Even a Scoundrel Gets Tired

118 – One Can Intervene in a Rich Man’s Quarrel (2)

“Your Majesty, that child was originally of our family. Therefore…”

“Don’t speak such nonsense, Duke.

That child is now, unequivocally, a Baron of this Empire.

Not some infant swaddled in your skirts.”

“….”

“Wasn’t he the one you banished in the first place? What are you trying to salvage, now of all times?”

The razor-thin tension from moments ago felt like a fabrication, but surely that was just my perception.

Even a quick glance around showed the

faces of the nobles, desperately trying to

discern what was unfolding.

“…An old saying goes: ‘The Joy of Heavenly Relations’ (天倫之樂) ─”

“You severed those ‘Heavenly Relations’ (天倫)

“Well, isn’t he just full of fine words.”

“….”

“And at precisely the moment the strength of that child is unveiled, no less.”

“….”

“I hadn’t seen you that way… A rather unsightly side, wouldn’t you say?”

*Crack*─

The Duke’s brow arched just the slightest bit

And at that same instant,

The Emperor’s smile

Deepened further still.

As though a decade-old indigestion had finally passed.

“..Your Majesty, even so, granting the title of Baron to a child without so much as a proper castle is excessive─”

“Indeed, he’s no longer a Reinhardt, is he?”

“….”

“Ah, apologies for interrupting.

Please, continue with what you were saying.”

“..My son may be capable,

But he is not even of age yet.”

“..And so?”

“Furthermore, he lacks the proper experience

To take on the responsibilities and duties of a noble.”

“..What is it you wish to say?”

“Permit me to take responsibility for and educate the child

Within the Reinhardt household.”

At the Duke’s sudden pronouncement, I nearly

Spoke my true feelings aloud once more.

Is he out of his mind…?

“Ha, are you speaking with a sound mind?”

“Looking at it long-term, I believe roughly two years will suffice.”

Even as I, the Emperor, and the surrounding nobles

Stared at him with bewildered faces,

His expression remained utterly devoid of mirth.

As if he were speaking in all sincerity.

“..Tell me, what is the reason for this?

Why are you so fixated on that child?”

“Regardless, he is my son, my blood, and he was once a member of the Reinhardt family, was he not?”

A perfect…excuse.

Though only superficially so.

Certainly, my own understanding as a noble is far from complete.

The gaps in my knowledge, born of my b*stard’s blood,

were numerous, and glaringly obvious.

Far from possessing grace and decorum,

even the basic etiquette of this land remained a hazy area for me.

In short, as a noble, I was significantly

inferior to the scions of other esteemed houses.

In that state, the title of nobility

was far too generous a dispensation.

He proposed to personally take responsibility for my education,

as one who once shared the bond of parent and child.

And that, within the Reinhardt household…

*That lunatic.*

“Reinhardt, are you truly

not ashamed of your audacity?”

“What do you mean, Your Majesty?”

The Emperor pinched the bridge of his nose,

as if battling a severe headache,

but the Duke remained impassive,

incredulously inquiring what the issue was.

Undaunted, the Emperor pressed his fingers

firmly against his temples and spoke.

“That you were the very one to cast him out is known across the entire empire, even to babes in arms.”

“….”

“By what right do you dictate

his behavior?”

It was sound reasoning, and truth.

If one were to select the most scandalous

rumor currently circulating the empire, it would certainly concern

the Duke and myself.

Of course, with the subjects of the rumor being who they were,

there was no blatant gossiping to be seen,

but that was merely a façade.

Even now, the Duke’s

reputation might be plummeting in real-time.

And in such a situation,

he proposes to take me back into the family?

A scandal, for better or worse,

was practically unavoidable.

In other words, a desperate gamble.

It was a gamble, and a gamble with a very high chance of failure.

‘He… surely knows that, doesn’t he?’

“…Your Majesty.”

At the very moment I was thinking that,

the Duke spoke.

His face, which had been twisted with worry only moments ago, was now completely smooth.

“Do you have proof that this rumor is true?”

“…What?”

*

The Duke’s audacious words echoed through the hall, drawing stares of ‘Ah, this is going too far…’ not only from the Emperor and Jennison, but from the people surrounding them as well.

Yet, the Duke, unflinchingly enduring those gazes, showed no reaction at all.

No matter how he considered it,

he had nothing to fear.

Did they have proof?

They already had Aria, the one who spread the rumor, locked away.

And were there any witnesses?

He had thoroughly investigated, and as a result,

there was no one, nowhere, who could confirm the truth of the matter.

No, there *would* be no one.

No Academy student would dare risk antagonizing the Duke’s family.

Even if there was a brave soul among them who felt inclined to step forward,

he would simply be made to disappear without a trace.

‘…The most bothersome obstacles have been cleared away, at least.’

Of course, the person the rumor concerned was still alive and well, but that was merely an individual’s claim.

Just the assertion of a single Academy student.

Even if she was a bit special, it ended there.

The impact of her words would be significantly weaker than the claims of the head of the Duke’s family.

‘…Thinking about it again, this is a picture of me winning.’

“…Reinhardt, are you now going so far as to–”

“Your Majesty.”

The Duke, already certain of his victory, had nothing left to be afraid of.

Now, all that remained was to, as always,

move forward.

“The person who spread that rumor is my daughter.”

“…I know, Duke.”

“Do you truly believe that bright child would act in a manner that would tarnish her own house?”

Aria Reinhardt.

An exceptional child, with talents comparable to the Duke of Rnuel’s eldest daughter,

and possessing both pride and self-respect for her family.

Such was the commonly known

information about Aria Reinhardt.

“One day, that child came to me and asked…”

“…Asked what?”

“About how to increase our family’s influence, and

how to find those who could be trusted.”

“….”

“So I told her, ‘Seek out those who would stand by our family, unwavering, no matter what may come to pass.'”

A slight stir rippled through the room.

It seemed everyone understood the

implications of what the Duke had just spoken.

“..So, are you saying now..

that your daughter spread these falsehoods?”

“That is correct.”

A complete and utter fabrication.

A lie without a shred of evidence,

but frankly, that mattered little.

At least, not in this moment, in this place.

The objective now was to plant the seed of ‘..it could be true!’ in the minds of others.

The facts, the truth…

those could be fabricated later, somehow.

Even through that lacking daughter of mine.

‘The priority now is to prevent the family’s reputation from falling.’

“..Disturbing, indeed. Is there anyone who can verify this claim?”

“I regret to inform you..that my daughter is currently missing.”

“..Is that so? At this particular juncture, no less.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“..Hmm, Jennison..your opinion..Jennison?”

At the Emperor’s questioning response,

the Duke’s head snapped up.

The moment the Emperor called out Jennison’s name,

a heavy, inexplicable anxiety

took hold of his entire being.

“..Where is Jennison?”

“Um… Baron Jennison slipped away with Lady Charlotte just moments ago, somewhere.”

What is this, this immense unease?

Creeping, crawling up my skin,

a thing most unsettling.

Like a dark swamp in the dead of night.

*

“Miss Aria, please, try a little of this.”

“….”

“If you don’t eat something, anything, you’ll truly ruin your health.”

“…Leave.”

“Miss…!”

“I said, leave.”

Just now, Aria’s fifth

meal had been refused at her request.

Every single bit of it.

“Oh, my… What if something happens to her, Miss like this?”

“His Lordship the Duke looked absolutely furious too…”

“I peeked in for a moment earlier… she’s gotten so terribly thin…!”

Since arriving at this prison of a place,

she hadn’t touched a single bite.

Not even the foods she usually adored,

of course,

not a drop of water, not a blade of grass.

Not a scrap of meat, either.

As though she were forbidden from putting such things in her mouth.

“Perhaps the food isn’t to her liking… *smack smack*…

But no, it tastes perfectly fine, doesn’t it?”

“Hey, you crazy b*tch!! Why are *you* eating that?!”

“Well… it was just going to be thrown away anyway…”

“But… seriously, isn’t there a chance

Miss will starve herself to death like this?”

“Well… tomorrow will mark three days straight of going without…”

The servants’ worries were far from trivial.

Though she might be hated now,

her station was that of a Duchess.

And a daughter of the Duke who guarded the entire Northern Territory.

If such a person were to refuse all food offered by the servants and starve to death?

Not only would they have to avoid the Duke’s wrath, but they would never be able to work in the Ducal household again.

Besides, branded as ill-omened, finding employment with another family would be a hopeless dream as well.

They hadn’t done anything wrong, not them.

“Ah… please, young lady… at least tomorrow, please…”

“Please… eat even just a little… please…”

“Maybe it would be better to just leave the family… before the Duke notices…”

“True, the Duke is terribly fearsome… huh?”

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

“Didn’t… didn’t something just whoosh past?”

“What did?”

“No… two things, terribly dark and black… or was it just me?”

“What’s she babbling about… let’s just take the dishes.”