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~Chapter 39~
“I can’t just leave everything to the Duke, either.”
The Duke was visibly displeased about me being sued.
Of course, it was natural—some minor lordling on the border dared to challenge the Duke of Lombard, the master of the North. The problem was, I couldn’t be sure he’d help me to the very end.
What if I let him handle it, and he suddenly backs out halfway…?
No, it would be much safer for my peace of mind to handle things myself.
“How can I live quietly and peacefully, holed up in my room for the rest of my life…?”
The best-case scenario would be making Count Alnor withdraw the lawsuit on his own.
If there’s never a trial in the first place, that would be ideal.
But of course, that was easier said than done. There were far too many interests tangled up in this matter.
On the small side, there was the compensation for breaking the contract; on the big side, the future of both cousin families was at stake.
The Count had no choice but to risk everything on this lawsuit.
“But I have no intention of letting Viscount Clayton go, nor of paying any cancellation penalty.”
If you commit a crime, you should pay the price.
I carefully examined the documents Ramon had set aside for me.
Everything was there, from the Count’s petition to a detailed breakdown of Alnor’s administration and finances.
“This is a total disaster.”
Even accounting for the fact that Alnor could never attract bureaucrats as capable as those in Lombard, the state of things was appalling.
I was skimming the pages with a scoff when my gaze stopped on one particular detail.
The Count’s full name.
Douglas Coco la Alnor
“…Wait, the Marquis of Taobald was Count Alnor?!”
A name you could never forget after seeing it once.
A first name that conjured images of a brave soldier, and a middle name that sounded like the nickname of a three-year-old girl.
I definitely remembered this man from my previous life—but only now did I realize who he was.
I’d always remembered him as the Marquis of Taobald, the new surname granted by the Emperor after a massive bribe of political funds.
If he was still being called Count Alnor, that meant he hadn’t yet delivered those funds to the Emperor.
“Ah, the phrase I like most right now is ‘buy one, get one free.’”
The perfect way to describe my current situation.
My lips curled into a meaningful smile as I glanced down at the papers.
At the moment, Count Alnor and his party were on their way to Lombard Castle.
They’d received an invitation—on Lombard letterhead—requesting they visit the castle as soon as possible.
On the surface, it was a polite, non-binding invitation. But the phrase “as soon as possible” left the real meaning obvious.
Drop everything and come running right now.
“The Lady must have made a move.”
“Undoubtedly.”
“Damn it, I’ve never been so humiliated in my life. That damned capital woman!”
As the one who’d filed the lawsuit, he should never have to show up in person. But his opponent was Lombard.
His pride was trampled, but in the end, the Count had no choice but to board the carriage.
“What’s the Duke of Lombard’s current mood?”
“According to our sources, he’s quite enraged.”
“Even so, it was the Lady who was sued. Are you sure your information’s correct?”
“There’s a chance our sources are mistaken, but…”
Alnor simply didn’t have the ability to plant spies in Lombard.
He was, frankly, rather incompetent—and no one else was foolish enough to risk crossing Lombard for his sake.
Previously, his cousin Viscount Clayton had handled most of those matters, but now he was reduced to relying on common rumor like everyone else.
Not that the Count himself had any awareness of this reality.
“It’s hard to say for certain, but our territory is facing pressure from all directions. I submitted a report on this, didn’t I?”
“How am I supposed to know if I can’t read?”
“That’s why I explained it to you…”
Once again, in one ear and out the other.
The Count’s dull reply made his advisor click his tongue.
Overnight, tariffs imposed on the County of Alnor had shot through the roof.
There were also signs that someone was lobbying the Marquis of Roxcron—the presiding magistrate of the Council of Arbitration—to have the lawsuit dropped.
For a moderate like Roxcron to be this anxious, it was a clear sign that the situation was spiraling out of control.
The vassals who didn’t know the full details were urging the Count to withdraw the lawsuit as soon as possible, but he couldn’t.
It’s all that woman’s fault. If not for that capital wench…!
Until now, there had never been any problems.
When they made contracts with Lombard under Clayton’s management, Alnor would quietly pass Clayton a share as thanks, and everyone got along fine.
But now, this so-called Lady had barged in, unilaterally canceled the contract, and refused all reasonable demands for compensation.
With their source of funds cut off, Alnor was in a state of emergency.
Even the firewood in the Count’s bedchamber had been replaced with cheap, smoky logs.
The thought of that choking smoke only made his anger boil over again.
“Wasn’t the Duke of Lombard supposed to see the Lady as a thorn in his side?”
“He certainly did try everything he could to block their marriage, to the point where it was infamous. But he failed.”
“Then why—?!”
“Whatever the past, the Lady is part of Lombard now. The Count must have thought he could win by only targeting her, but apparently even great nobles are still great nobles.”
The advisor’s words made the Count uneasy.
So far, Clayton was still staying silent, believing in Alnor’s rescue efforts—but if he lost hope and decided to talk, Alnor would be doomed.
Withdraw the lawsuit, and a desperate Clayton might talk. Continue with the lawsuit, and the Duke’s pressure would only increase.
The Count gripped his head in frustration, then muttered,
“Would it be better to just drop the lawsuit now?”
“It’s too late. Once you stir up a hornet’s nest, it doesn’t just go away. They’ll chase you to the ends of the earth.”
“Then what am I supposed to do?!”
“There’s only one option left. Swallow your pride and beg the Duke for mercy.”
The Count scowled, deeply unwilling.
His territory might be small, but within its borders, he’d reigned like an emperor.
No one ever dared defy him—and he’d never had to bow his head to anyone in his life.
“The Duke’s anger is because he feels Lombard’s authority has been insulted. You need to do whatever it takes to make amends for that.”
“But still!!”
“At this point, the lawsuit is being handled entirely by the Duke’s side. If he pulls out, what do you think will happen to the Lady?”
The vassal’s words finally made the Count calm down a little.
“If that happens, the Lady won’t have any way to fight back.”
“Exactly. And honestly, maybe the Duke would enjoy putting that arrogant Lady in her place for once.”
“Indeed.”
The Count muttered, nodding.
“In the capital, everyone treated her like a princess, but this is the North—and the North is my domain.”
“Precisely.”
“You’re right. I’ll find a way to win the Duke over and make him step back from this.”
“If you can just drag the Lady to court, everything else will go your way.”
She’d be saddled with a massive compensation payment, her reputation ruined so that no noble in the North would ever deal with her again.
Once she’d lost all support, she’d have no choice but to submit to any demand.
“Kuhuhu, excellent!”
Let’s show this pampered flower from the capital what real northern winds are like!
The Count’s lips curled in satisfaction.
