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Chapter 23

“How much straw does Thunder even eat?” Fernaha Glencia grumbled.

“Warhorses normally eat a lot,” Ferhana’s aide, Argen Stugall, responded.

“If she is a lord of a territory that is even concerned with how much a warhorse eats, then there is no reason for her to cling on to that knight, right?”

“Though there are no hunting grounds in the estate, nobles are known to keep one or two hunting dogs.”

(T/N: I guess, he wasn’t talking about the literal hunting dogs, but dogs that refer to people under them who obey their orders. )

There are many nobles who have pedigree hunting dogs, but few of them really enjoy hunting. They just want to brag about their hounds. Understanding what Argen had said, Fernaha complained.

“If you sell that hound at a good price, wouldn’t there be a lot of nobles selling theirs?”

“Well, no one would refuse it,” the aide responded.

The two were sitting in the guest room where Fernaha was staying. They said it was a guest room, but it was less than half the size of Fernaha Glencia’s room in the Glencia Estate. It was known that the Marquess Glencia was poor, yet even though Fernaha Glencia grew up in such circumstances, this room was still a bit harsh for him.

To be honest, the tapestry looked like it had been used for 50 years. While the bedding still smelled good as it was made with newly ground straw this year, the problem is it was made of straw. It was clear that the Luden estate is in some degree of poverty.

“This is annoying,” Fernaha Glencia grumbled, “I think I should rip off that blanket and feed it to the horses when I get home.”

“I’m not sure. If that happens, I think a bill would arrive at the Glencia Estate from here.”

Fernaha frowned as he imagined, and somehow it seemed like Reinhardt would be the type of person to do that.

“I didn’t take her lightly just because she was the deposed Crown Queen, but… it was surprising how she was so different from what I imagined.”

(T/N: If you’re wondering why Fernaha Glencia referred to Reinhardt as the ‘deposed Queen’, it was because she was supposed to be the Queen after she married the Crown Prince Mikhail Allanquez. I think that when she came back before stabbing him on his leg, she was to formally receive her title as the Queen, but he divorced her. Well anyways, this is a lengthy explanation but I hope that somehow clarifies something.)

“I was surprised too.”

It had been less than four years since the former Crown Princess stabbed Crown Prince Mikhail Allanquez, who had asked for a divorce. At that time, Fernaha Glencia was on his way to the capital instead of Marquess Glencia to pay tribute to the news of Hu Linke’s death.

The funeral of the general, Hu Linke, would take about 10 days to complete, so Fernaha Glencia had leisurely passed through the gates of the capital. But when he arrived at the capital, not only did he hear about General Line’s funeral, but also how the Crown Prince had become crippled. He was embarrassed.

‘Who would have known that I would pay the Crown Prince a visit on my way to pay tribute to the general.’

Even the Crown Prince couldn’t visit him properly. Anyway, she was kicked out to a remote area because she stabbed the person who wanted to divorce her….

“I thought she might just be a stupid woman who only thinks about what’s in front of her right now.”

“Yes,” his aid agreed, “I didn’t know she was going to be a miser.”

“It’s more like a person pretending to be an old man rather than an old man.”

Fernaha scratched the bridge of his nose.

“If she had said it the noble way, ‘Please go back because I am feeling uncomfortable,’ then I think I could continue staying for another month or so. But if she said that it was because it was hard to feed a warhorse, then I can’t help but feel embarrassed.”

“It would be ridiculous to say that you should pay for what your warhorse had eaten.”

“She didn’t even tell me the price of what my horse ate.”

Usually, nobles pay for their stay when they are in a poor land. However, in this case, Marquess Glencia had an image to maintain, so instead of offering only a 100 Allanquez, he paid at least 5,000 Allanquez to save face. Of course, Marquess Glencia is a person who wouldn’t blink at that amount.

“She probably didn’t bring that subject up to get that money.”

“Though she looks like a person who would be swayed by anything you say,” Argen laughed.

Fernaha agreed and laughed. Anyway, she wasn’t a good woman.

Reinhardt Delphina Linke.

She became engaged to the Crown Prince at the age of 12 then entered the Imperial Palace at 18. She served as the Crown Princess for another six years, but there were no unusual circumstances. Mikhail Allanquez and his father, the Emperor, used her as an excuse to kill Hu Linke.

Hu Linke was a general to the Empire’s people, and he was also well-received by some nobles. Even in the case of Marquess Glencia, who was also a military commander, Hu Linke hadn’t retreated from the front line even though he’s more than 60 years old.

In any case, Reinhardt Delphina Linke wasn’t a woman whom the people of the Empire were impressed with or had a strong dislike towards. He heard that she and the Crown Prince didn’t have any communication with each other, but that wasn’t a big problem as all the married couples of the Imperial Family were like that. What was surprising, however, was when she stabbed the Crown Prince.

But when he actually met he deposed Queen….

“She’s been through everything… that’s right, just like my mother.”

“You mean Madame Papier? Isn’t that a great disrespect for a young woman….” Argen said, carefully choosing his words.

Madame Papier, also known as the Marchioness of Glencia, came from the Kingdom of Aloa and was a great heroine.

As a warrior who didn’t lose to Marquess Glencia, she personally led troops on several occasions but is currently recuperating due to the injury on her arm she got from the battlefield. Still, she had immense charisma and spirit.

“Well, I don’t think she had the same scary impression as my mother….” Fernaha bit his lips.

“No, she had more than that,” Argen refuted.

That Reinhardt woman looked like someone who is less than 30 years old, but somehow she seemed like an old lady who was able to keep up negotiations and kick people out with ease using her experience and wisdom. This was especially clear when she had kicked him out and cut him off.

“How come I felt like I was talking to someone who already lived a long time? She cut me off quite powerfully….”

There was another reason why the freckled young man’s nickname is ‘Glencia’s Fox’. Since the Glencia Estate is the same as the central point in the north, there are naturally many things that need to be removed from the surrounding area. It was Fernaha Glencia who was in charge of such negotiations.

Fernaha already met with other older Madams and the majority of them usually handle the housekeeping, which was the opposite for young Madams, who would shift the responsibility or avoid difficult proposals. But this was his first time meeting with someone like Reinhardt.

“I was cut off like that, I don’t have anything else to say.”

“What would you like to do?”

“What do you think? I think I should bring my sister’s portrait and try again!” he shouted cheerfully.

The third daughter of Marquess Glencia was very pretty but resembled Madame Papier’s temperament.

“Isn’t Sir Wilhelm unfit for her?”

“What do you know? It’s not your wedding.”

“Rather than the marriage concerning Sir Wilhelm, I’m saying this because I think Young Master’s life will be in more danger….”

If someone hadn’t knocked on the door, the topic of their conversation would’ve turned to the hundred ways his younger sister could kill him for the unwanted marriage. However, the knock was too loud for Argen and Fernaha to pay more attention to the resentment his younger sister would have.

“Who is it?” the son of Marquess Glencia called out.

They thought it was only the maid or the old lady, and they would be called to dinner and come for the potato soup, but what they heard behind the doors was unexpected.

“This is Wilhelm.”

Fernaha had wide eyes as he whispered to Argen. “What is it? Is this the beginning of an exciting secret meeting? Wasn’t I rejected?”

“… It turned out that he refused you because he was in front of the Lord. In fact, he doesn’t have the heart to turn down Sir Glencia, right?”

Wilhelm had no reason to visit them. If there is, there would be only one and that is to negotiate the previous proposal he said in front of the Lord of Luden again. Fernaha put his hand on his chest with a bright face and told Argen, “I am so excited right now.”

“Stop sniffing your nose and I will open the door.”

The young man swept his scarlet hair back and pretended to sigh. Argen then got up from his chair and opened the door, allowing Wilhelm to enter.

“Excuse me,” Wilhelm said at the entrance of the room.

“Oh, Sir Wilhelm. Did you… cut your hair?” Fernaha Glencia asked.

When he met him earlier in front of the lord, his hair was still tied just as he had seen on the battlefield, but it has now disappeared. Fernaha waved his hands and lightly gave praise.

“Wow, your tall figure really does stand out. Very good!”

“Thank you.”

“Oh, dear. You still answer with short words.”

Fernaha smiled and lightly pushed Wilhelm inside, then closed the door. Wilhelm entered the guest room and stood there, while Fernaha stood with his back to the door and smiled.

“I heard from the Lord, but I guess the Luden Estate is in a very dire situation. This was true as you, Sir, came here to invite us to dinner instead of a maid.”

“… No.”

“What, it isn’t that? I thought those were the only things left for Sir Wilhelm to do.”

The man shuddered. ‘I was just being frank to you and repeating what I had said earlier since you came all the way here.’

Wilhelm’s forehead faintly frowned, then the corners of his mouth rose.

“I really wish it was something like that.”

“…… No, it isn’t.”

Fernaha laughed playfully. Wilhelm smiled as well, but Argen pouted his lips like a catfish. This was dangerous as the smile doesn’t reach Wilhelm’s eyes.

‘Ah, his character is really no joke,’ Argen thought.

Argen knew Wilhelm roughly. This is because he was in the same unit as Wilhelm at the beginning of the war.

The trouble Wilhelm made was the kind that was hard to fathom from an ordinary person’s point of view, so that made his actions even more memorable. Being in the same unit as him, Argen observed him diligently to avoid catching his attention. Thus, Argen had noticed what kind of expression Wilhelm has now.

That’s the expression that boy makes when he was pissed off.

Argen blinked rapidly.

‘Young Master, you are seeing it wrong. What will happen if you made a wrong move?’

As his longtime aide, Fernaha roughly understood Argen’s gaze and winked lightly.

‘Does it mean that this is a good sign? Good! I will preach to him about the beauty of my younger sister!’

‘No!’

Argen groaned urgently. ‘No, what’s the use of being your aide when you don’t even understand me?’

In any case, the distance between them and Wilhelm was too close that the man naturally noticed them making exchanging glances at each other.

“I don’t think I know what your relationship is with each other,” Wilhelm said in a very sarcastic tone, “but it seems like I must have interrupted your sweet time judging by how you secretly winked at each other.”

“No!”

“No!”

It was outright sarcasm, but it was enough to make Fernaha and Argen indignant. Fernaha shouted again.

“I like women!” the Marquess’ son exclaimed.

“Even if I like all the men in the world, I wouldn’t like Young Master!”

“Why are you going to that extent? Do you like guys more?”

“No, I didn’t mean it like that! I like girls!”

After the awkward conversation, there was a moment of silence. Wilhelm tilted his head slightly.

“If you both need to come to an agreement on sexuality and the loyalty between the two of you, I will come back a little later,” Wilhelm offered with a clear smirk on his face.

“No need,” Fernaha replied as he slapped his forehead in embarrassment. “What did you come for?”

Although he felt a bit embarrassed and awkward, this little disturbance might actually make it better if this man had any thoughts of joining Glencia. Fernaha felt there was a flicker of hope and smiled. Wilhelm smiled as well, though it was a slightly different smile from him.

“I’m here to make a deal.”

As expected! Fernaha clenched his fists inwardly.

He heard of him in passing from Dietrich, who was already dead, that Wilhelm lived as a wild man before he was saved by the Lord and appointed as a knight.

‘Perhaps it would be a bit awkward to say that he wanted to go to Glencia in front of the Lord he was indebted to. So he secretly came and find me….’

“As expected, Glencia’s conditions are much better, right? My younger sister is also pretty haha.”

But his aide felt ominous. That bastard obviously had a sarcastic face, what kind of deal would he be offering?

As a result, Argen’s prediction was correct.

Wilhelm raised his chin and said with a cold expression that he had never shown before in front of Reinhardt.

“I am not interested in your sister.”

“…… Oh. It could happen definitely happen. But still….”

“And I have no intention of belonging to Glencia.”

What, then why are you here? Fernaha almost made the same catfish mouth expression as Argen a while ago. Before Fernaha could make that same expression, he remembered his reputation as ‘Glencia’s Fox’ so he pursed his lips. Wilhelm continued.

“I know Glencia’s purpose. I will make it happen.”

Fernaha’s jaw almost fell out.

“But the condition is that you come under me.”

Argen closed his eyes. He knew Wilhelm was a cunning little bastard.

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