NOVEL WEB Chapter 45
45.
“Do you have a fancy for literature? If we held a play in the capital, it might attract an audience.”
“…If you intend to insult me.”
“It’s not that. Count Felanter. I came here to foster goodwill. And, while I’m at it, to seek some cooperation.”
What is this guy suddenly talking about?
Laura’s distorted expression seemed to contain such a meaning.
He’s looking at me like I’m crazy…
It’s a fact without a shred of untruth that I came here to foster goodwill.
‘You must confide in each other and talk about your hidden feelings to be friends.’
Supporting each other in tough times and helping one another is what friendship and comradeship are all about, isn’t it?
Since we were almost strangers, I merely had an honest conversation about iron matters to create an honest atmosphere.
“Did I not suggest we have productive conversation? I would appreciate it if you could bring another cup of tea.”
“…”
“Since I expect this conversation will take a while.”
She glared at me silently for a moment, then abruptly stood up from the sofa, flung open the doors to the Audience Chamber, and shouted.
“Liana! Two cups of tea, for the Audience Chamber!”
“I would prefer something bitter if you please.”
“…Extremely bitter!”
After hearing Laura’s shout, the maids brought the tea and were shocked by the chaotic state of the Audience Chamber, as if a bomb had gone off. They fumbled around not knowing what to do before Laura calmly sent them away.
The Audience Chamber then echoed only with the peaceful sound of sipping tea.
‘It tastes good.’
It has a coffee-like bitterness.
It wasn’t a beverage I preferred, but I’ve come to like it.
In my previous life, I couldn’t get through the day without caffeine. But even that eventually stopped relieving my fatigue.
‘Perhaps I should wrap this up and go.’
I need to return to the Imperial Palace soon to deal with the traitor detained in the capital and Bradden.
‘I’m tired and busy.’
I also have a wedding and a grand festival to prepare for, and study… But before all these, I also need some rest.
Click.
Since the desk was broken, there was nowhere to place the teacup. I put it down near my feet and spoke to Laura, who was scrunching up her face while sipping her tea.
“Why your southern territory wants independence.”
“…”
“The declining empire, the risk of your mixed-blood status being exposed, the treatment of Human-Beasts, and lastly, the pressure from the Human-Beast Union looking for an opportunity. The conclusion is that survival is becoming difficult for you. Is this understanding accurate?”
Laura nodded slightly after putting down her teacup.
It’s about finding a way out due to an inescapable situation. While I understand her sentiments, there is a big obstacle in her plan.
“Vanell Schurantz already knows your plan. If you declared independence, he as the commander-in-chief of the Foreign Palace would have led a large army to annihilate all of you. And I would have been at the forefront, swinging my sword. Since gaining merit would increase my influence.”
Vanell had already read the movements of the south during the peace talks.
If he had been tangled up with Kierson as in the original story, he might not have had the time to deal with the independence movement. But that is not the case now.
If the south had moved toward independence, it would have been an occasion to reconfirm loyalty, pushing beyond the Grand Forest to the duchy beyond.
Even if the great warriors of the Human-Beast Union were to participate in the war… it would make little difference. Who could stop me with Calion in my hand?
“Count Felanter. You should be grateful that I came here early.”
“What nonsense is this?”
“I will resolve all the aforementioned problems for you.”
Ignoring her look of bewilderment, I continued.
“My plans involve slaying two dukes, destroying the faction, and utterly reversing the empire. And I am not just thinking about it; I am actually enacting it.”
Laura scanned her eyes around as if contemplating something, then suddenly opened her eyes wide and began speaking.
“You’re saying right now… you’re targeting Lucanov and Schurantz.”
“Why, do you think I cannot?”
Looking me in the eye with his blood red irises, he said:
“To tell you the truth, I want to turn the capital upside down right now and cut off all their heads.”
Why not just kill them all?
In the world of my previous life, it would have been difficult to massacre the two dukes and their faction physically, but not in this world. If I was determined and swung my sword, there are hardly anyone who could stop me.
There is a simple reason why I am proceeding this slowly.
“Though it would be easier to just kill everyone, it would turn the empire upside down.”
The nobles and bureaucrats, after all, maintain the system of the nation.
If there were to suddenly be a vacuum, we would be faced with a great deal of clean-up work.
If the country descends into chaos, the neighboring countries, especially Sylvester, would be overjoyed and would rush in.
That’s why it’s better to keep the things we can use alive.
“Laura Felanter, the young Margrave of the south. The one standing before you is no mere minor noble.”
My life completely changed since the selection ceremony.
I am no longer a minor noble ruling a small town in the frontier region or a modern company employee who died from overwork.
“I am a knight who protects the empire and a grand duke governing this country. And the great lord of the empire, Iris Falenberk’s husband, and her sword.”
It was promised in Ruben’s fields and sworn in the dark Audience Chamber.
Cain MacBilian is the wife of the Empress and her sword, her guardian knight.
Iris told me to destroy everything that threatens the empire and herself.
Thus, as the guardian knight of the empire, I warn you here in the south.
“Entrust your future to me.”
Laura Felanter asked in a trembling voice:
“If we do, what can we gain?”
“Survival, future, and freedom.”
With those words, silence enveloped us.
The faint sound of servants walking through the hallways could be heard.
Outside the manor, the sounds of horses’ hooves tapping the earth and the clinking of interweaving armor filled the air.
I had expressed everything I wanted and presented the options.
Whether to accept it or reject it is entirely in the hands of the red-haired woman.
While watching the sunset light streaming through the window, I sipped my bitter tea.
When the cup was gradually emptying.
A clear and powerful voice rang in my ears.
“I understand.”
Standing up from the sofa, she bowed politely.
“Count Felanter, as well as us in the south, shall follow Your Grace, the Grand Duke.”
“Should I believe you so easily?”
“You’ve already told and shown us a great deal. And…”
Laura lifted her head and turned her gaze outside the window.
“Your Highness reacted differently.”
I followed Laura’s gaze out the window.
The entrance of knights and servants into the manor. Outside the manor, the inhabitants of the territory and Human-Beasts waving to them.
While watching Cruel engaged in earnest discussion with the knights, Laura spoke.
“The people visiting Felanter for the first time usually become displeased or exhibit a strong feeling of rejection. The intentions of merchants hiding their inner thoughts were also subtly exposed. But with Your Highness, it was different.”
Despite my modern memories and lack of personal grievances, what others might find alarming is the lord walking casually among the commoners, merchants, and even beasts in the territory.
“But I’ll give you a chance.”
She turned her head away from the window and gave a small smile.
Her brilliant appearance, though slightly disheveled from our earlier exchange, remained unimpaired beneath the setting sunlight illuminating her red hair.
I extended my hand and she took it.
“Count Felanter. Then I have a few requests.”
“Requests?”
“Not much, just a few things.”
Entry records to the Grand Forest, specifically business-related personnel records and records of Earl Chamel’s entries.
Also, the distribution of resources produced in the south, and the list of nobles from the south.
With my rapid requests, Laura displayed a look of difficulty.
Especially regarding Earl Chamel’s entry record, she remained silent with her lips tightly sealed, observing my reactions.
“How about that? Or rather, why do you need it?”
“I’m not planning anything bad. I just need to check something. I promise it won’t tarnish anyone’s reputation.”
I told the hesitant Laura:
“Think about it.”
“…”
“Didn’t I already deal with the southern nobles that worried you?”
Seeing her nod, I smiled.
“Is that all? I’ve also dismantled the mercenary band colluding with the central forces to expand power. I’ve even supplied relief goods to impoverished areas in the south. Furthermore, I turned a blind eye to and reached out regarding the rebellion plans.”
“That’s…”
“Hasn’t the Merchants’ Guild pinned many false accusations on the south? The data on Earl Chamel is needed to address that.”
Looking quite uncomfortable, she reluctantly nodded.
After giving her a small sigh, I said:
“You only need to manage the south well as you have been, and just relax. As for matters concerning the Human-Beast Union, I plan to visit later personally, so you don’t need to worry.”
“…Understood.”
The materials are expected to be prepared by late morning tomorrow, and regarding the records of the Grand Forest entry, she nodded upon being asked to ensure absolute confidentiality.
“You owe me a great debt now.”
A debt is acceptable to be repaid little by little.
Thus, the eventful day at Felanter came to an end safely.
*
The following day, after staying overnight at Felanter.
After collecting the prepared materials, I departed the manor to return to the capital.
“Phiiirr…”
Gently calming the horse that was lightly pawing, I started talking.
“There was no need to give me a horse as well.”
“When will I return? Consider it a gift and just accept it.”
Laura lightly teased while pointing to a spot in the garden.
“Should I send it to the Imperial Palace later?”
What Laura pointed at was Calion.
Calion was emitting a soft presence even as it stood rooted in the corner of the garden.
“Just leave it be. It will recover by itself, tell no one to touch it.”
Since no one can pull it out anyway.
I’ll summon it once I return to the Imperial Palace.
After telling her to not worry about it, Laura nodded with a lukewarm expression.
“Will you hide your true intentions no longer?”
“From now on?”
After making a big scene earlier, she no longer smiled.
She used to smile mysteriously while hiding her true intentions when we first met. Is this her true nature…?
“Squad leader. Preparations are complete. We can leave anytime.”
Hearing Cruel’s words, I turned my eyes to the sky.
The sky was filled with gray clouds.
It doesn’t seem like it will rain but it is about time for snow to fall.
Sure enough, small snowflakes began to fall slowly.
“Ah.”
It’s like garbage falling from the sky.
“The weather isn’t ideal. Time to get moving.”
“It seems to be garbage falling. Understood.”
After mounting the prepared horse and holding the reins, just as I was about to depart back to the capital.
“Your Grace.”
Turning my head at the casual call, I came face-to-face with Laura’s red eyes.
“After gaining limitless power, do you truly believe your heart won’t change?”
“I don’t see any difference from now.”
“Is that so?”
Murmuring softly, Laura stared at me with an odd expression.
“Do you know what the strongest bond in the world is?”
The strongest bond in the world…
A word came immediately to my mind.
“It might be blood relations.”
“That’s correct. Blood relations. The hardest to sever and the one that cannot be broken.”
“Why?”
“There’s no better way to entrust trust. It’s something that we nobles often do.”
All of a sudden, you’re talking about nonsense…Ah.
I involuntarily nodded at a fleeting thought.
‘Are you still single?’
Laura Felanter is twenty-seven years old.
In this world, it’s the age one should already be married, but she inherited the position of Margrave when her marriage negotiations were taking place.
With her current responsibilities, she couldn’t marry just anyone and ended up focusing on her territory’s affairs, naturally leading her to this point.
In other words, she’s hinting at this indirectly now. Let’s get married.
I looked at Laura’s red eyes and smirked.
“Preposterous. Do you think you can even approach the level of His Majesty’s footsteps? Keep striving higher.”
What? Aren’t you hitting on a married man before the wedding ceremony even?
“…Hmph.”
Grinding her teeth through a forced smile, Laura gave a respectful bow.
“That’s the road. That path.”
“Thank you for the kind wishes. That’s all for now.”
Leaving behind the sound of walls collapsing, I pulled the reins and rode out of the estate.
“On the way back, I’m fortunate it’s not that busy.”
“That’s true. We’ll return faster than expected.”
While having a casual conversation with Cruel as we crossed the snowy fields of Felanter County.
“Once we return to the capital, we’ll need to move quickly. Think of rest later.”
“I don’t need rest. The Knights’ Guild will also be prepared.”
“Do you want to die? Don’t say such terrible things. Rest is important.”
…
It feels like there’s a hole in the sky as snowflakes keep falling.
As if to gently embrace the empire stained with blood, the white and pure crystals are slowly covering the land.
The long winter was drawing to its end.