Chapter 67: Sorting Things Out
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 67: Sorting Things Out
“I heard you met with Sir Allen again.”
Eusebia, who had just popped a grape into her mouth, flinched. She glanced nervously at the baron, who continued his meal nonchalantly, before speaking.
“W-well, I couldn’t just go to the funeral and come back without saying anything to the chief mourner…”
“Watch your conduct. Unless you want to start some needless scandal and ruin this marriage proposal.”
Eusebia’s eyes welled up as if she were about to burst into tears. The hand resting under the table trembled.
Adeleade, sitting beside her, gently took her daughter’s hand and addressed the baron.
“It seemed Sir Allen is very fond of Eusebia.”
The baron’s hand, reaching for a piece of smoked meat, froze mid-air. His brow furrowed slightly. Wiping his greasy fingers on the tablecloth, he interlaced his hands and stared at Adeleade.
“What are you trying to say?”
“If Eusebia marries Count Broua, he will be greatly disappointed. He might even switch sides. If that happens, this marriage arrangement will lose its purpose.”
The baron was pushing for the marriage between Eusebia and Count Broua to prevent the count from intervening when he moved to swallow the Debussy barony.
But if Allen were to leave, could he still swallow the Debussy barony? Considering the crushing defeat they had suffered before Allen’s arrival, he should be more worried about the opposite outcome.
Adeleade was cautiously pointing this out.
“That’s why I gave him the Montpel region. A vast territory that can’t even be compared to a Tobalts family manor should be enough to tie him down.”
“He is an exceptional knight. His strategic mind even surpasses that of Sir Joang. The Montpel region may not be enough of a leash. Perhaps that’s why Count Dresden summoned him…”
“Are you trying to say that your judgment is better than mine, wife?”
The baron cut Adeleade off. His expression had hardened. Had Adeleade not been the daughter of the count he served, he might have struck her.
After all, a husband could use violence against his wife when he deemed it necessary. In fact, a man who couldn’t keep his wife in line with his authority was often seen as losing face.
“Whether it’s an object or a person, don’t you sometimes need a different perspective to accurately judge its value?”
Adeleade knew she was walking a tightrope, where one wrong step could send her plummeting down a thousand-foot cliff.
The reason she still spoke up was that she was a mother who wished for her child’s happiness.
“I did not ask for your opinion.”
But it was no use. If anything, it only solidified the baron’s resolve.
Her disappointment was as great as her hope had been. Eusebia’s eyes, looking at Adeleade, seemed ready to spill tears at any moment.
But Adeleade, who knew of the baron’s inferiority complex and the contrarian nature that stemmed from it, could do nothing more than gently stroke her daughter’s hand.
The fallout landed on the two sons, who had been sitting quietly and watching the situation unfold.
“Segerik. You should think carefully as well. No matter how beautiful a woman is, you’ll eventually tire of looking at her. What’s important isn’t some trivial thing like appearance, but how much she can benefit the family.”
“Ahem, still, considering the succession, you will take her age into account, won’t you? If I bring in an old woman, the family line could be cut off.”
“True. A woman’s duty is fulfilled as long as she produces a fine heir.”
The baron said this while sneaking a sideways glance at Adeleade. Though she understood his meaning, she pretended not to notice and continued her meal.
Next was Ailgar’s turn.
“Ailgar.”
“Yes, Father.”
Ailgar, who had been eating with disinterest as if it were someone else’s problem, finally raised his head.
“You’re twenty-three, aren’t you? It’s about time you became independent. I’ve arranged a position for you in a suitable parish, so you won’t have to worry about making a living.”
“…”
Ailgar’s face stiffened. Segerik, who had been wary of him after Allen’s warning that he might try something, couldn’t hide the twitching smile on his lips.
“I’d rather you just give me the money.”
The baron frowned.
“Are you saying the position I’ve prepared is worth less than some paltry sum of money? It’s not easy to buy a position even if you have the funds.”
“I plan to join the Crusades. The money would be an investment toward that.”
“It will be a meaningless death.”
“I might acquire a domain there and start a new house.”
Segerik, who was listening, scoffed.
“A man with no skill in swordsmanship wants to do what? Acquire a domain and start a new house? Is that even remotely plausible, Father?”
“A lord doesn’t necessarily need to be skilled with a sword. The truly necessary virtue for a lord is the ability to win people over and deploy them in the right places.”
“I don’t need to hear any more! Ailgar is just trying to squeeze as much as he can out of this situation. You can’t fall for it, Father!”
Now that his position as heir was confirmed, Segerik had become stingy about the inheritance that would go to his younger brother.
“And why should I do that?”
“Father!”
“Segerik. I am speaking.”
At the baron’s cold voice, Segerik had to suppress his complaints. His position was not yet secure, and the baron could still change the heir with a single word.
Instead, Segerik shot Ailgar a death glare. It was a warning that if he tried anything foolish, he wouldn’t be let off easy once Segerik inherited the barony.
“It would expand the family’s influence. Also, in the unlikely event of a misfortune, the existence of a constructive collateral line would be helpful.”
Ailgar ignored Segerik, acting as if he hadn’t paid him any mind from the start.
“You bastard! What do you mean by that! What misfortune!”
Segerik slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet. Ailgar looked up at his brother with utterly emotionless eyes.
“You don’t have any children, do you, brother? Who knows. You might be infertile and unable to have a child even after taking a wife.”
“Father! Did you hear what this punk just said! Is that any way to speak to his older brother!?”
“Enough.”
Only after the baron spoke coldly again did Segerik calm down and sit. Of course, he didn’t stop glaring daggers at Ailgar.
The baron clicked his tongue and continued.
“He’s not entirely wrong.”
“Father…?”
“Segerik, you don’t even have a single bastard child, do you?”
“That’s because I’m careful about contraception…”
“If you truly wish to succeed me, you will have to prove the ability your brother mentioned. And, Ailgar. All I can give you is an amount equivalent to the value of that parish position.”
Both sons’ expressions soured. The baron didn’t care. The meal was nearing its end in the heavy atmosphere when it happened.
“I will marry Sir Allen. If I can’t, I’ll just enter a convent.”
Eusebia, who hadn’t touched her food since the baron had confronted her about meeting Allen, dropped the bombshell.
“Do you think entering a religious order is easy? Especially for someone whose head has been turned by a man?”
The baron didn’t even blink. In fact, he looked at her as if she were pathetic.
“I’m serious.”
“I have made my decision, and your only choice is to accept it. You don’t want to? Then I will have you bound hand and foot and sent to Count Broua.”
“That’s too cruel!”
Eusebia had mustered her courage, but it had no effect on the baron. He simply scoffed at her.
“Did you think everything that has allowed you to live a comfortable and safe life came for free? You are simply paying the price now.”
“Father…!”
“Tsk, tsk. You only prattle on about love because your belly is full. If you were a mere serf, would you have refused the position of Count Broua’s wife?”
The baron’s words were merciless. Eusebia fled the hall, large tears streaming down her face.
As the baron clicked his tongue, Josephine, who had been holding her breath and watching the scene, had a glint in her eye. She stood up abruptly.
“I’ll go check on her.”
*
Eusebia was crying with her face buried in her bed. Josephine slipped quietly into the room and sat beside her.
“Sob, sister…?”
Eusebia only noticed Josephine’s presence when the bed dipped, and she turned her head. Her eyes were as red as a rabbit’s from crying so much.
Josephine spoke in a playful tone.
“Whew. Thought you were going to suffocate yourself? Thanks to you, I got out of that uncomfortable dinner easily.”
“Sister, I’m being serious, you know?”
Eusebia pouted and buried her face in the bed again.
“You must really love him, huh?”
“I would die for him.”
Josephine’s eyes widened slightly at Eusebia’s uncharacteristically firm words. For a moment, a mix of emotions like jealousy and envy washed over her.
Fortunately, Eusebia’s face was buried in the bed, so she couldn’t see Josephine’s expression.
“I suppose Sir Allen feels the same way?”
Josephine asked, gently stroking Eusebia’s back.
“Of course! He said he’d do anything to marry me. He said if he achieves greater merits in the war, he could change Father’s mind.”
“Hmm, I wonder if it’s as easy as it sounds. At this rate, your marriage will be finalized before the war even resumes…”
“…”
Eusebia was silent. She knew that was likely to happen.
“Even if the war breaks out before then and Sir Allen achieves great merits, Father won’t give his permission. He’s not the type to feed a fish he’s already caught; he’d sooner die.”
Josephine placed a strange, strong accent only on the words “sooner die.”
“And is that all? Even if Sir Allen achieves something incredible, it’s unlikely to be more valuable than a marriage alliance with House Broua. Do you think our greedy father would give that up? I think he’d refuse, over his dead body.”
This time, she emphasized the phrase “over his dead body.”
Josephine continued to subtly stress words and phrases that evoked death. This was what Allen had asked her to do.
‘Does this really work?’
Unaware of gaslighting, a concept that only gained attention in the 21st century, Josephine couldn’t help but doubt its effectiveness.
“Sister, are you here just to tease me?”
Eusebia turned to Josephine with a sharp look. Realizing she had gone a little too far, Josephine gave an awkward laugh.
‘He did emphasize that I must increase the intensity gradually, didn’t he?’
Another important point was that it had to be as natural as water seeping into cloth. Josephine patted Eusebia’s bottom.
“Actually, I came because I was curious about something.”
“What is it?”
“How far have you and Sir Allen gone?”
Josephine grinned slyly, and Eusebia’s face instantly turned as red as a beet.
“W-what would you do with that information, sister?”
“I’m worried, that’s why. Even couples who are madly in love before having sex can end up breaking up if their sexual compatibility is off.”
“S-sex? S-sexual compatibility?”
Eusebia gasped. At her sensitive reaction, the corners of Josephine’s mouth twitched. Her eyes sparkled.
“Oh, you haven’t done it yet, have you? This is a big problem! You love each other enough to die for one another, but what if you’re not sexually compatible?”
“Is… is sexual compatibility that important?”
“Of course! I’m telling you, countless couples have broken up because they weren’t compatible in bed.”
“Oh no, that can’t happen…”
Eusebia became restless. Seeing this, Josephine realized once again how much she truly loved Allen and bit her lower lip.
‘It’s unfair.’
Without realizing it, Josephine’s hand strayed to the potion vial hidden in her skirt.
*
Meanwhile, Allen, who had instructed Josephine in the art of gaslighting through suggestion, was riding relentlessly toward Quaran.
The reason was that Piole, who had arrived just before the funeral ended, had brought more than just a potion vial.
‘Aenya is in danger?’
Aenya had been especially loved by their father. It was obvious she would have tried to attend his funeral. But instead of attending, Aenya had sent word through Jin.
Her life was in danger, and it was difficult for her to even leave the castle, let alone attend the funeral.