Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Audience with Essendra
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"From here on, this is Marquis Archibald's territory, Sir Eugene."
After crossing one river and scaling several low hills over two days, Eugene finally laid eyes on the lands of the great noble house that had been the overlord of the Carlsvegin Peninsula and the kingdom's frontier marquis.
"Nearly half the peninsula belongs to the Archibald marquisate?"
"Yes, my lord. The land they actually governed was narrower than that, but as such an ancient house, they had a great many vassals. Of course, now they're scattered to the winds, fending for themselves."
"Oh ho. Quite the scholar for a merchant."
"You're too kind, my lord. I've simply wandered the peninsula since my youth, so I know a bit more than most."
Galpredic's admiration drew a humble bow from the merchant Magart.
He was indeed the sort of man Guildmaster Gardye would recommend so highly.
"By the way, you said Duke Gavrel's lands are still quite a ways off?"
"That's right. It'll take another three days, and we'll have to pass through two other territories along the way."
"Hmm. One of them belongs to Duke Essendra, the marquis's eldest daughter?"
"Yes. By rights, Duke Essendra should have inherited the title..."
Marquis Archibald had three sons and two daughters. The youngest son, Duke Bemos, was dead, and the surviving children were now clashing over the succession.
By convention, the eldest direct heir—son or daughter—should take precedence.
But the marquis's downfall had been so irregular that this mess had arisen.
"So legitimacy leans more toward Duke Essendra. Though Duke Gavrel has the stronger forces. Right?"
"Precisely."
Eugene fell into brief thought as he regarded the bowing Magart.
They had captured that lunatic bandit leader Balmong alive, but using him as grounds to condemn the direct line of the marquis's house was realistically impossible.
In a world where bloodline and status ruled like gangsters.
Even the same crime brought wildly different punishments depending on the person, and while soldiers and mercenaries died or were enslaved on the battlefield, knights and nobles bought their freedom with ransom.
'In that case...'
Recalling the various intelligence from Gardye, Eugene made up his mind.
"I'll meet Duke Essendra in person."
"Yes! Sir Eugene!"
The ten captains responded with vigor.
"Milord, milord! You ain't plannin' to marry the marquis's daughter, are ya!? I object to this match! A guy called the Demon King Overlord needs at least a princess for—Kiek!"
Eugene silenced the spirit's nonsense by slamming his fist against the leather pouch's opening, then slowly urged Silion onward.
* * *
"Yan Eugene? Who's that?"
Duke Essendra Antigone Archibald furrowed her brow slightly.
"A scoundrel who seized two villages owned by your late brother Duke Bemos, along with the Nadir Mountain silver mine..."
"Seized? Scoundrel? Since when do we slap those labels on folks who take unclaimed land on the peninsula? By that logic, nine out of ten who called themselves my house's vassals were bandits and scoundrels, no?"
"...My apologies."
Gecko—formerly Marquis Archibald's knight, now Essendra's—bowed his head.
Essendra, still boasting youthful, healthy beauty in her mid-thirties, shoved aside her lover-cum-slaves, who bared toned upper bodies, and sat up straight.
"Now that you mention it, I heard from the templars who came from Baron Beogalan's lands. They said you succeeded in purging his ruins. Lots of talk about a wyvern, though."
"Rumors not worth your grace's ear. With no one seeing the corpse or trophies..."
"A jealous knight is an ugly sight, Sir Gecko."
"..."
"A sulky knight is uglier still."
"That's not what this is..."
"Still, your loyalty is rather endearing. Anyway, this Sir Eugene wants to meet me?"
"Yes. But my lady, he commands quite a sizable force. He may even be in Duke Gavrel's employ. You must take care."
"Hmm."
Nodding as she recalled her younger brother Gavrel—two years her junior, and greedy enough for it—Essendra pondered.
"Best not to meet him, then..."
"Invite him."
"...!"
"But tell him to come alone. If not, send him packing."
"Truly wise, my lady."
Sir Gecko's stiffened expression relaxed at once.
No knight, however renowned, would enter another's castle without trepidation.
Especially not one claiming lordship over a hundred-odd troops.
"Then I'll relay that."
In high spirits, Gecko passed Essendra's words to Eugene's envoy, who left with a sour face.
But not even an hour later, the envoy returned—and this time, Gecko's face turned sour.
* * *
"Thanks for the invitation."
"..."
Gecko momentarily lost his words at the sight of Eugene, armored in plate mail yet strolling in as casually as if off for a pleasure jaunt.
He'd really come alone!
'Is he mad? Or does he trust his forces outside the castle that much?'
Impressive as they looked, that army couldn't take the castle.
Provisions and supplies stocked inside could hold out for three or four months.
Capture the employer and top commander, and mercenaries—who lacked any patience—would scatter to the winds or sell out within ten days.
Yet a man who surely knew this had entered alone?
Either insane or with courage beyond imagining.
"So, when do I meet Duke Essendra? I requested an audience because I have business with her."
"She'll be out shortly. Whatever it is, tell me. Duke Essendra doesn't deal with knights like you..."
"Heh heh. Why treat a guest like that after calling him here?"
Just then, Essendra swept in, trailed by a throng of slaves.
She settled onto a grand, ornate seat, and the well-built slaves knelt at her feet, peeling fruit and pouring wine amid the bustle.
"You're Duke Essendra?"
"Indeed. Yan of House Eugene. I am Essendra Archibald. But you're younger than I expected. And handsome too. Elf blood in the family?"
"Yes."
"Did you really slay that wyvern? I heard the tales, but I need more than words to believe them. Seeing you now makes it even harder."
Doubting a knight's feats was tantamount to doubting his honor.
In short, Essendra was openly picking a fight with Eugene, whom she'd just met.
'Let's see how he takes it.'
Expecting a flushed face or bombastic boasting, Essendra watched Eugene with interest.
"I did slay the wyvern. But does that matter? Surely you didn't grant this audience out of curiosity for that tale."
"...!"
Essendra's eyes widened slightly.
"Sir! What insolence! How dare you address her grace..."
"Ah, it's fine. I rather like Sir Eugene."
"Not said to win your favor, but I'm grateful all the same."
"Ha ha ha!"
Essendra burst into hearty laughter.
Knights she'd met before fell into two types.
Those cowed by her status as the marquis's eldest daughter, or those inflating feats to impress.
She'd seen the occasional taciturn, storybook knight, but they bristled most at slights.
This one, though—with black hair and black armor—was different.
"Fair enough. I didn't summon you for tales. So tell me, Yan of House Eugene—why seek me out?"
"I have a request and a proposal for you."
"A request? Don't tell me you want me to recognize your claim to our late youngest brother's villages."
"Is that possible?"
"That's no request. Are you picking a fight?"
The mirth vanished from Essendra's face.
The lands Eugene had seized and declared his domain were, strictly speaking, House Archibald's.
With no legitimate new marquis, no one could contest a takeover amid the chaos.
But once a lord ended the turmoil, they could reclaim by force or extract fealty from the squatters.
Essendra wasn't marquis yet—and hadn't fully subdued any of her three younger siblings.
Eugene's words thus sounded like: "You think you can?"
"As if. But once you become Marquis, would it be possible then?"
"You are picking a fight."
"Duke Essendra! Just give the word, and I'll..."
As the fired-up Gecko stepped forward, Eugene calmly interjected.
"Not a fight—a request. Pity. Then here's my proposal."
"Brazen much? Or do folks call you mad often?"
"Neither. Not once."
Eugene replied gravely.
"Ha."
His response left Essendra feeling oddly off-kilter.
At first, she'd found him refreshing.
Now? Unfathomable.
Barring madness, what gave him such boldness?
But Eugene pressed on with his true purpose.
"There's a chance for you to become the new Marquis Archibald."
"What?"
Things grew ever more absurd; Essendra half-gave up.
Whatever this mad knight said next, she'd thrash him out—or kill him.
"I captured the bandit leader who held the Nadir Mountain silver mine. Balmong, guilty of noble-slaying."
"And?"
"He said something interesting. A knight named Andre promised him pardon and enfeoffment later."
"...!"
Essendra's bored expression vanished, eyes bulging.
"You know Sir Andre? Knight under your brother Duke Gavrel, I hear."
"Is it true!? That noble-killer was Sir Andre's man?"
"You keep doubting me. On my honor, it's true. I have affidavits from the Mopern city guildmasters."
"My apologies! I never doubted you. I apologize."
No knight had ever spoken so before her, but urgency overrode anger—Essendra apologized hastily.
"Did you bring the noble-killer?"
"Yes. Use him well, and it'll aid your claim to marquis, right?"
"It will! Tremendously!"
Essendra shouted, decorum forgotten in excitement.
"Then hand Balmong over, and fully recognize me as lord of my lands. That's my proposal."
"Someone! Fetch pen and paper!"
* * *
"Ah ha ha ha! So that's it? Baron Beogalan got outplayed. He's always been petty and greedy. Still, he's got some honor—one of the few lords who stayed out of the peninsula mess."
Essendra was a remarkably straightforward noble.
After accepting the deal, she treated Eugene like an old fellow lord, putting him at ease.
Though her penchant for slapping his arm mid-conversation was a tad much.
'Mirian would've thrown a fit.'
Eugene ignored the vivid squeals from the leather pouch, refusing to uncork it.
"After that, he handled things honorably and cleanly. Gave me some breathing room."
"Probably because you opened his coffers by slaying the wyvern."
"Coffers?"
"You took down the wyvern, right? Ruins purges get easier short-term. Prior failures let monster numbers swell, so they likely swept again right after you left."
"Ah..."
Not just bold—sharp as a high noble should be.
"Anyway, you eased my finances, that's fact. Hmm~ I need to purge my own demon realm soon..."
"You have a demon realm too, Duke Essendra?"
At the mention, Eugene leaned in.
"Naturally. The house owns several dungeons. Problem is my brother Edrike's territory blocks the path. The fourthborn."
"Hm. On bad terms with him?"
"Neither good nor bad. Edrike wants one of us to claim the title quick—me or Gavrel. But siding with one means enmity with the other. He's watching from afar out of fear. And demands tolls per head to cross his land."
"Signaling to Duke Gavrel that he's not on your side."
"Sharp, our Sir Eugene."
Essendra smiled, patting his arm again.
"Anyway, ten silver per purge member? Absurd. After hiring knights and mercs, nothing's left. That brat—I doted on him so as a kid."
"My lady, that dungeon. May I purge it?"
"What? You? Nah. Your force alone tops a hundred. Tolls would..."
"I'll go alone."
Essendra's mouth fell open at Eugene's reply.
"...Sir, folks never call you mad?"
"As I said, not once."
Eugene's face turned solemn again.
(To be continued)
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