I Was Reincarnated as a Marquis in Another World

Three days after the late Count Nante called for us, he passed away.

Until his death, he seemed anxious about his child and, with his final breath, asked all the barons, “Let my child, Schwabin von Nante, serve me as you would your own children.”

It was a heart-wrenching sight.

Perhaps because he was so earnestly pleading, I momentarily thought, “Should I give Schwabin another chance?”

My father, Count Croilet, wept as if he had lost his own parents when Count Nante passed away.

Though the other barons were somewhat softer in their grief, their loud lamentations allowed me a glimpse into Count Nante’s character.

How could such a noble count produce such a mad fool…?

Thinking about it, even the famous wise king of the Joseon Dynasty, King Seongjong, had a son like Yeonsangun.

**

After Count Nante’s death, a grand funeral was held over three days, and the only remaining procedure was the execution of Count Nante’s will.

Once the vassals holding ranks higher than knights, all dressed in their court attire, gathered in the count’s audience chamber, the herald cleared his throat three times before speaking.

“Esteemed vassals of Count Nante, I will now read the will. Before I do, do you solemnly swear before the Holy God and our honorable Emperor to follow the terms of this will?”

All those present declared solemnly in a loud voice.

“We swear.”

“I shall begin the reading. First, it is decreed that all properties and rights of Count Nante’s domain shall belong to the rightful heir, Schwabin von Nante. However, since Count Nante is still young and inexperienced, I decree that my friend and excellent vassal, Paul von Croilet, shall serve as his guardian.”

At the mention of the guardian, the crowd murmured, but the herald continued without concern.

“Therefore, during the time spent as a guardian, Baron Croilet shall be granted the title of ‘Viscount’ and shall be referred to as Viscount Croilet, while his lands and title shall be inherited by his son, SIEL von Croilet. And…”

At the mention of ‘Viscount’, I glanced at my father standing right before me, noticing the astonishment on the faces of other baron heirs beside me.

It was only natural, as the title ‘Viscount’ in the count’s domain refers to the second-in-command within the organization due to its significance, known as ‘sub-count’ in English.

Although I had inherited all the lands and positions, becoming a viscount meant I could wield actual political power.

From the perspective of the lords intending to gain the upper hand in the internal power struggles of the count’s domain, this was inescapably a twist of the knife.

“And to the other barons, as a token of gratitude for their loyalty thus far, I shall pass on one of my weapons to each… and to the knights, I shall distribute gold coins ranging from 10 to 50 coins according to rank… Therefore, the war will…”

Thus, the herald droned on for over an hour without so much as a sip of water, reciting the edict tiresomely.

Once the reading ended, the nobles began to cluster together in small groups and divide into factions.

They roughly divided into about four factions, the largest of which was, of course, Baron Croilet, or Viscount Croilet’s faction.

Two barons and over forty knights gathered around the newly titled viscount to discuss matters, but before that, Viscount Croilet approached me and said.

“SIEL.”

“Yes, Father.”

“I have now become the guardian of this count’s domain; it is the highest position I can attain as a vassal… But rather than being happy, my heart feels heavy. My lord has passed away.”

“I feel the same sorrow.”

Upon hearing that, the viscount looked at me with a more forlorn voice.

“Indeed, I see. Thank you for understanding my feelings. That said, I must now assist Count Schwabin and can no longer protect the count’s domain. SIEL, can I entrust this to you?”

In that moment, I wanted to tell him the story of when I first met Schwabin to bring him back to his senses, but I refrained.

Because in the form of the ‘Count’s will’, the viscount had become the count’s guardian, and I had no justification to refuse, knowing that the man in front of me would do everything to assist the count no matter what.

Trying to dissuade him now would only earn me ridicule.

So, I answered in a resolute voice.

“I will repay with results beyond what I demonstrated in Windheim.”

“I look forward to that.”

“And do not worry about money. I can provide around 200 gold coins each month.”

Upon hearing that, the viscount suddenly smiled.

“Haha, 200 coins… Yes, if others had said such a thing, I would have dismissed it as nonsense, but… you could manage it. I believe in you.”

“I will take my leave.”

With those words, I departed from the viscount.

As soon as I left, a crowd of people gathered around the viscount…

I hope he does well.

**

Under normal circumstances, it would be customary to solemnly knight the knights in front of the barons, followed by a ceremony for granting ‘land’, and to express gratitude for the grace of receiving the title by hosting a ‘feast’ over two days…

However, due to Count Nante’s funeral, the ceremony of inheritance for the title was held in a haphazard manner.

It concluded with Schwabin von Nante, now Count Nante, placing his sword upon my shoulder, swearing me in as a knight and then giving me a handful of soil and twigs symbolizing the land.

Three days of ceremony compressed into a mere ten minutes; I even doubted if this was a super-fast baron training process.

And when returning, it’s typical to spend lavishly on gifts for the nobles in the count’s domain…

But due to the funeral, I could not purchase anything from the lands of Count Nante.

So, after sending my subordinates to purchase various luxuries in Hamburg, I slowly returned to my domain.

The following day after returning to the domain, I summoned the lords of our Croilet barony.

**

My land, Croilet, is truly beautiful.

It features vast fields where rye, wheat, turnips, and beans are planted in rotation, surrounded by a small but sturdy castle wall, alongside knights clad in somewhat rough armor and serfs with greasy faces; my land Croilet is indeed beautiful.

Although there are still many poor people due to insufficient redistribution of wealth within this domain, it is much better than having people starving due to overall food shortages.

In such a situation, unlike other domains, the serfs in mine live with the hope of “I won’t go hungry tomorrow” instead of just surviving.

While I was lost in such reflections, Ela approached me and said.

“Master, the other nobles have arrived in the audience chamber.”

“Alright, I’ll go.”

As I walked toward the audience chamber, Ela followed me at a step behind.

Upon entering the audience chamber, I found numerous nobles standing with somewhat discontent expressions.

No matter how much I had proven my abilities to them through my achievements, the newly titled Viscount Croilet was still alive, and I was only 17 years old.

So, I intentionally ignored such things and confidently walked to the noble’s chair at the far end of the audience chamber.

With each step I took, I felt the reality that I had become the master of this domain.

When I finally reached the noble’s chair directly in front of me, I turned to look back and, with my long cloak fluttering, proclaimed.

“I am your legitimate master, SIEL von Croilet! If there are any grievances, speak to me now! If not, listen to my aspirations!”

A moment of silence flowed, and I continued speaking.

“First of all, I understand all the discontent and concerns you have about me. My father, the former Baron Croilet, is still alive, and it is unreasonable for me, a mere 17-year-old, to be a ‘lord.’ But I ask, do I lack the qualifications?”

No one would be able to answer. I had governed Windheim since the age of 15 and had improved the four-field crop rotation and various agricultural tools to increase the harvest by nearly eight times.

As a result, the serfs they governed had been shouting, “Long live the young master!” daily, and the nobles’ income had increased accordingly.

Adding to my achievements, such as routing bandits, it would be hard to dismiss me as just a seventeen-year-old.

If they dared to dismiss me, it would merely be a response fueled by jealousy, not fact.

“You cannot say there is none. The lives of the peasants in your domain and your income have overwhelmingly improved since I began working, have they not?”

At those words, the nobles nodded in agreement.

“Thank you for your agreement. Then I promise you one more thing. Now that I have inherited the title of baron, your lives will become even more prosperous. Just as I have provided abundance to the subjects who follow me, I will bestow even greater wealth and honor upon you. Will you follow me?”

Those who had shown the slightest hesitation moments ago now seemed to think they could share in the achievements I had made, their laughter no longer stopping.

They responded loudly.

“We will follow you, Baron!”

“I will dedicate my life!”

“I vow loyalty across generations!”

At those words, I drew my sword and raised it toward the sky, then declared.

“Very well! From this day forth, I shall be responsible for you. As long as you are my vassals, your storages will never run dry, and your families will enjoy wealth beyond their status. And no one shall be left without a job. Now, you may return.”

**

After concluding my inauguration ceremony, Balt and Helmut approached me and asked.

“Um, but…”

“What is it, Balt?”

“Are you really going to give those noble kids proper noble jobs, despite them being very few?”

I smiled and replied.

“No, I will assign them the most knightly tasks.”

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