Chapter 28
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Duke of the North, Rolling as the Mastermind (3)
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Marquis Boel was steeped in boredom.
Ranald Boel had abruptly inherited the marquisate due to his father's sudden death.
However, contrary to Ranald's intense anxiety, the succession process went far more smoothly than expected.
The previous Marquis Boel had been an exemplary lord, one worthy of being called a sage ruler.
The Boel territory he governed had enjoyed steady growth in recent years, built on abundant agricultural production.
With no monster invasions, no hostile neighboring nations or territories, and thus no fear of the ravages of war, it was a peaceful domain.
Moreover, the capable retainers his predecessor had appointed were already managing the territory flawlessly on their own...
An affluent domain, competent subordinates, and happy subjects.
Before long, people began praising Ranald Boel as a sage ruler just like his predecessor.
But he knew full well he didn't deserve such acclaim.
He had virtually no involvement in the territory's administration; the bureaucrats handled almost everything themselves.
The idle Marquis Boel returned to immersing himself in the arts, just as he had before.
In truth, his life as a marquis was hardly different from before.
...I'll probably just keep rubber-stamping documents like this until I die.
Yet somehow, Marquis Boel realized he had fallen into a deep ennui.
The news that would upend his life came flying in from the northern reaches of the Holy Kingdom.
- Duke of the North Palthion Bilheim and his four sons perish in White Dragon attack
- Robertus Bilheim, the Bilheim family's only direct descendant—who is he?
"Oh dear. How tragic. Both the fallen Duke Bilheim and this Robertus who's set to succeed him."
Ranald muttered as he read the front-page headline.
- The Weight of the Northern Duke - Northern territories plunged into chaos; can Robertus Bilheim restore order?
"I thought he was in a similar spot to me, but no. He's much younger than I am, and his territory's a total mess to boot..."
- Shock! Duke of the North descends upon succession ceremony—chosen simultaneously by the Pope and the Holy Sword
"...Ho ho."
From that moment on, Marquis Boel began taking an interest in Robertus.
With time to spare anyway, he launched a full investigation into Robertus.
He gathered articles and records on the northern territories and even dispatched informants at his own expense to dig up background on Robertus.
When the results came in, Marquis Boel couldn't help but be impressed.
"A dragon hiding its claws...!"
Robertus had endured his father's abuse and his brothers' ostracism.
Perhaps as a backlash, he had lived until now as a prodigal son, drowning himself in drink.
But the moment his father and brothers died, Robertus revealed his true colors.
He swiftly made covert contact with the Pope, escorting her at the succession ceremony to brilliantly put down those who had looked down on him.
On top of that, he broke the curse on the Holy Sword Aurelion, sealed away for over 150 years, and was chosen by the sword itself.
Robertus had been in a position similar to his own—yet even more unfortunate.
But he had spectacularly turned public opinion around and ascended as Duke of the North, the prodigal son returned.
Before he knew it, Marquis Boel had begun to admire Robertus Bilheim for the ambition and talent he himself lacked.
This Holy Capital Assembly was the perfect chance to meet him in person.
Shortly after arriving at the holy city, the marquis heard that Duke Bilheim had foiled Ferris Duke's attempt to declare war at a banquet.
As expected of Duke Bilheim...!
And finally, the opportunity to meet him face-to-face arrived.
"Pleased to meet you."
Duke Bilheim, whom he encountered during a stroll.
Tall stature, sharp gaze.
His presence exuded even greater dignity than the rumors suggested.
Though they parted after barely exchanging words at their first meeting, the marquis's admiration for the Duke of the North only grew stronger.
And at the moment Robertus approached the marquis with Aselina, extending his hand...
Most wise, Marquis Boel.
The instant he smiled and said those words...
Ranald Boel was certain.
That his second life was about to begin at Robertus Bilheim's side.
A single black dragon, spreading its wings toward the world and roaring as it prepared to take flight.
He would follow that dragon's path until the end of his days.
Not long after, the opportunity to serve him arrived.
Two letters from Robertus.
One was a summons for a faction meeting with the nobles.
The other was a personal directive: secure supporters for him at this meeting.
Marquis Boel sprang into action immediately.
He spent the night personally visiting the nobles' lodgings.
Now was the time to leverage the connections he had built in noble society through sponsoring various artists' associations.
The marquis had ties to most of Aselina's faction leaders and carefully selected the most persuadable candidates.
His criteria were twofold.
Those relatively sidelined in the current faction, or reformers who believed the church's myriad issues needed fixing.
The former went without saying.
For those excluded by Ferris Duke, there was no reason not to grasp the new lifeline named Robertus.
The latter were easy to convince as well.
Aselina projected a harder-edged image compared to the moderate Loretta.
The reformers who had flocked to her expecting church reforms were soon disappointed to see Ferris's faction manipulating her for their own gains.
Into that situation swooped Duke Bilheim like a comet, purging the faction's corrupt Ferris loyalists.
"He will be different."
Marquis Boel persuaded the reformers to place their hopes in the Duke of the North once more.
With his rich vocabulary honed by literature and acting skills picked up from watching performers, his impassioned plea swayed even the hesitant ones to join his cause.
Thus, just before the meeting, he secured four minor faction members and six reformers—a total of ten supporters.
Behold, a new era under Duke Bilheim is about to begin.
Standing tall with the other ten, he proudly circled the room, eyeing the flustered old nobles,
then locked eyes with Robertus, who was watching him.
Seeing the satisfied smile on his lips, the marquis responded with a smile brimming with conviction.
How the hell did he pull this off?
On the surface, I smiled confidently, as if this were all part of my plan,
but inside, my mind was a whirlwind of chaos.
There were 33 participants in total, including me.
Marquis Boel had swayed more than a third of Aselina's faction leadership overnight.
Did I have it wrong? Was Boel the real mastermind manipulating Aselina, not Ferris?
...Of course not. If so, I would've noticed long ago.
Even so, the scene unfolding before me was an unpredictable twist.
"W-what is the meaning of this, Marquis Boel? Explain yourself at once!"
"Does it need explaining, Duke Allen? The eleven of us, myself included, recognize Duke Bilheim as our leader."
"Preposterous!"
The duke's shout seemed to voice the other nobles' sentiments.
They began whispering frantically among themselves in confusion.
"I cannot accept this!"
A few even stood boldly, shouting at Boel's group.
But the outcome was already decided.
Though my supporters were nominally a third and the opposition two-thirds, the cohesion between the groups was night and day.
On one side: supporters united around Robertus and Marquis Boel.
On the other: those who had ambiguously clung to Ferris Duke, now splintered and bickering after his downfall.
Though my nobles held lower titles and were somewhat younger, their unity more than compensated.
The objectors soon realized no one was joining them, panicked under Boel's furious retorts, and sat back down with bitter expressions.
The situation resolved swiftly.
Where had that earlier momentum of grilling me gone?
Duke Allen and the others could only silently watch as Marquis Boel demanded, "Any more opposed to Duke Bilheim?" with grim finality.
Confirming the matter settled, I spoke again.
"Well then, looking forward to working with you all. First, let's go over some key policies moving forward..."
After briefly conveying my prepared directives, I wrapped up the meeting.
"...As expected of the 'Black Viper' moniker. You've already set the board for victory. I'll be watching closely from here on..."
Duke Allen glared at me as he brushed past on his way out.
"How was that? I believe I've sufficiently demonstrated my capabilities to you."
Marquis Boel trotted up, beaming like a large dog awaiting praise.
"...Haha."
What else could I do but laugh?
"You're late! I finished the problems thirty minutes ago."
Exhausted in body and spirit, I returned to the Knight Order commander's office to Aselina's petulant voice.
...Ah, right. The Saintess qualification exam. Completely slipped my mind.
"So... how'd it go, Eline? The results?"
"Grading's done. Take a look. ...You okay? You look rough. What happened at the meeting...?"
"I'll explain later. It's complicated... Let's check the results first."
I reviewed the graded exam from start to finish.
"This is..."
"Surprising, right?"
Eline and I exchanged glances, then both turned to Aselina.
"W-why are you two looking at me like that?"
This was unexpected.
The Saintess qualification exam results...
Aselina Radain was not a blockhead.