Chapter 663
Chapter 663
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 663
Chapter Title: Reborn as the Plum Blossom Sword Master in a Count's Family
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The king of the Rapelli Kingdom had passed away.
Unlike with Count Hisfield, there was no conspiracy surrounding the Rapelli king's death. The count and the king were worlds apart in status to begin with. The king's passing would naturally prompt all sorts of investigations, and the results confirmed that he had died of old age.
The real issue was that the Rapelli king had gone to his grave without naming a successor.
By all rights, the throne should go to the eldest son, Prince Aiden. But everyone knew Aiden was a wastrel. If he were even remotely competent, things might be different—but he was utterly useless. Duke Helbritt had planned to prop him up as a puppet king, but the Helbritt family had been wiped out by Yuria's hand.
Still, Aiden had his supporters. He was the firstborn, after all, and for ambitious nobles, having him on the throne meant more opportunities for themselves.
Not every noble was out for personal gain, though. Sane ones backed Princess Aileen. She had flawlessly handled the duties of prime minister at a young age, proving her brilliance. The nobles praised her, saying that if she became queen, the Rapelli Kingdom would enjoy a golden age for the next fifty years.
'Right now, the Rapelli Kingdom has no regent, and no major war is underway.'
That left the decision to the nobles. They just had to pick one of the two direct royals—Aiden or Aileen—and install them on the throne. But opinions were split.
'This is different from the original story. Aiden had the edge there because the Helbritt Duke backed him.'
Even so, Aileen ended up queen in the end. That was because Kyle, the original story's protagonist, chose her.
"Yuria. What about the king's funeral? How's it being handled?"
"It looks like it'll be in two weeks, following tradition."
"Even in the middle of a war? Those stubborn old fogeys... Heh."
The Rapelli king's funeral was famous. They cast anti-decay magic on the coffin holding his body, paraded it around the entire kingdom under heavy guard, and only then cremated it.
Even with war breaking out, they were pushing through with the funeral. Part of it was that the conflict was small-scale and confined to the border regions, but politics was likely the bigger factor.
"Yuria. We need to attend the funeral. Tell Floyd to get ready. We'll need black attire."
"Understood. I'll make the arrangements."
Not every noble had to attend the king's funeral. The procession would tour every corner of the kingdom anyway, so in a sense, they were forced to participate.
'But starting out in the funeral procession from the get-go is another matter.'
Anyone gunning for central power in the Rapelli Kingdom would join the procession. It lasted about a hundred days, giving them ample time to cozy up to the next king and make their impressions.
'With Aiden's biggest backer, Duke Helbritt, gone, if I do nothing and let things slide, the nobles will crown Aileen queen by the funeral's end. I need to join in and keep her in check.'
Of course, this wouldn't make Aiden king. My goal here was just to restrain Princess Aileen.
???
The first day of the funeral was overcast. No rain fell, but gray storm clouds had blanketed the sky since dawn.
The capital's citizens, required to wear dark clothes during the state funeral, whispered that even the heavens mourned the king's death.
To the common folk, the late Rapelli king had been a saintly ruler. No major wars had erupted during his reign, nor any great natural disasters.
'He wasn't incompetent, but he wasn't brilliant either.'
If he had been capable, he would have named Aileen his heir while still alive. If he had been hopeless, Aiden would already be king.
I brought Yuria along to Prince Aiden's chambers. He sat in a chair, jittering his leg anxiously.
"Baron Prukus! Why'd you take so long to come?! You get to the capital, and you don't visit me first?!"
"Quiet."
My curt reply made him flinch and clamp his mouth shut, glancing at me warily. He knew I'd wiped out the Helbritt family overnight. And he knew he couldn't become king without me.
I sat across from him and stayed silent. He couldn't bring himself to speak.
"Did the king leave no will?"
"A will... He did. But it was all trivial nonsense. Not a word about the throne succession! Damn it! I'm the eldest son, but Father always favored Aileen. Right up to his last breath!"
"Calm down. Aileen isn't queen yet."
"This isn't the time to calm down! Do you know how many nobles follow that wench? Over thirty, from what I hear! And Duke Senhaiz publicly endorsed her!"
The great noble of the south. Duke Senhaiz. Among the capital's nobles, he wielded the most power.
"If this keeps up, she might snag the throne once the funeral ends!"
"That won't happen, so relax. Or do my words not carry weight?"
Gulp.
Aiden swallowed dryly.
"S-sorry, Baron. I'm just so on edge... I didn't mean to offend you."
"It's fine, Your Highness."
"Still, Baron... Aileen is dangerous. That cunning bitch is probably plotting to shove me aside. Why not take her out right now? You could do it, right?"
"Your Highness. Seizing the throne doesn't make the royal authority real. Without noble support, it's a meaningless seat. If Aileen dies, who do you think her backers will suspect?"
"If we kill them all too..."
"Do you want a kingdom in ruins? Everything has its time. Wait."
Even Yuria alone couldn't slaughter them all. She was powerful, but the kingdom had a handful of master-level experts.
"Just wait? Nothing for me to do?"
Aiden said. With the king dead and the throne vacant, he was itching for action. His own father had died, yet he showed no grief.
"Just don't cause any trouble during the funeral. Got it?"
"...Understood, Baron."
I stood up. I'd come only to warn him against making waves.
???
Crowds lined up before the royal palace. At the front rode royal knights in full armor, forming ranks. Behind them stretched a line of ornate carriages. The one bearing the king's body led the way, followed by Prince Aiden's carriage, Princess Rapelli's—no, Princess Aileen's—then the other nobles'.
Over a hundred nobles had joined the procession, along with more than three thousand armed soldiers and knights. Including servants, the total neared five thousand.
Before departure, I ran into Princess Aileen.
Her radiant golden hair and sapphire-blue eyes. Porcelain skin and refined features. Even in a black dress, her figure exuded elegance. She was so stunning, you could believe she was a statue come to life.
"Baron Prukus. You've joined us too, I see. I heard you arrived in the capital last night... And yet this is the first I'm seeing you."
I glanced around her. Nobles surrounded her—not just one or two. Over half were nobodies, but a few were ones even I couldn't ignore. They all eyed me with disdain.
"My apologies, Your Highness. It was too late last night, and too early today. This is the first chance I've had to pay my respects."
"I see. Did you have a good talk with Brother Aiden?"
She knew I'd met Aiden this morning. No surprise. The palace was her domain, crawling with her hands, eyes, and ears.
"Yes, we did. His Highness seemed to be in great sorrow."
"I heard he was calling for drinks last night..."
"He's drowning his grief in alcohol. It's a shame so many misunderstand him."
"......"
The mood turned icy. Even I knew it was nonsense. Aiden was a perpetual drunkard. If he truly grieved his father's death, he'd swear off booze—not the other way around.
I knew that, but I wouldn't take his liquor away. A drunk without his drink would cause havoc. Better he stay quiet and boozed up.
"Baron Prukus. I know you're busy with border matters and family affairs. Is it really okay for you to come like this?"
She meant the succession struggle.
"Thank you for your concern, but it's fine. My father is staunchly defending the kingdom's east. Protecting the realm matters, but so does honoring His late Majesty. Your Highness, on behalf of my father who couldn't attend, I apologize."
"No need. Everyone here knows the border count is risking his life to guard the east."
"Ah, looks like we're about to depart. I'll take my leave. But..."
I straightened up and approached the princess. The nobles around her gasped. A mere baron daring to stand level with her clearly irked them. But Aileen didn't so much as twitch an eyebrow.
"Do you have something to say to me, Baron?"
"Not to you, Your Highness. To others."
I veered toward one nobleman—a rat-faced one.
"Baron Bar Marmar."
"Wh-what is it, Baron Prukus?"
"Why are you here? Is the item I ordered safe?"
"Ordered? What item..."
"Haha. Memory fading, eh? The one from two years ago."
"What are you on about? We haven't even met today."
"Sigh..."
I let out a heavy breath. This guy had no tact. Couldn't trust him with anything important.
"This concerns the now-absent Duke Helbritt. Must I spell it out?"
"Uh, uh. Er..."
Baron Bar Marmar gaped dumbly, trembling.
He was one of Duke Helbritt's dogs. His main gig? Smuggling war supplies on the duke's orders.
"Baron Bar Marmar. Why are you here? Let's talk."
"A-alright."
"Alright?"
"...Understood."
Baron Bar Marmar bowed in despair. He shot a glance at Princess Aileen. She didn't stop me—just watched intently.
I called out the others one by one.
"Baron Leitanol. Don't we have business?"
"Y-yes, we do."
"Viscount Barkas. We need to discuss your daughter."
"Wh-what are you talking about? I have no daughter!"
Viscount Barkas startled and scurried behind me. He had an illegitimate child—a daughter he doted on more than his legitimate son.
"Viscount Yasprin. What about the money you borrowed?"
"Th-the money's invested. Plenty of time left before repayment!"
"Just checking. Planning to stay there?"
Viscount Yasprin glanced between me and Aileen, then bowed and joined me.
He knew which side his bread was buttered on. Backing the capable princess would pay off later. He'd invested half the money I loaned him in her, the other half in troops. But he was the debtor, I the creditor. To extend terms, he had to grovel—or face bankruptcy.
I turned. Six nobles now trailed me, heads bowed, not daring to look up.
The atmosphere had shifted. The nobles who'd sneered now eyed me warily, like they would a great noble. Aileen, robbed of supporters, regarded me coolly.
"Your Highness. Now I'll truly take my leave. It's cold—please take care of yourself."
"...Yes. You too, Baron."
I bowed and headed to my carriage. Burning stares bored into my back. My faction had just been born here. No great noble would dare dismiss me lightly now.