Chapter 186: From now on, we move at full speed. (3)
Marquis Branford paused for a moment before asking again.
“War, you say? With whom?”
“Baron Penris of the Duke Faction.”
Marquis Branford closed his mouth again but soon broke into a slight grin as if he had realized something.
“Oh, you mean Count Cabaldy is attacking Penris for food?”
“…….”
Even though he had heard the report that Baron Penris had initiated the war, the baffled Marquis found himself at a loss for words.
Instead, he hurriedly handed over the report he had drafted.
It had already been several days since the war had started. Thanks to various merchant groups and informants from the North, the news was spreading rapidly.
“…….”
As Marquis Branford read the report, the color started to drain from his face.
It was a situation where he had to be cautious of both the Duke Faction and the Crown Prince Faction. There was nothing to gain from fighting.
If a civil war broke out now, both sides would suffer irreparable damage.
So just a while ago, he had urged the nobles to proceed with caution.
But the war had already begun. That lunatic had truly messed things up.
Not just any mess — a huge disaster.
Having always lived with dignity, it was the first time Marquis Branford muttered a curse.
“This crazy bastard….”
“What?”
“No, never mind.”
He rubbed his forehead. Just hearing that guy’s news sent a throbbing headache racing through him.
The nobles in the conference room were equally flustered, unsure of what to do.
“W-what’s going on? Baron Penris declared war! Against the Duke Faction!”
“I told you not to support such a person! A war in this situation? That’s completely insane!”
“We need to capture him and weigh him against a duck immediately!”
The conference room erupted into chaos, filled with the nobles’ shouting.
Marquis Branford was in such deep thought it felt like steam was about to come out of his head.
He had never been in such a predicament in his life.
‘What should I do? Was he really just a crazy person?’
He knew the guy was fearless and comedic; however, he thought there was something concealed beneath it all.
After all, thanks to Ghislaine, they had avoided the worst-case scenario during this drought.
But with the current actions, it was beyond mere madness.
To provoke not just any noble, but one from the Duke Faction? This was precisely the time to stifle a civil war, and yet he seemed oblivious to the political climate!
While the Marquis was deep in thought, the nobles in the conference room began to escalate their outbursts.
“We need to oust Baron Penris from our faction and wash our hands of him!”
“We must clarify to the Duke Faction that this is absolutely not our intention!”
“Minister of the Interior, withdraw your guardian! We shouldn’t care if he lives or dies!”
“That bastard is clearly a dark mage! Let’s capture him and confirm it!”
Marquis Branford kept his eyes closed, remaining silent. The ringing in his ears and dizziness made it hard to comprehend anything they were saying.
He was seething inside.
‘Should I take a step back from this?’
Backing out of this matter wasn’t difficult. Although it would be humiliating, he could offer ample compensation to the Duke Faction and give up Ghislaine, and that would be that.
The Duke Faction would handle Ghislaine their way. Sure, Perdium would probably go down with her, but it wouldn’t escalate beyond that.
Of course, the Marquis, who had invested a staggering amount of money in cosmetics, would take a significant hit, and his authority would take a massive dive.
Still, if it meant saving many lives, that level of loss would be worth bearing.
It was worth discussing.
‘Should I just abandon it after all?’
At that moment, Marquis Branford recalled what Ghislaine had said.
― Please put me forward as the representative of the North.
― Count Desmond is a suspicious person. Perhaps we might have the same enemy.
‘Count Cabaldy holds the largest iron mine in the North.’
‘And he frequently does business with Desmond.’
‘Desmond might be in cahoots with the Duke Faction.’
Something seemed to be coming together. He couldn’t be certain, but at the very least, Ghislaine didn’t seem like the type to start a war on a whim.
‘I can’t give up on the North’s influence.’
If he abandoned Ghislaine, the Crown Prince Faction would never set foot in the North again.
The first step is always the hardest; if you give in little by little, you’ll eventually lose influence everywhere and be pushed back.
Giving up Ghislaine was the same as giving up the North. It was a dead end.
‘This bastard… Did he predict even this and appoint me as Guardian?’
If so, then Ghislaine would be a real menace. It meant he had been planning to make a mess of things since he first requested a Guardian.
It was infuriating, but it wasn’t the time to dwell on such matters.
‘I’m the only one who can stop this.’
He had to prevent the Duke Faction’s interference no matter what. It had to be packaged as a justified conflict between two territories, making both sides keep their distance.
Whatever the outcome, it was time for him to step in and handle it.
With his resolve set, Marquis Branford opened his eyes and spoke slowly.
“I will not give up Baron Penris.”
“What do you mean by that?!”
“At this rate, we’ll all die!”
“It could spark a civil war!”
Despite the nobles’ uproar, Marquis Branford remained unfazed and coldly replied.
“So what? Are you saying we should cast away our allies out of fear of the Duke Faction? If that happens, what will you give up next? If we abandon Baron Penris, what will remain for us? Do you think anyone will still trust and follow us?”
“…”
The nobles fell silent, unable to counter his arguments.
As Marquis Branford said, conceding allies out of fear of the enemy was the reality. No matter how much justification there was, if they cast Ghislaine aside, the wary nobles would start to slip away one by one.
Even if they wanted to, they couldn’t cast anyone aside. Baron Penris chose the perfect moment and position to start a war.
Seeing the anxious nobles, Marquis Branford spoke in a somewhat softer tone.
“I will not allow the Crown Prince Faction’s intervention. I will stop the Duke Faction. Penris and Cabaldy are to fight with suitable justification. If Baron Penris loses, it’s unavoidable.”
The report contained justifications that were nearly forced yet somewhat logical.
Based on that, it wouldn’t be impossible to frame it as personal enmity rather than a factional fight, thus blocking the Duke Faction’s involvement.
Since Marquis Branford had taken charge directly, none of the nobles dared to voice their discontent and nodded along for now.
Except for one person, who held authority equal to that of Marquis Branford.
Maurice stood up abruptly, glaring at Marquis Branford.
“So, are you saying you’ll protect that rookie? We could suffer significant losses!”
“Is it okay for the Supreme Commander of the Kingdom Army to say he’s backing down out of fear of the Duke Faction?”
In response to Marquis Branford’s provocation, Maurice twitched his lips multiple times before continuing with a ferocious glare.
“After wiping out the Duke Faction, if that rookie brat is still alive, I’ll make sure to check if he’s the same weight as a duck. And then, I’ll take care of him personally.”
“Do as you please by that time.”
“Just in case, make preparations for the army.”
Maurice finished his words and swiftly turned to leave. The nobles from his faction followed suit.
The meeting ended, but Marquis Branford couldn’t afford to relax.
The very next day, someone sent by the Duke Faction arrived.
Marquis Branford barely concealed his weariness as he greeted him.
“Welcome. Count Proud.”
Count Proud was one of the nobles who primarily handled important diplomatic matters for the Duke Faction.
If Raoul was the brain of the Duke Faction, Count Proud was its mouthpiece.
Sending such an individual demonstrated just how seriously the Duke Faction regarded the situation.
Having exchanged cordial greetings, Count Proud got straight to the point.
Count spoke directly to the point.
“Baron Penris has attacked the nobles of the Duke Faction. Can we consider this the will of the Crown Prince Faction as a whole?”
Count Proud came out strong from the get-go. He knew it wasn’t the Crown Prince Faction’s intent.
‘Baron Joseph sees it as a spur-of-the-moment action from that brat. The Crown Prince Faction wants to avoid a civil war more than anyone right now.’
The ‘Lame Demon’ Raoul had met Ghislaine before. After talking to him directly, he concluded that Ghislaine was a hotheaded kid.
Those types tend to act recklessly and inevitably make mistakes. Just as Raoul expected, Ghislaine has thrown down the gauntlet of war.
Seizing the opportunity, he resolved to get the Crown Prince Faction to back off from Ghislaine and wipe out Perdium and Penris.
Count Proud, who was staying in the capital, had come directly to Marquis Branford for that very purpose.
‘And secure a hefty reward while I’m at it.’
With a confident smile on his face, Count Proud received a lethargic response from Marquis Branford.
“I permitted it.”
“Of course you did! That brat is acting on his own… Wait, what did you just say?”
“I said this man has permitted it.”
Count Proud was momentarily flabbergasted and couldn’t continue speaking.
Raoul had never been wrong in his predictions, so he hadn’t anticipated this situation.
‘W-wait, what’s going on? Did Marquis Branford really give permission? Has he lost his mind?’
Up until now, the strategy put forth by the Crown Prince Faction was simple. There was nothing to hide. Their only goal was to suppress a civil war at all costs.
Moreover, Marquis Branford was a cold-hearted politician. He loathed making decisions based on instinct and judged only from a practical standpoint.
Even if he was on their side, he wouldn’t support that brat just because he was a Guardian.
Count Proud, utterly unable to comprehend the situation, stammered as he spoke.
“W-what on earth were you thinking allowing a war during such a difficult time!”
“Baron Penris and Count Cabaldy had personal grudges. It was a fitting justification. I imagine the Duke Faction has already heard the news?”
“Even so, there’s a time for everything! If you’ve allowed this, can I take it that you’re prepared for a civil war?”
“A civil war? Is Count Proud dreaming of treason as well?”
Under the chilling gaze of Marquis Branford, Count Proud flinched.
No matter how much support he had from the Duke Faction, he was facing one of the kingdom’s most powerful figures, equal to the duke.
“You don’t think that way, do you? But Count Cabaldy is on our side. We can’t just turn a blind eye to this!”
“That’s impossible. There’s no justification for the Duke Faction to get involved in personal grudges. Since we have no justification to intervene either, we are merely watching. If the Duke Faction gets involved, we won’t sit idly by.”
With that unyielding answer, Count Proud gritted his teeth, utterly confused about the current situation.
‘What the… Why is that brat being defended like this? He’s willing to risk a civil war? He’s just some punk from the North!’
He couldn’t go back like this. He needed to understand Marquis Branford’s intentions. So Count Proud provoked him again strongly.
“Are you really thinking of solving this through force? Are you confident? I know you’ve stocked enough food supplies. But if both sides suffer damage and take action, it’s clear which side would benefit, isn’t it?”
“Are you threatening this person now? Count.”
Marquis Branford, already simmering due to Ghislaine, contorted his expression at Count Proud’s audacious remark.
Originally, Marquis Branford was someone whose emotional fluctuations were minimal. But since becoming involved with Ghislaine, his temperament had been getting worse.
Even now, it wasn’t that he wanted to support Ghislaine. The brat had created a situation where he had no choice but to back him up.
Being forced to do something he didn’t want to do made it perfectly reasonable for him to feel angry and want to explode at any moment.
Marquis Branford looked down at Count Proud with a cold expression and continued speaking.
“If I send just your head to the duke, my intentions would be clearly communicated.”
Under that icy momentum, Count Proud broke into a sweat and lowered his head.
If Marquis Branford had indeed decided on a civil war, he could very well take his life right then and there.
He was definitely a person who could do that.
“I… I momentarily lost my composure and misspoke. Please forgive me.”
“I got a bit carried away and misspoke. Please forgive me.”
“Accept it. You’re not the same as you used to be. You’ve become quite dull.”
Count Proud bit his lip and decided to withdraw for now. If the Crown Prince Faction is determined to protect Ghislaine, there’s nothing the Duke Faction can do to stop them.
He had to choose between either joining in with the Crown Prince Faction or pretending he didn’t know, nothing more.
‘Ugh, I knew they’d wipe us out eventually, but to move during a time like this? What kind of strategy came from that head?’
No one had expected the royal family and the Crown Prince Faction, who had been defensive, would suddenly make a move like this.
Especially not when everyone is suffering. What kind of plan is it? Is there a trap? What exactly are they hoping to achieve?
‘The Crown Prince Faction has also suffered greatly due to the drought, so how can they move with such confidence? Are they trying to provoke us into action?’
If they were laying a trap, he had to tread carefully.
‘But if Count Cabaldy loses, it’ll be problematic.’
Count Cabaldy’s Territory, being the largest iron production area in the North, was also significant to the Duke Faction.
He had simply postponed support due to more pressing matters, and now unforeseen events had unfolded.
‘Damn, I can’t believe that kid managed to gather that many troops using food as bait.’
If it were under normal circumstances, he would have just scoffed and ignored it. The armed forces operated by Count Cabaldy were among the most formidable in the North. No way would Penris stand a chance against them.
But now, Count Cabaldy had no food. Just being besieged would lead them all to starve.
As Count Proud pondered what to do, he asked Marquis Branford, “Will the Crown Prince Faction also promise to stay neutral and not intervene?”
“Only if they don’t intervene,” the marquis replied.
“Understood. I’ll convey your wishes and ensure we also maintain our neutrality.”
“Do that.”
As he turned away, Count Proud bit his lip, revealing a cruel glint in his eyes.
‘If Count Desmond moves, then it’ll be fine.’
For contingencies, Count Desmond had been pretending to stay neutral all along.
He was a clever one. He would surely make quick judgments and move before the Duke Faction even issued commands.
Political relationships are inherently complicated; a suitable justification could easily be concocted after winning the war.
‘If that’s the case, the Crown Prince Faction would have no choice but to retreat to avoid damage.’
Thinking this as he exited the main hall, Count Proud heard Marquis Branford’s languid voice once more.
“Do not forget my warning, Count. You must not intervene with either the Crown Prince Faction or the Duke Faction.”
Count Proud paused momentarily, then turned back, smiling slightly as he nodded.
“Is that what you mean? We will absolutely not intervene.”
With that, Count Proud completely left the meeting.
Even after Count Proud left, Marquis Branford closed his eyes and continued deep in thought.
And once again, Ghislaine’s words echoed in his mind.
— Count Desmond is a suspicious person.
If Count Desmond, the Great Lord, were indeed an underling of the Duke Faction, he could strike Penris under the pretense of aiding Count Cabaldy.
And if that were to happen, neither Penris nor Perdium would escape destruction.
The consequences would be obvious. If the North fell completely into the Duke Faction’s hands, the Crown Prince Faction would be even more cornered.
There was no longer the capacity to trust and support any other territories in the North in this situation.
‘There’s no guarantee he’ll win either. Losing means losing the North, and pulling back also means losing the North.’
He had thought things were stabilizing due to the drought, but with one fool recklessly rampaging, the situation had become even more complicated than before.
‘It seems a civil war is unavoidable.’
Sighing, Marquis Branford resolutely spoke.
“Butler.”
“Yes?”
“Inform Marquis Macquarie to move Baron Dorren’s 2nd Corps near Count Desmond’s Territory to monitor the area.”
“Are you saying…?”
“Make surveillance and obstruction the primary goals. But if Count Desmond’s army attacks Baron Penris…”
After a brief pause, Marquis Branford continued with a chilling gaze.
“Immediately relay to strike Desmond.”
The situation was spiraling out of control.
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