Chapter 186
Chapter 186: From Now On, We Advance at Full Speed (3)
Marquis Branford paused for a moment before asking again.
“War, you say? With whom?”
“Count Cabaldy from the Duke Faction.”
Branford seemed to realize something, and a small laugh escaped his lips.
“Oh, so Count Cabaldy attacked Penris for food, did he?”
“….”
The knight could only remain silent before the Marquis, who stubbornly refused to face reality despite hearing reports of Baron Penris instigating war. Instead, he hurriedly passed over a written report.
Days had already passed since the war began. Thanks to various merchant groups and informants in the North, the news was spreading rapidly.
“….”
As Marquis Branford scanned the report, the color drained from his face. At the moment, both the Duke Faction and the Crown Prince Faction needed to tread carefully. There was nothing to be gained from conflict.
If a civil war erupted now, both sides would suffer irreparably.
Just moments ago, he had urged the nobles to be cautious. Yet, the reckless fool had gone and started a war.
A major disaster at that.
Living a dignified life, this was the first time Marquis Branford muttered a curse.
“That crazy bastard….”
“What?”
“Uh, no, nothing.”
Branford pressed his forehead. Every time he heard news about that fool, a headache would strike.
The nobles in the conference room were just as flustered, unsure of what to do.
“W-what is happening? Baron Penris starting a war! Against the Duke Faction, no less!”
“I told you not to support such a fool! War in this situation? That’s completely insane, isn’t it?”
“We should catch him immediately and check if he weighs the same as a duck!”
The conference room quickly descended into chaos with the nobles’ shouting.
Marquis Branford was deep in thought, nearly losing his mind.
This was the most troublesome situation he had ever encountered in his life.
‘What should I do? Was he really just a madman after all?’
He had known he was reckless and funny, but he still thought there was something hidden beneath it all.
Thanks to Ghislaine, the ongoing drought hadn’t reached its worst potential.
But judging by what he was doing now, no sane person could be this mad.
Touching a noble from the Duke Faction? This was a time when they needed to do everything possible to prevent a civil war, and he couldn’t even see the situation?
As the Marquis mulled over this, the nobles in the room began to express their frustrations even more violently.
“We must expel Baron Penris from the faction and cut ties with him!”
“We should clarify to the Duke’s faction that this is definitely not our will!”
“The Minister of the Interior should withdraw his guardian’s position! We shouldn’t care if that fool lives or dies!”
“That bastard must be a dark mage! Let’s catch him right now and check!”
Still, Marquis Branford kept his eyes shut and said nothing. The ringing in his ears and the dizziness made it hard for him to hear what anyone was saying.
He felt his insides boiling.
‘Should I step back from this?’
It wouldn’t be difficult to withdraw from this situation. It was humiliating, but if he compensated the Duke’s faction sufficiently and abandoned Ghislaine, it would all end.
The Duchess would handle it. Perhaps Perdium would go down with her, but it wouldn’t escalate beyond that.
Of course, the Marquis, who had invested an immense amount of money in cosmetics, would suffer a major blow, and his authority would plummet.
Still, if it could save many lives, that level of damage would be worth it.
‘Should I really abandon him?’
At that moment, Marquis Branford recalled what Ghislaine had said.
— “Please present me as a representative of the North.”
— “Count Desmond is a suspicious person. Perhaps we are both enemies of the same man.”
‘Count Cabaldy holds the largest iron mine in the North.’
‘And he trades often with Desmond.’
‘Desmond might be in cahoots with the Duke’s faction.’
Something felt like it was becoming clear. While he couldn’t be certain, at least it didn’t seem like Ghislaine had whimsically started a war.
‘I can’t abandon the North’s influence.’
If he were to give up Ghislaine, the Crown Prince Faction would never set foot in the North again.
The first time is always hard, but if you start conceding little by little, eventually you’ll lose influence everywhere and be pushed back.
Abandoning Ghislaine was tantamount to abandoning the North. It was a dead-end.
‘That bastard… could he have foreseen this and made me his guardian?’
If so, Ghislaine truly was a formidable opponent. It meant he was already plotting chaos when he requested the guardianship.
It was infuriating, but that wasn’t the time to split hairs.
‘The only person who can intervene is me.’
I have to somehow prevent the Duke’s intervention. It must be framed as a justified fight between two territories, distancing both sides.
No matter how this turns out, it was time for him to take charge and manage the situation.
With his resolve firm, Marquis Branford opened his eyes and spoke slowly.
“I will not abandon Baron Penris.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“If that happens, we’ll all die!”
“You’re saying a civil war could break out!”
Even against the nobles’ uproar, Marquis Branford remained unfazed and coldly replied.
“And so? Are you saying we should expel our own ally out of fear of a fight with the Duke’s faction? If that happens, what will we concede next? If we abandon Baron Penris, what will be left for us? Do you think anyone would still trust and follow us?”
“….”
The nobles fell silent and could not refute.
Branford was right; in the end, it would look absurd to purge allies out of fear of enemies. No matter the justification, if they cast out Ghislaine, the nobles who had been watching would start slipping away one by one.
Even if they wanted to, they couldn’t abandon him. Baron Penris had started a war at a remarkably timely moment.
Seeing the anxious nobles, Marquis Branford spoke in a slightly softened tone.
“I will not allow the Crown Prince faction’s interference. I will block the Duke’s faction’s intervention. Penris and Cabaldy will fight with legitimate reasons. If Baron Penris loses, it can’t be helped.”
The report contained a rationale that was, while forced, somewhat logical.
If they framed it as a personal feud instead of a faction conflict, there might be a chance to prevent Duke intervention.
Since Marquis Branford had taken the reins, the remaining nobles could only nod quietly, unable to voice their dissatisfaction.
Except for one person, who held authority equal to that of the Marquis.
Maurice shot up from his seat, glaring at Marquis Branford.
“So, you intend to protect that brat? We might suffer significant losses!”
“Is it okay to interpret this as you saying the Supreme Commander of the Kingdom Army is afraid of the Duke’s faction and wants to back off?”
At Branford’s provocation, Maurice’s lips twitched several times, then he continued with a fierce glare.
“After sweeping away the Duke’s faction, if that brat is still alive, I will surely confirm if he weighs the same as a duck. Then I’ll personally take his head.”
“When that time comes, do as you please.”
“Just in case, I’ll prepare my army.”
With that, Maurice turned sharply and left. The nobles from the same faction followed suit.
The meeting ended, but Marquis Branford could not rest easy.
The very next day, someone sent by the Duke’s faction arrived.
Marquis Branford barely managed to hide his fatigue as he welcomed him.
“Welcome. Count Proud.”
Count Proud was one of the nobles who primarily handled crucial diplomatic affairs for the Duke’s faction.
If Raoul is the head of the Duke’s faction, Count Proud is its mouthpiece.
Sending someone of that caliber showed just how seriously the Duke’s faction was taking the situation.
After exchanging proper greetings, Count Proud got straight to the point.
“Baron Penris has attacked members of the Duke’s faction. Can this be regarded as the will of the Crown Prince faction as a whole?”
Count Proud took a strong stance right from the beginning. He knew it wasn’t the Crown Prince faction’s will.
‘Baron Joseph sees this as that brat’s impulsive action. The Crown Prince faction wants more than anything to avoid a civil war right now.’
“The Lame Demon” Raoul had met Ghislaine. After conversing with him directly, he had deemed Ghislaine a hotheaded young man.
Such individuals often make mistakes as they act on impulse. Just as Raoul had predicted, Ghislaine had taken the drastic step of war.
Seeing this opportunity, the Crown Prince faction aimed to distance themselves from Ghislaine and knock down Perdium and Penris.
Count Proud, who had been staying in the capital, had come straight to Marquis Branford for this purpose.
‘And get a hefty reward in the process.’
With a confident smile, Count Proud received the sluggish response from Marquis Branford.
“I have already permitted it.”
“Is that so? He acted on his own… Huh? What did you just say?”
“I said I allowed it.”
Count Proud was taken aback and held his tongue.
Raoul’s predictions had always been right, so he had never considered this scenario.
‘W-what is happening? Marquis Branford allowed it? Is he insane?’
Up until now, the plan the Crown Prince faction laid out had been simple. There was nothing to hide. The only goal was to suppress the civil war from happening.
Moreover, Marquis Branford was a calculating politician. He loathed working on instinct and only judged based on practical matters.
Even among allies, he would clear away anyone who became a nuisance, and there was no way he would side with that brat just because he was assigned a guardian.
Count Proud couldn’t comprehend the situation at all and stammered as he spoke.
“Wh-what do you mean by allowing a war in these difficult times?”
“Baron Penris and Count Cabaldy had personal grievances. It was an appropriate reason. The Duke’s faction must have received the news by now?”
“Even so, there are appropriate times for such actions! Does this mean you’re willing to take the risk of a civil war?”
“A civil war? Are you saying Count Proud is dreaming of treason?”
At Branford’s cold gaze, Count Proud flinched.
Even though he was backed by the Duke’s faction, he was facing one of the kingdom’s greatest powers.
“You know that’s not what I meant, right? But Count Cabaldy is our ally. We have no choice but to help him!”
“That’s impossible. There’s no justification for the Duke’s faction to get involved in a personal feud. We are monitoring the situation because we have no justification to intervene. If the Duke’s faction intervenes, we won’t stay silent either.”
Count Proud gritted his teeth at the firm response. He couldn’t comprehend the current state of affairs at all.
‘What’s happening? Why is he so bent on defending that brat? He’s just a kid from the North!’
He couldn’t leave it like this. He had to understand what Marquis Branford was thinking. So Count Proud pressed again, more aggressively.
“Are you truly thinking of resolving this by force? Do you believe you can? I’m aware that Your Grace has stocked up on plenty of food. But if both sides endure losses and make a move, which side do you think will gain the upper hand?”
“Are you threatening this man, Count?”
Marquis Branford’s expression twisted at Count Proud’s insolent remarks, already simmering with frustration from Ghislaine.
Originally, Marquis Branford wasn’t this emotionally volatile. But ever since getting involved with Ghislaine, his temper had been less controlled.
And so it was now. He wasn’t doing this because he wanted to help. That brat had created a situation that forced him to help.
Being forced into something he didn’t want to do naturally made him feel angry and wanted to explode.
Marquis Branford looked down at Count Proud with a cold expression and continued.
“If I send just your mouth to the Duke, my intentions will be clearly communicated.”
Under that chilling aura, Count Proud broke out into a cold sweat and lowered his head.
If Marquis Branford was indeed set on a civil war, he could take his own head right here and now.
He was someone who could do that.
“I… was just briefly excited and spoke out of turn. Please forgive me.”
“I accept it. You’re not like you used to be. You’ve become quite dull.”
Count Proud bit his lip, deciding to withdraw for the moment. If the Crown Prince faction truly backed Ghislaine, they would have no way to stop the Duke’s faction.
He would have to either poke his nose in or pretend not to notice; those were his only options.
‘This bunch is bound to get wiped out, but to act right now… what kind of strategy is brewing in that brat’s head?’
No one had predicted that the currently defensive royal family and Crown Prince faction would suddenly spring into action.
Especially during this tormenting time. What plan was it, traps were laid, or what were they aiming to accomplish? It was impossible to tell.
‘The Crown Prince faction also suffered greatly from the drought; how can they act so confidently? Are they trying to draw us into a trap?’
If they were laying a trap and biding their time, they would have to observe the situation.
‘But if Count Cabaldy loses, that would be problematic.’
Count Cabaldy’s territory, the largest iron production site in the North, was crucial for the Duke’s faction as well.
They had only slightly delayed support due to greater urgency, and now an unforeseen event had erupted.
‘Damn it, I never expected that brat would gather such forces using food as bait.’
Normally, he would have scoffed and ignored it. The armed troops operated by Count Cabaldy were among the strongest in the North. There was no way Penris could defeat them.
But right now, Count Cabaldy had no food. If they were surrounded, they would all starve to death.
While worrying over what to do, Count Proud asked Marquis Branford.
“Will the Crown Prince faction also promise to remain neutral and not intervene?”
“If they don’t intervene.”
“I understand. I will relay Your Grace’s intentions and we will maintain neutrality.”
“Then do so.”
As Count Proud turned away, a cruel glint flickered in his eye.
‘If Count Desmond acts, then it’ll all work out.’
Count Desmond had been feigning neutrality, preparing for any possible outcomes.
He was a clever man. Count Desmond would surely make quick judgments and take action before the Duke’s faction gave any orders.
After all, political relations are notoriously complex, so it would be easy to fabricate an appropriate justification for after winning the war.
‘Then the Crown Prince faction, not wanting to suffer losses, will have no choice but to withdraw.’
As he entertained these thoughts while escaping the grand battle, Branford’s languid voice sounded again.
“Do not forget my warning, Count. You must not intervene with either the Crown Prince faction or the Duke’s faction.”
Count Proud paused for a moment, then turned back, smiling broadly as he bowed his head.
“Is that what you’re saying? We will absolutely not intervene.”
With those final words, Count Proud completely exited the scene.
Even after Count Proud left, Marquis Branford kept his eyes closed, lost in thought.
And once again, Ghislaine’s words resurfaced.
— “Count Desmond is a suspicious individual.”
If the Grand Duke, Count Desmond, truly was an agent of the Duke’s faction, he could strike from behind Penris under the pretense of aiding Count Cabaldy.
And if that happened, both Penris and Perdium would be doomed.
The outcome was predictable. If the North completely fell under the Duke’s faction’s control, the Crown Prince faction would be under even greater pressure.
In no position right now could they afford to rely on other territories in the North.
‘There’s no guarantee he will win. Even if he loses, we lose the North; if we step back, we lose the North as well.’
After being relieved that the drought had led to stagnation, everything became complicated due to a reckless fool.
‘It seems a civil war is unavoidable.’
Sighing, Marquis Branford spoke with a determined tone.
“Butler.”
“Yes.”
“Inform Marquis Macquarie to move Baron Dorren’s 2nd Corps near Count Desmond’s territory and keep watch over it.”
“Are you saying….”
“Make monitoring and obstruction the priorities. However, if Count Desmond’s army attacks Baron Penris…”
After a brief silence, Marquis Branford continued with a chilly glare.
“Immediately relay orders to strike Count Desmond.”
Things were spiraling out of control.
