I Inherited a Beautiful Wife and a Territory - Chapter 48

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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 048

48. Marriage Bonds Are Not the Only Family

“Among people, there are fools who think that having a large estate means everything is good. People from the homeland especially think this way. But what good is a large estate? You need people to fill that vast land.”

Cliff nodded at Count Platice’s words.

He recalled moments from history classes he had attended before.

Even if you conquer territory, you cannot occupy it and make it completely your own territory. To do this, you must send people there to live.

‘The Four Garrisons and Six Fortresses, and the migration policies of those regions were created for this reason.’

Sending people to border regions.

Why would they drive people to such dangerous areas? Because if people don’t live on that land, it becomes difficult to claim it as national territory.

Though he wasn’t sure if his memory was correct, he also recalled hearing that Dokdo was not an uninhabited island but had people living on it.

This was even more important for disputed territories.

And the Platice Domain was currently in dispute.

“If people don’t live there, those wicked goblins will take over. No, even if people do live there, goblins will eventually be born.”

Perhaps Cliff’s domain was blessed.

Cyclops and Serpents didn’t make a living by eating domain residents.

And Shadow Wolves rarely invaded the domain either. Thanks to this, the Elimis Domain, while surrounded by monsters, actually had fewer conflicts with monsters.

However, Cliff also agreed with Count Platice’s words.

‘The domain is vast but there are no people.’

This wasn’t only true for Count Platice’s territory.

Cliff’s Elimis Domain was the same.

It was like this even before taking over the Ballard Barony. Rather, the Ballard Domain wasn’t that large in area.

Though he had occupied the barony, he had merely occupied one village.

The Elimis Domain was different.

‘Though not as much as the Platice Domain, we’re also too vast.’

Vast area.

And population density that couldn’t fill it.

Cliff wasn’t buying people to fill it for no reason.

So normally, there would be no reason to covet an even larger domain.

‘I’d like to acquire a mountain or two though.’

Shadow Wolves and Kyuung were sufficient to keep goblins and other magical beasts in check.

Though the number of Shadow Wolves was currently small, once their numbers increased, they could fight goblins.

If it were a group mixed with Hop Goblins, it would be difficult, but mutations don’t only occur in goblins.

A large Shadow Wolf like Hades could probably bite and tear apart even Hop Goblins. For now, setting aside such greed.

“I agree. In this Yusta Peninsula, there’s a serious shortage of people living compared to the landmass. Despite this, in places like Serpal, the peninsula’s people are being sold as slaves to the homeland…”

Cliff trailed off.

Do you know when people become close? They quickly become close when gossiping about others.

It wasn’t a good method.

But at this moment, it was extremely effective.

“That’s exactly what I’m talking about!”

Count Platice spat as he reacted intensely to Cliff’s words.

Indeed, the truth that the enemy of my enemy is my friend applied here too.

“As expected, Baron Elimis is an enlightened person. This Yusta Peninsula needs people to develop, so why are we sending those scarce people to the homeland at cheap prices!”

It wasn’t specifically Serpal doing this.

But Count Platice, who saw Serpal as a thorn in his side, used this to badmouth Baron Serpal. Cliff just quietly listened to his words.

There was no need for him to step forward and curse together.

‘I still need to continue trading with Serpal too.’

Still, he actively listened to the words.

“I see.”

Cliff nodded.

He just listened with appropriate responses.

Even this alone made Count Platice get fired up on his own. And even though Cliff didn’t say anything more, he regarded him as someone he could communicate with.

“Hahaha. As expected of Baron Elimis. I judged people very well. How about it? Would you accept our niece as a second wife to continue ties with the main family?”

“Of course it’s a welcome proposal. Why would the main family refuse to become close with the House of Count Platice? But she’s still too young.”

Cliff shook his head.

“If we’re truly to become one, we’d have to wait several years. Is there really a need to take such a long detour?”

“Hmm. That’s true too… Then do you have something in mind? In the main family, the closest unmarried maiden is that child.”

“Must marriage bonds be the only family?”

Cliff smiled.

Having come this far, he could tell.

‘This gentleman really does view me favorably.’

Count Platice was more active than expected.

Of course, he had listened to his stories thoroughly. From this, he might have gotten the impression of a young man he could communicate well with.

But a politician already in his 40s wouldn’t hope to become this close over just that.

‘It’s probably because of Father… but still, this part must be significant?’

Cliff blinked his eyes.

In that brief moment, a status window flashed by.

-Flag of Peace (Lv. 3)

-Fellowship (Lv. 4)

-Public Order (Lv. 1)

-Master of Trade (Lv. 1)

His diplomacy level had risen again while fighting goblins.

Accordingly, his skill levels had also grown further.

Hostility had diminished and intimacy had increased, so Count Platice’s current reaction would be natural.

“Other ties besides marriage? Perhaps… are you saying you’d become an adopted son of our Platice Family?”

“What could I hope for more than that?”

At Cliff’s counter-question, Count Platice burst into laughter.

After laughing for a while, he recalled one thing about Cliff.

‘Come to think of it, this fellow… had no father.’

To be precise, he had a father but didn’t. From Cliff’s position, even if it was adoption, being registered into a solid noble family would be greatly welcome news.

This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing for the Platice Family either.

If Cliff became an adopted son of the Platice Family, the Elimis Family would definitely come under the Platice Family’s umbrella.

It was even written in doctrine.

Honor your parents and do not rebel against them.

Count Platice’s lips curved upward.

‘Not bad. Not bad at all.’

Of course, there were concerning aspects too.

An adopted son was different from an illegitimate child.

Even if an adopted son wasn’t blood-related, he was an heir recognized by noble society.

“Didn’t you just say so yourself, Count?”

Cliff spoke in a subtle voice.

At that tone, Count Platice tilted his head.

“I did? What did I say?”

“That you’d like to sell part of your domain if you could.”

“…!”

Cliff’s eyes gleamed.

“There’s nothing strange about establishing a branch family for an already grown son and giving him part of the property. If he’s already received property from his parents, he can’t demand property again later.”

“So Baron Elimis is now… asking me to give you part of my domain?”

“How about giving a few unnecessary mountains to your adopted son as a manor?”

Domains and manors were the same yet different.

Part of the tax revenue from a manor must be paid to its lord.

Or they might have to march out and fight for the lord in exchange for receiving a manor. Of course, this was similar for lords as well.

‘They have to send taxes to the king and fight when wars break out.’

However, this wasn’t absolute either.

First of all, among the Yusta Peninsula nobility, none sent taxes to the central government.

They superficially pledged loyalty to the king, but did nothing for the king.

This relationship was maintained for one reason. From both the Yusta Peninsula’s perspective and the homeland’s perspective, it was better than becoming enemies with each other.

‘If the central government pressed us for taxes, the Yusta Peninsula would surely rebel.’

The perception among Yusta’s people was that the homeland was already living well and eating well.

They would think that while they could barely make ends meet, if taxes were extorted from them, they would immediately turn around and start plundering the homeland.

The homeland had been giving these people noble titles and maintaining the current structure to prevent that.

As long as they maintained the lord-vassal relationship, even nominally, large-scale rebellions wouldn’t occur on the Yusta Peninsula.

“Sell part of the territory? No, are you saying to grant it as a manor to Ellemis Baron who became an adopted son?”

Platice Count did not get angry.

This was already a sufficiently positive reaction.

‘This time I’m definitely making my father.’

Cliff’s eyes gleamed.

“Of course. The price won’t be bad.”

“Hmm. I actually think it wouldn’t be bad for me. But…”

Platice Count trailed off.

Cliff’s eyes gleamed at that reaction. This was positive enough.

He could feel that the Count judged there would be no loss.

‘Still, what’s bothering him must be the opposition that will arise later, right?’

This would be due to the confusion that would arise among existing heirs rather than retainers.

While the possibility of Cliff inheriting the Count title or lord position was low, it still wouldn’t be comfortable to increase competitors.

No matter how abandoned the land was, giving it to him as a manor, dividing assets like that would be uncomfortable.

“I will quell those complaints.”

“How so?”

“I heard you’re aiming for central advancement.”

“So… are you perhaps saying you’ll achieve the main family’s central advancement?”

If central advancement was achieved, the territory would truly have to be entrusted to another reliable person.

Cliff smiled.

Cliff’s adopted son status.

The matter of additionally granting a manor to him who already possessed territory.

The people who would be most displeased with this were precisely the Count’s existing sons.

‘Among them, the third son and below are too young to exclude…’

The problem was Platice Count’s eldest and second sons.

Those two were precisely the problem.

“Greetings. I am Cliff, who will become part of the Platys family from now on.”

“No, Father. What is this…?”

Among them, the second son, who had been keeping the eldest son in check as a formidable competitor, reacted first.

Cliff.

Although his legitimacy seemed most distant, he was older than even the second son. He could potentially be pushed back in the hierarchy, and moreover, Cliff was already a lord of one region.

Having cards to play, he might expand his influence more quickly.

‘Wasn’t he just supposed to become a cousin-in-law?’

While the second son was shocked, the eldest son’s expression wasn’t entirely pleasant either.

Cliff looked at the two of them and spoke.

“I heard that Aren hyung-nim and Giren will soon go to the capital city. To perform knight service in the capital?”

“That’s right. What of it, Lord Elimis?”

The second son replied sharply.

Lord Elimis.

It was a polite attitude, but he was saying that Cliff was not a person of Platys.

“I just thought it might be helpful if I told you something since you’re going to the capital city.”

Cliff said.

“Soon there will be a game that will become popular among the central nobility and, more importantly, among central knights, and will become basic culture.”

Cliff opened his mouth to speak.

The two tilted their heads.

Not just the two, but Platice Count also showed interest.

“It’s called chess.”

Cliff spoke with conviction.

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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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