Chapter 530 – 530. The Plum Blossom Swordsman Reincarnated Into The Baek Family
530. The Plum Blossom Swordsman Reincarnated into the Baek Family
Hacent, the head butler of the main family, entered the room.
He had been the head butler for decades, since the time of the previous family head, and could be considered the teacher who taught Yuria shadow magic. However, neither Hacent nor Yuria acknowledged their master-disciple relationship.
“Hacent. Did you despise me for my relationship with Bibi Heollis?”
Hacent had worked longer than I had and had the family head’s trust. He was someone I could never treat carelessly, but when it was just the two of us, it was an exception.
“No, Young Master. I have no feelings about your sex life. Rather, I am impressed. She is a spy you planted. Young Master Gent wouldn’t even dream that his wife is a spy.”
Hacent’s eyes were full of trust in me. Hacent thought of me as a chosen prophet. It was a result of using the information from the original story.
“Hacent. You might know about me. That my relationships with women aren’t clean.”
“It is a good thing. The seeds of the one who will become the master of Prucus are spreading everywhere. Among those seeds, the most excellent one will become the next master of Prucus.”
“…Kyle has returned as a top-tier expert. Do you still think I’m qualified to be the master of the Prucus family?”
“My opinion has not changed, Young Master. Martial prowess is important, but it is not a necessary virtue for the master of the family. You told me, Young Master, that you would make it so that no one could ignore the Prucus family. I have confirmed those words. Since you founded the Korea Trading Company, many who used to ignore the Prucus family have decreased. The power of money is great.”
“Money is great for anyone because it’s equal to everyone. Kyle might become an Aura Master in a few years. Will you still follow me then?”
“I have already pledged my loyalty to you, Young Master. An Aura Master. It is magnificent. It is a realm that all knights aspire to, a realm that transcends humanity and can face ten thousand soldiers. And you, Young Master, possess a sword of that realm.”
A sword.
Hacent always compared Yuria to a sword.
“Did you know Yuria’s level? Yuria would have thoroughly hidden her level.”
“I was barely able to notice. Because she hid it perfectly, I was able to notice it.”
“Well, Hacent was the one who taught Yuria assassination and shadow magic. It’s not strange. How do you feel now that the sword you forged has become the best sword?”
“I did not forge that sword. What I taught her was not much. She is a sword that forged herself. She is so sharp that I worry she might harm you, Young Master.”
Hacent was wary of Yuria.
I trusted Yuria, but Hacent still didn’t completely trust her.
“It’s okay. Yuria would never harm me.”
Yuria would not betray me. I could swear on it. Yuria was a woman who would die without complaint if I told her to.
“Hacent. I called you to find out my father’s intentions, as he will return in two days.”
“…I apologize. I have no information about the current family head. The family head trusts me… but he does not use me as an assassin. There has been no indication recently.”
“If you had to guess?”
“I don’t know. The family head has been unconventional since he was young. Perhaps he will do something unconventional again…”
I nodded. I had only asked just in case.
Count Ention Prucus was a man of few words, and when he was young, he was often called eccentric. It was not strange that his retainers could not fully grasp his intentions.
‘Something will happen in two days.’
I checked my wristwatch. It was almost time to sleep.
“Prince Aiden and Princess Aileen will be coming to the banquet. Rumors of their acceptance of the invitation are spreading among the nobles.”
“Yes. I have heard it as well. If you order an assassination, I will risk everything to kill the princess and the prince.”
“You know I won’t give such an order.”
“Young Master. I am your sword. Although I am not as sharp as she is, I can fulfill the duties of a sword. You can use me as a disposable if necessary. So please, use me without hesitation.”
“……There will come a day when I will use you. But that’s not now. What you need to do is monitor Prince Aiden. If Prince Aiden does something stupid, things will get complicated. Especially if he personally contacts Gent or Kyle, report it to me immediately.”
“Yes. I understand.”
“Ah, and when you leave, please call Yuria.”
I had to spend another hot night with her.
“Yes, Young Master.”
***
On the early morning of the banquet, Count Ention Prucus returned.
My family and I jumped out of bed. Feeling the heaviness in our steps due to lack of sleep, we went down to the first floor of the mansion.
All the servants and retainers were standing still, welcoming the return of the family head.
Short black hair and deep black eyes like a cave. His massive physique was full of muscles, and his skin was tanned bronze from the sun. He had a beard, and wrinkles, the marks of time, were etched around his mouth and eyes.
Just by walking towards us, he exuded an extraordinary sense of intimidation.
Elaine greeted Ention on behalf of the family.
“Welcome back. Everything you ordered has been taken care of.”
“Hmm.”
It was more like a conversation between a lord and his subject than a husband and wife.
He looked around once.
Ention’s eyes paused on three people.
Gent, Kyle, and me.
“Looking at you like this, all three of you have grown a lot.”
“Father. We are not children. The youngest’s coming-of-age ceremony was held a few years ago.”
Gent stepped forward. He usually lived in Utren Castle with Ention. So, among us brothers, he was the closest to Ention.
‘Even so, he’s still a guy who couldn’t secure the successor position.’
Ention’s eye wrinkles deepened.
“…That’s right.”
He looked at me and then stared intently at Kyle. A hint of admiration flashed in his eyes. That was all.
“Gent. Kyle. Eugene. Make sure to attend the banquet this afternoon. I will not allow any objections. This is an order.”
“Yes.”
After hearing our answers, Ention immediately returned to his room.
Elaine organized the situation. Gent and Kyle disappeared first, followed by the retainers, and finally the servants cautiously retreated. I made sure that the surrounding gazes had disappeared and stood behind Elaine. I wrapped my arms around her waist and whispered in her ear.
“Mother. You’re not planning on going into Father’s room, are you?”
“……The family head and I use different rooms. What you’re thinking won’t happen.”
“Then I can go to your room, right?”
My hand caressed her buttocks.
“Eugene…. Father just returned.”
“Yes. That’s why I need to go to Mother’s room even more. I need to leave my mark on Mother to feel at ease.”
“Ah, I understand. Let’s go to the room quickly. I’m afraid someone might see us.”
“Mother. Your face is blushing, you’re so cute like a young girl.”
“Ugh…. You have no words you can’t say to your mother.”
I chuckled and kissed Elaine on the lips.
Ention had his wife stolen by his son, and the wife of his eldest son, Gent, was pregnant with the seed of his youngest brother. Just thinking about it made me laugh.
Of course, Kyle’s future was not much different.
‘No. Kyle will marry that ugly woman, so he won’t have his wife stolen by me.’
All the heroines in the original story would be mine.
I spent the rest of the morning intertwined with Elaine.
***
The banquet hall was bustling. Numerous nobles were gathered. It was rare for this many people to gather at a count’s estate, not a royal palace.
My brothers and I had been dealing with guests since the beginning of the banquet because of what had happened in the early morning.
Ention, as the host of the banquet, would come in a little later.
“Prince Aiden and Princess Aileen are entering!!!”
The butler’s loud voice echoed throughout the banquet hall.
The gazes in the banquet hall turned towards the entrance.
Two men and women entered the banquet hall.
They were a man and a woman with bright, shining blonde hair. Their eyes were also the same sapphire color. But their atmospheres were different.
The reckless prince, Aiden, was overwhelmed by the attention and walked in with a tense gait. His clothes were very flashy, as if showing off that he was a prince. His eyes were restless and wavering.
On the other hand, the princess, Aileen, walked in confidently. The dress she was wearing was a light blue dress that was neither flashy nor plain. Her eyes were fixed straight ahead.
Even someone who didn’t have an eye for people could see the difference in their capabilities.
Princess Aileen immediately went to greet the dukes and marquises who held the highest power, while Aiden looked around and walked towards his old gang. Most of them were nobles who had not yet received titles and were generally not well-regarded.
‘Pathetic.’
I watched Princess Aileen’s movements. And after a while, I confirmed that she was greeting Kyle.
‘……As Yuria predicted, was it Princess Aileen who put ideas into Kyle’s head?’
It might be a bit hasty to make such a judgment based on just a greeting, but my intuition was telling me it was Princess Aileen.
“Count Prucus and the Countess are entering!!!”
Ention and Elaine entered and confidently headed to the front.
Ention looked around once and said.
“Thank you for accepting this invitation. More people than expected have gathered. The reason I invited you is to announce a significant fact.”
His voice, filled with mana, spread to every corner of the banquet hall. It was a sudden remark that was not in the plan. However, the nobles could not speak carelessly.
“A significant fact…. So many people have gathered to hear your words. Even the prince and princess have gathered. You wouldn’t say something disappointing, would you?”
Marquis Lukeman Petras said.
He was an Aura Master with the nickname “The Giant of the North.” His dark brown hair was slightly long. Unlike his nickname, he was of average height. The origin of his nickname was in his weapon. He used a spear that was larger than his body.
Ention looked at Lukeman for a moment.
“……Marquis Petras. Please listen and judge.”
Lukeman’s eyes were burning with fighting spirit. The relationship between Ention and Lukeman was not good. Most of the nobles here were well aware of that fact.
Ention paused for a moment, as if to calm the scattered atmosphere, and then said.
“War is approaching. The remaining time is probably half a year. Perhaps the war could happen even sooner.”
The nobles murmured.
The nobles who had been predicting the war became serious at Ention’s confident words.
Those who knew nothing about the war were flustered.
“…Count Prucus. Can you be certain of those words? And why are you saying this here now instead of reporting to His Majesty the King?”
This time, it was Marquis Petras’s question again.
“The war will happen within a year at the latest. I can be certain of it.”
Ention’s words were correct.
Perhaps because of my intervention, the timing of the war was getting faster than in the original story.
“I have already reported to His Majesty the King. And His Majesty the King has given me the position of Commander-in-Chief. All the armies of the Rapelli Kingdom are under my command.”
“……Is that the truth?”
“How could I dare to mock His Majesty the King’s decree? There is also a witness. Princess Aileen.”
All eyes turned to Princess Aileen. Princess Aileen was not flustered.
“Yes. His Majesty the King has ordered Count Prucus as Commander-in-Chief.”
Marquis Petras clicked his tongue softly.
“Huh, so today’s banquet was a celebration for your inauguration as Commander-in-Chief? Since I’ve come to a celebration, I should congratulate you. Congratulations, Count Prucus.”
“Thank you, but I will receive that congratulations later.”
“Is there something more important left to say?”
“There are two things left. The first is a message to my sons, not to you. The reason I’m saying it in a place where you are is because I want you to be witnesses. Perhaps I might die in this war.”
It was a chilling statement, but it was true. Ention was not the only Aura Master in this world. It was possible that Ention could die on the battlefield.
“I will pass on the title of Count to the son who makes the greatest contribution in this war.”
