Ch.539539. Digging Up the Viscount (2)

Marquis Akion had always held the same ambition since before inheriting the family headship from his mother.

To firmly establish the marquisate beyond the stuffy western kingdom and into central politics.

His determination to forge close ties with the royal family and spread the family name and its underlying power throughout the kingdom and beyond to the continent had only grown more bloated with time rather than diminishing after he came of age.

The Marquis couldn’t help but firmly believe that the current situation was the single opportunity he had been waiting for all along.

‘The First Princess is the reliable shield of the Border Count, and the Third Princess’s competitor.’

In her private audience with the unfamiliar woman who had come to her, she slowly rolled her pitch-black pupils as she thought.

‘The Third Princess is the rope that will help our Akion Marquisate rise on new currents.’

Princess Amelie—she had personally confirmed that the woman had greater ambition and passion for power than others realized.

In Marquis Akion’s judgment, she was a sleeping dragon. Even if Adelheid ascended to the throne and seized complete power, the Marquis believed she would one day rise up even more massively than the time she had spent crouching.

Rather than becoming Adelheid’s tail, she wanted to be one of Amelie’s most trusted limbs and take charge of the snake’s head.

“Think about it. The Carpel Barony was a royal direct territory. The highest decision-maker there was a palace administrator, and its army was raised using the kingdom’s treasury.”

She had no choice but to keep speaking persistently.

‘Now is the opportunity while Adelheid is temporarily away.’

Though she couldn’t spread her influence as widely and prestigiously throughout the kingdom as Adelheid.

The more she elevated Amelie and diminished the power of nobles belonging to the First Princess’s faction, the more her position in the west would grow. And the larger the scraps that would fall to her from that increased power.

Moreover—

“I have nothing to say about granting the royal direct territory to Baron Ray Carpel. I’ve heard about his symbolism and numerous achievements until my ears are sore.”

Every word from someone in the position of a princess, whether conscious or not.

Bound by rank and complicated etiquette, each sentence carries strong compulsion that becomes shackles binding the ankles of both speaker and listener.

Amelie had promised that if this matter was concluded effectively, she would provide even greater support than now to bring her one step closer to what she had dreamed of.

“But military power is different. The power held by the barony is an overwhelming force capable of easily disrupting the balance of surrounding houses.”

“However, the reason we haven’t complained about that military until now is precisely because that power was wielded as the royal family’s impartial sword maintaining neutrality. We didn’t say anything because of that. Now I don’t know what can be considered safe from a sword that might be swung recklessly according to the family head’s opinion.”

“Moreover, the direct territory is a massive trading city. The taxes and profits generated from numerous transactions and deals, and the fact that the current Baron is not only maintaining his military but focusing on training them further—that’s the situation today.”

Only when her mouth became dry did Marquis Akion catch her breath.

When she was delivering this impassioned speech, there were several spectators before her.

They showed unusually intense nodding and agreement with the Marquis’s opinion.

“How can we be at ease seeing this situation?”

“…That’s right.”

“It’s hard to deny that the barony’s military power far exceeds the number of private soldiers permitted to ordinary houses. I’ve heard it’s a city to be used as royal military provisions in emergencies… but the kingdom is currently in its most peaceful period.”

The more they affirmed each other’s words, the deeper and more sticky the scene of apparent brainwashing became.

Marquis Akion’s smile grew deeper as she quietly observed their behavior.

“Moreover, the current Carpel Barony has even gone so far as to declare support for Princess Adelheid rather than simply maintaining neutrality with loyalty to the king.”

The kingdom’s next monarch had already been designated as Adelheid.

However, the Marquis’s words subtly placed Amelie on the same boundary line as Adelheid, as if breaking the notion that the designation was unchangeable.

“In such circumstances, if the barony were to clash with houses closely connected to the Third Princess over some unfortunate matter… I wonder what would happen…”

She had planted seeds of suspicion about the barony in their minds.

After the meeting with the nobles had ended, she went alone to a terrace and whispered while looking down at the elegant buildings occupying the lord’s castle.

“Still, those people have survived well in this field.”

Even she thought her own words had many flaws.

Declaring support for Princess Adelheid wasn’t something that should provoke such an extreme reaction.

From the beginning, those gathered here who should know, knew well that both the county and barony supported the First Princess.

Moreover, the territorial issues that had arisen several times in the west had been cleanly resolved without bias after the new family head had taken his seat.

They seemed to have forgotten such facts they should have known, instead agreeing with her opinion and continuously showing anxiety and irritation.

“Well…”

Recalling their behavior again, she could no longer hold back her laughter.

The Marquis covered her rising lips with her hand and added quietly.

“Indeed, items imported from the Empire are different.”

If there were many, various items from the Empire brought in through the Third Princess Amelie.

Making people into fools.

Drawing up plans.

And leading them to success.

All could be easily accomplished.

* * *

Stories about the information guild in the back alleys are truly famous among mercenaries.

A group said to know everything that happens within the kingdom. Thus, when mercenaries encounter difficult problems, they often donate their purses to the information guild seeking answers.

There’s even a saying:

If the information guild claims not to have information about what you want, it’s merely because your sincerity in payment was insufficient.

And in the past, Lord Benner, who had used the information guild several times through connections, knew well that more money than expected was needed to investigate the threads of such politically entangled suspicious cases.

Without hesitation, he visited the finance vassal who was squeezing his head and wielding his pen.

The finance vassal, whose disheveled hair and dark-rimmed eyes showed how much he’d been pulling at it, opened his mouth as soon as he looked up at Benner.

“No.”

“I haven’t said anything yet.”

“I said no. Do you know how much money we’re short this time? If expenses increase any more here, I’ll have to completely overhaul next month’s planned budget.”

“Though I know how difficult it is for you, this matter—”

“If you know, please give me a break just this once. The money for slum improvement projects, soldier equipment repairs and new purchases… even calculating taxes to collect—can’t you see how busy I am?”

“…Since the other vassals strongly agreed on this matter, if you don’t provide the remaining public funds, you’ll also have those old vassals’ nagging added to your troubles.”

“…”

The finance vassal’s expression soured in an instant.

“Those old folks’ nagging too…?”

“Yes, they’ll come looking for you at every opportunity and make comments while you’re doing your most important calculations.”

“Seeing someone spewing such abuse while just doing addition and subtraction, they must be at an age ready to depart.”

“…”

“They might even say it’s because you lack intelligence, and that they’ll do it themselves so step aside.”

“…This is maddening.”

Indeed, having aged colleagues who excel at being stubborn coming to mock you whenever you’re handling financial work would be nothing short of hell.

Finally obtaining the tearful gold coins from the finance vassal, Benner walked the streets of the barony outside the lord’s castle for the first time in a while.

After being guided to the deepest part of the building he soon arrived at:

“We welcome Lord Benner, the acting head of the barony. What business brings you to our information guild today?”

“I’m here to buy information.”

“Information, you say…”

“Information about the Imperial spy incident that occurred at the Akion Marquisate.”

“You mean a past incident? If that’s all, such a large sum isn’t necessary—”

Having asked about the desired information,

Benner, seemingly quite familiar with such places,

Maintained an extremely calm appearance while casually throwing out words.

“Forget the past. The County has already secured all the circumstances from that time. What we want to know is whether there was anything suspicious from the time the County briefly became less attentive to the Marquisate until now.”

“…Well, since Lord Benner himself investigated directly from the County, you must have secured subtle circumstances no less than ours regarding that time.”

“Subtle circumstances. It’s the first time your side has given such hints first.”

“The counterpart is Lord Benner, isn’t it? Also, the guild knows well that Lord Benner is someone who pays a price worthy of the information.”

“…You talk too much. So—”

When Benner’s half-lidded eyes turned toward him, he closed his mouth and merely showed a small eye-smile.

“Do you have the information or not?”

After all, the old man before him was famous as the problem solver once possessed by the County.