Chapter 331 – 95. Marquis of Aitern (1)
The red eyes of the Marquis Gerard were directed at Chloe.
“In fact?”
“Yeah. That my selfishness is contained in it. I will not deny everything.”
“I knew. Is it still time to observe the situation? Actually, Aitern’s privates don’t need to move so quickly. So, if you are suggesting to help the count…”
“But not only that! Even if there is selfishness in it. The decision to help the Count and Her Highness Lillia was a decision that thoroughly followed the teachings of Aitern. And that is rather the main reason for the decision.”
Gerard looked at Chloe with an interesting expression.
“The Teachings of Aitern? Whoa. Well, are you the one who won all the victories against your older brother? It wouldn’t be bullshit. Tell me.”
Chloe was silent for a moment. He recalled the teachings of House Aitern in his mind. He spat out the words that came out reflexively through the education of the successor.
“Anything worthwhile. Whatever you do, make sure to get it.”
It was. That was the way the Aitern family survived.
To preoccupy and monopolize valuable objects in any way. That the family’s teachings have continued for a long time.
That’s why the Aitern family was able to become the ruler of the central region.
“Anything worthwhile. What are you talking about. No way?”
“Yes, that is correct. Julian von Reinhardt.”
Chloe’s eyes were full of confidence.
“He will be the most valuable person in the Empire, no, in this land.”
At Chloe’s words, the Marquis made an expression as if lost in thought. Then said soon
“It is clear that the value of that count is high. As far as I know, until last year he was told that he was such a poor man that it would be hard to believe he was the grandson of the Marquis. I heard that things have changed since this year, or more precisely, after Pantheon started school. The events at His Majesty’s birthday banquet were also told by the vassals who were with you.”
At those words, Chloe’s face lit up. However, the Marquis Gerard spoke coldly.
“But he is the only heir to the Marquis. If he becomes the owner of Essenmund in the future, it is a fact that even small children in the neighborhood, not merchants, will know that he is a person of very high value. What matters.”
He continued.
“Southern Caceres with the same value as Essenmund. Chloe, can you prove that he has greater potential than Prince Pedro of Cáceres?”
The comparison target the Marquis spoke of was neither the emperor nor the princess, Lilia. Pedro, Duke of the South. And, of course, his name came up.
‘Even though Grius is making a fuss. In fact, compared to Duke Pedro, he’s less than a minnow.’
But as for the middle. He can’t just hold hands with him.
“Father! But since Cáceres is adjacent to our central region, he said that joining hands with him would be like giving up territory to a beast of prey…”
“Of course I know. You don’t know what I mean, do you?”
Chloe immediately understood the meaning of the words. Beyond just being the heir to the North. Whether Julian can compete with the Southern Duke, who is already full of ambition to conquer the empire anew.
To ask if Yulian has enough potential to deal with him.
Chloe answered without any hesitation.
“I know. And if there is anyone in this empire who can deal with Duke Pedro. That that person was only Count Julian. I want to tell my father.”
“Hmm. Not even that Wilhelm Marquis. Count Julian, who is just a kid? After all, Chloe, you’re overestimating him because you’re playing love…”
“Absolutely not!”
And Chloe spoke confidently to her father.
“Then, wouldn’t your father meet Count Julian in person?”
“Am I talking directly? Time is also a very expensive resource. You must know that the time of the Marquis of Aitern is not insignificant, right?”
Chloe squeezed the fan in her hand. She said, and finally she answered.
“If Count Julian disappoints his father. I will give up the position of my successor.”
The Marquis Gerard smiled at those words.
***
The party made it out of the kingdom safely.
A situation in which the rebels took control of the imperial capital. And not only the Greek guards, but also the Byrea mercenaries.
Rebels were deployed in every corner of the ecliptic, looking for me and Lilia.
‘But those guys couldn’t figure out our movements.’
When they escaped the Pantheon, they moved very stealthily. In the process, I knocked out a few guardsmen. Although you can doubt enough that we were there.
That was all. Before the party’s movements were noticed by the guards officers in the Pantheon, they left the place.
And Rosette escaped the ecliptic by following the safe route she had prearranged through her witches.
‘Although the rebels surrounded the imperial capital very tightly…’
Rather than that, the witches’ real-time communication network was much more sophisticated. Rosette’s mother is also a witch. It seemed that Rosette’s mother had a place in the world of witches.
‘That’s why I got help easily.’
The party hurriedly escaped to the south of the ecliptic. And the party’s destination is the halfway point between the ecliptic and the Marquis of Aitern.
The Marquis of Aitern, Gerard’s reinforcements were camped there. And the party finally arrived at the garrison with reinforcements.
I said to Lilia.
“Because I sent the rosette to the reinforcements in advance. The answer will come soon.”
“Marquis Gerard. Can I trust him?”
At Lillia’s words, I thought of Marquis Gerard for a moment. The ruler of the central region and the owner of the Aitern Company. If he was an aristocrat, he would never have known that he was not an ordinary person.
‘Because Aitern became the ruler of the central region in the era of Marquis Gerard.’
As a merchant, he is very good. In addition, he organized private soldiers equivalent to the knights with the wealth he called himself.
‘Unless you’re an idiot, you won’t stick to Grius. He is someone who is thoroughly driven by profit…’
He is a completely different person from my maternal grandfather, Marquis Wilhelm. Although he is a prince who can move a large force quickly against the rebels.
Will he help Lilia? And even if you help, at what level will you help? I can’t say for sure yet.
‘But I have to make sure I’m on Lilia’s side.’
Worst of all, he joins hands with Caceres. When the Marquis Gerard and Duke Pedro join hands. No matter how powerful Essenmund is, it is not easy to fight against them.
‘Because the imperial guard is already in a civil war. The forces to oppose them are sorely lacking.’
In other words, to Marquis Gerard, helping Lilia would be a definite benefit. I mean he should be able to show him.
‘Because if I don’t do that, Lilia and I might end up being held hostage.’
Of course, when such a situation arises, I will not stand still. Above all, I had the confidence to convince him.
After a while, Rosette returned.
“The Marquis Gerard said he would meet Her Highness Lilia and Julian in person.”
Me and Lilia entered the barracks of the Marquis Gerard.
***
A long conversation took place in the barracks.
At the end of that conversation, the Marquis Gerard said to Lilia.
“If we, the Aitern family, had no intention of helping Her Highness Lillia, we wouldn’t have come here. You don’t have to worry.”
“That is a believable word. Thank you, Marquis Gerard. If Aitern’s privates deal with the Byrea mercenaries. The guards who joined me will surely cut Grius’s head. The rebellion will be suppressed.”
“Surely it will. How intelligent is Her Highness Lilia? I will also do my best to annihilate those rebels.”
After saying that, the Marquis Gerard rose from his seat and called his men.
“Then, my subordinate will guide you to a place for Her Highness Lillia to rest.”
Lillia greeted the Marquis politely. In fact, Lilia’s expression was full of exhaustion. Lillia nodded her head at the Marquis’ words.
“Thank you for your consideration, Marquis.”
For once, Lilia seemed relieved. In fact, the meeting with the Marquis was cordial. Lilia hinted at him with the title of duke, and the Marquis seems satisfied with that fact.
As she said, if the Byrea mercenaries could be held in check by his soldiers. All that remains is a fight between the guards.
‘It means that the possibility of quickly suppressing the rebels has increased.’
Of course, I know things aren’t that easy. Like Chloe, the Marquis is a merchant to the core. No, rather, he was the one who reached the pinnacle of being a merchant.
Even if words help Lilia. He must not know that it would be advantageous for him to watch the battle situation while fully protecting his soldiers within the proper line.
‘That’s why I have to make the Marquis come forward wholeheartedly.’
And I was sure of that.
After a while Lillia rose from her seat. I’m about to go out after her too. The Marquis’ gaze turned to me.
“His Highness Lilia. The Marquis seems to have something to say to me. Please go in first and rest.”
Although Lilia had an uneasy expression on her face. I smiled, then nodded and left the barracks.
“Do you have anything to say to me?”
And I faced the Marquis. Marquis Gerard looked at me as if he was surprised.
“It seems that the Reinhard family’s young master is mind-reading. Even if I don’t speak, you will understand my meaning.”
“Your Excellency’s time is gold. To get to the point as quickly as possible. It would be right for me to move quickly.”
At those words, the marquis’s eyes changed with interest.
“Bottom line. That sounds like you already know what I’m going to say to the Count.”
“That’s right.”
When I said it without the slightest hesitation, he smiled.
“Then, can you tell me, Count? What shall I say?”
“I thought you would ask about my relationship with Chloe.”
At those words, the Marquis Gerard burst into laughter.
“The Count overestimates himself. Although Chloe is my daughter. Do you think I would be interested in young people playing with fire?”
“Sometimes a small play with fire can grow into a fire big enough to set a city on fire.”
At those words, the Marquis’ expression turned cold.
“Do I seem idle enough to care about children’s love affairs? Where are you going to get a joke…”
“I am not kidding. If it was Reinhardt and Aitern’s meeting, it wouldn’t be a small game.”
The Marquis closed his mouth for a moment. The Marquis seemed to already know everything about my relationship with Chloe.
And he would know the meaning of my words.
“Are you saying that Reinhardt and Aitern are formally forming an alliance?”
“Yeah. That’s right. If I hadn’t intended to, I wouldn’t have dated Chloe.”
After thinking for a moment, he replied.
“Alliance is to deal with a great enemy. The rebels you think are dangerous enough for the two great empresses to join forces.”
“No. The rebels are a force that will be subdued someday. Rather, the problem is Duke Pedro of the South.”
I checked his expression once again and continued.
“He is the one who will destroy the empire, no, Ireland. Although the difficult times are a field of opportunity that the merchant has no more. Conversely, if all markets to sell goods disappear. Isn’t that troublesome?”
“You talk as if Duke Pedro became the Demon King. I wondered what he was going to say, but he had such a delusion right in front of me…”
“It is not a delusion. Because he is not human.”
At my words, the Marquis Gerard’s expression hardened.
“How do you know that?”
