Chapter 141: Waiting for You (4)
Sometimes, seeing such foolish idiots makes me frustrated.
They were born with useful talent, yet they lost their lives on pointless mistakes.
‘What can you do? They should blame their lack of awareness on their birth.’
Raoul slowly rose from his seat, leaning on his staff.
“I heard your determination loud and clear. I can’t guarantee it’ll be such a pleasant atmosphere when we meet next.”
“Is that so? I truly believe the atmosphere will be wonderful,” Ghislaine said with a bright smile, causing Raoul to tilt his head.
Why does that sound so heartfelt?
What’s the point of that guy wanting to meet again when he’s the one who threw away a golden opportunity?
By then, his head would probably be rolling anyway.
Raoul clicked his tongue inwardly and extended his hand for a handshake.
“Well, it was nice meeting you. If given the chance, I suppose we can see each other again.”
“Yes. I will look forward to meeting you again next time.”
Ghislaine also stood up and grasped Raoul’s hand.
Then their eyes met.
In Ghislaine’s gaze, a burning intent to kill and a desire for destruction was evident.
Seeing that look, Raoul realized.
‘This guy is serious.’
He’s genuinely trying to ally with the Crown Prince Faction to oppose the Duke Faction.
But at the same time, confusion surged within him. Regardless of the Crown Prince Faction’s alliance, the hatred emanating from a newcomer from the rural area seemed excessive.
‘Could it be… does he know about us?’
Raoul shook his head, startled by the questions rising in his chest.
No way. Even powerful nobles of the Crown Prince Faction have no clue where their influence is spreading.
That’s why they were trying to support the Brivant Territory.
As the two held hands in silence, the Masked Man intervened.
“The handshake is too long. If you’re done with your business, it’s time to go.”
“Yeah, your gaze is strange, that’s why I keep looking at you.”
Raoul released his hand and, as he turned to leave, paused momentarily.
Then he half-turned, glaring at Ghislaine as he spoke.
“Baron Penris, if you look at me like that again, I’ll pluck your eyes out.”
Ghislaine, completely unfazed, responded in the same piercing gaze.
“Please be careful on your way back so you don’t injure your remaining leg.”
“Be careful not to trip on your way back.”
Despite the rude remark, Raoul surprisingly didn’t get angry. He simply chuckled as if he found it amusing.
“It seems Marquis Branford will take quite a liking. I expect him to make quite the impact going forward.”
With those final words, Raoul and the Masked Man exited the room.
As soon as the two left, nobles who had been sneaking peeks at the private room rushed in like a swarm.
Instead of staying put, Marquis Branford sent Toleo to find out what they had discussed.
“Um…”
Everyone had gathered, but no one was willing to speak first.
It was too embarrassing to openly pry into someone else’s business.
After an awkward silence, the most impatient of the group, Maurice, pressured Ghislaine with a question.
“So, what did that limping fool say?”
Ghislaine hesitated and didn’t answer right away.
The watching nobles became more anxious and urged him on.
“Come on! What did they talk about?”
Ghislaine looked around and, with a sigh of resignation, said, “He proposed that my father and I be accepted as vassals of Duke Delphine.”
The nobles were startled, their expressions stiffening in shock.
To come to a crown prince’s feast and so openly extend a recruitment proposal meant that Duke Delphine was completely ignoring the nobles of the Crown Prince faction.
Maurice’s eyes widened in anger as he spat out, “The North and South are too far apart to interact properly! You’ll just end up with your taxes being siphoned off!”
“He promised to grant us a new, valuable territory in the South. For both my father and me.”
“What?!”
A new territory? The nobles were too stunned by such an outrageous proposal to say a word.
Maurice was equally taken aback, looking down in disbelief.
The Crown Prince faction wouldn’t casually make such proposals.
No matter how one tried to think it through, it was unreasonable for a rookie like him to be offered such generous conditions.
Even just shifting support for the Brivant territory was considered their best effort.
‘To offer a territory to even my father, does this kid really have that much value?’
It was indeed an immense embarrassment to openly take away a newly joined noble.
But no matter how much leeway the Duke had, there was no way they would hand over a territory just to humiliate an enemy faction.
Maurice sighed heavily before asking in a low voice, “So, did you accept the proposal? Are you going to become a vassal of the Duke?”
It was a proposal that any young noble would find it hard to refuse.
Especially since Perdium was a barren land, always at war with barbarians.
Refusing the chance to escape that hardship would be nothing short of foolish.
But Ghislaine nonchalantly replied, “I turned it down.”
“So you did accept the offer! You… what? You turned it down?”
“Yes, I rejected it.”
“……Why?”
“I’m already receiving support from the Crown Prince faction, so there’s really no reason to switch sides.”
Maurice narrowed his eyes.
“Honestly, I find that hard to believe. The Duke would provide a powerful backing. The conditions are more than generous for a rookie like you. And yet, you’re refusing to accept the offer and staying with the Crown Prince faction?”
“The conditions are so generous that it’s almost a waste on someone like you. And yet, you still refuse the proposal and choose to stick with the Crown Prince Faction?”
“Are you implying that…?”
“I’m saying you might be lying to us by siding with the Duke Faction.”
Ghislaine forced a smile. Anyone unaware of the Duke Faction and its bad reputation might think that way.
“I can see why you would think that. But if I really had aligned myself with the Duke Faction, I wouldn’t have even mentioned receiving a recruitment proposal.”
The nobles present nodded in agreement with her logical response.
“That’s right, Marquis. If you had malice in your heart, you wouldn’t feel the need to raise suspicion.”
“Seems you’re still young and not too fixated on immediate gains.”
“Rejecting such conditions—it’s been a long time since I’ve seen such loyalty and spirit in a young man!”
The nobles exaggerated their admiration.
There was a growing trend of nobles supporting the Duke Faction.
In that situation, Ghislaine remaining with the Crown Prince Faction would be evidence that the Crown Prince Faction was not any weaker than the Duke Faction.
While Ghislaine let their excessive flattery flow in one ear and out the other, she continued speaking.
“Considering the warning I received upon my departure, it seems they won’t leave my territory and my father’s in peace. I kindly ask for your support moving forward.”
“Hmm…!”
The nobles let out an involuntary hum.
To be so openly threatening was both quite un-noble and lacking in decorum. But if anyone could do it, it was Baron Joseph.
‘Helping someone marked by that bastard could end up being a trap for me…’
Several nobles exchanged glances with apprehension.
Thinking of the danger, it might be wise to avoid getting mixed up with Ghislaine, but in politics, one must give what one receives.
After all, this young noble had saved the face of the Crown Prince Faction, so they had no grounds to back away.
A few nobles, mainly from the Count Ailzbur and Count Norton factions, stepped forward and spoke up.
“Don’t worry. If the Duke Faction pulls any tricks, I will do my best to help.”
“If you encounter any difficulties, don’t hesitate to contact us.”
“The Duke Faction can’t move recklessly in the North.”
Many nobles rushed to promise their support to Ghislaine.
“Thank you very much.”
Ghislaine expressed her gratitude appropriately, maintaining a sense of courtesy toward the nobles.
Of course, there was a chance they might not keep their word when the time came, but the important thing was that she had secured their promises.
These promises would serve as justifications for Ghislaine to use later on.
That was precisely why Maurice remained silent and merely glared at Ghislaine.
A noble next to him glanced at him cautiously and said,
“Still, isn’t it impressive that a young one has such loyalty? To refuse the Duke Faction’s proposal, no less.”
“Indeed. It’s rare to see a young person like that these days.”
“Thanks to him, the Crown Prince Faction’s face is saved, so we should lend our support to some degree…”
Yet even with such comments, Maurice wore a disgruntled expression.
“Forget it. I don’t like the idea of a mere rookie controlling the atmosphere. Since Marquis Branford and Count Norton decided to back him, they can sort it out themselves.”
“The Marquis and Count Norton have decided to support, so they’ll manage just fine.”
With that comment, Maurice swiftly turned and left the gathering.
The nobles from the same faction, who had been watching, reluctantly followed him.
Even after Maurice’s departure, the nobles were busy praising Ghislaine.
Ghislaine wore a satisfied smile.
“What an unexpected gain. I’m glad I attended the feast today.”
Thanks to the sudden appearance of Raoul, she garnered support and goodwill from the other nobles.
Honestly, gathering for a feast was merely a hassle, but now she felt it was worth her while to attend.
“But what a pity.”
Opportunities to actually meet Raoul were rare.
Therefore, this meeting felt particularly regrettable.
If only there hadn’t been any interference, she could have killed Raoul.
Ghislaine suppressed her disappointment, recalling the man standing next to Raoul.
“Who would have thought he’d be right there?”
While everyone else likely assumed he was merely Raoul’s guard, she knew exactly who he was.
“It wasn’t the right time yet. Let’s forget it.”
Ghislaine exhaled deeply.
Meeting Raoul was a significant gain, but seeing the Masked Man was an even bigger harvest.
To have the chance to confront a serious obstacle to the Duke Faction and witness his skills firsthand was unexpected.
“So that’s how formidable you are.”
A flicker of malice flashed in Ghislaine’s eyes.
*
Raoul and the Masked Man slowly exited the Marquis’s estate in a wagon.
Once they had gained some distance, the Masked Man broke the silence in the quiet wagon.
“What do you think? How does it feel to see it in person?”
“Indeed, no matter how meticulously one gathers information, nothing beats seeing it firsthand. It’s quite different. Did Harold make a mistake?”
“That needs further investigation. So, what’s your assessment?”
“Considering his background and age, it’s not bad. I think we can classify him as a mid-tier variable.”
“That’s unusually generous for you.”
“Well, maybe it’s just because he’s young, full of energy, and lacks fear… But that could also be a drawback. It’s obvious he’s showing hostility.”
The Masked Man paused, deep in thought, before casually saying, “Raise the danger assessment by one level.”
“Why’s that?”
“I can’t say for sure, but… I think that guy was trying to kill you earlier.”
Raoul looked incredulous at those words.
“Trying to kill me? At a gathering with so many people? What does a rookie Baron think he can even do?”
“Is that really the case?”
“I’m not certain. I just felt a faint sense of malice. Do you have any grudges against him?”
“I’ve never seen him before today—what grudge could I have?”
“That’s strange. It was brief, but I definitely sensed malice. And it seemed like he was measuring my abilities in between.”
“Yours?”
“Yes, it felt like he was contemplating whether he could get past me to kill you.”
“…….”
Did he attempt that thing in just that short timeframe?
That guy truly was as crazy as the rumors said.
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