I Inherited a Beautiful Wife and a Territory - Chapter 118

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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 118

118. Ratnia Right Now

Aren Serniu.

His attitude was very different from when he first faced Cliff.

‘Hmm.’

He glanced at Cliff from the corner of his eye.

Before boarding the ship, he recalled what Duke Serniu had said.

-You… must become a bridge between the Elimis Duchy and the main house.

Not simply the owner of Port Ratnia, but a role connecting Duke Serniu and the duchy.

And there was one thing necessary for this.

-You must become a noble of the duchy.

This was what Duke Serniu had told him.

‘Is Father telling me to go under that person’s command?’

Since birth, he had never been accustomed to serving under someone.

The name of House Serniu had always made it natural for him to stand above others.

But now his position had changed.

Duke Serniu had clearly declared to him.

-From now on, you must become a person of the Berni family, not a noble of the main house.

The master of Ratnia.

Even if it was a small port, that wasn’t bad.

Anyway, due to his much older brothers, there was no land for him in the duke’s domain.

He knew this well too.

‘But even so… to someone around my age…’

It was unfamiliar to face someone higher than him among his peers.

This was Aren’s feeling.

And Cliff understood Aren’s feelings to some extent.

‘Looking at those complicated eyes…’

Duke Serniu must have said something.

It probably had to do with himself. Here he pondered once.

‘Considering Duke Serniu… it would be better to show some consideration, wouldn’t it?’

Extending a hand once.

Considering the relationship with House Serniu, he could do that.

However, that didn’t mean right now. Still, it wouldn’t be far off.

“…Ships are visible on the sea!”

“Th-that’s the fleet of the Elimis Duchy!”

The fleet that departed from the Serniu family.

Objectively, their numbers weren’t many. But even considering this, the duchy’s fleet they met at sea was much larger.

‘Gasp!’

Enough to make the Serniu ducal fleet tense up.

Especially Aren’s expression hardened.

Only then did he truly feel Cliff’s authority. Until now, despite claiming to be the ruler of the duchy, he hadn’t shown such dignity.

But now it was no longer easy to doubt Cliff’s identity.

“Let me formally introduce myself again. I am Cliff Elimis.”

“I-I meet the ruler of the Elimis Duchy.”

Tension was evident in Aren’s expression.

Fear beyond that was visible. Just from this, he was certainly different in caliber from Duke Serniu.

This wasn’t simply about their positions.

‘If it were Duke Serniu, even at Lord Aren’s current age, he wouldn’t have been intimidated.’

Temperament.

That itself was different.

Since he was born of ducal blood, he couldn’t be completely different, but even at a glance, the distinction was clear.

‘That’s actually better for us too.’

Cliff inferred what Duke Serniu must have told Aren.

Duke Serniu probably knew his son’s temperament. So he likely gave instructions suited to that, was his judgment.

“Thanks to Lord Aren, things went more smoothly than expected. I’ll remember this for when Lord Aren visits the duchy later.”

Cliff’s words eased Aren’s tension.

And Cliff’s words seemed to acknowledge his achievements.

‘Thanks to me…?’

Aren’s heart melted at that praise. He answered with an embarrassed yet pleased expression.

“Ahem. I merely did what was natural.”

“Even if that’s Lord Aren’s position, praising this is naturally my duty as a ruler.”

“I am deeply honored, Your Highness.”

Listening to his words, he inwardly smiled.

What he just said was sincere.

Thanks to that, it was easy.

‘If you had been just a little more capable, we might have had an unnecessary power struggle…’

The so-called hierarchy had been established.

It was settled smoothly, just as Cliff said. Probably future matters would be more comfortable.

Cliff looked at him then turned his head.

‘Still, I wish our person was a bit more capable.’

Fried.

He remained in the Serniu duchy. There he would handle practical agreements and also receive recommendations for new allies through Duke Serniu.

His conversation with Duke Serniu.

He just needed to convey this to the Berni family of Ratnia.

“…Then let’s head to Ratnia quickly.”

The situation there was probably already settled.

Cliff trusted Teobaldt that much.

Moos Berni.

The head of the Berni family tended to his wounds. Wounds from the day the other three families launched their surprise attack.

Today especially, those wounds throbbed more.

‘It feels like something is bound to happen.’

He prayed it wouldn’t be only bad news.

But the possibility was low. The atmosphere in Ratnia right now was unsettled.

First, there had been war between the families dividing Ratnia. The bloodbath that erupted within the city alone changed Ratnia’s atmosphere.

At that time, the Berni family won. Through this, the Berni family was able to seize control of Ratnia.

But that wasn’t the end.

“…The pursuit team has returned. It seems the remnants entered the Dioce family territory.”

Naturally, the Berni family had fewer numbers than the allied forces.

It was impossible to annihilate all three families at once. So naturally there were those who escaped, and they pursued to finish it completely, but.

“Sigh. I felt like bad news would come today, and it ended up like this.”

The worst result had come.

At that fact, Moos’s expression turned bitter.

‘Of all things, to let them reach Dioce…’

The Dioce family.

They had been eyeing Ratnia covetously from before.

Previously, the four families had united to prevent this. But the alliance of four families had crumbled, and instead, those who belonged within it had been driven to Dioce.

The result that would soon occur was obvious.

‘Using those who have already lost power as the vanguard, the Dioce family will target Ratnia.’

This was a difficult matter for the Berni family.

The outcome that should never have happened.

‘Even though knights from the Elimis Family are helping us…’

This seemed to be the limit.

He asked his adjutant.

“Where is our guest?”

“I received a report that he’s currently at the training ground.”

“…What? No, you mean he’s already training with that body?”

Moos cried out in surprise upon receiving the report.

The day of the three families’ attack.

Even Moos had been injured. Naturally, Teobaldt, who had protected him and fought at the very front, had also sustained multiple wounds on his body.

In fact, looking at the severity of injuries alone, he was worse off than Moos.

‘Getting back up after shaking off wounds, that’s possible since he’s naturally tough, but…’

If he was training, this was different.

He was amazed.

But at the same time, he understood how Teobaldt had become so strong.

‘There was a reason Duke Elimis sent only him.’

He had thought this when he saw Teobaldt’s prowess.

And now respect for him bloomed again. Also, Moos envied Cliff.

Having such talent under his command.

‘If only he had been our man, we would have already dominated Ratniya and had the power to resist the Dioke Family without help from other families…’

Now it was difficult.

Though he had already resumed training, Teobaldt was an injured man.

There was no way he could overcome the Dioke Family’s forces. Also, many of the Berni Family’s soldiers had been wounded this time.

A pyrrhic victory.

That was exactly what could be said about the Berni Family’s current situation.

“…I’ll go visit where our guest is.”

Still, he was a benefactor who had helped.

He should inform him of the current situation. And he thought about having at least him leave Ratniya first.

With that thought, he came to the training ground and was flustered.

“Whew. Have other enemies appeared?”

Whoosh.

A man who was simply swinging his sword.

With his sweat-soaked body, Teobaldt asked before Moos could even make his presence known.

“…As you said. The Dioke Family is located near our Ratniya. Originally a place with stronger forces than the Berni Family, and now they would have absorbed even the remnants of the three families.”

Moos explained that the enemy’s forces were several times their own.

“I estimate at least 200 or more will come.”

Previously, the Elimis Domain had gathered 50 soldiers.

200 was a number approaching four times that.

‘Certainly… without the Wolf Riders now, it would be difficult for the Berni Family forces to handle.’

Only about ten of Berni’s soldiers remained.

They could roughly match the numbers by conscripting able-bodied men from Ratniya, but the problem was the three families serving as Dioke’s vanguard.

‘They were originally people from this Ratniya.’

Ratniya’s conscripts could waver.

Their morale and training level were low. Amidst all this, their loyalty couldn’t be guaranteed either.

“Looking at forces alone, it’s a complete defeat.”

Moos couldn’t deny Teobaldt’s calm murmur.

Moos could only nod with a bitter expression.

“Exactly as you’ve judged.”

Here, Moos intended to magnanimously tell Teobaldt to leave Ratniya.

He wasn’t a person of this Ratniya anyway, much less a person of Berni.

“Already once, I owe you my life. I’d like to repay that debt, but… it seems it will be difficult.”

Moos’s confession came with a heavy face.

Teobaldt frowned.

“That would be troublesome…”

“Haha. I’m sorry about this. But I’m not shameless enough to keep receiving favors like this. Bring it here.”

“Yes.”

At Moos’s instruction, a servant approached the spot.

It was a girl around mid-teens.

And the girl was clutching a heavy bundle in her arms.

“…What does this mean?”

Teobaldt looked at Moos with a frown.

“You’re a benefactor, so you can’t leave empty-handed. As I mentioned before, this place will likely be attacked by the Dioke Family soon.”

“…”

“That battle, as you know, puts our main house at a disadvantage in terms of forces. It would be hard to see good things if you remained in such a dangerous area.”

Teobaldt understood what the other party was saying.

“…You’re telling me to run away?”

“Haha. The word ‘run away’ doesn’t suit a strong man like you. Wouldn’t it be right for an outsider to simply go his way?”

Teobaldt listened to the other party’s words and thought.

And he recalled.

A scene from his past memories.

‘Right. It was when I first visited the Platts Barony.’

The situation then was similar to now. It was a deadly place with a huge threat approaching.

But his lord had willingly stepped into it.

Teobaldt raised the corners of his mouth.

“The order I received was to protect you and hold Ratniya.”

“That’s reckless…!”

“Even if it’s reckless, isn’t following orders what makes a knight?”

With those words, Teobaldt grinned.

And at this moment, Teobaldt believed.

“You don’t need to worry. If we can just buy some time, reinforcements will definitely come.”

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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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