Chapter 87: Turbulent Whirlwind
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 87: Turbulent Whirlwind
Polton’s political scene was in utter chaos. This was because, with Segerik’s death in battle, the situation had become one where even in victory, there was no true winner.
At Segerik’s funeral, which was held immediately, people were more interested in the future of Polton’s politics than in respecting the deceased.
“So who’s the next baron?”
“Wouldn’t it be the young lady?”
“But isn’t Sir Ailgar still alive?”
“Isn’t he the monster who assassinated the Baron and even killed his own brother? Those who served Sir Segerik won’t just stand by and watch.”
“Still, he’s better than a woman like Lady Eusebia…”
After the funeral, similar conversations continued in small groups everywhere. The quick-witted were careful with their words.
“There’s no point in us debating it. Sir Allen will be the one to decide who becomes the baron.”
“Then it’s Lady Eusebia.”
“It’s nine out of ten, isn’t it? This marks the rise of a man even more powerful than Joang. Who can stop him now?”
Allen himself was a knight of extraordinary talent, and under his command were nearly a hundred mercenaries. Furthermore, wasn't he a relative by marriage, engaged to Eusebia?
To make matters worse, the successive wars had killed or ruined all the skilled individuals who could have opposed him.
“What a coincidence. A terrible coincidence…”
“But isn’t the Baroness still here?”
The only variable was Adeleade, who seemed unable to leave Segerik’s graveside.
Having lost her son so soon after her husband, she bit her lip, holding back tears.
It is said that the greatest sorrow in the world is to send one’s child off before them, but she had no time to grieve.
She had ears. If she wasted time powerlessly like this, her one remaining son would also meet his end.
Composing herself, she lifted her head. Her gaze fell upon Allen and Eusebia, who were greeting the mourners, clinging to each other like a married couple.
“…”
Because Eusebia was shy, Allen looked more like the chief mourner. Adeleade’s eyebrow twitched slightly.
#
As time passed, the mourners began to leave one by one. By the time dusk settled on the ridge, the only people left at the grave were myself, Eusebia, and Adeleade.
I had Dreng block the entrance. Then, I stood beside Adeleade, who still wouldn’t leave Segerik’s grave. Eusebia was clinging to my arm like glue.
“Have you had a chance to speak with Ailgar?”
Adeleade flinched and turned to me, a flicker of bewilderment crossing her face.
It seemed she believed she had met Ailgar, who was locked in the dungeon, without anyone knowing.
Then again, she probably never imagined that the jailer would report the movements of the lady of the house, Adeleade, to me, who was still just an outsider.
This was also a warning that my influence extended throughout the entire family, to the point where even a mere jailer watched my every move.
Adeleade was a wise woman; she would understand my warning.
“…What do you plan to do with Ailgar?”
“He will be hanged in front of everyone.”
I made my decision on Ailgar’s fate clear. It was also a declaration that I intended to place Eusebia in the baron’s seat.
“My husband and my son are dead. In the span of a single month. And now you’re saying you’ll take my last remaining son from me…?”
Adeleade protested, just as I expected. It had been worthwhile to keep Ailgar alive and bring him here.
“He is a monster who assassinated the Baron and even killed his own brother.”
“…”
Adeleade fell silent. She could have saved Ailgar by revealing that Eusebia was the real assassin.
She seemed unaware that Eusebia had confessed everything.
That must be why she was worried for Eusebia’s safety. She didn’t know what her daughter, who wouldn’t hesitate to commit extreme acts for love, might do next.
It was a situation where if she tried to save her son, her daughter might die. She couldn’t choose.
It had been worth my while to keep Eusebia’s mouth shut. As a sign of praise, I squeezed her bottom firmly, and she hugged my arm, squirming.
The way she looked up at me with those shimmering, heated eyes told me she was in heat. The results of her education.
“Eusebia has not been educated to be a successor.”
Adeleade was unaware of her daughter’s state.
“The important thing is that she is the legitimate heir. Besides, is there any such thing as a perfect human in this world? Those around her can help with her shortcomings.”
The medieval era was a world of a strict class system. A lack of ability was not a valid reason for Eusebia to be denied her title.
When her attempts at persuasion proved useless, Adeleade changed her approach.
“Eusebia. Do you feel the same way?”
“Huh…?”
Eusebia, whose attention was fixed on me, didn’t hear the question. Adeleade frowned.
Flustered, Eusebia tugged on my arm. She answered just as I whispered to her.
“I-I feel the same way.”
Of course, that was neither the answer nor the attitude Adeleade had hoped for. Adeleade shot me a displeased glare before turning her back.
Once she was far enough away, Eusebia’s urging grew more intense.
“D-Darling. Let’s go back quickly. Please…!”
I pulled the constantly hurrying girl into an embrace. With our bodies pressed so close I could feel her breath, I gently bit her ear and whispered.
“Is there any need to go far? There’s no one watching here.”
Understanding my meaning, her eyes widened. Eusebia glanced around nervously.
“B-But…”
I grabbed her buttocks with both hands.
“Hah…”
Letting out a moan, she buried her face in my chest.
“I believe I made a promise. That whenever I want it, you must accept, regardless of the time or place.”
“I-I’m sorry, Master…”
“I’ll let it slide this one time.”
I led Eusebia into the dense thicket on the outskirts. Soon, her moans echoed through the forest.
#
In just a few months, her husband had died, and her son had followed. Her other son was now on the verge of death.
How did things come to this? Was it her husband’s karma for sacrificing countless vassals for his own greed? Perhaps she was now paying the price for having stood by and watched.
“Oh, Lord… please save my child, save Ailgar.”
Adeleade made the sign of the cross. With her husband and eldest son dead, she could not lose her only remaining son.
That was why she waited in Eusebia’s room. Allen had gained his absolute power because of his position as Eusebia’s future husband.
If she could just persuade Eusebia, she might be able to save Ailgar.
Eusebia didn’t return to her room until late at night. As if she had been rolling in the bushes, leaves clung to her clothes, and her attire and hair were disheveled.
“M-Mother…?”
Startled to find Adeleade waiting in her room, Eusebia hastily straightened her clothes.
“You…”
Adeleade suppressed the urge to scold her. Now was the time to win her daughter’s heart.
“I have something to talk to you about. Come, sit here.”
Eusebia sat down beside her, looking wary.
“…Is this about my brother?”
“No, I was just wondering if you’re getting along well with Sir Allen. You have to get married soon, after all.”
Adeleade hid her true intentions. Her daughter had already given her body and soul to Allen. If she went straight to the point, she wouldn’t get what she wanted.
Only then did Eusebia let out a sigh of relief, her expression brightening.
“I’m happy. I feel like I’m walking on clouds every single day. I’ll be even happier when we’re married, right?”
“I hope so too. But there is one thing that worries me.”
“What? Worries you?”
Adeleade continued in a more cautious tone.
“It is a wife’s duty to please her husband, but the creature known as man is one to quickly grow bored if you simply give in to his every demand.”
This was Adeleade’s roundabout way of telling her to refrain from the perverted acts she had witnessed.
“…!”
Hearing her mother’s peculiar tone, Eusebia realized she was referring to their ‘night work.’
With much to hide, her face instantly turned red. Hadn’t she just been brazenly enjoying herself outdoors? She couldn’t help but twist her legs together.
“But Allen wants me all the time. I can’t imagine him ever getting tired of me.”
“Physical pleasure is not what’s important. It doesn’t last forever. What’s more important is the trust and faith between a husband and wife.”
Adeleade calmly reasoned with her daughter. The Eusebia from before she met Allen would have meekly agreed and accepted it, but…
“Trust and faith are important, just as you say, Mother. But you shouldn’t overlook physical pleasure.”
“You…?”
Just as Adeleade was taken aback by her daughter’s changed demeanor, Eusebia continued.
“When I’m in Allen’s arms, my mind goes blank. It’s like I’m no longer myself. And whenever he devours me like a madman, I’m so happy I could cry. Really, I feel like I’ve been missing out. I wish I had met Allen sooner…”
Eusebia’s confession about her relationship with Allen, delivered with a flushed face and dazed eyes, was that of a maiden who now knew a man.
“…!”
An image of her naked daughter and son-in-law from that day flashed through Adeleade’s mind.
Allen was a powerful male who seemed born to dominate women, something she had never experienced.
What startled her even more was the realization that the woman being dominated in her imagination was not her daughter, but herself.
The moment she recognized this, Adeleade’s mind cleared. In that brief instant, her body had grown hot, and her insides tingled.
“Th-That’s enough! H-How indecent! I did not raise you to be so uncultured…!”
Her face flushed red, Adeleade looked more like an unmarried maiden in her flustered state.
Did that give Eusebia confidence? She took another step forward.
“You are a wise woman, Mother. Wiser than Father. But he constantly ignored you. Perhaps the reason is that you overlooked the importance of ‘night work’.”
“Wh-What…!?”
Aghast, Adeleade stared at her changed daughter in disbelief. Eusebia paid her no mind and laid out her thoughts.
“You always emphasized how important it was to produce an heir. Allen told me something different. He said a married couple is supposed to enjoy each other to the fullest, honestly revealing everything to one another. Children are a natural result of that process.”
“Th-That’s sophistry! Have you forgotten the lessons on marriage you learned from the nun?”
“Hmph, what would someone with no experience possibly know?”
“You, you…!”
As she watched Adeleade point a finger in her shock, a thought suddenly occurred to Eusebia.
She took her mother’s hand in hers, interlaced their fingers, and looked her mother up and down.
“Perhaps, Mother, you don’t know, do you? Just how pleasurable it is to be with the one you love.”
“…!”
Startled, Adeleade shot up from the bed. She spoke defensively, her face colored with bewilderment.
“I-I have given birth to three children…!”
“That’s not an answer to my question, is it?”
As Eusebia stood up to follow, Adeleade began to back away unconsciously.
The sudden shift in their dynamic made Adeleade completely forget her original purpose.
“I-I should be going now. It’s late.”
Adeleade fled the room as if escaping, so quickly that Eusebia had no chance to stop her.
The next day, struck by this unexpected blow, Adeleade changed her approach. She summoned the heads of the influential families that supported the political establishment.
There weren’t many of them. Segerik’s faction had been crushed by Allen’s schemes, and Ailgar’s faction had been all but annihilated in the recent war.
All that remained were the families of the advisors, who had maintained their power despite everyone but Bodin dying. It was a testament to the resilience of families with long histories.
“I need you all to help me. None of you wish to see Eusebia inherit the title of baron, do you?”
In an age where the roles of men and women were clearly defined, no man would welcome a woman sitting above him.
Moreover, she had heard that the advisors had been at odds with Allen during the last battle, greedy for military glory. They, too, must want to push Allen out.
“That is a difficult request to honor.”
“We lack the justification…”
“Sir Allen’s popularity is immense. From the lowly serfs to the young men of our families, everyone reveres him. How could we possibly stand against him?”
But contrary to her expectations, not a single one of them responded favorably. The situation was clearly strange.
“Don’t tell me, have you been promised something?”
“Ahem…”
The representatives from each family subtly averted their gazes. It was as if they had expected her to come to them; Allen’s hand had already reached them.
Adeleade returned empty-handed and tried every possible avenue to save her son, but Allen’s work was faster than she anticipated. The hanging was carried out that very day.
“M-Mother…!”
Ailgar, trembling in fear on the gallows, plummeted the moment the floor dropped out from under him. His neck bone snapped, and his body went limp.
“Aargh-!”
Adeleade fainted and was confined to her bed. However, thanks to the servants who brought her news, she was able to keep track of how the political situation was unfolding.
A succession ceremony was held immediately, and Eusebia inherited the title of baron. In the subsequent rewarding of merits, those who had sided with Allen, including Muel and Dreng, came to the forefront.
“The young lady was like Sir Allen’s puppet, and Sir Allen decided all the family’s affairs as he pleased, as if he himself were the baron.”
The servant’s words were no exaggeration. What was more shocking was that no one took issue with it.
“Is that so…”
Just as a despairing Adeleade listlessly accepted her fate, a secret visitor came to her.
“There’s something you absolutely must know, my lady…!”
Josephine, who had been hiding in her family’s territory, had evaded Muel’s grasp and infiltrated the inner quarters. This was thanks to the help of the men with whom she had shared a bed.
With Segerik having left no heir, she judged that her son could become the baron if only Allen were dealt with, and so she revealed the truth.
“You’re saying all of this was Sir Allen’s conspiracy!?”
Only then did Adeleade realize that the entire family had been dancing in the palm of Allen’s hand.
Fear crept over her at the thought of such a dark and grand conspiracy, but she overcame it. She had to avenge her dead husband and sons.
“Sir Enoch. Please deliver this letter to my father. We must move as quickly as possible.”
She dispatched a knight who had served her since her days in the Dresden family to request aid from the Count.
“I will obey your command!”
Adeleade couldn’t bring herself to leave the city gate until Enoch was but a dot in the distance. It was late at night when she finally returned to the inner castle.
“Did you send your message to the Count safely?”
Allen was waiting for her at the gate, as if he knew everything she had been doing.
“D-Don’t tell me…?”
She knew it instinctively. She was still unable to escape the palm of Allen’s hand. And the palm of his hand was far larger than she had ever imagined.