Chapter 280
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Escalating Unrest and Final Negotiations
-Boom!
"...Hm."
"...Hmph."
"...It's getting noisier by the day, and now they're straight-up launching explosions at us?"
"No kidding... I didn't see this coming either."
"Neither did I. No matter how upset they get, I never imagined they'd fire fireballs at the buildings... Pfft..."
What can I say.
It was utterly ridiculous.
I'd known the residents of Rose Territory were pretty pissed off lately.
Their way of showing it was just getting more and more extreme.
"If this keeps up, they might actually start attacking us directly, right? Like, stabbing us in the back with a knife while we're walking down the street?"
"Uh... even so, they wouldn't go that far...? They'd be executed on the spot if they got caught."
That's true enough.
Just committing violence against a noble is a serious crime.
For a commoner to murder one?
They'd be dead for sure.
No way they could avoid execution.
"Still, it's starting to worry me. Their actions are getting more violent— what if some territory resident ends up hurt?"
"You worried?"
"If I had to put it that way, yeah, 'worried' fits. On one hand, I don't really care that much... but it's a territory we'll eventually claim. Shouldn't we treat it preciously?"
It wasn't out of any humanitarian concern.
I wasn't that noble of a person.
If anything, I was pretty bad to unrelated people and awfully nice to those connected to me?
"Yeah, that makes sense. At least they're not using that kind of magic on the guest buildings yet. That's something to be grateful for."
"Oh, definitely grateful for that. Mother's there, Lize is there, Teacher Ashley's there—it's a huge relief they haven't touched that place."
"And Camellia's there too, right?"
"Pfft, yeah, that too."
In fact, the Rose Territory residents weren't touching the guest buildings at all.
I didn't know the exact reason, but it didn't matter.
The fact that they weren't harming me was enough for me to give them points.
When it comes to managing the territory later... I could go pretty easy on them.
"Hmm... Mother, do you know how many gold coins I'm negotiating with Rose for right now?"
"More or less."
"What I mentioned yesterday—two thousand gold."
"...Two thousand?"
"Yes."
Two thousand gold.
An insane amount from a commoner's perspective, but from a noble's?
When I first bought a mana horse... I think it cost about that much.
Two mana horses plus an expensive carriage, all for two thousand gold.
And here I was, negotiating to buy a count family territory and the count family itself for two thousand gold.
Well, it started at five thousand.
Five thousand would buy a decent villa in the capital...?
But they turned that down first.
"Uh, well... Camellia must have her reasons, right?"
"Of course? When have I ever done anything without thinking?"
"You did plenty of reckless stuff when you were little."
"That's then and this is now."
Unlike my expectations, Rozalin wasn't scolding me.
I'd figured she'd chew me out and lecture me the moment I mentioned the price.
But she took it surprisingly well?
"Camellia's got everything under control. She's already talked it over, so no need to worry."
"Really...?"
"Of course. What kind of mother wouldn't trust her own daughter?"
"Ooh..."
"I'll just trust Camellia and wait patiently."
"Pfft... guess I really need to step it up."
I'd have to hustle if I didn't want to disappoint.
I was already pushing things along, and I'd solved about half the issues...
But hearing Rozalin now sealed it.
Time to really accelerate.
"Oh, Mother. Any color preference? Like that black one you mentioned before?"
"Hm? Oh, yeah, I like black. Camellia loves seeing me in black dresses, right?"
"Just curious."
Might as well handle some other business on the side?
*
The slightly worn luxury mansion on the hilltop was in utter chaos.
Compared to the relatively small building next door, the main mansion was buzzing with frantic activity and noise.
"Hmm..."
And maybe because my plan was working better than expected?
Some pretty scary rumors were circulating inside Rose Territory lately.
Not quite a full rebellion... but whispers of protests brewing.
The residents who'd been holding back and staying quiet until now.
But the stories coming out of the territory lately were all far from normal.
Women's screams echoing every night, rumors that the ruling Rose Family was selling off the livestock, and even talk that their seemingly useless knight order actually had strength on par with ours...
Something like that.
"Lately, they look totally worn out every time they come to negotiate. Wonder if today's different?"
With a touch of anticipation, I stood in front of the mansion.
I could've just waltzed in— no issue there— but nobles have their etiquette.
"Hel-lo~"
I called out playfully and knocked with a few polite raps.
No sound from inside.
They must be swamped.
Shrugging it off, I opened the door.
"The Count said not to drag that on the floor!"
"Fucking annoying— who gives a shit!?"
"If you do it like that, I'll get chewed out later!"
"Who gives a shit!"
"...?"
"Are the curtains on the windows all done?"
""Yes, sir!!!"
"Then on to the next task! Destination: second floor, sorting the books in the study!"
"...?"
The moment I stepped inside, it was even noisier than usual.
They'd never paid me much attention before.
But today, they genuinely seemed slammed.
The maids in their uniforms, the servants in crisp suits... everyone racing around the mansion like their feet were on fire.
"Hm."
Whatever.
I strode through the lobby, down the hall, up the stairs, and into the conference room in the Rose Mansion.
Why?
Obvious.
"Hurry up and fetch your masters. I'm tired of waiting."
"Y-Yes!"
"Quick on the uptake."
Short exchange as I propped my feet on the table.
Honestly, in this situation, I didn't see the need to show 100% courtesy.
The fact that I'd bothered with any so far was the real surprise.
Not because of any decision from chats with Rozalin or Lize to wrap it up ASAP— it was just the perfect time to close.
Legs up on the table, I waited in the chair.
If I'd been wearing a skirt, it might've flashed my panties...
"Hm."
Maybe because I'd lived a man's life before, but pants were still comfier. Couldn't deny it.
Even though I'd adapted to skirts and wore them plenty?
"Pfft."
Anyway, not the time to worry about that. Focus on the important stuff.
I cleared the random thoughts from my head.
"What's going on here?"
"Oh my. The viscount's here? I thought it would be Aunt coming, not you."
"...So, what's the deal. Christina's handling business right now."
"Hm..."
Who entered the conference room wasn't Christina, but the Rose Count.
His hair was fully white now, giving him a true old-man look.
Of course, that didn't make me feel any fondness for him.
He was Rozalin's biological father, sure, but given what he'd done to her, I had zero desire for any bond.
"Whatever."
"Hm?"
"Have a seat."
Didn't matter much.
He was still a tool for my business.
If anything... a stronger tool than Christina.
She handled the actions, but the Rose Count title still belonged to the old man in front of me.
Meaning he made the real family decisions.
So...
"I've heard the mood in the territory is pretty bad lately?"
"...It is."
Honest admission.
Hm.
Anyway, I pressed on.
"Seems like the territory's been mismanaged for years? Decades, even. Lots of stuff they've been hiding, too?"
"......"
"And that's got the residents real mad. Like, fu-ri-ous."
"What are you getting at?"
"Just here to help."
"So this is the nonsense Christina's always yapping about."
"Hmm... 'Nonsense' is a bit harsh when I'm offering the easiest way to fix your current mess."
I felt a little wronged.
Handing the family over to me was, objectively, the surest fix.
They'd been trying to develop the territory for over ten years and ended up like this— should they keep running the family and territory?
Common sense said no.
Sure, my sabotage played a part.
But even without it, nothing would've changed.
"Honestly, Count, doesn't managing the territory wear you out? And all that kowtowing to other nobles... isn't it a hassle?"
I was just offering a tiny nudge.
Things they might've thought about or even tried— just a little push.
Of course, there might be a cliff, flames, or gun barrels ahead where I pushed them?
"Want to hear my pitch?"
That wasn't my problem.