The territories in the East, including the Doan Estate, were located on the easternmost edge of the empire on the map, along the border. However, they weren’t managed as typical border regions. The Eastern mountains acted as a natural fortress. Only animals traveled through there, so there was no need for central governance to pay much attention.

Only the territories below where the mountain range ended, namely the southeastern territories, were treated as borderlands. Those were the real start of the border adjacent to foreign lands and encapsulated all the advantages and disadvantages of being on the frontier. The central governance allowed more troops in those territories for their management and provided many benefits. But at the same time, they ensured that these territories didn’t stray from central oversight.

“My Lord, we have received a letter from Seban territory.”

The butler’s words made Martian raise an eyebrow in surprise. After all, Seban was a territory directly overseen by the Empire, located near the southeastern border. Managed by officials dispatched from the central government, there was no reason to send a special letter to the surrounding territories.

“Seban? Why is there a letter from an imperial territory?”

“It seems His Majesty the Emperor has gifted the Seban territory to the heir of the Sevlord dukedom. Along with the title of Count. Having been newly titled as a Count and given charge of this territory, it appears he’s organizing a banquet to invite the eastern nobility. This is the invitation for that.”

The invitation was of luxurious make, adorned with gold foil. Martian received it, noticing the name written: Huey Sevlord, Count of Seban. To be the successor of a duke and already a count! She sighed in mild amazement, then casually set the card aside. Interactions among the nobility were often tiresome and cumbersome.

The butler nagged further.

“My lord, it is your duty to attend such events. Especially as a noble from the East. Ensure you dress appropriately, presenting the distinguished face of the Doan family…”

“Butler.”

Martian sighed deeply. From the butler’s demeanor, declining the invitation seemed out of the question.

“I get that I need to attend. Just let me wear the suit I wore last time.”

“Unacceptable! Isn’t that suit almost a decade old? Surely, not only the local nobility but also the Duke’s associates will be present. Considering the dignity of the Doan family, you must wear something new…”

“What if I’m slightly underdressed? As you said, many will attend this event, and I’m just passing through. We’re also tight on the budget for the territory. Why waste money on something trivial?”

At that, her butler looked at her with a determined face.

At her words, the steward looked at her with a determined expression.

“You can call in a skilled tailor. If we bring in a talented tailor to fit the clothes…”

“What are you talking about? I told you, we’re tight on budget!”

“No matter how tight the budget is, if it’s related to your reputation, it should be spent. I’ll take responsibility and arrange for a skilled tailor to make sure you stand out the most at that banquet.”

Hearing this, Martian chuckled cynically. Why should she stand out at the banquet? The thought halted her.

“Butler, just a wild thought… you’re not trying to match me with this Duke’s heir, are you?”

“It’s not impossible. If you dress appropriately, I’m sure you’ll stand out the most.”

“…If dementia comes like this, it’s troublesome.”

“If my ‘dementia’ can find you a marital match, I’m all for it. You know very well, for the sake of the Doan family, you must marry. It’s your duty.”

“You need to be realistic even when nagging. He’s the eldest son of a Duke. He probably already has a fiancée, and even if not, he wouldn’t be looking for a marriage partner in the East.”

The East had relatively barren lands. Many nobles there were content just maintaining their territories and were distant from the vibrant social scenes.

In contrast, the Sevlord dukedom was a family of vast wealth and power. Though now distanced from the throne, the original Duke was the Emperor’s younger brother. The dukedom, with its royal lineage, was historically aligned with the empire. The Sevlord dukedom had always been loyal protectors of the Emperor.

‘A family influencing the flow of the empire…’

Rather than feeling awed, Martian felt exhausted. Managing her small territory was already a headache; a family of that scale would have exponentially more challenges. She spoke to the butler.

“Enough of your lofty dreams.”

“They’re not baseless. He’s hosting a banquet to establish connections, isn’t he? It’s a plausible dream.”

“It’s just a formality since the Emperor granted him the title and territory. Wait and see, he’ll soon leave for the capital, leaving just a manager to maintain the territory.”

Nobles with titles naturally sought beneficial matches. There was no reason for him to show interest in an Eastern family. As Martian cut off any further possibilities, the butler’s face fell. She sighed deeply.

From her parents’ time, the old butler had served the Doan family loyally, though occasionally he indulged in silly notions. Most of all, he knew her personal preferences. It made no sense for him to suggest such things.

“You know my preferences, right? If I get involved with the Duke’s son, how do you plan to handle the aftermath?”

The partners she enjoyed time with called her ‘Master’. ‘Master’ was a title that clearly indicated a hierarchical relationship. She was their master and, as such, she freely used their bodies, subjected them to cruel treatment, and acted like a tyrant. Even though they trembled in fear like terrified dogs, they tried their best to obey her every command.

However, this did not mean she was actually their owner in real life. It was merely a role-playing game in bed for the minor noblewoman who owned a small piece of land on a hillside.

She was well aware of the limited power she actually had. Though she held a position higher than commoners and lower-ranked nobles, her influence was not significant.

In contrast, the Sevlord Ducal House was one of the families that dictated the flow of the empire. To even think of mingling with such a powerful family, especially considering her own unique s*xual tastes, was a potential disaster. She snapped her fingers impatiently at her butler.