I Inherited a Beautiful Wife and a Territory - Chapter 117

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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 117

 

117. Having Your Cake and Eating It Too

 

“What?”

 

Duke Serniu questioned Cliff’s words.

 

He looked at Cliff as if dumbfounded.

 

‘How would that benefit the main house?’

 

Cliff’s unhesitant answer to his pointed question about why he would join hands with pirates.

 

And the conviction dwelling in Cliff’s eyes.

 

Duke Serniu, staring at those eyes, could sense it.

 

‘This bastard is speaking sincerely.’

 

He truly believes the proposal he brought would benefit Duke Serniu himself.

 

That’s why he’s making this proposal.

 

Thinking that far, Duke Serniu soon recalled someone.

 

Someone other than Elbarun overlapped with Cliff in his mind.

 

“…They say you’re of Aidren blood, and that rumor seems to be true.”

 

House of Aidren.

 

Cliff flinched upon hearing those words. Then he soon wore a bitter smile.

 

“You know House Aidren?”

 

Cliff didn’t refer to it as the main house.

 

Duke Serniu snorted at his attitude, as if mentioning a third party.

 

“Of course I know. You look exactly like that bastard Boris, Duke.”

 

Boris Aidren.

 

Upon hearing that name, Cliff also showed an awkward expression.

 

‘Well, he would have no choice but to know.’

 

The relationship between the Kingdom of Castia and the Alesia Kingdom was good. More precisely, both kingdoms disliked the Kingdom of Jerano caught between them.

 

‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend, I suppose.’

 

Come to think of it, the Alesia Kingdom had enemies on both sides.

 

The Kingdom of Alpeo and the Kingdom of Jerano.

 

Those two countries traditionally had bad relations with the Alesia Kingdom.

 

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

 

“It is a compliment. You’re quite cunning.”

 

Should this be taken as an insult, or should it really be seen as praise?

 

Duke Serniu’s words were becoming increasingly harsh.

 

Little by little, he was treating Cliff more comfortably. For Cliff, that wasn’t bad in itself.

 

‘The aura he’s giving off isn’t negative.’

 

It was the opponent’s favorability that Cliff could see through his ability.

 

While it was ambiguous to call it positive, there was definitely no hostility.

 

He felt that Duke Serniu was treating him that comfortably. In that state, Duke Serniu continued speaking.

 

“He’s someone I personally dislike, but I acknowledge him. He’s a man who can’t be let one’s guard down around, in a different sense from Elbarun.”

 

Duke Serniu, who had been speaking thus, frowned deeply.

 

And spoke again.

 

“He said something similar to what you’re saying when I met him. That it would benefit the homeland.”

 

It must have been when forming a joint front against the Kingdom of Jerano.

 

Cliff roughly knew that story too.

 

‘The relationship between the Kingdom of Jerano and the Kingdom of Castia wasn’t particularly good from the beginning… but turning it into a definite hostile relationship was that person’s work.’

 

That incident happened less than 10 years ago.

 

Through this, the Alesia Kingdom could fight the Kingdom of Alpeo without worrying about the border with the Kingdom of Jerano.

 

Duke Serniu was recalling exactly that period. Incidentally, the Kingdom of Castia did indeed gain benefits at that time.

 

However, whether that was truly beneficial was worth considering.

 

“The homeland was able to attack the Kingdom of Jerano and seize vast territory. But to defend that territory, we’ve been in a state of tension with the Kingdom of Jerano ever since.”

 

The Alesia Kingdom helped seize that territory.

 

But this was only until the seizure.

 

Defending the territory was the Kingdom of Castia’s task.

 

“My proposal is similar.”

 

Cliff spoke up.

 

At that confident statement, Duke Serniu showed a dumbfounded expression.

 

“I will extend House Serniu’s influence to the Yusta Peninsula. More precisely, I will help you in that role.”

 

“But seizing and defending it would be our role?”

 

“Yes.”

 

At Cliff’s agreement, Duke Serniu let out a hollow laugh.

 

What an absurd person.

 

‘One thing’s certain – he’s no ordinary man.’

 

That was how he defined Cliff.

 

Someone who could throw such words at Duke Serniu, who held a negative view.

 

And that attitude of acting as if they were helping, while claiming to make a proposal.

 

If this were Cliff’s palace, that might have been possible. But the audacity he showed coming alone to House Serniu was truly astounding.

 

From such behavior, Duke Serniu was convinced.

 

‘Even without that monster Elbarun, as long as that man lives, Elimis might gain hegemony over the Rajahara Sea.’

 

Then what would be the best course of action?

 

He stroked the sword sheath he always carried. But he didn’t draw it.

 

Because of Elbarun.

 

He was keeping a sharp watch, stationed in Serniu’s coastal waters.

 

‘Drawing a sword here and facing that monster among ourselves wouldn’t work.’

 

Duke Serniu realized.

 

In the end, neither he, nor his son, nor probably even his grandson’s generation would be able to surpass Elimis’s stronghold.

 

But they could claim second place.

 

“…I’ll hear you out. How exactly do you plan to extend the main house’s influence to the Yusta Peninsula?”

 

He roughly expected it.

 

Though Cliff spoke as he did, he intended to use House Serniu’s power to check the southern Yusta Peninsula forces.

 

They were currently the representative leaders of the anti-Elimis camp. Being adjacent to the Elimis Duchy, the southern Yusta Peninsula nobles were wary of the Elimis Duchy.

 

‘He plans to turn those people’s attention to us instead of themselves.’

 

How presumptuous.

 

But he decided to play along. If he and Cliff joined hands, they might be able to collapse the anti-Elimis camp and seize hegemony over the Rajahara Sea.

 

This was indeed beneficial to House Serniu, as Cliff had said.

 

“Lord Aren and Lady Melissa.”

 

However, Cliff’s words went in a direction he hadn’t expected.

 

“What?”

 

Aren.

 

And Melissa.

 

His son’s name, which he hadn’t thought of, came up. Also mentioned was the name of the woman his young son had recently fallen for.

 

For him, who still didn’t understand, Cliff continued his explanation.

 

“I’m referring to Port Ratnia.”

 

“Ratnia? You mean the place where that wench Melissa’s family is located?”

 

Among the ports of the Yusta Peninsula, it was definitely not a large port with high trade volume.

 

Rather, it was a smaller port than even Ospal or Serpal.

 

But Ratnia was certainly a port that could access the Rajahara Sea. Cliff opened his mouth.

 

“Originally, Port Ratnia was divided among four families sharing the stakes.”

 

Hearing those words, Duke Serniu also nodded.

 

He vaguely remembered hearing about it.

 

But he hadn’t listened carefully.

 

“…So?”

 

“It seems those other three families in Ratniya attacked the Berni Family this time.”

 

Duke Serniu’s expression changed.

 

For now, the Berni Family was growing closer to the Serniu Family. Though it wasn’t entirely welcome, it was the family that the designated daughter-in-law of the ducal house belonged to.

 

To attack them.

 

It was enough to wound Duke Serniu’s pride.

 

‘How dare they?’

 

However, he didn’t reveal these emotions right away.

 

Because that might be exactly what Cliff wanted.

 

Moreover, Melissa wasn’t his daughter-in-law yet. She was merely someone being discussed, not yet someone he needed to protect.

 

At least not yet.

 

‘Right. I could let it slide for now. But….’

 

He guessed from Cliff’s attitude.

 

“The Grand Duke intends to intervene in Ratniya?”

 

“That’s correct.”

 

“And you’re telling us, that is, my son, to take Ratniya?”

 

“That’s also correct.”

 

Cliff answered without hesitation.

 

There was nothing to hide anyway.

 

Duke Serniu nodded slowly.

 

‘With the Grand Duke’s help, that boy Aren would come to possess Ratniya.’

 

On the surface, it wasn’t a bad proposal.

 

But it only made him laugh.

 

“Isn’t that the same as telling me to send that boy Aren as a hostage to the Grand Duke?”

 

“I had no such intention whatsoever.”

 

Even at Duke Serniu’s pointed remark, Cliff calmly shook his head.

 

Though he said no now, Duke Serniu didn’t believe those words.

 

‘He doesn’t even show signs of being flustered.’

 

It was astounding. But he liked the proposal itself.

 

He could read the intention.

 

‘Anyway, if we do that… it would somehow make it obvious that we and the Elimis Duchy are allies.’

 

The Anti-Elimis Alliance might exclude the Serniu Family. But from Duke Serniu’s perspective, this was laughable.

 

He said.

 

“…Fine. Then I’ll accept it. What do we need to do?”

 

“Wouldn’t it be enough to march out for your daughter-in-law?”

 

At Cliff’s words, Duke Serniu’s eyes gleamed with interest.

 

He had already caught on from Cliff’s words.

 

“…You’ve already seized control of Ratniya?”

 

“I believe that would be the case. But I can’t guarantee it.”

 

Ratniya had already been seized by the Berni Family with the duchy’s help.

 

But it was Ratniya that had been occupied by four families joining forces.

 

‘There would be gaps in military strength.’

 

If they fought among themselves, gaps in military strength were inevitable. This was when the Elimis Duchy and Serniu Family would enter.

 

The fleets of both families would land in Ratniya and announce.

 

That Ratniya, that is, the Berni Family, had them as backing. Especially Duke Serniu would need to station garrison forces in Ratniya.

 

The expedition Cliff mentioned meant this.

 

‘If our forces land in Ratniya… it means the duchy’s forces currently controlling the port would withdraw.’

 

And Ratniya would have to be defended with only the combined strength of the Berni and Serniu families.

 

It probably wouldn’t be easy.

 

Just as the Kingdom of Castia had shed blood to defend new conquered territories, there was a high probability that the Anti-Elimis Alliance wouldn’t leave the Serniu and Berni families, who had joined hands with the Elimis Duchy, alone.

 

Of course, he was confident.

 

‘I’m not one to flinch just because a few of those piranhas swarm me.’

 

He made his decision.

 

“…I’ll do as the Grand Duke wishes.”

 

Cliff smiled.

 

He had obtained the result he wanted.

 

‘With this, one secured.’

 

The Quest content he had received this time.

 

【Allied Nations】

 

Content: The nobles of the northern Yusta Peninsula now acknowledge you as their lord.

 

However, beyond the borders is still not the case.

 

Secure two or more allied nations among the countries bordering the Rajahara Sea.

 

Conditions

 

-Alliance with nations of the Rajahara Sea (1/2)

 

Rewards

 

-Estate Diplomacy category level increased by 1

 

-Lord status window Dignity stat increased by 1

 

Though there was still no decision from the Castia Royal Court, just Duke Serniu’s response had created changes within it.

 

This meant that even the system giving this Quest recognized Duke Serniu.

 

‘The Serniu Family is indeed at the level of state power.’

 

State power recognized by the system.

 

With this, one ally had been gained.

 

Cliff also understood the recent atmosphere of the Rajahara Sea. And he knew well how to break through such an atmosphere.

 

If the enemy had chosen vertical alliance, then the strategy he should choose was horizontal alliance.

 

‘The fact that the Quest demanded two means… even securing just two alliances would make the current coalition unsustainable.’

 

That would be enough.

 

And in fact, one was sufficient.

 

‘Now that I’ve gained one….’

 

Cliff looked at Duke Serniu with expectation.

 

Duke Serniu’s expression seemed to be thinking about something.

 

He soon opened his mouth.

 

“…Since we’re going to join hands anyway, it’s good to do it between ourselves, but I’ll also recommend one other person.”

 

Nice.

 

As expected, his thinking was correct.

 

Naturally, a family like the Serniu Family would have other allies. And now he was saying it.

 

Let’s bring that ally into this matter as well.

 

‘This is exactly killing two birds with one stone?’

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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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