Chapter 178: The Return
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 178: The Return
A stir went through the port square as three coffins, each draped in the flag of Dresden, were unloaded. The crowd guessed who the occupants were.
“No way...!”
When the three coffins were turned to head toward the inner castle, their guesses turned to certainty. A few quick-witted individuals hurried off to deliver the news.
“There is no room for error.”
After giving this instruction to the workers Adeleade had prepared, I spurred my horse to the head of the procession.
Adeleade rode beside me, matching my pace. Cavalrymen flanked us, carrying my banner—a golden eagle with an added cross—and the flag of Dresden.
It was a display meant to suggest a union between myself and the House of Dresden—or more precisely, between me and Adeleade.
Aenya followed behind them, focused on training the two women from the northern continent to her liking.
“We're moving out.”
The people who had stopped their work to watch us began to follow slowly. Their numbers grew, soon trailing behind us like a long tail.
On the way to the inner castle, Adeleade filled me in on what had happened on the western continent during the half-year I was away.
“Duke Baeneng and the king have joined forces?”
Among the news were some hard-to-believe stories.
“We couldn't believe it at first, either. It was the king, after all, who disapproved of Duke Baeneng growing his power through trade with the southern continent and actively obstructed him.”
Duke Baeneng's lineage was so close to the king's that he could immediately claim the throne if anything happened to Bronx II.
That was why Bronx II kept the duke in check. And while Duke Baeneng bowed his head in the king's presence, he secretly continued to build up his strength.
In other words, the two were political rivals.
“Unbelievable. I can understand the king acting out of fear of Eleanor's abilities, but what did Duke Baeneng have to gain by joining him?”
If he coveted the throne, it would have been far better to wait for Bronx II and me to destroy each other and then reap the benefits...
Adeleade shook her head. “Even Jin, who brought us the news, didn't know the reason.”
“So Jin is doing her job well, I see?”
It seemed Jin had successfully completed her mission to take over the capital's underworld.
Even though I'd provided financial support, she had no personnel, making the task as difficult as building a castle from scratch all by herself...
‘The bill is going to be enormous.’
If I ignored a promise left to fester for so long, I might really have to pay the price with a knife in my gut.
“‘Doing her job well’ doesn't even begin to cover it. In fact, when we heard the king was making a move, we tried to cooperate with Duke Baeneng. His response wasn't bad, either. If Jin hadn't informed us of their secret pact in time, we would have been completely blindsided.”
Duke Baeneng's domain is right next to Roxwood. If we had trusted him and lowered our guard, the betrayal would have stung badly.
“With two grand lords joining forces, the noble faction must have been hesitant to act rashly?”
“They're taking a wait-and-see approach. To them, both the king and we are thorns in their side, so they're probably hoping we'll destroy each other.”
“The problem is Duke Baeneng.”
Bronx II was advancing steadfastly, as if he knew exactly how to defeat Eleanor. The reason Duke Baeneng was cooperating with him remained a mystery.
I had my suspicions about both, but I decided to set them aside for now. What mattered was figuring out how to handle the immediate situation.
“How is Eleanor doing?”
“After hearing you were returning, she started using scorched-earth tactics to buy time. Piole and the other knights are supporting her. However...”
“However?”
“News came yesterday that the king's army has reached the outskirts of Roxwood. They might be laying siege as we speak. Of course, we've stockpiled supplies and troops, so they won't break through immediately, but... you never know what the future holds.”
Adeleade was worried that, just as Bronx II had won over Duke Baeneng, he might pull another unexpected trick.
“We need to get back as soon as possible.”
But there was something I had to do first.
Dresden had refused my request for reinforcements, even though they had to know they would be next after us. It was proof they had other intentions.
How could I fight with all my strength without securing my rear? This meant I had to annex Dresden first.
“What about the task I gave you?”
“I contacted the families I was close with, but the results weren't very good. It's been over twenty years since I left Dresden, after all.”
Out of sight, out of mind. The memories of Adeleade as Dresden's youngest daughter, who had monopolized the vassals' affection, had faded.
Furthermore, the vassals she had been close to were all now high-ranking officials of considerable age, which also hindered her mission.
The majority of them had participated in Dresden's long-cherished northern expedition, only to die like the count and his two sons.
“So you couldn't find any collaborators in the end.”
That wasn't the only problem. Her near-total lack of a support base in Dresden was likely to become a major issue when she tried to claim her inheritance.
Her cousins, who held influential roles in the domain, would surely aim for the vacant lordship, joining hands with the vassals to push Adeleade aside.
“I'm sorry. I wasn't of any help...”
Adeleade lowered her head. I took her hand and shook my head.
“What are you talking about? Your presence alone is a huge help. In fact, this is better. When the news spreads, the vassal families will be in chaos. We can use that to our advantage.”
The heads and key officials of the vassal families hadn't escaped death, either. Their houses were bound to be in as much turmoil as Dresden, which had lost its count and both his sons.
My plan was to exploit that chaos and swallow Dresden whole before they could regain their senses.
“Adeleade. Could you gather the second sons and younger children of the vassal families—the ones who inherited nothing and were marginalized? I need to use them.”
Depending on whose side I take, the heads of the vassal families could change. Those who treated Adeleade with contempt will now feel the heat.
“I can do that much. But persuading them won't be easy. I have almost no influence in Dresden.”
“It doesn't matter if you fail. All I need is to create the impression that I might back the marginalized children of each family.”
Our conversation ended as we neared the inner castle. The news must have arrived, because Countess Moné and the advisory council were there to greet us.
“Oh, Lord...”
Seeing the three coffins behind me, they made the sign of the cross, at a loss for what to do.
What was unexpected was that Countess Moné showed no sign of faltering, even after hearing of the deaths of her husband and two sons.
Her only reaction was a slight flinch and a single tear she squeezed from her eye.
“My mother is a strong and wise woman.”
It seemed Adeleade was right. The countess's gaze as she looked up at me was clear and resolute.
“It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Allen.”
“I am Countess Moné.”
Our gazes met and tangled.
@
“Hah. I don't understand what's happening. The count is suddenly dead? And Sir Erik and Sir Aron, too? Does this make any sense?”
“He's right! All three of them, dead at once? There must have been some kind of trickery! Nothing else explains it!”
The news of the deaths of the count and his two sons shook Dresden's political circle to its core. The council chamber where the advisors had gathered had long since devolved into a chaotic marketplace.
“Then the northern expedition was a failure? Is that why we couldn't contact them?”
“Perhaps the baron betrayed them at the last moment! Does it make sense for the baron to be unharmed when the count and both his sons died at the same time?”
“He returned with only a small escort! If he had truly launched a surprise attack, how could he have done that?”
“Then how did the three of them die?”
The vassals argued back and forth. The reason no clear conclusion was reached was that Allen, claiming to be tired from the long voyage, had postponed giving a detailed explanation.
The advisory council, shocked by the sudden news of the three deaths, hadn't even thought to detain him.
“I, too, am suspicious of the baron. In this situation, with the count and his two sons dead, isn't the sole heir Lady Adeleade?”
A brief silence fell over the chaotic council chamber. It was a truth everyone knew but had left unspoken.
Countess Moné, who had remained composed in her seat, stared at the vassal who had spoken.
“Are you suggesting my daughter was involved in the deaths of my husband and sons?”
“Ahem, that's not it... I was suggesting that the baron might have deceived the innocent Lady Adeleade and orchestrated this. He has a history of such things.”
The other vassals, sensing the mood, began to speak up one by one.
“Are you saying he plans to use Lady Adeleade as a figurehead to swallow Dresden whole?”
“Nonsense! Lady Adeleade has been away from Dresden for over twenty years. Her influence is so weak she'd lose out even to the collateral branches.”
At the mention of collateral branches, Countess Moné's eyes sharpened slightly. The agitated vassals failed to notice and continued their conversation.
“But she has the baron by her side! Do you think a collateral branch could stand against the legitimate heir backed by him?”
“The baron has his own problems to deal with! Haven't you all heard that Bronx II's army is on Roxwood's doorstep?”
“Exactly! And they aren't even married yet!”
In that instant, the vassals' eyes gleamed. They realized that if they could win Adeleade, they would have a chance to swallow Dresden whole for themselves.
This sight further displeased Countess Moné, who was already in a foul mood.
“Silence.”
The council chamber froze at her quiet command.
The vassals held their breath, busy watching her expression. With the count and his two sons dead, Countess Moné's power was inevitably strengthened.
And Countess Moné knew how to use that situation and her position to her advantage.
After making eye contact with each vassal in a silent warning, Countess Moné spoke again.
“What matters right now is why the three men who sent word that their mission was nearing a successful conclusion have returned as cold corpses. Everything else should be discussed after that.”
“I will summon the baron.”
Countess Moné nodded, and the herald hurried out of the council chamber. But when he returned moments later, he was still alone.
“Where is the baron?”
“He said he was tired and would see you later...”
A muscle in Countess Moné's brow twitched. The herald, looking utterly distressed, couldn't bring himself to lift his head. A moment of silence passed.
“Hah. So, he's putting off a grieving wife and mother who wants to know the truth behind her family's death, all because he's tired?”
Without waiting for an answer, she shot to her feet and stormed out of the chamber. It was obvious where she was going. The advisory council scrambled to follow her.
And so, the advisory council arrived at Allen's room, only to be confronted by their own brothers and sons—men who had become soldiers or priests.
“What are you doing here...?”
The advisors quickly realized what all the gathered men had in common, and a murmur of unease spread through them.
The same was true for Countess Moné, who was leading the group. Her face hardened.
“Baron. I require an explanation.”
Suppressing her agitation, she condensed the many questions flashing through her mind into a single sentence. Allen, who surely understood this, remained perfectly calm.
“As you know, it has been a long time since Adeleade left Dresden. Therefore, I merely sought some help in managing the domain.”
“From the marginalized members of each family, bypassing me and the advisory council?”
“Is there a problem with that? As the saying goes, new wine must be put into new wineskins.”
Allen calmly announced his intention to form an entirely new advisory council. The advisors, now in a panic, did not let it slide.
Unlike Allen, who held most of his domain in his own hands, Dresden was a collection of numerous vassal families. This meant they had the power to resist.
“Why does the baron get to decide that!”
“That's right! I don't understand why a mere outsider like the baron is meddling in the affairs of House Dresden!”
As one hot-tempered vassal raised his voice, others chimed in. Most of them were men whose brothers and sons were in Allen's room.
Allen's expression remained unconcerned.
“Because Adeleade is the one and only heir to Dresden.”
Adeleade stepped up next to Allen and took his hand. They looked no different from a married couple.
“I refuse to accept it! The cause of the count and his sons' deaths hasn't even been revealed, and you expect us to tolerate you suddenly acting like the master of the house!?”
A corner of Allen's mouth curled up. Sensing danger, Countess Moné tried to intervene, but Allen was a step faster.
He grabbed the head of the man who had spoken out first and lifted him clean off the ground.
“Accept? Tolerate? You're mistaken. Adeleade is the legitimate and sole heir. Which means you have no right to interfere in this matter.”
“Let go of me! You bastard—!”
The vassal, his feet dangling in the air, struggled, but Allen's grip showed no sign of loosening. On the contrary, it seemed to be tightening.
Allen scanned the other vassals, who had fallen silent and were watching cautiously after his sudden display of force.
“If Erik or Aron were standing here, you would have accepted it without a word. In other words, you are disrespecting Adeleade.”
“Gurg—”
The vassal's skull, unable to withstand the pressure, could now be seen visibly caving in.
The vassal struggled desperately to break Allen's grip, but it didn't budge.
Holding the struggling vassal before him, Allen gave the other vassals a bright smile.
“And disrespecting Adeleade is no different from disrespecting me, the man who will be her husband.”
“Baron—!”
Countess Moné urgently tried to stop him, but once again, Allen was faster.
Squelch.
With a gruesome sound, the struggling vassal's arms and legs went limp. Blood and brain matter trickled down Allen's hand, which had dug into the man's skull.
“Gasp—”
Even for these vassals, who as men of a medieval age were accustomed to the sight of death, seeing a colleague's skull crushed with a bare hand was undoubtedly a first.
The startled ones fell to the floor, while those with weak stomachs leaned against a wall and vomited. The rest, who were faring slightly better, trembled uncontrollably.
Meanwhile, Allen calmly wiped the blood and brain matter from his hand with a handkerchief and spoke.
“Anyone else have a complaint?”