Chapter 22: Counterattack (3)

A numb, stinging sensation spread through her.

It felt like being struck hard across the face.

Of course it did. Was not the wolf-like man before her the eldest son of Arcturus?

‘I have done something insane!’

But regret would change nothing now. 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 sank into despair once more.

From this point forward, she would have to endure endless criticism and condemnation while pursuing a pro-Arcturus policy.

“Why no answer? Where did the woman who swallowed the poison go?”

Simon pressed her.

“……Please give me time.”

“What time? It would be wiser not to waste your energy on petty schemes. My temper is fouler than I look. I am not very patient either. After suffering Burning Fever, I seem to have become this sort 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 crossed his arms, let out a short laugh, and sat down with one leg over the other. Then he leaned forward and stared at Jin.

“You really do live an easy life. 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 work. 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 unthinkable. If they ended up stationed there permanently, it would become a true 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 stopped at the level of the Knight Order.”

“I have a good idea.”

“Let me hear it.”

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

Simon exchanged a glance with Ranieri as though hearing it for the first time. Ranieri also helped support 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 bowed his head as though honored.

Popping a grape into his mouth from the table, 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 what tired 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 any 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 his 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 glossed over 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 led around by 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 fully 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.

‘This is easier than I expected.’

Even so, he had thought that things should still be handled properly, at least for a Marquis Family of the Empire. That had been his miscalculation.

Even to Simon’s eyes, Marquis Taion had been completely disarmed.

‘He is in exactly the state best suited to be coaxed, roasted, and devoured. But I must not let my guard down. I cannot very well endure a lecture from Ranieri.’

Simon focused on his performance.

“You may or may not know this, but before I departed, I issued an order to the Knight Order. That war must never break out. And that our offensive posture must be turned into a defensive one.”

“Oh? Was there such a thing?”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

Taion looked toward Jin in surprise. But by then, the strategist he trusted had already become Simon’s woman.

Jin bowed her head and reported,

“Young Master Simon is not the sort of man who would lie in a place such as this.”

“Indeed, that is true.”

“And the reports coming up from the border have shown no particular problems either. They say things have been quiet.”

“Hmm.”

After sinking into thought for a moment, Taion soon spread both arms and smiled broadly.

“Come now, are we not being too stiff? Let us set aside the grand talk of a conference for the moment and speak at ease instead, shall we?”

“I can only be grateful for your consideration. But I am only a greenhorn newly stepped into the world. I stand in desperate need of Your Excellency’s guidance.”

“What are you saying! Do not say such things elsewhere. That would only shame Marquis Deneuve.”

“I shall bear that in mind.”

In truth, this had been the final chance.

The final chance to feel doubt over why the eldest son of the Arcturus Marquis Family was taking such a humble stance.

Of course, Marquis Taion, being less than clever, failed to seize that chance.

Instead, he merely felt pleased with himself for having said something kind.

“The same is true for me. War must never break out. There are already too many packs of wolves around these lands, are there not?”

“Indeed. Even to the north, the Alphonse Count Family is watching for its chance.”

“So, you too had your eye on them.”

It was something Jin had quietly tipped him off to before the conference. Shamelessly enough, Taion now began parading it as though it were wisdom of his own.

“If war were to break out under the present circumstances, only the Alphonse Count Family would profit. And it would be a disgrace before His Majesty the Emperor for two of the Empire’s pillars to be fighting each other.”

“Every word you speak is true.”

“Did Your Excellency perhaps receive some prior indication?”

It was a cautious question.

And also the very heart of this conference.

To gauge the intentions of the head of the Arcturus Family.

“None at all. He merely said that if both sides withdrew their troops without conditions, he could ask for nothing more......”

“Is that so?”

“However, on the way here, I heard troubling news.”

“What news?”

“The Orcs.”

Taion started violently.

‘The word about those Orcs only arrived a few days ago. How could he already know?’

If that were so, then the situation changed entirely.

Arcturus territory and Orc territory did not overlap. Only Aldebaran territory directly bordered them.

Which meant that the Arcturus Family could use the Aldebaran Marquis Family as a shield against an Orc invasion.

In other words, they had seized a weakness.

“How did you come by that information?”

“Our Family has its own information network as well. News from the south tends to arrive quickly. There was a great disturbance there recently, after all.”

“Hmm......”

“I can only imagine how heavily this must weigh upon you.”

“It is no easy matter. We must dispatch troops to the south at once.”

Simon raised his head.

The fierce eyes of Arcturus’s rightful Heir.

For a moment, Taion had the impression that Marquis Deneuve himself was standing before him.

“Arcturus has many valiant warriors. Would you be willing to grant them the right to be stationed within Aldebaran territory?”

“W-what?”

“I said we would go south and fight the Orcs together. A remarkable figure has arisen among them. It is all but certain that he will gather his race and drive northward.”

“Good heavens!”

If Simon had come at him in an overbearing manner, Taion would have slammed the table without hesitation.

But he restrained himself.

“That is absurd! No matter how much we speak of peace, are you saying we are to let the soldiers of a Family that only yesterday was pointing swords at us into our home?”

“I said we would go south. And I said we would fight the Orcs. Is there anything unreasonable in that proposal beyond that?”

“…….”

Taion hurriedly turned toward Jin.

Something felt wrong when he saw how calm she looked. He had been certain that she would object, but she said nothing.

“Lady Jin. Young Master Simon is making a rather bold demand. What do you think?”

“Would it not be something to be grateful for instead?”

“What......?”

“If they are truly the elite of Arcturus, they should be able to stop the Orcs’ advance with ease. That would be help one could not obtain even with a thousand bars of gold, Your Excellency.”

“......”

Taion grew confused. Because of how easily his ears were swayed, Jin’s words sounded sincere to him.

‘But...... now that I think about it, she is not wrong. He says they mean to help us, does he not?’

Then Simon drove the point home.

“We are not simply helping the Aldebaran Family for the sake of peace alone. Dispatching troops there will ultimately mean protecting our own territory as well.”

“And what do you mean by that?”

Jin sent Simon a glance.

A signal that she herself would step in.

Simon liked such initiative.

“If our territory falls, then Arcturus will be the next target. I believe that is what Young Master Simon means.”

“You have understood exactly. As expected of the Sage of the East.”

“Hmm......”

“Of course, the best outcome would be to resolve matters through diplomacy. But those creatures are beings of pure instinct. There is a high chance that words will not work on them. Which is why it would be safer to deploy troops.”

Still unable to find certainty, Taion once again turned to Jin.

“Do you truly think this will be all right? I do not think the Knight Order will sit still over it.”

“I have heard that Young Master Simon here already stood against resistance from the Arcturus Knight Order. He even proclaimed peace before all the knights. In the end, what matters is Your Excellency’s will. Whether it is peace or war depends on Your Excellency’s will.”

“Is that so......”

He felt the weight settling onto his shoulders.

The Arcturus Family, and the rising movement of the Orcs.

Both facts felt unbearably heavy and frightening.

“Let me set things in order. The condition the Arcturus Family is laying down for the agreement is the right to station troops in the south. Is that correct?”

“Yes. Some troops will be withdrawn, and the remainder will pass through the regions Your Excellency permits on their way down to the southern front.”

“And who determines those regions?”

“Your Excellency does, of course.”

When Simon loosened the reins a little, Taion felt his breathing ease.

‘If they are merely passing through, then it is not as bad as I first thought. And forming an allied force would certainly be useful strength.’

Even so, Taion did not make his decision at once.

“Will you grant me time to think?”

“Of course, Your Excellency. However, I have business of my own and cannot stay long. I would be grateful if a conclusion could be reached within a week.”

“Very well. I shall convene the vassals at once. Lady Jin, make the preparations.”

“At your command.”

Jin carried out the order immediately.

***

Once back in his quarters, Simon lay down on the bed at once. Ranieri poured wine into an empty glass.

“What do you think?”

Swirling the wineglass lightly, Ranieri pointed it toward Simon.

“In the end, Marquis Taion will grant permission for the troop stationing. The terms are not nearly as bad as they could have been. The Knight Order will resist to the bitter end, of course.”

“You sound optimistic.”

“You loosened the terms too much, Young Master.”

“Why?”

“We should have been the ones to determine the transit regions. That would have allowed us to strike at their key strongholds with ease.”

At those words, Simon frowned.

“What sort of nonsense is that? Strike at them?”

“Even if you have no interest in Aldebaran territory, the head of the Family may think differently. Opportunities like this must not be wasted.”

“Have you lost your mind?”

Pushing up his glasses with one finger, Ranieri asked sharply,“Then why did you demand that condition in the first place?”

“Because of Kenard.”

No matter how wise Ranieri was, he still could not understand how troop stationing rights could possibly have been demanded for the sake of the Second Young Master.

“That expression of yours says you want an explanation.”

“There is no better accompaniment for wine.”

“Kenard will need a plausible event if he is going to become head of the Family. Subjugating the southern Orcs is no easy military merit to earn. And it will also be a fine chance to bring out his potential.”

“When you say potential......”

“I mean that skill does not grow through training alone.”

Kenard was the sort of knight forged for real battle. Give him a strong enough external stimulus, and he was the sort who could grow to twice his present level.

That was why Simon believed he needed to face the Orcs.

The Orcs, more than anything else, would provide an experience of immense value, one that could never be gained in a human war.

“Right now, the only way I can escape the position of Heir is for Kenard to grow. And for him to build a fame greater than mine.”

“Hoo...... Do you truly hate the Heir’s seat that much?”

“To be exact, it is not the Heir’s seat I hate, but the head of the Family’s seat. One has to give up too many things. There are too many times when one must do things one does not want to do. Above all......”

“You were about to say that you have already done it once, and do not wish to do it again, were you not?”

“Why ask when you already know?”

“It only seems that you are giving up a place everyone desires far too easily.”

He could understand Ranieri’s frustration as well. Before the Burning Fever, Simon would have fought desperately to hold onto that place.

“There are things you cannot see when you stand too close.”

“That sounds unusually philosophical of you.”

“You will be hearing things like that more often from now on.”

“But if war truly breaks out, the head of the Family will send you to the front. It is not as though you intend to lose on purpose.”

“There is a way around that.”

“What is it?”

“I did not say for nothing that I would go to the Imperial Capital and soothe the Imperial Princess. If it looks as though war is going to break out, I can simply run off to the Imperial Capital.”

“A summons order will be sent.”

“Then I will say that the Burning Fever has returned.”

“You really do live very comfortably, Young Master.”

With a sigh, Ranieri drained his wine. At the same time, he found himself resenting the Burning Fever.

Perhaps he had drunk too much. The intoxication rose suddenly.

“Before we came here, did you not say this to Young Master Kenard? ‘Dangerous tasks are meant to be undertaken by the eldest son. And the second son remains behind to guard the main house. That is the tradition of the honorable Arcturus Family.’”

“Your memory is too good for your own good.”

“And yet did you not once say that was what you liked about me?”

“Are you drunk?”

“Of course not.”

“Drink in moderation. Do not go wandering about with your face all flushed and get yourself swallowed up by Fortnight.”

“And who is Fortnight supposed to be?”

“Lady Jin.”

Ranieri frowned.

“What do you mean by that?”

“She needs the antidote every fortnight, so Fortnight. Think of it as a pet name.”

“......”

He had a feeling the wine was going to go down especially well tonight.