Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: The Price of Defeat
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Although the war ended in half a day, it was still a proper conflict where two families had staked their fates. Since it was mediated under the auspices of the Callermain Earldom, the disposition of the victor and the vanquished was carried out with cold severity.
While the plains were being tidied up, the representative, Baron Zelkerd, went to the Callermain Earldom to continue the meetings and processes to exact payment from the losers. In the end, with the victor's certification, the fate of the Viscountcy of Royen fell to Baron Zelkerd.
"...I'll lend you some of our soldiers as well, so first go and take possession of the Royen Viscountcy. Sir Maldrov will accompany you. And soon... once the reply to the letter sent to the capital arrives, you will likely be Viscount Zelkerd by then. I will also hand over his custody to you."
And, of course, since he would be receiving a title, once the reply to the missive sent to the Imperial capital came back, Baron Zelkerd would be promoted to Viscount.
"I am truly grateful, Acting Family Head."
Permission was granted to also bring along the Earl's troops, just in case the remaining soldiers and family members of the Royen Viscountcy might resist.
Baron Zelkerd was about to leave with all the documents and the seal taken from Viscount Royen when Acting Family Head Lengel called him back for a moment.
"By the way... why hasn't Beonald come in? He must have participated in this battle......"
"Young Master Beonald said he cannot enter, as he has a prior agreement with the Count."
"...Is that so? Hmm, if it's an agreement with his father, then there's nothing to be done."
"And he offered some advice. He said if the household situation isn't handled well... it will lead to big trouble."
"Ahem! I know very well. Tell him not to worry. I will handle it very thoroughly. You too... make sure to handle matters thoroughly."
"Yes, Acting Count. And once again, I am truly grateful."
Baron Zelkerd's final words omitted a long phrase: 'for sending Lord Beonald out of your family and giving me this opportunity.' Acting Family Head Lengel could immediately sense that intention.
This must be what they mean by baking the rice cake only to give it away to someone else.
Acting Family Head Lengel, knowing Baron Zelkerd's character and limits well, had long since realized that Beonald was the key factor in this war's victory.
'Hoo~ Really... what a shame. Anyway, first I must do my work for the family.'
Thus, Acting Family Head Lengel let out a deep sigh and returned to his duties.
For him, the most important thing, as always, was protecting the family, expanding the territory, and paving the way for the next generation's future.
And so, Beonald's party and Baron Zelkerd's army, after tidying the battlefield and gathering their spoils, returned home laden with goods.
The weapons and equipment of the fallen knights and soldiers were all money, so loading them onto carts and returning with heavy hands couldn't help but put them in a good mood.
"By the way, Lord Beonald, how did you know Viscount Delmain's army would betray us?"
"Hm? Ah~ you mean that? I sent a messenger earlier, didn't I?"
"That's true, but with just that, you couldn't have been certain Viscount Delmain would betray us, right?"
"I wasn't certain. If he hadn't betrayed us, I was prepared to fight and win anyway. We probably would have had to fight until sunset and even for several more days, but that's beside the point. However, the possibility of betrayal was slightly higher."
"Why is that?"
As Baron Zelkerd looked at him with a curious expression, Beonald thought inwardly, 'You don't even know that?', but understanding that as the pure head of a military family it was possible, he slowly began to explain.
"You see, factions among nobles. On the surface, they curse each other as scoundrels they wish would disappear, but in reality, it's not like that. Because Baron Zelkerd's faction exists, Viscount Delmain's faction gains cohesion, and Viscount Delmain, being the most influential among them, becomes its leader."
"Ah, I think I roughly understand that."
"Now, let's return to the time of the war. If Viscount Royen had won today's war and your family was destroyed, and all the forces under you were absorbed, what would happen?"
"Uh... what would happen?"
"It's not that difficult. See, the maternal family, which holds Lady Meira, the mother of the Callermain Earldom's heir... and now, by destroying the family of Baron Zelkerd, a powerful rival faction, and absorbing its territory, a new, powerful rival would emerge for Viscount Delmain, wouldn't it?"
Then, with the help of the Callermain family's power, the Royen family's standing would rise overwhelmingly, and the life of living subdued under Viscount Delmain would come to an end.
Yet, as if still having doubts, Baron Zelkerd raised another question.
"...But even so, I am also in a position opposing Viscount Delmain. In the end, isn't it the same?"
"No. It's fine for Baron Zelkerd to exist as a faction. Because the nature of the factions is completely different. The nobles following Baron Zelkerd are mostly knights who served in the Callermain Count's army and earned their titles through meritorious deeds on the battlefield—in common terms, they are upstarts or nobles with short histories. On the other hand, what about the Royen Viscountcy? It's an old, traditional noble family with a deep history, enough for the Callermain Earldom to arrange a political marriage. Do you know what happens if that becomes a faction?"
"What... happens?"
"With Viscount Delmain and Viscount Royen opposing each other, the nobles below can't properly confirm who supports whom. At best, they can confirm those connected by marriage or blood, but for nobles not connected that way, it becomes a real headache. And some might take advantage of that position to straddle both sides, acting like bats."
"...Aaaaaah! That's it!"
"Just imagining it gives you a headache, right? You can't even be sure which side this noble under me, this knight, is on, and your rival has the formidable backing of the maternal grandfather of the heir and Lady Meira from the Callermain Earldom... In that case, whose head would hurt the most?"
"Viscount Delmain! Indeed, that old fox would ultimately choose to strengthen his own power and standing... so it's worth betraying. No, I would betray him too. By the way, how did you calculate all this......"
Finally seeming to fully understand, Baron Zelkerd clapped his hands, unable to contain his admiration for Beonald's foresight.
This foresight, which could only come from a perfect understanding of political relations among nobles. It wasn't for nothing that he had reigned as the empire's second-in-command as a high noble in his past life.
"Hahaha, it's nothing special. The nature of nobles... is ultimately all the same."
"For me, it's unimaginable, Lord Beonald."
'I suppose so. There are so many factors to consider......'
What if Viscount Royen had borrowed knights and troops from a noble family other than Viscount Delmain? What if the Callermain Earldom took unexpected action? What if Viscount Delmain's political sense was worse than expected and he sincerely supported Viscount Royen without betrayal? And so on... Weighing assumptions and connecting actions where every choice isn't bad is by no means easy.
Having to calculate and adjust predictions in real-time, tapping countless abacuses, and if necessary, even devising realistic, physical means—what Beonald did was a miracle only he could perform.
"Anyway... once you subdue the Royen Viscountcy, please send the things I mentioned to the Delmain Viscountcy. Do you remember what they were?"
"How could I forget? First, secure the gold, silver, treasures, artworks, and other tangible assets in the Royen Viscountcy. Execute all family members of Viscount Royen taller than a cartwheel, spare only the small children, and do not touch the families of the other knights. I know it all."
"You don't think it's cruel?"
"We are clearly in an age of turmoil. I understand that we must eliminate future troubles to avoid betrayal."
An age of turmoil where the entire continent is divided into six nations. A situation where they're even crossing swords. If you don't completely sever the bloodline of an enemy family, especially a prestigious one with tradition, future trouble will surely arise.
'If you don't clean up properly, it becomes a real nuisance. I've learned my lesson too...'
The elements immediately coming to Beonald's mind included, for one, providing a pretext for an unnecessary war. A male escaping abroad and suddenly rising to become an obstacle, or if it's a woman of noble birth, entering as a concubine or second wife of a noble or upper-class person and suddenly causing issues in power relations.
"But why specifically spare children smaller than a cartwheel?"
"There's the reason that children that small won't become a major obstacle, and also, they are at an age where their education isn't complete, so they aren't yet aware of which family they belong to, making it possible to completely overwrite their identity. However, don't sell them as slaves. Thoroughly educate them to be servants of your family and manage them. The worst enemy is better kept in sight and managed than sent far away."
"Ah! Yes. Truly, listening to Lord Beonald's words... it feels like receiving advice from the Count or someone even higher. Hahaha, the Callermain family's education is indeed exceptional......"
Having risen to Duke in his past life, Baron Zelkerd's feeling was 100 percent accurate.
In any case, those who went to the Royen Viscount family announced the news of defeat and that the future fate of the Royen Viscountcy lay with the Zelkerd Barony, along with the news of Viscount Royen's impending execution.
Since the main family members and knights of the Royen Viscountcy were already captured by them, there was no resistance as might have been expected. They entered bloodlessly, blockaded the Royen territory, and rounded up all the family members from the Viscount's mansion.
"Maintain the blockade and catch every last little brat! The future of the territory is at stake! Don't forget to secure the family assets as well! Loot any place that looks like it could be a warehouse."
"Heidi, watch closely. This is the fate of a defeated noble. Beneath the soil under beautiful flowers, such filthy and barbaric events take place."
"...Yes, Lord Beonald."
All the family members of the Royen Viscountcy were rounded up, and those taller than a cartwheel were executed on the spot.
Fortunately, in this era, the existence of knights who use Aura meant they could behead necks cleanly with a single sword stroke, allowing for swift and tidy executions.
The territory's master, Viscount Royen, who had been dragged here, had to be executed last, so he was forced to watch in anguish, bound, as his family and children died.
"Lord Beonald, the securing of money, treasures, and tangible assets is roughly complete. What shall we do with this now?"
"Give 10 percent to Sir Maldrov, who came with us, to send to the Callermain Earldom. Send the rest to Viscount Delmain. After all~ he is someone who helped us. We should send at least this much."
"Hmm, but we also need to give rewards to our knights. It seems like we're sending too much?"
"You can give the knights' rewards with the land here. If they refuse a fief, give them assets. Next year, tax revenue will more than double, so what is there to worry about? And sending it like this ensures the nobles under Baron Zelkerd won't be envious and your influence will be maintained."
"Ah!"
It's natural to feel jealous when a cousin buys land. If the faction members learn that Baron Zelkerd, the faction leader, absorbed all of Viscount Royen's territory and assets, the faction's cohesion could waver.
Of course, there's also the method of Baron Zelkerd distributing portions of Viscount Royen's assets, but that would eventually create emotional rifts between those who receive less and those who receive more.
But by throwing it away like this to Viscount Delmain and the Callermain Earl, you can show off to them, it also serves as a PR move that you had no choice but to give it to the rival faction Viscount Delmain, and Viscount Delmain, receiving a huge sum of money, has no loss either.
"And in doing so, we now get the land, the territory's people, and... we can take in those knights of the Royen Viscountcy. Take in those who will newly pledge under the condition of maintaining their fief and treatment. For those who refuse, give them travel expenses and provisions and send them out of the territory with their families."
"But they are knights of the Royen Viscountcy... What if they attack out of loyalty?"
"Of course, there are such loyal knights as well~ but that's mostly due to being compelled by chivalry and honor. Anyway, if you send them off like that, they will naturally go to the nobles under Baron Zelkerd or to other regions to find shelter. Their pride as knights won't allow them to become mercenaries, they have families to feed, and they absolutely won't join Viscount Delmain's faction, which betrayed their lord~ Haha."
"Indeed... I understand. I shall do so."
Baron Zelkerd obediently carried out Beonald's will.
It was strangely, almost suspiciously, obedient, to the point where Beonald wondered if he had some other ulterior motive.
And so, Baron Zelkerd, like a longtime retainer, carried out his words without a single deviation, and thus the Royen family disappeared into history, with all its territory and people absorbed by Baron Zelkerd.