85
One thing can be certain for now.
Viscount Wolfgang will suffer a tremendous political blow because of this.
Driven out of his lineage, a former lunatic nobleman appeared out of nowhere and completely ruined the ball, daring to frame an attack on Kyleson Viscount, who held authority just below the nobility of “Repelheight.”
Naturally, it was a move made with the knowledge that there was a new subordinate of “Repelheight” present here.
Facing certain death if left as is, they wielded the shield of the untouchable “Imperial Family.”
As a result, the ball was completely ruined, and everyone, from noblewomen to commoners, even students, could fully indulge in gossip here.
The nobles who attended hastily left the ballroom, casting unbelievable glances at me and Ebnis who remained in the ballroom, at Lizelirias seated on the throne, and at Reyna von Wolfgang in turn.
They will now spread today’s events throughout the empire.
The news that Viscount Wolfgang’s hosted ball was ruined by a lunatic from Repelheight will now spread like wildfire, sweeping through the empire.
Good.
This way, I take another step towards my goal.
And.
“…Reyna.”
The extinguished ballroom, where everyone fled as if running away.
“Why… Why did you do this?”
The Viscount, looking at the wide-open exit, had a bewildered expression.
“…I have built Wolfgang up to this point. But why did you destroy it all! Can you still call yourself a Wolfgang after this!”
The Viscount’s booming voice echoed through the empty ballroom walls.
However,
“Father.”
Reyna standing beside me didn’t even blink.
Clack, her shoe stepped on the ballroom floor, advancing. Her dress fluttered as well.
“Mother always told you, Father.”
“…”
“Parties, celebrations, balls. The prestige built by those events is like a tower made of paper. The status of a lineage is not built by such superficial events. It is built by the lord’s abilities, prudent foresight, bold investments, the ability to make up for losses even if they occur.”
The Viscount answered with a furrowed brow.
“……That was because Froland didn’t know anything, and you were still young. Being a noble is not just about solving things with those kinds of methods.”
“Is that what the person who tried to undermine the Wolfang family by squeezing the Froland family said?”
The count remained silent.
Reyna continued as if she would not yield.
“Mother always gave advice for Father’s sake. And in the end? After Mother fell ill and suffered, did Father ever meet her even once? Even on the day she left this world, I was the only one by her side.”
Reyna smiled now as if she was nothing, but there was a clear mockery in her words.
“Looking at that face, it seems like you feel guilty, but what can you do now that it’s already too late? By the way, Lady Alren never gave any advice or words of wisdom to the count. Was that really what you call working for the family?”
The count said nothing.
Lady Alren also said nothing.
“If that was working for the family, then I don’t know.”
“Reyna.”
“Father, look around you. The winners and losers have already been determined.”
“…Are you telling me to give up my position to you?”
“It’s still premature. But considering Father’s position, I should take over soon.”
“Bold words. However…”
He suddenly looked behind him at the group of servants, including Alphren and Fromman, who were standing there.
“It seems like it might not be premature, as you say.”
He said with a sly smile.
“Reyna, since you have raised objections to the family, drive her out and present Alphren as the new successor. If he can make up for the failure, nothing will happen.”
…Well.
I thought it would turn out something like this.
Now it’s my turn to step forward.
“Count.”
After looking at me, the count did not respond.
“You seem to have misunderstood something.”
“…What?”
I lightly tapped the cane I was holding.
And then.
“What, what is this…?”
The group of servants standing behind him all moved towards me at once.
The startled count reached out his hand and shouted.
“What are these people doing…? Can’t they come back!”
No one listened.
“Count, you may not know.”
One more word.
From Noble mtl dot com
This time, Fromman, the butler who was quietly standing behind, walked towards me.
“Fromman! How dare you…! Are you betraying your master?”
“Miss, all the knights and soldiers of the family now follow Miss,” he said.
“Thank you, Fromman.”
And.
My final word marking the turning point.
“It has been quite a while since I lost trust, perhaps a long time ago.”
And.
“Ah, Alphren?”
“Alphren, where are you going? That’s not the way!”
As Alphren came this way, ultimately, no one was left behind the Count and Countess.
I faced the Count with a face full of despair, meeting his eyes, and lightly smiled.
“…It seems like the game is already over, isn’t it, Count? There is no one left to follow you. You may have valued ‘Wolfang’ above all else, but Reyna considered what came after ‘Wolfang’ important.”
“…You!”
“Count, you probably don’t know the ‘names’ of all the servants and cooks who have worked in this mansion for over a year, thanks to Reyna. Why? Because you were only interested in giving Reyna the title of ‘successor of Wolfang.’ I dare say you don’t even know what kind of food Reyna likes. If you do, try answering.”
He fell silent.
“I didn’t expect you to have no answer to this extent.”
“…Marquis.”
He clenched his fist tightly and trembled.
“I will inform the Marquis of all this. Messenger! Bring a messenger!”
At the same time, a voice cut through.
“Count Kaisen, I’m sorry, but that can’t be done.”
“Viscount! Let me tell you in advance, the issue regarding Repelheight is merely the scheming of that rascal…”
“Then what’s this? I can’t be mistaken.”
As soon as Ebnis saw the small notebook in his hand, the Count’s expression crumbled.
He remembered. That notebook was the key item that provided the trigger for downfall.
In that notebook, all of the Count’s plans would be written.
The only ones with access to the Count’s bedroom were Alphren and Fromman even here.
“…So, is it that no one is on my side anymore?”
“Even though the decisive evidence is here, will you still deny it?”
“Count.”
“Father, it’s over for you now.”
The final blow was dealt.
For a moment, as he murmured something with his head bowed, he swiftly slipped his hand into his embrace and pounded the floor.
“You, what…!”
“What is this…!”
“…The way to revert everything back to normal is now gone.”
From within his embrace, he pulled out a dagger stained crimson.
The direction it aimed at was straight towards me.
“Count, how far do you intend to fall into disgrace?”
“I have already fallen as far as I can. Even if I fall further, there’s nothing I can’t do. I will fight to the end!”
With that shout, he thrust the dagger forward with all his might.
And.
After tapping my staff on the ground, I spoke in a low voice.
“Count Kaisen. You have brought destruction upon yourself.”
Here is the translated excerpt:
#### Continued.
“I clearly saw your intention to harm me in front of me, Viscount.”
A gust of wind blew.
The shadow of the princess, who had been sitting on the throne, disappeared without a trace.
And then.
“【Radiant Sword: True】.”
Long, flowing silver hair, and red eyes that flashed like a ghost.
The silver dress fluttered, and a sword of unmatched radiance swung.
Kwaaang!
The following dagger turned into pieces, and the pieces transformed into particles of light and disappeared into the air.
“……【Divine Sword: Execution】.”
Then, Ebenis also drew a sword made of transparent light magic and aimed it at Count Caisen’s neck.
And then.
“【Intermediate Fire Elemental Magic: Flame Lance】.”
Even a ‘fire’ elemental magic wielded by a sorcerer with the same black-haired sword was aimed at him.
There is no way out.
“……Why, I just wanted to… hahahaha…, hahahahaha….”
A hollow laughter echoed through the dark ballroom.
* * *
Count Caisen crossed an unstoppable river and chose the exile to the eastern countryside proposed by Rezirelyas.
Originally, it was a grave crime that should have resulted in execution, but Alphren was not yet of legal age, with only eight counts of murder, and neither was Reina.
And considering that there should be no interruption in the succession of the family, and ultimately, no one had died, the verdict was reached.
During the three-day grace period, he almost handed over all authority to Reina von Wolfgang and appointed her as the acting lord.
It is said that this matter will be conducted under the supervision of Princess Rezirelyas.
And as soon as the handover process is completed, he swore to confine himself to the eastern countryside territory without coming out.
Then, as soon as Reina graduates, she even declared that she would pass on the lordship.
Countess Alren wept, but there was no other way.
And that evening.
Ebenis said there was a mountain of things to be dealt with in this matter, and after giving me a lot of annoyance, he returned to Repelheit first.
“……Reina, are you there?”
“Yes, come in.”
When I opened the door to the lord’s office and entered, he was standing by the window, looking outside.
“Are you okay?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“……I thought you were lost in thought, not thinking about what happened during the day.”
“Oh, just… I felt that my father never changed his perspective until the end. But he was always that kind of person, so there’s nothing we can do. But still, we… won, didn’t we?”
Yeah.
We won.
“That’s right. You’re right.”
As I said that, it was when I was walking forward.
Beyond the window that Reyna was gazing out of, a blue message appeared.
“……Ugh.”
“Adrian?”
[Oh, what an achievement!]
[You have completed an unknown hidden side quest!]
[The things you displayed at the ball will spread throughout the west, no, the entire empire!]
[A reward will be given!]
[The entire Von Wolfgang family will be incorporated into your influence. The official ‘lordship’ confirmation and handover from Reyna Von Wolfgang will begin. You can now use the Von Wolfgang family’s personnel and troops under Reyna Von Wolfgang’s permission!]
[Reyna Von Wolfgang’s first breakthrough is very close!]
[By taking a completely different path from the original, your ‘progress’ has increased to 25 percent. Congratulations! You have surpassed one-fourth of your ending!]
[The royal family is beginning to take notice of you! As a result, Princess Lizerilias will face numerous constraints! You must do your best to assist her!]
[The ‘Marquis of Raphelheight’ will soon hear about you!]
“Adrian, are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just felt dizzy for a moment.”
…Unseen to her, he clenched his fist tightly.
Thanks to this incident, the Von Wolfgang family was now completely under his control.
The second-in-command of the west had fallen completely under his influence.
Moreover, his name was spreading throughout the empire, almost completing Reyna’s first breakthrough conditions. Not to mention that the royal family, as well as the Marquis, were expected to hear about him.
This is truly… a reward befitting the hard work, isn’t it?
“Hmm, I don’t feel like staying here. Let’s go outside, Adrian.”
“Okay.”
I climbed up with him onto the castle walls, looking at the starry sky.
Reyna, standing next to me, tapped the ground with her boot and said,
“…Are we going back now?”
“Yes, everything is finished.”
“Well… I guess I won’t see you for the rest of the break.”
“Princess Lizerilias is staying here for three days.”
“It’s not about that! Princess Lizerilias is truly a wonderful person but…”
With a despondent voice, I found my hand unknowingly resting on his head.
“Adrian?! Isn’t this too early?!”
“What? There’s barely three weeks left anyway. Finish your work here and then come back.”
“What about you, Adrian?”
“I’ll stay at the Merling Manor. I have nowhere else to go.”
He gazed into the distance for a moment, then nodded in my direction.
“Okay, got it. I’ll return as a competent deputy lord so no one will be disappointed.”
“Alright.”
“Oh, and Adrian…”
“What is it?”
“My, my hands are cold from being outside too long, could you, could you hold them…?”
“Isn’t it summer now?”
“….”
There’s no avoiding it.
As I held his hand, it was incredibly warm.
…Didn’t he say he was cold?
When I asked with my eyes, he turned his head and murmured.
“I just told my first lie in my life.”
“Try not to do it again.”
Even so, I didn’t let go of the hand I held.
* * *
And so, the next morning.
“Then I’ll be waiting.”
“Do I need to be careful?”
Getting on the waiting carriage, it departed. The Wolf Gang estate faded into the distance. I saw him waving his hand until he was out of sight.
Now, it’s time to go back to Selenium.
So much has happened this week.
I’ve chosen a completely different path from the original work.
But that doesn’t mean I have no reason to challenge this world.
I am a veteran.
And I’m someone who’s heading towards my own ending.