the way, she discovered something new and exciting—golf.

Thwack!

The ball rolled across the grass before dropping perfectly into the hole.

“Your skills have improved significantly.”

“Hoho, it’s all thanks to your excellent teaching, Baron.”

“Even with good instruction, one needs talent to truly excel.”

For the past few days, Philip had been playing golf with Adrienne every two or three days.

And today, as lunchtime arrived, the maids brought out an array of dishes—some of which Adrienne had never seen before.

She gazed at the food with curiosity.

“Baron, what is this dish?”

“It’s called corn cheese. Made with tooth beans, seasoned with salt, sugar, and pepper, then topped with cheese and grilled.”

Adrienne’s brows rose in recognition.

She had heard of tooth beans’ (corn’s) infamy, but perhaps because Philip was her benefactor, she didn’t hesitate to try it.

She took a bite—and then her eyes widened in surprise.

“This is delicious! The chewy cheese and the sweet, bouncy texture of the beans go together perfectly!”

“I’m glad you like it. And this is called popcorn—it’s just fried tooth beans.”

‘My resident angel is completely addicted to this stuff, by the way.’

“Popcorn? This makes for a wonderful light snack!”

Adrienne continued sampling the dishes, her gaze soon settling on something white and smooth.

“And what about this? It looks like pudding.”

“That’s called tofu. It’s like cheese but made from soybeans.”

Without realizing it, Countess Adrienne had been introduced to another otherworldly dish.

And she looked completely satisfied.

“Baron, thanks to you, my illness is healed, I’ve learned a fascinating new game, and I’ve tasted exquisite foods I never knew existed… How can I ever repay you?”

Philip had expected that the hot springs alone wouldn’t be enough to keep nobles interested.

That’s why he had prepared exotic dishes and sports like golf to entice them further.

And judging by Adrienne’s reaction, his plan was a complete success.

“Haha, there’s no need to call it a debt of gratitude.”

“No, don’t say that. My late father always said—when you receive a favor, you must repay it.”

Hearing this, Philip dropped the act of humility and casually revealed his true intentions.

“Then, could you ask Viscount Montsena to sell iron and copper to me at a discounted price?”

Philip knew that Viscounty Montsena had the largest iron and copper mines in the western region.

If he could secure a trade agreement, his supply issue would be resolved.

“Alright, I’ll speak to my brother about it.”

Then, she smiled knowingly and added,

“Anything else you want?”

“It would also be wonderful if you could promote our hot springs and coffee to your friends in high society.”

“Hohoho, consider it done.”

A few days later, Countess Adrienne left Brandel Territory, completely free from the torment of hyperhidrosis and bromhidrosis.

Before departing, she expressed her deep gratitude to Philip.

The vassals, who had accompanied Philip in seeing her off, looked at their lord with newfound admiration.

“My lord, this foolish servant has finally realized the extent of your grand vision.”

“So this was why you insisted on developing the hot springs!”

“Now I understand why you treated Countess Adrienne with such courtesy.”

Hearing their awed remarks, Philip shrugged his shoulders smugly.

“Of course. Everything I do is for the prosperity of our territory.”

“Indeed! With the wealth of Viscounty Montsena backing us, we no longer need to concern ourselves with Mirabeau!”

“And if Countess Adrienne introduces us to central political figures… we may even establish a foothold in the capital!”

Philip stiffened slightly at that last comment.

He had only intended to use Countess Adrienne to promote the hot springs and secure the metals he needed.

But his vassals assumed he was aiming for something much larger—a long-term plan to build political influence in the capital.

‘Well… I could go down that route.’

The possibility was certainly there.

However, Philip was too busy indulging in his hobbies to concern himself with climbing the political ladder just yet.

Besides, he wasn’t fully prepared for such a move.

‘Countess Adrienne came here out of desperation, but if I were to entertain royal dignitaries, I’d need a much grander presentation.’

If he wanted to drain their purses, he needed more than just a hot spring retreat.

Luxury cafés, fine dining establishments, high-end inns—these had to be built.

With that in mind, Philip instructed his officials to prepare for even more distinguished guests before returning to the lord’s manor.

*****

Meanwhile, in the Mirabeau estate, a certain man was seething.

Viscount Armand de Mirabeau had barely recovered from his poisoning.

He had recklessly tried to copy the Brandel forces in his failed raid—only to run into a horde of orcs and get poisoned.

The cure had cost him a fortune in donations to the Temple of Arkina, and the venom had been so potent that he was bedridden for a month.

Only yesterday had he finally regained enough strength to move.

As soon as he was up, he called Chief Administrator Herox for a report on Brandel Territory’s affairs.

But what he heard boiled his blood.

“What?! That bastard Philip’s invention—the Zippo lighter—is selling like crazy?!”

“Yes, the Callisto Trading Company is handling its distribution. Not only are they selling domestically, but even foreign merchants are scrambling to buy them.”

But that wasn’t even the worst part.

“And recently, he has also discovered a hot spring with healing properties.”

Armand scoffed.

“Hah! So what if he found a hot spring—”

“The problem is that Countess Adrienne visited the hot springs and completely recovered from her illness.”

“Wait… Countess Adrienne? You mean the sister of Viscount Montsena?!”

“Yes. And more importantly, this might be an attempt to forge connections in the capital to counter our influence.”

Herox had reassessed Philip.

At first, he had dismissed him as a foolish young noble, easily manipulated by his own vassals.

But after witnessing his strategic maneuvering, Herox was forced to acknowledge Philip’s cunning.

If Philip was deliberately building connections in the capital, it meant he had political ambitions—something that couldn’t be ignored.

“We must also establish ties in the capital.”

Armand gritted his teeth.

“Don’t worry about that. I already have contacts in the military.”

“You will handle this personally, my lord?”

“Yes. I have acquaintances among the royal army officers.”

Armand spoke confidently, but deep down, he knew it wouldn’t be easy.

If making connections in the capital were so simple, he would have already done it.

Gaining the favor of the snobbish capital aristocrats required either powerful allies or vast amounts of money.

“Tch… I should have worked on this years ago.”

Regretting his past inaction, Armand muttered irritably, already plotting his next move.