I Was Reincarnated as a Marquis in Another World

“This is a message from Count Croilet. The previous Count Nante is gravely ill, and you are ordered to move immediately to the Count Nante’s territory! Please hurry.”

Upon hearing the news of Count Nante’s critical condition, the image of the count, who had once applied makeup to hide his pale face, came to mind.

From that moment, I had thought about not knowing when he might die, but according to the memories etched in my body, he should have lived at least another year…

“I see, you come along too. Soldier, tell Helmut and Balt to come here immediately. Since it’s late at night, we’ll depart tomorrow.”

**

Normally, it would take a week by carriage, but we managed to arrive at Count Nante’s territory in just five days due to the urgent drive.

When we arrived at the count’s mansion, the butler was there to greet us.

“You’ve arrived sooner than expected. Thank you for coming. Count Croilet arrived three days ago. Please wait a moment, and I will guide you to your room.”

“Thank you.”

A short while later, behind the older butler stood a younger one, whispering to me in low tones that I couldn’t quite hear.

Then the older butler spoke.

“There is no place available to stay in the count’s mansion… So, could you stay at the villa instead?”

“… The villa, I understand.”

“Thank you. Erich, guide him.”

**

The villa was about a 30-minute walk from Count Nante’s mansion.

Surrounded by a brick wall, with whitewashed walls and a red roof, the villa resembled a charming house you’d find in Greece, which I found quite pleasing.

“Was it Erich? I really like the mansion. Thank you.”

“Thank you, young master.”

“Then I’ll be going now.”

The butler who guided me bowed his head and left.

After confirming that the butler had left, I turned to Balt and Helmut, who were behind me.

“Helmut, organize the luggage you brought here, and Balt, come with me to see Father immediately.”

“Yes, young master.”

**

In truth, my physical condition wasn’t great.

It was because I rushed to get here in five days instead of the usual week, during which I dealt with a carriage that shook terribly.

I was sore from the impact on my behind.

However, I couldn’t afford to take a break like a normal person, as I might miss the best timing.

After dragging my exhausted body a bit further, I finally arrived at the room where the count was staying.

Before entering, I knocked three times on the door and said.

“Father, it’s Siel von Croilet. May I come in?”

“Come in.”

I opened the door and entered the room where the noble was staying.

Inside, there was a carpet from the East covering the floor, a bed that could fit at least four people, a sofa, a desk, and an office desk and chair for work.

The noble was sitting on the sofa in the inner part of the room.

“Father.”

The noble heard my voice and, after a brief moment, responded.

“Ah, sorry… Please sit.”

As I took a seat on the sofa, the noble sighed and spoke.

“Since our last meeting, I had been preparing myself, but… I never expected it would deteriorate so quickly. I just saw him a moment ago, and it seems he doesn’t have much time left… He won’t last a week.”

“Is that so? To think that Count Nante is that weak…”

“That’s true, but there’s a bigger problem.”

“A bigger problem? What is it?”

The noble, with a heavy expression of silence, said in a solemn voice.

“Baron Eirland, Baron Circland, and Baron Hyber are trying to take advantage of this opportunity to gain more political power. Although they don’t intend to draw swords and start a civil war… once Count Nante passes, won’t young Count Schwabin struggle to govern the Count Nante territory?”

Firstly, Count Schwabin von Nante is merely 25 years old.

Moreover, when I last met the count, he had called me at night and tried to set me up with women, despite me being unmarried…

He seemed to lack the most basic judgment and was just a hedonist devoted to money, alcohol, and women.

To the noble, it might not seem that bad since he is still the “owner of the Count Nante territory,” but…

In any case, from the perspective of nobles in their 40s and 50s, Count Schwabin is merely a puppet that craves “women, alcohol, and money.”

So, I silently nodded in response.

“Fortunately, as long as Count Nante is alive, those people have not posed any problems, but what will happen when he dies? Surely Count Schwabin will listen to all their deceitful whispers.”

As the noble mentioned, according to the memories stored within me, Count Schwabin von Nante would soon transfer actual authority to the barons Eirland, Circland, and Hyber.

In return, he was immersed in women and alcohol and lived each day, leading to disastrous choices selected by these three barons, resulting in the territory being trampled by overwhelming forces.

Therefore, knowing this future, I found the noble’s foresight quite impressive.

To comfort the noble, I mixed in “a little lie” in my speech.

“You must prevent that, Father. And from what I’ve seen of Count Schwabin, though he might indulge in women and alcohol a bit, he has indeed inherited Count Nante’s insight well. Don’t worry too much.”

At that, the noble seemed to gain some spirit, and he spoke with a wry smile.

“Right. You’re correct. And thank you for coming so quickly. I thought it would take you a few more days.”

“Didn’t you say that Count Nante, who has cared for me since childhood, is in critical condition? I must set everything aside and come. As a vassal, I must.”

“I truly have a good child. Now, you may go. Let’s visit Count Nante, who is lying sick tomorrow afternoon. If you have any thoughts to thwart those three villains before then, do let me know.”

“Yes, Father.”

After saying that, I closed the door and exited the room where the noble was staying.

And after walking a bit further until I reached a deserted area, I spoke in a quiet voice.

“No, noble. I will abandon that count. If it were merely Count Nante, I would follow, but that Schwabin is of no use. Living like a pig and only coveting women, while crossing the line… How can one survive in this chaotic medieval world with such a man?”

**

The next morning, at the appointed time, I headed towards the bedroom where the count lay.

The count was lying on a small bed barely big enough for one person, and there were chairs set up for me and the noble nearby.

As we entered, the count’s physician, who had been standing at the head of the bed, spoke to us in a quiet voice.

“Count Croilet and young master. Today, Count Nante is in relatively good condition; it seems he can talk for a while. However, loud voices are not good for the count, so please don’t raise your voices, even if emotions run high.”

“I understand.”

“Understood, physician.”

With that said, the physician stepped away to allow us some space.

As I took my seat, the noble gently caressed the count’s hand and said.

“Count, Paul has arrived. I’m late, so please forgive me.”

After a moment, the count struggled to respond.

“Paul? Ha ha, thank you for coming quickly. And, standing next to you is your son, Siel? My eyesight is failing, so bring your face closer.”

I stood up, following his words, and presented my face to the count.

“You’ve become manly. So, how old are you?”

“I’m 17 this year.”

“17 years, huh? Have you gotten married? If not, you should do so soon.”

“I haven’t found a suitable match yet… but I hope to have one soon.”

Hearing that, the count chuckled lightly, interspersed with a cough.

“To think the genius of Croilet, who creates new farming methods and earns immense money from sugar, is so oblivious to love… Your father was the opposite; he was always with a lover…”

“Count, please.”

“Ha ha, since it’s in front of children, I will let it slide. Croilet.”

After that, we spent about an hour chatting about various topics.

The noble and the count reminisced about memories from the battlefield, mischief before marriage, the story of the “window” that the count had sent as a memento after I was born, and more solemn stories about the death of many comrades in battle when the count’s wife died after giving birth to Schwabin.

While talking, the two were reflecting on the weight of the lives they had walked together.

To keep me from getting bored, perhaps, during discussions of mischief or battlefield memories, the count awkwardly tried to appear friendly, saying, “Ha ha, young ones would like this, right?”

It seemed he was trying to instill maximum sympathy and closeness towards the count and Schwabin in me, Siel von Croilet, the son of the noble he trusted.

With such intentions, the scene seemed somewhat pitiful as the noble lowered his dignity as a lord.

After some time passed.

“So, getting married quickly is important. So if that’s the case… cough.”

The count, who had been joyfully speaking, suddenly coughed up bright red blood onto his blanket.

In my moment of panic, I tried to go out and call a waiting physician outside.

At that moment, however, the already emaciated count grasped my hand tightly, painfully, and said.

“Wait. Just a moment. There’s something I want to say one last time… So, Paul.”

The noble, who had just been happily talking, now suddenly wept as he responded.

“Yes, my lord.”

“I envy you, having such an excellent son… So now, even without you, Siel will manage, won’t he?”

“Yes…”

“Please, Paul von Croilet. As you have valued me, now cherish my son…”

Hearing that, the noble silently shed tears.

“And Siel von Croilet.”

“Yes, Count.”

“From the moment I die, you will be the noble of Croilet territory. Govern that territory well on behalf of your father, as your father must protect my son.”

… At that moment, I effectively acquired the full authority over Croilet territory.

I had hoped for something like this to happen, but I never expected it to unfold so smoothly…

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