Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 151

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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“Then I should head to the Empire first?”
“Yes. My schedule will align with the Crown Prince’s, so just move according to his timetable.”

The Crown Prince was making this Imperial visit as public as possible. Since his actions instilled a sense of justice in the kingdom’s people, there was no reason to hide it.

“Understood.”

I ended my brief meeting with Bilos with a nod, accepting his terse reply without further comment.
We had decided to save our longer conversation for the Imperial Capital, over a drink.

After all, we both had much to do.

I moved with purpose.
First, I needed to process all the documents related to Harris Village before the Tiger Tribe arrived.

“Basen, it’s been a while.”
“Yes, hyung!”

My second brother Basen, whom I hadn’t seen in some time, was now heavily involved in the fiefdom’s administrative duties. Lord Derth had assigned Basen to assist me, even though I was handling this Harris Village matter myself.

‘When Basen becomes lord later, he can handle document reports like this.’

I would live as a man of leisure, but if I ever needed to submit reports, I could simply give them to Basen as I was doing now. The thought brought me peace of mind.
With that in mind, my expression remained serene as I handed the documents to Basen.

“Here are the completed documents.”
“Yes, hyung. I’m grateful to be able to assist you like this.”
“Assist? Father told us to handle it together, not just assist.”

I let out a soft chuckle at Basen’s words. I had assumed Father assigned Basen to me because I was unfamiliar with fiefdom matters and might bungle the work.

‘Basen’s trustworthiness in fiefdom affairs is exactly why Father assigned him.’

Basen’s position as the future lord had only grown more secure.

After handing me the documents, Basen opened his mouth as he watched me sip my tea with composure.

“Brother.”
“Yes.”

Basen ran his fingers across the documents I had written.
Those who had lost their homes. Along with them, the Tiger Tribe—an exceptionally formidable force. I had brought them all to my fiefdom.
Basen marveled at my compassion and resourcefulness.

“Brother, I am studying diligently to master fiefdom administration. I believe our territory has boundless potential for growth beyond marble alone, and I intend to make our fiefdom more prosperous and resilient.”

I was pleased by Basen’s ambition to become a lord and earn wealth.

“Excellent. I will continue to support you.”
“Yes, brother! I truly wish to show you my progress.”

Beneath Basen’s stoic exterior, a fierce passion burned bright.

“There’s no need to prove anything to me.”
“No, brother. I want to show you that I too am a capable talent for the fiefdom.”

I stared at Basen with a bewildered expression. Seeing my face, Basen faltered.

‘…Compared to those around brother, I fall far short.’

The sudden thought caused Basen’s expression to stiffen slightly. Then, my voice reached him.

“Don’t talk nonsense. Basen Heniatus, you are indispensable to the fiefdom even now. Stop thinking such things.”

I was exasperated.
Where could one find such a dependable lord-in-training as Basen? I waved my hand dismissively, and Basen’s grip on the documents tightened.

“Yes! I will work hard!”

With a spirited shout, he left my study. I watched his departing figure with satisfaction before rising from my seat. Then Raon appeared silently and asked.
Raon quietly appeared before him and asked.

“What?”
“Are you perhaps thinking of becoming a lord?”
“…What nonsense is that? Don’t say such frightening things.”
“…What nonsense are you talking about? Don’t say such scary things.”

Raon tilted his head in confusion, but I shuddered and refused to dwell on the subject any further.

However, when I went to meet Countess Viollan, Raon—who had been quietly cloaked in invisibility—posed another question directly into my mind.

-Human, what exactly does a lord do? Do you get to travel a lot?

Why is he like this?
I deliberately ignored Raon’s words and turned my attention to Countess Viollan. She spoke to me while maintaining her characteristic hairstyle—pulled up without a single strand out of place.

“Your face looks rather haggard. You’re going to the Empire with the Crown Prince?”
“Yes. It appears my assistance is needed for the investigation into the magical bombs.”

I faltered slightly under the piercing gaze Countess Viollan fixed upon me. She asked her next question as though it were of little consequence, her words drifting casually.

“…Is the Crown Prince burdening you with excessive duties?”
“No, that’s not the case.”
“Is that so?”

Countess Viollan smiled.

“Then I’m relieved.”

Relieved about what?
I couldn’t fathom why a chill ran through me as I looked at Countess Viollan. Concealing my confusion, I opened my mouth to speak.

“Mother, Mueller is resting now, isn’t he?”

Mueller—the half-dwarf, half-rat hybrid.
Having completed the ship, he was currently enjoying a vacation within the castle, or so I had heard. Countess Viollan, who oversaw all sculpture and construction within the fiefdom, glanced at my face before responding.

“Send him to Harris Village.”

As expected, we understood each other perfectly.

“I appreciate it.”
“Of course.”

After concluding our brief exchange, I made my way toward my study and encountered Lily. My youngest sister was lingering outside the study door.

—Human! Your younger sister has grown stronger!

Yes. She certainly looks it.
The sword on Lily’s back had grown larger. A longsword hung at her waist, and a greatsword rested across her back. It was quite formidable.

“Big brother.”

Kale reached out hesitantly and stroked Lily’s hair.

“You’ve grown so much.”

Lily scratched her cheek shyly at the praise. Kale felt a genuine warmth bloom in his chest.

Unlike Kale, whose skin was pale, Lily had trained extensively under the sun and was deeply tanned. Her height also exceeded that of other children her age. Her dedication was evident in every line of her frame.

“Lily, are you going to become the strongest among us siblings?”

Lily nodded with a determined expression.

“I’ll grow strong and protect our fiefdom!”
“Splendid.”

Kale spoke with sincerity.

“You’ll do well. Dual swords suit you perfectly.”
“Yes. My master said that defense is harder than offense. I’m going to become a knight who knows how to protect.”

Though young, Lily had heard countless stories of her older brothers’ deeds. Most of them were tales of her eldest brother, Kale. When she had shared these stories with her master, he had spoken thus.

“Lily, I was once a knight-captain of a small fiefdom, but I learned something profound.”
“What is it, Master?”
“That a gate must be strong.”
“A gate?”
“Yes, a gate. If a sturdy gate stands at the entrance of the fiefdom, so formidable that no one dares to cross it, then the people within that gate live without fear.”
“…Should I become a knight like a gate?”
“Yes. You must become a gate stronger than any city wall.”

Lily spoke to her eldest brother.

“I’m going to become a knight like you!”

For a moment, Kale paused, wondering what she meant, but then decided that it was good for a child to have diverse dreams. He nodded in approval.

“That’s right, work hard. Just don’t rush.”
“Yes!”

Kale watched Lily’s excited figure head back to training, then opened the Study door. His warm smile faded away.

“Frigia, it’s been a while.”

The assassin who mimicked a sculptor—the woman who had been carving a rabbit that resembled a demon—bowed her head in greeting to Kale.

The moment Kale sat in the chair before his desk, he reached for the teacup Ron offered him.

“Frigia.”
“Yes.”
“You said you were from the Southwest Region?”

To formally enter the Empire, one had to cross the border from the Southwestern Region of the Roan Kingdom, the fiefdom that bordered the Empire.

The Crown Prince planned to teleport to the Southwestern Region’s fiefdom first, then cross the border with the diplomatic envoy.

“Yes. I am from the Southwest Region.”

The fiefdom that touched the Southwest border.

The Gyre Territory.
It was the fiefdom of the Geyler Duchy Family.

Kale studied Frigia intently.

Those who currently belonged to Kale’s intelligence organization alongside her had originally been assassins. An assassination unit that operated in the Southwest Region, primarily handling the covert struggles of nobility.

Kale’s mouth opened.

“You fled the Southwest Region because of a failed assassination attempt on a noble and because you killed your leader, didn’t you?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”

The Assassination Unit had only targeted nobles’ lives. However, when their leader accepted a commission to kidnap a young child of a noble, Frigia—who felt this crossed a line—killed the leader and attempted to eliminate the noble who had made the request along with her comrades.

“And that noble was a retainer of the Southwestern Region’s ruling family?”
“…Yes.”

A vassal family of the Geyler Duchy had committed such a despicable act.
In the Roan Kingdom where slavery was forbidden, they dared to commission the kidnapping of a child.

Frigia carefully opened her mouth as she watched Kale smile.

“Young Master, may I ask your reason?”

A reason.
Kale answered without hesitation.

“To gather some leverage.”

The Gyre Territory in the Southwest Region.
It was the gate touching the Empire.

That gate could not afford to be weak. With the future uncertain, I had to make them defend it with their lives, even if the Empire attacked.

Kale spoke calmly to Frigia, whose concern for the Geyler Duchy seemed to grow.

“I have a very reliable backer, after all.”

With the Crown Prince present, what was there to worry about?
Kale recalled Antonio Geyler, the heir to the Geyler Duchy.

‘I heard he’s authoritarian and places considerable weight on external appearances.’

Kale opened his mouth as he looked at Frigia.

“When I return from the Empire, I’ll stay in that territory for a while. Frigia, you understand what I’m saying, don’t you?”

Frigia, a middle-aged woman with a warm appearance, understood Kale’s meaning perfectly and responded.

“I’ll make sure to prepare everything so you can begin immediately upon your return.”
“Coercion? What an odd thing to say.”
“Pardon?”

Frigia watched as Kale Heniatus offered a smile as warm and gentle as fresh snow. He spoke to her in a soft voice, almost whispering.

“I’m simply a righteous nobleman, that’s all.”

Well, well.
Frigia sighed inwardly even as she lowered her head, then raised it again.

“Yes, of course. You are indeed such a person, young master.”

As she lifted her gaze, she caught sight of Ron smiling with the same benevolence.
Kale’s heart swelled with satisfaction as he observed Ron and Frigia—both exemplars of kind-hearted adults. They were truly worthy of his trust and delegation.

* * *

Kale completed all preparations and brought only the necessary personnel. Raon, who followed invisibly, went without saying, and the others were no exception.

“Well then, my escort knights. Are you ready?”

Choi Han mirrored Kale’s bright expression with a virtuous smile of his own.

“Yes, Kale.”
“Yes, yes. Young master.”

Vice-Captain Hilsman answered while casting furtive glances around. And the ancient dragon standing beside Hilsman, masquerading as human, merely sighed.

“…Sigh.”

Choi Han, Hilsman, and Erhafen—the three would serve as his escort knights.
They boarded the teleportation circle in the fiefdom and headed straight for the Capital.

Upon arriving at the Capital, Kale could see the Crown Prince and a Diplomat waiting to greet him at the teleportation circle. The Crown Prince spread both arms wide in welcome.

“Young Master Kale Heniatus, thank you for coming. I believed you were the perfect choice for this visit to the Empire.”

Kale opened his mouth as he exchanged a light embrace with the Crown Prince, as if humbled by the praise.

“Your Highness, if these meager abilities of mine can serve the kingdom in any way, I would be honored.”

The middle-aged diplomat who had accompanied the Crown Prince opened his mouth with a satisfied expression at Kale’s response.

“Your Highness, that is precisely the answer befitting a talent worthy of your attention. Your devotion to the kingdom runs deep indeed.”
“Thank you for your kind words. As a nobleman, it is only natural to always consider the kingdom and its people.”

The diplomat leading the delegation after the Crown Prince seemed satisfied with Kale’s response and spoke again.

“I came to verify since His Highness the Crown Prince keeps you at his side, but it appears such concerns were unnecessary.”

The Crown Prince had personally recommended Kale Heniatus for this diplomatic mission. Since Kale was merely a young nobleman rather than a government official, the diplomat leading the delegation had come to verify his suitability.

In that moment, Kale’s and the Crown Prince’s eyes met. The Crown Prince spoke calmly.

“Isn’t he the young lord of the Silver Shield? A man of such noble character—surely there’s no need for concern.”

The young lord of the Silver Shield.
Kale’s face twitched ever so slightly.

“That’s right! I saw that silver shield too! It was truly amazing, Prince Cale.”
“Not at all. It was merely a modest display of power.”
“Nonsense, modest indeed! I do hope I’ll have the chance to see that shield again someday! Hahahaha!”

The diplomat’s friendly smile contained warmth toward future talent. Cale smiled and stroked the back of his head, following his expression.

weird.
That’s strange.

Even though Cale thought he would never have to use a shield, the back of his neck kept getting cold.

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