I Was Reincarnated as a Marquis in Another World- Chapter 24

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Bobto
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“A message from His Excellency Marquis Kreutel.

The former Duke Nantes is critically ill, so there is an order to move to the duchy of Nantes immediately!

Please hurry.”

Upon hearing the news that Duke Nantes was critically ill, the image of the Duke applying powder to hide his pale face came to mind.

I thought he could die at any time since then, but according to the memories engraved in this body, he should have lived for one more year…

“I understand, you come with me too.

Soldiers over there tell Helmut and Varso to come here right away.

It’s late at night now, so we’ll depart tomorrow.”

**

Normally, it would take a week by carriage, but thanks to urgently driving the carriage, we were able to arrive at the duchy of Nantes in just 5 days.

When we arrived at the Duke’s mansion, the steward there came out to greet us.

“You arrived faster than expected. Thank you for coming.

Marquis Kreutel arrived 3 days ago.

Please wait a moment, and I will guide you to your room.”

“Please do.”

A moment later, a young steward stood behind the elderly steward in front of me and whispered in a small voice that I couldn’t hear.

And the elderly steward said,

“There is no place to stay in the Duke’s mansion…

So, could you stay at the villa?”

“… The villa, I understand.”

“Thank you. Erich, please guide them.”

**

The villa was about a 30-minute walk from the Nantes Duke’s mansion.

The mansion with a brick wall, walls painted with white lime, and a red roof was like a cute house from somewhere like Greece, so I liked it.

“You said your name is Erich? I really like the mansion. Thank you.”

“Thank you, young master.”

“Then I’ll be going now.”

With those words, the steward who guided me bowed his head and left.

After confirming that the steward had left, I turned to Varso and Helmut behind me and said,

“Helmut, you organize the luggage we brought here, and Varso, come with me to see my father right away.”

“Yes, young master.”

**

Actually, my physical condition is not very good right now.

Because I urgently came in 5 days, a distance that should have taken a week, and on top of that, I hurriedly drove the already extremely shaky carriage.

My buttocks on the carriage seat were bruised to the point of being tortured.

However, if I rest for a night like ordinary people for the sake of my comfort now, I may miss the best timing, so I have no choice.

Dragging my tired body and walking a little further, I soon arrived at the room in the Duke’s mansion where the Marquis was staying.

Before entering the room, I knocked on the door three times and said,

“Father, it’s Ciel von Kreutel. May I come in?”

“Come in.”

I opened the door and entered the room where the Marquis was staying.

Inside the room, there was a carpet made of an oriental rug on the floor, and on top of it was a bed large enough for 4 people to lie on, a sofa and desk, and an office desk and chair for work.

The Marquis was sitting on the sofa on the inner side of the room.

“Father.”

Upon hearing those words, the Marquis answered my words after a brief moment.

“Ah, I’m sorry… Yes, sit down.”

As I sat on the sofa, the Marquis sighed and said,

“Since the last audience, I had been mentally preparing myself…

But I never thought he would deteriorate so rapidly. I just saw him a moment ago, and it seems he doesn’t have much time left.. He won’t last a week.”

“Is that so? For Duke Nantes to become so weak…”

“But there’s an even bigger problem.”

“An even bigger problem? What is it?”

The Marquis made an expression of having no answer and said in a heavy voice,

“Marquis Eiland, Marquis Circland, and Marquis Hyber are trying to increase their political power, taking advantage of this opportunity.

They won’t directly draw their swords and wage a civil war, but…

When Duke Nantes passes away, won’t it be difficult for young Duke Schwein to govern the duchy of Nantes…”

First of all, Schwein von Nantes is only 25 years old now.

Moreover, when I had an audience with the Duke last time, seeing how he called me at night and offered women to me…

He is a human mess who lacks the minimum discernment and is fond of money, alcohol, and women.

In the Marquis’ eyes, he may not seem that much of a mess because he is still the “lord of the duchy of Nantes.”

Anyway, in the eyes of marquises in their 40s and 50s, Duke Schwein, who has such qualities, will only be seen as a fool who is fond of “women, alcohol, and money.”

So I silently nodded my head in response instead of answering.

“At least, until now, there was no problem even if they glared because Duke Nantes was alive…

But what will happen when he passes away?

They will surely blow all sorts of strange winds to Duke Schwein, who will become the Duke Nantes Nantes.”

As the Marquis said, according to my memories, Schwein von Nantes will soon hand over virtually all authority to the three marquises: Eiland, Circland, and Hyber.

In return, he lived day by day immersed in women and alcohol, and because of the choices made by him, the territory was trampled by an overwhelmingly large army.

So, as someone who knows this future, the Marquis’ “foresight” looked quite dazzling to me.

First, to comfort the Marquis, I mixed in a “little lie” and said,

“Shouldn’t you stop that, Father?

And Duke Schwein, whom I met, although he is a little fond of women and alcohol, he properly inherited Duke Nantes’ foresight.

Don’t worry too much.”

As if he gained a little energy from those words, the Marquis said with a bitter smile,

“Yes, that’s right. You’re correct. And thank you for coming quickly.

I thought it would take a few more days.”

“Well, didn’t you say that Duke Nantes, who has cherished me since I was young, is in critical condition?

I had to come putting everything aside. As a retainer.”

“I have indeed raised a good son.

Alright, go now, I have to visit Duke Nantes, who is now lying in his sickbed, tomorrow afternoon, so let’s go together.

If you have any ideas to prevent the schemes of those three before that, please let me know.”
“Yes, Father.”

After finishing those words, I closed the door and left the room where the Marquis was staying.

And after walking a little further, when I reached a place where no one was around, I said in a quiet voice,

“No, Marquis.

I will abandon that Duke bastard.

If he were at least at the level of Duke Nantes, I would follow him, but that Schwein bastard is useless.

He’s just fattened up like a pig and fond of women, crossing the line…

How can I serve such a person and survive in this chaotic medieval world?”

**

The next morning, when the promised time came, I headed to the bedroom where the Duke was lying.

The Duke was lying on a small bed barely large enough for one person to lie on, and chairs were placed around it for me and the Marquis.

As we entered, the Duke’s attending physician, who was standing at the head of the bed, said to us in a quiet voice,

“Marquis Kreutel, and young master.

Today, the Duke is in relatively good condition, so I think you can have a longer conversation.

But since loud voices are not good for the Duke, please don’t cry too loudly even if you get emotional.”

“I understand, doctor.”

With those words, the attending physician who was standing at the head of the bed left for a moment for us.

As I sat in my seat, the Marquis stroked the Duke’s hand and said,

“Duke Nantes, Paul has come.

Forgive me for being a little late.”

After a moment, the Duke answered with difficulty.

“P-Paul? Hoho, thank you for coming quickly.

Yes, is the one next to you your son, Ciel?

My eyes can’t see well now, so show me your face up close.”

Following those words, I got up from my seat and showed my face in front of the Duke.

“You’ve become manly. Yes, how old are you?”
“I’m 17 this year.”

“17 years old, I see. Are you married? If not, it’s better to do it soon.”

“I haven’t found the right person yet… Won’t it happen soon?”

Upon hearing those words, the Duke laughed for a moment with a cough-filled laughter and then said,

“The genius of Kreutel who not only created a new farming method but also earns a tremendous amount of money with sugar is ignorant about love…

Your father was against it, but right now, your lover…”

“Your Excellency, please spare me.”

“Hoho, alright. I’ll spare you in front of your son, Kreutel.”

Next, we spent about an hour chatting about all sorts of things.

The Marquis and the Duke reminisced about memories on the battlefield, the mischief they committed before marriage, stories like the “spear” the Duke sent as a commemoration when I was born, from bright stories to the sadness when the Duke’s wife died giving birth to Schwein, and the stories of countless comrades who died in the war…

While telling those stories, the two of them were reminiscing about the weight of the life they had walked together.

Perhaps worried that I might be bored, when telling stories about mischief or memories on the battlefield, the Duke would unnaturally pretend to be close, saying, “Hoho, how about this for a young man?”

Most likely, he was planning to make me, Ciel von Kreutel, the son of Kreutel Marquis whom he trusts, feel the maximum sympathy and intimacy towards the Duke and Schwein his son.

And by doing so, he hoped that I would serve Schwein von Nantes, just as Paul von Kreutel had done.

His appearance of giving up his dignity as a lord for that seemed a little pitiful.

And after a little more time passed.

“So, it’s better to get married quickly.

Yes, if you really can’t… Cough.”

The Duke, who was talking happily, suddenly vomited bright red blood on his blanket.

When I was startled to see him, I tried to go out to call the doctor who would be waiting outside the door.

At that moment, the Duke, who was already nothing but bones, grabbed my hand so hard that it hurt and stopped me, saying,

“Wait. Just a moment.

I have something I want to say for the last time… Yes, Paul.”

The Marquis, who had been talking happily until just now, began to shed tears and answered.

“Yes, my lord.”

“I envy you for having such an excellent son…

Then, even if you’re not here, Ciel will do well, won’t he?”

“Yes…”

“I ask of you, Paul von Kreutel. Just as you cherished me, now cherish my son…”

Upon hearing that, the Marquis just quietly shed tears.

“And Ciel von Kreutel.”

“Yes, Duke Nantes.”

“From the moment I die, you are the Marquis of Kreutel.

In place of your father, govern that territory well. Your father must protect my son.”

… At this moment, I effectively gained full authority over the Kreutel Marquisate.

I had hoped for it to some extent, but I never thought it would work out this well…

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