Chương 115: [Chapter 115] It Will All Be Mine
As soon as they entered the castle, the Viscount and Catherine were escorted to a small reception room in the main palace. Just as Nerys was about to instruct them to be taken care of, Cledwyn appeared with Aidan.
Sitting at the top seat in the reception room, Cledwyn exuded a beast-like strength with the chill wind. The Viscount felt a sense of intimidation from his actions, but he remained seated and casually opened his mouth.
"Long time no see."
The Cledwyn the Viscount remembered was a little boy before entering the academy. Of course, they had exchanged messages for a few years after that, but in the Viscount's mind, this grandson was always just a child.
Although he knew that several years had passed since becoming an adult... the fact that he had grown so tall and had such a confident gaze was unfamiliar and surprising.
Cledwyn spoke with crossed legs and a crooked tone.
"How many years has it been? I can't remember well. It seems the Viscount has received a new title during that time."
'I am now receiving you as a Duke, so behave accordingly,' it was not a very kind remark. Nerys suppressed a smile, and the Viscount's face twisted.
But it was clear what kind of response was needed to such a remark. It was a principled and appropriate remark, and they were currently in the Duke's castle.
Not long ago, after the necks of the elders who had raised objections were all cut off, the White Swan Castle had become nothing short of a fortress. There were many hot-headed individuals, but there was no one with little loyalty among those who entered this castle.
Except for those who were recently captured.
But didn't the Viscount assist in clearing even those individuals? So, the attitude the Viscount should display was clear.
'Although Sidney probably didn't spill my name.'
If he cared about his family's lives. But it wouldn't hurt to be cautious.
"...Excuse me, Your Grace."
After a slight cough, the Viscount awkwardly apologized. Cledwyn looked at him with a cold gaze and, due to that coldness, gave a slightly eerie smile.
In fact, considering the incident six years ago when Cledwyn almost died, the fact that he was receiving the Viscount in this manner was quite amusing. The Viscount should have been immediately taken to prison as soon as he set foot in Mainland.
But since there was no evidence of such an event happening. The evidence that Viscount Tiphian tried to harm someone of higher status than himself.
Without such evidence, if the Viscount were to arbitrarily take him and imprison him, even ordinary merchants traveling to and from Mainland would be cut off, and the royal family would march forward calling for justice, to save the 'noble falsely accused and harmed by his grandson.' Many nobles would sympathize with that.
That was the damn power of justification. It may seem like a joke on ordinary days, but it was essential to capture people's hearts at crucial moments.
"I should thank you for coming, but I didn't call for you, so it's quite amusing. What brings you all the way here?"
"Ahem, well, Your Grace."
The Viscount spoke with a pleading expression.
"The only thing we can trust in this world is bloodline, isn't it? As you grow older, you naturally want to see your family more. That child, Edith's only surviving child, is here before you. Now that you have become such a dignified Duke, I dare to be so proud, and how happy Edith would have been if she were still alive..."
The introduction was long. Nerys, who was sitting opposite the Viscount, noticed Cledwyn's eyebrows gradually rising as he sat diagonally across from her. It was very subtle, but noticeable.
"Hmm."
Feeling undoubtedly upset, Cledwyn refrained from shouting and instead made vague remarks. The Viscount narrowed his forehead as if he didn't like that response.
"Your Grace, I am talking about your mother. How much I loved that child... When I heard that she passed away alone in a distant place, it felt like the sky was falling. Although we had no contact between relatives for a long time, I now want to be of help to you as your foster uncle."
The atmosphere in the reception room became heavy.
"Help?"
Cledwyn's questioning voice was sharp.
"So, did you try to snatch that position by meddling with my manager and harassing my counselor?"
"Oh, why are you saying such bitter words? I only wish for Your Grace's well-being."
'Sidney, this bastard.'
It seemed that Karl Sidney didn't care about his family's lives. A smile of confusion crossed the Viscount's old face. Nerys maintained a calm expression deliberately as the two men conversed.
Cledwyn spoke with an arrogant tone.
"If you touch my people, don't think I'll just stand there like a fool. If you can handle the consequences, do as you please."
Finally, the Viscount's expression stiffened.
"'My people,' Your Grace. Do you not know what consequences it might bring to appoint an eighteen-year-old lady to such a position? How much will people gossip?"
The unjust voice was so unfair that someone listening might think the Viscount was Cledwyn's father-in-law rather than his uncle. Both Cledwyn and the Viscount's gazes naturally turned to Nerys at that moment.
She slightly lowered her head and averted her eyes. The Viscount was taken aback, his mouth agape. However, his amused expression was already out of sight to Cledwyn, who had already left the room.
Nerys let out a bitter smile.
"Don't worry too much."
Originally, Cledwyn was overly affectionate, which sometimes worried Nerys. But now, she was relieved that he said what was needed at the right moment, or rather, it was fortunate that he didn't leave when necessary.
Except for the attendants and knights, there were only three people left in the reception room. Nerys carefully observed the two excluding herself.
The Viscount was taken aback by his grandson's attitude, but Catherine just smiled awkwardly. Despite hearing the rude gesture from the Empire's noble lady, she just smiled awkwardly.
Was it because he didn't address her directly? In fact, Cledwyn completely ignored Catherine. To an observer, it might seem like a doll was sitting in Catherine's place. Therefore, his icy demeanor didn't affect her.
But that didn't mean she was really okay. She was one of the two. Either a fool or...
'Is he aiming for something bigger than hospitality?'
Nerys suspected the latter. There was no reason for the Viscount to bring a fool this far.
"The lovely minor noble lady. Moreover, how easy it is to manipulate if she is also intelligent? Especially to send as a bride to the one she wants to control and manipulate.
Nerys knew this method well because she had been used in exactly this way by Nelusion. She was well aware of how high nobles cleverly used even distant relatives for their own gain.
It was surprising that he would act in this way towards his own grandson, of all people. However, considering the fact that the Viscount had gone so far as to kill his own grandson, the very person he wanted to devour as a giant and tempting piece of meat, it was not surprising.
"If you need anything, please feel free to tell me, both of you."
❖ ❖ ❖
"It's nothing, Your Grace," Catherine said mockingly in the guest room of the main palace, as if forcing it out.
The Viscount, who was pacing back and forth in the guest room, was furious. Being publicly insulted like this was a first in his life.
"You insolent brat!"
Crash. The teacup that the Viscount randomly threw shattered.
It was a good item to have in the guest room. It showed undeniable wealth that could not be ignored by the country folk. Therefore, Catherine made a regretful expression.
She brought a long chair next to the fireplace in the reception room and lay comfortably on it. She took off her shoes, warmed her tired feet by the fire, and looked quite comfortable, as if she were originally a resident of the castle.
"What will you do if you break things in anger? It will all be mine."
"If that's the case, buy me ten new teacups! Huh, really!"
Even after breaking the teacup, the Viscount was defiant. However, he was more genuinely calm now, influenced by Catherine's sweet outlook and relaxed attitude.
The room they were given had a structure with one reception room and two good bedrooms attached. It was a room suitable for passing guests, not a room to give to the Duke's grandfather.
For truly important guests, rooms for male and female attendants were provided, with bathrooms and large windows in prominent positions overlooking the courtyard.
The Viscount had naturally been to Fenwick before. The room where he stayed at that time was exactly like this, so he knew very well that he was being treated differently now.
"Don't worry. It will definitely be like that."
Catherine reassured him with a smile. While she secretly despised the Viscount for not being able to control his emotions to the point of becoming white-haired, for now, they were business partners.
Shouldn't business partners remain calm, no matter what they plan or say?
"The Duke is quite handsome. I heard he's crazy, but if that's what a crazy person looks like, I welcome it."
"Are you saying that just by looking at the woman next to him? Huh, really. It seems like he gave a high position to a worthless thing. If that guy is also his son, then the woman must be out of her mind!"
It was not appropriate to say what he wanted to say about his son-in-law and grandson. However, Catherine was not surprised because she had heard some things on the way here.
Certainly, the Viscount was undoubtedly not the type to have a clear mind about his family. At least, he didn't seem to have any affection for his deceased daughter.
'For someone who doesn't seem to care about his own daughter, he seems to like his stupid son.'
The people of the Viscount thought that Viscount Tiphian cherished his family very much. So, although this severe discrimination was unexpected,...
"Don't worry. By the end of winter, I will offer the best room as the host's privilege. Such men do not choose women based on conditions. Whether it's wealth, lineage, or appearance."
She smiled confidently."
"Yes, when she first stepped out of the carriage, she too was surprised by the courtesy of the 'counselor.' The elegance that naturally exuded from every word, the beauty that made even a light gesture look like a painting.
But where was the dignity between a man and a woman?
They deliberately planned to arrive around the beginning of winter. Traveling on this frozen land in the heart of winter was suicidal, so people in the north did not turn away guests in winter unless they were enemies of their parents.
For Catherine, one long winter was truly enough.
The Viscount completely calmed down at her words and demeanor.
In fact, he was originally a cunning and experienced man. Losing his composure unexpectedly was...
'From the moment he locked eyes with that girl.'
The gaze of the young girl, who was not even a suitable match, strangely unsettled him. Exactly.
It was as if those eyes were scrutinizing him, ready to devour him in the end.
It strangely made people uneasy. Even the thought of it seemed ominous.
'Is it because of the Jewel?'
Yes, perhaps it was because of the Jewel. Nerys Trued looked at him with a calm gaze, just like the royal people.
Catherine, who was thinking of the same person, spoke firmly.
"You mentioned that the Viscount had a plan, right? Do everything you can. Whether spreading rumors that Trued is trash or urging the Duke to meet him."
Catherine was relatively objective about herself and was quick-witted. So she knew very well that Nerys Trued possessed many things that she did not.
But she also knew. Women like Nerys Trued, who were overly talented, never approached men first.
'She's not my rival.'
Thinking of the 'fateful' reunion that would soon take place with the Duke, Catherine smiled confidently.
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