Two Titles, You See - 4
The succession ceremony was set to take place in the Great Hall. As the castle's main room, the Great Hall already possessed a grandeur of size and splendor more than sufficient for the occasion.
Moreover, its spaciousness left ample room for banquet tables. That meant the moment the ceremony ended, the celebratory feast could begin without delay. And a feast, of course, was no minor affair.
"I suppose I shall have to call you 'Baron' now, rather than 'Young Master.'"
"Don't say it like you're sad about it. Becoming a baron doesn't make me a different person."
Sipping the champagne a maid had handed me, I cast a glance around the Great Hall and spotted Erich deep in a warm conversation with our nanny.
Right up until we arrived at the territory he had been radiating gloom from every pore. Now, having finally accepted that there was no turning back, he wore a calm expression. Or perhaps simply seeing the nanny again had lifted his spirits.
"To my eyes you look like an entirely different person. It feels as though it was only yesterday that you were chasing the knights around with a stick, and now here you are becoming a titled noble."
"Come on, how far back are you reaching?"
Overcome with emotion, the nanny dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief. Erich gave an awkward little laugh.
I truly had no idea when that had even been. Since it wasn't in my own memories either, it must have been from when this body was still a little kid. Dragging up something that ancient felt a bit much.
Still, it only proved how long the nanny had watched over Erich and me. Hauling out black history neither of us could remember was harsh, yet it didn't feel entirely bad.
"And a Hardiner Baron at that. I never imagined you would become our neighbor, Young Master."
Ah.
The moment I saw the nanny's bright smile, I quietly averted my gaze.
She hadn't said it outright, but I felt it instinctively. Because Erich had chosen the Hardiner barony, the nanny had fallen into a small yet fatal misunderstanding—she was convinced he had picked Hardiner because his relationship with Sera had progressed.
A pang of pity made me gently close my eyes. Of course Sera was one of the reasons Erich had chosen Hardiner, but not in the way the nanny imagined.
I'll just keep my mouth shut.
I simply couldn't bring myself to reveal the truth. Sera was frail; our brothers were essentially her only acquaintances. And Erich was the one she had harbored feelings for all these years.
From the nanny's perspective, her precious daughter's long-held affection had finally been requited. I couldn't drop the cruel truth on her on such a happy day. She might collapse from the shock.
I'm sorry, Nanny. Please understand my kind silence.
I'll do something about it in the year we have left…
Roughly one year until Erich's graduation. In that year I would find some way—any way—to bring the two of them together.
Truthfully I had already done enough and was ready to wash my hands of it, but seeing the nanny's pure smile made retreat impossible. It was time to repay the kindness she had shown raising us.
I'm going all the way.
Either I would die of frustration, or Erich would finally get on that boat. One of the two.
Once every vassal and servant of the count's territory had gathered in the Great Hall, I ascended the dais with my family.
Those who had been chatting or lightly wetting their throats fell silent one after another. It was respect for the sole and absolute lord of the count's territory, and also simple propriety: making a racket while that lord was being replaced was not the place of a subordinate.
"It has been quite some time since we last gathered like this."
Father lightly swept his gaze over the crowd and spoke.
"If we met too often it would mean you were neglecting your duties, so this is a welcome sight."
Soft laughter rippled through the hush. It was Father's idea of a joke, and at the same time praise for the vassals and servants who devoted themselves to the count's territory.
A superior acknowledging and encouraging the hard work of his subordinates? To underlings who rolled every single day, it was bound to be a great comfort.
"This count has been able to reign as lord of Tailglehen thanks to your devotion. Your loyalty has truly been the pillar that upholds House Crassius, and that has allowed Crassius to serve the Imperial House without a single worry."
Father's praise and encouragement continued without end. He declared that Crassius had been able to remain Crassius only because of those who supported it from below, that the glory of Crassius had been built upon the dedication of its vassals and servants. And it was not just anyone saying so—it was the head of the house and the count himself.
One might call it ceremonial, yet considering how many people skimped even on ceremonial words, Father was an above-average superior.
"Indeed. Because of all of you, this count has been able to lead the territory until now."
Father fell silent for a moment, then placed a hand on both my shoulder and Erich's.
"Therefore, trusting that your devotion will continue forever, I now step down."
With those words he drew the seal from his breast.
"Erich Crassius, rightful member of House Crassius, hear me."
"Erich Crassius receives the head of the house's command."
At Father's words Erich dropped to one knee and bowed his head. One receiving the grace of succession from the family head could hardly stand stiffly upright.
"The Barony of Hardiner is one of the pillars that support the County of Tailglehen. Yet as a member of House Crassius who has devoted yourself to the family, you are worthy of succeeding to the Hardiner barony."
He then personally placed the seal into Erich's hand.
"Erich Crassius. As Baron Hardiner, will you fulfill your duties?"
"I swear before Enen and the Great Emperor that I shall fulfill my duties until the day my life ends."
"Good. From this moment you are Erich Crassius of Hardiner, Baron. You shall offer loyalty upward to your elder brother and the Imperial House, and care for the people of your territory below."
Father's proclamation announced the birth of a new titled noble. At once the vassals and servants began to applaud.
And the louder the applause grew, the closer Erich's expression drifted toward enlightenment.
Hang in there.
I sent him a quiet word of encouragement, knowing full well how he felt. Erich was no longer a mere young master; he was a proper titled noble. From now on he would have to roll diligently not only for family or territorial affairs, but for matters on an imperial scale as well.
So hang in there, Erich. Fortunately, as a mid-to-small lord under a great lord, you won't have to roll all that much.
"Karl Crassius of Wiridia, rightful heir of House Crassius, hear me."
…Besides, no matter how much he rolls, I doubt it will ever match what I roll through.
"Karl Crassius of Wiridia receives the head of the house's command."
In the silence that settled once more, I knelt before Father.
"The Count of Tailglehen is one of the thirty Imperial Counts who guard the Imperial House, a sword and shield that strides forth for His Majesty the Emperor. Yet as heir of House Crassius who has devoted yourself to the Empire, you are worthy of succeeding to the Tailglehen countship."
I bowed my head even lower, waiting for the next words. Now Father would ask whether I would fulfill my duties as Count of Tailglehen, I would swear before Enen and the Great Emperor just as Erich had, and that would be the end—
"Furthermore, even before becoming a count you have already fulfilled the duties of a noble, and this is known even to Enen in the heavens and to the Great Emperor."
An entirely different sentence had suddenly appeared.
What?
I was flustered. The man who knew better than anyone how civil servants panic when something deviates from the manual was pulling this? I almost felt a flicker of resentment toward Father.
But I showed nothing. Before I knew it Father had set the count's seal before me and was patting my shoulder.
"As head of House Crassius I shall pass everything to you, my heir. Will you accept?"
"…I shall do my utmost to pass the glory of the previous generation on to the next."
Father nodded in satisfaction. When I glanced sideways, Mother was clapping with a faint smile.
Then Erich, the steward, the head maid, and every other vassal and servant—all of them celebrated the birth of a new Imperial Count with thunderous applause.
…
At least I avoided the youngest-ever record.
It was a day that somehow brought Count Horpelt to mind.
Just as the succession ceremony had ended cleanly, the celebratory banquet proceeded in peaceful fashion.
The only people attending were vassals who had come from every corner of the count's territory, and even someone as distant from high society as I was still more or less knew their faces. It would be strange if the heir who was to become lord remained strangers with his own vassals.
In fact the vassals flocked more to Erich, the newly titled one, than to me—who had of course always been destined to become count. As younger brother of the new count and someone who would become the territory's second or third in command, they wanted to stamp their faces into his memory early. Thanks to that, the banquet was able to end peacefully with Erich as the sacrificial offering.
While you're at it, maybe go to the Imperial Palace for me too.
Looking up at the palace, the thought slipped out unbidden. Of course Erich would have unleashed a string of curses if he had heard it, but I was serious. Who knows—maybe Erich would enjoy sightseeing the palace?
Alas, the Imperial Count was me, not Erich, so I was the one who ended up at the Imperial Palace. I had barely left the capital and already I was going to see the Emperor again.
"Your Excellency, you may enter."
"Ah, yes. Understood."
I first passed the inspection of the newly appointed commander of the Imperial Knights and went through the main gate. The silver lining, if any, was that this new commander was another flexible fake-commander type—but the thought of meeting the Emperor kept the comfort from amounting to much.
I'd rather have a by-the-book commander and a loose Emperor. What good is a mild gatekeeper when the boss himself is dug in inside the palace…?
What the hell is that?
My feet stopped of their own accord. On the way to the Hall of the Sun where the Emperor resided, I had stumbled upon a bizarre sight.
—Cluck, cluck, cluck-cluck-cluck!
A small animal was tearing along while making frivolous cries.
"It's heading that way!"
"Don't let it get hurt! Drive it toward the open ground as much as you can!"
And right behind it, knights were in furious pursuit.
I nearly lost my mind. The grotesque spectacle of some animal punching through the encirclement of the absolute elite Imperial Knights. I never imagined I would see such a thing in my lifetime. More than that, I never imagined something like that would even exist inside the Imperial Palace.
Wings flapping pitifully, a comb swaying left and right, tiny eyes rolling every which way.
It's a chicken.
Why… is there a chicken in the Imperial Palace?
Was today the dog days of summer or something? No, this world doesn't even have that.
"Ah, Your Excellency!"
One of the knights chasing the chicken suddenly greeted me.
It was the previous commander of the Imperial Knights.
What the fuck.
Seriously, what.