Chapter 268-2 The Secret Talk of a Couple
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Exactly. In his case, he’s been completely severed from his original territory, and he hasn’t been granted any authority as a lord. No matter how badly he fails or how much he’s deceived, it won’t affect the Atmiras family in the slightest. Besides, even if someone were to trick him, there’s nothing to gain that would interest the empire’s nobles.”
”Is that so? But if a greedy person got involved, wouldn’t they try to snatch whatever little they could?”
”That would be true—if it were easy. But deceiving him requires a significant level of commitment.”
”Commitment, you say?”
”First and foremost, it means making an enemy of the Atmiras family. From that point on, the balance shifts drastically. You’d also have to account for those around him. He’s made it clear that if someone deceived him, he wouldn’t hesitate to cry out for help. That would turn his allies into enemies against the deceiver.”
”Right now, those close to him are Harvest Hoe, Sincere Dwarf, and the Spear of Shouhyou, correct? Each one is a powerful firm that even empire nobles can’t afford to ignore.”
”Exactly. And there might be others backing him that we aren’t aware of.”
At that moment, a name Neil had mentioned earlier resurfaced in Marquis Rubal’s mind.
(Golarf… Could he be connected to Grelego as well?)
Marquis Rubal briefly considered whether Neil had deliberately let that slip to suggest a connection. But Neil wasn’t the type to play such cunning games, and Rubal’s instincts told him he wasn’t lying.
What caught Rubal’s attention even more was how Neil had referred to him: “Golarf-san.” He had used an honorific.
Golarf was a legendary figure, spoken of in the same breath as the first emperor. Yet, people rarely attached honorifics to such beings. Even if they met him in person and had to bow their heads, they would still address him without one. The fact that Neil had done so implied familiarity—perhaps even direct involvement.
”Indeed… Given the number of enemies one would make, the risks far outweigh the benefits, don’t they?”
”Not to mention, His Majesty’s favor is another factor. He has the emperor’s attention. While His Majesty may not personally intervene if he were deceived, he would still be disappointed in someone shortsighted enough to take advantage of him for petty gain. In the end, deceiving him would bring nothing but trouble.”
”But that’s only for now. Sooner or later, he will inherit the title. When that happens, will he still have the luxury of speaking so idealistically? If he continues to chase dreams, ruin will be the only outcome.”
”That’s not necessarily true in his case. He’s been running a frontier settlement for a year now. Within that short time, he’s forged cooperative ties with multiple firms. If things continue smoothly, he’ll find himself surrounded by people eager to support him—including empire nobles.”
”That’s absurd! Are you suggesting empire nobles would embrace his ideals?”
The idea was laughable. Empire nobles survived through cunning, deceit, and political maneuvering. To think they would abandon that way of life…
Marquis Rubal smirked.
”Haha… of course not.“
He let out a chuckle and shook his head.
”If the empire’s nobles heard his ideals, they’d dismiss them as naïve fantasies.”
”Then why suggest otherwise?”
”Because despite thinking it’s a pipe dream, none of them will say so openly. His ideals are admirable, after all. And if there’s one thing nobles care about, it’s appearances. They’ll praise his ideals publicly, even as they secretly scoff at them. They’ll posture as his allies, but offer no real support.”
”What’s the point of allies like that?”
”Don’t you see? It’s a mistake to openly oppose him right now. So instead, they align with him in name only. But here’s where it gets interesting—if he continues to gain influence, some nobles will start thinking, ‘We might as well work with him and use him to our advantage.’ If even one or two nobles take that stance, others will follow. The stronger he becomes, the more they’ll flock to him. And before long, he’ll hold real power within the empire.”
”I understand what you’re saying, but will it really go that smoothly? He has enemies, doesn’t he?”
”Of course. But those who oppose him fall into two categories: stubborn old relics or foolish nobles who mistake arrogance for pride. And those fools—they are the ones who should be most afraid.”
Marquis Rubal leaned forward, his voice lowering.
”If a fool tries to deceive him, his allies will immediately condemn them. But the real danger isn’t them—it’s the other empire nobles.”
”The empire nobles?”
”Yes. They’ll be the first to react. ‘How disgraceful to take advantage of his kindness.’ ‘If we don’t act, who will?’—with sanctimonious expressions, they’ll strip the fool of everything in the name of justice. And once that happens, no one in the empire will dare to oppose him again.”
Marquis Rubal had initially dismissed Neil’s story when he heard it from Viscount Hedmar. It sounded like yet another idealist doomed to be crushed by reality.
After all, how many times had they seen young nobles vow to change the empire, only to be swallowed by its corruption—or disappear without a trace?
At first, he assumed this would be no different.
But Viscount Hedmar’s expression had been grave. And more importantly, Neil’s father—Dirac—was allowing it. That fact alone made Rubal reconsider.
Had it not been for those signs, he might never have given the matter a second thought.
”That Dirac fellow… He’s onto something ridiculous. I respect his keen insight, but the scariest part is that he might be doing this without even realizing it.”
”But why is Viscount Hedmar telling you all this?”
”That baby-faced old man must have an angle, but I still can’t figure out what he’s really after.”
”An angle?”
”He clearly expects me to take action. And my choices are simple: either I work with Neil—or I destroy him.”
”Could he be trying to use you as a shield?”
”A strong possibility. Given his position, he may not be able to overturn the situation himself. But if it’s me…”
Marquis Rubal let the words trail off. It wasn’t that he feared being overheard. No, this was something even he hesitated to say aloud.
”What will you do?”
”…Honestly? I don’t particularly care. There won’t be any drastic changes overnight, and before that happens, I’ll have already passed on the family headship. I refuse to be one of those old fools who cling to power past fifty.”
”But…”
”As a parent, of course I want to help my son. But for that very reason, I won’t set everything up for him.”
Just as Rubal himself had grown through failures, he would not rob his son of the chance to do the same. More than that, he had no desire to remain entangled with the empire’s nobility once he relinquished his title.
”In any case, it’s too early to decide anything. I need to understand him more first. And besides—we came here to enjoy a meal, didn’t we? Let’s leave this kind of talk for another time.”
”…You’re right.”
They had come here to escape the exhausting world of empire politics.
And yet, even in their attempts to relax, their discussion remained entangled in it.
Despite their best efforts, the weight of nobility never truly left their minds. And so, what was meant to be a moment of respite turned into yet another relentless debate.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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