Chapter 202
Chapter 202
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 202
Chapter Title: The Disputed Hills
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Loan asked again.
“They're telling you to give up the territory? Wasn't it legally recognized by Duke Versailles?”
“Yes, it was, but... Let's go inside first. This might take a while.”
The two entered the mansion and settled into Melville's office.
Piles of various documents were stacked high on the table.
A map laid out on one side particularly caught Loan's eye.
It was a simple yet chaotic space, a scene that perfectly captured the circumstances of a young man who had suddenly become a lord.
Melville said.
“They claim there was an agreement with the former head of House Pobel to cede a portion of the borderlands to the Le Dong family, but no matter how much I search, I can't find any such document.”
“You can't just take one side's word for it and handle it lightly. Especially if it's a border region—that's tantamount to a national border. Isn't that a sensitive issue?”
“Yes. The head of my house thinks so too. Because that land is on the border and is a hilly area uninhabited by civilians, it's quite important from a defensive standpoint.”
Loan tilted his head.
After hearing the explanation, the Le Dong family's demand seemed even stranger.
“Hmm... Aren't hilly areas usually useless land?”
Melville pulled the map closer and pointed with his finger.
The northeastern part of the Pobel region. An area adjacent to the sea was colored entirely in brown.
“It's right here. It's a continuous stretch of low hills, a barren place where it rarely rains. It's difficult to cultivate and difficult for people to live on.”
“And beyond this area, to the north, is all Le Dong territory, correct? Hmm. It's strange that they're so insistent on a place that seems to have no value beyond being a border.”
“My point exactly. I was so frustrated that I requested mediation from Versailles, but...”
He first explained that Versailles hadn't exactly been happy to recognize their absorption of the Pobel territory and assets either.
“They found fault with it. I mean, I can see their point. They said that since we resolved a conflict between families with the Union's help, it was no different from interfering in their internal affairs.”
“So a duel is an acceptable way to resolve things, but not when we're the ones involved.”
“Yes. They used that as a pretext to test us through friendly matches. They wanted to see if we really had the skill to defeat the Pobels, whether we'd be a threat or an asset to the Duchy of Versailles... things like that. Fortunately, all three brothers won, so the Duke had no choice but to accept it.”
“They all won? That's incredible.”
“Our opponents had their weaknesses. I think the Duke of Versailles was reluctant to commit his full strength. He probably just wanted to check our skills and sent out weaker opponents in case they lost... Ah, but saying that would be an insult to you, Master, haha.”
Melville tried to show excessive modesty, then finished his sentence with a laugh.
That thought had some merit, but would they really have sent out weak opponents?
In any case, he felt a surge of pride knowing that the three brothers he had taught his vision to had all won their duels.
“They did well. It makes no sense for them to demand you give up land you won like that. So, what's Versailles' stance on this?”
“Ah, right. We were talking about that.”
Melville habitually scratched the back of his neck, his expression turning grim again.
“Their initial stance—that matters between families should be handled by the families themselves—has now completely changed. I suppose it's because both Le Dong and we kept petitioning them.”
“How did it change?”
“Now they're saying that since it's a disputed area, we should just donate it to the Duchy of Versailles and make it public land.”
“Ah...”
At this point, it was impossible to tell if Versailles was trying to resolve the conflict or if they wanted the hilly land for themselves.
He needed to understand Le Dong's position more clearly.
“Did they give any reason other than this supposed agreement? There must have been something for them to have made such a deal.”
Melville hesitated for a moment before speaking cautiously.
“Well, originally... Master. You remember the eldest son of House Pobel, don't you? Pierre. He's dead now, of course.”
“Of course. The one who fought Lucas.”
How could he forget?
Had there ever been a person so detestable, so repulsive? He might have been worse than a demon.
Loan gave a slight nod, gesturing for him to continue.
“They're saying that the agreement for marriage and land transfer between Pobel and Le Dong was made to resolve that issue.”
“But that was related to Pierre, wasn't it? Why are they trying to hold the Albre family responsible for the actions of a dead man?”
“First, they claim the Albre family is responsible for the marriage falling through. Second, they argue that since we acquired the territory and assets, we should naturally bear the debts as well. That's Le Dong's position.”
It was practically a forced argument.
It was House Pobel that had challenged them to the duel. At the time, they had been preying on the minor houses in Versailles like a cat toying with mice.
There was no way Le Dong was unaware of the circumstances, so to claim the Albres were the cause of the problem was absurd.
Of course, if there were legitimate debts, it might be smoother for the new lord to inherit and resolve them.
However, this didn't seem to be such a case.
“What are the consequences for us if we refuse?”
Melville was quite moved that Loan referred to the Albre family as "us," but his expression soon turned bitter.
“They said they could impose trade disadvantages. Things like restricting the movement of merchant guilds, or refusing to trade with guilds associated with Albre...”
It seemed entirely possible.
Without Le Dong's cooperation, it would become extremely difficult for Pobel to trade with the capital, Versailles, their largest consumer city.
Using the sea route or bypassing Le Dong's territory would result in losses of both time and money.
Melville was certainly in a tough spot.
‘This is going to be a headache in more ways than one.’
Worries and conflicts that didn't exist before had now emerged. This was why gaining power wasn't always a good thing.
“So how far have the discussions progressed?”
“The talks with Le Dong are going nowhere, and Versailles is sticking to its position that we should donate it to the duchy, so...”
As Melville was continuing his answer, a knock came from outside.
Guided by the butler, Sienna entered the room.
She asked the two of them.
“Was I interrupting a difficult conversation?”
“No, it's fine, Senior. I was just hearing about the conflict with the Le Dong family over the hilly region.”
Sienna gave a light nod, then, after getting a nod of permission from Melville, continued.
“Right. That problem is now a Union problem as well. In three days, there will be a four-party meeting in Le Dong territory. The participants are Versailles, Le Dong, and Albre. The Union will be present as an observer.”
“That was the progress I was about to tell you about.”
Melville added.
* * *
Two days later.
Loan and Sienna arrived at the disputed hilly region with Melville.
It was on the way to the four-party meeting, and considering the distance to Le Dong, they must have ridden nonstop since arriving in Pobel.
The Union representative for the meeting was supposed to be the Seeker from the accountability committee stationed in Pobel, but Loan and Sienna volunteered, and the arrangement was changed.
This was based on the judgment that they could carry out their official duty of attending the meeting alongside the mission they had given themselves.
Although there was nothing on the surface, since the issue involved Versailles, Le Dong, and by extension, the merchant guilds, they thought they might find some clue about the dark mana stones.
Aside from Loan and Sienna, who had their own objective, the Albre party consisted only of Melville and two guards.
It was a very small retinue for someone engaged in a power struggle with Le Dong.
While he could have made a show of force, Melville said he wouldn't bother with such appearances.
Loan agreed.
True strength, beauty, and the like are things that can be recognized without any need for deliberate display or adornment.
“It certainly doesn't look like it has any value beyond being a border.”
Sienna said, her gaze fixed on the distance, and both Loan and Melville nodded in agreement.
Looking down from the highest hill, they saw nothing but a winding series of drab, dry-colored hills.
It was all the more strange that everyone coveted this place, where not a single blade of grass could be seen.
After riding again through the hilly area, the three arrived in a village adjacent to Le Dong's territory and decided to stay the night before attending the meeting the next day.
While Melville went to inspect the village in his capacity as lord.
Loan and Sienna visited the village's merchant association.
Although it was a small village, it served as a hub for traveling merchants, so the association's office was quite lively.
If Le Dong were to block trade, this place would also find it difficult to maintain its current state.
Loan asked the head of the association.
“To trade with Ferrara from here, you have to pass through Albre's territory or through Le Dong and Versailles' territories, correct?”
An old man with a hooked nose and glasses perched far down on it answered, his words interspersed with dry coughs.
“*Cough, cough.* That's right. In terms of distance, it would be faster to go east from here, through the sea to Ferrara. *Ahem.* But the hilly region blocks the way, so the sea route is blocked along with it.”
“How has trade with Ferrara been recently? Are there any guilds that are trading a lot...”
“On the Albre side, there's no one of note. In Le Dong's case, the Beauvoir Guild is the largest and most active, *ahem*.”
“The Beauvoir Guild... I've never heard of it. Isn't Le Dong close with the Bella Guild?”
“Bella?”
The old man frowned slightly before answering.
“That was a long time ago. *Ahem.* They've closed down the guild now.”
“The guild is gone?”
“They fell out of favor with the head of the Le Dong family. There was something a bit forced about it. *Ahem.* Their daughter ended up in a pitiful situation.”
“Was it because of that incident with delivering an item to the Duke of Ferrara?”
“That's right. The Union certainly knows all sorts of things, doesn't it? *Ahem, ahem*.”
“I have a slight acquaintance with the head of the Bella Guild.”
“Then why don't you go meet her yourself? Her family's house isn't far from here.”
“Is that so?”
“If you leave here and go two blocks in that direction, you'll come to a fork in the road...”
Even after finishing his conversation with the old man, Loan didn't smooth the faint frown lines on his brow.
It had been a while since she had seen him look so serious, and Sienna watched him with considerable curiosity.
Suddenly feeling her gaze, Loan asked.
“What is it, Senior?”
“Nothing.”
She made a slightly enigmatic expression before asking.
“Are you planning to meet her?”
“Yes. I think I can get a lot of information. About the head of the Le Dong family, and about the merchant guilds.”
After that very business-like answer, they went to Bella's house, which was located just outside the village.
With a large mansion and two huge warehouses, it looked like it must have been quite prosperous once, but now it had a desolate air that suited the early winter chill.
There were no people around, and no sounds.
The reason was simple.
There was only one person in the large building.
The person who appeared after they knocked several times was, as expected, Bella.
“Ah... Young Master.”
The moment she saw Loan, a variety of emotions flickered across her face.
Happiness and sorrow.
Her gaunt appearance made those emotions seem all the more pronounced.
For a moment, she was at a loss for words, but she finally managed to part her dry lips.
“What brings you here...?”
“I was passing through on a mission and heard that you had closed the guild. Do you have a moment?”
Thinking the conversation might be long, Loan glanced inside the house.
Bella looked extremely flustered, then asked for five minutes before hurriedly slamming the door shut.
Sienna, who had been treated like thin air for a moment, let out a dry laugh.