Trash of the Count’s Family - Chapter 488

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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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“…The Deposed Princess has Bud as a hostage?”
-That is correct, young master.

Ron’s gentle smile failed to fully register in Kale’s mind.
Alberu, positioned midway up the stairs where the underground stone chamber remained hidden from Raon and Ron’s view, opened his mouth as he observed the lost-in-thought Kale.

“The current King of Molden, Elysnet I, ascended to the throne at the remarkably young age of thirty. And it’s said she wielded considerable influence in establishing Molden Kingdom as the powerhouse it is today through her exceptional leadership.”
-Indeed, Your Majesty.

Ron affirmed with a respectful bow.
Alberu leaned against the wall of the underground passage and continued.

“These days, many powerful figures across the Eastern Continent view Rowan as a second Molden.”

There was much talk of how Rowan Kingdom resembled Molden in that a young person had seized power, stepped into the forefront, and elevated the kingdom to prominence and strength.

“But there was one crucial difference.”
-The matter of succession, yes?

Alberu drew a wry smile and casually dropped the remark to Ron.

“You’re quite knowledgeable about Eastern Continental affairs.”
-It is nothing of great importance.

Ron tactfully retreated, feigning ignorance.
Alberu, who had been quietly observing this, continued. He was explaining to Kale.

“It’s said that Molden Kingdom originally had two royal succession candidates engaged in a rather brutal struggle for the throne.”
-Though Elysnet I always maintained the advantage, making it an ambiguous contest.
“Precisely.”

In intellect, martial prowess, noble family backing, followers, and capital—Elysnet held superiority in every aspect.

“Elysnet I demonstrated overwhelming dominance from beginning to end and inherited the throne. However, there was one moment when her younger sister, Princess Sophies, surged forward so dramatically that Elysnet I felt genuine alarm.”
“…Sophies.”

Kale murmured the name.

“That’s right. Princess Sophies. Unlike the other royals, she desperately tried to surpass Elysnet I. However, after losing the throne war, she has been living quietly. Being exiled, she has no choice but to live in obscurity.”

Unless one’s succession to the throne was established early, like Alberu, the fate of royals who fought to the end was predetermined.
Death or exile. In the case of exile, one had to live under constant surveillance like a ghost, never to be seen again.

“…In truth, I still don’t understand why Sophies would challenge Elysnet I.”

Elysnet I’s victory had been nearly certain.

“Moreover, the two of them are full sisters. Not even half-sisters.”
“Full sisters?”
“Yes. Because of that, Sophies couldn’t receive support from her maternal family either. Her mother’s side backed Elisne.”

Alberu tilted his head slightly to one side.
After hearing about the Molden Kingdom and the Illusionist from Kale last time, he had been gradually gathering information about the Molden Kingdom.

“Furthermore, the two of them had an excellent relationship until Sophies entered the succession war. In fact, even Sophies and Elisne’s maternal family don’t understand why she rebelled against her older sister.”
“…Is that so?”

A glimmer of interest flashed across Kale’s eyes. Alberu responded, observing Kale’s expression.

“It seems you felt the same thing I felt while telling you this.”

Alberu spoke, looking at Kale, Raon, and Ron.

“Doesn’t something feel off?”
“It certainly does.”

Kale thought of Bud.

“The Mercenary King, Bud, is not a careless man. He clearly said he would investigate the Molden Kingdom thoroughly, and if he approached Sophies, then she must have some secret.”
“Yes. Either a secret, or the key to unlocking one.”

A secret or a key.
Kale’s gaze turned toward the communication crystal’s screen.

“How did Bud end up being captured?”
-Based on what Gren Puff, who was observing from the rear, reported.

Ron relayed the circumstances of the incident through his account.

Gren Puff, Bud’s close friend and a supreme-tier Mage, had apparently tried to dissuade Bud from visiting Sophies’ Residence.

-However, given Bud’s stubborn nature, Gren Puff decided to support him from a distance instead, allowing Bud to enter the residence alone. And no matter how long they waited, Bud never returned.
Consequently, Gren found himself deliberating whether he should infiltrate the residence himself or contact the Mercenary Guild to seek aid from his allies.
According to that, Gren was reportedly troubled over whether he should infiltrate the Mansion himself or contact the Mercenary Guild to ask his allies for help.

“Was it from Bud’s communication device?”
-Yes. The incoming transmission came from Bud’s device, and Gren Puff immediately connected the call.
The communication came through On’s video communication channel, and Gren Puff immediately connected the video call, it seems.

Alberu interjected into the conversation.

-That’s correct.
That’s right.

He then activated a recording device and opened his mouth.
Then he soon activated a video storage device and opened his mouth.

This is a recording of the video call I received, and once you watch this video, you’ll immediately understand the situation.

The recording device emitted light as the stored footage unfolded.
Soon the video storage device glowed, and the stored footage unfolded.

“Hey human, it’s Bud!”

Kale furrowed his brow as he watched the unfolding screen.
Kale Heniatus furrowed his brow as he looked at the unfolded screen.

Ugh, ugh!

I had assumed that the residence of a Royal Family member who had engaged in fierce succession disputes would be of considerable scale, but it was a very small house.
I thought it would be a fairly substantial mansion since it was said to be the Mansion of the Royal Family that had fiercely fought over the throne, but it turned out to be a very small house.

Alberu’s voice was heard.

“Well, it’s the house of an exiled and defeated Royal Family, so it makes sense they wouldn’t give us a good Mansion.”

The room was called modest, but what appeared on the screen was quite worn and somewhat sparse.
The room contained an old but clean bed and several bookshelves, their shelves lined with well-thumbed volumes.

-Mmph, mmph!

And on that old but clean bed.

-Mmph, mmph!

Bud was struggling desperately.
His hands and feet were naturally bound with rope, and a gag was stuffed in his mouth.
He writhed back and forth while watching the video communication device, attempting to say something, but the gag prevented any sound from reaching us.

-Oh my.

Then a woman’s voice came through the video.

The room contained a bed and bookshelves, along with a small table and two chairs.
Old wooden chairs and table.
The woman seated in one of those chairs offered a faint smile.

-The tea tastes quite good.

The woman drinking tea from a wooden cup appeared both humble and refined.

-Human! She reminds me of the Duchess!

Just as Raon said, the moment I saw Sophies, Duchess Viollan came to mind.
Though Sophies was far younger than her, the hair pulled back without a single strand out of place and the elegant manner in which she sipped her tea.
The refined grace that emanated from her expression and bearing made her stand out.

Despite being in exile, she wore faded gray clothing, yet she carried an elegant and dignified atmosphere as though she were enjoying a brief tea time in the Royal Palace’s office.

Especially her voice as she spoke of the tea’s fine taste—it overflowed with nobility.
There was not the slightest hint of a defeated person about her.

Honestly, she possessed more kingly dignity than Alberu. I found myself glancing at Alberu without realizing it.

“What? What’s with that disrespectful look?”

Kale Heniatus quietly averted his gaze and opened his mouth.

“She’s not someone to be taken lightly.”
“…True.”

Alberto agreed with that assessment.
Sophies looked every bit as formidable as the words suggested.
And with her next words, Kale Heniatus was certain.

Clink.
She set down her teacup with an elegant gesture and spoke.
A smile—refined and dignified—graced her lips.

-Indeed, tea tastes remarkably pleasant when savored after capturing a single person.

Ah.
Kale Heniatus was certain now.

She was truly not someone to be taken lightly.

-Human! Bud must be some kind of fool for entering the Dragon Rare alone!

I didn’t bother refuting Raon’s words.
Kale Heniatus couldn’t fathom how Sophies, a deposed royal candidate, had managed to capture and restrain Bud—a Sword Master who possessed even the power of the Ancient Powers.
Especially now, Sophies remained utterly composed, not a single bead of perspiration marring her dignity.

Then, from within the video feed, Gren’s voice came through as they exchanged communications.

-My, does he have an accomplice?

At that moment, Bud shook his head with a groan.
Simultaneously, an elegant voice rang out.

-Who would aid a deposed royal with nothing to offer? They say the Mercenary King’s clever friend, yet your mind doesn’t work at all?

Kale Heniatus heard Alberu’s voice.

“…Wow…. I wish I could learn how to speak like that.”

Indeed.
Sophies spoke with an elegant tone, employing quite refined vocabulary.

-I want to learn too!

Kale shook his head at Raon.
Go ahead and learn. But there are no snacks for you.

At that very moment, Gren’s voice reached us.

-…You know who I am?
-How could I not? You two were already a famous duo before I was stuck out here in this rural backwater farming away. Do I look like a blockhead to you?

A subtle smile.
An elegant smile bloomed on Sophies’ lips like a painting.

-Well, that’s…

Gren’s flustered voice followed.

-Anyway, what matters now isn’t who you are, is it?

Despite having been defeated and exiled, Sophies had lived as royalty for so long that she continued to address Gren with formal speech.
Kale observed the image of Sophies intently.

In that instant, Sophies’ eyes in the image turned directly forward, and I met her gaze.
Her lips parted.

-I heard you came because you wanted to know the secrets of Molden Royal Palace.

Damn. That idiot! He said that and still got caught?
Gren’s muttering reached us.
Regardless, I continued to watch Sophies.

Though she smiled with grace, her eyes had never—not once until now—laughed along with it.
Instead, they observed Gren with a chilling coldness.

I heard Alberu’s muttering beside me.

“Someone who lost to Elisne except for a single opportunity throughout their entire life?”

No, that wasn’t it.
Kale Heniatus was looking at something else.
Alberto muttered the same observation.

“Those aren’t the eyes of someone destined to remain imprisoned after defeat.”
“Exactly.”

Kale Heniatus nodded in agreement.
Sophies’ gaze was not that of someone crushed by defeat and despair, nor of one who had lost all hope or resigned themselves to their fate.

They were the eyes of someone honing themselves, waiting for their chance.
Her lips parted.

-The Mercenary King would have no reason to suddenly want to know the secrets of Molden’s Royal Palace. In fact, he shouldn’t even know that Molden harbors secrets at all. Someone must be standing behind him.

Despite watching a recorded image, Kale Heniatus felt as though he were facing her directly, conversing with her in real time.
The tea she had sipped grew cold in her cup.
Sophies’ eyes fixed forward.

-The one standing behind him is someone who has dimly grasped what the secrets of Molden’s Royal Palace truly are.

Standing with unwavering composure, she spoke to Kale Heniatus.

-So I speak to you, who stands behind the Mercenary King.

She had not contacted Gren.
She had spoken to the one standing behind the Mercenary King—to that unknown person.

-If you wish to know the secret, come here at once.

She had invited that person to her residence.

-You must come quickly. If you’re late—

Her hand gestured elegantly toward one side.

-The Mercenary King’s head might explode.
-Ugh, ugh!

The Mercenary King shuddered as he watched Sophies’ hand pointing at me.
But Kale had no time to observe the Mercenary King.

A subtle smile played across her lips.
She wore an expression of refined elegance.

-And nothing comes for free.

The eyes of one who had honed herself while waiting for opportunity gleamed with intensity.

-Let’s make a deal.

And then the video ended.

“Interesting, isn’t it?”

At the same time, the corners of Kale’s mouth rose.
She looked at Ron on the screen again and asked.

“Where is Sophies’ Residence?”

Where was she currently exiled to?
The landscape visible through her room’s window showed a rugged mountain.
At that moment, Ron’s mouth opened.

-It’s the most treacherous place in the Molden Kingdom.

Kale’s expression became peculiar.
The Molden Kingdom. A nation located in the heart of the Eastern Continent, known for its flat plains and wide roads that had fostered commerce and transportation.
There was only one terrain of such harshness in that realm.

“That’s the Molden Mountain Range, isn’t it?”

The Molden Mountain Range.
Within it stood the Molan Family Estate, Ron’s ancestral home.
The mountain range where that location existed—the one that had been a secret base of Dark until recently, now reclaimed.

-That is correct. Sophies is currently exiled in a quiet rural village near the base of the Molden Mountain Range.

The mountain visible from outside Sophies’ room was one of the ridges of the Molden Mountain Range.

Kale began ascending the underground passage stairs once more.
Ron spoke to him as he did.

-Young master, I shall await your return.

The World Tree Elf Village. Three days remained until I could meet Adite and the World Tree again there.
During part of that time, I had met the spirit summoner Solly and come to see Alberto. Yet considerable time still remained of those three days.

“I’ll be back within thirty minutes.”
-Very good. I shall prepare lemon tea for the first time in a while.

A slight tremor ran through my shoulders.
Ron smiled with benevolent warmth.

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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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