Langdal Territory (1)

“It’s not a large sum for a lord like yourself, is it?” Jobuit said with a sly smile, crossing his legs while seated. The young man already knew nothing but wickedness; his future looked bright indeed. Lady Langdal stood beside him with her arms folded, smiling as she waited for my reply. The hem of her long dress had ridden up to her thighs, giving her a vulgar appearance, yet she paid it no mind. In any case, I realized their true purpose was money. All their earlier complaints about the impropriety of bringing troops into the heart of the territory had merely been groundwork to extract payment. What they truly wanted was coin.

The two of them, blinded by greed, stared at me intently, awaiting my answer. Depending on what I said, the smiles on their faces would either widen or vanish. After a brief silence, I finally spoke.

When we emerged from the castle once more, the moon hung high and bright. The guards at the gate stepped aside, and their captain gestured for us to enter. Paying twenty thousand veni just to enter the castle stung, but I wanted to cure Ebony’s worsening cold and give my companions a comfortable place to rest. In truth, twenty thousand veni was a trivial amount compared to my entire fortune. If it meant protecting everyone’s health, I would have paid a hundred thousand without hesitation.

“If you go this way, you’ll find an inn at the crossroads.”

I led the group to the inn. The building was old, and only a handful of guests sat inside. The plump innkeeper’s eyes lit up at the sight of such a large party, and she beamed.

“Finally, I’ll get to sleep while groping my own chest tonight!”

The moment Flavio parked the wagon in the stable, he dashed off toward the brothel with an excited expression. His lodging for the night was clearly there. Thanks to him, we saved one person’s accommodation fee. Ristane’s three squires decided to sleep in the stable to guard the wagon and cart. I specially requested the innkeeper to bring them warm soup, mutton, and enough ale to warm their bodies. For the others, I secured rooms by family unit: Dana and I, Mateus and Margaret, Irene and her two maids, Marcus and the slave girl, and so on. Fortunately, the inn had plenty of rooms left.

I decided to spend money freely and enjoy everything the inn had to offer. After paying twenty thousand veni earlier, I had grown numb to spending. At the same time, I wanted to provide my companions with the utmost comfort after their hardships over the past ten days. I also told Haida and Ebony to rest without serving anyone tonight.

“I’ve brought the bath tub! May I come in?”

A bath tub reserved for wealthy guests was carried into each room and filled with warm water. Two servants struggled to bring one into the room Dana and I were sharing. It was large enough for a man and woman to sit in together. Once it was filled with hot water, the servants bowed politely and left, closing the door behind them.

“Let’s bathe together.”

“Yes. I’d like that.”

Dana and I stripped off our clothes at once and stepped naked into the tub. Amid the steam rising from the water, we shared deep love and washed away some of the fatigue from our journey.

Afterward, we changed into fresh clothes and went down to the hall on the first floor, where everyone was already seated at the tables with refreshed faces. Having washed away the grime and exhaustion, smiles never left their lips, and they looked like a gathering of handsome men and beautiful women. While we conversed pleasantly around several tables pushed together, the food was soon ready. Roasted meat dishes were brought from the kitchen, and the hall filled with even more cheerful laughter.

As the inn grew lively because of us, a minstrel drawn by the noise also appeared. He had a youthful, refined face and sang to the sweet melody of his harp, collecting the coins we tossed into his hat one by one.

While we were enjoying this peaceful evening, a man in his late thirties with a shabby appearance and a thick beard suddenly opened the door and stepped inside. A waitress hurried over to turn him away.

“My lord, I’m sorry. As you can see, we have a large party of guests, so there are no seats left for dining, and the rooms are full.”

The man raised his palm to indicate it was fine, then scanned the room as if searching for someone. When his eyes landed on me seated in the center, he stopped. Then he strode straight toward me, as though he had something to say.

Whispers spread, and everyone’s attention turned to the man.

“What is your business?” Mateus rose and blocked his path.

The man, a head shorter than the tall Mateus, halted and looked past him at me. His eyes signaled that he meant no harm and asked to be let through. I studied his appearance carefully for a moment. A thief’s eyes cannot lie, and I had particularly sharp vision for such things. Seeing his face, a smile naturally formed on my lips.

“It’s all right, Mateus. Let him through.”

“Understood.”

The tense atmosphere in the inn vanished at once. Mateus stepped aside, and the man resumed walking. When he finally stood before me, he met my gaze and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠offered a gentle smile.

“The Langdal family’s elegantly handsome nose is enviable.”

Jobuit’s nose and this man’s nose were identical, so I had guessed they belonged to the same family.

“I apologize for barging in so suddenly. If I may ask, are you Lord Richard, the newly appointed lord of Lanchester?”

“I am. What brings you here? Does Lord Jobuit seek me?”

“……”

The man remained silent, as though finding it difficult to answer, and simply stared at me. His eyes, like those of a deer, seemed filled with deep anguish.

“…I was not sent by Lord Jobuit. I came alone. I wish to speak with you privately.”

“Right now?”

“Yes. It must be now.”

I absentmindedly looked at Dana seated beside me and scratched the back of my head. I had been pleasantly tipsy, but somehow I had a feeling this would turn into a troublesome matter.

“Very well.”

I might as well hear what he had to say. Rising from my seat, I moved with the man to a private room.

“Now, speak. What brings you here? Or rather, tell me your name first. Which member of the Langdal family are you?”

The man sat across from me with the table between us and took a pendant from his jacket pocket, placing it on the table.

“I am Luzen Langdal, uncle to the current lord, Jobuit.”

I glanced at the pendant on the table. The silver pendant, smaller than a fist, bore the Langdal family crest: the face of a wolf.

“What brings you here, Uncle?”

Luzen suddenly furrowed his brow and pleaded as if begging.

“Please, help me.”

It was an abrupt request. I refused flatly.

“I am in no position to help anyone right now. Ask Lord Jobuit instead.”

“Jobuit will not do!”

Luzen suddenly stood, pushed his chair aside, and dropped to one knee without warning. I stared ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at him with wide eyes.

“What are you doing?”

“I beg you! The Langdal family is not in its right state! Because of that woman who violated the natural order and her monstrous child, we have incurred divine wrath and are steadily declining!”

“I don’t understand what you mean. My companions and I have only just arrived in Starwatch, the heart of Langdal. I have no desire to become entangled in unnecessary affairs.”

I spoke sternly to urge him to calm down. Fortunately, he seemed to understand and continued in a somewhat composed tone.

“It is a shameful matter for the family, but I will speak plainly. Lady Langdal and Lord Jobuit, mother and son, committed the heinous act of incest. When my elder brother, the previous lord, discovered the truth, he was poisoned by those monsters and met an unjust death a year ago. How could I remain sane after that? It is enough to drive one mad.”

I frowned.

“An astonishing tale.”

I had roughly guessed as much when I met Jobuit earlier, but it really was incest.

“Please, join me in taking revenge. We must drive those ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠filthy creatures from this sacred land!”

I spoke sharply to the man bowing his head.

“Why should I help you? Expelling the mother and son who committed such depravity would only benefit you in the end. The position of next lord would naturally fall to you.”

“M-My lord!”

Luzen’s face showed clear panic at my direct hit. But he quickly composed himself and corrected his expression.

“Your suspicion is justified, my lord. We met for the first time today and know nothing about each other. No matter what I say, you would not believe me. That is why I did not come empty-handed.”

Luzen hurriedly searched his inner pocket and pulled out a rolled-up piece of paper, offering it to me.

“This should be enough to convince you.”

“What is it?”

“Please, open it. It is a proposal you will find most satisfactory. I have offered everything for the sake of revenge.”

After glancing at his eyes, I unfolded the paper. It was a vassalage contract. Langdal would become a vassal territory under the rule of the Lord of Lanchester, pledging to provide troops in times of need and pay regular taxes, and as a sign of faithful adherence to this contract for a thousand years, Luzen Langdal offered his only son, Tristan Langdal, as a squire to the Lord of Lanchester. The final line bore Luzen’s signature in blood. Below it was space for my own signature.

“In truth, I wrote this contract without knowing what kind of person Lord Richard was, simply waiting for the new Lord of Lanchester to arrive. A few hours ago, when I heard from my subordinate that the new lord had appeared in Lanchester, I rushed here with hope in my heart.”

I tapped the table with my fingers, lost in thought.

“A bold proposal. You won’t regret signing this contract as it stands?”

“How furious must one be to go this far! Sob!”