Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: The Rise of Paloma
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When Sion first received his fief and descended to it, the place had a population of less than 20,000.
Of course, one might counter that more than half of all existing fiefs had populations around 20,000, so it wasn't really small.
However, while typical fiefs were mostly the size of a Korean township at best and a county at largest, the Valenbria region that Sion had been granted was extraordinarily vast.
To be imprecise but according to Sion's estimate, it was about three to four times the size of Jeju Island, or perhaps southern Gyeonggi Province plus Seoul.
In simple terms, it was a vast territory covering more than half of an average province.
For a fief of that scale to have fewer than 20,000 people was something Sion simply couldn't comprehend by his own common sense.
That was why, as lord, the thing Sion prioritized and focused on most was increasing the population.
His nearly twenty years of effort were rewarded when he left the dukedom with a population of 80,000.
Under the reigns of his son Theo, who had been thoroughly educated by Sion and succeeded him, and then his grandson Byron, it finally surpassed 200,000.
Moreover, that large population wasn't clustered around the lord's castle and its vicinity like when Sion first arrived. Instead, it spread across the entire vast dukedom.
Villages of just ten or so households grew into respectable ones of fifty to sixty families, and places barely worthy of being called villages expanded into large towns or even townships with shops and markets.
Thus, Paloma—a small fishing village about fifty kilometers from the lord's castle, where some fifty households huddled together—had become one of the three largest port cities in Duke Sion's territory. No, calling it a city was no exaggeration.
To reiterate, in this world, anything over 100,000 people qualified as a national capital-level metropolis.
So, with 40,000 residents including the surrounding area, Paloma proudly stood as a true city.
Appointing Byron's second son, Gede, as its governor was a predetermined step.
And this decision wasn't merely favoritism toward kin.
-The head of one administrative district and its subordinates must not interfere in the affairs of another.
The only exceptions were when the head of that other district requested it first, or when directed by the duke.
In other words, appointing Gede as Paloma's governor was a measure to prevent relatives from meddling arbitrarily in the central affairs of Duke Sion's territory.
Accordingly, neither Gede nor Yonas could represent Duke Sion's territory.
* * *
"Though we haven't yet received confirmation of enfeoffment from His Majesty the King, I understand that Baron Blint Sion, the legitimate son of the late Duke Brian, will succeed to the dukedom. With that in mind, this matter was undertaken with Sir Blint Sion's permission, correct?"
"......"
At Sion's point, Yonas merely clenched his molars and said nothing.
He had underestimated them too easily.
Who would have thought the internal affairs of the duke's house would be this transparent?
'No. It was something anyone could have learned with a little digging. We were too complacent.'
He had viewed them simply as one of the many collateral branches of the royal family.
He thought he could meddle in their family business, snag some scraps, and leave.
What a colossal miscalculation.
"It seems not. Well, I understand. Even for a prestigious house like Duke Sion's, the sudden passing of the previous duke must have caused some confusion."
A softened version of, 'Your house is a total mess? No system in place? Is this really a top-tier noble family?'
As an outsider pointed out their family issues, Yonas's hands tightened with rage and shame.
But he realized the other wasn't saying it to mock him or the duke's family.
"With unprecedented events occurring one after another, there was some confusion. I can only be grateful for your understanding, sir."
"Such things happen even in the royal family. As I said, I fully understand. Then, regarding the matter of August Territory, we'll discuss it upon reaching the lord's castle. Shall we move on to other issues?"
Yonas caught the meaning: 'I'll let this slide nicely, so let's end it here.'
He took a light breath and nodded.
"That would be best. Then, about this young man named Pietro Kilburn..."
"Pietro Sion Kilburn."
"...Right. Pietro Sion Kilburn. Anyway, is that fellow truly Lady Maria's grandson? No, to begin with, Lady Maria was dismissed from the duke's family due to an unfortunate incident..."
Swoosh.
"What... is this?"
"This is a letter from Lady Maria's late father, His Highness the Founding Duke Sion, sent to his daughter, Lady Maria. It's an authentic document stamped with the duke's seal, so no need to doubt it."
"......!!!"
Yonas's eyes widened like saucers at the sight of the worn envelope on the table, on the verge of crumbling.
The seal was broken since it had already been opened and read, but the stamp on the neatly folded envelope was unmistakably that of the founder, Duke Sion.
'Damn it all.'
With trembling hands, he carefully opened the envelope and read the letter, cursing inwardly.
The letter brimmed with a father's worry and affection for his daughter. The handwriting was undoubtedly that of the founder of House Sion, and it bore his seal at the end as well.
This was ironclad proof.
'If I just tear this up and burn it right now...'
The absurd temptation to destroy the evidence struck him.
"Here are more. I don't know what unfortunate incident you mentioned, but it seems His Highness the Duke loved his daughter dearly."
As Sion dangled a few more letters tauntingly, Yonas felt his strength drain away.
'Damn. What do I do now?'
Unwittingly, he bit his lower lip slightly.
It betrayed his inner turmoil, but he was too cornered to care.
His plan—to rescue August Territory, a subordinate fief of House Sion, in the guise of an elder brother, and then exploit the suddenly arrived "relative" (as claimed) in various ways—had gone awry from the start.
But that was trivial now.
If this royal collateral upstart and the so-called relative went to Duke Sion's territory and breathed a word of today's events at the lord's castle?
'It's over. Gede might survive, but I'm done for.'
It was blatant overreach. Blint and his high noble supporters, along with the castle officials, would rise up in arms.
They already eyed Paloma suspiciously; they wouldn't let this slide.
'In that case, I have to deal with them here...'
The easiest path for a cornered man.
Murder and silencing them crossed Yonas's mind, his eyes turning icy for a fleeting moment.
But recalling the mercenaries he'd seen passing through August's lord's castle village, he shook his head inwardly.
Most mercenaries he knew were thugs. The rest were moths living for the day.
But these ones had equipment too good to believe they were mercenaries, disciplined behavior, and even outnumbered his own men.
Yonas couldn't picture a scenario where they not only won but captured every last one without escape.
"Well, it seems this matter is settled too."
Sion's voice snapped Yonas back, and he looked up.
"Then, having rushed out so hastily to escort a relative from afar, you must be tired. Why not rest first?"
"......!?"
"Hm? Why the strange look? With blood kin showing up out of the blue, you were so shocked and delighted that you forgot to report to the lord's castle and came to greet us yourself, right?"
From Sion's subtle gaze and tone, Yonas instinctively realized.
This royal collateral youth—no, his benefactor—was offering him an out.
Something like:
-If the truth comes out later, you'll be in trouble, right? So let's say you came out to greet us in advance. Okay?
"Y-Yes, exactly. As Sir Sailun says. I was a bit out of sorts. Ha, haha!"
-Call accepted. Thanks...
"I figured as much. Blood is blood, after all. Still, welcoming us this far out eases my worries. Coming home after so long, I was concerned—whether we're on the right path, or if the duke's family might take offense or pretend not to know."
-Thanks. So treat us as greeted guests. You'll protect us and be hospitable until the lord's castle, right?
"Of course not. House Sion never turns its back on blood."
-Naturally. That Pietro kid is family starting today.
"As expected of a renowned great noble house, with such magnanimity and warmth. Then please rest. I thought of preparing a banquet, but better to do it upon arriving at the lord's castle?"
-In case you change your mind en route, I'll hold your leash until we get there. Sound good?
"Certainly. I'll send a messenger ahead to inform them properly."
-Got it. I'll pass on that we're family starting today.
"That would be even better. Then rest well today and tomorrow; we'll depart the day after."
-I'll be watching you for two days. Be good.
"My gratitude for your consideration."
The initial frosty atmosphere had vanished entirely, replaced by hearty laughter and warmth as Sion and Yonas shook hands.
Of course, Yonas was sweating bullets inside, but after narrowly escaping the abyss, that was to be expected.
Even so, his wariness toward Sion only grew.
'What the hell is this guy? Was there a talent like him among the royal collaterals? Ha! I've been properly leashed now. Still...'
Having caught his breath, but with heightened caution, Yonas noticed something off.
'Feels familiar. Hmm.'
The beard fully covering his jaw, thick mustache, and long hair obscuring his cheeks had prevented recognition at first.
But those deep eyes and prominent nose felt oddly familiar.
'Have I seen him somewhere? Maybe at the palace in my youth?'
Yonas pondered, then shook his head inwardly.
He had visited the Obla Kingdom's royal palace in his younger days, but that was nearly twenty years ago. The man before him would have been about ten at most.
'Same Sailun name, so probably inherited a lot from Princess Maria's blood.'
One of the premarital middle names of Stella Princess, consort to Founding Duke Sion, had been Sailun.
So it wasn't strange if he bore strong traces of that blood.
'Still... it rubs me the wrong way.'
Having yet to meet the real relative Pietro, Yonas couldn't help feeling a strange discomfort at seeing someone who resembled Sion's bloodline.
"Hahaha..."
But he couldn't show it, so he kept laughing.
Unaware that it wasn't the royal upstart resembling the founder sir's "consort"—but he himself resembling the upstart.
(To be continued in the next installment)