Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Duke of the North Debuts in High Society (3)
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Drinking that potent Noren Wine was surprising enough in itself, but Robertus's reaction went far beyond it.
"This is some killer booze. Makes me wanna drink it again."
He not only emerged unscathed after downing the Noren Wine, but even muttered to himself in admiration.
The nobles struggled to make sense of the unexpected scene unfolding before them.
How could he drink wine laced with Noren and come out fine?
Aha. Of course. He's enduring the pain right now.
To avoid falling for Duke Ferris's provocation.
To prove his resolve in front of everyone watching.
Their speculation seemed perfectly reasonable.
Unless Robertus was some freak who'd lost his sense of taste after a lifetime of brewing and chugging every poison under the sun.
Having reached that conclusion, the nobles marveled at Robertus's mental fortitude.
The rumors were true: to evade his brothers' scrutiny, he'd spent his whole life playing the Prodigal Son, hiding his ambitions.
The infamous Noren Wine, known for making drinkers retch and wail in agony the moment it hits the tongue.
Yet the venom Robertus harbored ran even deeper and fiercer, enough to crush even that torture.
And Robertus's next move was even more astonishing than surviving the Noren Wine.
He seemed to stagger for a moment...
Then—
Chin.
Before they knew it, Robertus had slung his arm around Duke Ferris's neck like they were old pals.
He had no intention of simply enduring the duke's declaration of war.
"But this wine laced with Noren juice... it's something else. Do I dare say I fell for it the instant it touched my lips?"
"Any chance... you've got more? Leftover Noren, maybe?"
-Interesting. You call that a declaration of war? To me, it's just a bit of fun.
-Bring it on. Is that all you've got?
To the nobles, Robertus's words rang out just like that.
He'd boldly weathered Duke Ferris's public insult, then draped an arm around the man's neck and thrown the provocation right back: "Bring it on."
Witnessing this shocking spectacle, the nobles had no choice but to acknowledge it.
Robertus Bilheim wasn't just some lucky kid who'd gotten picked by the Pope and the Holy Sword.
He was a man of audacity and cunning who wouldn't yield an inch to a sly old fox like Duke Ferris—in fact, he was the one cornering him.
"With that in mind, I'd love to keep building a good relationship with you going forward. Would that be alright?"
"Uh, y-yeah. Sure. Um... yes. Gladly."
With Robertus grinning ear to ear and Duke Ferris stumbling over his words, the outcome between the two was already clear as day.
Robertus had smiled his warning: "I'll let it slide this time, so don't try that again."
And Ferris could only nod along.
Their duel, witnessed by the banquet hall's nobles as mediators.
Robertus emerged victorious and strode out with his head high,
while Ferris, the pitiful loser, stood alone, staring at the floor.
-How did this happen...
-Duke Ferris really lost face this time. Tonight's drama will be the talk of high society for ages...
The nobles whispered loud enough for Ferris to hear.
But all he could do was bite his lower lip in humiliated silence, swallowing every insult.
"As expected. Just like him."
Late into the night, Mercadie—wearing a negligee for bed and seated in a chair by her bedside, perusing a sheet of paper—chuckled to herself as she read.
The confidential report she'd received before turning in detailed the incident between Robertus and Ferris at that evening's banquet.
"Still, it's surprising. I knew he wasn't ordinary, but to publicly put Ferris in his place like that..."
Mercadie knew Duke Ferris inside and out.
His family had started in trade, but after he took over, he'd expanded their merchant guilds not just across the Holy Kingdom's south but to other nations on the continent, displaying astonishing business acumen.
And his talents weren't limited to commerce.
He'd shrewdly funneled his amassed wealth into investments and "donations" to key figures in central politics, pulling them into his camp and seizing control of both the economy and the political sphere.
"Even the Papal Court had started tiptoeing around him lately..."
Mercadie herself, now retired from frontline politics, had been seriously considering intervention due to his overgrown influence.
And right on cue, Robertus had come along and broken the man's nose for her.
Honor was the paramount value in noble society.
With this incident leaving a serious stain on his, Ferris would have no choice but to lay low for a while.
"Thanks to that, I can keep him from meddling too much in the Saintess election at this assembly. He probably didn't plan it, but... Robertus, you clever boy. I should give you a reward next time we meet."
Mercadie murmured fondly, picturing Robertus's face.
"...Speaking of Ferris, what am I going to do with Aselina?"
She sighed.
"You're sticking your nose where it doesn't belong, making trouble for your mother."
"Um... Eline."
"Yes, my lord? What is it?"
Right after returning from the banquet earlier than expected, as she carefully removed and folded my outer coat, I broached the topic cautiously.
"Uh... have you ever heard of Noren Wine?"
"Noren Wine?"
Her reaction was more startled than I'd anticipated.
My hunch was right. Serving Noren Wine among nobles clearly carried special meaning.
"No way. Did some noble at the banquet openly hand Noren Wine to another?"
"Something like that."
"Good heavens."
But her reaction felt a bit off.
Like it was something that absolutely shouldn't happen.
"Quite unexpected. To think someone would declare war so publicly at a banquet held in the holy city."
"...Huh?"
I swear I just heard a word I wasn't supposed to.
"Handing over Noren Wine in high society is a declaration of war: 'I publicly name you my enemy and will fight you with every means at my disposal until one of us falls.' Astonishing."
"Uh. Yeah."
So that's what it meant.
Of course. That explained the "kindness."
No reason for anyone to treat me that nicely, given my image.
"Heavens. I must know—who dared pull off such a bold stunt?"
"...Duke Ferris."
"Good heavens. Him, of all people... Who's the poor soul who ended up his enemy?"
"...Me."
"You!?"
At Eline's frantic prompting, I gave her a brief rundown of the banquet—dry facts only, skipping my intentions.
"Unbelievable..."
Eline covered her mouth with both hands after hearing me out.
"I knew you were remarkable, my lord, but..."
"Yeah."
"To brush off Duke Ferris's declaration of war like it was nothing and turn it into a joke, crushing his fighting spirit...!"
"Yep."
"...I feel pathetic now for buying into the act you put on before becoming Duke of the North—the one to fool those around you—and mocking you inwardly as a pitiful fool."
"Damn right. Time to reflect."
"I'll serve at your side from here on out. I want to watch your path unfold right up close."
Meeting Eline's eyes brimming with admiration,
"Keep those eyes wide open and watch."
I blurted out whatever came to mind, past caring anymore...
"As expected."
Her judgment of Robertus had been spot on.
Having just received a report from her subordinate, Aselina felt even more confident in her instincts.
"But Lady Aselina, isn't this actually a loss for you? Duke Ferris was set to play a major role in this election, providing both funds and manpower..."
A voice drifted from the shadows in the corner of her bedroom, posing the question.
"Yes, exactly. But that's precisely why this works in my favor."
"Meaning...?"
"Duke Ferris was a huge help to me. Too much, in fact. Lately, he'd started climbing over my head, meddling in everything I did."
"So this diminishes his influence within his own faction, freeing you from his interference."
"Precisely."
Aselina gazed up at the starry night sky, a refreshed smile spreading across her face as if a great weight had lifted.
"He probably didn't intend it, but the Bilheim Duke is already proving useful to me. Or... could this be deliberate? Trying to prove his worth?"
"Who knows..."
"Heh heh... Either way, it's good. This has only strengthened my resolve to pull the Bilheim Duke to my side no matter what. Slot him into Ferris's vacant spot, and it'd be perfect, wouldn't it?"
"Just as you say."
"Anyway, thanks for your hard work. You may go."
"Understood."
The presence in the shadows vanished, leaving Aselina alone in her bedroom once more.
"...Hmm. But how do I win him over? A lofty man like that..."
Lost in thought for a moment, Aselina's eyes suddenly widened as an idea struck.
"Right. If going straight for him is impossible, start by infiltrating his circle."