How to Survive as a Knight’s Son – Chapter 66

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Teottry
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“Mama, does it hurt?”

“Hmm? Oh… my tummy, aches a bit? It’s nothing to worry my little dear.”

Josephine made an excuse and retreated with her son, not forgetting to glare at me accusingly.

While she was occupied with her son, I rewarded the nanny for her efforts.

“I trust there won’t be any… unfortunate rumors that would inconvenience everyone.”

The nanny, her face flushed, glanced at me nervously, then, seeing the gold coin in her hand, closed her mouth and nodded.

The three of them gradually moved away, leaving a trail of… evidence… on the ground.

Josephine would undoubtedly return. She would need my help to protect her son. There were preparations I needed to make for that time.

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“You’re late—!”

Fiore yelled as soon as I entered the room. I had promised to return quickly, but it was already early evening, so her anger was understandable.

Fiore, naked and wrapped in a blanket, was sitting on the bed. She hadn’t moved an inch.

“I’m sorry. Something came up.”

I sat beside Fiore and slipped my hand under the blanket, taking hers. Fiore pouted and pulled her hand away.

“What happened?”

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Fiore’s face flushed as she heard about what had transpired in the Baron’s office.

“Damn, so he’s not giving you anything? I mean, I’ve heard he’s stingy, but how can anyone be that cheap?”

After ranting about the Baron for a while, Fiore glanced at me and subtly suggested,

“Should we go to Quaran? It might be for the best. We can settle down there permanently. The Lord is completely different from the Baron; she’ll treat you fairly.”

“You know that’s not possible.”

“Because of Usebia?”

Fiore had joined us right before the war, so she hadn’t seen Usebia and me together. However, my blatant behavior must have fueled the rumors.

“Segeric said he intends to marry her off to Earl Bruah.”

“What? To that old man? How unfortunate.”

“You’re smiling.”

Despite her words, the corners of Fiore’s lips twitched. She couldn’t hide her glee at the elimination of a rival.

She definitely needed to be disciplined.

“Ahem, you must have seen wrong! Anyway, there’s nothing we can do now, is there?”

“There is.”

Josephine’s discovery of Ailgar’s illegitimate child would create a rift in their relationship. However, the sunk cost was too high for them to break their alliance completely.

I didn’t want that either. Ailgar’s faction, without Joang Conrad, would be too weak.

‘The rebellion must happen. And it must unfold according to my plan.’

Therefore, Josephine and Joang Conrad would likely try to prevent Ailgar from acknowledging his illegitimate child.

They would seek my help to gain the necessary power.

With Joang Conrad, the most influential figure in political circles, and me, the strongest knight, joining forces, Ailgar wouldn’t be able to act freely, even if he won the civil war.

If necessary, Joang Conrad could even become regent, using his grandson as a puppet. Wasn’t that a rather appealing scenario? He might even prefer it.

‘It’s just wishful thinking, though.’

Ailgar wouldn’t remain idle. He was the type to drag even Baron Debussy into the conflict to achieve victory. It would undoubtedly become a messy free-for-all.

Of course, I didn’t need to think that far ahead. My goal was to make them believe I was on their side, then ask Josephine for a favor in return.

She wouldn’t refuse. My request would benefit all three of them.

The problem was that I needed something before I could ask for that favor.

I embraced Fiore, blanket and all. She struggled, trying to escape.

“I told you before. I never let go of what’s mine, even if I have other women. My love for you won’t change, Fiore.”

I held Fiore’s face and forced her to look at me. I gently kissed her, my gaze lingering on her teary eyes.

“Why did I… have to fall for such a womanizer?”

“Fiore…”

“Kiss me. Properly.”

As our lips met, Fiore kissed me passionately, as if marking her territory. When we parted, her breath was coming in ragged gasps.

“Ha…”

“Fiore, I have a task for you.”

“What is it…?”

“Go to Quaran immediately and deliver this letter to Jin. She’ll give you something in return. You must bring it back before my father’s funeral ends. Can you do that?”

Quaran was further from Polton than Baron Debussy’s capital. The exchange of prisoners and bodies would have to happen before Fiore’s return.

The variable was Fiore’s almost supernatural horsemanship. It was possible, as she could change horses at my manor, which was on the way.

Fiore, who had frowned at the mention of Jin, another woman, looked at my serious expression and asked quietly,

“Is it important?”

“My life depends on it.”

“I’ll go right away.”

Fiore got up without another word. She took the letter I had prepared and left without looking back.

Usebia had been keeping to herself. She hadn’t even attended the victory banquet. Of course, it wasn’t by choice.

The Baron, wary of me, had practically confined her to her room. However, he couldn’t keep her locked up on the Sabbath. Mass wasn’t optional.

After the service, the courtyard and garden in front of the church transformed into a social gathering. It was a moment when the Baron and Baroness, who had been keeping a close eye on Usebia throughout the mass, had to divide their attention.

“Sir Knight…!”

“Usebia.”

Thanks to this opportunity, I was able to meet with Usebia in a secluded corner of the church. She had been sending me longing glances throughout the service, and she rushed into my arms the moment she saw me.

“I was so… so worried…”

I wrapped my arms around her waist and gently lifted her chin. Her teary eyes resembled a deer’s.

“I was able to return safely thanks to the lucky charm you gave me.”

It was a remark reminiscent of the kiss we had shared before I left. A blush crept onto Usebia’s pale cheeks.

“Sir Knight…”

She closed her eyes, tilting her head slightly and puckering her lips.

I kissed her, not a light peck like before, but a deep, passionate kiss, my tongue slipping into her mouth.

“Mmmpph…!”

Startled, she opened her eyes wide and tried to pull away. However, my arm around her waist held her in place.

Flustered, she finally surrendered as my tongue relentlessly explored her mouth. She half-closed her eyes, savoring the sensation of our tongues tangling.

When Usebia began to gasp for air, she pushed against my chest and created some distance between us.

“We shouldn’t do this…”

She murmured, her breath coming in short gasps. Her eyes welled up with tears, which streamed down her cheeks.

“Don’t you love me?”

“I do. I love you very much. But… Father intends to marry me off to a man old enough to be my grandfather…”

“I’m not good enough.”

Usebia shook her head, grasping my hand as I sighed.

“It’s not that you’re not good enough, Sir Knight. It’s just… Father’s greed…”

“Ah, I curse this world. If only we were born into ordinary families, we could have been happy, even if we weren’t wealthy…”

“Sir Knight…”

Usebia buried her face in my chest again. Her tears soaked my shirt. I held her tightly and whispered in her ear,

“I know we shouldn’t, but I can’t help but have… wicked thoughts. If it weren’t for the Baron, our love could have lasted forever.”

“Actually, I joined Lord Segeric’s faction for you. Because he agreed to our marriage.”

Usebia slowly lifted her tear-stained face.

“So you were… thinking of me from the start…?”

“Yes. From the moment I saw you, I vowed to marry you. You knew my feelings, didn’t you?”

“I-I don’t know…”

Usebia buried her face in my chest again, as if remembering our embarrassing first encounter.

I stroked her back and lifted her chin. Usebia, now instinctively half-closing her eyes and puckering her lips, was waiting for me.

“Usebia, I love you.”

“Sir Knight…”

As we kissed, Usebia opened her mouth, inviting my tongue inside. Our tongues tangled, creating lewd, erotic sounds.

Then, as we parted for air,

“Sir Knight, let’s run away… Let’s run away to a place where no one knows us, where no one can find us, and live happily ever after…”

To think Usebia would suggest running away first. It was a testament to how deeply she had fallen for me.

“Don’t you think I want that too? But then you would have to part with your family forever.”

“I don’t care. As long as I have you…”

I shook my head. My desires weren’t limited to her.

“Usebia, I know how painful it is to lose both parents. I can’t bear to inflict the same pain on you, my love.”

“Then are you giving up…?”

Usebia pouted. I kissed her to soothe her, then said,

“Of course not. I’ll convince the Baron. I’ll offer him even more territory and prove that I’m a better match than Earl Bruah.”

“It’s too dangerous. If anything happens to you, I won’t be able to live. Let’s just run away. Please…”

I took Usebia’s hand and squeezed it.

“I returned from the last war without a scratch, didn’t I? It’ll be the same this time. Usebia, trust me. I’ll get his permission, no matter what.”

“Ah… Sir Knight, I trust you. My love. How could I not trust you…?”

“Usebia…”

“Sir Knight…”

Just as we were about to kiss again, gazing at each other lovingly,

“Usebia.”

An icy voice cut through the air. Usebia, startled, pulled away from me and turned around.

“Mother…”

It was Baroness Adelia. She was looking at Usebia with a gentle smile.

“What are you doing here?”

“That is…”

Her smile vanished the moment her gaze fell on me. Armed with an impenetrable dignity and coldness, she placed Usebia behind her and addressed me,

“Sir Allen, it’s time to stop. I believe my husband made himself clear.”

“Mother, I…!”

“Usebia, a daughter of our family must know how to make sacrifices. And don’t worry. Happiness isn’t just about love. I know this from experience.”

I smiled reassuringly at the frustrated Usebia and said,

“Baroness Adelia, with all due respect, I won’t give up on Usebia.”

“Sir Knight…!”

Adelia, her face grim, contrasting sharply with Usebia’s bright smile, shook her head.

“There are many things in this world that cannot be achieved with mere desire, Sir Allen.”

Adelia, pulling Usebia along, turned and left.

I watched the two women, who resembled sisters, walk away and licked my lips. I had planted the seed; now it was time to water it.

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Two weeks later, after my father’s funeral had ended,

Josephine was at the end of the line of mourners offering their condolences. She had been difficult to reach during those two weeks, as she was investigating Ailgar’s illegitimate child.

“Did you discover the truth?”

Josephine, usually cheerful, was uncharacteristically expressionless.

“My father told me to ignore it. He said Dien would be the heir anyway. Even though my husband, who has never smiled at Dien, treats his bastard like he hung the moon.”

Josephine continued, her voice laced with suppressed anger,

“I deserve to be treated like this. But my son has done nothing wrong. I won’t let him be treated the same way as me.”

“What will you do now?”

“You said you would do anything for Usebia? I’ll grant you your wish if you help me.”

The fact that she was offering Usebia as a bargaining chip suggested she was aware of the plot for rebellion.

“What’s the plan?”

“I’ll build a power base to protect my son. Those fools infatuated with me will be even more devoted once I become the Baroness.”

Josephine intended to create a third faction. Was she being naive? She had acted as though she would do anything for her son, yet her goal was so small.

“That’s a rather… underwhelming plan. Especially the part about using your body to gain followers.”

“Do you really think I want to do this? I have no other choice. No other choice.”

I lowered my voice. Mourners were still nearby, waiting for a chance to approach me and build connections.

“Ailgar will try to overthrow the Baron. He can’t abandon his own flesh and blood, at least not publicly, so he’ll imprison the Baron and force him to abdicate.”

“How do you…?”

Josephine’s eyes flickered nervously. I replied casually, as if it were obvious.

“He can’t give Usebia to you as he pleases unless he removes the Baron.”

“And? What’s your plan?”

Josephine, regaining her composure, asked, her gaze filled with newfound trust.

“Is there any reason you can’t do the same?”

I suggested she do to Ailgar what Ailgar was planning to do to the Baron. To place her son on the Baron’s seat.

Josephine took a step back, startled. It seemed like a plan she had never considered. Her voice trembled slightly as she asked,

“What do you want?”

“My desire, from beginning to end, has been Usebia. In exchange for my assistance, I ask that you… ruin Usebia.”

I pressed the object Fiore had given me just before the funeral into Josephine’s hand. Josephine’s face paled as she heard my plan and learned the object’s true nature.

“Don’t you love her?”

“That’s why I’m doing this. This is the only way to prevent her from entering an unwanted marriage.”

Josephine’s and Segeric’s plans shared a common element: rebellion.

If the Baron, in response to this, expedited Usebia’s marriage to Earl Bruah and requested his support, I would be left in the dust.

“Even if it means ruining her?”

That was my intention. To ruin her, to make her unsuitable as a pawn in a marriage alliance. It was the only way to protect her from the Rasino family.

“She’ll be happy in my care.”

“You’re… twisted.”

“Takes one to know one.”

Josephine and I exchanged smiles, our expressions remarkably similar.

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Ay mate! What was that thing you got from fiore,?! Any thought guys?🤔