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I stared at Hildegarde intently.

Without batting an eye, the woman who had just asked me to eliminate her husband was calmly sipping her tea.

Whether she was an ally or an enemy, one thing was clear…

‘She’s evil…’

Just like Tristan.

A twisted human who would abandon morality for their goals.

Definitely someone to be wary of.

I put on a relaxed expression with ‘Pride.’

“You make such a cruel request with such a calm face.”

“Do you think I’m a cruel woman?”

“No. I’ve seen far more cruel people than you. You don’t even come close.”

“……”

Hildegarde widened her eyes in surprise and looked at me.

She seemed to be trying to read something from my expression, but she probably couldn’t see anything beyond ‘Pride.’

Suddenly, she burst into laughter.

“Kukuk… You really are the son of William Ruelberta.”

“I am not William. Don’t compare me to that man.”

“Do you know that William said the exact same thing?”

William?

I couldn’t help but frown.

“Ah, what a shame. His eyes were so chilling that you couldn’t believe he was human. If only he hadn’t died so early—”

“Enough nonsense. What’s your reason for wanting to eliminate Gale?”

“Curious? I thought you wouldn’t care about the messy affairs of someone else’s family.”

“I don’t kill people without a reason. Whether I cooperate with you or not depends on hearing that reason first.”

“Well, fine. It’s nothing major, but Gale has started to catch on to my business.”

“Smuggling, huh?”

Hildegarde’s smuggling is outright illegal. If it became known that the Wolfbert Family, a member of the Seven Stars, was involved in smuggling, it would be a disaster.

Gale, the head of the family, wouldn’t just sit still.

“It took me a full 20 years to establish my business. I can’t let anyone interfere with that.”

“Even if that someone is your husband?”

“Yes.”

Without hesitation, she answered, then added, “Ah, if I had to break it down, that reason accounts for about half of why I want to eliminate him. The other half is personal, so I won’t go into detail.”

I took a moment to process this.

In the original story, Helga kills Gale out of resentment for desecrating her mother’s grave. After a brief period of chaos, the Wolfbert Family stabilizes again under Patrick’s leadership.

In a way, the story flows just fine without Gale.

‘Hmm…’

Moreover, the reason I bought Tangmar to prevent Gale’s death wasn’t because I thought Gale was a valuable character.

It was simply because I didn’t want Helga to commit the same sin as Tristan—killing her own flesh and blood.

I recalled the events from the Trial.

I knew exactly how Tristan felt when he pointed a gun at William’s head during his childhood. And I knew the future that awaited Tristan after he pulled the trigger.

Gale, while not as bad as William, isn’t exactly a great character either.

He’s competent as a naval commander, but as the head of a family and a father to his children, he’s almost incompetent… No, beyond incompetence, he’s a man who even hurt his own daughter, Helga.

To me, Gale is perhaps even more unlikable than Patrick.

So, there was no reason to refuse Hildegarde’s proposal.

“What do you think, Count? If you cooperate, I’ll help you when you take down the Emperor.”

“Hmm. That’s not a bad offer…”

“So, do you accept?”

“No.”

“Excuse me?”

Hildegarde probably thought I wanted to eliminate the Emperor due to the hostile relationship between the Ruelberta Family and the Imperial Family.

Given that Tristan in the original story did eliminate the Emperor, her assumption wasn’t entirely wrong.

But I’m not Tristan. I have no intention of eliminating the Emperor.

Of course, there was no need to reveal my true thoughts, so I spoke with a voice full of ‘Pride.’

“I don’t need your help to eliminate the Emperor, Hildegarde. Bringing down the Imperial Family is something the Ruelberta Family can handle on its own.”

“…You’re quite confident.”

“It’s not confidence. It’s just the truth.”

“Then what do you want? Money? Or a new trade route?”

“There are two things I want.”

I had already made up my mind.

Hildegarde leaned forward, as if ready to listen intently. Her alluring gesture made it hard to believe she was an older woman.

“Tell me, Count.”

“First, the island in Tangmar will remain under the Wolfbert Family’s control, as it has been. However, if you move the grave or disturb even a single grain of soil without my permission… I’ll build a hotel on it, or whatever I please.”

“Fine. What’s the second?”

“Isn’t the last day of this month the Wolfbert Family’s ‘Day of Beginning’?”

“Huh? Yes, but why…?”

“On that day, let my bodyguard knight participate in the ‘Head of House Duel.'”

“Excuse me…!?”

The Day of Beginning.

A yearly gathering of the Wolfbert Family to commemorate the day the current head took office.

Hildegarde, hearing my proposal, looked at me with a guarded expression.

“What are you trying to do? Why would your bodyguard knight participate in that?”

“She’s also Gale’s child. Doesn’t she have the right?”

“It’s not about her right. Are you trying to put your bodyguard knight… no, that illegitimate child, on the Wolfbert Family’s throne?”

Her reaction was understandable.

One of the Wolfbert Family’s absolute rules is that the strongest among the current head’s children becomes the next head. And the ‘Head of House Duel’ is where the current head defends their position against challenges from their children.

I calmly explained.

“Listen carefully. Have my bodyguard knight face Gale first. Gale is getting old, so he’ll tire out before even facing Patrick. Plus, in that setting, we can eliminate Gale in a legitimate way.”

“……So, you’re saying you’ll help my son, Patrick, ascend to the headship?”

“Yes. Isn’t that what you want?”

“It is. But that’s not a ‘definitive’ way to eliminate Gale, is it?”

“In return, you can humiliate Gale in front of your family. Besides, the Head of House Duel is a fight where the head stakes their life to defend their position. Even if Gale’s life is in danger during the duel, only the duelist can stop it.”

“……”

Hildegarde fell silent, seemingly deep in thought. She was probably weighing what would benefit her the most.

It didn’t take long for her to speak again.

“What if… what if your bodyguard knight wins?”

“Do you think Gale would lose to my bodyguard knight?”

“Hmm… No.”

So far, Patrick, Gale’s eldest son, has been recognized as the strongest among his children. But Patrick remains the heir because he hasn’t been able to completely defeat Gale.

In a way, it also shows just how strong Gale is.

“I don’t think that half-baked girl could beat Gale. In fact, I doubt she could even significantly weaken him. Even though he’s old, Gale is still formidable.”

“She’s fought in countless battles as my private soldier. She can definitely land some effective blows on Gale. And even if she loses, we can always find another way.”

“True…”

As I expected, Hildegarde was underestimating Helga, remembering her as the girl who lost her eyes in a magical accident years ago.

Knowing that Helga kills Gale in the original story, the outcome of the duel is practically predetermined.

The only uncertainty is whether Helga, driven by emotion, might kill Gale.

But… I’ll leave that to Helga. Just as Tristan in the original story had a choice, she should have one too.

The reason I made this proposal was to create that stage for Helga.

Finally, Hildegarde nodded.

“Alright. I accept both of your conditions, Count.”

“Good decision.”

“Let’s keep our families close from now on.”

She reached out her hand to me, but I remained still.

Even a friendly handshake was something my ‘Pride’ wouldn’t allow…

“You’re really just like William—”

“Let’s work well together.”

Damn it.

I reluctantly shook Hildegarde’s hand.

Inside, my ‘Pride’ was screaming.

Sorry, but I can’t help it. I absolutely refuse to be treated the same as William.

“Shall we head out now?”

“Hmm.”

After concluding our secret deal, the two of us stepped out quite amicably.

Yes. That was as far as the good vibes went.

The scene that should have greeted us was the room in the Chinese restaurant where we had just been…

“What… is going on here? Everyone?”

Even Hildegarde muttered in disbelief as the restaurant was in complete chaos.

The once appetizing-looking food was now spilled everywhere, and broken dishes were scattered all over.

And at the spot where the table had been, I saw Helga and Blanshe facing off against Patrick, making my head throb.

I definitely told them to behave…

 

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