Kapitel 114: [Chapter 114] The Visit of Viscount Tiphian
Mainland, which entirely occupies the northern part of the Empire. There weren't many options for the Empire citizens who wanted to enter that land. Even those traveling north had to bring a lot of carts and laborers, so there was only one choice to safely transport everyone to the north.
Viscount Tiphian's territory.
The massive Ilophium Mountain Range, dividing the northern part of the Empire from the rest, had a sudden break in the middle as if a giant had plucked it out.
People traveling through that section created a village around the valley, which grew over time and became a coveted territory even within the Empire for about three hundred years.
And the lord of that place came to be known as Viscount Tiphian.
Viscount Tiphian, Lady Huddis Tiphian, grumbled to the knight outside the carriage.
"Are we still far?"
Still? Mainland was originally a terribly vast land. Even the nearest city, Draycum, was a day's journey away from the surrounding cities.
However, Viscount Tiphian was already in a bad mood even before departure. The knight, knowing the lord's temperament of picking on anyone at any time, politely replied.
"My apologies."
"Tsk!"
The Viscount clicked his tongue loudly. His wrinkled eyes showed a cold discomfort and twisted.
"No matter how hard I look, there's no corner that pleases me. It's audacious to make me come to this uncomfortable land of savages."
No one invited him, but he genuinely disliked that point. If an old man like him would come this far, shouldn't the young ones stop him and come first?
It was a matter of asking what this side wanted first and accommodating it.
Yet, there was no response from the messenger announcing the visit. As if there was no value in conversing with him.
"It seems this old man is still misunderstood."
The knight knew about the incident the Viscount was talking about.
It must have been about six years ago. Back then, Cledwyn Mainland, a student at the Noble Academy and a young boy, had cut off contact with his foster uncle, whom he had followed fairly well until then."
Since then, the Duke of Mainland had never visited Viscount Tiphian's territory. Not a single word of greeting was exchanged on the Viscount's birthday or on any grand occasions typical of the Duke's reign.
The knight who heard the Viscount's words at the moment didn't know what had happened because of his low status at the time. However, according to the senior knight, a very serious 'misunderstanding' had arisen. The misunderstanding that 'our esteemed Viscount' was trying to harm the unknown villains and harm the grandson.
How terrible was that? There was no one who didn't know that the Viscount deeply mourned the early death of his beloved daughter. Also, the fact that he was deeply concerned about the grandson left alone at a young age.
Although the Viscount was not a good master to his subordinates, his warm demeanor towards his descendants made him somewhat humane in the eyes of the people of Viscount Tiphian's territory.
Perhaps if the knight knew the truth, he would doubt whether the old man sitting in the luxurious carriage was human. But as far as this knight knew, it was true in Viscount Tiphian's territory.
Thanks to this, the reputation of the Duke of Mainland was very poor.
The Viscount, who casually used words like 'misunderstanding,' leaned back on the soft chair in the carriage and chewed his lips. The more he thought about it, the worse he felt.
Unlike his subordinates, the Viscount knew what he had done. But to him, everything pointed back to Cledwyn's mistake.
Why did it seem like a mistake to the royal family? If it seemed like he would be loyal enough, why would they try so hard to 'kill' him in the royal family?
And.
'Since he didn't die anyway.'
In noble society, even if they growled at each other yesterday, they should be able to marry their children with a smile today. Isn't that the weight a leader should bear?
Yet, despite being so petty in his old age, pushing away the only blood that could help him.
'Inadequate.'
Since he heard the news that the Duke of Mainland suddenly brought the young girl of the Elendria family lineage and placed her in the position of a counselor, the Viscount had been very displeased.
He thought that position should have been his.
Of course, it was uncommon for nobles to manage an estate in another noble's territory. But it wasn't impossible. Especially when the position was like a counselor, and if the appointing party was young and the appointed party was an elderly relative, it was almost like a guardian appointment.
'He should have quickly taken that position when that young man was still inexperienced. Missing the timing, he's been struggling for a long time.'
The Viscount regretted. If a man like him could use such expressions, that is.
He shouldn't have been involved in that incident six years ago. How many years had it been since he interfered unnecessarily and was beaten by his grandson, who was going to be eaten anyway?
'If he was going to survive in the royal court, who knew he would clean up the annoying old men?'
'Now, it's fortunate that he didn't die six years ago.'
If Cledwyn had died six years ago, wouldn't that land have been divided, almost given to several lords, such as the Elendria Marquis?
Instead, now was the perfect condition for the vast northern region to fall entirely into Viscount Tiphian's hands.
After all, the Mainland people were all stubborn. The young tyrant would likely have many political grievances.
So, if the right public opinion and opportunity were created, Viscount Tiphian, with his age, experience, and popularity, could be appointed to the position of counselor in Mainland under the guise of taking care of the grandson. Then, he could appease the noble folks below and wield influence over that vast land.
'What about an 18-year-old girl?'
"This radical appointment is surely a symbol of some strange power or something.
A competent subordinate helps the lord. However, there was no lord who only based their criteria for selecting a manager on 'reading books well,' 'quick understanding,' 'proficiency in foreign languages,' and the like.
The people value managers of noble descent even higher and listen to them much better, even if they are just counselors.
So, Viscount Tiphian could only imagine how painful it was to have Cledwyn brought in and displayed in Fenwick. It was like completing a garbage dump by bringing in a young girl of humble noble birth and putting her at the top.
That's why he instigated Karl Sidney to raise dissatisfaction with the counselors.
'That idiot.'
Seeing that the contact was cut off, he was probably dead. He was worried that the Duke's influence over his subordinates had only increased because of that inadequate man.
"Achoo! Your Grace, isn't the carriage too cold?"
The woman sitting on the opposite side of the Viscount sneezed and complained. The Viscount clicked his tongue.
"It's not a carriage problem. It gets cold around the Ilophium Mountains."
"It's not even winter yet, is it? People live in a place like this."
"You have to get used to it. If things go well, you'll have to live here too."
"Hmph."
The woman smiled sarcastically.
Suddenly, the light shone through the window and illuminated the woman's face.
Smooth strands of hair elegantly cascaded down, adorning her smooth forehead. Beneath that, blue eyes with a mischievous look sparkled with a green sheen.
Overall, she had attractive features. Not a typical beauty, but a refreshing appearance that would appeal to anyone who saw her.
At that moment, despite the contempt and boredom on her face, the Viscount knew who she resembled when she smiled kindly.
A talent found by scouring the entire Viscountcy. The key to this task.
"Enough with the chatter, Catherine. Behave properly in front of the Duke."
"Of course."
The woman, Catherine, smiled faintly and looked out the window.
Although she complained about the cold, Catherine also knew. If everything went according to plan, the cold would soon be no problem at all, and immense wealth and power would fall into her hands.
The carriage continued on its way. Towards Fenwick.
❖ ❖ ❖
"Nerys Trued, Your Grace."
Upon seeing the face of the person who greeted him in front of the White Swan Castle, Viscount Tiphian froze in place for a moment.
Calm eyes with a unique reflective structure.
A gentle yet elegant demeanor and an undaunted posture.
Viscount Tiphian had also heard about her reputation in noble society. A lower noble girl who rose through the ranks with an unknown guardian from the Elendria lineage.
However, Nerys Trued's name was always mentioned in passing, just a casual topic. The Viscount had never paid much attention to her. Not until Karl Sidney informed him of the new counselor of Mainland.
A young minor noble girl suddenly appearing in Mainland and becoming a counselor? Moreover, becoming a Jewel, isn't that something that should make sense?"
However, the Nerys Trued she actually met... was beyond expectations.
"I didn't expect the counselor to come out like this."
He couldn't stay stiff for long. His pride didn't allow it. He twitched his eyebrows and responded to her greeting.
"Your Grace, of course I should come out to greet you. But..."
Nerys looked at Catherine, who was awkwardly leaning out of the carriage with vague words. Catherine grinned.
That smile was very likable by general standards, but unfortunately, the person standing right in front of her was too noticeable. In terms of dignity, even in terms of beauty.
'Not a suitable match.'
This was awkward.
The Viscount deliberately extended his hand politely and helped Catherine down from the carriage. Then, he looked at Catherine with a very precious gaze and introduced her.
"My cousin's daughter."
Catherine elegantly greeted by holding the hem of her dress.
"I'm Catherine Haricot."
"I'm Nerys Trued, Miss Haricot. If you have any discomfort during your stay, please feel free to let me know at any time."
Nerys received the greeting politely without raising an eyebrow. Catherine clapped her hands and happily replied.
"Yes, of course. I had no idea there would be a peer of my age. Please take care of me while I'm in your debt."
"A peer? You're not from such a great family."
"Oh, then, Miss Trued..."
"During your stay, you can call me Counselor."
Catherine, whose words were cut off in the middle, closed her mouth. It goes without saying that 'Counselor' was a much more prestigious title than 'peer.'
'If she's not from a great family, what am I?'
Both of them were not using their family names. So, Nerys's words were nothing but a humble way to bring Catherine down.
After a seemingly harmonious conversation between the two, when Catherine stopped talking, the Viscount silently adjusted his evaluation of Cledwyn's greeting style.
'It wasn't an unfounded appointment.'
The method of showing respect while subtly turning it back to the other person to give unease. It was an expression commonly used by high nobles, meaning 'not welcome.'
Nobles do not turn away visiting guests. If the other party is a noble, of course, even if a wandering beggar came seeking shelter, they had to at least provide a night's stay. Even if it was just a single potato in the barn.
'There is blessing for the one who gives a good place to a traveler' was a well-known saying across the continent, and its influence was even greater in places with cold winters like the north.
So, when an unwelcome guest arrived, subtly making them uncomfortable was a way to express displeasure.
It was a sophisticated receptionist that could be learned in etiquette classes. Dealing with a noble who unexpectedly entered without prior arrangement, and with whom relations were not usually good, was textbook-like.
The Viscount quickly went into calculations while managing his expression.
A beauty of his grandson's age. She had graduated from the academy, so she must have had a connection with his grandson from the beginning. Then, isn't the answer obvious?
He had put an inexperienced young girl in this position by chance.
'I have to separate them.'
It's better to be a Jewel. Since the grandson despises the royal family so much, it was like eating cold porridge to subtly plant the possibility of a connection between this girl and the royal family in his head, and to separate the immature and inexperienced puppet.
"If you have any discomfort during your stay, please feel free to let me know. I will take care of it."
Nerys extended her hand inside the White Swan Castle. The Viscount sent a kind glance to Catherine and escorted her into the castle.
Following them, Nerys slightly furrowed her brow.
If she wasn't mistaken, there was something familiar about Catherine's appearance.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
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Rangliste 
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Stein