Volume 2 - CH 13

On the main street of Krasland stood a huge building at the far end of the road.

It was the largest theater in the city and a place of entertainment for the nobility and wealthy.

In a private room on the second floor overlooking a play still being performed, there was a figure of a man.

It was Count Luke Krall, the only son of Marquis Krall, the ruler of Krasland.

The sight of him sitting roughly on a luxurious chair was awe-striking, but he is not in the epitome of grace right now, enough to take a second glance at him if he was really the Count or not.

“I’m tired of seeing this play.” The Count says boringly as he drinks from the glass in his hand.

Then a voice called out to him from behind.

“I’m sure they’ll add a new play next month, so why don’t you come back then?”

“Viscount Karl……, or should I call you senior here?”

“I’m flattered that you remember the times when we were still at the academy, but you can simply call me Viscount, Your Excellency.”

The one who bowed profoundly was Viscount Karl, who had been taken advantage of by Yuushin the other day.

Right now, they were in the place that the Viscount had prepared for their secret meeting.

The theater was well guarded and filled with songs and music, so there was little worry about eavesdropping.

“But first, thank you for taking the time to see me today, Lord Count.”

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“It’s just that I had some free time on my hands, so I decided to spend that to helping someone I know.”

The Count said that and took out a bag that he had left at the foot of his chair.

The bag, about the size of a soldier’s helmet, was filled with jangling gold coins.

It was a large amount of money that would have surprised even the noble Viscount Karl.

“As I recall, you were blackmailed out of your money? Well, this should be enough to support you for now.”

“Yes, yes. Though I’m a little surprised at the incredible amount.”

Viscount Karl took it and placed it at his feet.

“Don’t spend it too lavishly, or you’ll get in trouble if they find out I’m supporting you financially.”

“Of course, I’m aware of that.”

The Count smiled at the reluctant Viscount. If y ou ar e ab le to re ad th is mess age , you are r eadin g fro m an unau tho rized agg regat e sit e. Re ad at my Wor dPr ess at stabb in g wi th a sy ri nge. hom e. bl og to s ppo rt me and my transl ati ons.

“Then again, who in the world could have done that to you, the Viscount? I’m intrigued.”

At these words, Viscount Karl hesitated for a moment but then began to tell what had happened to him.

He understood that it would be worse to offend the man in front of him than to humiliate himself.

“It all started with Krone’s jealousy, and then a Yuushin guy came to my house.”

When he told the Count the whole story, the Count laughed aloud.

“Hahahaha! I’m sorry, that was quite an amusing story. It’s much more interesting than the play we’re watching right now.”

“It’s a matter of life and death for me, though. In my reputation.”

The Count then stood up from his chair and turned to the Viscount, who was sweating bitterly.

“But for a commoner to threaten a nobleman, he has some nerve. What is his name again?”

“Yuushin Sanada. He serves as an adjutant of Baroness Lucy Finlay.”

When the name Lucy came out of the Viscount’s mouth, the Count’s expression changed. From one of enjoyment to a slightly more serious one.

“Finlay, huh. I believe I have a cousin with that name.”

“She’s the Count’s cousin?”

“My father had so many siblings that it was hard for him to remember the names of his relatives. Now I remember, she is the daughter of my father’s sister-in-law.”

The Count thought for a moment and then addressed the Viscount.

“Perhaps you should talk to my father about this.”

After saying that, he opened the other door of the room they were in and said something to the men who were waiting outside.

A few minutes later, the door was opened, and from there, they stumbled on Marquis Krall, the very lord of this city.

“It’s unusual for you to call me at this hour, Luke.”

“I knew you were in another room watching the play. Well, tell father the same story, Viscount.”

“Y-Yes, your Excellency!”

Finding himself in front of the head of Krasland and his successor all of a sudden, Viscount Karl became so nervous that he stiffened like stone.

But he swallowed his nervousness and did his best to explain once more his situation in front of the two men at the venue.

By the time he was done, the handkerchief he had been wiping the sweat from his forehead had become very heavy.

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Marquis Krall, who had finished listening to the Viscount, murmured a few words.

“…… Hmm, Yuushin Sanada. That little bastard.”

“What!? father knows him too?”

The old man nodded as the Count asked surprisingly.

“I met him once before at the military headquarters, during the battle when the intelligent monsters appeared.”

“Oh? Come to think of it, Baroness Finlay’s streak rose with that battle. Was Sanada involved in that?”

The Count asked with great interest.

The battle was a hot topic in the military, and as the head of the army, the Count naturally wanted to know more information about the fight.

The Marquis, however, shook his head.

“No, Sanada did not play a major role in the battle itself. The problem is what happened afterward.”

Marquis Krall explained what had happened at the command post to the two men.

“It was all good up to that point, but when it came time to decide on the prize, the foreign troops who worked with the Baroness became an obstacle.”

“It’s true, considering the public’s sentiment, we don’t want an outsider to receive the honor.”

Viscount Karl nodded in agreement with Marquis Krall’s words.

But all of a sudden, the Count suddenly burst into laughter, much to the Count and the Marquis’ concern.

“Ahahaha! P-Public sentiment……ahahaha!”

“What is it, Lord Count?” “What’s wrong with you all of a sudden?”

The Count gave an explanation to the bewildered Viscount.

“Adhering to the public sentiment” or whatever is just an excuse. Those words are what my father says to cover up his hatred of the immigrants flooding our land.”

“Luke, stop talking nonsense!”

To which Marquis Krall stopped him with a sharp voice from the side.

The tone of his voice was so intimidating that it was hard to believe he was addressing his own son. Th is ch ap ter tr ansla tion is ma de p ossib le by st abbi ng with a syr in ge tr anslat ions. che ck on ly up-t o-d ate tra nsla tion s on my Wor dpre ss si te.

Even the Count, who normally has a haughty attitude, couldn’t help but fall silent.

When the Marquis saw this, he turned his gaze toward the Viscount.

“Viscount Karl, what you have seen and heard here, keep it a secret and never ever let it out. Got it?”

“Ha, yes! I will never leak anything to the outside world!”

The Viscount’s face turned deathly white as he realized that he had heard something confidential.

Combined with the mental fatigue he has been feeling so far, he was now feeling a pressure that if it was another noble, they would have already collapsed and be taken away.

(Y-you got to be kidding me! Why am I now in this situation? I just came to ask for financial support!)

It’s already common knowledge among the nobility that the citizens don’t take kindly to the immigrants.

If it were to be known that this was all propaganda from the personal inclinations of Marquis Krall, his reputation would plummet.

For a ruler, image is in some ways more important than performance.

(In the unlikely event that I divulge the information, my life is forfeit. Not just mine, but my family’s too!)

Regardless, the Marquis continued as if to nail further the frightened Viscount.

“For the sake of my honor, I did NOT manipulate this general impression of the public based solely on my personal feelings. You understand?”

“I understand! I fully understand, Your Excellency! So, please don’t say anything more. I don’t want to know anymore!”

Seeing his state, Marquis Krall nodded to the pleading Viscount.

“Hmm, that’s good. You can go home now.”

Feeling as if these words had saved his life, Viscount Karl took the money and left as if he was running away.

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The Count saw him off before he turned to face his father. Then, he asked,

“Can I ask something? Why did Sanada suggest that the Foreign Legion be incorporated into her unit? Was it Finlay’s order?”

“Lucy is the daughter of my esteemed sister-in-law, so she would never think of welcoming an outsider into her life. It was Sanada who thought of it.”

The Marquis let out a sigh, remembering the man of a different race he had met in the command center days ago.

(If Lucy, who had accepted the foreign troops, is to become any more active from here, it will be troublesome for me in the long run. I’ll have to make some changes. Yes. I’ll ask Luke and Viscount Karl to work on this as well. The Viscount, in particular, looks tired, but this would be the perfect opportunity to have them removed from the field for a while.)

Having made this decision, Marquis Krall began to draw up a scenario in his mind regarding his future plans.