Chapter 21: Counterattack (2)

A stinging sensation ran through her.

It felt as though she had been struck hard across the face.

Naturally so. Was not the wolf-like man before her the eldest son of Arcturus?

‘I have done something insane!’

But regret changed nothing. She had been poisoned by an unknown toxin.

‘And if it is a secret poison of the Betelgeuse Family, then there is no hope.’

It would be completely unlike any ordinary poison.

And that meant it would be all the harder to cure. Unless Simon permitted it, she would have no choice but to live the rest of her life as a slave.

Jin felt despair wash over her yet again.

From this point onward, she would have to endure countless criticisms and accusations while pursuing a pro-Arcturus policy.

“Why no answer? Where did that poison-stricken look go?”

Simon pressed her.

“……Give me time.”

“What time? It would be wiser not to waste your effort on petty schemes. I have a foul temper, far worse than I look. I am not particularly patient either. After suffering Burning Fever, I seem to have become this kind of person.”

“For now, what it is that you…… desire, Young Master……”

“Young Master?”

“I want to hear what my lord desires. Is there something you want from the Aldebaran Family?”

Simon folded his arms, let out a short laugh, crossed one leg over the other, and sat down. Then he leaned forward and stared at Jin.

“You really do live comfortably. Is it not the duty of vassals to discover what their lord desires?”

“…….”

Even so, she could not afford to give up. Desperately, she forced her mind to race. She had to avoid rotting to death.

“How would it be if you acquired the right to station troops in certain regions of Aldebaran?”

“The right to station troops.”

It meant exactly what it sounded like—the authority to station soldiers in parts of Aldebaran territory.

Allowing the military forces of a hostile Family to enter one’s territory without restriction was not something that ought ever to happen. If they remained there permanently, it would become a genuine nightmare.

So Simon asked,“Would that really work? Even if you urged him on from the side, I do not think Marquis Taion would accept it. The matter might be blocked at the level of the Knight Order.”

“I have a good idea.”

“Speak.”

“But before that, I think there is one thing I ought to tell you. The movements of the Orcs in the south are becoming anything but ordinary.”

Simon exchanged a look with Ranieri as though hearing it for the first time. Ranieri also played along with Simon’s act at the appropriate level.

“If the Orcs’ movements are becoming unusual, what does that mean? That they are about to start a war?”

“That is right. Recently, an Orc hero has appeared. He is gathering the scattered tribes together. Very quickly. I believe there is a very high probability that the Orcs will cross the border.”

It was not something she should have said.

This information itself would benefit the Arcturus Family.

More than that, even Marquis Taion had not yet been told that the probability of an Orc invasion was high.

“Well now, what a pity. I already knew about the Orc matter.”

“You already knew?”

“That is right. Thanks to having capable subordinates.”

Ranieri lowered his head as though honored.

Popping a grape from the table into his mouth, Simon moved to sit beside Jin.

“The name of the Orc hero is Mulata. A remarkable fellow who will soon unite every tribe and found the Orc Kingdom.”

By doing so, Simon proved that his information was a step ahead of hers.

Yet if anything, that only deepened Ranieri’s questions. He had never once mentioned the Orc hero’s name.

‘Once again, he surprises me. How does he know such a thing?’

But he did not ask.

He already knew exactly what tiresome answer he would receive.

‘Because I regressed.’

“Well then, my little traitor. So you mean to use the Orcs as a pretext to open the border, something like that?”

“That is the general idea. If we frame it as joining forces to stop the Orcs, then it suits the great principle of a peace treaty very well.”

“Ranieri. What do you think?”

Resting his chin on one hand, Ranieri gave his answer at once.

“I believe it is a realistic condition. If we emphasize the shared peace of both sides, it could very well be achieved. Besides, you were never particularly interested in Aldebaran territory to begin with, were you, Young Master?”

“That is true. What would I do by stealing land where others are already living well? If they offered it up, that would be another matter, but war is another story.”

Jin’s eyes trembled.

Simon spoke with the confidence of a man who believed he could take over Aldebaran whenever he pleased.

“Good. Then let us proceed with the idea of stationing our Family’s troops in southern Aldebaran under the banner of a peace treaty.”

“I will prepare things accordingly, my lord.”

“But since we already knew about the Orc matter, I would be a little disappointed if we left it at that. Have you anything else to offer?”

Jin felt as though her throat were burning.

By contrast, Simon calmly poured himself another glass of the wine left unfinished earlier and savored it slowly, right before her eyes.

“For instance, something concerning the Alphonse Count Family.”

At that meaningful remark, Jin’s eyes lit up.

It was, in truth, a Family she herself had recently begun to suspect.

“How much do you already know?”

“To be honest, I believe it is those people who are orchestrating the disturbances at the border.”

A powerful intuition seized Jin.

Perhaps an opportunity had appeared after all.

“Do you truly mean that?”

“Do you think I am in a position to sit here trading jokes with you?”

Simon set down a fresh glass before Jin and slowly poured wine into it.

Then, offering her the glass, he continued,“I cannot tell you everything, but I believe those Alphonse bastards are trying to reap the fisherman’s profit from this whole affair. If our two Families fight, both sides will suffer great damage. That is why I opposed the war.”

“I see…… A truly cold and rational judgment.”

“And I intend to go one step further. I mean to uncover the one standing behind the Alphonse bastards and pulling their strings.”

“You believe there is someone behind them?”

“Of course. Those creatures would be blown away by a single strong gust of wind. Do you think they would dare attempt such a scheme without something to lean on? They must have someone backing them.”

Jin’s eyes shone with intelligence.

Her premonition had not been wrong. This was an opportunity.

‘He is even greater than I had heard. Perhaps…… perhaps we can turn this crisis into an opportunity.’

The crushing sense of defeat that had filled her mind began to fade. The Ceres Family had always, by tradition, been opportunists.

“Then I too shall investigate.”

“Of course you will.”

Suddenly Simon’s voice changed completely.

It turned serious and heavy.

“As I said earlier, I know the Ceres Family well. Use every capability your Family possesses to uncover the one behind this affair. Are you not curious? Curious who it is lurking behind the curtain.”

“More importantly, my lord, there is something I would like to try.”

“What is it?”

“I will free myself from this poisoning as quickly as possible.”

“You mean to win my recognition.”

“That is exactly what I mean.”

Simon smiled in satisfaction. He did not care in the least about false loyalty. As long as he got what he wanted, that was enough.

“You may do as you please with that. More importantly, that girl over there.”

The maid kneeling by the door gave a start. Simon pointed at her.

“What should we do about her? She now knows everything. Should we get rid of her?”

Ranieri offered advice.

“The dead do not speak. It is the best way to leave no trouble behind.”

At that, the maid sprang to her feet and thrust a teacup filled with tea toward Ranieri.

Her eyes burned with desperate intensity, pleading for him to lace it quickly with poison.

“I will drink it! Please, give me a chance as well!”

Without a word, Ranieri took out the vial once more and poured the last of the poison into the cup. The maid emptied it without the slightest hesitation.

Simon clapped his hands in delight.

“Hahaha! What a loyal subordinate you have there. Good! I like it. I shall send the antidote for both of them once every fortnight. Ranieri, no problem with that, I assume?”

“Other than the cost, none.”

“He says there is no problem at all.”

Ranieri let out a small sigh. This was hardly the first time things had been brushed aside in such a way.

“Thank you, my lord.”

“Do not get any ideas about saving time by stealing even your loyal subordinate’s antidote. I will be checking periodically to see whether you are both still alive, so do not entertain foolish thoughts.”

“Yes.”

And so, Jin, head of the Ceres Family, found herself completely ringed through the nose by Simon.

Though Simon had resolved not to inherit the Family, there was nothing bad in this for him.

‘Once I settle down in Minor Village later, I suppose I will tell her to send tribute. If I am short on hands, I can always make her plow the fields.’

Now thoroughly at ease, Simon leaned back against the sofa.

Then he imagined all the happy moments he would share with Lua in the future.

‘Regression really is worth experiencing at least once.’

***

The next day, Simon, dressed impeccably, met with Taion, the lord of Aldebaran.

Their meeting was conducted in secret.

Even the seasoned vassals of Aldebaran were not permitted to attend. Marquis Taion brought only Jin, while Simon brought only Ranieri.

On the surface, it seemed to be two against two.

But in reality, it was one against three. Jin had already betrayed Marquis Taion and gone over to Simon.

“It feels strange to behold the hero of the continent so directly. I pay my respects. I am Simon Arcturus.”

Simon bowed with perfect etiquette, and Taion could not hide his smile. To think that the proud eldest son of Arcturus would lower himself first like this.

‘Why is he taking such a humble stance? Perhaps this conference may end to our advantage after all.’

Suppressing his excitement for a moment, Marquis Taion answered with a broad, generous smile.

“The honor is mine, to behold a future hero from so near. I look forward to our time together, Simon.”

“You are too kind.”

“Was your journey here comfortable?”

“Entirely so. On the contrary, I received a great deal of assistance from the border onward. If it pleases you, I ask that you reward them.”

“Since it is your request, I should naturally grant it. I shall see to their reward at once.”

“It feels as though I have received a reward myself. Thank you.”

“Hahahaha. And your father, is he well?”

“He is very worried.”

At those slightly ambiguous words, Taion’s heart skipped a beat. Worried about what, exactly?

“He worries that the clashes at the border may turn into meaningless sacrifice. And he expressed concern for Your Excellency’s health as well. The days are growing hotter now, after all. Even a hero cannot escape the passage of time, can he?”

“Oh…… Is that truly so?”

“How could I possibly lie to Your Excellency?”

Ranieri admired him inwardly. To think there was a man who could lie so naturally, and at a formal conference between Families, no less.

Still, he chose to view it positively.

Simon’s skillful tongue was dismantling Taion’s wariness with absurd ease.

“I dare to think that my father looks forward to the day when he may one day meet Your Excellency and share a cup of tea.”

“That is wonderful news. The very thought of it pleases me!”

“I shall try to arrange it.”

For that to happen, however, the result of this conference had to be favorable.

Marquis Taion decided to postpone idle conversation and move to the heart of the matter.

“Jin has already told me the outline. Hmm, so you say you came all the way here for the sake of a peace treaty?”

“First, I would like to apologize to Your Excellency. What has happened at the border is not what our Family desires. There have been certain misunderstandings, and I ask for your generous understanding.”

“Heh heh…….”

At heart, Taion wanted nothing more than to take Simon’s hands and reassure him that there had been no misunderstanding at all.

At the same time, he began to think there was no need for too much caution after all.

‘If anything, I may be able to squeeze far more out of them this way. Hahahaha!’

Taion’s eyes gleamed with greed.

All the while having no idea what had transpired the previous night between Simon and Jin.