I Inherited a Beautiful Wife and a Territory - Chapter 41

—————
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 041

41. Adolf

Cliff felt regret during the battle.

The skill Intimidation was satisfying enough.

However, even though Cliff had a mana circle, he still hadn’t learned any magic to utilize it.

‘If only I could learn magic…’

It was a moment when the longing within Cliff grew even stronger.

In the midst of this, who would have thought he’d discover a book written in runic script among the spoils of war.

Cliff opened the magic book with eyes full of anticipation.

【Message】

‘Telepathy?’

It was the fantasy version of martial arts telepathy magic.

Cliff’s eyes sparkled when he saw this. Initially standing while examining it, Cliff looked around searching for a chair.

A desk and chair prepared in the study.

Cliff leaned back and sat there.

‘Mm. Good.’

There, Cliff read through the magic book with anticipation-filled eyes.

And after just a few minutes, Cliff reached a conclusion.

‘…It’s difficult.’

Honestly, he thought it would be easy.

But why was the magic book written in such a convoluted manner?

And that wasn’t all.

It was abstract.

Apparently, Cliff had never experienced the movement of mana and the arrangement of spells through it. There was no way he could understand and use it just by reading about it.

He could only blink his eyes while looking at the magic book.

But even so, he could at least tell that this book was indeed a magic book.

‘This magic book alone would easily be worth over 50 gold coins…’

The manor including this magic book was sold for merely 130 gold coins.

Baron Ballard’s fury was completely understandable.

But let’s not feel too sorry. All of this was ultimately the result of Baron Ballard’s own greed.

When desire conceives, it gives birth to sin, and when sin matures, it brings forth death.

“Mm.”

Similarly, Cliff himself should be wary of excessive greed.

Still, there was actually something Cliff was greedy for.

“…Actually, I didn’t really want to receive either the woman or this manor.”

A thousand gold coins?

It was certainly a large sum.

Especially for the estates of this Yusta Peninsula, it could equal several years’ budget. But Cliff was confident he could earn such money anytime.

However, there were things harder to obtain than such wealth.

“…They say gaining wisdom is more precious than gold, and that wisdom ultimately comes from people.”

Yes, people.

Cliff wanted to obtain wise (capable) people.

For example, someone like Adolf who had held out against Teobaldt even in that desperate situation.

The defeat in war.

Sometimes when blinded by greed, one tends to forget the consequences and dangers.

Especially since people don’t have the ability to foresee dangers they haven’t experienced.

‘How did this happen…’

Baron Ballard was thoroughly ruined.

Until now, even though it was a small estate, he had reigned as king in this domain alone.

There had been no crises. So when a real crisis and shock came, he didn’t know what to do.

Even knowing that defeat in war would lead to this, when it actually happened, his body trembled.

Even when he cried out surrender to Cliff, he hadn’t anticipated such results.

“Sophia… Anna… Lucy…”

He called his daughters’ names in a sorrowful voice.

The youngest, Lucy, was barely ten years old. Being a late-born daughter, he had loved and cherished her greatly.

The child who had only received affection was now trembling in her sister’s arms. Not only Sophia, the second daughter who was originally to be sent as the price of war, but all three daughters including the youngest were sold to the Elimis Family.

“The two are too young. Initially I thought a hundred gold for both… at this level, even considering the premium of being nobles, it would be difficult to think of more than eighty gold for both.”

“You, do you truly have no blood or tears!”

“Is that something to be said by one who coveted another’s wife who had just lost her father? Surely the commandment says not to covet another’s wife, and having broken God’s commandment, wouldn’t God abandon the Ballard Family?”

“Th, that is…”

Baron Ballard was left speechless by Anton’s cold retort.

Anton declared in an even colder tone.

“If you don’t want to lose your son and daughter-in-law as well, I’d appreciate your caution. Well… since the Ballard Family has no value to offer anyway, your son and daughter-in-law, and even you yourself, Baron, could belong to the main family.”

“Gasp. You, you truly…”

A male heir was needed to continue the lineage.

That’s why they were selling daughters before the son. But Anton was determined to take even his son from him.

If the son was sold, naturally his daughter-in-law would also become a slave of the Elimis Family.

‘How on earth did it come to this?’

Baron Ballard regretted it.

But regretting now was already too late.

The Ballard Family had fallen. Now whether they could at least maintain their lineage or even lose that depended entirely on the mercy of the Elimis Family.

And the Elimis Family would probably not show mercy.

There was someone watching his master’s misery from the side.

‘My lord…’

Adolf.

A knight who had devoted over 30 years from his boyhood until now for the Ballard Family.

The sense of responsibility he felt was great. If he had defeated Teobaldt in battle, his master wouldn’t be experiencing this current misery.

“…Lord Anton.”

So he could no longer endure and stepped forward.

Anton turned to look at him.

“Hmm. Lord Adolf need not worry. Even if you were a retainer of the Ballard Family, we would have no reason to charge you a single penny.”

There was no reason for Adolf to bear the responsibilities of the Ballard Family together.

Of course, he would lose his job from today’s events.

When the Ballard Family fell, he would have to wander without a master.

‘Or else pledge loyalty to the conqueror or find another family.’

The knights of Platice.

They had just made a proposal to Adolf. Wouldn’t he come to the Platice Family like this?

Adolf couldn’t bring himself to abandon his falling master and leave.

“Let me meet with your lord. I have something I’d like to propose to him.”

“…Are you perhaps requesting appointment?”

“I’ll speak directly to the lord.”

The conversation between Adolf and Anton.

Baron Ballard’s emotions became even more miserable at that exchange.

“Lord Adolf. I endured this humiliation and ended the war to save you… are you truly saying you’ll go to my enemy?”

Baron Ballard’s appeal filled with resentment and betrayal.

Anton glared at him and said.

“Be quiet, Baron. Choosing a master is a knight’s right. As long as you can no longer provide him the compensation according to the lord-vassal oath… he has no duty to keep faith with you, Baron.”

“Ha, haha…”

Futility.

That emotion could be glimpsed on Baron Ballard’s face.

Once showing greed had ultimately led to such ruin.

“You should never have shown greed from the beginning. Since the result has appeared like this, Baron Ballard should quietly accept the outcome.”

Anton remained cold and ruthless.

Baron Ballard was devastated by his cruel words.

Adolf, who had been watching this pitifully, moved forward with tragic resolve. Following Anton, he stood in front of the study of the manor where Cliff was.

Knock knock.

“…Who is it?”

After knocking, a voice was heard from inside.

“It’s Anton. My lord.”

“You came with a guest. Come in.”

The two men flinched upon hearing his words.

The door hadn’t opened yet. Without any prior notice, Cliff had sensed from inside that there was a guest.

‘Does this mean his perception is so excellent that he can accurately detect my presence?’

That was about the only possibility he could think of.

Adolf was surprised as he came face to face with Cliff inside through the opened door.

Cliff had been reading at his desk when he greeted the two of them.

“The one with business is… Lord Adolf?”

Cliff’s eyes sparkled as he asked.

Just moments ago, he had been coveting this man named Adolf.

Though his potential for development was low due to his age, Adolf was already a complete knight.

The kind of talent who could work on the front lines for the next 10 years, then another 10 years in the rear.

That Adolf bowed his head to Cliff.

“The broken sword of the Ballard Family greets the Ruler of Elimis.”

At Adolf’s statement, both Cliff’s and Anton’s eyebrows rose slightly.

As if they didn’t quite like that self-introduction.

Probably because he expressed himself as ‘the sword of the Ballard Family.’ Even at this moment, it was an acknowledgment that he remained a retainer of the Ballard Family.

The broken sword referred to their current situation.

Both the family and he were ultimately defeated.

He had used such a metaphor to describe their current miserable situation.

‘I am… the sword of Ballard until the end.’

Adolf steeled his resolve in his heart while keeping his head bowed.

Then he raised his head and opened his mouth.

“I and my master… have incurred a great debt to the Ruler of Elimis.”

The fault of this war.

And the reparations due to defeat.

Debt was a word that encompassed both of these.

“Isn’t that a debt your master, not you, owes to me and my wife?”

“No. Even if that were so, since I owe a debt to my lord… it is right that I also bear that obligation together.”

Adolf looked at Cliff with a resolute face as he spoke.

Cliff’s expression also became more serious than before.

“You say you owe a debt to that master?”

“That’s right. The sin of failing to offer proper counsel to my lord, the sin of failing to bring victory with my sword for my lord, the sin of failing to protect my lord and his family… Having committed these three grave wrongs, how could I alone wish for peace?”

Cliff’s pupils shook as he looked at Adolf.

“You are truly… a wise man. I envy Baron Ballard for having someone like you as a retainer.”

These were words Cliff spoke from his heart.

Cliff gradually realized what Adolf was going to say and his intention for standing here.

And he acknowledged it.

He wasn’t simply a loyal person, but wise. Wise words had come from his mouth.

The words confessing his wrongs that he spoke before Cliff the conqueror even softened Cliff’s heart.

“Speak your decision.”

Cliff spoke, trying to draw out those words.

“Please buy me.”

And Adolf answered accordingly.

He dropped heavily to his knees.

“There are still many reparations the Ballard Family must pay to the Elimis Family. Though I’m a man with no skills other than fighting, if my master commands, I will take up my sword and fight prepared to die.”

Both his knees had already touched the ground.

He even pressed his forehead to the floor and didn’t raise his head. This was not a knight’s oath.

“Do you… wish to become a slave yourself?”

“That is correct. Having already sworn eternal loyalty to the Ballard Family… how could I serve another lord? However, since I am the sword of Ballard, I wish to offer myself to the Ruler of Elimis in place of the Ballard Family’s debt. Please set a price for my body so that the debt owed by the Ballard Family can be repaid.”

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