“Prince Glenn?”
“…Ah.”
Glenn snapped back to attention at Kyle’s call.
Only then did he realize he was still holding Diana’s hand.
“Somehow, I figured it might be a name like that.”
He quickly let go and nervously fumbled to cover it up, attempting an awkward smile that remained stiff and unnatural.
Diana smiled faintly, then lowered her head.
“Ah, are you really Prince Glenn?”
“…Yes.”
“I’m Diana, serving as a handmaiden. Starting today, I’ll be attending to you for a while.”
Glenn was still dazed, staring at Diana’s light brown hair with glassy eyes.
… Could this be a dream? No way.
Unable to stand it any longer, Kyle stepped forward and spoke up.
“What? You say you’re the exclusive handmaiden? The handmaiden has already been assigned to the prince while still an apprentice?”
“…Yes, Lady Handmaiden ordered it that way… I apologize.”
Kyle’s tone grew harsher, and Diana lowered her head further.
But Kyle didn’t care.
“Chasing after her like that—she’s probably planning to rough up the handmaiden herself. Is this your doing, brother? That’s just despicable. Damn it.”
“Quiet.”
“Please stay still, Your Highness. I will question the handmaiden directly right now—”
“No, that won’t be necessary.”
The jade-green eyes with unreadable emotion turned back to Kyle.
“Eh?”
“There’s no need. If she’s Diana, that’s more than enough for me.”
Is that happiness? Or sadness?
… Or longing?
Kyle couldn’t read Glenn’s expression at all.
“Well, if that’s the case, then I suppose it’s fine…”
“Did you say Diana? Since I have to visit the marquis now, will I be able to see her later?”
Just as Kyle was feeling a strange emotion looking at Glenn, Diana also glanced at the jade eyes, puzzled.
… What kind of feelings could those eyes possibly hold? And the stranger thing is, this is supposedly the first time she’s meeting this man today.
Then why is he looking at her as if full of some kind of history? Has he met her before?
“… Ah, I’m holding you two up. I apologize.”
Diana, lost in thought for a moment, quickly stepped aside.
Glenn’s gaze followed her briefly.
Slender limbs, powerless movements, tired eyes lowered.
He unconsciously bit his lip.
“Oh.”
Then he barely took a step forward. Kyle followed Glenn with an expression still full of uncertainty.
Like this,
Glenn’s conversation with Diana was postponed for a little later.
***
After the brief meeting with the Marquis, Glenn and Kyle headed to where Puruka was staying.
They wanted to hear the details of the talks held so far and review their plans going forward together.
This was something Isabelle had actively recommended to Glenn.
Murca was a highly capable and reliable strategist during his military days, so she advised him to make full use of him.
The place where Murca stayed was quite spacious—his quarters were so large that there was even a separate reception room.
“Good to see you. This is my first time seeing you in person. As I heard, you’re quite a handsome young man.”
A middle-aged man with slightly dark skin and a height taller than Glenn, his hair almost silver-gray, his face kind and amiable.
This was Contrat’s strategist known as Murca.
He greeted Glenn warmly upon seeing him.
“Nice to meet you, Lord Puruka. I’ve heard much about you.”
Behind this friendly façade was a fearsome identity hidden. Isabelle hadn’t confirmed it officially, only speculated, but Glenn agreed with her.
There was a very high chance that this man was the leader of the ‘Faceless Ones.’
Of course, not just anyone could make that kind of guess—Puruka was that subtle and meticulous.
“Hmm, my source? It’s probably Isabelle. What did that girl call him again?”
“Father’s troubleshooter, the Grim Reaper… or ‘Cleaner.’ That’s what she said.”
Isabelle had told Glenn that Puruka was the one person with whom their father shared plans he wouldn’t reveal to anyone else.
Such a person was now here in Riberton. It showed just how much Contrat cared about Riberton.
“Ha, that’s pretty impressive. Anyway, welcome.”
“Thank you. By the way, you mentioned earlier this is your first time seeing me in person. Did you conduct any investigation beforehand?”
“Hmm? Oh, did I say that? Haha, don’t worry too much. It was just a simple investigation. What else could I do when Contrat orders it?”
He feigned innocence.
‘First time seeing me in person,’ he said that on purpose.
It was an unspoken intimidation, saying, I already know everything about you, more than you think. It was a way to gain psychological advantage.
No wonder he was Contrat’s loyal right hand.
Glenn simply smiled back. There was no point in arguing.
“Ah, so you’re Tessa Lindelway. Thank you for always taking care of Isabelle. You’re like a niece to me.”
“No, on the contrary, I receive help from Lady Isabelle as well. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lord Puruka.”
Tessa gave a gentle bow.
“Oh, and you must be the star of this show—Kyle de Riberton, right?”
Murca looked at Kyle, his deep navy eyes flashing. Kyle’s face involuntarily stiffened.
“…Pleasure to meet you, Lord Puruka.”
He bowed, but his expression was quite rigid. Similar to the reaction when Glenn first met him at the martial arts gathering—likely a cautious wariness toward a stranger.
Fortunately, Puruka was skilled even with such a counterpart.
“You’re quite a stiff young man, haha. Alright, since we’re on equal footing, shall we get down to business?”
“Sounds good.”
***
“I’ll say this beforehand—the marquis is a lost cause. Either that or he’s gone mad.”
“Lord Puruka?”
Tessa’s gaze sharpened at Murca’s blunt assessment.
Kyle, however, remained expressionless.
“Ah, pardon me. I forgot you’re his son.”
“No, that’s an accurate judgment. And I don’t regard ‘that man’ as my father. So don’t expect much.”
His tone was curt.
Yet his eyes betrayed no peace—speaking as if stating an obvious fact.
That was how deep his long-standing grudge must be.
“Oh, well then that’s a relief. Haha, I’m sorry. It’s my habit to verify what I hear.”
He was deliberately probing. Kyle really did harbor resentment toward his father.
… This is basically a copy of Contrat’s mindset.
Glenn opened his mouth with a slightly pale expression.
“I just came from seeing the marquis myself… definitely not in normal condition.”
“Today is better than usual. He’s been obsessed with some golden statue or something since yesterday. If not, he might have thrown a drink at you as well.”
That was no joke. There was no chance of that.
“…Are you speaking from experience?”
“I wasn’t the one attacked, but the guards who entered the marquis’s room and came out with cracked skulls aren’t just one or two.”
Glenn had some idea, but not to this extent.
“The marquis’s condition began deteriorating earlier this year. Now that it’s autumn, it’s only natural for it to worsen.”
Kyle spoke of his father like a stranger in a detached manner.
Of course, no one else seemed to care.
“Also, I noticed earlier a man of similar age to Kyle. Probably Godric D. Riberton, the marquisate heir. That fellow—”
“That guy’s an idiot.”
“He’s a moron.”
Glenn’s question was answered simultaneously by the two men.
… Well, even if Murca is like that, does Kyle have a habit of speaking ill of his entire family?
“…Isn’t he your older brother?”
“Ah, my brother’s an idiot.”
“I wasn’t criticizing that.”
Despite Glenn’s correction, Kyle had no intention of changing his statement.
“What’s the problem? The whole marquisate already knows that Godric is a reckless fool who doesn’t even know his role.”
At this, Puruka grinned and replied.
“Haha, the young man has a sharp tongue. And it’s also common knowledge that this fool is the likely successor.”
“Tsk.”
“Don’t be modest. We’re doing this to stop that from happening, aren’t we?”
Exactly.
Their shared goal was to prevent Godric from becoming marquis and to make Kyle the next marquis of Riberton.
“After meeting the marquis today, I’m convinced. It’s impossible to persuade him directly.”
Glenn had two main objectives.
First, to prevent any imperial scheming that might arise from the Riberton marquisate.
Second, to negotiate with the marquis over toll adjustments on the Lems River.
He had thought about persuading the marquis personally, but seeing the state he was in, that was hopeless. It would be more realistic to focus on making Kyle the next marquis.
“I’ve thought it through. I tried every way possible to persuade the marquis over the past two weeks. But it was no use. He just doesn’t listen, so there’s no way to persuade him. Naturally, negotiations keep breaking down repeatedly.”
Murca smiled bitterly, and Kyle raised his wrist slightly.
“I do have a plan.”
“Good. Let’s hear it.”
Kyle’s grand plan began to spill out from his lips.
***
“Are you serious?”
As soon as Kyle finished explaining, Tessa, who had been quietly listening, spoke up.
“Eh?”
“Do you really intend to persuade them with that?”
Tessa’s gaze was sharper than usual, and Kyle flinched.
“…Why do you say that? I don’t think there’s any major problem.”
“Ha… where do I even begin explaining this.”
“Hmm, don’t be so hard on me, Tessa. The overall framework isn’t bad. In fact, it’s quite workable. The intent to directly fix the chronic problems in Riberton Domain isn’t bad at all.”
“But Lord Puruka, this is too—”
“I know. Right now it’s just vague talk, like a half-baked idea. But if it’s made more concrete and clear, it could work.”
He smiled at Tessa.
Understanding the meaning behind the smile, she involuntarily frowned.
“Hia—”
It was quite unlike her usual gentle demeanor.
This made someone else uncomfortable.
“…Ahem, Tessa, could you tell us what the problem is?”
“I want us to grow our domain later. And eventually, unify the continent.”
“Eh?”
“The plan Sir Kyle just laid out is similar to what I’m thinking.”
The somewhat blunt metaphor made Kyle frown.
“You mean… that much? Still, this absolutely needs to be done…”
“A good plan isn’t just about having good intentions and goals. Words based on clear and precise numbers and facts have the power to attract people.”
And so Tessa’s lecture began.
Fortunately, Kyle quietly and attentively took in her advice.
“Alright, I’ll leave that part to Tessa. Let’s discuss another plan.”
“…You mean the imperial envoy?”
Puruka’s eyes widened.
“Oh? How did you know? You really do have a knack for surprising people, just like Isabelle.”
“We already assumed the empire was involved. And the fact that negotiations with the marquis kept breaking down means the empire still hasn’t achieved its goals.”
“Hmm, that’s the thing. The empire’s reaction is a bit strange.”
“Strange?”
“Well, whenever negotiations collapse, the empire seems to welcome it. Like they’re happy about it. It feels like they’re hiding some other intention.”
What could that mean?
Hearing Murca’s words, Glenn smiled slightly.
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