Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: The Traitorous Subject Also Has Uses
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"...So that's why I disguised Beonald like this, Father. It's a misunderstanding."
"A misunderstanding? Even if your intention was as you say, how would it look to others? Right after Ralt ran away! They'll think you're trying to completely replace Ralt's position! You should have done all those things yourself!"
"But there wasn't enough time for that..."
"What's time got to do with it! You're always so impatient! Anyway! I can't stand by and watch this any longer. That boy, Beonald, must be disposed of immediately."
"Father!"
The acting head of the Lengel family tried to argue against the Count's anger, but once the situation had escalated to this point, the Count would absolutely not back down. Even if it wasn't his intention, what the acting head of Lengel had done was enough to give the impression that he could completely replace Ralt's existence, just as the Count had said. The thought that a bastard with filthy blood could now even steal Ralt's name and status made the Count's skin crawl. Thus, the Count insisted, losing his temper, that Beonald must be eliminated. However, Lengel thought that was going too far.
"Of course, I understand your concerns, Father, but talent like his is hard to find. Moreover, he is family, is he not?"
"At that level, being family is a disaster. He's too outstanding, that's the problem! Didn't you see he's already causing trouble by achieving merit? Dispose of him immediately."
"In his current state, even disposing of him won't be easy. Setting aside Erasol, the son of Sir Malderov, isn't the daughter of Baron Zelkerd attached to him as a retainer? She's even become a knight now."
"If you won't do it, I will. Along with that child Meira. You just stay quiet and don't get in our way. Understood?"
"...Yes, understood."
It was truly regrettable, but this was clearly a result of his own poor judgment and mistake, which had provoked his father's anger, so there was nothing he could do. Now that things had come to this, the acting head of Lengel, who could no longer stop it, began devising ways to at least warn Beonald of the impending threat, even if he couldn't interfere. After delivering the notice, Count Callermain immediately went to find Lady Meira, Ralt's mother, informed her of the situation, and discussed plans to deal with Beonald. Currently, she was so worried about her son, who had shut himself in his room, that she hadn't been able to pay attention to anything else and was completely unaware of what her husband had done.
"Wh-what! He's lost his mind!"
"Indeed, he's completely lost his mind. At this rate, our noble bloodline will be tainted. We must dispose of him before that Lengel fellow tries some other trick."
"Father is truly wise. Of course, that's how it should be. Leave it to me. I'll turn that bastard into a cold corpse within a few days. Huhuhuh...!"
Now that the head of this family, the Count, had given his approval, Lady Meira had nothing more to fear. Ralt, shut away in his room, would come out once Beonald was dealt with, so she quickly summoned her subordinates to devise a plan to eliminate him. After a very short time, Sir Zed and Sein, the maid assigned as Beonald's personal attendant, came to her room.
"You called for us?"
"Yes, it seems the time has finally come to deal with that mixed-blood bastard I've been waiting for. What is he doing now?"
"He's making armor for the griffin again... and slowly starting riding training. He said that from today, he'll be wearing training gear and running the cavalry training course. I think~ the family's knights will be impressed."
As the word 'knight' implied, for knights, the 'horse' was a companion to gallop across the battlefield with, comparable to one's other half or even a lover. Thus, the presence of a large, sturdy warhorse was enough to make a knight's heart flutter, and riding a dangerous monster species that surpassed ordinary warhorses across the battlefield was a story heard only in fairy tales or legends. If one were to actually show that, it would inevitably become an object of envy and admiration.
"That is truly a knight's romance. Even I want to see it. Just thinking about galloping across the battlefield together, even if I don't ride it myself... Hmm..."
"Sir Zed! What on earth are you thinking about now?"
"Ahem, my apologies. Actually... it's every knight's dream, so it can't be helped."
"Anyway, you blockhead!"
Sir Zed shrugged his shoulders and deftly brushed off Lady Meira's words. Sir Zed. A knight who followed Lady Meira from her maiden family and still served her. His true skill was unknown to anyone, but rumors said he had reached 'Intermediate Knight' at a very young age and had received recruitment offers from numerous nobles, but he had served only Lady Meira since her former family and was famous for his loyalty that had lasted until now. And now, he was also a fixer who handled all sorts of dirty work according to her instructions.
"Anyway, since the Count's approval has been given, we don't need complicated methods. Whether it's assassination, poisoning, or anything else, we can do it. Sir Zed, handle it cleanly as you always do."
"I'd like to, but Madam, this time it seems difficult to do alone as usual. A troublesome person is attached to him."
"A troublesome person? You mean Sir Malderov's son?"
"No. That one is a naive youth, easy to subdue. The problem is the other side, the daughter of Baron Zelkerd, Heidi, who sticks to him like a guard dog. That woman was nothing when she came... but now she's become a knight."
"What nonsense is that? She became a knight?"
Lady Meira, being a noblewoman's daughter to the core, also knew well what the existence of a knight—a core combat force of a family and a superhuman who transcended human limits—entailed. Starting from mana breathing techniques, one needed special talent to become a knight. Even the son personally taught by Sir Malderov, a high-ranking knight, had not yet become a knight and was still working as a squire, so it was only natural to be surprised at the statement that the daughter of Baron Zelkerd 'had become a knight.' "Is that even possible? You're not mistaken, are you? Or was it something hidden that has been revealed?"
"...I can't believe it either, but it's true. When she came to this mansion, there were traces of mana breathing techniques, but her 'core' had not been formed. However... not long after coming here, her 'core' was created, her skills noticeably improved, and she became terrifying."
"What kind of absurd...!"
"I know it's nonsense even as I say it, but anyway... that's how it is. And if the cause of that is Young Master Beonald, then it's highly likely that Young Master Beonald is also a knight."
"No, just where are the limits of that mixed-blood bastard...? The gods are not indifferent! They should have bestowed such talent upon our Ralt! How could they give it to such a bastard!"
Grind! The sound of grinding teeth echoed as Lady Meira's anger toward Beonald grew larger, unable to contain her resentment. It was unbearable enough that a mixed-blood bastard was outstanding in everything, including noble talents like etiquette, but now a knight too? The more she recalled that, apart from bloodline, he seemed like a vessel of a high noble bestowed by the heavens, the more her jealousy and inferiority complex grew, and the thought that she must eliminate Beonald for her own son, who was constantly compared to him, amplified.
"I should have eliminated him as soon as he arrived! Even if it was unreasonable!" 'Madam is finally drawing her sword. And if the young master is a knight... Hoo~' Watching that, Sein guessed that the moment of choice had finally arrived for her. For now, she belonged to Lady Meira's family and was spying on Beonald's side, but it was true that her heart leaned more toward Beonald in terms of his human and personal qualities. 'My heart wants to follow Young Master Beonald, but...' Reality wasn't that easy. Personally, she knew well that Young Master Beonald was outstanding, kinder, and more charming. However, that didn't mean she could actively follow him, because once she made a choice, it would be irreversible, and not only her own life but also the life of her mother, who was currently in Lady Meira's maiden family, would be in danger. Especially since she knew Lady Meira's side's strength all too well, while she had relatively little information about Beonald, and she also knew well how futile a confrontation between an individual and a group was. So, even though she had seen Beonald show overwhelmingly outstanding abilities multiple times, she had been hesitating and agonizing, but now she felt the time for a real choice was approaching. 'What should I do now?' It was truly the dilemma and gamble of a lifetime. Would she be of help to Young Master Beonald? Or would she follow Lady Meira to the end and eliminate Beonald? Of course, there was also the option of simply remaining in a third-party position, becoming a mere pawn, not cooperating with either side, and just accepting the situation. But that was nothing but the worst choice in any case. 'If I don't take anyone's side... no matter who wins, I'll gain nothing and only incur risk.' If she remained a bystander as a third party, nothing would fall to her whether Lady Meira's side won or Young Master Beonald won. On the contrary, if Lady Meira lost and it affected her maiden family, her mother's life would be in danger, and if Young Master Beonald lost and died, her future would only be that of a pawn to be used for another secret struggle by Lady Meira. 'But if possible... I want to serve the young master.' For now, her heart wanted to serve Young Master Beonald. His appearance, dignity, and intellect were all overwhelmingly attractive, but his kind side that respected even a mere maid like herself was also an element that couldn't help but draw her in. 'But I'm scared. To defy Madam...!' On the other hand, it was also true that she feared Lady Meira. Holding her mother's lifeline was one problem, but besides that, she had been conditioned by violence and fear, so she was afraid to readily follow Beonald. Also, even if she sided with Beonald, how much could she actually do for the young master? She needed to have some value or merit for him to accept her or perhaps save her mother... She needed to have something to offer him. '...Something decisive!' "Hmm, anyway, since that bastard has considerable martial power, we'll need some preparation. Sir Zed, how long do you think it will take?"
"Please give me about a week. We need to keep mouths shut, and also proceed so he doesn't notice... I think we'll need to call knights and soldiers from the main family."
Since they had decided to draw the sword, it seemed they intended to do it properly. The fact that they were even calling people from Lady Meira's main family made Sein think that crucial information had finally emerged. If she delivered this information, there was a week's time. If Young Master Beonald counterattacked during that period when the reinforcements weren't there, his chances of winning would increase. However, the problem was that if Lady Meira died in the counterattack, her own mother in the main family would be in danger... That was another worry, but if she wanted to decide the outcome, it was now or never. '...The moment I obtained this information is the best timing to make a valuable deal with him!' Sein, having heard Lady Meira's instructions, left the room and moved to meet Beonald. After waiting at the mansion entrance for a while, she saw Beonald returning to the mansion riding the griffin, Alterio, receiving the envious gazes of the family's knights. The noble, mysterious, and beautiful griffin, even with only one wing, returning with it spread out was truly a sight that seemed like something out of a fairy tale or legend.
"Phew~ Good work, Alterio. Oh? Isn't that Sein? Did you come to greet me? Perfect timing. I need to wash with this guy... Can you get me some soap?"
"Yes, Young Master. I'll bring it right away."
The sight that contained all that and Beonald's kind smile solidified Sein's decision once more into conviction. And as he instructed, she went to get the soap and decided to tell him about Lady Meira's scheme upon his return.