I Inherited a Beautiful Wife and a Territory - Chapter 36

—————
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 036

36. Declaration of War

Ballard Barony.

To enter the Elimis Domain, one had to pass through here without exception.

For that very reason, these people learned of Baron Elimis’s death before Cliff did.

“…You’re saying Baron Elimis has died?”

Baron Ballard asked Viscount Gordon, who had come as an envoy.

Viscount Gordon, receiving the question, nodded his head.

“That’s right. Unfortunately, he passed away from illness.”

Though he expressed it as illness, Viscount Gordon actually knew that Baron Elimis’s death wasn’t due to disease.

But he couldn’t carelessly speak such words. The rumors circulating in the capital must not reach this Yusta Peninsula.

“I see. He didn’t seem to have any sons…”

“Correct. So the title and domain will be inherited by his daughter. However, since women cannot obtain titles and lordship positions, her husband will inherit these.”

Baron Ballard’s expression changed.

Husband.

‘Right, there was him.’

A being he had forgotten for a while, but who had left a strong impression.

He had passed through this road riding in a carriage bearing the Duke’s emblem.

‘Was that last year’s incident? It’s been about exactly one year. But from the news I’ve heard so far, there doesn’t seem to be word that his wife is pregnant…’

The calculation was set.

Still, it was right to test the waters carefully.

Though he had already heard the story, Baron Ballard asked in a subtle voice.

“Come to think of it, there are rumors about the husband in our region. That he has connections with His Excellency the Prime Minister…”

“Does that fellow dare to go around saying such things?”

“No. It’s just rumors. When he first came here…”

Viscount Gordon frowned deeply.

“Even if there might have been past connections, the relationship between him and His Excellency has already ended. No, there was never any relationship between them to begin with.”

Decisive words.

Baron Ballard quietly smiled.

He had also heard this from the knights of the Duke’s house who had escorted Cliff, not from Viscount Gordon.

‘Right. Who knows how many bastards the Prime Minister has, so there’s no reason to care about a bastard who’s already grown up and been sent away.’

A denial of the relationship itself.

Though it was Viscount Gordon, not the Prime Minister, who said it, he was a central bureaucrat. The Prime Minister’s man.

Words declared by him and the Duke’s knights.

Baron Ballard was relieved of any unpleasant worries that might arise.

‘I was being excessive to worry this much about a mere bastard who isn’t even a real child.’

A bastard.

Different from a concubine’s son.

A concubine was also a wife. So she lived within the family. A child born from such a woman was definitely of the family bloodline.

But an illegitimate child.

It was unclear whether they were truly of the family bloodline.

So in noble society, while adopted sons might be acceptable, bastards were not recognized.

‘To do this much for such a bastard, the Prime Minister must have been quite fond of him…’

So Cliff’s case was certainly unexpected.

This was the Duke’s outrageous behavior. But even if it was outrageous up to this point, if he would retaliate against himself in the Yusta Peninsula, where the homeland’s influence doesn’t reach, because of that, then it would enter the realm of outrageousness that couldn’t be laughed off.

Expressing regret.

That much could be done.

And to a Yusta Peninsula noble, not even from the homeland, the Prime Minister’s regret wasn’t frightening.

‘Then now, if we just take the woman, we can devour the Elimis Domain?’

The Elimis Domain.

Previously, it was a domain that would collapse soon. Due to the terrain, it was difficult to govern, so he hadn’t thought of taking it.

But the recent atmosphere was different.

‘Just the goods moving annually amount to a considerable quantity. If we steal just that and there’s nothing special there, we can relocate the people here.’

Viscount Gordon could also read Baron Ballard’s thoughts.

‘His greed is plainly visible.’

Viscount Gordon recalled the moment he met the Prime Minister.

This world’s kingdom is not the king’s country.

It’s the nobles’ country. And the one standing at the pinnacle of the kingdom’s nobles was precisely the Duke.

Recalling what that Duke had told him, Viscount Gordon spoke.

“…I’d prefer if you didn’t speak nonsense. The Prime Minister has no connection with the new young Baron Elimis.”

“Of course. It’s just that he rode in the Duke’s carriage…”

“Ahem. Didn’t I say? There’s no connection whatsoever.”

He denied even past events.

Baron Ballard smiled slyly. He opened his mouth.

He needed justification to devour the Elimis Domain.

And that justification was the dead Baron Elimis’s daughter.

‘To take that girl…’

He deliberately acted with a wronged expression.

“Is there truly no connection at all? I’ve been suppressing my wronged feelings, thinking the Prime Minister was behind it all this time.”

“What does that mean?”

“Well, the Elimis Domain and our Ballard Domain are neighbors living side by side. As such, the Elimis Family and our house have maintained exchanges for a long time.”

Yes, that could be true.

“I’m the same age as the late Baron Elimis, and we were good friends with each other.”

Being the same age was correct.

However, Baron Elimis had hated Baron Ballard all along.

Because Baron Ballard had always looked down on Baron Elimis.

“So we made a pact that if we each had sons and daughters, we would marry these two.”

Since Baron Elimis was dead, there was no one to confirm this.

‘Building justification.’

It was a very classic method.

Viscount Gordon shook his head at his stale justification.

“My son visited the Elimis Domain several times because of this matter.”

Still, this was true.

Baron Elimis’s daughter had shown signs of growing into a beauty from a young age. Because of that, his son often pestered him.

To let him have her.

‘Back then, I ignored this.’

Originally, he and Baron Elimis didn’t get along.

Also, Baron Elimis was thinking of marrying his daughter into a prestigious central family.

He had no intention of marrying her to a nearby family that was only slightly better than himself, yet looked down on him. Baron Ballard felt the same way.

‘I should think about marrying a daughter from a good family. As a concubine maybe, but as a legal wife from the Elimis Family? Not a chance!’

Their thoughts didn’t align.

No, should I say they aligned well here?

Anyway, that matter was now appropriately packaged.

“While we were postponing the wedding as Baron Elimis left for the capital… didn’t the child I considered my daughter-in-law suddenly get a husband?”

“Oh my, you must have been quite upset.”

“Indeed. But since he appeared riding in the Duke’s carriage…”

“Ahem. Wasn’t that carriage not the Duke’s?”

“Due to my limited knowledge, I misunderstood it as such, and though my heart was hurt, I had no choice but to cover up this matter.”

Viscount Gordon shook his head.

“So the Elimis Baron family’s past marriage was all fraud?”

“That’s right.”

Viscount Gordon’s eyes sparkled.

“Then what will you do? If you wish, I shall visit the Elimis family and deliver the Ballard family’s declaration of war as well. Also, I will observe the war between the two families as a witness and report the results of the war to the central authority on your behalf.”

“That… which side are His Grace and the central nobles on?”

“The victor shall become all truth.”

Baron Ballard’s eyes lit up.

“…I will prepare for war!”

“Good. I shall deliver Baron Elimis’s obituary along with the Ballard family’s intentions to the Elimis family on your behalf. Also, I will personally witness the war between the two families and report the results to the central authority.”

Baron Ballard’s expression brightened upon hearing Viscount Gordon’s words.

He seemed to think he had already won.

But there was still more.

“As Baron Ballard surely knows, there are two strategies in territorial warfare. Namely, quick battles and total war.”

When conflicts arise between nobles, especially those with territories, and these cannot be resolved through dialogue, there are largely three methods to choose from.

One is trial.

It is referred to the central noble council for judgment.

This is the most peaceful solution, but it lacks the binding power to enforce the verdict.

And the second is dueling.

From this point on, it’s resolution through force. Still, the damage is minimal up to this point.

One might die in a duel, but the decision is made with the blood of one person, or at most three.

However, this too lacks mandatory enforcement power. But compared to the first method, it’s an act of displaying powerful force, so decisions tend to be made here.

So.

‘Actually, if Baron Ballard’s claims were true, the first or second method would have been sufficient.’

Of course, Baron Ballard wouldn’t be convinced.

He would think the central nobles would side with Cliff.

So there was a high possibility he wanted the third option.

This third option was territorial warfare.

And territorial warfare was also divided into two, as Viscount Gordon just mentioned.

One is making mutual agreements.

Both sides’ armies gather at an agreed location and fight there to determine the victor.

This was called territorial grand battle.

And the second is conquest warfare.

Both sides attack each other with the resolve to kill.

Usually, territorial warfare used the grand battle method rather than conquest warfare. And Baron Ballard would likely choose grand battle as well.

‘Conquest warfare… would require accepting civilian casualties too.’

Still, honestly, conquest warfare would be advantageous.

Because if he blocked the roads to Elimis Domain and fought on the narrow northern shortcut, he would have the advantage.

But Viscount Gordon brought up something different.

“In my opinion… it would be right for the Ballard family to claim Elimis Domain and that woman by showing an overwhelming difference in military power through grand battle and achieving victory.”

Upon hearing those words, Baron Ballard immediately nodded.

“Then I shall do as Viscount Gordon recommends! Along with our daughter-in-law stolen by that young brat, I must claim the domain as penalty for breach of contract.”

“Good. But you know as well. If you demand the opponent’s wife and domain, you too must stake compensation of an appropriate level. Should you lose in grand battle, this domain will become the opponent’s, and one virgin among your daughters will become his concubine.”

“I shall do so.”

Of course, Cliff could choose not to accept this.

Then a noble trial would be held.

But during that time, if Baron Ballard blocked the supply routes to Elimis Domain.

‘Considering this, Prince Cliff would accept it too.’

Viscount Gordon opened his mouth with a smile.

“I shall return soon with a definite date for the territorial warfare.”

“I shall wait.”

In the dark room.

Cliff looked at the woman sitting on the edge of the bed.

From what he could see, there didn’t seem to be any particular affection, but still, she had heard the news of her father’s death.

He didn’t know how she might be feeling.

“…You don’t need to look at me with such an expression. I’m fine.”

Priscilla said, looking at him.

But her fingertips were trembling as she spoke. She sat with both hands placed on her knees, clenched tightly.

“Father… I actually didn’t see him many times. Perhaps because of that, I never once thought of him as a father. Rather, Nigel was more of a father to me.”

“Hmm. We must be soulmates indeed. I didn’t see my father’s face that often either.”

It was true.

Since he was a bastard, even while staying at the Duke’s mansion, it was difficult to see the Duke.

And there, he had to live while reading the mood.

He was afraid that if he stood out, he might really be poisoned or something.

‘At least I was fortunate to be a bastard.’

If he had been a legitimate son, he might have really died.

Hearing Cliff’s words, she smiled faintly.

“That’s right. We really… were soulmates. I don’t know what others might say, but you were the savior of me and this domain. That’s why I’m afraid.”

Yes, she wasn’t acting this way because of Baron Elimis’s death.

The news Viscount Gordon delivered along with the obituary.

It was Baron Ballard’s declaration of war.

“Don’t worry. We cannot lose this war. Neither you nor this domain will be taken away.”

Cliff said firmly, holding her hand.

These weren’t just words filled with tragic resolve.

Cliff truly couldn’t think of any possibility of defeat in this war.

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