Chapter 144

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 144

Chapter Title: Intimidating Baron Eston

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After learning that Seto had received the spirit's blessing, I immediately sought out the owner of the mine where the stones had been excavated.

"Baron Eston? Hmm... I've heard the name somewhere."

"Aren't you confusing him with the Estera family? Eston is a provincial noble. He's so clueless about imperial affairs that he dared come straight to Duvered and demand extra payment with his foolish words. Not someone worth Little One's notice."

Sometimes ignorance breeds courage, and Baron Eston seemed just the type.

I nodded as I bit into a peach.

'A pup with its guts hanging out.'

"Even if I give that pup everything he wants, I need to get the spirit mine in my hands as quickly as possible."

"Just send word, and he'll fly to the capital right away. No need to worry."

I left it to the Chairman to meet Baron Eston directly. I figured the Chairman, with his keen eye for people, would wrap things up easily.

That was before Baron Eston's arrogant letter arrived.

A few days later, I let out a hollow laugh upon reading the letter from Baron Eston that had been delivered to the Chairman.

[That price was agreed upon on a spring day. Far too much time has passed since then. Show me compensation for the time I've wasted.]

Seria, who had checked the letter's contents alongside me, frowned.

"Has someone made contact? This confident attitude suggests he knows the value of our mine."

"Hard to approach from Nodell. They don't have spare funds right now. And Marsch wouldn't step forward directly. Duke Marsch is far too cunning an old fox to leave any traces. Besides, there's no way they could know about the blessing we stumbled upon by chance."

"Then it really is a pup with its guts out."

The one buying up the mine wasn't me, the head of the Hope Merchant Association, but the Lady Duvered.

Everyone would know Duke Duvered was backing the deal, even if the Chairman handled the negotiations.

'Wants to boost his house's standing by tangling with Duvered this time?'

Winning a deal against Duvered would make for quite the heroic tale.

I glanced slyly at the Chairman.

His expression was as leisurely as ever, but after spending five years practically glued to his side, I knew better.

'Baron Eston is dead...'

The Chairman rose to his feet.

"It seems Duvered has been far too lenient lately. Even ants are crawling up the walls."

"......"

"Leave it to me. I'll handle it swiftly so there's no further embarrassment in front of Little One."

"Mmm..."

I silently offered a prayer in my heart.

The Chairman was a capable and entertaining grandfather figure in my presence, but I couldn't forget his true nature.

That man had been Duke Duvered's greatest political adversary.

A vassal of the great nobles and Duvered's second-in-command, he maintained tight ties with the temples and other great houses. He was the unchallenged powerhouse of the Duvered Elder Council, a force even the late Duke couldn't subdue.

Just the name Jean-Marc Nuanoque was enough to make seasoned great nobles back down—the commanding general guarding Duvered's front lines.

"I'll be back shortly."

I shouted after the Chairman as he headed for the door.

"Don't kill him...!"

The Chairman gave a slight nod and closed the door behind him. Thud! The sound was chilling.

A few days later.

Baron Eston, thoroughly drunk since sunset, staggered back to his mansion leaning on an acquaintance, hiccuping all the way.

"Now Omar Eston's future is about to shine bright! Eh?"

"Aigoo, no need to say it. Truly impressive. Please just walk properly."

"Everyone trembles at the name Duvered, but it's not really that scary! Deals are all about bluffing. It's a battle of wits—who controls the situation better, eh? You get it?"

"Yes, yes."

Baron Eston was an arrogant man. His lifelong grudge was being overshadowed by great nobles despite abilities that rivaled theirs, all because his house was on the decline.

"This time, my name will spread across the entire empire. Everyone will know just how exceptional Omar Eston is...!"

Thumping his chest, Baron Eston entered the mansion's central courtyard and scowled.

"The master is home, so why isn't a single soul here! You bastards...!!"

That was when he bellowed.

"M-Master."

A maid hurried over with quick steps.

"A guest has arrived."

"Showing up at a mansion without its master isn't a guest—it's an intruder! Who dares be so rude to me—"

"The Chairman of the Duvered Elder Council."

At the maid's words, Baron Eston's eyes flew wide open.

'Jean-Marc Nuanoque?'

His drunken haze cleared in an instant. His acquaintance groaned "Ho..." and nodded.

"Impressive indeed. How did you manage to draw that proud old codger here in person?"

"Hmph. No matter how glued to his seat that fool is, he's just a vassal of some great duke. Where's the old man!"

That was when it happened.

"No need to look. I've come personally."

A low voice spoke, and something thudded to the ground at his feet.

A blood-soaked Eston family soldier collapsed there, writhing like a worm.

"Wh-what... What is the meaning of this outrage!"

The Chairman lightly wiped the blood from his fingertips with a handkerchief.

"Arrogant, just like his master. He dared block my path with spears and swords, so I obliged by gutting him as requested."

"Th-this...! I'll report you to the imperial palace! Trespassing and assaulting soldiers—are you insane?"

The Chairman's lips twisted into a sneer.

"What a dullard. How does one stay sane when facing foes who hide blades in every glance, every flick of the tongue, every knuckle?"

"Wh-what?"

The Chairman slowly advanced on Baron Eston.

"Sanity wasn't in the cards for me from birth. I left behind things like morality, justice, and trust in my mother's womb."

"D-don't come any closer! I'm going straight to the palace...!"

"Hey. Let me ask you something."

The Chairman drew right up to Baron Eston and posed his question.

"Will the palace guards drag me away first, or will I take your head first?"

"...!"

"By the time anyone from the palace arrives, I'll have tidied up and left. What complaints can a corpse make?"

"Th-that... Even as a Duvered vassal, murdering a noble is...!"

"One more question."

The Chairman clapped a hand on his shoulder.

"How many men do you think I've killed for Duvered up to now?"

[You really plan to go up against Duvered? They say it's a gathering of villains unlike any in the world. If hell exists on earth, that's it. What's prestige worth? Is there anything more precious than your life?]

Words from someone echoed in his mind. Baron Eston, pale as a ghost, swallowed dryly.

"Adding one more body to the pile is no great feat for me."

"I-I... What I said was just..."

Drained of color, Baron Eston slumped to the ground.

"Spare me..."

"Bring the mine documents."

Baron Eston flailed a trembling arm at the maid.

The maid rushed off and returned with the mine sale papers. Without a second thought, the baron stamped his seal.

As he handed over the documents with shaking hands, the Chairman crushed his fingers underfoot.

"Argh..."

"Remember this. You're alive today only because our gentle master commanded that your life be spared."

"Y-yes... Your grace is as vast as the heavens."

"One day, you'll repay this debt with your life."

The baron bowed his head deeply.

The Chairman returned with the mine documents in hand. His face bore the usual half-dazed grandfatherly expression—one I'd seen plenty of times.

"...How did you settle it?"

"Through a nice conversation."

"Sounds fishy..."

I narrowed my eyes at the Chairman before shrugging it off with a "Whatever" and taking the papers.

"Prepare Seto. I'm coming along to the mine."

"Will His Grace permit it?"

"Said to bring either Henri or Ishak. Seems Yohan's busy."

"He's to become the successor to the great cause, after all."

His words brought to mind Yohan, who had become crown prince.

'Cool, so cool.'

Yohan was fairly benevolent and highly capable—a perfect crown prince candidate.

Henri and Ishak would make fine princes too.

'I'll raise them well to be outstanding.'

I nodded, resolve firm.

"Then you organize the documents, Chairman. I need to head back to the mansion."

"Yes."

With Seria and the Chairman seeing me off, I stepped out of the merchant association.

As I headed toward the waiting carriage, someone called out from afar.

"Wha...! No, Little One!"

"Seto?"

I smiled at the boy who came rushing over.

"Why run like that? You'll fall. Aigo, your clothes are filthy. Filthy."

I'd given him clean clothes that morning, and they were already grubby. I brushed the dirt from his sleeves.

"Th-this is a gift... A-a flower that looks like Little One... Um, I picked it from the mountain...!"

"A flower like me, picked from the mountain?"

"Yes..."

Seto shyly hunched his shoulders.

'Cute, so cute!'

Why were all kids this adorable?

I giggled and carefully placed the tattered wildflower on my handkerchief.

"Thank you. I'll treasure it."

Seto's face turned beet red again as he fidgeted.

That was when it happened.

"Hey!"

What now?

I immediately scowled at the familiar voice and turned.

"Hayton."

"Why haven't you replied to any messages?"

"I gave you living expenses."

"It's not about money... What's that dirty thing?"

Hayton frowned, glaring at the flower Seto had given me.

"Mind your manners. It's not dirty—it's a flower. A gift."

"Hmph. What kind of gift is that weed?"

Come to think of it, Hayton was holding a massive bouquet himself.

But then.

"Sis!"

"Leblain."

I looked around in bewilderment.

"Lionel? Adrian... no, Your Highness, why are you here?"

Lionel, face flushed, ran right up to me.

"Heard you were in the shopping district..."

He was panting hard, clearly having rushed over.

"Can go out now?"

"Yeah! I'm a grand duke now!"

The procedures must finally be done. I smiled and patted Lionel's shoulder.

"Good work. But seriously, why's Your Highness here?"

"......"

"Hm?"

"Missed you."

"...Huh?"

The moment I registered his words, sharp glares stabbed at me from all sides.

'Why are these kids suddenly all gathered here, geared up to fight!'