NOVEL WEB Chapter 5
“Huh?”
“What?”
Not only the Selens Earl and his Wife, but everyone else was equally unable to hide their confusion.
“I recently turned 16 and became an adult. As a result, I have inherited the title of Zafing Marquess.”
“W-what…?”
“Wait, what do you mean?”
“When my mother, the former Zafing Marquess Elphil, passed away, I was only 11… Since I hadn’t reached adulthood, the succession to the Zafing Marquess title was postponed. My mother had arranged that Gazel would act as the Marquess’s proxy, and when I turned 16, all authority would transfer to me, the current Marquess.”
“……”
No one could utter a word in response to my statement. They were all bewildered to realize that the man they had looked down upon was now far above them in status.
“Now, do you understand the situation, Selens Earl?”
“Y-yes…”
“Hmm, it seems the Selens Earl is a bit unfamiliar with the hierarchy of our country. Let me enlighten you. A Marquess is not lower in rank than an Earl.”
“O-of course. I am aware of that.”
“Oh? I was worried you might be ignorant, given the disrespectful words you earlier directed at me, the Marquess.”
“M-my apologies…”
The Selens Earl turned pale and apologized to me. His wife quickly followed suit.
“It’s fine. I expected as much from someone who would consider something as lowly as usurpation. Given that, this level of disrespect is hardly surprising.”
“T-that’s not…”
“I had hoped to build a good relationship with the Selens Earl House, but this is truly disappointing. For now, I will start by cutting off all ties with the Selens Earl’s territory.”
“W-what?”
“T-that can’t be…”
At my declaration, the Selens Earl and his wife lost all color in their faces. The Zafing Marquess Territory and the Selens Earl Territory are adjacent, and one must pass through the Zafing Marquess Territory to reach the Royal Capital. If they were to bypass the Marquess Territory, they would need to take a long detour.
For the Selens Earl House, maintaining a relationship with the Zafing Marquess House was essential. They had likely judged, based on information from Fiona, that I had no potential as the next Marquess.
“I have no desire for friendly relations with a house that plots usurpation.”
“P-please forgive us!!”
The Selens Earl fell to his knees and desperately clung to me. His wife followed suit shortly after.
Seeing her parents kneel before me, Fiona began to tremble uncontrollably.
“Please!!”
“Forgive us!! We were foolish!! Your anger as the Zafing Marquess is justified!! But if you block our access to the Marquess Territory, the Selens Territory will dry up in no time!! Please!! Have mercy!!”
“As the Marquess House, cutting ties with the Selens Earl House won’t cause us any trouble.”
“T-that can’t be… W-wait!! What about renewing the engagement with Fiona!?”
The Selens Earl, as if struck by a sudden idea, proposed renewing the engagement with Fiona. In a way, it showed just how desperate he was.
“The Selens Earl’s daughter will marry my younger brother Leon. This is already decided. Since it has nothing to do with the Zafing Marquess House, it won’t establish any ties between us.”
“T-then…”
“Selens Earl, if you wish to establish a relationship with the Zafing Marquess House, you will need to pay an appropriate price.”
“A… price?”
“Cede Erde Village to me.”
“…Why? That village?”
“It holds value to me. Though I doubt the Selens Earl would see any value in it.”
“What on earth…”
“What will it be? Will you hand over Erde Village? Or not?”
“I… I accept.”
“Good decision. I’ll have the transfer documents prepared immediately.”
I ended the conversation with the Selens Earl and turned my gaze to the Karmais Viscount and the Edior Viscount. The two of them flinched under my stare.
“Now, I might let the Selens Earl off with this, but you two won’t get off so easily.”
“W-wait a moment!!”
“What is it, Edior Viscount? Surely you don’t think a mere Viscount has the right to interrupt me?”
The Edior Viscount gritted his teeth at my words.
“It’s true that Almada is my sister, but she has already married into the Zafing Marquess House as a proxy, and thus has no ties to the Edior Viscount House.”
“Is that so? Then you may leave.”
“Huh?”
The Edior Viscount let out a dumbfounded sound, clearly caught off guard by my words.
“Of course, it’s your freedom to believe you have no involvement.”
“W-what are you talking about?”
“Well, considering what might happen next, it would be a trial in absentia, but I suppose that’s fine with you?”
“A trial in absentia?”
“Indeed. I take it as your declaration that you won’t be able to defend yourself no matter what is said in the future.”
“What are you talking about!?”
The Edior Viscount raised his voice and glared at me, but I continued without paying him any mind.
“I’m looking forward to hearing what that woman has to say in the future.”
“What do you mean?”
“It no longer concerns you, does it? But if that woman were to say something inconvenient about the Edior Viscount House, who would believe your claims of innocence?”
“……”
“That man declared in front of me that he would be the next Zafing Marquess. His basis was the approval of Gazel and Almada, wasn’t it?”
Leon flinched under my gaze.
“So I…”
“I show no mercy to my enemies.”
“Huh?”
I could feel everyone holding their breath at my words. Well, Roy and Aisha’s eyes were sparkling, though.
“Don’t you get it? Gazel and Almada nominated Leon as the next Marquess without any justification. That’s a clear act of hostility towards me. Naturally, I intend to hold their families, the two Viscount Houses, accountable as well. It’s your freedom to claim you have no involvement, Edior Viscount. But whether I show mercy to the Edior Viscount House is an entirely different matter.”
“T-that’s…”
“Did you think I didn’t know that money from the Marquess House was flowing into the Edior Viscount House as well?”
“Huh?”
The Edior Viscount’s face turned pale as he realized he was already cornered.
“Claiming to be uninvolved is underestimating me a bit too much. Well, since you insist on being uninvolved, you may leave now.”
“Wait a moment!”
“Roy, it seems the Edior Viscount is ready to leave.”
“Yes, Viscount, this way please.”
Roy, with a calm expression, guided the Edior Viscount, who was making a desperate, pleading face.
“What on earth is going on!?”
At that moment, Gazel, the former Marquess Proxy, and his wife Almada appeared.
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