episode_0355

Heron said that he definitely had guests.

Not only that, he even mentioned that he was a guest that had to be met.

‘But this person is a guest?’

Marquis Magnuel.

He is not strictly speaking the one who should be here.

Someone who is worthy of being accepted as a guest.

Because there was no one who would come to find Claire.

Rather, it would be more correct to view it as something from which we should distance ourselves.

Although he is one of the vassals who supports the Bagrand Dukes, he is not someone you can just get close to just because he is a vassal.

Even though the vassals extend their hands to the family, they are ultimately people who want to gain profit and enjoy power, which is no different.

Marquis Magnus was the one who had lined up with Arina to seize that power, and he was currently the most influential person among her vassals.

The correct thing to do is to leave this place, but…

Still, I felt that I shouldn’t leave this place hastily just now.

‘…I said you were an important guest. Heron.’

Guests. Guests you must meet.

We should take note of Heron’s remarks, which emphasize such expressions.

‘Yeah. I’m not going to ask why you’re here.’

The question should be rephrased. Claire sat down and took a sip of tea.

And then he asked again, adjusting the question in a calm voice.

“I don’t think you came to me because your sister asked you to. Why did you come to me? Marquis Magnuel.”

“…”

The Marquis Magnus’ eyes widened slightly at the adjusted question. It was a look of surprise.

Of course it was.

Considering the relationship between Claire and Marquis Magnuel, it’s not all that great.

Although she was a vassal of Bagrand, Claire was in a position to rely on Bagrand, so she could not have been very pleased with this situation.

Moreover, in this situation where the succession structure is likely to lean to one side, it is even more so.

‘I thought you would kick me out without a doubt.’

I’ve been watching Claire for a long time in her position.

Claire was a highly regarded talent in terms of her ability and skills at work, but she had a somewhat hasty and irritable temperament, which was a hindrance.

It was all because of that that I was on Arina’s rope…

He did not drive out the man who was now considered no different from an enemy.

No, rather than being kicked out, the conversation is trying to continue.

Not only did I become less hasty, but I also thought more deeply and focused on why I came to this place.

‘…You’ve changed a lot.’

Thanks to that, there was no need to say the words I had prepared to change Claire’s mind.

“Please speak comfortably. I am not here to expect respect.”

“…don’t do that.”

As the ideal flow of conversation approached, the Marquis did not miss it.

“It’s been almost 15 years since I’ve been living as a vassal of the Bagrand Dukes. Do you remember, Lady Claire? How the Magnuel family became vassals of Bagrand?”

“… On the surface, it was called construction, but there were two. One was a wall built to prevent the invasion of demons, and the other was to help build the tomb of my late father. ”

“You remember. It must have been a story from when you were quite young.”

“There’s no way you’d remember something that happened at such a young age. I found out about that later.”

“It was only three years ago that I really found out about that,” Claire grumbled.

But compared to grumbling, I knew exactly what was going on.

The decisive reason was that there was something necessary to carry out two tasks.

The Marquis smiled with satisfaction.

“Haha. Then I guess I don’t need to explain this either. I think you’ve figured it out to some extent.”

“…”

He was silent, but he didn’t deny it.

It was just as the Marquis said.

He became Bagrand’s vassal by providing him with money.

We had already discovered this fact through investigation, but there were more than one or two things that left us feeling uneasy.

“I knew that it would have cost a huge amount of money to carry out those two things at the time. It was an absurdly large amount of money. The author paid all that money, and I had to provide the source of the funds…”

The Marquis nodded as if to tell her to continue, glancing over at him, as if he was reluctant to mention something.

“I judged that it must be dirty money, unlike the source that seems clean on the surface. I also run a boutique myself and have some involvement in the primary industry, but I can’t get that money.”

The Marquis smiled bitterly at the confident answer.

“That’s right. As you deduced, it’s a bit of a time-wasting money. The people were exhausted by the record-breaking famine that befell the empire, and for them, who were struggling not to repeat that year, the cheap service fee was the greatest help to me.”

“…No way, you. Using those people…!”

“Yes. Anyway, there is no such law, and if the parties involved are kept silent, no one will know. There is a high possibility that it will be found to be illegal or unlawful, so it is easy to cause confusion, and since the timing is right, it was also perfect for covering up the source.”

Because I didn’t miss that opportunity. Because I didn’t hesitate to mess around with the value of my labor and save up the money to buy the necessary items.

The Marquis could be here.

“To get in line with Bagrand, I had to do whatever it took. That was my value, and I believed it was the right path to climb higher. It was the same after I became Bagrand’s vassal. I had no doubt that this path would be my path. That’s why I supported Princess Arina as the successor to the dukedom. She was a candidate who matched well with me.”

Claire had also guessed the dark side of the Marquis Magnus.

But, I don’t understand anything more than that.

“…Why are you telling me that?”

But even so, there is no need to tell Claire that fact.

Rather, it might be a case of getting caught. It’s something you shouldn’t say.

The Marquis took a sip of tea and answered with his eyes wide open.

“…Now I think that value system is wrong.”

“What?”

“It should be so for the sake of Bagrand’s future. Aren’t you at the center of chaos? You’re connected to the West, and there are suspicions. There’s even evidence that reveals such circumstances.”

Finally, Claire realized what the Marquis was talking about.

“If I help Princess Arina, I will be able to rise higher. I will be able to have a wider and longer path to success. I will gain great trust from the person who will ascend to the Duke’s throne, not anyone else. I will be closer to the ideal of my beliefs so far. However…”

The Marquis tightly shuts his eyes.

A weary voice comes out of him.

“I already knew that because I had met Lord Karsain. Lord Karsain… was not that kind of person.”

“…”

I agree.

Karsine is not a man to harbor such ambitions.

The Duke of Peacock had never even considered it, and he had only thought about leaving the Duke’s house.

“This is seriously wrong. From the time he issued the warrant instead of searching, to the time he even gave permission to kill the wanted man, he made all the wrong decisions. That’s… not the path Bagrand should take. I can be sure of that because I’ve gotten this far with dirtier hands than anyone else.”

That’s called an inferiority complex.

“Every time Princess Arina saw Master Karsein, her eyes would change. And it wasn’t a coincidence. Day by day, her feelings for him grew.”

When Karsain accomplished something, he was not acknowledged or celebrated.

When Karsine caused an accident, he was busy scolding and reprimanding him.

I never asked what the reason was.

As if, from the beginning, he had decided that Karcein was wrong and he was right.

“This is not the right path. This is not the path that the Bagrand Duke should take. This is the path that a leader who will ascend to the Duke’s position should never take.”

With a complicated mind, the Marquis said so. At this point, he completely withdrew his position of supporting Arina.

-Ugh.

“Princess Claire. Shouldn’t we right what’s wrong?”

“Marquis, what are you doing now…?”

“You too are a descendant of the Duke family. You are the legitimate heir of Bagrand. That means you could be someone I can support.”

“Seo, are you really telling me to officially compete for the position of Duke with my sister right now?”

“Yes.”

The Marquis did not deny it. Rather, he affirmed it, confirming that the guess was correct.

‘That’s ridiculous. How could I, how could I…’

I was embarrassed. I had never thought of that before.

Arina is the eldest daughter of Bagrand, and Claire is the second daughter. Normally, the eldest daughter would lead the family.

But even apart from that, this is not a place for Claire to take on a challenge so easily.

Claire was not prepared at all. Rather than taking classes to lead the dukedom, she chose to support it, and in reality, rather than being skilled in both civil and military affairs, she was only doing magic that suited her constitution and a boutique business that suited her tastes.

This aspect was even more prominent because he had no intention of succeeding to the Duke’s throne compared to Arina.

‘But… if this is the way…’

Only then did Claire realize what Camilla had said.

– It may not be a way to find the master, but there is a key to ending the situation where the master is in danger due to the wanted warrant.

-…What? What is that?

-You already have the key.

The rightful place of succession is not only reserved for Arina.

She is also a member of the Bagrand Duchess. She will always have the right to challenge for the ducal throne.

And at this point, Claire, who was feeling helpless and unable to do anything, was given a stepping stone in the form of the Marquis Magnuel.

A means of obtaining carcein.

The key was her attitude.

‘If that’s the case…’

Must do.

certainly.

***

Complex and difficult stories were exchanged.

The topics of discussion were on a completely different level than when I was running a boutique and thinking about new clothes.

The present time, when Marquis Magnuel has returned.

Claire wraps her head around her head and looks back on the conversation they had shared.

.

.

.

The story progressed step by step.

As it turned out, I ended up joining hands with the Marquis, who was Arina’s supporter… but in this situation, the two people’s goals were the same.

However, the road to achieving that goal was by no means smooth.

“This is something that Prince Karsain needs to take care of.”

Claire’s expression hardens at the words that she must receive Karsane’s hand.

“…Why?”

“There has to be room to shake the public opinion of the people. Otherwise, it would be difficult for Princess Claire’s power alone to overcome Princess Arina’s power.”

“…”

I ended up understanding too easily the statement that it would be difficult to break Arina’s power with just one person.

“Prince Karsain’s popularity among his followers was quite high. Whether it was martial arts or family affairs, he was not lacking in any of them. With such impressive performances, if the two of them joined forces to break Princess Arina’s power, it would be enough.”

Claire had been in a state of disarray within the dukedom.

Because he does not show the qualities of a leader to lead a family.

Even in Bagrand, the extent of control is an important factor, but she only acts as an example, saying that she will hand it over to her older sister, and her business is also focused on her own rather than the family’s business.

Although she is more capable of handling magic than Arina, she has never achieved anything like Arina did with her power. When the family was on the verge of collapse, she only provided financial assistance, and Arina, Isabella’s temporary representative, took charge of most of the actual policies.

A martial art that boasts the strength of a single-minded person.

A family business that gives a glimpse into the abilities and wisdom of the family head.

Even in the test to ascend to the Duke’s throne, the two most noticeable things were focused on Arina.

Family prestige. Family honor. Family support.

Claire is having a hard time reaching Arina in any way.

In such a situation, the gap was too long to block Arina, who had gained complete power due to Isabella’s absence, and to challenge for the ducal throne.

The gods would never support her just like that.

But it’s different when you have one person by your side.

If Carsain sides with Claire, public opinion among the vassals could change.

Even though Ariana holds a powerful hegemony, she does not only have supporters among her vassals.

This was something that all supporters of the newly emerging comet, Karsane, would have secretly kept in mind at least once.

That’s why we need Carcein’s help.

But how can that be?

That couldn’t be possible.

That shouldn’t have happened.

Claire didn’t back down because she knew this fact. No, she couldn’t back down.

“Carcein has endured countless times. He has endured more than enough to fill a mansion. This house is so badly broken and destroyed, and you have to call him here and tell him to come and help you?”

-Parallel!

The documents that had been on the table came crashing down.

“In that case, I won’t choose this method. I’d rather find another way to confront my sister. I won’t burden her again!”

The documents that had been organized were now mixed up in a mess.

But Claire didn’t pick up the documents as if she wasn’t even going to look at them.

No matter what happens.

I can’t afford to rely on Karsain for help again.

But what should I do?

At this point, nothing can reach my sister. What can I do to fight back?

Claire raised her forehead, seeming complicated.

“If only there were more forces opposing my sister…!”

…uh?

“If there is a force opposing my sister…”

It’s already there. It’s been there for a long time.

Why did I realize that only now?

-chuck!

As she hurriedly closed the door and came out, the knights stopped her.

-Please keep in mind that the princess is also a worthy candidate to succeed to the throne.

‘Yeah. This would be the first step.’

Equal competition.

I haven’t forgotten the advice the Marquis gave me.

“I’m sorry. Miss Arina had orders not to let Miss Claire out─”

“That’s the order from the agent of the Duke, right?”

“…Yes?”

“It’s not a duke, it’s the duke’s agent’s order. You’re not the only one being mentioned as the next duke, are you? If not, my orders aren’t even orders, is that it?”

“That’s…”

“Get out of the way.”

Claire shook off the troubled knights and confidently left the mansion.

***

The money that came into my hands after selling the items Claire had given me was overflowing.

It was enough money to hide anywhere, anytime, and do anything.

Thanks to that, I was able to hide easily with Harnie.

Before I knew it, the set period of time had passed.

The status window announced that it was time to move to find the fifth treasure.

-Tiring!

▶Episode XLIV. Five Treasures in Progress◀

▶Go to the location to find the last treasure.◀

Really, it won’t be long.