chapter 23
23 – Inheritance to Baron Kreutel
“This is a message from His Excellency Baron Creutel. The predecessor Countess of Nantes is in critical condition, so I am ordering to move to the Countess of Nantes immediately! Hurry up.”
When I heard the news that the Count of Nantes was in critical condition, I remembered the count who had been powdering to hide the paleness of his face.
From then on, I thought I didn’t know when I would die, but according to the memories engraved on this body, I should have lived another year…
“Okay, you go too. Find the soldiers there, Helmut and Balt, and tell them to come right here. It’s late at night now, so we’re leaving tomorrow.”
**
Normally, it would take a week by wagon, but thanks to the hastily driven wagon, he was able to arrive at the county of Nantes in just five days.
When we arrived at the count’s mansion, the butler came out to greet us.
“You came sooner than expected. Thank you for coming. His Excellency Baron Creutel arrived three days ago. Please wait for a moment and we will guide you to the room you will be staying in.”
“Please.”
After a while, a younger butler stood behind the older butler in front of me and whispered in a low voice that I couldn’t hear.
And the old butler said.
“There is no place to stay in the count’s mansion… So, could you stay at the villa?”
“…the villa, I see.”
“thank you. Erich, guide me.”
**
The villa was located about 30 minutes’ walk from the residence of the Countess of Nantes.
I liked the mansion with its brick walls, white lime-painted walls, and red roof, as it looked like a cute house from a place like Greece.
“Did you say Erich? I really like the mansion. Thank you.”
“Thank you, Bocchan.”
“Then let’s go now.”
After saying that, the butler who guided me bowed his head and left.
After confirming that the butler had left, I turned to Balt and Helmut behind me and said,
“Helmut, you bring your belongings here and organize them. Balt and I are going to see my father immediately.”
“Yes, Bocchan.”
**
Actually, my physical condition is not very good right now.
Because, I came in a hurry in 5 days to travel a distance that I had to travel for a week, but I was already driving in a hurry with a wagon that was shaking tremendously.
I suffered enough to bruise my butt in the car.
However, I can’t help it because I could miss the best timing if I take a night off like normal people to say I’m comfortable now.
After walking a little further with such a tired body, we arrived at the room of the count’s mansion where the baron was staying.
Before entering the room, I knocked on the door three times and said,
“Father, this is Ciel von Kreuttel. May I come in?”
“Come in.”
I opened the door and entered the room where the baron was staying.
Inside the room, a carpet that must have come from the East was spread on the floor, and on it there was a bed that could comfortably fit four people, a sofa and a desk, and an office desk and chair to do business.
The Baron was sitting on the sofa inside the door.
“father.”
The baron heard that, and after a while he answered my words.
“Oh, I’m sorry… Okay, sit down.”
Sitting on the sofa, the baron sighed and said,
“Since the last time I had an audience with you, I’ve been preparing myself mentally… but I didn’t know that things would go bad so quickly. I just saw you, and it seems like you don’t have much time left… I can’t stand it for a week.”
“Is that so. To think that His Excellency the Count is so weak…”
“That’s true, but there’s a bigger problem.”
“A bigger problem? What is?”
The baron said in a heavy voice with an expression of no answer.
“Baron Eyland, Baron Circleland, and Baron Hiber are using this opportunity to further increase their political power. I don’t intend to draw my own sword and start a civil war… but if the Count dies, wouldn’t it be difficult for the young Count of Schwein to govern the county of Nantes…”
First, Count Schwein von Nantes is a young man, only 25 years old.
Besides, when I had an audience with the Count the other day, when I saw him calling me at night and proposing a woman to me, who was not married…
He is a human being who can’t even tell the minimum, and reveals money, alcohol and women.
In the eyes of the baron, he is still the ‘owner of the county of Nantes’, so he doesn’t seem that far-fetched.
In any case, Count Schwein, who has this aspect, will only be seen as a stick that reveals ‘women, alcohol, and money’ from the perspective of barons in their 40s and 50s.
So I replied with a silent nod.
“By the way, until now, thanks to the Count of Nantes being alive, there was no problem even if they tried to open their eyes… What would you do if he died? He will surely blow all kinds of strange winds on His Excellency Schwein, who has become the Count of Nantes.”
As the baron said, according to the memories that remain in my body, Schwein von Nantes will soon hand over virtually all power to the three barons, Eyland, Cirland, and Hiber.
Instead, they lived day to day indulging in women and alcohol, and because of the worst choices these three made, the estate was trampled by an overwhelming army.
So for me who knew this kind of future, ‘The Baron’s Insight’ looked pretty dazzling.
First of all, I mixed up ‘a little lie’ to comfort the baron.
“Aren’t you supposed to stop that? father. And His Excellency Count Schwein, whom I have met, is a person who has properly inherited the wisdom of His Excellency Count Nantes, even if he reveals a little about women and alcohol. Don’t worry too much.”
As if his words cheered him up a little, the baron said with a wry smile.
“Yes, it is. You are right. And thank you for coming quickly. I thought it would take a few more days.”
“Well, didn’t the Count, who has cared for you since you were little, say he was serious? You have to put everything aside. As a vassal.”
“I also have a really good child. Okay, let’s go. Tomorrow afternoon, we need to find the Count, who is now bedridden, so let’s go together. Even before that, if you have any ideas to stop the schemes of those three, please tell me.”
“Yes, Father.”
After saying that, I closed the door and left the baron’s room.
And walking a little further, when he reached an empty place, he said in a quiet voice.
“No, Baron. I’m going to abandon that Countess. I’d follow him even if he was the Count of Nantes, but I can’t use that Schwein guy. He only gains weight like a pig, only reveals women, and crosses the line… How do you survive in this chaotic medieval world with a guy like this?”
**
Tomorrow morning, at the appointed time, I headed to the bedroom where the Count was lying.
The Count was lying on a bed barely big enough for one person to lie on, and chairs for me and the Baron were placed around it.
As we entered, the count’s physician, who was standing at the head of the bed, spoke to us in a quiet voice.
“Your Excellency, Baron Creutel, and the young man. The Count is in relatively good condition today, so I think we will be able to talk for a while. Instead, shouting loudly is not good for His Excellency, so please don’t cry too loudly even if your emotions run high.”
“Okay.”
“Okay, doctor.”
After that, the attending physician, who was standing at the head of the bed, left for us.
As I sat down, the baron touched the count’s hand and said,
“Your Excellency Count, Foul has arrived. I’m a little late, but please forgive me.”
After a while, the Count answered with difficulty.
“Pa, foul? Hee hee, thank you for coming so quickly. So, is your son Ciel next to him? My eyes can’t see well anymore, so show your face closer.”
I followed those words, stood up, and showed my face in front of the Count.
“You’ve become manly. So, how old are you?”
“I am 17 this year.”
“You’re 17, so are you married? If you haven’t done it, you better do it quickly.”
“I don’t have a suitable relationship yet… will there be one soon?”
Hearing that, the count laughed for a while with a sputum-like laugh, then spoke.
“A Creutel genius who makes a lot of money from sugar while inventing new farming methods is bad at love… Your father was against it, right now, my girlfriend…”
“Your Excellency, please look.”
“hehehehe, yes, since it is in front of the child, I will look after it. Kreutel.”
After that, we spent about an hour or so chatting about all sorts of things.
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Memories of the baron and the earl on the battlefield, playing with fire before marriage, bright stories such as the ‘spear’ that the count sent me as a souvenir after I was born, the sadness when the count’s wife died giving birth to Schwain, and the death in the war Even the stories of many colleagues…
While talking about that, the two of them were recalling the weight of life they had walked together.
I don’t know if it’s because I’m bored, but when I talk about playing with fire or memories from the battlefield, the count says, ‘Heh heh, how about something like this if you’re young?’ While doing this, I pretended to be unnaturally friendly.
Apparently, it was a plan to make Nasiel von Kreuttel, the son of Baron Kreuttel, whom he believed in, feel the utmost sympathy and closeness towards the Count and Schwein.
In doing so, hoping to serve Schwein von Nantes as Paul von Creutel did.
It was a bit pitiful to see him abandoning his dignity as a master for his sake.
And let a little more time pass.
“So, you better get married soon. Yes, if that’s the case… Cool.”
The Count talked happily, but before he knew it, he vomited bright red blood on his blanket.
As I panicked at him, I tried to go out to call a doctor who would be waiting outside the door.
At that time, the count, who was already only a bone, held my hand so hard that it hurt and stopped me.
“Wait. wait a minute. Because I have one last thing I want to say… Yes, Paul.”
The baron, who had been talking happily until just now, suddenly answered with tears.
“Yes, lord.”
“I’m envious of your son being so great… Then, wouldn’t Ciel do well even without you?”
“Yeah…”
“Please, Paul von Kreuttel. As much as you valued me, please value my son now…”
When the baron heard the story, he just quietly wept.
“And Ciel von Kreuttel.”
“Yes, Your Excellency Count.”
“From the moment I die, you are the Baron of Creutel. On behalf of your father, govern the estate well. Because your father has to protect my son.”
… As of this moment, I now have, in effect, full power of the Baron Creutel domain.
I kind of hoped for it, but I never thought it would turn out this well…