Chapter 252: A Decision for the Family
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 252: A Decision for the Family
“What do you mean by that?”
“How do you intend to prove that the Empress is involved in this?”
Ferdin brushed his hair back irritably. It was a reaction born from the knowledge that doing so would be no easy feat.
“If the Frais family is to avoid total ruin, we must at least be able to prove that the Empress gave the order.”
Only then would the Imperial Family be forced to minimize the Marquis’s crimes to save their own face.
“Furthermore, if you strike at the Empress half-heartedly, you might be the one who ends up suffering more for the Crime of Deceiving the Imperial Family.”
Ferdin fell into a silent, conceding lull.
“Who else knows about this?”
“…You are the first person I’ve told.”
Ferdin looked up, stating that no one knew except for the guild that carried out the task.
“Since you are already a member of the Blenheim family, there is no risk of you being implicated, but I felt you should at least be aware of the situation.”
He apologized, expressing regret that he couldn’t prevent things from escalating like this while I was busy preparing for the Expo.
“Regardless, I will take responsibility as far as I am able. That is what I came here to say.”
Ferdin looked exhausted. The fine lines of his face were much sharper than the last time we had met. Then again, it would be stranger if he looked well when his father had committed a capital offense.
To think I’m the first person he sought out after trouble broke out in the family.
It felt somewhat strange. The Ferdin I knew—proud and haughty—was not the type to seek anyone out when faced with such a crisis.
“Is that the only reason you came to see me?”
Understanding my implication, Ferdin hesitated for a moment before finally revealing his true feelings with a look of resignation.
“To be honest, I felt lost.”
“I didn’t know how to handle this.”
He admitted that I had suddenly come to mind, but as soon as our eyes met, he drew a firm line, stating he hadn’t come with the intention of asking the Grand Ducal Household for help.
“There’s no need to look at me with such pity. I simply needed someone to talk to.”
Ferdin composed his expression and stood up.
“I believe I’ve said everything that needs to be said for now, so I’ll be going.”
“Brother, wait a moment.”
I called out to stop him.
“Since you’ve had your say, may I have mine?”
He seemed surprised by my bold tone, but Ferdin eventually sat back down.
“I’ll be blunt. I’m against your plan.”
“…I did not come here to ask for your permission.”
“There is no guarantee that reporting the Marquis’s crimes will save the family from ruin.”
If their assets were confiscated or if a decree of exile was issued, every member of the family would face a miserable fate.
“Even if the family name is maintained, the prestige and reputation of the Marquisate will plummet.”
When I pressed him on what the point was in protecting a family that had been torn to shreds, Ferdin narrowed his eyes.
“I thought you hated the Frais family.”
“…To be honest, I don’t care what happens to the Frais family.”
“Then why are you trying to help?”
“Raphael is still young. I can’t let him go through something so horrific.”
“You can just take Raphael with you, can’t you?”
Of course, I was confident I could treat Raphael well if I brought him to live with me. I would provide him with full support under the name of the Grand Ducal Household.
However, that wouldn’t change Raphael’s family of origin. The stigma of the Marquisate would follow him like a shadow forever.
Just as I have no choice but to live with the label of being illegitimate.
“And don’t treat me like I’m some heartless child. I’m worried about Sister Ladriel, too.”
While I didn’t particularly like Ladriel as a person, there was no way for a lady from a disgraced family to survive.
“The Marchioness as well.”
Though she was a spiteful woman by nature, I had grown somewhat fond of her during our time together in the North.
“And I’m… worried about you too, Brother.”
Ferdin’s eyes widened. My words seemed more flustering than he expected, as he awkwardly toyed with the skin under his chin. He seemed unable to find the words to respond.
As he nervously picked at the tender skin, his neck became mottled with red. I continued without waiting for his answer.
“And frankly, I don’t want to see others suffering for the things the Marquis has done.”
A heavy sigh escaped him at those words.
“So, please listen to what I have to say.”
Seeing my serious expression, Ferdin finally adjusted his posture.
“Speak.”
* * *
Marquis Frais walked down the hallway toward his office. He was in a foul mood because not a single servant, let alone the butler, had been in sight when he entered the mansion.
Useless leeches, only good for wasting money.
To think no one came to greet the head of the house upon his return. Just as he was indignantly deciding to dock the butler’s salary for the month, he flung the office door open.
There, he saw Ferdin sitting at his desk. The Marquis’s brow furrowed instantly.
“Entering your father’s office without permission, I see.”
Despite the Marquis’s rebuke, Ferdin remained entirely unfazed.
“You’ve arrived.”
“Get up this instant!”
Infuriated by the nonchalant greeting, the Marquis shouted. However, even as he approached the desk, Ferdin showed no sign of moving. Only then did the Marquis realize that something was amiss.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
Ferdin, who had been resting his chin on his interlaced fingers, asked with a void expression.
“The plague in Charleyn. Was that your doing, Father?”
How does this boy know about that?
For a moment, the Marquis couldn’t hide his agitation and blinked rapidly. He hadn’t even used anyone from the Marquisate as a messenger, fearing that Ferdin might catch wind of it. Furthermore, he had split the tasks among three different information guilds under different names, so he thought no one would notice.
Unless he’s been watching me this whole time…!
As his thoughts reached that conclusion, the Marquis’s voice turned venomous.
“How dare you spy on your own father!”
“Have you considered what will happen to our family if this is revealed?”
The Marquis snorted derisively.
“There is no way it will ever be revealed.”
“I know about it right now, don’t I?”
“Then you just need to keep your mouth shut.”
“Did the Empress order this?”
“You arrogant brat! Is Her Majesty the Empress your friend?”
When the Marquis flew into a rage, demanding he use proper honorifics, Ferdin’s own temper flared, the veins in his neck bulging.
“Releasing a plague just to ruin an expo… how could you do something so shameful as a high noble of the Empire? A plague spreads in an instant. The entire Empire could be brought to its knees!”
“Shameful? Are you trying to lecture your father now?”
The Marquis gnashed his teeth at the contempt in Ferdin’s eyes.
“Do you think you’re already the Marquis just because you’ve meddled in family affairs a little? Do you think this family already belongs to you?!”
This boy had no idea how hard he had worked his entire life to protect the family. As the head of the house, one sometimes had no choice but to do dirty and petty things for the sake of prosperity. What right did this young man have to lecture him—someone who had lived as a refined young master while the Marquis stained his own hands with blood?
“No matter if you are my father, I cannot let you ruin the family.”
“Who do you think you’re lecturing?!”
The Marquis pointed a finger in fury.
“You’d best stop this insolence! I am a man who will do anything to protect this family!”
To the Marquis, the Frais family was more important than blood relations.
“I am the same as you, Father,” Ferdin whispered, his expression turning cold. “That is how you raised me. To be someone who can do anything for the sake of the family.”
He slowly brushed his hair back and spoke.
“Therefore, I must take over your position.”
“I can no longer stand by and watch you destroy this family. Hand over the title to me and step down.”
“Don’t talk nonsense! Do you think I’ll just meekly hand over the title because you say so?”
“If you won’t hand it over, I will take it.”
Looking into Ferdin’s cold blue eyes, the Marquis felt a chill run down his spine. Ferdin was serious. And his son was certainly not the type of person to act so impulsively without preparation.
“…Are you saying you intend to betray your father?”
“Betrayal? I am merely following your teachings.”
Ferdin slowly lowered his gaze.
“If I stay idle, there won’t be a family left for me to inherit. I must protect it by any means necessary, shouldn’t I?”
Ferdin slid a document that had been on the desk toward the Marquis.
“Sign it. This document states that you are succeeding the title to me as of today.”
Ferdin spoke calmly, stating that the moment he signed, all authority over the lands and the family would pass to him.
“If you step down quietly like this, I will not hold you accountable for the crimes you’ve committed and will let it pass in silence.”
“You’ve truly gone mad.”
The Marquis threw the document aside with a sneer.