The Damn Family Is Back Again

368. Yggdrasil Project (8)

– Tap. Tap.

Arina heard an inexplicable sound.

She waits, tapping the table in the situation room.

Until just a moment ago, she was busy searching for Karsein.

While she was looking around the area, hoping to find something, a soldier finally approached to report. She thought they might have found traces of Karsein.

She was careful not to overlook anything and focused deeply to avoid being deceived by cunning tricks.

But the report she heard was completely different.

“…Aldersia has fallen to Claire.”

Aldersia.

It was the land Arina had ruled for a long time.

A fertile land that she had supported generously, and as a result, it had been a prosperous territory without any complaints.

But that land had fallen.

There was immense dissatisfaction within the territory, even to the point of demanding a change of the head of the family.

And it had fallen into Claire’s hands.

…Normally, she wouldn’t have cared much, but now it was different.

If there was any intention behind this action…

“No. There’s no need to jump to conclusions.”

She would have to listen to the entire report to understand the details.

Hoping the report would arrive soon, she rested her chin on her hand and tapped the table again.

“Lady. A report.”

Just then, a soldier opened the door and entered.

In his hand was a report. No doubt about it.

“It must be from the Aldericia territory?”

“Yes. Here─”

Thud.

Arina snatched the report from the soldier without giving him a chance to speak.

Her blue eyes quickly scanned the pages.

Every single word was captured by her eyes.

The territory had harbored immense dissatisfaction, hadn’t it? The first thing she needed to find was the reason.

Usually, such reports would include a few complaints from the residents. So, one would naturally look there first.

“…”

But now was not the time to look at that.

Arina sighed deeply, her expression turning serious.

“…I hoped it wouldn’t be.”

Aldericia.

It was the land Arina had governed for a long time.

A fertile land that she had spared no effort to support, and as a result, it had been a prosperous territory without any complaints.

Even so, it was a land she could give away if someone wanted it.

If someone wanted to try managing it, she would gladly hand it over.

Giving away a fiefdom raised for my younger sibling is not difficult.

However, this shows too much intention.

“Are you trying to oppose me in this way, Claire?”

Arina frowned as she put down the report.

For the successor to the family, the support rate of the fiefdom is undeniably important. In other words, the trust of the fiefdom’s residents within the family is an essential path to becoming the head of the family.

The one who has more land, more fiefdoms, and more trust has always been more advantageous in the succession battle.

That’s right.

This is the sword Claire has drawn.

It signifies Claire’s participation, who had shown no interest in succeeding the dukedom until now.

By emphasizing the position of acting head of the family rather than the dukedom.

So, what is she trying to do by getting involved in the dukedom’s fight?

…It’s obvious. She is trying to protect Carsein and withdraw the warrant in this way.

Claire, as a candidate to succeed the dukedom, will gain the support of the vassals and the shares of the fiefdom’s residents to revoke this order.

Anger rises.

Such a plan could never have come from Claire.

Who could have planned this?

Thinking about it carefully, it’s now absurd.

It was all because of that guy.

“What a remarkable fellow. To see him severing even the ties within our family like this. Ah, so he had been hiding his true colors until now?”

Kukuk.

Arina clenched her teeth and made a fist.

She couldn’t accomplish both the family’s duties and the pursuit of Karsein at the same time. Even so, the latter took precedence over the former, so at this rate, Claire would eventually catch up.

Time was running out.

“But Karsein, you underestimated me too much. Even if you put Claire in front, I won’t crumble so easily.”

Even if Claire was put in front, the vassals’ support was overwhelmingly in her favor.

Although Aldersia had fallen to Claire, her own lands were still abundant.

There was no way Arina Bagland would be pulled down from her dukedom.

Arina stood up and left the situation room.

Then she mounted her horse again.

To catch Karsein.

*

The first stage was well completed.

The vote was practically unanimous.

None of the vassals expressed any opposition.

On the contrary, they cheered enthusiastically, naturally accepting her, who had not been active as a candidate for the head of the family until now.

She had gained sufficient support.

Also, by using the rights of the legitimate heir that had just come into her hands, she discovered the gaps Arina had left.

Many important issues that had been neglected, postponed, or even buried due to the pursuit of Karsein were found. If Arina had been in her right mind, she would never have missed them.

As she dealt with these, Aldersia’s territory naturally fell into her hands. Moreover, as other territories also came into her hands, she was able to take another step closer to the position of the head of the family.

Now, it was only a matter of time.

Since she was in charge of the head’s duties, the vassals’ choices would change over time.

As she was directly handling the problems of the flawed family, there would be quite a few who would want to escape Arina’s grasp upon hearing this from the family’s territory.

Therefore, if time allowed, the situation could be reversed quickly.

But.

“No. This isn’t enough… We don’t know when Karsein will be caught.”

Claire, who had been indifferent because she had no intention of succeeding the position, could not easily catch up with the gap that had widened.

Still, Arina’s power was too strong.

If she wanted to confront her, she had to rise to at least an equal level. No, to shed the image of indifference she had shown so far, she would need more than that.

It was impossible to search for a rival due to Arina’s control over the military. If Karsein were to be caught in the meantime, all of this would be in vain.

Time was not a solution to everything.

“Isn’t there a way to completely overturn sister’s dominance?”

As she pondered this and was leaving the conference room,

Marquis Magnuel approached with a steady stride.

“Lady Claire. Here you are.”

“Marquis Magnuel? Didn’t you say you were leaving? Why suddenly─”

“Ah. It’s about the clothing. There was a problem with the uniform to be worn for the next schedule.”

“…What?”

Talking about clothes out of the blue. This was not something that would come from Marquis Magnuel.

“Originally, His Highness Albert was supposed to come, but since he is so busy, His Highness Florence decided to come instead. However, due to my son’s mistake, the clothes were ruined… Tsk. So, I wanted to ask for a custom order from Lady Claire’s boutique, as it is excellent. I also wanted to satisfy my pride to some extent.”

Claire, who had been tilting her head in confusion, soon widened her eyes and watched Marquis Magnuel’s actions as he tried to close the distance.

‘Princess Claire. Act naturally.’

As he calmly approached, he turned his back on all the retainers, changing his voice and pronunciation to reveal his true intentions.

‘There may be those who are watching. There may be those who are listening. So, I convey this to you.’

A response is required from this side as well.

However… Claire is in the direction where the retainers are looking.

In that case.

“Are you planning to use my boutique to satisfy your pride?”

“Since you are dealing with the royal family, you must maintain your dignity. We can’t tarnish the name of Bagrande, so please take care of it.”

As the conversation continued with appropriate answers, the message was conveyed again.

Naturally.

More naturally.

The conversation with the Marquis continued.

As the distance closed, he turned his back and was now able to converse.

‘…Baron Epheron. You remember, don’t you?’

‘Isn’t he the retainer who attended today?’

‘That’s right. However, it seems that something like this was found in the Aldersia territory.’

Marquis Magnuel handed over a small box from his sleeve.

Inside was a decayed hand bone along with a ring bearing the crest of the Epheron family.

The ring with the family crest. It must undoubtedly be his own.

‘How did you find this? The Aldersia territory has just come into my hands.’

‘…It wasn’t me.’

‘What are you talking about, Marquis?’

‘The one who brought it to me was none other than Prince Karsein.’

‘…!’

Claire’s body trembled slightly.

In an instant, the naturalness disappeared, and impatience surged.

Karsein is here?

Where is he?

Is he safe?

If he’s okay, he should be by my side.

I wanted to ask right away.

But.

‘…You held up well.’

As Marquis Magnuel said, Claire did not act hastily.

‘Continue. Keep talking.’

‘…I’m not sure, but it seems he was targeting the princess. He also gave me this.’

‘This is…’

‘Have you seen it before?’

A piece of wood with a sinister aura.

Claire continued the act and nodded.

‘This is a demon beast.’

‘…What?’

‘The demon beast was disguised as a human.’

‘A demon beast disguised as a human? How is that possible…’

‘It’s something I actually experienced, Marquis. I almost died because of it. There must be some unknown force at play.’

‘…!’

There was a spy in this conference room, and a demon beast disguised as Viscount Epheron.

And this demon beast tried to transfer information but was thwarted by Carsein.

When I explained the incident where I almost died to the demon beast, the Marquis couldn’t hide his confusion.

‘Turning humans into demon beasts… This is something we have no way of discovering, isn’t it?’

‘…That’s right. But, Carsein had something to convey. They have a purpose.’

‘A purpose?’

‘Why do you think they interfered at this timing? It’s because they don’t want Sister Arina’s power to collapse. They even planted a spy to convey that I was interfering here.’

‘Indeed… That’s true. Then the next target… Could it be… Lady Isabella?!’

‘Yes. Our mother would be the most troublesome. Even if it’s just a possibility, the only one who can stop Sister when she regains her sanity is our mother. And… it seems that’s not the end.’

Claire felt a strange magic flowing from the wooden block and infused it with mana, revealing a hidden code.

‘Announce throughout the Bagrand region that our mother is critically ill and that this hospital will call for a renowned doctor. Marquis.’

‘Understood.’

Carsein’s intention was fully conveyed with this.

-Crunch.

The roots of Yggdrasil burrowed into the ground and emerged.

“…A report?”

Through the transmitted magic, Akshus deciphered the secret code unique to the Marquis of Theresia and confirmed the report.

“Hmm. Isabella has become critically ill. Is that why we gathered urgently? They must be calling for a renowned doctor.”

Simple information.

But useful information.

This incident is likely to expedite the plan.

Akshus moved quickly to inform Belian.

Belian was not far away.

“…Phew.”

“Akshus? What’s wrong? Why are you sighing?”

“I think it would be strange if I didn’t sigh.”

He gestured with his eyes as if to look around.

“Just for something like this?”

“It doesn’t seem like ‘just’ to me. Not only did you enter the Duke of Bagrand’s private room, but you also sat down. What if you get caught?”

Indeed, this was Bagrand’s mansion.

And this was the Duke’s room.

He was even sitting in the Duke’s seat.

As if he had become the Duke himself.

“It’s not strange to sit here in advance when the duchy will soon be in my hands anyway.”

“…”

“Besides, I’ve already calculated that there’s no chance of that happening, right? Ah. But that doesn’t mean there are no variables at all. But.”

Velian gave a very eerie smile.

“Anyway, it’s obvious that Karsein would have gone back. Just like Veneris did.”