Chapter 18: The Marquis will discuss it with the next Count.

Translator: Soafp

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“Welcome, Ace-dono. Please have a seat.”

　I smiled and motioned for him to sit down. Ace was a man of great character and ability.

　I’ve heard reports that he often criticized Fiona for her disdain when he began to understand my position in the Zafing family.

“Thank you for your consideration. Marquis of Zafing.”

Ace thanked me for my offer and took a seat. The butler who had accompanied him stood behind him as if to protect him.

“Now, you wanted to apologize and discuss the future of the Serenity family.”

　He stood up and bowed deeply and profoundly to my words.

“I’ve come to apologize for the rudeness of the Serenity family to the Marquis of Zafing.”

“Fumu…… I accept your apology.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“So, ……, what about the future?”

　At my question, Ace shook his head with a wry smile on his face.

“Marquis of Zafing is very quick thinking.”

“Hoo. What do you mean?”

“The family’s apology is not over yet.”

“……”

　I understood what Ace had said. Unlike those idiots, Ace would have understood exactly what the transfer of Village of Erde meant. So I thought that he would offer compensation in exchange for the village of Erde.

“We will transfer the Lanegake mines owned by the Serenity in addition to the village of Erde.”

　I was struck speechless by Ace’s words. The transfer of the village of Erde was indeed a way to target the revenue from the Lanegake mine. But Ace said that he was going to transfer the Lanegake mine aswell. It would be difficult not to be surprised.

“Do you know what you’re talking about, Ace-dono?”

“Of course I do.”

“It is true that I ordered the transfer of the village of Erde from Count of Serenity … in order to reduce the revenue from the Lanegake mine and damage the economic situation of the family.”

“I know.”

　Ace immediately responded to my outrageous words without being disturbed at all. There was no flicker of emotion in his appearance. I suppose the fact that he didn’t have any emotional turmoil at all when he was told of the attack on his home is because he was expecting this.

“If you take over the village of Erde, the Lanegake Mine will be nothing but a hindrance to the Serenity, so we decided it would be better to cut it off.”

“I see. …… And you want to sell us the know-how of running the mine?”

“No. What I want is for those who work in the mine to continue to be employed.”

“Hoo…..”

“And of course, I will make sure that those who work in the mines do so without any animosity towards the Zafings family.”

“Fumu…… I appreciate that offer.”

“Then the transfer of the Lanegake mine has been concluded.”

“But I didn’t expect you to offer such good prices.”

“It’s the only way for the Serenity family to survive, so there’s no time to hold back.”

“I see.”

　I briefly responded to Ace’s words. The current situation of the Serenity family is infinitely worse, Leon and Fiona’s marriage will take place after the execution of Ghazel and Armada. It’s a shame for a nobleman to marry the son of a former assassin of the Marquis of Zafing, because it would mean that the Serenity family would be enemies with the Zafing family, and it would be an abomination for a nobleman to marry an attempted usurper.

“Ace-dono, just so you know, I have no intention of revoking Leon and Fiona’s marriage.”

“Of course not.”

“Hoo…… are you sure you’re transferring the Lanegake Mine so the Serenity can survive?”

“No, as I told you earlier, the transfer of the mine is our sincere response to the folly of our family this time. After such a foolish act, I knew that the Marquis of Zafing would not be satisfied even if we offered him something half-hearted, and that’s why we transferred the Lanegake Mine to you.”

“I see. That’s good. I don’t intend to revoke their marriage in exchange.”

“Of course not. A nobleman should never be lenient when being underestimated is the end.”

“Fu……”

“Now that the apology has been made and accepted, let’s talk about the future of the Serenity family.”

　The tension emanating from Ace clearly increased.

　Giorg also braced himself for what was apparently about to happen. He was in a far better position, but Giorg knew that did not mean absolute certainty.

　Furthermore, Ace is not a person to be taken lightly.

“I’ll be straight to the point. Would you like to buy my house, the Serenity family?”

“All right.”

“Eh”

“What’s the matter? Isn’t that what you asked for?”

　My reply seemed to have caught Ace off guard.

　Now, I have stopped Ace’s drive. It’s an opponent I can’t afford to lose control of.

“So what price do you have in mind for the Serenity family?”

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