NOVEL NEXT Chapter 66
The red carpet spread on the floor and the elegant paintings hanging in the drawing room. The decor included the taxidermy of a deer and the particularly intricate wave patterns of the wallpaper.
Though Jeongjae had never traveled to Europe, the moment he stepped into the House of Duke Jeffrey, he concluded that it would be hard to find a place more luxurious and elegant than this in Vienna or Paris. Just by opening the door, a chandelier swung overhead, and a butler clad in an equally impressive outfit welcomed them.
Jenis, being the Count’s daughter herself, walked with sparkles in her eyes, as if it were her first time witnessing such splendor. To a completely unfamiliar observer, she could very well be a commoner dressed in extravagant clothes.
“You thought it was too extravagant, didn’t you?”
Sally Jeffrey said with a sarcastic smile. Jeongjae looked at the Duke with a somewhat puzzled expression and asked.
“Then this isn’t your taste, is it, Duke?”
“It’s a family heirloom. But I wouldn’t say it’s not extravagant. Comfort and luxury are always welcome. However, I know that in this day and age, it won’t look good in others’ eyes.”
“I’m not saying we should strip our family’s assets to keep things modest. So don’t worry about that.”
Jeongjae shrugged as he spoke. Of course, he meant it sincerely. Decorating the house extravagantly while everyone was starving to death during the war would be hard to swallow, but there was no reason for the local nobility to sell the chandeliers just because the country’s situation had deteriorated.
Such actions wouldn’t truly help anyone. The Duke wasn’t someone who had modesty ingrained in her, but she also didn’t particularly indulge in expensive jewelry or clothing. It was understandable that the house’s luxury wasn’t entirely due to her taste.
“So, you didn’t just drop by to say hello? What was the detailed conversation you wanted to have earlier?”
“It’s a diplomatic issue. It’s also a discussion about how the Empire will be operated moving forward.”
At Jeongjae’s words, the Duke’s eyebrows twitched. The thick eyebrows moving slightly upwards resembled a caterpillar.
“Is Eramenia involved in this matter? Or is it just a problem between Harriet and Jeffrey?”
“The truth is, it’s most accurate to say it’s a problem between Harker and Jeffrey. I’ve come today to discuss matters very closely related to the interests of the Harker family.”
“The Baron Harriet’s Territory is like a barnacle stuck tightly to Harker. But are you really saying that a Harker like Arthur entrusted you with an important discussion regarding Harker’s fate?”
“A barnacle cannot hold on to a rock, but Harriet can protect Harker. If you consider who else Harriet may have protected, you would understand why I stand so confidently before you, Duke.”
Jeongjae’s tone sounded somewhat aggressive, but Jeffrey couldn’t express discontent about it. For a moment, he looked concerned at the butler and Margaret before lightly nodding towards the Elven Princess.
“If this is merely a matter between local lords, I prefer to converse with this gentleman alone. Especially you, Princess. You, as the monarch of Eramenia…”
Jeffrey trailed off as if searching for the right expression. Margaret closed her eyes and nodded, glancing at the butler.
“This isn’t a matter for me to interfere with. I understand. Will you guide me to an appropriate waiting room?”
Jenis seemed secretly eager to interject in the conversation between the Baron and the Duke, but when Margaret gave her a look, she quietly followed the butler to the lounge of the mansion.
Just after the two women disappeared from the drawing room, Sally Jeffrey let out a sigh of relief as if she had been released from pressure.
“To have such a person next to you and showing no signs of discomfort.”
“She’s a comrade I’ve fought with for three years. If it still feels strange, that would be odd.”
“No, I’m not talking about the Baron. That goes without saying. I’m talking about Lady Harker. For someone her age, it’s not something she should handle.”
“In truth, there’s no one in the world who can handle Princess Margaret. One can only choose whether to become her friend or her enemy.”
“If those are the only two options, I would definitely never make her my enemy.”
Jeffrey shivered as he said this. Jeongjae actively agreed with her words. He couldn’t even imagine that the girl who just vanished with Margaret had turned Margaret into an enemy in some sense.
“Should we sit and talk? Or would you like to take a look around the mansion?”
“Under usual circumstances, we would discuss while seated. But judging by your words, it seems you’d like to show me around the mansion.”
“The view from the terrace is quite nice. It’s best when you come in early summer, but even the empty fields have their own beauty. Let’s follow along and talk as we walk.”
Jeongjae stepped onto the spiral staircase leading to the second floor at the Duke’s suggestion. As Jeffrey led the way up the stairs, he slowly began to speak.
“I never thought there would be a noble to represent the interests of Harker. The House of Count Harker is the most powerful noble family in the Empire. It’s impressive that a newly established noble family in less than 200 years could gather such strength by always representing the interests of other nobles. Yet here stands a young one claiming to represent the family’s position. It makes one wonder how the world has come to this.”
“You said the history of the House of Harker isn’t even 200 years, right?”
Jeongjae abruptly stopped on the stairs. The Duke shrugged her shoulders as she glanced down.
“Yes. Is this the first time you’ve heard that?”
“As you know, I’m not particularly familiar with this world. It’s just that I’ve never been curious about the history of the Harker family.”
The Duke chuckled heartily and looked back up the stairs.
“It’s only natural, Baron. In fact, no one is particularly curious about that. What matters is that the Harker faction holds power right now. The Jeffrey family lost the southern hegemony before I even rose to the position of head of state, and it’s difficult to even compare to the history of the Harker family in terms of holding such a strong influence.”
When Jeffrey reached the top of the stairs, Jeongjae followed her into the second-floor corridor.
“Then, is regaining the status of that time the family’s long-cherished desire?”
At Jeongjae’s question, the Duke gave a somewhat playful smile. Jeongjae awkwardly smiled, feeling a little embarrassed.
“You realize it yourself, right? No matter how much I say, would I be able to answer such a question in front of a man who claims to represent the Harker family’s position?”
Jeongjae took that answer as a confirmation.
Jenisk’s previous warning had been accurate. Sally Jeffrey was not someone to be underestimated. Her skills weren’t inferior to Arthur Harker. Perhaps her own abilities may not be inferior to those of Count Harker…
Jeffrey continued to lead, and Jeongjae followed her to the terrace. The second-floor corridor was as splendid as the first.
“I hear he’s a respected lord in the region.”
“Our subjects’ respect and loyalty are directed towards us. They’re remarkable people.”
“What about loyalty to the Empire?”
“As long as I remain loyal to the Empire, all my subjects are loyal to Caprice. Is there anything wrong with my words?”
“No, there’s nothing wrong. That’s a good point. I understand.”
Though the conversation could have carried a chilly undertone, Jeongjae smoothly wrapped it up. He felt it was getting dangerous to talk about this topic any further.
Count Harker had been branded a federalist, and even a republican among the loyalists of the House of Caprice for advocating the abolition of hereditary monarchy and the introduction of elected monarchy in the Assembly.
From Arthur Harker’s perspective, it was fortunate that the Crown Princess herself was not particularly eager about the next imperial succession, and thus did not have a grudge against Count Harker. Alex Caprice, Rose’s younger brother, also had a blind admiration for his older sister, which made him not sensitive to Harker’s claims that seemed to tarnish the royal family’s honor.
However, Count Harker was still taking on numerous risks in playing the central role of the local nobility. Every threat, from political criticism to the possible purging and impeachment, was directed solely at Arthur Harker.
So what about this Duke, who, despite having comparable skills to Harker, remains quietly silent? Jeongjae had thought since he received his local appointment, that he would eventually need to talk with Jeffrey and gauge her true feelings. While it was certain that she loathed the demons like ordinary humans, her opinions on the Empire’s political situation were a completely different issue.
Before long, their steps reached the terrace. The moment Jeongjae stepped outside, he understood why the Duke had mentioned the view here was quite nice.
The scene of the wheat fields that the House of Duke Jeffrey boasted was laid out directly below. Jeongjae could see at a glance how systematically the land was cultivated and managed.
While the only things that could be called factories in this world are the Empire Workshop and the Magic Tower, if grain production could be considered a factory, then this place was the Empire’s grain factory.
How many soldiers, how many lives rely on the productivity of this land? It suddenly felt astonishing that Count Harker had achieved victory in the power struggle with a family that possessed such land. In truth, aside from the excellent position of being adjacent to the system, the productivity of Harker’s territory was not particularly impressive.
“Though it’s empty, it’s impressive, isn’t it?”
Sally Jeffrey asked proudly. Jeongjae nodded slightly while leaning against the balcony.
“I think this, Duke. It may sound rude, but…”
“Please speak. You don’t seem to be someone easily swayed by public opinion.”
“If you possess such land, you could have taken in not just a thousand refugees, but all three thousand, right?”
At this remark, Sally Jeffrey momentarily lost her words, staring down at the wheat fields. After a moment of hesitance, the Duke turned back to Jeongjae and opened her mouth.
“Regarding that battle, yes. I think the Baron may have some right to boast.”
“Do I seem like someone who boasts about having won a fight?”
Jeongjae’s voice was cold. The Duke flinched in surprise and shook her head.
“That was not the meaning I intended. I apologize.”
“If I were someone who merely boasted about winning a fight, then no matter how noble you may be, Duke Jeffrey, you would not have been able to endure my overflowing arrogance and pride. I have countless achievements of that caliber. Only Walter and his friends would keep me humble. Do you understand my words?”
“Certainly, I understand, Baron.”
Jeffrey looked as if she had just realized that the person before her was the greatest Grand Mage on the continent. Perhaps Margaret’s enormous presence had concealed the fierce mana that Jeongjae had harbored all along.
In that moment, Jeongjae felt he had made a mistake, and suppressed the boiling flow of magic within his heart. He detested war. Sometimes he hated even his own achievements to the extent that he loathed the unending chains of slaughter.
To boast of achievements to such a man— essentially speaking to him as if he were a war fanatic—was no different from provoking a sleeping volcano. Once, Walter had been in a heated debate at the Imperial Assembly, and upon hearing someone say, “Aren’t you being too boastful?” had snapped and raged, pointing fingers at nobles thrice his age while shouting the most insulting profanities.
Watching that scene, he thought, “I must never act that way.” Now having calmed himself, Jeongjae smiled nonchalantly as if nothing had happened.
“What I mean is, I have purposes beyond pride in merely mentioning the battles I’ve had in my dominion. In any case, I accept your apology. I doubt your intention was to insult me, after all.”
“Could you get to the main point, please?”
Jeffrey was not a weakling, either. Momentarily surprised by a spirit that was utterly unlike humans, her recovery was far faster than that of an ordinary person.
Jeongjae nodded, satisfied that Jeffrey wasn’t too intimidated.
“I need a military alliance between all the nobles under Harker’s influence and Jeffrey. No region, no noble should be left behind. That was my most urgent feeling after this battle.”