I Inherited a Beautiful Wife and a Territory - Chapter 37

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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 037

37. As the Hero’s Shield

“That’s an absurd claim. The late lord and Baron Ballard were sworn enemies. They hurled harsh words at each other and wouldn’t even acknowledge one another, and now you’re talking about an engagement?”

Nigel, who had grown weak with age.

Today, however, he let out a vigorous voice full of indignation. The injustice and anger contained within it was vividly conveyed to Cliff as well.

Cliff at the head seat was equally hardened.

‘Of all the claims they could make, they chose that one…’

It could potentially damage Priscilla’s honor.

That’s why Nigel was getting angry on her behalf. He was defending her, saying nothing had happened between her and the Ballard family.

Cliff spoke.

“This war will reveal the truth.”

Didn’t they say history is written by the victors?

War had already broken out.

Regardless of the truth, whoever wins this war will have their claims become fact.

And.

‘We’re going to win.’

Cliff believed he would emerge victorious.

Both his domain and the Ballard family were small-scale territories anyway. There were limits to the armies each side could mobilize.

In small-scale battles like this, one or two strong individuals could dominate the battlefield.

‘That’s probably why he orchestrated this war.’

Cliff wore a bitter expression.

For a moment, his gaze fell upon Leticia.

Baron Ballard would think he had decided on this war himself, but Cliff was skeptical about that.

There’s definitely someone. Someone far away who orchestrated this war and set up the board.

The reason he did such a thing was roughly…’

‘He probably didn’t like how the Ballard Barony was strangling us?’

It seemed he had drawn too much of that person’s attention by coming here.

At the Duke’s mansion, he had lived as quietly as possible. To be precise, he had stood out when he was young.

But as he matured, he had lived like a dead mouse. His half-brothers and the Duke’s women wouldn’t bother with a bastard like him anyway, and standing out there would do him no good.

‘But after coming here, I’ve been moving around quite actively…’

He had taken advantage of riding around in the Duke’s carriage.

He had called Tom to send gifts to the Duke.

This seemed to have been too much. The Duke had begun showing intense interest in him.

It felt like he was constantly pushing at his back.

‘It’s not like he’s considering me as the family heir, so this is… right. Maybe it feels like raising a game character?’

The distance between the Yusta Peninsula and the homeland was also considerable.

So perhaps, like playing a civilization game, he was developing him and the Elimis Domain.

That Duke had made his judgment.

That he could defeat something like the Ballard Domain, and also that leaving the Ballard family alone could be harmful to estate management.

His thoughts ended there.

Cliff posed a question.

“What’s the enemy’s military strength?”

“They have two knights there. We also originally had Count Raorik as our knight, but…”

The only knight the Elimis Family had.

He had never met him, and seeing Nigel mention him in past tense, he could guess.

“You mean he’s not here now?”

“Yes… He left for Central with the previous lord and hasn’t returned yet.”

And they had no news of him.

It meant he was either dead or had betrayed the Elimis Family and gone elsewhere.

What mattered now wasn’t him.

‘Anyway, as long as we have Teobaldt and Leticia, we won’t be outnumbered in knights…’

He became curious about the strength of the two knights on the enemy side.

Baron Ballard must also think he had a chance of winning to attack like this.

‘He wouldn’t have decided on a major battle without at least being confident he could overwhelm the forces we have.’

The territorial war format also chose a major battle.

It meant he was confident of winning in a direct confrontation.

Just as he was considering his chances of victory, so would the Baron.

“One is Lord Rowe, his nephew. He received training from the Platice Family until last year. And the other is Lord Adolf, a veteran knight who has served the Ballard family for nearly 20 years.”

“The one to watch out for is Lord Adolf. I’ve encountered him before… He wasn’t just a knight in name only.”

Nigel provided the first information.

Having served the Elimis Family for a long time, he knew the surrounding area well.

And Teobaldt followed up with additional words.

He was praising the knight called Adolf.

Even so, Teobaldt added more words.

“Of course, if it comes to fighting, I can subdue him in an instant. Just trust in me. I will surely offer this war’s victory to my lord.”

Now Cliff had become a complete lord.

Teobaldt’s voice overflowed with confidence. He had said there had been noticeable achievements after eating the Serpent’s heart.

Reliable.

But why was it?

‘Something feels off…’

Cliff’s eyes, lost in thought, turned toward Teobaldt again.

“Teobaldt… you’ve met this Lord Adolf before?”

“That’s correct.”

“Ah.”

Hearing those words, Cliff realized the point that made him feel this way.

Teobaldt’s identity had been exposed.

Just as Teobaldt had assessed the opponent’s skills, there was a high probability the opponent also knew his capabilities.

‘They’re willing to fight even knowing that Teobaldt is on our side?’

It was getting stranger and stranger.

But the war had already begun.

The date had been decided too.

A quick decisive battle.

Since Viscount Gordon, the witness, couldn’t stay here for long, the war between him and Baron Ballard would take place in just a few days.

Teobaldt, appointed as centurion.

As Cliff received his barony, he could finally receive his knighthood.

His position was still centurion.

“Everyone listen.”

“…”

“As you all know, this domain was desolate before our lord arrived, and everyone was destined to die or be sold as slaves.”

“…”

No one said anything in response to Teobaldt’s words.

All those heavily conveyed stories were from just last year.

Until last year, this domain was… a region that even its owner, Baron Ellemis, had abandoned.

“The reason you abandoned your farming tools and chose weapons was precisely that.”

The harsh reality where farming barely provided enough to survive.

Most people who joined the army because the lord promised to feed them well.

It was exactly as Teobaldt pointed out.

That’s certainly how it was at first.

“But whatever your motives were, you are the shields protecting this domain and the spears that defeat enemies. I ask you. Do you want to abandon your current lord and have someone who was indifferent to us rule over you and your land?”

“No!”

A tremendous shout.

“Do you think an outsider lord can revive this foundation?”

“No!”

“Then do you think he can take you in and feed you well like now?”

“No!!”

Voices gradually growing louder.

Teobaldt’s eyes blazed as he radiated fierce energy.

“I haven’t received proper tactical education. I have no words or orders to give you. I’ll convey only one thing. Protect. Protect our lord. Protect your foundation. Don’t collapse, protect your formation and your comrades.”

Teobaldt’s burning eyes swept over each soldier one by one.

“Then I will cut down your enemies.”

Shing.

Teobaldt drew his sword.

A bluish haze rose from his great sword.

Emanating this aura, Teobaldt declared to the soldiers.

“You don’t need to step forward. You protect. Protect our lord, and don’t let anyone pass through you to reach our lord. You guard our lord until I cut down all enemies and return. Can you do it?”

“Yes!”

“Even if you can’t, do it. Then we win. I will definitely win.”

It was Teobaldt’s declaration, arrogant to the point of hubris.

And this was the strategy Teobaldt himself had conceived. With few numbers and no confidence in unit operations.

He didn’t know how to command and fight with troops.

‘While everyone defends, I’ll charge.’

Victory in major battles was usually decided by one thing.

Capturing the enemy’s king.

Of course, sometimes lords would withdraw and observe with witnesses, letting only soldiers fight each other.

But even in this case, it was ultimately the same.

When the one acting as commander was captured or killed by the enemy, the battle’s outcome was decided.

Teobaldt had decided to take on that role.

‘No matter how many enemies there are, I’ll cut them all down by myself.’

Intense killing intent flowed from him.

As if sensing this, the soldiers trembled, but Teobaldt didn’t withdraw his killing intent.

“Protect. Hold your positions. Stand shoulder to shoulder with your comrades and maintain solid defense.”

Instead, he emanated even stronger killing intent.

And it wasn’t just him.

Step, step.

Beings appearing around the soldiers as if drawn by that killing intent.

Awoooooo.

With one of their howls, the wolves lifted their heads and howled in succession.

The wolves’ howling amplified the killing intent spreading around them. More precisely, it mingled with Teobaldt’s killing intent, instilling strong fear.

Trembling.

Though not even on a battlefield, the soldiers were exposed to that killing intent and shook.

Among them was a boy much younger than the others.

“Aaaaah!”

The boy screamed.

The boy thrust a sword as big as himself into the ground.

It wasn’t simply a scream of fear or terror. It was a battle cry to overcome fear.

Teobaldt’s eyes showed interest.

‘Not bad?’

The boy soldier, more precisely Leon whom he had taken in as a page, had talent.

But even such a person would normally crumble when exposed to this kind of atmosphere and killing intent. However, the boy endured that killing intent at the very front.

He deliberately straightened his shoulders with his battle cry.

“I won’t die! No, even if I die, I’ll protect this position!”

“Heh, hahaha!”

Teobaldt burst into loud laughter.

The boy’s display brought the adults to their senses too.

No, they were already alert. Though afraid, they didn’t turn their gaze away, nor did they lift their feet from the ground.

“To think those who haven’t experienced even one real battle could be this excellent!”

No one here had experienced a battlefield.

If anyone had, it was only Teobaldt. And Teobaldt knew how precarious such people could be when first standing on a battlefield.

No one could be free from the fear of death.

But still, these people held their positions. Their eyes were alive.

Only after the killing intent disappeared did their posture relax, with some collapsing to sit down.

Teobaldt smiled.

“Why did you endure to that extent?”

“…”

People without strength to answer.

Understanding them, Teobaldt spoke.

“You must want to protect something too. You all know it as well. That the way to save this domain lies only with our lord. Even if that weren’t the case…”

Teobaldt’s eyes gleamed.

His eyes had become somewhat emotional.

“Don’t you want to write a hero’s story yourself? If you die protecting our lord, wouldn’t that itself be a worthy life? Future generations will remember you as heroes’ shields. But don’t worry.”

Teobaldt paused and shouted to the soldiers.

“You are people our lord entrusted to me. Before you die, I will cut down our lord’s enemies.”

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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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