I Inherited a Beautiful Wife and a Territory - Chapter 103

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Inheriting a Beautiful Wife and Estate Episode 103

 

103. Mabel

 

Even though its flow had decreased due to Ospal’s rise, Serpal was still a massive commercial city.

 

A city that traded with the homeland.

 

In other words, it meant a place where information from the homeland could be heard.

 

“…The Elimis Family rules over the entire Yusta Peninsula, including our Serpal?”

 

“That’s correct.”

 

“Hmph. That’s nonsense!”

 

It was incomprehensible to the Serpal Family.

 

Who was the Elimis Baron?

 

Wasn’t he the one who deceived them and also the successor of their enemy, the Platice Count?

 

‘To bow our heads to such a person? We only serve the homeland, we cannot belong to his duchy.’

 

The thoughts of the faction leaders who divided the Serpal Family into three were all the same.

 

They had no intention of bowing their heads to anyone. This was even more true if it was Cliff.

 

But the problem was the current situation.

 

“It’s different from the time of the Platice Count.”

 

Stela Baron’s face contorted at his adjutant’s report.

 

He too knew the situation had changed. The Serpal Family’s military strength had decreased compared to before, and their commercial rights had also been taken away by the collaboration between Ospal and the Elimis Merchant Guild.

 

But this wasn’t just their problem.

 

“Different indeed! Even though our military strength has been reduced, isn’t the same true for the Platice Family?”

 

He still saw Cliff as merely the successor of the Platice Count.

 

Even that alone couldn’t be ignored. But just as the Serpal Family’s power had weakened, the Platice Count’s power was also different from before.

 

‘There must have been the military forces that died including the Count, and the expenses for that reckless expedition!’

 

So it shouldn’t be much different from before.

 

But this was merely his wishful thinking.

 

“…Excluding the main family, most of the minor lords have pledged loyalty to the Elimis Family.”

 

“What?”

 

The Yusta Peninsula had many minor lords like the Renhain Family and the Berkheim Family.

 

In the past, many of them followed the Serpal Family. That’s how the confrontational structure with the Platice Family was possible.

 

‘But now… they betrayed us?’

 

This didn’t make sense.

 

To the surprised Stela Baron, the adjutant continued his report.

 

“It’s not just them. The influx of food to Serpal has greatly decreased from before.”

 

“Why is that…?”

 

Many merchants still came to Serpal.

 

Because there were many cheap slaves.

 

So there were many slave merchants who bought slaves. Through this, the Serpal Family had been accumulating gold coins.

 

Even now, gold and silver coins continued to flow into Serpal unchanged.

 

“…The slave merchants are paying for slaves with gold coins rather than provisions.”

 

This was exactly the problem.

 

So they still had plenty of money. But if food didn’t flow in, maintaining their previous influence on the Yusta Peninsula would be difficult.

 

“Why is that?”

 

“All the grain merchants have moved to Ospal instead of Serpal. And grain prices have risen as the homeland has also experienced war.”

 

The merchants who used to sell provisions to Serpal were now watching the Elimis Family’s mood.

 

That’s how it sounded to Stela Baron. And this was actually the case.

 

‘Not even for their own benefit…’

 

No, they chose Ospal and the Elimis Merchant Guild for their benefit.

 

Stela Baron’s face turned pale.

 

“…The Elimis Family isn’t also doing slave trading, are they?”

 

“They’re not selling slaves. But… they are buying slaves.”

 

Thud.

 

This could cut off the supply of slaves coming to Serpal too.

 

Finally, Stela Baron also grasped the difficulty of the current situation.

 

‘The longer this continues, the more we’ll inevitably wither away.’

 

As time passed, Serpal’s commercial rights would die. Beyond that, there might come a time when even the food stockpiled in Serpal would be depleted.

 

When that time came, the Serpal Family would instead have to buy food from the Elimis Family.

 

‘That cannot happen!’

 

He had to come up with a plan even now.

 

Stela Baron shouted to his adjutant.

 

“Immediately convey to Lord Olten and Lord Mabel that I want to see them! I need to call those two and settle this matter!”

 

Olten and Mabel.

 

Each was an elder among the branch nobles of the Serpal Family, and they were the ones who had been competing with Stela Baron for the succession structure of the Serpal Family until now.

 

‘Grr. Now, even if I have to give them something, we no longer have time to fight among ourselves.’

 

Stela Baron originally aimed for the legitimate eldest son of the Serpal Baron who had legitimacy.

 

Not that he really had legitimacy, but because he was his own grandson. However, the two branch nobles refused, saying that eldest son was too young.

 

‘Serpal is now in crisis more than ever.’

 

‘To overcome this crisis, someone with ability and experience must become the lord.’

 

That was correct.

 

But didn’t Stela Baron know?

 

‘Grr. Greedy old foxes. Aren’t they just saying in a roundabout way that they want to devour Serpal themselves?’

 

Stela Baron had been blocking this all along. But now things had changed.

 

Anyway, Stela Baron wasn’t of Serpal Family bloodline.

 

He was just an in-law.

 

“Before Serpal collapses further, I need to join hands with one of those two.”

 

Just as he had given his daughter to the Serpal Baron, this time too he could marry off his daughter to whoever would become the new Serpal Baron.

 

Then it would take time, but through his bloodline, an owner of the Serpal Family could still emerge unchanged.

 

“Sigh.”

 

He let out a sigh.

 

The adjutant thus met the two representatives of the branch nobles. Branch nobles who were each preparing to become the head of Serpal.

 

Those ambitious individuals gathered before Stela Baron.

 

And in the conversation there, everyone agreed on one conclusion.

 

“We cannot serve the Elimis Family as our master.”

 

“That’s right. Also, even if we were to bow our heads to the Elimis Baron, it would be problematic.”

 

The bad blood that had accumulated with the Platice Family over time.

 

Cliff had a good relationship with the Platice Family.

 

‘We cannot become as close to him as the Platice Family.’

 

They would ultimately end up below the Platice Family.

 

They might just become one of ordinary minor lords. Serpal was already gradually declining.

 

To recreate even a little of their past glory, going under Cliff was impossible.

 

“…We cannot do it with our strength alone.”

 

Perhaps that’s why the Serpal Family needed someone to help them.

 

“Let’s bring in those among the homeland nobles who are friendly with us. Somehow we must not enter the Elimis Duchy while still belonging to the homeland.”

 

“I agree.”

 

“Then I will personally visit the homeland.”

 

Olten rose from his seat.

 

He had been close to the southern nobles of the homeland before.

 

“If you step forward, it would be reassuring. Make the homeland’s public opinion say that a duchy is too excessive.”

 

“It would be even better if you could say that the Elimis Baron insulted the homeland’s royal court.”

 

A confrontational structure between Cliff and the homeland.

 

There was nothing better for Serpal to utilize. Olten burst into laughter.

 

“Hahaha. Don’t worry. Even if we can’t say that Baron Ellemis insulted the royal court… I’ll move the Southern Grand Lord.”

 

Olton said this confidently.

 

“That should be enough.”

 

Baron Stela and Mabel nodded at those words.

 

The general direction was decided. A certain strategy was completed and the conversation ended.

 

Mabel, who had visited the Stela Baron’s house, quietly returned to his own manor.

 

‘How foolish.’

 

He already saw that Serfal had no chance.

 

This chaotic Serfal.

 

The homeland had already granted the Elimis Family both the title of Grand Duke and permission to establish a principality.

 

‘Soon, the principality’s forces will come rushing here.’

 

But Mabel’s expression was calm.

 

“…It was good that I sent Rusten to Elimis.”

 

Rusten Serphal.

 

And Rogue Serphal, son of the previous Serpal Baron.

 

The incident where these two escaped from Serfal. Mabel was behind it.

 

“What will you do?”

 

“By now, the Grand Duke must have summoned Rusten.”

 

Mabel’s way of addressing Cliff had changed from before.

 

Mabel was now referring to him as Grand Duke, not Baron Ellemis.

 

His mind was already made up.

 

“I’ve written a letter. Have this delivered to Rusten. From now on, the fate of our Serfal depends on that boy.”

 

“Yes!”

 

The messenger answered and took the letter before departing.

 

Left alone, Mabel muttered.

 

“Everything is… for our Serfal.”

 

There are three factions in Serfal.

 

He had heard about this before.

 

‘Among them, the ones most likely to oppose us are…’

 

Cliff thought it would be the two collateral nobles. But the situation turned out differently than he expected.

 

First, the story that Rusten, whom he had summoned, told him.

 

“Actually… there’s something I haven’t told you.”

 

He had known all along that there was something he was hiding.

 

“What is it?”

 

“It’s Lord Mabel.”

 

“…?”

 

“The person who advised me to go to the Elimis Family.”

 

Not only did he advise, but he also helped with the escape. At that time anyway, no matter who left, especially the movements of small figures like Rusten or Rogue, no one would have paid attention.

 

“Mabel… that person, right? The elder noble who leads one of the three factions.”

 

“Yes, that’s right.”

 

At Rusten’s confirmation, Cliff nodded slowly.

 

“So why are you mentioning that name to me now?”

 

“I recently received contact from him.”

 

“…What?”

 

Cliff’s eyes gleamed with interest.

 

Rusten’s eyes lit up as he spoke.

 

“He says he is a vassal of the principality. If you come, he’ll support you from within. Lord Olton has just left for the homeland, and Baron Stela is at his own estate, so Serfal… he says he can control it.”

 

Mabel’s scheme to finish everything while his two competitors were away.

 

And was this asking Cliff to help him from the outside?

 

‘Can I trust this?’

 

It could be a lie.

 

But he didn’t sense any deception in the aura emanating from Rusten.

 

“Lord Mabel is someone you can trust. If you trust him once, you probably won’t regret it.”

 

A voice filled with conviction.

 

Perhaps because they were relatives, he seemed to trust Mabel 100%.

 

‘Actually, this person called Mabel might really be thinking of surrendering to us.’

 

At least Rusten wasn’t deceiving him.

 

But that didn’t mean Mabel could be trusted.

 

“It’s dangerous. It could be a trap.”

 

The one saying this to Cliff was Keren.

 

He especially didn’t trust the nobles of Serfal.

 

‘The Count already died once due to betrayal…’

 

It was understandable that his distrust had deepened.

 

He would never be able to trust them.

 

But Cliff just smiled slyly.

 

‘Still, this time it would be right to trust them.’

 

Above all, there was definitely a need to visit Serfal again.

 

【Serfal is also my territory】

 

He was planning to go there anyway, if only because of the Quest flickering before his eyes.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————