Chapter 180: The Return
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 180: The Return
The threshold was wearing thin. It was because of the sheer number of Dresden’s vassals coming and going from my room. Eventually, I had to leave the door wide open.
Thanks to that, I borrowed Adeleade’s chambers to sleep. She, however, was rather pleased that her personal space was being invaded. Said it made us feel like a real married couple, or something like that.
By the morning of our third day in Dresden, we were fully enjoying the newlywed atmosphere.
Even now, she sat beside me, ostentatiously interlocking her fingers with mine for the guest to see. Then, as if embarrassed, she blushed.
To an unknowing eye, she looked so young she could be mistaken for her daughter Eusebia’s older sister, so the sight suited her well.
In truth, this was a charm all her own.
“I am Acid Wicon.”
Moreover, putting on an affectionate display with the heiress who held all the keys was a way to give the vassals visiting my room a sense of certainty.
The newcomer, Acid Wicon, saw our clasped hands, and the corners of his lips rose slightly.
“Wicon… that would be the domain just above Quaran.”
The vassals of Dresden who secretly sought me out could be divided into two types.
There were the calculating ones who had determined that siding with me was to their benefit, and there were the nobles from the border regions who would be the first to suffer if Dresden and I became enemies.
Acid Wicon was clearly the latter.
“Ahem. I heard that you were in need of assistance, my lord Baron. If the Wicon family, which has managed water transport for generations, were by your side, you would be able to quickly acquire supplies via the Rhine River in case of an emergency.”
“Is transporting troops also possible?”
“But of course. Using my family’s ships, we can reach Dresden from Quaran in just three days.”
Acid Wicon seemed to have misunderstood, thinking I was asking with a civil war in mind.
“And from Dresden to Roxwood?”
The Rhine River, originating from the Giant’s Shoulder Mountains north of Roxwood, flows through Dresden and Quaran before reaching the sea.
In other words, if his ships were as fast as he claimed, we might be able to arrive even faster than if we had headed straight for Roxwood by land.
“…It will be a bit slower, as we’d have to go against the current. However! With the Wicon family’s ships and our skilled sailors, a week will be more than enough.”
A week. Including the time we’d already spent in Dresden, that was still faster than the land route.
Meanwhile, Acid Wicon’s voice had gained a new strength. He had found confidence in my demeanor, which showed no concern for any backlash from the Dresden nobility.
“You’ll need something in return, I imagine.”
Bowing his head deeply, Acid Wicon cautiously studied my expression.
“Ahem. I would like to obtain a stake in the port of the northern continent’s metropolis you mentioned. Ah, of course, I’m not asking for it for free. I will make a separate investment as well.”
It was an excessive demand for merely lending some ships. Even considering the investment, it was too much. The revenue from the metropolis was greater than that of the entire Dresden territory.
He was likely taking a shot in the dark, knowing how desperate I was to save Roxwood.
He must have known it was an excessive demand, so he wouldn't be too disappointed if I refused. He might even have another proposal ready for when I did.
“Is that all you want?”
And so, I acted contrary to his expectations.
“Pardon…?”
“The mayorship of the metropolis is vacant. Are you interested?”
I had just promised him a reward far greater than what he had asked for.
A family like the Wicons, who had managed water transport, would do well if entrusted with the mayorship of a metropolis.
Of course, there was no one who handled money without lining their own pockets, but if I gave the priests in charge of administration the authority to audit, they would keep each other in check.
Unable to hide his bewilderment, his face soon brightened beyond compare as he exclaimed.
“If you give me the chance, I will devote my life to it!”
“Good. Prepare at once.”
“Yes, my lord!”
Acid Wicon, who had entered my room with a nervous expression, now retreated with a face as bright as if he owned the world.
“Wasn’t that an excessive reward?”
Once we were alone, Adeleade voiced her concern. I naturally pulled on our clasped hands and sat her on my lap. She didn’t resist.
“The rumor that my rewards are generous has to spread for those who have been hesitating to finally make up their minds, don’t you think?”
“Ah…”
The effect was immediate. Before it was even lunchtime, the sound of knocking was incessant. And to those who came with great expectations, I said:
“You can spare thirty soldiers? Hmm, your neighbor, Sir Etranger, assured me he could support me with a hundred…”
“What? Sir Etranger? A hundred men would mean scraping together every last bit of his family’s fortune…!”
Sir Etranger hadn’t offered a hundred from the start, either. His offer had changed after hearing that another vassal had made a better one, just like now.
“Hah, is that so? Then I suppose I’ll have to pay Sir Etranger even more mind. As you know, a lord has no choice but to maintain fairness.”
“I, too, will support you with a hundred! A hundred men!”
In the end, the vassal had no choice but to offer more than his original terms.
But I wasn’t satisfied. I knew, through Adeleade, that this vassal’s family was capable of more.
“Oh, if you do that, I would be most grateful. Ah, look at the time. I’d like to speak with you more, but I have a prior appointment with the Ebison family…”
So I mentioned a family that was on bad terms with his. His eyebrow twitched.
Though there were many new territories acquired on the northern continent, the truly valuable ones were limited.
Competition was inevitable.
The Ebison family was one that would do anything to get ahead of the vassal before me. And he knew that better than anyone.
“Two hundred! I will support you with two hundred!” the vassal shouted, squeezing his eyes shut. I grabbed his hand before he could take it back.
“I will not forget your contribution.”
The competition, thus ignited, grew uncontrollably. Some families invested their entire fortunes.
When there was no longer a need to egg them on, I feigned concern and tried to dissuade them. Of course, it was no use against vassals whose eyes were clouded with greed.
“Are you looking down on our family?!”
One vassal even grew angry, declaring he would take it as an insult if I didn’t accept his support.
This, in turn, put the younger sons of the various families—the ones who had first gathered—in a tight spot.
Lacking the ability to promise material support, they aided me in other ways.
“The movements of the blood relatives are suspicious.”
It was news that the relatives who could claim ownership of Dresden in Adeleade’s absence had begun meeting with people who could lend them strength.
Among them were back-alley thugs, figures from the underworld who took on assassination requests, and even one who had contacted the captain of the city guard, a man with military authority.
“You must be careful.”
They looked not at me, but at Adeleade as they warned her. The target, they said, was her.
“It’s alright. The Baron will protect me.”
Adeleade turned her gaze to me as if to ask, isn’t that right? I gave her a smile.
“Are you truly not worried?”
“There is only one thing I’m worried about.”
Knowing what she was about to say, I issued an expulsion order to the vassals who had filled the room. Once we were alone, she continued.
“Please spare my mother.”
The only blood relative Adeleade had left was her mother, Countess Monet.
I frowned.
“Why would I kill my mother-in-law? What do you take me for?”
“Because all the obstacles that stood in your way met unfortunate ends.”
They say if a coincidence happens three times, it’s fate.
Even without knowing the exact circumstances, it was only natural to become suspicious when all my political rivals met such grim ends.
Honestly, she wasn’t wrong. If Erik hadn’t overstepped, I would have been the one to take the lives of the Count and Aron.
And Countess Monet would have followed them. But hadn’t the situation changed?
“They say a mother-in-law’s favorite is her son-in-law. Why would she become an obstacle?”
There was no reason to kill Countess Monet. I pulled Adeleade into an embrace and continued.
“On the contrary, your mother will help me.”
Countess Monet was a stronger and wiser woman than Adeleade had described. She would know that she had no choice but to cooperate with me.
And just as I expected, that night, when even the moon was hidden by clouds, Countess Monet came to my room. I welcomed her with a bright smile.
“I knew you would come, Mother-in-law.”
*
@
The next morning, Countess Monet secretly convened a meeting. Compared to when Allen had just returned, however, the number of attendees was significantly lower.
This was true even though collateral relatives, who normally wouldn't be allowed to attend, were present. It meant that many vassals had already sided with Allen.
“My, what is the world coming to…”
“Indeed. It has only been five days since we heard the news about the Count and his two sons. How could they be so shameless as to act this way…”
“I was a fool to have once considered these shameless bastards my friends.”
Countess Monet looked around at the vassals who continued to denounce the Baron. To be precise, she was looking at the collateral relatives they had brought with them.
These relatives, who normally had no right to attend the council, were present without permission, acting brazenly as if it were their rightful place.
It was something that would have been unthinkable while the Count was alive. And what of them raising their voices in her presence?
My husband…
Countess Monet felt the void left by her dead husband more keenly than ever.
Meanwhile, as the host of the meeting remained silent, the commotion gradually subsided.
“Countess, I will go and fetch them.”
One of the vassals spoke up, gauging her mood. He thought the reason for her displeasure was the many empty seats in the council chamber.
Countess Monet shook her head.
“There is no need. I deliberately excluded those who have sided with the Baron.”
Her words implied that she knew exactly who had secretly sided with Allen. It was a demonstration that her influence was still very much alive.
The flinching vassals exchanged glances. Their representative, the Herald, spoke cautiously.
“May I ask the reason for doing so?”
“A traitor will always betray again. They will come to regret their rash actions.”
“By that, you mean…”
The Herald’s eyes gleamed. Countess Monet nodded as if to confirm his guess.
“The Baron’s explanation was eloquent. However, there is not a single piece of evidence. There is only the Baron’s word. The suspicions have yet to be resolved.”
“And while he tells us to wait for evidence to our faces, he is winning over our people behind our backs. As I see it, this is a stalling tactic.”
“He intends to deceive us with his silver tongue, then seize Dresden with a false justification. Remember that he has a history of similar acts.”
At her determined words, the vassals’ lips twitched. After exchanging glances, one of them asked cautiously.
“The problem is that we have no suitable way to respond, is it not? Our forces have been depleted by the northern expedition. The same goes for the Baron, but that is precisely why he has the advantage.”
“Because in small-scale battles, the Baron’s military prowess has a much stronger impact, I presume?”
When the vassal nodded, Countess Monet turned her gaze to another vassal on the opposite side.
“Baron Modol, you once mentioned that a relative of yours serves under the King.”
“Pardon? Yes… that is correct. But why do you ask…?”
“I will send a messenger to the King.”
The vassals’ eyes widened. Hadn’t Dresden and the royal family been on bad terms for generations?
“An alliance?”
Countess Monet shook her head.
“We are going to use the King. If the King extends his reach past Roxwood to the domains of Rasino and Debussy, the Baron will no longer be able to stall.”
The Herald struck his palm with his fist.
“An excellent plan! Since ancient times, it has been said that using the hand of an enemy to strike down another is the highest form of strategy!”
“Even if the King fails to eliminate the Baron, it will be fine. In any case, the Baron’s power will be diminished, and we, having used that opportunity to recover our strength, will gain the power to resist.”
“Ooh…!”
Countess Monet’s gaze returned to Baron Modol, whose cousin worked for the King.
“Is this cousin trustworthy? And is he in a position to report directly to the King?”
Baron Modol, smiling awkwardly at the attention focused on him, opened his mouth cautiously.
“Actually, he contacted me not long ago. He asked if I could serve as a bridge between the King and the house of Dresden.”
Countess Monet’s eyebrow twitched. It was only for a moment, so those whose attention was on the vassal did not notice.
“Excellent. Then I will ask you, Baron Modol, to take charge of this matter.”
“Yes. I will see to it that it succeeds.”
“Hah… I can finally rest easy. My late husband would be pleased with your loyalty. Ah, I have prepared a modest banquet to foster unity.”
Servants who had been waiting brought in food and wine. The quality was quite high, and the vassals reflexively swallowed their saliva.
Moreover, with matters proceeding as they wished, they were in a relaxed state of mind.
“Ahem. It would be rude to refuse.”
“Indeed. That it would.”
Countess Monet responded with a smile. Soon, a drinking party was underway. The main dish was gossip about Allen. When they were quite drunk, the topic changed again.
“By the way, once the Baron is ousted, who will be the successor to Dresden?”
“Why, it would naturally be Lady Adeleade.”
“You saw how close she is with the Baron. She will surely resent us.”
“Still, the legitimacy lies with Lady Adeleade.”
“Perhaps we should consider others.”
Countess Monet had, at some point, been relegated to a relic of the past. She did not take offense and simply waited. She waited and waited.
Until the moment she desired arrived. She did not have to wait long.
“Gack—”
Baron Modol shot to his feet, clutching his throat. The vassal next to him laughed and patted his back.
“My, you ate too quickly and must have gotten something stuck. A man with such an important role should take better care of himself. Here, let me pat your back.”
Baron Modol pushed his hand away and staggered. Then, he slammed his face onto the table and went limp. This was clearly not a case of choking on food.
“Kugh—”
When another vassal clutched his throat and staggered in the same way, the others had no choice but to realize.
“Poison…?”
They sobered up in an instant. The vassals frantically gagged, trying to vomit up what they had eaten. But the poison they had ingested had already been absorbed.
One by one, the vassals collapsed like puppets with their strings cut. The only one left unscathed was Countess Monet.
She looked down at the bodies, which were slowly growing cold, with an icy gaze.
“If even one of you, just one, had mentioned a funeral for the Count and my two sons, I would not have gone this far…”