The Founding Monarch Became the Mastermind

Chapter 33

Thud!

“Damn it!”

As soon as Yonas entered the baronial castle’s annex assigned as his accommodation, he threw off his hat in frustration.

Having been kicked out of the initial meeting, Sirvan, who had arrived earlier, hurriedly approached and opened his mouth.

“Uncle, what’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“Huff… You wouldn’t understand.”

The sight of his nephew’s face immediately irritated him, but Yonas controlled his emotions.

Though Sirvan had overstepped his bounds a bit, it wasn’t entirely his fault that things had turned out this way.

“That bastard had everything calculated from the start. Clever jerk.”

“Who are you talking about? Oh, that royal collateral?”

“Watch your mouth.”

Sirvan pouted at Yonas’s cold gaze but quickly lowered his head.

“Yes… Anyway, what did that guy say to you?”

Though an immature nephew, Sirvan was still Gede’s cherished youngest son.

While Sirvan had no chance of becoming a duke, Gede’s affection for him suggested he might become the next governor of Paloma.

“We’re canceling the plan entirely.”

“What?”

“We’re stopping everything we were going to do. Especially you—don’t draw attention, and keep a low profile.”

“Can’t you at least explain why?”

Ignoring his exasperated nephew, Yonas took a large gulp of water.

After wiping his wet beard, he turned to his nephew.

“No, wait. Sirvan, I’ve got a job for you.”

“A job?”

“Yes. It’s something only you can do.”

Sirvan, who initially frowned at the word “job” out of annoyance, became curious when Yonas said it was something only he could handle.

“You haven’t met this Piotr guy yet, have you?”

“No. I thought about visiting, but he’s busy teaching some kid.”

Yonas felt relieved.

Had his reckless nephew met Piotr without knowing anything, it would have likely led to bad blood or some kind of incident. It was a stroke of luck.

“Then you’ll see him at dinner tonight. I want you to get close to Piotr.”

“Huh?”

After all that talk about being different breeds and rootless country bumpkins, now he wanted them to be friends?

“Get close to him and discreetly ask about various things, especially about Jang Salen. There might be something we can use.”

“Understood.”

Still irritated by his first encounter with Si-on, Sirvan grasped his uncle’s intentions and nodded.

‘That sneaky jerk. Let’s see what you’ve got.’

‘That arrogant brat. Let’s see how this plays out.’

Thus, uncle and nephew reignited their resolve.

* * *

“Piotr, when you meet this Sirvan guy, be friendly and get close to him.”

Piotr, exhausted from his unexpected babysitting duties, furrowed his brows at Si-on’s sudden request.

“Why?”

His tone had grown irritable from playing the caretaker role, a task far from his usual responsibilities.

As a grandfather, Si-on considered teaching his great-grandson some manners (with force), but he decided to let it slide and spoke.

“I noticed earlier that if you poke him just a little, he’ll spill everything. Once you get friendly, subtly ask him about his father.”

Born privileged and with immense pride in his noble lineage, Si-on knew that once a young noble like Sirvan started talking, information would flow out like potato vines.

And among those vines would eventually appear the “king potato.”

The one that would reveal who the damn culprit behind Brian’s poisoning was.

“Do you think the people who came today are related to that… incident you mentioned before?”

Given the reference to the previous duke’s poisoning, Piotr’s demeanor quickly turned cautious.

‘Smart kid.’

Praising his great-grandson internally, Si-on continued.

“I’m not certain yet. That’s why your role is crucial. You’re about the same age, so you should get along well.”

“We’re not exactly the same age. I’m four years older.”

“Well, close enough.”

Si-on chuckled.

“Anyway, don’t blatantly ask about his father or grandfather. Be subtle, got it?”

“Yes, I’ll do my best.”

Piotr, who had grown as attached to Si-on as he was to Kilburn, showed strong determination.

Beyond his loyalty to the Si-on Ducal Family, Piotr’s aspiration to become a great knight made him detest the idea of a vassal betraying his lord, filling him with rage and disgust.

“Your expression.”

“Yes?”

“Watch your expression. Who’s going to believe you want to be friends if you look like that? They’ll think you want to fight.”

“Oh, right. I’ll be careful.”

Piotr opened and closed his mouth a few times, then smiled.

“How’s this?”

Si-on was pleased with Piotr’s smile.

Perhaps due to inheriting his youngest daughter Maria’s looks, Piotr had an exceptionally handsome face.

However, keeping his inner thoughts hidden, Si-on responded indifferently.

“Hmm. It doesn’t look like you’re picking a fight, but if I were your opponent, I’d still misunderstand.”

“Misunderstand?”

“Like, is this guy trying to flirt with me?”

“Pardon…? Oh, no! I would never! I like women!”

“You think I don’t know that? It’s just that smiling like that in front of another guy is too much. Act natural, like you do with the Janstrick mercenary friends.”

“Yes, understood.”

Feeling embarrassed, Piotr licked his lips, then cautiously asked Si-on.

“But to get close… it’s going to be tough to do that while looking after the kid, right?”

“Hm.”

Acknowledging the truth in his words, Si-on stroked his chin.

“Let’s decide after seeing how dinner goes.”

“Yes, sir!”

Piotr’s expression brightened at the thought of possibly being freed from babysitting duties.

* * *

“So, that child will become the heir of the August family?”

Yonas asked as he looked at the timid boy seated among the adults, clearly feeling overwhelmed.

“Yes. It was Baron August’s decision.”

While wording matters, it was true that the final decision had been made by Baron August when he was still mentally sound, so Si-on was confident.

“I see.”

Though somewhat suspicious, Yonas, not wanting to cause any more noticeable conflicts with Si-on over another estate’s affairs, accepted it.

“And Piotr is teaching him?”

“Yes. By the way, feel free to speak casually, brother.”

“…Alright.”

Though Piotr was young enough to be his nephew, his grandmother Maria and Yonas’s grandfather Theo were siblings, making them the same generational rank.

In noble society, a sixth cousin was considered a very close relative.

Nobility was centered around lineage, so even an eighth cousin could sometimes be treated as close family, depending on the circumstances.

‘Technically, I should be the one getting close to him, not Sirvan.’

Recalling his fairly close sixth cousins living throughout the duchy, including the capital Sionia, where the Twin-headed Eagle Castle was located, Yonas smiled wryly to himself.

However, the lingering resentment he felt toward Piotr led him to push the task onto his nephew instead.

“Normally, I’d be the one to teach young Piotr about the ducal family, but as you can see, I’m getting too old for that. Sirvan is closer in age, so I think he’d be more suitable. What do you think?”

Piotr widened his eyes at Yonas’s words, then glanced at Si-on.

He had planned to approach Sirvan eventually, but this was an unexpected opportunity.

Oblivious to their mutual intentions, Yonas grew somewhat anxious.

“Of course, it’s not because I’m dismissing young Piotr. But since I’ll be seeing Lord Salen frequently, Sirvan would be a better conversational partner, wouldn’t he?”

“I understand. That’s fine.”

“Good. Thank you.”

Piotr’s agreeable response relieved Yonas, who then turned his gaze to his nephew, Sirvan.

However, the determined nephew who had been so eager right before dinner now wore an expression like he’d bitten into something bitter.

‘What’s with him?’

This arrangement wasn’t sudden; they’d discussed it plenty, and Sirvan had even agreed. So why the sour face?

The reason soon became apparent.

“Nice to meet you, nephew.”

“…Nice to meet you too, um… great-uncle.”

Ah…

Although only two years apart, Piotr was technically Sirvan’s great-uncle.

As the youngest son of Paloma’s governor, Sirvan had grown up pampered and treated like nobility.

Now, he was forced to treat a peer, just two years his senior and a complete stranger until today, as a senior relative.

It was no wonder he felt resentful.

‘Ugh, I didn’t think of that.’

With so many unexpected twists, Yonas hadn’t considered this outcome.

All he could do was hope that his proud, headstrong nephew wouldn’t cause any major blunders.

“What do you mean great-uncle? Just call me uncle. We’re practically the same age.”

“Yes… uncle.”

Sirvan’s scowl deepened, prompting Yonas to try and change the mood.

But Si-on beat him to it.

“They seem to be getting along quickly, don’t they? It’s great to see. Haha.”

“Right… Haha…”

Unable to retort with, “Aren’t you young, too?”

Yonas forced a smile and nodded awkwardly.

From treating him like a brat during their first meeting to acting friendly now?

Sirvan hadn’t had any further interactions with him since dinner, so he couldn’t have done anything to win him over.

So, then?

‘Is he trying to show he’s not petty and has a big heart?’

This might be a good opportunity.

“By the way, Lord Salen. I have a question.”

“Go ahead.”

“What about Baron August’s son, Anserman? What will you do with him?”

Si-on’s gaze darkened.

Perhaps this was the most important issue for Yonas and whoever had sent him here.

“His crimes are not light, but he is still the direct descendant of the baron, isn’t he? I think stripping him of his title and banishing him from the estate, in accordance with the royal law, would be appropriate.”

Without immediately replying, Si-on silently observed Yonas before offering a faint smile.

“Banishment… Is that your opinion, Lord Yonas? Or is it the opinion of whoever sent you here?”

“Hmm? Does it matter?”

“It might, or it might not. But if it’s the latter… What’s your own opinion, Lord Yonas? What do you think should be done with Anserman August?”

You’d better answer wisely.

Because your fate depends on how you respond to this question.