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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Teottry
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My original plan was to drag Segeric and Ailgar into the war, weaken their factions, and then have them killed by the enemy.
It wasn’t uncommon for high-ranking individuals to die from stray arrows in the chaos of battle.
Conversely, I intended to build my reputation and expand my influence through the war, securing Usebia as a justification to seize the barony.
However, the succession struggle seemed to have ended sooner than expected. What had I missed?
“I intended to spare his life. I even secured Father’s promise. But to mock Father so openly in front of everyone? I couldn’t let him live after that, not even to save face.”
Segeric was justifying his actions, claiming Bolton had brought it upon himself.
It was a valid excuse. However, his continued justifications suggested he was worried about losing my loyalty.
After all, his readily abandoning Bolton, his biggest supporter, would make the other vassals fear a similar fate.
‘He’s acting just like the Baron. He still wants me by his side.’
There was definitely a secret agreement between him and the Baron. To uncover it, I played along.
“He brought it upon himself. To plunder the territory of a fellow vassal serving the same lord? There are lines one shouldn’t cross, even in competition, and Bolton didn’t understand that.”
Segeric, who had been watching me nervously, finally relaxed and smiled.
“He was so arrogant, relying on his family name. I knew he would cause a major incident someday. Why do you think no other family supported him? It’s because he had secluded everyone with his actions.”
It takes one to know one. Was he unaware that abandoning Bolton would damage his own reputation?
After confirming that Segeric had relaxed, I subtly changed the subject.
“I just came from meeting with the Baron.”
“Hmm. What did he say?”
“Congratulations.”
Segeric’s smile widened at my words.
“There’s nothing to congratulate me about. It’s only natural for the eldest son to become the heir. Hahaha.”
It was a simple test, yet Segeric took the bait, believing I knew everything.
He was truly confirmed as the heir. The question was why the decision had been made so quickly.
My returning his smile only solidified his misconception.
“It seems Father has told you everything. Well, I suppose he couldn’t hide it from his future right-hand man.”
“However, I’m worried about Lord Joang.”
Segeric, too, would be concerned about Joang Conrad, Ailgar’s biggest supporter.
As expected, Segeric frowned, still not suspecting anything.
“I’m not happy about it either. Father intends to keep Lord Joang as his left-hand man, but how can I trust him? But what choice do I have? He’s the only vassal capable of managing relations with the neighboring lords.”
My mind raced. Why would the Baron need to maintain good relations with the neighboring lords? I didn’t need to think too hard. There was only one answer.
‘Surely not. Is he planning to seize Baron Debussy’s entire territory?’
It was a difficult notion to accept. While justifications could be fabricated, no lord would welcome the emergence of such a belligerent neighbor, capable of swallowing entire territories.
Appease their concerns and resentment would require substantial bribes. And I was the one who had provided the Baron with the funds for those bribes.
‘The problem is…’
I had to admit I had underestimated the Baron’s greed. I had thought he would be satisfied with a portion of the territory or some rights. The Baron, however, had aimed far higher, exceeding my expectations.
This naturally explained the Baron’s hasty decision regarding the succession.
‘From the Baron’s perspective, both Ailgar’s and Segeric’s supporters are his own.’
Having witnessed Bolton and Ailgar’s supporters being plundered, he must have been concerned about the weakening of his forces.
He couldn’t allow that, not when he was planning to seize Baron Debussy’s entire territory.
“The problem is Baron Debussy’s backing, isn’t it? Can Lord Joang truly handle it?”
Baron Debussy was backed by Earl Bruah. While they weren’t in a vassal-lord relationship, they were close allies, having fought alongside each other in previous wars.
He would undoubtedly intervene if Baron Rasino tried to seize Baron Debussy’s territory.
“…”
Segeric fell silent and avoided my gaze. Had he realized his mistake? But his reaction was strange, as if he were hiding something.
Surely not.
As I stared at him intently, Segeric, his face a mask of discomfort, offered an explanation.
“I objected. To give my sister to a man over fifty? Moreover, hadn’t we agreed to betroth her to you? But Father wouldn’t listen.”
Baron Rasino intended to sell his daughter to overcome the biggest obstacle. To him, the bond forged on the battlefield was something that could be easily broken by a marriage alliance.
“Even when I warned him that he would lose his strongest knight, and even when I offered my position as heir to dissuade him, Father wouldn’t listen.”
Segeric claimed he had done everything in his power to change the Baron’s mind.
I knew it was a lie. Segeric, as greedy as the Baron, wouldn’t sacrifice his own interests for a vassal.
His tune had changed now that the succession struggle was over. He must have decided that his sister was too valuable to be given to a mere knight like me.
Or perhaps he had never intended to keep his promise in the first place.
‘There’s no honor among thieves.’
I wasn’t particularly angry, knowing what kind of person he was. I was simply disappointed in myself for being fooled by him.
Still, thanks to him, I now understood the situation.
Moreover, there was still a chance to recover, as long as Joang Conrad wasn’t sidelined. He wouldn’t give up so easily, just as he hadn’t in the future that would no longer be.
“I appreciate your words. However, my concern for Lord Joang stems from a different reason.”
“Hmm? Ah, I thought I told you that Father had told me everything?”
While it was Segeric who had jumped to that conclusion, I didn’t bother correcting him.
Relieved to have avoided an awkward situation, Segeric’s face brightened again.
“But why are you worried about Lord Joang?”
“Isn’t it strange that Lord Joang is so readily obeying the Baron?”
“Are you suggesting that Lord Joang would defy Father?”
“He’s the one who married his daughter to Lord Ailgar. It’s a sign of his ambition. And Lord Ailgar won’t accept this lying down.”
As I mentioned before, seizing an entire territory required a plausible justification and the tacit approval of the neighboring lords and nobles with vested interests.
However, in the future that would no longer be, Baron Debussy had seized Baron Rasino’s territory. This was thanks to the civil war that weakened Baron Rasino’s forces and the justification provided by Joang Conrad.
‘Yes. They rebelled.’
While the circumstances were different, the overall flow of events was remarkably similar.
Segeric, oblivious to this, waved his hand dismissively, as if he had just heard a funny joke.
“Father has already made his decision. There’s nothing they can do to change it. You seem troubled by my sister’s situation, but don’t worry too much. I’ll find you a match just as good as my sister.”
He dismissed my concern as a mere frustration over losing Usebia.
Segeric, having secured his victory, had become arrogant. This was his true nature, simply masked by his rivalry with Ailgar.
“I’m worried about you, Lord Segeric. Put yourself in their shoes. Would you give up so easily?”
“Hmm…”
Segeric finally wavered after I put it that way.
“What if… what if Lord Ailgar and Lord Joang were to do something drastic while you’re away?”
Segeric’s attitude finally changed when I suggested he could be harmed. He asked incredulously,
“Something drastic? Surely not…?”
“Why do you think Bolton crossed the line? A cornered rat will bite a cat.”
There was no need for a lengthy explanation. Bolton served as a perfect example.
“I should inform Father. Warn him to be wary of Ailgar and Joang.”
Segeric shifted restlessly, as if about to seek out the Baron immediately.
“He won’t believe you. You have no evidence, only suspicions. He’ll dismiss it as a petty ploy to avoid being sent away and trust you even less.”
I stopped Segeric. If the rebellion was quelled before it even began, Segeric’s position would be even more secure. I didn’t want that.
‘The plan remains the same, only the setting changes. From war to civil war.’
A crisis is also an opportunity. If things went according to plan, I could seize the barony even sooner than originally intended.
Segeric, pausing mid-stride, looked back at me.
“Then what do you suggest?”
“Even if they do something drastic, you can retaliate as long as you remain safe. So, have Muel prepare for such a contingency. He just needs to buy me time until I return from Quaran.”
Segeric looked touched.
“You’re the only one who cares about me so much. But will that be enough? Shouldn’t we take preemptive action?”
True to his bloodline, Segeric was driven by greed and wanted to take a more proactive approach.
“Father may have acknowledged me as his heir, but people’s hearts are fickle. He could easily change his mind and choose my brother if he’s dissatisfied with me.”
That couldn’t happen. The civil war had to happen, for my sake as well. Moreover, Segeric wasn’t one to dirty his own hands. He would undoubtedly use me as his blade.
If that happened, not only would I fail to achieve my goals, but I would also be placing a leash around my own neck and handing the reins to Segeric.
“There’s no need for you to tarnish your reputation. If they act, you can intervene and stop them, achieving the same goal while gaining fame and recognition.”
It wouldn’t be easy. If things went south, Ailgar and Joang would likely seek help from Baron Debussy, just as they had in the future that would no longer be.
“Oh…! You’re right!”
Of course, Segeric hadn’t thought that far ahead. He grasped both my hands enthusiastically. I suppressed my disgust and smiled.
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“Ha…”
I breathed a sigh of relief as I left Segeric’s room. With the preparations in place, the crisis would soon turn into an opportunity. Now, there were two remaining problems.
Usebia’s marriage and the Baron, who had become an uncontrolled variable.
If I couldn’t control the Baron, there was no guarantee this wouldn’t happen again, even if I resolved the current situation.
The same applied to Usebia’s marriage. The Baron had made it clear he had no intention of giving his daughter to me after this incident.
Ultimately, the Baron was the problem.
‘It’s time to remove the Baron from the stage.’
The question was how. Killing the Baron, who was always surrounded by guards, wouldn’t be easy, and if I acted directly, I would never achieve my goals and would become a fugitive.
Therefore, I needed someone else to kill the Baron, someone who could bypass his guards.
As I pondered this,
“You seem troubled as well.”
The sound of footsteps and a voice approached. Josephine, wearing a low-cut dress, was standing behind me.
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Round 2 for the cuckold Josephine!! Lez goo!
