I’m in the Arms of the Cursed Grand Duke - Chapter 53

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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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Chapter 53

Thump, thump, thump.

The sound of drums could be heard.

The Duchy Castle became bustling at the drum sounds coming from afar.

“They’re coming!”

“Noven, the Caravan Leader is in front!”

“There are criminals too. Battle stations!”

Knights and soldiers, even the manor’s administrators and servants.

They lined up in front of the gate with extremely tense faces.

The drum sounds that echoed together as one made people’s hearts even more anxious for no reason.

“Why are they beating drums when they’re not even an army?”

“I don’t know. When is the Captain coming?”

“She went out at dawn yesterday and there’s been no contact.”

“May I say something?”

Apprentice knight Kael, who was working hard to become a full knight, interjected.

“Since Clemente also went out with them, it seems His Grace has some business for them.”

The senior knights frowned and pressed Kael’s face with one hand, squashing his cheek.

“Don’t you know?”

“Ugh. I know there won’t be any problems!”

“What? You know there won’t be any problems?”

“Yes!”

“There probably won’t be problems. But shouldn’t this guy come before dawn breaks? We can clearly see them coming from over there.”

“Uuu!”

“Kid, you talk too much. Right, you didn’t know they’d come this fast? As a knight, you should prepare in advance! You should remember this well too. A knight, especially one who protects his lord and domain, can’t succeed with just brute strength.”

Kael’s puzzled eyes turned toward senior knight Lésible.

“First, let’s go see how those guys will target the vassals’ hearts and what methods they’ll use.”

The knights don’t know the details of the current situation.

The head of knights is their lord. They just need to follow their lord’s will.

However, the captain is different.

The captain has the right to disobey the lord exactly once.

There’s only one reason to use that right.

When the lord’s decision threatens the lives of the majority of vassals.

That was the difference between a free knight who serves only one person and a domain knight who serves one family.

The fact that Gwen went out according to the Duke’s will now means Gwen also supports that decision. Therefore, they too act according to their lord’s will and Gwen’s decision.

That was the only decision the vice-captain could make when the captain was absent.

And Pruina’s domain knight order, the Azure Knights.

Lésible, Azure’s vice-captain, went down to the village with three knights under his command and Kael.

The villagers had anxious expressions along with slight expectations. Thanks to the fire spirit’s blessing, it wasn’t very cold so they saved quite a bit of firewood, but the food situation was different.

Many of them had nothing to eat today or tomorrow.

“Oh, they’re coming. The caravan has returned!”

“Why? Did His Grace change Master Noven’s mind again?”

For them, the caravan’s return itself was hope.

“Ah, hello everyone. I am Nerhi Pruina. I’m the Previous Duke’s younger brother.”

And Nerhi inserted himself into that hope.

“Huh? You’re not His Grace?”

“Yes, I caught Noven when he was returning disappointed in His Grace. I even purchased food with my own money for all of you who must be having difficult days. I’m truly sorry I couldn’t afford to give you firewood as well.”

Following Nerhi’s gesture with lowered eyebrows, mercenaries dressed like workers moved. Wheat, vegetables, fruits, and more were neatly stacked.

“I’ve sent food to all the other villages too. You can consume all this food in the village. It’s a gift for all of you.”

The villagers looked at each other, made eye contact, then cheered without anyone taking the lead.

“Thank you, thank you!”

“Not at all. I must do what His Grace cannot.”

“His Grace absolutely won’t give us anything beyond the one food distribution! We’re saved thanks to Lord Nerhi.”

“Not at all. If there hadn’t been a disagreement with Master Noven, this wouldn’t have happened… But the Master said he’d continue trading for my sake, so you don’t need to worry.”

Nerhi looked at the vassals with a pitiful expression.

He repeated similar conversations. The conversations between other mercenaries and vassals were similar too.

Behind the majority of those vassals, there were a few villagers standing with their arms crossed in displeasure.

“Hey, are they so happy to receive and eat that when they know there’s some scheme behind it?”

“They probably want to survive first. Tom, you would have gone too if you hadn’t seen Clemente, right?”

“Ahem! That’s all old news.”

“But wasn’t that just a week ago?”

“Ahem!”

They were people who had directly seen Clemente.

“Well, when I told you, you didn’t even believe me.”

At the words of the shop owner who had first thrown old fur clothes to Clemente, Tom looked even more embarrassed.

“You didn’t say she was the fire spirit’s incarnation.”

“Back then I thought she was some strange person. Hmm.”

Just as shop owner Reder was also scratching his head awkwardly.

“Hello there~”

“Oh, what brings the knights here?”

“Haha.”

Lésible smiled good-naturedly while glaring at Nerhi among the bustling crowd. Harvie was also beside him. Though pale, his face bore a faint smile. As if anyone could see he was someone who had chosen Nerhi.

“Hmm. I can tell. His Grace must be very worried too. Is that frail person alright?”

“His Grace is becoming stronger than anyone, so don’t worry. More importantly, don’t you all need food?”

“We need it. But food with dark schemes tends to give you indigestion.”

At Reder’s words, Lésible shook his head saying that wasn’t the case.

“Hey, but what could be wrong with wheat? In barren places like the Northern Region, you have to accept free food first.”

“I feel uncomfortable about it! Is there any guarantee we won’t be swayed?”

Reder was firm. It was loyalty that started from the Previous Duke.

“Then what do you think, Reder? Will giving food sway public opinion much?”

“They’re already very anxious. For them, it doesn’t matter whether the person above changes or not. As long as they have a place to sleep and eat, that’s enough.”

“Indeed. But would he be trustworthy? Someone trying to drive out his nephew for power?”

“Doesn’t history tell us? That not all revolutions were wrong. You should know the public sentiment toward His Grace now. Even without that guy, this might have happened someday.”

“…Thank you for your insight.”

Lésible glanced at the calluses on his hands and chuckled.

“You’re still holding a sword, I see.”

“Go quickly and monitor that bastard!”

Lésible and the knights were chased away by Reder.

Kael asked.

“Who was that person…?”

“The kid doesn’t need to know.”

“Vice-captain, what about us?”

“You’re all still far from ready. More importantly, scatter now. Execute the operation.”

What Gwen went to find was something for the weakened vassals. To use it properly, preliminary work was needed. At minimum, maintaining public sentiment toward the Duke. From now on, they would become ordinary vassals instead of knights and blend in among them.

And there were eyes watching such people.

Nerhi. Even while distributing food, he was observing his surroundings.

“They’re moving so obviously.”

“Pardon?”

“No, nothing. Please enjoy your meal.”

“Thank you, my lord!”

Nerhi found what the Duke was doing utterly ridiculous.

Using people to win public favor? If discovered, nothing would backfire more severely than that.

Above all, he didn’t think for a moment that his plan would crumble to that extent.

After the food distribution had ended to some degree. Crea approached from behind.

“Lord Nerhi. From next time, have sturdy people do this kind of work.”

“You’re here.”

“Yes. I really thought I was going to freeze to death.”

Your actions have materials at stake. Always be mindful of that.”

“Have I ever disappointed you? Lord Nerhi just needs to think about giving me double the reward. Right?”

Nerhi coldly flashed his eyes as he removed Crea’s arm that coiled around him like a snake.

There would be no problem for now.

But soon, something big would come that the incompetent Duke couldn’t handle. He just had to wait for that.

That’s what he thought.

But suddenly, variables began to surge.

In a direction he had never even considered.

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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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