I Inherited a Beautiful Wife and a Territory - Chapter 116

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Inheriting a Beautiful Wife and Estate Episode 116

 

116. Duke Serniu

 

Allen Sernyu.

 

Even being generous, it was difficult to call him handsome based on looks alone.

 

His way of speaking was also characteristically sleazy.

 

“I should have come to you directly instead of making you come… Did anything happen while you crossed the dangerous seas with that delicate body of yours?”

 

“That is…”

 

Melissa, who received Allen’s question, trailed off.

 

At her reaction, Allen’s expression hardened.

 

“Did something happen? Tell me. I suppose… it has something to do with those men who came with you?”

 

Allen Sernyu appeared to focus all his attention only on Melissa on the surface.

 

But inwardly, he seemed to be concerned about them. It was understandable that Allen’s wariness was triggered by these unfamiliar people who didn’t look ordinary, especially since they were men.

 

Also, even someone as insensitive as him could notice it. Melissa was watching Cliff and the others’ reactions even while talking with him.

 

“Let me introduce them, young master. The people here are His Grace the Grand Duke of Elimis from the Yusta Peninsula.”

 

“…What? Elimis?”

 

And Melissa’s introduction of Cliff and the others from her mouth.

 

Allen’s expression changed instantly.

 

Grand Duke Elimis.

 

It was a name that anyone living around the Rajahara Sea couldn’t help but know.

 

He was the hottest figure recently, after all.

 

Cliff, who received Melissa’s introduction, stepped forward.

 

“Pleased to meet you. I am Cliff Elimis of the Elimis Duchy.”

 

A simple greeting.

 

Allen flinched at that calm greeting.

 

‘This person is that… Grand Duke Elimis?’

 

Born into the Serniu family, he had met many high-ranking people. But his current opponent was a big shot who would rank among the top of them all.

 

A tension that hadn’t been there moments before could be felt from Allen.

 

“It is an honor to meet you like this. I have heard much about Your Grace’s reputation. I am Allen Sernyu.”

 

The sleazy tone from just moments before had completely disappeared.

 

“I never expected to meet Your Grace in a place like this.”

 

However, even while being tense, he gave Melissa a meaningful look. It could be understood without words.

 

‘Really?’

 

His gaze contained suspicion toward Cliff. Cliff was partly to blame for all this.

 

‘Our duchy is famous among the people of the Rajahara Sea because of the Maroon Serpent Ship.’

 

Of course, there was also the war with the Kingdom of Alpeo. But an even bigger share was due to the Serpent.

 

The creature that had been called the Tyrant of Rajahaar.

 

Just having that monster’s corpse raised the value of the Elimis Duchy. But now Cliff had come here with Melissa on her ship.

 

‘This is enough to be suspicious about.’

 

If he had been certain it was really a ship from the Elimis Duchy, Allen wouldn’t have come. There was a high probability that someone bigger than Allen, not Allen himself, would have come out to receive them.

 

That’s how much the Elimis Duchy’s weight class had risen.

 

But it would have caused even more tension.

 

‘And the Duke might have absurd thoughts.’

 

So now he had approached through Melissa. From what he heard, Allen’s position in the Duke’s house seemed lower than expected, but that was fine.

 

Cliff had also sold himself to Tom before, hadn’t he?

 

‘It’s not like he can’t arrange a single meeting with the Duke.’

 

Even Cliff, who was an illegitimate child, had accomplished that task.

 

No matter how far from the succession structure, there was no way Allen couldn’t do it. Especially if he knew his identity.

 

‘Even if it’s impersonation, he’ll take me before the Duke at least once.’

 

Since he had received a greeting, Cliff also had to return the courtesy.

 

“Pleased to meet you for the first time, Lord Sernyu. I am Cliff Elimis. I have heard the name of the Serniu family many times, but it is an honor to set foot on this land. I am an uninvited guest, but I hope you won’t treat me poorly.”

 

“How could I treat the ruler of the Elimis Duchy poorly? But…”

 

He looked around.

 

There were few attendants who came with Cliff.

 

The ship they came on was also Melissa’s. It could be strange. As if understanding that doubt, Cliff struck first.

 

“It’s not that I want to go to war with the Serniu family.”

 

Numerous ships of the Elimis family entering the territorial waters of the Serniu family.

 

It meant that could itself be a threat.

 

But naturally, that wasn’t all.

 

‘Our ships are strongest when at sea.’

 

If something unpleasant happened with the Serniu family, it was also a warning that military power capable of waging war was in these nearby waters.

 

Allen didn’t understand that far.

 

He still thought Cliff was suspicious. But since Melissa vouched for his identity, he had no choice.

 

‘I should tell Father.’

 

In any case, the ruler of a nation had visited.

 

If Duke Serniu didn’t show his face directly, it could be considered rude.

 

Allen stopped his complicated thoughts. He decided to leave the question of Cliff’s authenticity to the Duke or his advisors.

 

His interest was in Melissa anyway.

 

If he wasn’t a rival, there was no need to worry.

 

There were words Cliff had once said to Teobaldt.

 

Become a Sword Master.

 

Cliff had never directly seen a Sword Master until now. If he had been a direct descendant of a ducal family it would have been different, but as an illegitimate child, he had lived quietly even when staying in the capital of the homeland.

 

So this was the first time.

 

‘This person is a Sword Master.’

 

Sword Master Duke Serniu.

 

Though he was now close to seventy, he was someone who still maintained the vigor of someone in their fifties.

 

He didn’t look his age at all.

 

“It’s pleasant to meet the one called the Sea Mage in this manner.”

 

His eyes, which examined Cliff as if probing him, contained distrust. That was different from when he dealt with Allen.

 

The reason was simple.

 

‘Sea Mage.’

 

The epithet he had mentioned.

 

To see him as the mage who had caused tsunamis in the Kingdom of Alpeo,

 

‘The magical power I possess is probably too weak.’

 

Still, Cliff was confident.

 

There was no need to be intimidated at times like this. That would only make him more suspicious. Instead, he just needed to answer his doubts with appropriate words.

 

“Thank you for welcoming me. I myself have heard of the Duke’s name and martial prowess through Elbarun whom I keep with me, and meeting you like this, I understand the meaning of what he said.”

 

Duke Serniu’s expression changed at the name Cliff naturally mentioned.

 

‘Elbarun. I suspected it, but… so that old man has come out to sea again?’

 

Unlike Marco, Elbarun’s name wasn’t well known.

 

But this was Duke Serniu.

 

The Marco Pirate Crew had been active just over ten years ago. At that time, the current Duke Serniu was also in his prime period of activity.

 

Duke Serniu knew Elbarun that well.

 

‘If it’s that old man… it might be possible.’

 

Causing tsunamis to strike ports.

 

Cliff had indirectly told him this was Elbarun’s work.

 

“That monster old man seems to have become even stronger than before.”

 

Duke Serniu muttered in a low voice. Mixed within it was wariness toward his opponent as well as regret.

 

Ten years of time.

 

Duke Serniu’s swordsmanship had also deepened. But his body had ultimately aged. It was difficult to show his peak performance.

 

But Elbarun was different.

 

‘Spirit mages grow stronger with age. If he were still on land, I could cut him down in one stroke.’

 

But the sea is a different matter.

 

Just then, that very topic came up in Cliff’s conversation.

 

“He’s still in good health. He even considered coming along… but said you might draw your sword if he did.”

 

“Heh heh. That old man is quite perceptive. That’s right. If he were standing before me now… I would have cut off that old man’s head even if it meant going to war with not just the duchy, but the entire Kingdom of Alesia.”

 

His words were unrestrained even in Cliff’s presence.

 

This was the pride he possessed.

 

But even as he spoke this way, Duke Serniu felt a sense of burden.

 

‘This is a warning.’

 

What could the meaning behind those words be?

 

It meant Elbarun was in the waters near the duke’s domain. And if Cliff were to be harmed, the disaster that had befallen the Kingdom of Alpeo might now engulf the duke’s territory.

 

If Elbarun was in his domain, the sea, it would be impossible for the Serniu family to capture him. So this was indeed a warning.

 

Even though only Cliff had come here alone, the duke could no longer treat Cliff carelessly.

 

“…I will truly treat and welcome you with the courtesy due to a sovereign ruler.”

 

Duke Serniu declared.

 

He cast aside all remaining suspicions toward Cliff. If he knew Elbarun this well, and seemed to roughly understand the relationship between himself and Elbarun, then he was indeed the Grand Duke of Elimis.

 

And it was also true that the Elimis Duchy was currently the strongest maritime power.

 

‘Until that monster of an old man dies, they will be the ones who dominate the Rajahara Sea.’

 

Coincidentally, the Tyrant of the Rajahara Sea, who had been their only worthy rival, was also dead.

 

Recalling this, Duke Serniu asked.

 

“So… did Your Grace truly capture that tyrant of the sea?”

 

Duke Serniu had also spent decades traversing the seas.

 

He knew how terrifying the Tyrant of the Rajahara Sea was. At his mention, Cliff smiled.

 

“We merely caught a snake that lived in a lake. Though the lake’s river connects to the sea, I cannot say for certain whether the tyrant you speak of was indeed that lake’s snake.”

 

Though Cliff spoke indirectly, his answer was already sufficient.

 

Duke Serniu clicked his tongue.

 

“Hah. I knew the tyrant occasionally headed toward the Yusta Peninsula, but who would have thought it would be hunted so anticlimactically.”

 

Calling it anticlimactic felt somewhat unfair to Cliff.

 

‘Leticia was so terrified she nearly wet herself, and it was quite a shock to us too.’

 

The first experience of fear.

 

That terror remained etched and alive in Cliff’s memory.

 

“It was no easy task. Tearing apart that snake in the lake, that is.”

 

In truth, they had caught it more easily than expected.

 

But he didn’t mention that detail. It was obvious they wouldn’t believe it anyway.

 

At least not until they faced Kyuung themselves.

 

More importantly, his suspicions had now been cleared.

 

“I visited today because I have a proposal for the Serniu family.”

 

At Cliff’s words, Duke Serniu’s eyes narrowed.

 

Outwardly, he seemed like a man who would only fight.

 

But he too was a duke.

 

As the highest noble of a nation, he was also a seasoned politician.

 

The proposal Cliff mentioned.

 

From it, Duke Serniu read his intentions.

 

‘Is he trying to break apart the Anti-Elimis Alliance?’

 

Duke Serniu was aware of the currents flowing around the Rajahara Sea.

 

The recently emerged Holy Elimis.

 

There were movements centered around the Kingdom of Alpeo to check their power.

 

From the Elimis Duchy’s perspective, they wouldn’t welcome such trends either.

 

So conversely, they would want to create a pro-Elimis faction.

 

Therefore, Duke Serniu had only one thing to say.

 

“Impossible!”

 

He hadn’t even heard the proposal yet.

 

But he firmly expressed his refusal.

 

The reason was simple too.

 

“How could I join hands with mere pirates?”

 

It was his antipathy toward Elbarun.

 

‘I didn’t expect this…’

 

Cliff laughed in bewilderment.

 

But he knew.

 

Eventually, Duke Serniu would take his hand.

 

With that conviction, Cliff opened his mouth.

 

“Because it will serve the interests of the Serniu family.”

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