Chapter 103 - Bait Has Been Planted
The person Earl Timoti had just spoken about suddenly entered the room that had been prepared for a luncheon.
His arrogant steps and attitude made me want to immediately cut off his head with the cursed Odachi that was currently beside Mio.
Wiiippp…
Wiiippp…
With a small code that I gave to Momo, she immediately flew towards my grasp and prepared to launch a slash when needed.
With the arrival of someone as arrogant and proud as this, I saw a former Crown Prince who was still acting like an important person in this room.
The Duchess, who saw my reaction, gave my cheek a gentle touch to tease me not to take this too seriously.
"You don't have to worry about this, Lily-sama," said the Duchess with a little tease as she started to touch my cheek with her fingertips.
"A person who abdicates from the struggle for the King's seat of power is a helpless like a trash. With my power as a Duchess, it will surely be much safer with me controlling him, right?" said the Duchess while giving Earl Timoti a sharp glance.
Earl Timoti, who was standing in front of me, took a deep breath.
"Hufftt... I don't know what you're planning. I just hope that it's not something that will put my family's power in danger in the eyes of the royal family," replied Earl Timoti while giving a small nod to Evelyn as if he wanted to do something related to me.
"You don't need to worry about this. Instead, you should be more worried about Lily-sama who is serious at the moment."
Through those words, the Duchess seemed to be mocking my behavior while holding the cursed Odachi and still in my Monarch of Holy Destruction mode.
I slowly returned to my normal form by wearing a black military uniform that blended in with the military uniform that Earl Timoti was wearing at the luncheon.
Swiippp...
By removing the cursed Odachi and wearing a black military uniform, I looked like part of Earl Timoti's family.
"Is this better than before?" I asked, seeking the opinion of Earl Timothy and the Duchess.
"Yes, that's much better, Lily-sama. You're much friendlier than your appearance who intimidating and threatened people to keep away from you," the Duchess commented with a chuckle.
"Putting that aside, what will you do to these two fools, Timoti?" the Duchess asked Earl Timothy.
"W-Well, I'm planning a military punishment for this fool who create some troubles for Lily-sama. As for the other fool, I hope he doesn't do anything stupid after losing his position as Crown Prince," Earl Timoti replied to the Duchess who seemed like she was talking about something that only they knew.
Based on the situation that had occurred, I understood a little about what had happened in this place.
At least it has to do with someone being stupid and causing me some trouble.
"Evelyn, I hope you will stay by Lily-sama's side to keep an eye on this idiot's actions after the main event starts," Earl Timoti said to Evelyn who was already beside me.
"Yes, Father. I will make sure Lily-sama is under the protection of our honorable family like this," Evelyn replied as if she were guarding me.
"..." I was just silent with the situation that was happening around me at this time.
Without any other information that I knew, it seemed like something big was going to happen, that would make Earl Timoti send Evelyn as my bodyguard during this luncheon.
Before the war season between the nobles was officially declared by the King and Queen, I seemed to see the battlefield that Earl Timoti was preparing and made me move freely in the battlefield he created.
The former Crown Prince walked into this room and was greeted by the old man who was hostile towards me. Like fellow enemies who had the same great enemy, they came together and seemed to be close to each other.
"Now I understand what's going to happen next," I grumbled, glancing at Earl Timoti.
Nod...
With a nod of his head, I would be under Earl Timoti's protection before any troublesome matters would arise.
Kriingg!!
Krriingg!!
The bell rang and several rows of maids began to enter to prepare lunch. Several foods were arranged neatly on the table and teased my hunger.
Swiiisshh...
With a fresh breeze coming in through the open glass window, I saw the hand signals given by Earl Timoti to guide me to follow him from behind.
I also followed Earl Timoti along with the Duchess who was starting to enjoy the heated conflict situation that was about to occur on this battlefield.
Earl Timoti led me into a chair close to him as the current head of the family. By titting beside him and followed by the Duchess sitting beside me, it made my position in controlling Earl Timoti's family and the Duchess clear.
Some of the noble guests from other families seemed surprised by my presence sitting next to Earl Timoti as the head of the family and the Duchess who had a higher noble position than me.
Evelyn and Mio calmly stood behind me as if guarding from behind.
With this position, it's like I'm under tight guard, so I don't do anything dangerous.
"It can't be helped... in this way, my movement will be limited, huh?" I grumbled a little while observing the situation that was happening.
Several family members and noble guests who visited Earl Timoti's residence began to arrive. With the seating position that had been arranged, the lunch banquet event would be run smoothly, then I tried to sit quietly while enjoying the sense of danger that was around me.
The bad feeling that I felt was not far from the gaze of someone who had a deep hatred for me.
A hatred that made me easily recognizable with a look that wanted to kill me.
"..." I sat quietly and felt every sharp gaze that wanted to kill me from a distance.
Krringg!!
Krinnggg!!
Before the luncheon began, I heard Earl Timoti pressing a small bell to attract the attention of all the guests in the room.
"I would like to thank all of you who have come to this luncheon. As the head of the Earl Timoti family and an ally of the royal family, I give my gratitude for your trust in my family to be the overseer of the official war that will occur in the next few months," said Earl Timoti in a firm and loud tone.
"As an official war supervisor who proves the worth of a noble and assesses their prowess on the battlefield, this will allow some noble families to upgrade their titles one level above their previous titles or downgrade to their current noble titles," Earl Timoti continued as he looked at all the guests present at the luncheon.
"In that case, Earl Timoti's family will fulfill their oath of loyalty as a neutral and impartial overseer in the war season that will occur in a few months. As witnesses to this oath, I would like you to not forget this as representatives of your respective factions. However... there is one thing I would like to ask before continue this conversation," Earl Timoti suddenly looked at me.
"Does Lily-sama's noble family still believe in being a neutral noble when the war between nobles occurs?" Earl Timoti asked in a stern tone.
Hearing the question given by Earl Timoti, I felt like I was given a choice of a battlefield that would occur soon.
The only answer I can give at this time is...
"I'm sure being a neutral noble family isn't a bad thing in my family current position," I said with a smile and pride in this.
"There are several advantages that Marquess Rommel can gain from joining the war as a neutral noble," I continued, glancing at the old man who was conspiring with the former Crown Prince of the kingdom.
Snap!!
With a snap of my fingers, I summoned a cherry blossom crown which was currently flying around above my head.
"One of those benefits is... Marquess Rommel will not share the profits from the increase in territorial taxes that be a reward after the war between the nobles over, I hope all of you will be happy to invade our territory and bring more profits to my noble family," I continued my words with a provocation that made the representatives of the opposition faction and the faction supporting the royal family furious.
Among all the noble guests present in this room, only the Duchess and Earl Timoti knew my true purpose.
The tactic I am using at the moment is a bluff that makes my enemies angry and increases their potential as my enemies in the future. The potential of an enemy who is easily angered and has a grudge to attack Marquess Rommel's territory will soon be seen in a few months.
It was like casting a net over a murky river and pulling it in one pull to get the fish caught in the net.
By spreading the flames of this enmity, I also began to burn the noble families who had personal grudges against Marquess Rommel and ended those personal grudges with a great war approved by the royal family.
The bait I cast seemed to have caught a lot fish in it.
"That's interesting, I like bold statements like this. What if my faction goes against you officially?" the former Crown Prince said to me.
With his confident smile, I could see the battle plan the former Crown Prince was thinking about.
I also saw the old man whispering beside him as if he wanted to say something.
"But it wouldn't be interesting if you got involved in this war, would it?" the former Crown Prince continued.
"That's absolutely right, it would be bored if I intervened in the battlefield, since it would be over in an instant," I replied to myself which made the two of them click their tongues loudly.
I guess it's only natural to avoid myself on the battlefield.
With the blessings given by three different Goddesses, I am like a natural disaster ready to destroy anything in front of me.
It would be very unfair if a war aimed at defending honor ended with one side's humiliating defeat.
"Then, I will make sure my family knows about this. Whether it is Marquess Rommel, Marchioness Amagi, or my twin sisters who will face you, it will be a pleasant surprise on the battlefield, right?" I said with a smile that made the Duchess chuckle after hearing it.
"Pfftt... it would be a shame if the former Crown Prince's faction who were trying to climb up the list of candidates for the throne lost," said the Duchess, causing the representatives of the opposition families to hold back loud laughter after hearing it.
With such a stifled laugh, the Crown Prince was caught even further in my rage bait.