Chapter 94: The Two Counts
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 94: The Two Counts
Nobles are all greedy thugs. If they want something, they'll fabricate any pretext to get it.
In fact, that's the more civilized approach. Most don't even bother with pretexts. All that matters to them is whether they have the power to make it happen.
Trying to understand medieval nobles with the morals and ideas of a modern person was a surefire way to get stabbed.
Meaning, it was no surprise that Count Broua was being excessively greedy. I had a plan for this kind of situation.
“Form an alliance and strike Broua? Why should I trust you?”
The problem was that I was Adeleade’s mortal enemy.
Siding with Dresden was more difficult than persuading Count Broua, a complete stranger.
Dong. Dong. Dong.
The church bell rang. Being inside the church, the sound was loud enough to make my body tremble. We had borrowed the church’s chapel for a secret conversation.
“Are you aware that the former Baron Rasino arranged a marriage proposal between his daughter and Count Broua?”
Erik, who had been gazing at the halo of light filtered through the stained glass and the holy statues on the wall, snapped his head toward me.
“What are you talking about?”
It seemed this fact had been omitted from Adeleade’s letter.
Then again, she was in a position of asking for Dresden’s help, so she couldn't very well reveal an act that was tantamount to betrayal.
“The former Baron Rasino intended to swallow the Barony of Debussy, and to that end, he bribed the surrounding nobles. However, there was one noble who couldn't be persuaded with bribes: Count Broua, who was close friends with Baron Debussy. To overcome this obstacle, the former Baron Rasino decided to switch horses. His daughter was the price.”
“So that was the reason for the bribes…”
Erik clicked his tongue. His reaction was more subdued than I expected, even though he must have realized his sister had deliberately omitted the news of the baron’s betrayal.
But this was also typical of Erik. The reason he was trusted more than the eldest son was his cold personality, a mirror image of Count Dresden’s.
‘The Dresdens. Those with ice in their veins.’
One couldn't expect familial affection or warmth from those who bore the Dresden name.
Hadn't Adeleade, who inherited that blood, also covered up the fact that the second son had killed the eldest for the sake of the family, and worked to ensure the second son inherited the title?
Though, perhaps due to her maternal love, she was far more human than Erik.
Erik was exactly as I remembered him. If so, he would never be able to refuse my proposal.
“In other words, from Dresden’s perspective, the former Baron Rasino is a traitor. Therefore, by eliminating the traitor and his bloodline, I have simply done what Dresden should have done.”
“You spin a fine tale. In reality, it was for your own greed.”
“Regardless, that is the result, is it not?”
Erik shook his head.
“Even so, the fact remains that you seized a Dresden vassal family. That is an act of hostility toward Dresden.”
“That is a matter that can be resolved if I swear fealty to you, my lord Count. This is an opportunity for you to gain a more powerful vassal. Please consider what would be more beneficial to your house.”
The Count would not be able to refuse a powerful vassal who controlled both Rasino and Debussy coming under his command.
After all, it was in his nature to overlook grudges if it benefited the family.
“The problem is that you cannot be trusted, is it not? You are a usurper who betrayed his lord and took what was his. There is no guarantee you would not do the same to us, the Dresdens.”
This was why pretexts were so important. Once you were viewed with suspicion by the neighboring nobles, it became difficult to gain their cooperation, no matter what you did.
Fortunately, I had a solution. It was something I had considered ever since allowing Adeleade to contact Dresden.
“I will marry Lady Adeleade.”
“…Weren’t you in love with your niece?”
“It was merely out of necessity.”
It was an answer that would have disgusted a typical family.
But Erik seemed quite satisfied. He, too, would have made the same choice in my position. How very Dresden of him, should I say?
Furthermore, by the standards of this era, this was a proposal in which I was conceding a great deal. It was as if I were bowing my head and coming to him in submission. And for good reason…
“My sister is old. She may not be able to produce an heir.”
Adeleade was at an age where her ability to bear children was questionable. In the marriage of a noble who needed to continue the family line, this was a tremendous problem.
“What’s important is that we become one family, is it not?”
“…Frankly, I’m not confident that the bonds of family will be enough to control you. Your actions thus far have been far too ambitious.”
“What must I do to earn your trust?”
After a long pause, he tried to test me with an unreasonable condition.
“If you truly wish to prove your loyalty, surrender your fishing rights.”
“Take them, by all means.”
Erik couldn't hide his surprise. It was the first time he had shown such a clear change in expression.
Indeed, how many conflicts had they endured with Quaran over those fishing rights? They were on the brink of war.
For such a problem to be resolved so easily? In fact, it was so easy that he seemed to be suspicious of my intentions.
“…Are you serious?”
“In exchange, I will take the County of Broua.”
Besides, Eleanor had once said she would give up something like fishing rights for the sake of peace.
Moreover, an alliance with Dresden would make it difficult to expand toward the sea. I would never be able to surpass Dresden, which possessed a grand fleet. That left me with no choice but to expand my power on land.
Erik frowned.
“Your greed is excessive.”
“It is land that Dresden cannot take anyway. The justification belongs to the king.”
Count Broua had put this justification on the scales too lightly, but he would surely regret it when the tip of a sword was at his own throat.
Blinded by greed, he had forgotten what was truly important.
“Then you would have no choice but to become the king’s vassal, would you not?”
“It is rare, but there are cases of a single vassal serving two lords, are there not?”
This sometimes led to the ridiculous spectacle of the vassal completing his term of service for one side and then continuing the battle on the other when his two lords went to war.
“Would the king permit it?”
Considering the relationship between Dresden and the royal family, Erik was saying the king would not allow it. But his own stance as a Dresden was missing from that statement. He was implicitly saying he would accept my proposal.
“He will permit it.”
In this era, marriage was not a choice. The only exception was dedicating oneself to God.
Therefore, Bronx II would not be able to refuse me, the only one who could be with his sister.
Still, his pride would compel him to pressure me to cast Adeleade aside, but that was a problem that would be solved once I expanded my power.
“Hmm…”
Erik seemed hesitant. I knew what he was worried about.
“Are you worried that I am too close to the royal family?”
“I cannot say that I am not. If you were to change your mind, would Dresden not be in an encircled position?”
“Even so, my power would not match Dresden’s, especially since I have even surrendered the fishing rights.”
“Another problem is that Dresden gains nothing from this.”
“Why would there be nothing? This is a chance to deal with Broua, with whom you have had a bad relationship for generations. Furthermore, with the threat to your rear eliminated, you will be able to focus on the distant seas and the continent beyond.”
Erik flinched and looked back at me. His eyes were trembling slightly.
“Did Adeleade tell you?”
“Are you referring to Dresden’s interest in the throne of the Northern Continent?”
I spoke with the nuance that Adeleade had told me. In truth, it was something I had learned through a future that would no longer come to pass.
The Dresdens had inherited the blood of a former dynasty from the Northern Continent. Tracing that bloodline back led to the current royal family of the Northern Continent.
The long-cherished ambition of House Dresden was to reclaim a throne. It didn't matter which continent's throne it was.
And the Northern Continent was currently in a state of extreme chaos. This was House Dresden’s chance to fulfill its ambition.
“Then you must also know that we cannot commit our full strength.”
“Your help alone will be enough.”
Erik looked incredulous. Though not as powerful as Dresden, wasn't Count Broua a formidable figure, on a completely different level from mere barons?
But as my explanation continued, he had no choice but to concede.
“This is not a matter I can decide.”
Erik seemed swayed by my proposal, but he deferred the decision and left the chapel first.
But I wasn't worried. Count Dresden would not ignore the opinion of his second son, whom he trusted more than his eldest.
Moreover, was this not beneficial to House Dresden?
‘The future has changed.’
House Dresden would no longer collapse in vain due to Eleanor’s ability.
I had intended to bring down House Dresden to follow the original history, but I had to change my plans because of Count Broua’s excessive greed.
But the opportunity was not completely lost.
‘Greed is always the problem.’
Dresden would think the chaos on the Northern Continent was their chance to reclaim the throne, but someone else would be the one to see the light amidst that chaos.
After all, on the Northern Continent, there was a named character who was a must-recruit when playing as the Hero.
Erik was also a named character skilled in both literary and martial arts, but he would not be a match for the named character of the Northern Continent. That was a fact proven in the future that would no longer come to pass.
In the end, this affair would diminish Dresden’s strength, and if I aimed for that opening, I could revive the opportunity I had missed this time.
‘Right. The plan hasn't failed. It will just take a little more time.’
#
The jousting tournament was held in the field in front of the city. Laborers had flattened the ground into a rectangle and built spectator stands by joining wooden planks along the side.
In the spot with the best view sat Count Broua and his family, surrounded by his key ministers. The remaining seats were occupied by the city’s influential figures.
The insignificant townspeople and serfs had to stand and watch. Still, there was a boisterous, festive atmosphere.
“I hope my performance today will help the Count with his decision.”
“Look who’s talking. The victor will be I, Erik. And in doing so, I will help the Count make a wise choice.”
Allen and Erik engaged in a war of nerves before Count Broua. It was as if sparks flew where their gazes met.
“Hahaha. Do your best, both of you.”
Count Broua stroked his beard, looking immensely pleased.
One was the second son of Dresden, whose family had a generations-long feud with his own, and the other was a rising knight who had recently made a name for himself.
He felt a sense of superiority as these two men bowed and scraped, seeking to borrow his strength. This feeling grew as they displayed their skills.
“Keuk—!”
Another knight was unhorsed and exited with the help of his squire.
He had intended to defeat Allen to win fame, a ransom, and his equipment, as well as to catch the eye of a noble and his daughter, but in the end, he was defeated without even using up his three allotted chances.
The only consolation was that he was neither the first nor the last knight to meet such an end.
As Erik also continued to rack up victories as if in competition, the atmosphere of the jousting tournament heated up.
The problem was that both men fought far too well.
“Hmm… At this rate, this will turn into someone else’s party.”
This was a jousting tournament held in Count Broua’s own backyard. Many of the knights under his command and the prospective knights of his house had participated.
Yet none of them were a match for Allen and Erik.
The Count’s honor had been dragged through the mud. His sense of superiority melted away like snow, replaced by displeasure.
Eventually, the worst-case scenario came to pass. Allen and Erik had reached the final match.
Count Broua forced a smile as he rose from his seat.
“Fight! Only the one who fights and wins shall obtain what he desires!”
A trumpet blast announced the start of the match. At opposite ends of the field, Allen and Erik looked at each other and gave a slight nod.
Allen handed his ash wood lance to a tournament assistant.
“Hold this.”
“Sir…? But the starting trumpet has already sounded…”
Ignoring the assistant’s confusion, he pulled a long cloth from his tunic and tied it to the lance’s shaft. As all eyes focused on the knight’s strange behavior just before the final match,
Allen raised the lance like a flagpole, allowing everyone to see the emblem embroidered on the cloth.
“Whoa, isn’t that the king’s emblem?”
It was Eleanor’s banner, which lacked the crown, but most people didn't know the difference.
Meeting Erik’s gaze again, Allen spurred his horse. The horse, taking the signal, kicked off the ground. Erik charged to match him.
The two horses were headed toward the spectator stands where Count Broua was seated.
“Wh-what is this—!”
Count Broua, who had been staring blankly at Allen’s strange behavior, finally snapped to his senses and shot to his feet only when the two knights were nearly upon him.
At the two knights’ menacing approach, the guards who had been standing back hurriedly surrounded him.
But Allen’s horse, leading the charge, leaped over not only the railing but also the guards protecting Count Broua in a single bound.
It was then that Allen’s eyes locked onto Count Broua’s horrified face. Allen did not miss the opening and thrust his lance.