Compensation θ ~ I might be late for reincarnation, but since I was born as the talented eldest son of a prestigious noble, I might be on the winning side.

In a conference room with a large, long table, there were four figures. The room, usually used only when a large group gathered, now hosted Greyson Rhaid Morris, the steward of Lyon, and three branch family heads summoned by him.

“We have gathered today because there is a significant matter to discuss with everyone regarding Lord Lyon’s talents.”

“Why the formality? Is it so crucial that we need to clear the room?”

“Yes. It also concerns the defense of the Glass Region, so please treat it as confidential.”

“Come on. We already have enough on our plate. What more could come up?”

“I will now place some of Lord Lyon works on the table for you to see. Please wait a moment.”

Greyson carefully untied a bundle of papers and arranged them to confirm the order.

Then, as the painting covered half the long table, the branch family heads collectively wore troubled expressions.

“What cursed paintings are these? I knew he could paint, but this is… intense. Is this what we’re discussing today?”

“Though I thought he was a well-behaved and quiet child, this… I may not understand the interpretation of the painting, but even to an amateur’s eyes, it feels like a personification of darkness in someone heart.”

“Indeed, perhaps the lack of parental affection was the problem.”

“I heard that when he’s playing in the meadow with the other children, he enjoyed it innocently. Should we give him have more opportunities to interact closely with other relatives and family?”

“Everyone, have you noticed something?”

Interrupting the various speculations among the heads, Greyson threw in a comment.

“What do you mean by ‘noticed’?”

“For example, this painting. It’s quite distinctive. Don’t you recognize it?”

Greyson pointed to a pattern drawn in the corner of the connected paintings. The one who reacted most significantly was Samuel, the head of the Lloyd family.

“Hmm. A crescent-shaped pattern. And multiple… Huh? Well, this alone doesn’t tell me much. Are there other paintings with this pattern?”

“Unfortunately, no. However, secretly, I had replicas of this painting made. I thought about it, changed the colors, reduced the scale, and compiled it onto a single sheet. Here it is. Please have a look.”

Greyson unfolded a folded paper placed next to the vivid red painting.

“This is indeed the same pattern, but the impression is completely different.”

“Oh. So this is what it looks like when you change the color. It looks like a map. Is this the map of a fictional place?”

“No. If we assume that this corner is the beginning of the Three Moon Lakes, it seems to resemble the southern region of Valenfield. It appears to be quite accurately depicting the rivers, fields, and hills of the southern region.”

“A map, and one that vividly portrays the terrain. But how?”

“There is another scaled down map. If we put the two together, you may better appreciate the magnificence of the painting.”

Greyson took out another folded paper and connected it to the first.

“Ah, this is a map of the area around the Spirit Lake and the eastern region. The features of the forest boundaries and hill areas are well depicted. Huh? There are small symbols drawn in some places; what could these be?”

“It seems that symbols are placed in areas where human hands have intervened, such as orchards and cultivated fields.”

“Now, the most intriguing question is, what did Lord Lyon see to paint this?”

“It wouldn’t have turned out like this just by copying an existing map.”

“How did he see it? A Blessing, or perhaps a class? Or is it the power of the Covenant?”

“The most concerning thing is not that. Why? Why are there maps for the south and east, but none for the north?”

For Arthur, the head of the Casper family ruling the north, the absence of his territory’s map was more of a problem than speculating on Lyon’s ability.

“I don’t know the reason. However, when he paints, he is highly concentrated. Given the size of these paintings, it takes a considerable amount of time to work on each piece, gradually completing neighboring regions. Currently, he is focusing on the Glassbridge area, as he haven’t had much time to paint lately due to other commitments.”

“So, he doesn’t have enough time? Which region is he currently painting?”

“Considering that he has been busy lately, I assume it’s around the Glassbridge area. From our family, we sent a chef to Valenfield and provided ingredients, so perhaps he is more interested in the southern region.”

Samuel, who rules the southern region, seemed slightly proud.

“Meaning, it’s the food. If it captures the heart, no, the stomach, then that’s it. If that’s the case, we have a trump card in the north. Once we get Ges Egis Mazina, that we are currently searching for, I can present it to Lord Lyon.”

“The mythical ingredient? I heard the last time it was found was about 20 years ago.”

“There have been sightings of a large turtle-like creature. Gear patterns are confirmed on the shell, so I have high hopes for it.”

“That’s fantastic. Ges Egis Mazina is not only extraordinarily delicious but also rich in nutrients in every aspect. I’m sure Lord Lyon will be delighted.”

“However, it will take a bit more time to obtain it. Meanwhile, how can we get him interested in the northern region?”

“Well, the north has unique creatures, so if there were an illustrated guidebook or something similar, it might spark his interest.”

“Ah, that’s a good idea. Okay, let’s arrange it promptly.”

“Everyone, there is one thing you need to be aware of. This matter is kept secret from Lord Elliot to prevent any leakage beyond our territory.”

“Wise decision. Dealing with just the results of the rites is already a headache; we don’t want to add more points of contention.”

“But it’s amazing. Just being there brings tremendous benefits, and he can do such things.”

“Lord Lyon’s abilities are immeasurable. Although he appears absent-minded, his intelligence is high, he has a desire for learning, and he shows consideration for others beyond his age. The only things lacking are physical strength and parental affection, to say the least.”

“We can work on building his physical strength, but we can’t do anything about the lack of parental love. Elliot is spineless, and that damn mother of his is better off gone.”

“I don’t want to introduce him to them if possible, but if it’s the first meeting in an official setting, his mother might turn Lord Lyon against us. She’s a really troublesome woman.”

“They probably planned for the second son Ronnie to be the heir, but that kid doesn’t have a Covenant. Even if he has an affinity with the spirits, honestly, he won’t hold a candle to our Archie, let alone Arlo.”

“It’s unfortunate for him to be born in the main family. Does he resemble his mother?”

“Lord Ronnie’s hair color and eye color are more like the lady’s.”

“The younger daughter Eliza seems to resemble Elliot only in appearance. But considering that woman is taking care of her, who knows how she will turn out.”

“As much as possible, we don’t want the blood of Kilyam to go outside. Is there a way to retrieve them somehow?”

“That depends on Elliot. Originally, they should have been raised in Glassbridge, but they’re being kept in the capital due to that woman’s selfishness.”

“If Lord Ronnie is willing, we can take him in. However, we can’t predict what demands may be made in return.”

“If ridiculous demands come, don’t hesitate to reject them. We already have the perfect heir. When Lord Lyon grows up, we can replace the current head. Then, we can bid farewell to that spendthrift bitch”

“Before that, we need to properly train the next generation of children who will support Lord Lyon.”

“That’s right. We need them to work hard so that we can retire as soon as possible.”