Chapter 66: Clearing the Way
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 66: Clearing the Way
“My lady, are you in pain?”
“Hm? Oh… my stomach, a little? But it’s nothing for my son to worry about.”
Josephine made an excuse as she led her son away. Before she left, she didn’t forget to glare at me as if to say I had gone too far.
While she was dealing with her son, I rewarded the nanny for her trouble.
“I hope no rumors spread that might make people uncomfortable.”
The nanny, who had been watching nervously with a flushed face, saw the gold coin I placed in her hand, pressed her lips together, and nodded.
The three of them slowly moved away. Behind them, the traces of their union stretched out long on the floor.
Josephine would definitely be back. She would need the power to protect her son. And I had something to prepare for that moment.
“You’re late-!”
Piole shouted the moment I entered the room. I had promised to return quickly, but since I came back in the early evening, she had every right to be angry.
Still naked, Piole was wrapped in a blanket on the bed. It looked like she hadn’t moved a single step from the room.
“I’m sorry. Something came up.”
I sat down next to her and reached under the blanket to take her hand. Pouting, Piole snatched her hand away.
“What was it?”
Piole’s face flushed as she heard what had happened in the baron’s office.
“Wow, seriously? So he’s not giving you anything? I’d heard the rumors, but how can a person be so damn petty?”
After enjoying a good round of baron-bashing, Piole glanced at me and made a suggestion.
“You have to go to Quaran? That’s actually perfect. Let’s just settle down in Quaran for good. The castellan is completely different from the baron. I’m sure she’ll treat you fairly, right?”
“You know I can’t do that.”
“Because of Eusebia?”
Piole had joined me just before the war, so she hadn’t seen me with Eusebia. The fact that she mentioned her meant that my actions had been so blatant they’d become a rumor.
“Segerik said the baron plans to marry her off to Count Broua.”
“What? To that old man? Seriously, what a shame.”
“You’re smiling.”
Despite her words, the corners of Piole’s lips were twitching. She couldn’t hide her joy at seeing a rival drop out of the race on her own.
Yes, she definitely needed some training.
“Ahem, you must be seeing things! Anyway, there’s no other way now, is there?”
“There is a way.”
If Josephine discovered Ailgar’s illegitimate child, their relationship would crack. Of course, the sunk cost was too high for her to switch sides now, so their alliance wouldn’t break.
I didn’t want that either. Ailgar’s faction would be too weak without Joang Conrad.
‘The rebellion must happen. But in the direction I want.’
This meant that the most Josephine and Joang Conrad would do is try to keep Ailgar from bringing his illegitimate child into the family.
To do that, they would try to secure the power they needed by using me.
If Joang Conrad, the most influential man in politics, and I, the most powerful man in combat, joined forces, Ailgar wouldn’t be able to act as he pleased even if he won the civil war.
If things went well, Joang Conrad could even become regent by putting his grandson forward. Wasn’t that a fine picture? He might even prefer that outcome.
‘Though that’s just wishful thinking.’
Ailgar wouldn’t just stand by. Wasn’t he the kind of man who would drag in even Baron Debussy for the sake of victory? It would surely turn into a dogfight.
Of course, I didn’t need to think that far ahead. All I wanted was to make them think I was on their side, and in return, have Josephine do me one favor.
She wouldn’t refuse. My request would be good for all three of them.
The problem was that there was one thing I needed before I could make that request.
I pulled Piole, still wrapped in the blanket and looking disgruntled, into an embrace. She struggled, trying to break free.
“I told you before. I never let go of a woman who has become mine. Even if I find another woman, my love for you will not change, Piole.”
I held Piole’s face, forcing her to look at me. I looked past her teary eyes and gently kissed her lips.
“…Why do I have to like a damn playboy like you?”
“Piole.”
“…Kiss me. Properly.”
As our lips met, Piole devoured me greedily, as if branding me as hers. When we finally pulled apart, her breathing was as ragged as someone who had just finished a strenuous workout.
“Hah…”
“Piole. There’s something I need you to do.”
“What is it…?”
“Go to Quaran at once and deliver my letter to Jin. She’ll give you something. You must bring it back before my father’s funeral is over. Can you do it?”
Quaran was farther from Polton than Baron Debussy’s capital city. The prisoner and body exchange would inevitably happen before Piole’s return.
The variable was Piole’s god-like horsemanship. She could switch horses at my mansion, which was a stopover point, so there was a chance.
Piole, who had scowled at the mention of another woman’s name, Jin, looked at my serious expression and asked quietly.
“Is it important?”
“My life is on the line.”
“I’ll go right now.”
As if there was nothing more to hear, Piole shot up from the bed. I handed her the letter I had prepared, and she left without a single look back.
*
Eusebia was confined to her quarters. She had been the only one absent from the last victory banquet. Of course, it wasn’t by her own choice.
The baron, wary of me, had practically imprisoned her in her room. But he couldn’t do that on a Sunday. Mass wasn’t optional.
After mass, the open space and garden in front of the church transformed into a social venue. It was a moment when the gazes of the baron and his wife, who had been watching Eusebia throughout the service, were bound to be briefly diverted.
“Sir Allen…!”
“Eusebia.”
By seizing that opportunity, I was able to reunite with Eusebia in a secluded corner of the church. She, who had been sending me sorrowful glances all through mass, threw herself into my arms the moment she saw me.
“I was so, so worried…”
I naturally wrapped an arm around her waist and used my other hand to lift her chin. Her glistening eyes reminded me of a deer’s.
“Thanks to the lucky charm you gave me, my lady, I was able to return safely.”
My words alluded to the kiss we shared before I left. A faint blush began to creep across Eusebia’s pale face.
“Sir Allen…”
She soon closed her eyes. She even tilted her chin up slightly and puckered her lips.
I kissed her just as she wanted. But instead of a light kiss that merely explored her lips like before, I pushed my tongue into her mouth.
“Eup…!”
Startled, her eyes flew open, and she tried to pull away. But my arm around her waist held her fast.
Not knowing what to do, she finally surrendered as I persistently explored her mouth with my tongue. Her eyes half-closed as she began to focus on the sensation of our tongues tangling together.
Just as Eusebia was about to run out of breath, she pushed against my chest to create some distance.
“We shouldn’t be doing this…” she murmured, panting with excitement. Her eyes were brimming with tears, and one finally overflowed, tracing a path down her cheek.
“Do you not love me?”
“I do love you. I love you so much. But… Father is trying to marry me off to an old man who could die at any moment…”
“So it’s because I am not enough.”
Eusebia grabbed my hand as I let out a deep sigh and shook her head.
“You are not lacking, Sir Allen. It’s just that my father’s ambition is too great…”
“Ah, I resent the world. If only we were an ordinary man and woman from a common family, we could have been happy, even if life were a little inconvenient…”
“Sir Allen…”
Eusebia buried her face in my chest again. The front of my shirt grew damp with her tears. I held her tightly and whispered in her ear.
“I know I shouldn’t, but I’m even having truly wicked thoughts. If only the baron were gone, our love could have lasted for eternity.”
“In fact, the whole reason I went to work under Sir Segerik was for you, my lady. Because your brother approved of our marriage.”
Eusebia slowly lifted her tear-streaked face.
“Then from the very beginning, you…?”
“Yes. From the moment I first saw you, I vowed to marry you, no matter what. You knew how I felt, did you not?”
“N-No, I didn’t…”
Perhaps recalling our steamy first encounter, Eusebia buried her face in my chest once more.
I stroked her back and lifted her chin again. By now, Eusebia habitually half-closed her eyes and offered her lips.
“Eusebia. I love you.”
“Sir Allen…”
When I kissed her this time, Eusebia parted her lips, making it easy for my tongue to slip inside. Once again, our tongues tangled, making lewd sounds.
It was when we briefly broke apart to catch our breath.
“Sir Allen. Let’s run away… Let’s run away to a place where no one knows us, where no one can recognize us, and live happily…”
To think the suggestion to run away would come from Eusebia’s own lips. It was a testament to how deeply she had fallen for me.
“Why wouldn’t I want to do that? But if we did, would you not have to part with your family forever?”
“It’s alright. As long as I have you…”
I shook my head. She wasn’t the only thing I wanted.
“Eusebia. I know how great the pain of losing both parents is. I cannot let the one I love suffer the same pain.”
“So you’re just going to give up…?”
Eusebia pouted. I soothed her with a kiss before speaking.
“Of course not. I will persuade the baron. I will prove that I am a better match for a son-in-law than Count Broua by bringing him even more territory.”
“That’s too dangerous. If something happens to you, I won’t be able to go on living. Please, just run away with me. Please…”
I squeezed Eusebia’s hand tightly.
“Did I not return from the last war without a single scratch? It will be the same in the next war. Eusebia. Please, trust me. I will get his permission, no matter what.”
“Oh… Sir Allen. I trust you. My love. How could I not trust you…?”
“Eusebia.”
“Sir Allen…”
Just as we were gazing at each other affectionately, about to kiss once more.
“Eusebia.”
A voice as cold as ice cut through the space between us. Startled, Eusebia immediately pulled away from me and turned her back.
“Mother…”
The one who had called her was Baroness Adeleade. She was looking at Eusebia with a gentle smile.
“What are you doing here?”
“Well…”
The moment she looked at me, her smile vanished without a trace. Armed with an unapproachable dignity and coldness, she hid her daughter behind her back and spoke to me.
“Sir Allen. That’s enough. I believe my husband has already made himself clear.”
“Mother, I…!”
“Eusebia. A daughter of a noble house must also know how to sacrifice. There is no need to worry. Happiness is not only found in love. It was the same for me.”
I gave a reassuring smile to the disgruntled Eusebia before speaking.
“Baroness. Forgive my impertinence, but I will not give up on Eusebia.”
“Sir Allen…!”
In stark contrast to Eusebia’s bright smile, Adeleade’s expression hardened as she shook her head.
“There are many things in this world that cannot be achieved with willpower alone, Sir Allen.”
With those parting words, Adeleade took Eusebia and left.
As I watched the mother and daughter, who looked more like sisters, walk away, I licked my lips. The seed had been planted. Now it was time to water it.
*
Two weeks passed, and my father’s funeral came to an end.
At the end of the line of attendees waiting to offer their condolences was Josephine. I had hardly seen her for the past two weeks, as she had been off investigating Ailgar’s illegitimate child.
“Have you learned the truth?”
Josephine, who always had a bright smile whenever I saw her, was uncharacteristically expressionless.
“My father told me to pretend I don’t know. He said Dien will be the successor anyway. Even though my husband, who has never once smiled for Dien, acts as if he’d pluck the stars from the sky for his bastard son.”
Josephine continued, her voice thick with suppressed rage.
“I deserve to be treated this way. But my son has done nothing wrong. I will never let him be treated the same way I have been.”
“What will you do now?”
“You said you’d do anything to have Eusebia, right? Help me, and I’ll grant you that wish.”
The fact that she was using Eusebia as a condition meant that Josephine must have known about the plot for the rebellion.
“What’s the plan?”
“I’m going to build a faction so that no one dares to touch my son. The bastards who are head over heels for me will be even less able to escape my grasp once I have the status of the lord’s wife.”
Josephine was trying to create a third faction. Was she timid? She acted as if she would do anything for her son, yet her goal was so small.
“That’s not a very satisfying plan. Especially the part about using your body to win over other men.”
“Really, you’re as greedy as they come. You think I want to do this? There’s no other way. No other way.”
I lowered my voice even further. The mourners were still nearby, looking for an opportunity to approach and build a connection with me.
“Ailgar will try to take down the baron. He won’t be able to forsake his natural bond with his father, if only for the sake of appearances, so he’ll likely imprison him and forcibly inherit the title.”
“How did you…?”
Josephine’s eyes trembled. I spoke nonchalantly, as if it were simple.
“Because unless he gets rid of the baron, he can’t give Eusebia to me as he pleases.”
“So? What’s your plan?” Josephine asked, having regained her composure. The look of increased trust in her eyes was a bonus.
“Is there any reason you can’t do as Ailgar does?”
Just as Ailgar planned to oust the baron, I advised her to oust Ailgar. I was telling her to put her son on the baron’s seat.
Josephine flinched and took a step back. It seemed like a method she had never considered. She asked, her voice trembling slightly.
“…What do you want?”
“What I want, from beginning to end, has always been Eusebia and Eusebia alone. In exchange for my help, I want you to ruin Eusebia.”
I pushed the object Piole had delivered just before the funeral into Josephine’s hand. After hearing what it was and what my plan was, Josephine was struck with fear.
“Don’t you love her?”
“It is because I love her that I am doing this. This is the only way to stop her from entering a marriage she doesn’t want.”
Josephine and Segerik’s plans both shared the common element of rebellion.
If the baron, in response, were to hasten Eusebia’s marriage to Count Broua and request his support, I would be left with nothing.
“Even if it means she’ll be ruined in exchange?”
That was what I wanted. To ruin her so much that she could no longer be used as a sacrifice for a marriage alliance. It was the only way to stop the Rasino family bastards from getting their way with her any longer.
“She will be happy in my arms.”
“You’re twisted somewhere.”
“Are you one to talk?”
With surprisingly similar smiles, Josephine and I looked at each other.