Chapter 4

The Ho Eunan Kingdom was a landlocked country bordering Valois to the southeast. Its geographical position made it impossible to reach the open ocean without passing through the sea route that ran alongside Ewai Island, a territory belonging to Valois.

As a result, Valois and Ho Eunan had been embroiled in frequent disputes over Ewai Island for many years.

This time was no different. Ho Eunan had provoked a confrontation along the border, demanding joint ownership of the island. Consequently, the Marquis of Ingeliger, Valois’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, had personally stepped in to handle the matter.

“That was to be expected. When do you think the marquis will return?”

Tehez casually asked Jacques the question she was most curious about, as though it were of little importance.

“The negotiations are nearing their conclusion. He should return within a month at the earliest, or two months at the latest.”

Under ordinary circumstances, secretly investigating her own father’s activities and obtaining information about him through someone else would have been rather unusual.

Yet Tehez didn’t find anything strange about it.

It had become perfectly normal for her.

However, hearing that her father might return in little more than a month dampened her mood.

One month, huh?

She felt her previously calm heartbeat quicken. Her expression hardened as she continued.

“How are things in Enland these days?”

“Cassava leaf blight has been spreading. It’s a highly contagious disease. The cassava crops planted in the fields are rotting, and the number of people starving to death is increasing.”

“How unfortunate. What about the Haju Tribal Alliance?”

“They say a new tribal chief has been elected. He’s the second son of the previous chief. Apparently, he’s aggressive, but quite brilliant.”

“Is that all?”

Tehez raised an eyebrow and looked at Jacques.

“They’re an extremely reclusive people, so it’s difficult for outsiders to approach them and gather information.”

Jacques lowered his head as he answered, though his disgruntled tone was unmistakable.

“Even so, I need that information. Gather more details about the man who was recently elected as their new chief. What you’ve brought me isn’t enough.”

“Honestly! Every time, you ask me to find out more, but you never offer any assistance! You don’t even provide additional manpower…”

Jacques had gone so far as to pretend to cry.

As if I’d fall for that.

He was already receiving a monthly operating allowance from her that was nearly equivalent to the price of a luxurious mansion in the central district of Lubern.

There was no doubt he was exaggerating.

“Enough of that. How much progress have you made on the matter I mentioned before?”

Tehez brushed aside his theatrics and changed the subject.

“I’m looking for someone suitable. I’ll bring you good news soon.”

“Excellent. You’re always working so hard.”

Tehez gave Jacques a couple of half-hearted pats on the shoulder.

He was still muttering complaints loudly enough for her to hear.

Listening to his grumbling, she made her way outside.

People gradually filled the spacious conference hall.

It was the regular meeting of the nobility.

The aristocrats exchanged handshakes and engaged in casual conversations among themselves.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”

“I went to the eastern region for a short vacation. But I’ve been hearing some rather disturbing rumors circulating around the capital lately.”

“What sort of rumors?”

“People are dying…”

“That’s already been taken care of. Don’t bring it up unnecessarily.”

The elderly nobleman prematurely assumed the younger aristocrat was referring to Fabrice. Waving his hand, he cautioned the young man to keep his mouth shut.

Count Riedel, whose hair had begun turning gray, spoke to Viscount Foix, seated beside him.

“I hear you’ve acquired a fine horse recently.”

“Yes, Count. I managed to obtain a black tiger-breed horse, considered one of the finest breeds even in the Ho Eunan Kingdom. I was fortunate.”

“Everyone in Lubern knows you’re a horse enthusiast. And you call that luck?”

Count Riedel gave him a pointed remark.

“Well, it’s not exactly the sort of horse one can obtain simply by wanting to buy it.”

Viscount Foix scratched his head and smiled sheepishly.

“Impressive. Considering our strained relations with Ho Eunan, you certainly went to great lengths to acquire one.”

Only then did Viscount Foix realize that Count Riedel hadn’t been complimenting him at all.

Hidden beneath the count’s words was an accusation: Valois was on hostile terms with Ho Eunan, so why was he purchasing goods from an enemy nation?

Oh, dear.

Count Riedel was well known for being a staunch member of the Old Nobility.

“Ha ha. Indeed.”

Viscount Foix awkwardly shuffled the agenda papers in front of him, pretending to be busy.

Watching him, Count Riedel clicked his tongue.

Meanwhile, Denis entered the conference hall with Sylvain.

“His Majesty the King is absent today, so I will be presiding over this meeting. Let us begin.”

Denis briefly glanced at the vacant seats before turning his attention elsewhere.

Those were the seats reserved for the King and Prince Fabrice.

The King preferred to have the final say on every matter. He seemed to believe that attending meetings of the nobility would diminish his authority.

Consequently, unless there was an issue of particular importance, he rarely attended these gatherings.

As for Fabrice, he simply had no time to waste on such meetings.

Playing around was far more important and urgent to him.

The first item on the agenda was a revised version of the Noble Privilege Act, submitted by the New Nobility faction.

The documents laid out on the table contained proposals to increase taxes while further strengthening the rights and privileges already guaranteed to aristocrats.

“The Noble Privilege Act?”

Duke Briem, the leader of the Old Nobility and Fabrice’s maternal grandfather, repeated the title questioningly.

Count Lemachon, one of the leading figures of the New Nobility, promptly responded.

“That’s right. Although we already have a Noble Privilege Act, the existing provisions are insufficient. More and more people are purchasing noble titles, and as a result, the rights of the nobility are gradually being weakened.”

“So you’re introducing yourself, then.”

Count Riedel muttered under his breath, chewing on his cigar.

But not a single person in the room failed to hear him.

“What did you just say?”

Count Lemachon glared at Count Riedel.

As a matter of fact, House Lemachon had originally been a commoner family. They had been landowners before purchasing a noble title and becoming counts.

As the number of nobles who had bought their titles increased, the aristocracy had naturally split into two factions: the Old Nobility and the New Nobility.

The Old Nobility placed great importance on their honor, history, and dignity as aristocrats. They regarded the money-driven behavior of the New Nobility as vulgar and disgraceful.

Conversely, the New Nobility considered the Old Nobility’s obsession with tradition ridiculous. In their eyes, the old aristocrats had little to offer beyond their inherited titles and outdated customs.

They resented the subtle hierarchy imposed upon them, as though they were somehow inferior despite holding exactly the same noble status.

It was true that the growing number of aristocrats had gradually weakened the privileges of the nobility.

The New Nobility had purchased their titles precisely to gain influence and exercise the rights associated with aristocratic status. Naturally, they could not tolerate watching that influence diminish.

Denis sat with his arms crossed, silently observing the two factions bicker.

“Now, now. Everyone, please calm down.”

A man seated at the far end of the New Nobility’s side stepped forward to mediate.

“Indeed.”

Unexpectedly, Duke Briem agreed.

Every aristocrat in the room turned toward him.

The duke picked up the cup in front of him, took a sip of tea, and continued.

“Shouldn’t those who are rightfully qualified be allowed to enjoy the rights they deserve?”

Duke Briem glanced at Denis before setting down his cup.

“…”

Rightfully qualified. Deserving. The rights they deserve.

There wasn’t a single person in the room who failed to understand the implications behind those words.

Duke Briem wasn’t agreeing with Count Lemachon at all.

He had simply drawn his sword and driven it into Denis while the prince sat quietly in his seat.

Denis raised an eyebrow slightly, but he didn’t uncross his arms.

Count Lemachon, sensing that the atmosphere had taken an unpleasant turn, awkwardly settled back into his seat.

With the King absent, there was no one in the conference hall capable of challenging Duke Briem. He was not only the oldest person present but also the highest-ranking noble in the room.

Duke Briem had despised Denis for as long as anyone could remember.

And it wasn’t merely because he was Fabrice’s maternal grandfather.

He detested the blood running through Denis’s veins and considered the fact that Denis had no heir to be yet another reason to look down on him.

“It’s been more than ten years since I last visited the Garden of Light, hasn’t it? If my memory serves me correctly. Ah, my memory isn’t what it used to be now that I’m getting older. Your Highness.”

“It’s been eight years, to be precise.”

“Has it really been that long?”

The Garden of Light was a glass-enclosed garden where the royal family traditionally held a child’s first birthday celebration whenever a new member of the royal bloodline was born.

It was called the Garden of Light because, upon entering, one was surrounded by light from the ceiling all the way down to the floor.

Regardless of whether it was winter or summer, the temperature inside remained pleasantly warm, making it an ideal place to hold a child’s birthday celebration.

Duke Briem’s remark was yet another deliberate attempt to belittle Denis.

After all, the last royal birthday celebration held in the Garden of Light had been Prince Julien’s.

Denis said nothing. He simply looked at Duke Briem for a moment before turning away.

His expression remained perfectly calm.

Similar incidents continued throughout the meeting.

Whenever the Old Nobility proposed an agenda item, the New Nobility found fault with it. Whenever the New Nobility put forward a proposal, the Old Nobility voted against it.

Not a single matter received any meaningful discussion.

“We’ll postpone the agenda items submitted today and discuss them again at the next regular meeting.”

The meeting eventually came to an end without producing any results.

In the end, Denis had been the only one sacrificed in the power struggle between the two factions.

After everyone had left, the conference hall fell silent.

Denis remained seated, making no move to stand.

Sylvain, who had been standing behind him, cautiously called out.

“Your Highness.”

“Yes?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to return now?”

“We should.”

Creeeak.

The sound of a chair scraping against the floor echoed through the empty hall as Denis finally rose.

As he walked out of the conference room, his retreating figure seemed to waver ever so slightly.

After returning from her meeting with Jacques, Tehez was organizing her schedule for the following day while leisurely sipping wine.

It was late at night, and the moon was slowly sinking toward the horizon.

Beyond the terrace doors, which she had left wide open, the sounds of insects chirping drifted through the darkness.

Then, from somewhere in the distance, came the footsteps of an uninvited guest.

It was him.

Just from the sound of his approaching footsteps, she could picture his appearance without even needing to look.

In her mind’s eye, she could see him drawing closer, one step at a time.

Tehez closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh, trying to erase the image from her mind.

But even with her eyes shut, he seemed to remain vividly etched behind her eyelids.

The door opened.

The sound of approaching footsteps came to a halt.

“…”

The side of her face suddenly felt warm.

He was undoubtedly looking at her.

Then, without warning, a strong force turned her face sharply to the side.

Denis had seized her chin with one hand and forced her to turn toward him.

Tehez slowly opened her eyes.

Beneath the moonlight, she saw his beautiful face.

“My wife. Good evening.”

To be continued…