Ch.8383. Camilla, Dorothy, and Lily

After about half a year, the Count of Lithuania appeared exactly the same as when Gilbert had left the mansion.

The penetrating gaze and expressionless face.

The neatly trimmed beard and the carefully combed hair that had grown slightly gray.

Everything remained unchanged—from his impeccably neat attire to the well-trained muscles quietly breathing beneath it.

If there was one difference, it was only that the pressure that had weighed on Gilbert until the moment he left was now gone.

“It’s been a while, Father.”

“You’ve been up to some interesting things.”

The Count pushed aside the documents he had been reviewing and finally raised his head to look at Gilbert. Though his gaze was cold enough to send chills down one’s spine, it no longer contained the same disapproval as before.

Gilbert could tell that he had at least passed the Count’s basic threshold.

“It was nothing special.”

“That impertinent attitude of yours hasn’t changed.”

The Count of Lithuania clicked his tongue.

“You managed to earn a knighthood. Is this the answer to your determination that you spoke of?”

“Was it a satisfactory answer?”

When Gilbert asked in return, the Count met his eyes as if measuring him. He didn’t blink once, as if determined to uncover everything hidden within Gilbert.

The study fell into a suffocating silence, with only the occasional sound of their breathing.

How much time had passed?

The Count of Lithuania, who had been silently staring into Gilbert’s eyes, suddenly burst into laughter.

“Hahaha!”

The Count, who had seemed so cold-blooded, roared with laughter. He even slapped his palm against the desk repeatedly, as if he couldn’t contain his amusement.

Gilbert was taken aback by this display, having never seen the Count laugh even in the game.

Why would a man who rarely even smiled be laughing like this?

Though puzzled, he didn’t show it. His instincts told him that maintaining silence was the best course of action.

Eventually, the Count abruptly stopped laughing as if it had never happened and glared at Gilbert with his usual demeanor.

“How impudent. You show no respect to your father.”

“You seemed to be enjoying yourself, though.”

“I see you haven’t abandoned that rebellious rogue nature of yours.”

“Would you prefer that I did?”

“The House of Hart, which guards the border, has no need for weaklings. Your rebellious nature barely earns a passing grade in that regard.”

When the word “passing” came from the Count’s mouth, Gilbert inwardly rejoiced.

Even if he were to be expelled from the Hart family, he had found a place to go, but he needed to stay here to progress through the main scenario.

Although the Count’s words had a sharp edge, they contained favorable intent, which would clearly help with advancing the scenario. Regardless, the fact that Gilbert had led the vanguard in the Resistance suppression operation remained unchanged, increasing his chances of having a voice in matters.

“I never expected you would become the Imperial Princess’s only disciple. To think you’d be the exclusive student of the Sword Saint. Not bad, for someone like you.”

“Was it unexpected?”

“Ha! Don’t overstep. Even so, what you’ve done in the past doesn’t simply disappear.”

The Count’s gaze sharpened once more. It was a reminder that regardless of his current evaluation, the essence remained unchanged.

But both the original Gilbert and the current one had rebellious dispositions. He wasn’t the type to be intimidated by a mere glare.

He simply returned the Count’s gaze with his usual look.

Even this seemed unexpected to the Count, who soon relaxed his eyes and smirked.

“You have changed, it seems. Before, you would have kept your head down like a dog with its tail between its legs, but now you look your father straight in the eye.”

“Half a year is not a short time.”

“Enough. I was merely surprised because I expected nothing from you. More importantly, I hear you came with Dietrich’s youngest daughter?”

Dietrich Nord Tristitia. At the mention of the current Count Tristitia’s name, Gilbert nodded.

“That’s correct.”

“Remember this. Dietrich is obsessively devoted to his daughters. No matter who you are, if you make the same mistake as before, I’ll have no choice but to cast you out, regardless of your current standing.”

The previous mistake…

Gilbert suppressed a bitter smile. The “previous mistake” the Count referred to was what the original Gilbert had done to Lily.

Indeed, Count Tristitia, whom he had met in person, was seriously devoted to his daughters. If Gilbert were to make any inappropriate move toward Camilla, the man wouldn’t hesitate to declare war on the Hart family.

“That won’t happen.”

“We shall see. In any case, I understand the answer you’ve shown me. But don’t let your guard down. If you show the same behavior as before, there won’t even be a chance next time. You may leave now.”

With that ominous warning, the Count dismissed him. He immediately picked up the documents he had set aside, apparently intending to continue his work after sending Gilbert away.

But Gilbert had no intention of leaving despite being dismissed. Now that the scenario of being expelled from the Hart family had been averted, it was time to address the reason he had come here.

“Did you not hear me tell you to leave?”

The Count asked without looking at Gilbert as he turned a page. It was a signal that he had no more time to spare for him, but Gilbert still had business to attend to. It was time to hear directly from the Count about the movements of the barbarian tribes—or rather, the Sigurd people.

“How are the Sigurd people faring?”

The Count, who had been quietly turning pages, looked up at Gilbert, who was still standing there. He seemed to be trying to discern Gilbert’s intention behind such a question.

But since Gilbert’s expression remained unchanged, there wasn’t much the Count could glean.

Finally, with a short sigh, the Count tossed the document folder aside and raised his head.

“What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I asked. I’ve heard their movements have become unusual recently… is that true?”

“…It seems there are informants from the Information Guild within my territory. Like weeds, they keep sprouting no matter how many times I root them out.”

“From your reaction, I can tell it’s true.”

“Ha. What’s the point in hiding it? Even a rotten fish is still a fish—you’re still a member of the Hart family, so you should know. As you said, we’ve received reports that their recent movements are concerning. With the ongoing drought, they probably can’t hold out any longer.”

The words from the Count’s mouth were almost identical to what Gilbert had heard at the Wild Rose. Indeed, the information network of the Wild Rose, which dealt in intelligence from the back alleys, was impressive. Even news from distant Bismarck had minimal discrepancies.

“It wasn’t long ago that they were selecting a Great Chief. By now, they’ve probably chosen one and are preparing to advance on our territory. Even with scouts, it’s practically impossible to infiltrate their domain undetected.”

“Are you preparing for war?”

“We are the family that guards the gateway to the Empire. If they attack, it’s only natural that we respond in kind.”

This dialogue was identical to one from Tactical Combat. The only difference from the game was that the listener was Gilbert, a custom character, rather than Ian, the playable character.

Gilbert quickly organized what he could gather from this brief conversation with the Count.

First, the selection of the Great Chief was likely already complete, and the Count of Lithuania was preparing for war.

If he didn’t intervene here, the two sides would clash, and both would suffer significant casualties. Even without considering Tactical Combat’s scenario, war always resulted in damage to both sides.

And that damage would be fully borne by the people living in Bismarck.

Having simulated the worst-case scenario, he recalled why he had come here. War was always best avoided.

“If food shortage due to drought is the cause, we could avoid war by providing them with food.”

“Have you become an idealist while you were away? Their fundamental problem is barren land and a terrible drought. Even if we provide food, as long as the drought persists, the underlying issue remains. Do you really think they would accept that? That they would leave this fertile land alone?”

Gilbert fell silent at the Count’s cynical response. The Count’s words were logical. Even Gilbert, well-versed in Tactical Combat, didn’t know how to solve a drought.

And if asked whether he could make it rain, of course he couldn’t. Such a thing would be impossible without divine intervention.

Moreover, as the Count suggested, Gilbert himself doubted whether the Sigurd people would listen to their words.

According to the lore, the emotional divide between the Imperial people and the Sigurd people was too deep to be resolved with mere words.

But there was a solution. If the Sigurd people followed Tactical Combat’s setting, there was one way to resolve this issue.

“Then let me handle this war.”

“How amusing. I’ve heard about your leading the vanguard in the Resistance suppression operation and preventing the attack on Demeia Academy. But this is different from those incidents. This is literally war—a terrible place where your words can determine the life or death of soldiers.”

“I understand that.”

“I told you not to overstep. To speak so casually about—”

The Count of Lithuania was continuing with an angry tone but suddenly stopped. Though he was furious at Gilbert for making such a childish statement, he couldn’t continue when he saw Gilbert’s eyes.

Ironically, his son had the same eyes he had seen in people who had survived many years on the battlefield. Gilbert, who should have no knowledge of war, had the eyes of someone who had witnessed the horrors of death-filled battlefields.

What could he have seen?

Was there something the Count hadn’t heard about?

Looking at his eldest son who seemed like a different person after half a year, the Count found it difficult to speak.

“Are you confident?”

He asked a question instead of continuing his previous statement.

“Is there a battlefield one enters with complete confidence?”

A profound answer to a simple question. Just as there is no battle that can be won with certainty despite thorough preparation, confidence is a deadly poison for a commander in a war zone filled with countless variables.

The Count tapped his desk, lost in thought. Should he trust his changed son and entrust him with this war, or should he stick to the original plan?

After contemplating for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the Count made his decision.

“Very well. Then this battle—”

Knock knock!

“Count, an urgent visitor has arrived.”

“Did I not say that no one was to disturb us?”

“But it’s a visitor you must see, Count.”

Gilbert clicked his tongue slightly at the unwelcome interruption just before acceptance. Just when he thought everything was settled, someone had to throw sand in the gears. He vowed not to easily forgive whoever it was.

“Must see? Who has come to cause such a commotion?”

“Lady Nobilitas has arrived.”

“Lady Nobilitas?”

The Count’s eyes turned to Gilbert.

Gilbert also widened his eyes at the mention of Lady Nobilitas.

There were only two ladies of House Nobilitas. But if it was someone who would visit the Hart family…

“Yes. Miss Lily is begging to see you, Count.”

Why is she coming here again?

As Gilbert had guessed, the person visiting the Hart family was the second daughter of Nobilitas.

Lily Roseus Nobilitas.