The Insolent Claim to Wintergard
Cartina could not forgive it. Regardless of her relationship with the Crown Prince, the Northern Grand Duke's very existence was influencing the South. The Cadla family wanted to reestablish ties with the North, and rumors swirled that families beyond the marquisate were eager to improve relations between the North and various Southern houses. They'd poured so much effort into seizing the position of House Bart, which had flaunted its influence for so long.
"Cartina, it seems taking the gold veins from House Bart is still a bit much for now."
"It does seem that way, Father. But we have to block the North somehow."
"Those Northern barbarians... I never imagined beasts like them would pull something like this."
Baron Remi de Bosch stroked his beard as he began devising a plot against the North. What was the North most worried about right now? Probably dealing with the nomads was already overwhelming them. If he could mobilize other families to create a two-front war, he could eliminate the North's influence. That's what Baron Remi thought.
He knew nothing.
"Where's the army that can move the fastest right now?"
"It has to be near the North. That way, they can check them immediately."
"You're thinking the same as me, then."
Cartina smiled quietly. No matter how elite the North's forces were, if they faced the nomads on one side and a Southern army on the other, their influence would crumble. They couldn't sustain the military funds and supplies needed to maintain sway over the South.
"What are the Darafont family's mercenaries doing right now?"
"Probably resting, with nothing to do."
"Isn't the Darafont family a decent distance from the North?"
"They are. But there's a family that could properly accommodate the Darafont mercenary band."
"Which one?"
"The Reilly family, the territory closest to the North."
Baron Remi tapped his fist. House Reilly was positioned at the gateway to the North and the route to House Bart. Originally close to Bart territory, it had been firmly under Bart influence. But after Daniela's scandal at the Imperial Academy, they'd grown close to House Darafont. Intelligence also suggested they weren't pleased with House Bart's dealings with the North.
"If the Darafont mercenaries could join forces with the Reilly army for an attack, that would be ideal."
"There's a way to make that happen."
"What is it?"
"If I send one letter, I can convince the young master of Darafont."
"Are you confident?"
"I've already received a reply from Leroy von Calum saying he'd foot the bill."
Cartina smiled quietly. If House Calum provided the funds and the Darafont mercenaries attacked, the road between House Bart and the North would inevitably be severed. It wouldn't take long. House Darafont would want to escape the imperial family's scrutiny at any cost.
"I'll write the letter right away. It won't take long."
"Heh heh heh... Yes. Let's crush House Bart for good this time."
"Now it's the era of House de Bosch."
Cartina wrote a single letter and sent it to House Darafont.
A few days after the marquisate families' meeting concluded, the Darafont mercenary band began slowly moving toward House Reilly.
"Hm? The Darafont mercenaries have arrived?"
"Lord Count Reilly."
Count Reilly was the first to meet the vanguard of the mercenary band. They were called the most veteran force in the South. But as mercenaries who moved for gold, they weren't entirely trustworthy.
"You've brought the gold coins for our house, I assume?"
"Yes. Marquis Darafont sends his regards."
"Good, good. Let me see that pouch."
The mercenary vanguard captain opened the pouch, revealing it stuffed full of gold coins. The bag was nearly the size of a child's fist.
"When we strike the North, you just need to serve as our forward base."
"Don't worry about that. I can't stand watching those Northerners pretend to be civilized."
"Hahaha... Rest easy. We'll show them what true civilization looks like."
"I'll count on you!"
When House Reilly received the letter from House Darafont, a sinister plan occurred to the count. If it worked, it could be his chance to claim the North. He wouldn't take the legitimate name of the house himself, of course, but he could install a proxy.
"Has Andrea Wintergard arrived at House Reilly?"
"He has. I never dreamed a chance like this would come to me in my lifetime."
"Marquis Darafont has publicly declared his support for Andrea Wintergard."
"Perfect. Just..."
Word had it the Grand Duke was taking special measures regarding Wintergard. But during the North's civil war, one family had fled south—and their descendants still lived. No one had thought of it, and no one wanted it.
"If we win the war, things will naturally change, won't they?"
"Exactly, my lord Count."
"Then I'll trust in you all."
House Reilly scoured for a pretext to invade the North and found one man: Andrea Wintergard. A descendant of Wintergard without the "von"—a very, very distant relative of the current ducal house, but still a Wintergard. Their petty Southern scheming unwittingly courted the Grand Duke's wrath.
To His Grace, the Grand Duke of the North,
House Darafont hereby declares that the current pretender lacks legitimacy. We recognize Andrea Wintergard as the true heir of Wintergard blood.
In the name of restoring order, we call upon all loyal houses to support this rightful claim.
— Marquis of House Darafont —
"You're telling me to deliver this to His Grace the Grand Duke?"
"Is there a problem?"
"Hahaha..."
With the Grand Duke on leave, Hexon, the Minister of the Interior, received the guest in the Hall of Winter. He didn't sit, of course, but he took the letter from Darafont squarely in hand.
The envoy from House Darafont had arrived at an impeccably poor time. Winter Castle was strangely adorned in splendor, festooned with flowers and ribbons everywhere.
"This isn't some joke, is it? This letter represents House Darafont's true intent?"
"It conveys Marquis Darafont's opinion exactly."
"I can't bring myself to read this abomination. Bildo, will you take a look?"
Bildo, the minister standing beside Hexon, began reading the letter slowly. His expression hardened—then crumpled entirely. An abomination, utterly repulsive. Bildo passed it to the man beside him, as if unable to continue.
"Hah... Just being asked to read this is profoundly, profoundly unpleasant."
"What on earth does it say..."
Jamuchin, who had been lingering near Winter Castle for the Grand Duke's wedding, took up the letter next. His face flushed redder by the moment. He'd read plenty of nomad missives, but nothing had ever grated like this.
The letter slowly made the rounds among the ministers and nobles.
"Th-this bastard, this mad—this madman!"
Lord de Wintergard's reaction set it off. He couldn't even spit into the brazier properly amid his rage. Fury poured from Lord de Wintergard toward the Darafont envoys.
"You truly wrote this without being insane? Only a lunatic would!"
"Deliver this to His Grace the Grand Duke? Only if you're deranged!"
"I can't stand it. I'll have your heads to cleanse this insult to His Grace!"
"Fetch an axe!"
Lord de Wintergard's scream-like cries filled the Hall of Winter. Even Hexon, who kept the most composure, had a face set like stone.
"Rather than deliver this to His Grace, I'd sooner kill you all and be done."
"Hexon! Just give me one axe! I'll handle it myself!"
"Calm down. Your intentions are clear enough, yes?"
The Darafont envoys stood ramrod straight. The moment they affirmed Hexon's question, it was over. The letter would reach the Grand Duke, and his reaction was unimaginable.
Its contents were so rude, no one wanted to show it to His Grace, but it boiled down to one sentence.
"Claiming that this... whoever? Andrea Wintergard? That he is the legitimate one over the current Grand Duke?"
"Precisely as written in the letter."
"Thus, House Darafont refuses to recognize the current Grand Duke?"
"That is correct."
"We have nothing more to say."
Hexon dismissed the envoys. Any longer, and they'd all be dead. It was almost a mercy if it ended that way.
"Hexon! Give me 500 troops. I'll smash their skulls myself!"
"Minister Hexon! Lend me some soldiers. I'll clean this up before His Grace returns!"
The military's fury pierced the heavens. But the real concern was elsewhere.
"We planned the wedding right when His Grace returned, and now this..."
"That's... that's..."
"Wouldn't it be better to hold the wedding first and think after?"
"But we must inform His Grace immediately."
"True, but..."
"Failing to deliver this letter would incur His Grace's wrath just as surely."
Who dared—who dared—question the legitimacy of Theodore von Ardorno Iphera Wintergard? Hexon resolved to deliver it straightaway.
But the wedding would proceed as planned regardless...
