Chapter 207: Noble's Entertainment
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 207: Noble's Entertainment
Baron Allanton was not pleased with Count Valliere's approach. In fact, any noble with less power than the count would have felt the same.
While no noble was free from greed, Count Valliere was in a league of his own.
Nobles usually moderated their greed out of consideration for each other's honor, but Count Valliere often satisfied his avarice by pressuring weaker nobles as if they were commoners.
Thinking of this, he wanted to simply ignore the count, but the problem was that Valliere held a grudge as fiercely as he held his greed. Lacking the ability to handle the aftermath, Baron Allanton had no choice but to put on a smiling face and greet Count Valliere.
“A proposal, you say?”
Count Valliere leaned his weight against the railing and looked down. His gaze fell upon Allen, who was sheathing his sword. Each of his movements was so sharp and elegant that it naturally drew gasps of admiration.
“Champions from the West are not common.”
He mistook Allen for a champion from the West. This was because Allen's thin, long one-handed sword, specialized for thrusting, and his fighting style that utilized it to its fullest potential were very similar.
Baron Allanton's face stiffened slightly. Seeing the count beat around the bush, he guessed that an unacceptable proposal was coming.
“They are rare, but not nonexistent.”
“I misspoke. What I meant was that it's rare to find a strong fighter who can claim victory while maintaining the Western style.”
The Western swordsmanship, centered on nimble footwork and exhilarating thrusts, combined with a speed that made it impossible to look away, was a popular style.
The problem was that it was all style and no substance.
“To put it nicely, it's a swordsmanship focused on thrusting. But looking at it objectively, isn't it a half-baked style with subpar slashes?”
Popular longsword techniques could produce the same results as a Western-style thrust. However, Western swordsmanship could not perfectly replicate the slashes of a longsword. That was why it was called a half-baked style.
Count Valliere pointed at Allen and continued.
“What's more, your champion hasn't been hit even once. I guarantee you, he's hiding his true skill.”
Baron Allanton, who had been keenly focused on the count's every gesture, whipped his head around to look down at Allen.
He had never once considered that Allen might be hiding his skills. Count Valliere was probably not lying. He had no reason to, and besides, it seemed plausible even to Baron Allanton.
But the words that came out of his mouth were the exact opposite.
“That can't be. He's just a wandering swordsman from who-knows-where. If he were truly that skilled, he would have already become a nobleman's vassal and be living a life of plenty.”
He had guessed what kind of proposal the count was about to make after hearing him praise Allen so excessively.
Count Valliere ignored Baron Allanton's attempt to downplay Allen's worth and continued his praise, a smile on his face that was both dismissive and mocking.
“And is that all? With his looks and fidelity, even the noble ladies and wives who shun duels as vulgar will be captivated. Oh! Do you see that? It seems even Lady Taliang, who fought him so fiercely, has taken an interest.”
Lady Taliang, who had taken Allen's hand to stand up, was whispering something to him. Her flushed face was surely not just from the battle.
“He will surely become a popular champion, and if his skills are as outstanding as I suspect, yes. He might even be able to stand on the real stage.”
“The real stage... you say?”
The words ‘the real stage’ carried enough weight to make Baron Allanton, who was supposed to be downplaying Allen's value, momentarily forget his purpose.
Only then did Count Valliere turn his back to the arena and face Baron Allanton.
“It's just a possibility, but for a champion from who-knows-where, as you put it, even that would be a great achievement.”
“Hmm…”
“In any case, it means he's an excellent investment. Few people know his true value yet. Isn't buying low and selling high the basis of investment?”
Count Valliere's objective was almost completely revealed, but Baron Allanton pretended not to understand, bowing his head as he spoke.
“I hadn't thought as far as ‘the real stage,’ but I too have promised to advance with him toward greater heights.”
Count Valliere's brow twitched. His amiable expression quickly hardened, and he stared at Baron Allanton with a sharp gaze.
This was Count Valliere's true face.
“There's a right time for everything. Won't it take too long if you follow your plan? In the meantime, people who recognize the product's value will spring up like mushrooms. That won't be good for you either.”
He was saying that this was Baron Allanton's last chance to sell Allen for his proper price. But what gambler would so easily discard an ace in his hand? Besides, Baron Allanton's own greed was considerable.
“I will think about that when the time comes.”
A smile returned to Count Valliere's face. But it was by no means a friendly smile. Neither were the words that followed.
“You seem to be mistaken. This is not a proposal.”
“…!”
*
“To return a favor with a favor, and a grudge with double the vengeance—that is the motto of House Taliang.”
After the duel concluded, Pompiné Taliang invited me with these words. And an invitation from a noble was not something a mere commoner could refuse. This was especially true after a situation where a lowly commoner had pointed his sword at a noble.
“If we show a close relationship at the party, public perception will change.”
She wasn't wrong, so in the end, I had no choice but to attend the party.
The party was the first official event where Pompiné would present herself as the heir to the vassals of House Taliang.
Perhaps for that reason, Pompiné was dressed in an outfit similar to the one she wore during the duel. It was a manifestation of her will to be perceived not as a woman, but as a lord.
The vassals' reactions were positive. They were all busy praising Pompiné, saying they had seen her last duel. I could see her slightly stiff face gradually brighten as the party progressed.
Thanks to that, she became so busy that I didn't see her again until late at night, after the party had ended. Summoned, I followed a servant to a room, and my eyes widened. I don't know when she changed, but Pompiné was in a dress.
Pompiné, who had greeted me with a bright expression, saw my reaction and shyly turned her head away. Her face was flushed red.
“You were looking for me?”
Pompiné was an attractive woman. She had a healthy beauty and a well-maintained body befitting a noble lady. Her beautiful features and the short hair that suited them further enhanced her charm.
However, I maintained a calm demeanor. Ophelia had hinted at Vivian's unfortunate past, and looking back at what she did to me, I could easily deduce that the cause was a man. She hated men. No, she despised them.
If I were to continue my usual womanizing ways, my chances of achieving my goal of becoming her guard knight would be zero.
“Ahem. I called you because I have something to ask.”
So I tried to create some distance, but Pompiné, on the contrary, seemed satisfied. The fact that she was a famous beauty in the South and had received countless proposals belatedly crossed my mind.
“I'm listening.”
“Why did you help me?”
Pompiné wanted the answer she hadn't received during the duel.
“You had the skill to decide the match in a single clash. If you had shown your full strength, I wouldn't have received this kind of support from my vassals. To them, I would have been nothing more than a weak woman who needed protection.”
“It was only a matter of time. They would have recognized your true worth, Lady Pompiné.”
Pompiné shook her head.
“That ‘time’ was what was important. If I hadn't stepped up when I did, the vassals would have tried all sorts of ways to bring a new woman to my father. That would have been bad for me, and for my mother.”
There was a reason she had entered the duel, risking injury. After her firm declaration, she asked again. Why did I help her?
“You misunderstand. I was only helping myself. What meaning would there have been for me to win in a single clash before your skills were revealed? On the contrary, I would have only earned a reputation as a villain who attacked a weak woman.”
“So our objectives just happened to align by chance?”
“Yes. It was merely a coincidence.”
Despite my firm assertion, the smile never left Pompiné's lips. She said in a slightly pouting voice, “Ahem. It would have been better if you had told me beforehand. Then I could have avoided looking so embarrassed, don't you think?”
“If you had known, it wouldn't have been as desperate as it was. Naturally, the effect would have been much less than what we achieved.”
Unless you're a master actor, no matter how well you act, it's bound to show. Pompiné nodded.
“True… By the way, how did you end up working with the baron?”
The conversation continued after we sat facing each other with a table between us. Only after a servant prepared tea and left did I realize we were alone in the room. It was a perfect situation for rumors to start.
But Pompiné, engrossed in the story of the duel in the city of Monju, seemed unaware of this fact. Her eyes sparkling, she asked, “So you don't have a proper contract?”
“A verbal contract is still a contract.”
There was no way a commoner could break a verbal contract made with a noble. That was why Baron Allanton hadn't bothered to draw up a written one.
“I can handle Baron Allanton's complaints. If I demand it as payment for this matter, he'll have nothing to say.”
“Are you also interested in this game, Lady Pompiné?”
“Of course not. It was only out of necessity; I have no interest in this sort of gambling den. The reason I need you is because I need someone who is mine alone.”
What Pompiné wanted was not a champion, but a knight. And it seemed she wanted a key official who could assist her up close.
“It seemed you had many favorable vassals…”
Pompiné snorted.
“It's still far from enough. More than half of the vassals still doubt whether I'm fit for the seat of Lord of Taliang. They're just swept up in the mood for now, but give it a little time, and they'll start picking fights over every little thing. You can bet on it.”
Compared to before the duel, one could say she had made significant progress, but Pompiné was not satisfied. As expected, she was a greedy one.
Pompiné's gaze urged me for an answer.
I thought for a moment. How should I refuse? The relationship we had just managed to patch up might fall apart again. Although Pompiné's attitude was favorable, I couldn't forget that she was a noble.
“Recognition is not something you can obtain by begging.”
“Are you saying I'm begging for recognition?”
A furrow formed on Pompiné's brow, and her eyes turned fierce.
“Well, are you not?”
I met her gaze directly. Wasn't the very reason she wanted me proof that she was overly concerned with her existing vassals? That was also why she had risked the duel.
“…It was necessary.”
“But the method was the problem.”
“What do you think I should have done?”
Pompiné crossed her arms and looked up at me. She looked ready to eat me alive if I didn't give a proper answer.
“Constantly watching others' faces is what the weak do. The attitude you've maintained until now has likely only instilled distrust in your vassals.”
Pompiné, who had flinched, hardened her gaze, which had started to soften.
“Are you saying I've been wasting my time on foolishness?”
“I don't believe facing me in a duel was your first attempt. There must have been various other attempts to win over the vassals before that. You took a risk because those didn't work out.”
Wasn't the duel likely a last resort?
“How did you—”
Pompiné couldn't hide her surprised expression. Her fierce demeanor vanished in an instant, replaced by that of a flustered young girl.
I smiled gently and continued.
“The problem is that those attempts made you look weak. The more you acted, the further you got from what you wanted. It was a vicious cycle.”
Pompiné was wise, but she was also a child not yet twenty. This meant she lacked the experience to grasp the essence of the problem.
“If it were me, I would have acted with confidence. I would have been as composed as a lord already seated on the throne of Taliang. Because you already possess a powerful weapon.”
“I have a weapon I don't even know about?”
“Yes. That weapon's name is time.”
“…!”
This is an era where the average lifespan is less than half of that in modern times. It was questionable whether a male child who could become Pompiné's rival would even be born, and even if one were, he would be far too young to become an heir.
Furthermore, there was a high probability that the parents would die before the child reached adulthood. Also, it's not like Pompiné would be sitting idle until he came of age.
In other words, there was no competition from the start.
“It was a worry I didn't need to have?”
The wise Pompiné deduced the meaning behind the word ‘time’ alone. I nodded and continued.
“It's not too late. From now on, act with confidence. Then, even if you do nothing, the vassals will bow their heads and come to you on their own.”
After thinking for a moment, Pompiné's head snapped up, and she looked into my eyes.
“You too?”
This time, I flinched, and Pompiné let out a small laugh.
“Right. Who would follow a lord who can't even control her existing vassals? Besides, if you were the type to switch sides without any principles, you would have done so already.”
Fortunately, it seemed I had navigated that well.
“Since we've made a contract, I plan to go with him as far as I can. I'm also curious about the ‘big stage’ the baron mentioned.”
“Yes. Someone like you might really be able to become one of Duke Babel's guard knights.”
Those were not words I could just let pass. I, who had been sighing in relief, snapped my head up.
“Guard knights, you say?”
Pompiné, in turn, looked as if she couldn't understand.
“Wasn't the ‘big stage’ you mentioned the duel tournament hosted by Duke Babel? The rumor that he's recruiting guard knights through the tournament is widespread.”