Margrave’s Bastard Son was The Emperor - Chapter 95

Chapter 95

“Lord Romandro? Where has Lord Ian gone?”

Steward Simon asked with curiosity as he saw Romandro walking alone down the hallway. Romandro waved his hand dismissively as if it was nothing significant and promptly requested some items as he entered.

“Bring me parchment, a pen, and ink.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Upon entering the bedroom, a strong smell of blood and thick cigarette smoke hit him. Inside, the sobbing of Dive could be heard continuously, and Countess Lien sat indifferently on the sofa.

“Have you arrived? Where is lord Ian?”

“He had some urgent matters to attend to but will return shortly, Madam.”

Romandro looked around and sat opposite her. It was evident that there were things to be discussed, and Countess Lien, too, glanced at Romandro while being mindful of the inner bedroom.

“What is it?”

“Madam, Ian has asked me to convey a message. He suggests that it would be best if you kept the seal once secured.”

“Ah.”

Countess Lien exclaimed in surprise. This was a sign from Ian. If she decided, he was willing to support her in overthrowing the Merellof family.

Romandro quietly muttered while pouring some cooled tea.

“I will submit a report, but depending on the discussions above, another investigator might be dispatched. By that time, both I and Ian won’t be able to assist you by your side, as we will be on our way to the central region.”

“I have to do this alone, then.”

“The detailed plan will be discussed once things are somewhat settled. So, will you continue to keep the seal?”

It was a question of whether she intended to become the head of the family.

Countess Lien glanced briefly at the inner bedroom. Dive had come in bluntly, not even bothering to greet her. Considering her a slave-born sister-in-law was degrading enough, but if that man became the next Earl, not only Clarke’s safety but also hers could not be guaranteed.

In fact, no matter who it was, the only way to ensure her safety was for her to rise to the top.

“Yes. I will manage the seal.”

“Good. Then, there’s one thing you must do. Start by dismissing the knights as your first step.”

“Dismiss, the three knights?”

“Didn’t Ian mention that?”

“Earlier, he did say so. Something about cost-effectiveness, saying to fire the knights first when managing the mansion.”

At Countess Lien’s words, Romandro gave a faint smile.

“Well, that’s not entirely without reason. But procedure is important. If those men die holding the position of knights of the Merellof family, we must report their names to the palace. But if not, there’s no need to explicitly mention them.”

“As a knight of the Merellof family.”

Countess Lien’s greenish eyes sparkled. Romandro was essentially suggesting the elimination of those men.

“Ah, I see.”

“I trust you understand the meaning.”

“Yes, I completely understand.”

Ian was under scrutiny and observation by the royal palace. In such a situation, if it became known that he was involved in the succession by killing Merellof’s knights, it would certainly complicate things. Countess Lien nodded and glanced again towards the bedroom. Dive’s hypocritical sobbing was gradually subsiding.

“What about him?”

“Ian will handle him personally, so you can leave that to him. However, Madam, you must promise the following.”

It was a condition that would firmly bind Ian and the Madam.

“5,000 gold coins.”

“That’s no problem. I’ll sell land if necessary.”

“Keep the number of soldiers to less than half of the current number.”

It was meant to keep a check on Merellof. A treaty for mutual peace, especially in Ian’s absence. Naturally, this posed no problem for the countess.

“Agreed.”

“Give Ian the right of first negotiation in all your dealings. Of course, you have the right to reject his proposals.”

Since Ian’s domain was the closest, it was natural to discuss trade or interactions with his territory first. Madam nodded, indicating no issue with this condition too.

“Once things are settled, we’ll draw up a formal contract.”

“I have no room to back down. I’m fine with all of it.”

“Yes. Oh, and about Clarke…”

Countess Lien’s expression stiffened slightly. Despite her thoughts, she could not see a way out for Clarke. The only option seemed to be her becoming the lord and granting him a pardon.

But whether Dive and the knights would spare Clarke until then was uncertain. His situation was so precarious that it was a miracle he was still alive, as Ian had said.

What torture he had endured in the dungeon, whether he was already dead – the Countess could know nothing while confined to her bedroom.

“Is there a way?”

“There might be, but…”

Just as Romandro was about to continue, Dive appeared, dabbing his eyes with a handkerchief. He had been sobbing profusely just by sound, yet his face was not swollen at all, indicating he had only raised his voice.

“Sister-in-law. I regret that things have come to this.”

“So now you notice me. Earlier, you ignored me without even a greeting. Is it because you’re with Lord Romandro?”

It was the right answer. As a consultant officially dispatched from the imperial palace and the one to submit a notarized report, maintaining a certain image was essential. However, Dive responded without batting an eye.

“Of course not. I was so shocked by my brother’s death that I rushed straight to the bedroom. Sister-in-law, you’re as you’ve always been.”

“Of course. And you are the same, sir Dive.”

Sparks seemed to fly between the two. Romandro coughed awkwardly, trying to intervene.

“Please, let’s calm down and sit.”

“Yes, let’s. Lord Romandro. It’s sad, but we must take care of things. I heard that the cruel slave who did this to my brother is still breathing in the dungeon.”

“His name is Clarke.”

“Please include a detailed account of the incident in the report to the royal palace, and also a request regarding the succession of the title.”

Unlike Ian, who was newly granted a family and title, this was a succession within the family. It wasn’t about getting permission from the Emperor but merely notifying the central authority.

Dive’s steward brought parchment and writing tools. Romandro dipped his pen in ink and nodded.

“Of course. Where else in the world would you find such a tragedy? A slave killing their master… and a noble at that. But, sir Dive, do you have any family?”

“I do not.”

“Ah, I heard you are a follower of the Undergods.”

“Me? No, who said that? Did sister-in-law say that?”

Dive quickly denied it. In Bariel, where freedom of religion was respected, this freedom was generally understood as the freedom to be non-religious. In an empire where the papacy officially recognized certain deities, being labeled a heretic was significant.

Although there might not be direct sanctions for heresy, disadvantages were certain. Mentioning Undergods at home or making prayer gestures would have been avoided if he had known Ian was a neighboring lord.

“Or was it

that

Ian who said that?”

“It doesn’t matter who said it. What’s important is the truth of the matter, right?”

“Absolutely not. That never happened.”

“I see. Understood.”

Dive swiftly denied his faith for the sake of a title. He was in pain over this lamentable situation and wanted nothing more than to offer a prayer of repentance.

But outwardly, he casually changed the subject.

“Given the unfortunate circumstances, we won’t be able to have a grand ceremony for the succession. We should proceed with it simply, perhaps tomorrow, and then hold my deceased brother’s funeral.”

“No, the funeral comes first. That’s the proper etiquette.”

Romandro firmly rejected the idea. Delaying was necessary for the Countess to reorganize the knights. Dive, about to object, clamped his mouth shut at the mention of etiquette. After all, wasn’t it the foremost thing to uphold as a noble?

“I’d like to ask you a few questions to detail them in the report. Is that alright?”

“Please proceed.”

“If you succeed, which generation will you be?”

“My brother was the 8th, so I’ll be the 9th.”

Romandro diligently scribbled, asking various questions. Meanwhile, Countess Lien’s mind was boiling with urgency. She wanted to sever all ties with her husband as quickly as possible, to start anew.

Survival was key, even if it meant discarding everything again in the future.

‘Clarke…’

“…My Lady?”

“Yes?”

“Were you listening?”

“Oh, sorry, I missed that. What did you say?”

Countess Lien smiled faintly, turning to Romandro. Dive seemed displeased even with her demeanor, his clicking of the tongue becoming increasingly obvious.

“I asked to announce the matter to the domain’s people today and requested to arrange the mansion.”

“Ah, arrange the mansion. Of course.”

She understood it as the dismissal of the knights. As the Countess nodded to proceed, Dive interjected with a distinctly displeased expression.

“No, there’s no need for that.”

“What do you mean?”

“Why should someone who’s leaving manage the mansion? I will handle it from now on. You should step back and take care of yourself.”

The implication in his words, ‘someone who’s leaving,’ was cutting. It was a message not to even think about acting as part of the family, given her slave origins. It was also a worry that she might pilfer the household in her brief tenure.

As Romandro tried to mediate, Countess Lien sharply countered.

“You’ve been away from the mansion for quite some time, haven’t you? Even if you start managing now, it seems like you wouldn’t know where to begin.”

“Sister-in-law. Your words are rather presumptuous, aren’t they?”

“Are they? I’m not sorry if that’s how you feel. You seem too eager to claim the title, even before your deceased brother’s funeral. I understand you were exiled from the family for following a heretical faith, but there’s something called decency.”

Each of her sharp words was an attack. Dive raised his hand as if to strike her, but Romandro and the steward, startled, intervened.

“What are you doing, sir Dive!”

“Lord Dive! This is unacceptable!”

“Even if you were exiled, your Mereloff bloodline is clear. Quick to violence.”

Countess Lien, unfazed, delivered another blow. Her venom, as a woman with nothing left to lose, was fierce.

Dive, insulted by being rebuked by someone of slave origin, trembled with rage.

“Ignorant and lowly creature!”

“Exactly. To think that this lowly creature sat as the Countess, your brother must have been out of his mind. Not in his right senses. Just like your bloodline, right? Insanity runs in the family, after all.”

Dive, enraged, swung his arms more violently but couldn’t overpower both Romandro and the steward. Indeed, the brothers shared a strikingly thin build, as the Countess pointed out.

The Countess then sipped her tea, glancing towards the door.

A knight, alerted by the commotion, peeked inside.

“Look here.”

At the Countess’s call, the knight raised an eyebrow. She gestured towards Dive with an incredulous tone.

“Weren’t you one of the Count’s knights? Shouldn’t protecting me be part of your duty?”

“Madam, until the truth about the Count’s death is revealed, we cannot protect you.”

“Clarke is locked in the dungeon, what more truth do you need? If that’s your stance, I have no choice.”

It was a challenging gaze, questioning their next move.

“Lord Romandro has just proven that the responsibility of the mansion lies with me until the funeral. I hereby dismiss all three knights of the Merellof family.”

“Dismissed?”

The knight laughed, seemingly finding the idea of being dismissed amusing. What significance would it have anyway? But in that instant…

Boom!

A strange, loud noise erupted from downstairs.

It wasn’t an explosion, but more like the sound of something being forcibly bent and crushed.

Puzzled, the knight shifted his gaze towards the end of the hallway. Someone was coming up the stairs with ferocious speed.