Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: The Bastard Son's Worth
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Two days later.
Having been entrusted by his mother to attend Count Callermain's birthday banquet, Beonald began preparing to go there together with his father, Baron Leon.
Of course, the gifts were those Beonald had prepared himself: the highest-grade bear hide, two live bear cubs, bone-made accessories, a taxidermied bear head, various medicines made from hunted animals, monster bones, horns, and herbs, and the jewelry he had crafted in his spare time using saved money to purchase gems and animal bones.
“Thanks to you, we'll get through this year safely too.”
“My doing? It's all thanks to you, Father.”
“Anyway, just as your mother said, you really are… a treasure of a child. You might even surpass your grandfather. Hahaha.”
His father thought Beonald's growth and physical strength were perfect genetic inheritances from his grandfather, and misunderstood that his medical knowledge and intellect were thanks to his mother's education.
Of course, it was a well-intentioned lie made under a prior agreement with his mother, and since his mother was also deceiving him, Beonald felt no particular guilt.
'It's for the world anyway… what else can I do.'
“Anyway, you must be careful when we go to the Callermain territory. Unlike our territory, many people will gather there, including nobles and knights.”
'…No matter how many people, can it compare to Benofis? Sigh~ I miss it. My garden~'
He recalled his own glorious territory from the past.
'Benofis'. Not just an extravagantly huge mansion, but the surrounding territory also formed an enormous city.
A city more beautiful than the imperial capital. His garden, perfected over a lifetime into a harmonious and beautiful place where the people of his territory could live comfortably.
Of course, it was an achievement made possible by turning everywhere else into hell, but Beonald missed his masterpiece.
'I spent my whole life cultivating that… and those bastards destroyed it in an instant…….'
“Ah, but you don't need to be too nervous. Just follow your father's lead.”
“Ah, yes. Understood.”
Awakened from his reverie by his father's comforting words, mistaking his deep thought for nervousness, Beonald continued preparations with his father.
And three days later, Beonald headed for Count Callermain's territory together with Baron Leon Dustycloak.
It wasn't his first time, as he had entered Sir Geral's territory before, but it was his first proper outing outside his own territory, so Beonald felt a slight flutter of excitement.
'Hu~ Not like me. Hmm, is it because my body is young again? Was country life too long for me? Hoo~ I'm originally a city boy!'
“It's fine. No need to be so tense. It's just a place where people live after all…….”
'No, I'm not tense!'
Though well-meaning, the repeated words were rather tedious to Beonald, so he pretended to listen while wishing this time would pass quickly.
Fortunately, the Callermain territory was close enough to reach in half a day, so they departed in the morning and arrived around dusk as the sun began to set.
When castle walls finally came into view, Beonald looked out the carriage window at them.
The castle where Count Callermain lived. The largest city in this vicinity and the seat of the noble who reigned as the regional overlord. He thought he'd check it out, seeing as he was once a high noble, but he was quickly disappointed.
'Just this? It's small? This… is the territory of the noble who dominates this region? What in the world happened over 500 years?'
“Haha, you look very surprised, Beonald. That is Count Callermain's territory and city. Anyway, once we enter……”
'…I'm not surprised, I'm dumbfounded at how tiny it is! At best it's a small-to-medium city!'
Of course, a small-to-medium city is still undeniably a 'city' and not that small, but for Beonald, who expected a fairly large city for the most influential noble in the region, it was a huge disappointment.
'And the environment is good, which makes it even more infuriating! There's a river! It's nestled by mountains! The plains are wide! What are they doing not developing that land? They trade and do commerce with surrounding territories! Develop and expand!'
“Beonald, calm down. Anyway, there will be many people inside……”
“…Yes.”
Beonald finally calmed down at his father's words. Though a bit disappointed, he consoled himself that it was still better than a rural backwater village.
Thus, the carriage passed through the gate guarded by sentries and entered the city center, and the interior scenery came into his view.
The cityscape, though 500 years had passed since his death, showed no great change compared to 500 years ago, likely due to civilizational regression from the Great War and the existence of the religious order.
Rather, by Beonald's standards, it felt like looking at a truly provincial small town, or a place with a hopeless lord or noble governing it.
The roads were well-paved, but the commoners wandering about, the houses, and the streets were uniformly dirty, a normal place full of strange smells, so his interest quickly waned.
'…Nothing special. That countryside might actually be better.'
“It must still feel awkward. Hahaha. But we'll be staying at the Count's mansion, so you don't need to worry too much. After all, we are also family of the Count.”
'That's one consolation. But the premise "after all" implies… we aren't treated very well.'
Indeed, even if a discarded piece, giving a daughter from a long-standing, prideful earldom to a rootless mercenary family meant they couldn't expect good treatment.
Even from the perspective of Beonald, a legitimate high noble, seeing a rootless mercenary suddenly establish himself as a noble would be enough to make one's stomach churn.
'If he were at least capable, some compromise might be possible… but this guy… sigh~ I can't understand.'
Having some martial ability and being a good person wasn't enough to offset the demerit of being a mercenary, so the conclusion was simply to endure whatever humiliation came.
That was a fate destined to fall upon Beonald as well, as long as his father remained as he was.
The carriage crossing the city soon arrived at Count Callermain's mansion.
While the city was pathetic, the mansion, as befitting the earldom's dignity and pride, displayed a clean and majestic appearance.
As if the entrance and outside were different worlds, inside were well-kept gardens and buildings, knights and soldiers in armor, and neatly dressed maids and butlers coming and going, constantly maintaining order.
'Even after 500 years, this scenery hasn't changed.'
And perhaps because many guests had arrived early, dozens of splendid carriages were lined up in rows, their respective family flags fluttering atop them.
Servants and soldiers of each family busied themselves tending to horses and carriages or moving luggage, and with so many carriages, people moved about like ants in constant, bustling activity.
“Baron Dustycloak, I presume. I shall guide you. Please follow me with your carriage.”
Following the guidance of a neatly dressed butler, they headed to a parking area for carriages located in another building.
Being relatives and blood kin, they were probably given that much consideration.
The strict distinction between vassals and blood kin. It suggested that the hierarchy among blood relatives would be just as severe.
“You may stay here. However, who is this? Baron Dustycloak. The Baroness is not with you, I see.”
The butler, having finished guiding them, asked a question of Beonald and Baron Leon while writing something down. Probably a guest register.
And since the Baroness was Count Callermain's daughter, her absence meant the family connection was practically severed, so the butler's gaze turned cold. Baron Leon, as if waiting for this, explained the situation.
“Yes. Well… very recently, we had a second and third child, so she is currently looking after the children. So in her place, I came with our firstborn, Beonald. Count Callermain's grandson.”
“Oh… I see. Young Master Beonald? But I don't recall seeing you at the coming-of-age ceremonies of the blood relatives?”
“That… well, this boy is still 14. He comes of age next year.”
“14 years old? No matter how I look……”
The butler swallowed the words, 'He looks like an adult already.'
To anyone, Beonald didn't look like a freshly adult 15-year-old, but rather like someone in their early twenties who had finished growing.
The butler frowned, looking at Baron Leon and Beonald. Neither showed any sign of lying, and the butler, already well aware of Baron Leon's nature, didn't think he was up to any tricks.
'Well, Baron Leon isn't the type to tell lies. His thoughts are all over his face. Hmm, this young master though… certainly seems to have inherited the young lady's aura or feel. The father is a dog, but the son is a wolf?'
“He grew a bit fast… probably takes after my father. Hahaha.”
“I understand. Then since he's not of age, he won't be participating in other events.”
“Yes. I plan to just introduce him lightly when presenting gifts and then withdraw.”
“Understood. Then please call if you have any other needs, and I hope you have a pleasant stay in your quarters.”
Finally, the butler finished speaking with Baron Leon and withdrew immediately.
Then Baron Leon let out a big sigh and began speaking to Beonald.
“Hoo~ Really, I get so tense every time I come here……. Normally your mother handles the procedures, but today I have to do it, so it can't be helped. Anyway… it might be stifling, but just stay here for a few days guarding our luggage with the servants.”
“Can't I go outside? There are things I want to buy.”
“That's… for now, until the banquet ends, don't go too far from this mansion… no, from these quarters. Then I'll go pay my respects here and there and return. Let's do city sightseeing or shopping… on the way back.”
“Yes. Let's do that.”
Then, after moving their luggage to the room in the mansion where they would stay, Beonald remained in the room while the servant went to tend to the carriage, and his father, Baron Leon, left alone to pay respects to other nobles and the people of the Callermain earldom.
'…By the way, shouldn't I be introduced together if it's an introduction? Hmm~ Judging from what he said earlier, I was supposed to be introduced at the "coming-of-age ceremony"? Well, must be the custom.'
Since it was very common even 500 years ago for each family to have slightly different customs, Beonald didn't think deeply about it and accepted it, deciding to obey his father's words.
Seeing how even a mere butler earlier used polite speech, if he went outside, he'd likely be ignored or made a fool of by other nobles anyway.
Additionally, just the quality of the quarters they were given immediately revealed what kind of treatment Baron Dustycloak received.
'…It's not a terrible room, but putting a blood relative in a remote corner of the mansion, almost like hiding them away, means they really don't want to be seen outside. Well, he is practically the family's disgrace. If only he had received blood like in my case, or been capable like the ancestors always talked about?'
His father, Baron Leon, belonged to neither category.
A man whose only virtue is being good-natured. So it was natural he received such treatment in the end.
As Beonald was thinking maybe he should practice swordsmanship, suddenly the door to the quarters opened and someone entered.
'Hmm?'
“Huh? What? There's someone here?”
The one who opened the door wide without knocking and entered was a boy who appeared to be in his mid-teens.
The boy with bright golden hair looked at Beonald with eyes that held no apology whatsoever for entering rudely without any courtesy.
'Hmm…….'
Furthermore, the clothes he wore were a pristine white base with blue patterns, sleeves decorated with gold thread, and a mountain range-shaped emblem on the chest—a splendid outfit of high-quality material. The mountain range emblem and gemstone decorations made it clear he was a person of this mansion's owner, the Callermain earldom.
“Who are you? Why are you here?”
And he was a boy who pointed directly at Beonald and spoke rudely.