Chapter 5: I’m going to hit them one way or the other.

“Eh?”

“Current?”

　Not only the Count and Countess Serenity, but the others as well, could not hide their confusion.

“I have recently turned sixteen and have reached the age of adulthood. And with that, I became the Marquis of Zafing.”

“N-no way…..”

“Eh, what the”

“When my mother Elphil, the former Marquis of Zafing, died, I was only 11 years old……. I was not allowed to take over the title of Marquis of Zafing because I had not yet reached the age of sixteen. My mother made it a rule that in case of her death, Ghazel would be the acting Marquis, and when I turned sixteen, all authority would be transferred to me, the current Marquis.”

“……”

　All of them can’t utter a single word at my words. It was impossible not to be perplexed by the fact that the man they had despised so much was in a much higher position than they are.

“Now, are you aware of the situation? Count Serenity.”

“Y-yes”

“Fumu, since Count Serenity is a bit unfamiliar with the hierarchy of our country, let me tell you something. A Marquis is not necessarily lower in rank than a count.”

“O-of course. Of course I know that.”

“Hoo, ……, since you threw those rude words at me, the Marquis, I was worried that you didn’t know what you were talking about.”

“I-I sincerely apologize.”

　The Count of Serenity apologized to me with a pale face. The Countess hurried to follow suit.

“I don’t mind. People who think such lowly things as usurpation. Considering that, I should think that this level of disrespect is to be expected.”

“O-Of course.”

“I was hoping to build a good relationship with the Serenity, but it’s a shame. For the time being, I’ll start by cutting off all communication with Serenity.”

“Wha.”

“N-No way”

　At my declaration, the Count and Countess of Serenity’s faces suddenly lost their vitality. The Marquis of Zafing and the Count of Serenity are adjacent to each other, and it is impossible to reach the royal capital without passing through the Marquis of Zafing. If they wanted to get to the capital without passing through the Marquis’ domain, they would have to make a large detour.

　For this reason, the relationship with the Marquis of Zafing is essential for the Count of Serenity. It was probably based on Fiona’s information that I did not have the potential to become the next Marquis.

“I can’t hope to have friendly relations with a house that is planning to usurp me.”

“F-Forgive us!!”

　The Count of Serenity knelt there and clung desperately to me. A little later, the Countess knelt down, as well as her husband.

　When Fiona saw her parents kneel to me, she began to shake.

“Please!!”

“Please forgive us!! We have been foolish!! The Marquis of Zafing is right to be angry!! However, if the Marquis territory is blocked, the Serenity territory will be dried up in no time!! Please!! Please have mercy!!”

“The Marquis family has nothing to lose by cutting off ties with the Serenity Counts.”

“N-No way…..T-That’s it!! Engage with Fiona again!”

　Count Serenity had come to his senses and asked me to get engaged to Fiona again. In a sense, he is in a state of mind that he is trapped to that extent.

“The Countess of Serenity will be married to my stepbrother Leon. This has been decided. The Marquis of Zafing has nothing to do with this marriage, so it has nothing to do with me.”

“T-then……”

“Count Serenity, if you wish to be associated with the Marquis of Zafing, you will have to pay a reasonable price.”

“P-price?”

“The village of Erde, I want it.”

“…… Why? Why would you want such a village?”

“It is of great value to me. Count Serenity will find nothing of value in it.”

“What are you….”

“How about it? Hand over the village of Erde? Or not?”

“I…..I understand”

“I’m glad. I’ll have a transfer agreement drawn up right away.”

I broke off my conversation with Count Serenity at this point and turned my gaze to Viscount Kalmais and Viscount Edior. The two men shuddered as they met my gaze.

“I’ll let you guys off with this, but you’re not so easy.”

“P-Please wait!!”

“What is it? Viscount Edior? I’m interested in what the Viscount wants to say to me, even if you have to interrupt me.”

　Viscount Edior bit his back teeth grimly at my words.

“It is true that Armada is my sister, but she has already married the acting Marquis of Zafing and is no longer related to the Viscount Edior family.”

“I see. Then you can go home.”

“Ha?”

　Viscount Edior let out a dumbfounded voice at my words. That’s how out of touch he must have been with my words.

“Of course, you are free to believe that this has nothing to do with it.”

“W-What do you mean?”

“What, given what’s about to happen, you don’t mind that this is a trial in absentia?”

“Trial in absentia?”

“Well, I take that as a declaration that you don’t care what I have to say or do.”

“Like I said, what are you talking about!!”

　Viscount Edior glared at me with a hoarse voice, but I didn’t argue with him at all and continued talking.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what she has to say about it.”

“Like I said, what–“

“It’s none of your business now, is it? But if that woman is going to have some kind of inconvenient story to tell against the Viscount Edior, I wondered who would believe it, no matter how much the Viscount claimed to be innocent.”

“……”

“You have declared before me that this man is the next Marquis of Zafing. You said it was based on the approval of Ghazel and Armada.”

Leon jumped when he caught my gaze.

“That’s why I–“

“I have no mercy for my enemies.”

“Eh?”

　I felt everyone gasp at my words. Roy and Aisha had a twinkle in their eyes.

“You don’t understand? Ghazel and Armada nominated Leon as the next Marquis without any justification. It is a clear hostile act towards me. Naturally, I’m going to hold both of their families, the Viscounts, accountable as well. The Viscount Edior is free to claim that he has nothing to do with this. But whether or not I will show mercy to the Viscount Edirol family because of it is another matter entirely.”

“N-No way”

“Did you think I didn’t know that money from the Marquise family was flowing to the Viscount Edior family as well?”

“Eh?”

　Viscount Edior’s complexion changed quickly. He realized that he, too, had actually already been driven into a corner.

“It’s a little too easy to underestimate me when I pretend to be irrelevant. Well, since you’re claiming innocence, why don’t you just leave?”

“Please wait”

“Roy, looks like Viscount Ediol is leaving.”

“Yes, Viscount, this way please.”

　Roy has a conciliatory expression on his face and Viscount Ediol is making a clinging sound on his face.

“What the hell is going on here!?”

　Then Ghazel, the former acting Marquis, and his wife Armada showed up. [TL: His father and stepmother have arrived]

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