Chapter 162 Roeni’s Struggle Part Three: The Confianza Baron House Political Conspiracy
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The noble district of the Royal Capital had a distinct social gradient, dictated by political alliance.
Houses with long histories and unshakeable authority were dotted about, carefully keeping their distance from one another, while the mansions of the lesser nobles who followed them, and the wealthy merchants who had made their fortune, filled in the gaps. It was at the far edge, practically adjacent to the commoner streets, that the Confianza family estate was built.
This was due to their small territory, which limited the land they could use to establish a proper business. When the subject was first brought up, most people naturally assumed the Confianza house must be on the brink of ruin.
But the traditional follow-up to this tale was always that the reality was quite the opposite. The name Confianza was frequently heard in reports of lucrative deals, and that was exactly how the teller would lure the listener into their trap, getting them to ask why such a successful house would choose such a location.
”Ugh, seriously, ma’am. Ain’t you worried about the folks next door complaining?” Hatcha groaned.
”They used to complain at first, dear. But they went quiet in a hurry after I cut them in on the business,” Roeni answered, a slight smirk playing on her lips.
Normally, a high-class residential street was expected to be quiet and peaceful. Yet, even before the sun was fully up, one corner of the Baron’s mansion was a bustling mess.
Crowds of artisans and adventurers had packed themselves in, almost filling the street halfway. Adding to the chaos, a massive, dedicated service gate had been cut into one section of the newly renovated wall, making it look for a moment as though this place was part of the shopping district instead.
”I remember you’ve got a proper sales office set up over in the craftsman street, don’t you?” Hatcha questioned, running a hand through her hair.
”We do, yes. But the Baron needs to make the final decision on many cases, see? Time is money in this business, so I’ve just had to allow them to rush the mansion like this in the early morning,” Roeni explained, her tone firm and practical.
Surrounded by nobles of higher rank and limited in territory, the Confianza house had to find a way to survive.
The successive heads of the family found their salvation in the Royal Capital Labyrinth. This was in the early days of the Kingdom, when nobody truly believed a single Labyrinth could sustain the entire nation.
Unfazed by the mockery of those who scorned their lack of local industry, the family became one of the pioneers of Labyrinth exploration, successfully ensuring the Baron’s House survived.
Consequently, their political affinity leaned heavily toward the business world rather than the political one. That was the reason behind the mansion’s unique, off-kilter location.
”Welcome home, Madame Baroness.”
”Thank you, you’ve worked hard.”
Since the Labyrinth was indispensable to the Baron’s survival, it was actually more practical for the Madam to be the one managing its operation. So, even though she was arriving home after being out all night at work, the gatekeeper who greeted her merely gave a smiling bow.
Roeni raised a hand to the man’s proud gaze and stepped onto the grounds through the main gate, separate from the crowd pressing the walls. She moved across the stone-paved path, enveloped in the buzz of what could only be called the Confianza energy, and made her stately return through the front of the mansion.
”Welcome home, Madame. And Hatcha-sama, thank you for acting as an escort.”
”I’m home, Sebastian. Is His Lordship already in his study?” Roeni asked, her voice softening slightly.
”Oh, n-no, ma’am. This is just part of my job, I assure you…” Hatcha stammered, flustered.
As Roeni opened the door and stepped into the main lobby, she was met by the tall, mature man who gave a deep, formal bow. His refined black formal wear, emanating a palpable sense of dignity, marked him instantly as the family’s butler, Sebastian.
She hadn’t sent a messenger ahead to ensure her safety when she left the Guild, so he couldn’t possibly have known her arrival time. Yet, with a baffling fastidiousness, he was always waiting in the lobby during his working hours.
Once, Roeni had asked a servant how far in advance he could sense her return. The answer was a confusing mess: he stepped into the lobby within one minute of the door opening, but had been adjusting his schedule for the task for over an hour beforehand.
She was suspicious that he might be hiding a skill that made this possible, but she couldn’t risk the capable butler, who had served since the previous generation, deciding to resign. She decided she would simply have to accept it and curb her curiosity.
”Yes, Madame. His Lordship is already in his study, making decisions on the incoming reports. Since you did not return until this morning, he has exerted himself to clear his schedule for the day, seeing it as a sign of success.”
”I see, how typical of him. I’ll go to him right now. Also, please prepare a guest room for Hatcha. She’s been working all night, and I want her to rest before she goes home.”
”Oh, ma’am, come on. My place is right nearby. Besides, shouldn’t I be there for the report too, ssu?” Hatcha protested, shuffling her feet.
Hatcha surely understood that noble hospitality was expensive.
Furthermore, those with a skill had their fatigue lessened by their Blessing, so she seemed to feel guilty about using a room for needless rest and increasing the servants’ workload. While she pressed the necessity of accompanying Roeni to the report, the capable adventurer didn’t seem to understand that her arguments lacked the necessary punch to override her employer’s noble pride.
”Don’t go ruining a moment for the married couple. Besides, you must stay because your role is finished. We can’t assume there aren’t eyes watching this mansion, and it would be a huge headache if you were attacked before I can meet the Count.” Roeni declared, her gaze sharp.
”Ugh, that’s… that’s true. I ain’t gonna lose to some low-life thugs, but they’ve got plenty of masters on their payroll who could take me out, I bet.” Hatcha shivered visibly at the thought.
While an attack in broad daylight was unlikely, they had just spent the last few hours in a chase where being discovered would have cost them their lives. Hatcha’s shudder came, no doubt, from imagining being ambushed by a Lord Fried¹-level assassin while she was letting her guard down.
”Exactly. Stay and relax here until they decide that throttling you won’t do them any good anymore. Tulin probably ain’t back from the Labyrinth yet, anyway. At least you won’t need to worry about the girl getting caught up in an attack on you.” Roeni finished gently.
”W-well then… since my crew ain’t all together, I can’t go off earning in the Labyrinth, and I’ll need to stay put until they hear that you’ve gone to see the Count. I’ll be happy to take you up on the hospitality, ma’am.” Hatcha agreed, relief washing over her face.
If she were being truly selfish, Roeni wanted to hide all the comrades who had helped her. However, the priority was to visit the Count with the Magic Stone containing the recorded evidence, and speed was paramount in this situation.
They had achieved a far better result than expected, given they had started with minimal personnel and an unclear situation, and they couldn’t afford to hesitate and give the Prince’s faction an advantage. Therefore, she judged that Hatcha, who had been with her the whole time, was the most likely target and deserved the protection her home could offer.
”We are most grateful for your acceptance. Now then, Hatcha-sama, please allow me to show you the way.” Sebastian spoke, his voice completely level.
After seeing the slightly flustered Hatcha being led away, Roeni climbed the main staircase and headed for the master’s study, tucked away at the back. It was originally just a private hobby room, so its door looked no different from any of the others.
She paused to collect herself, then gave the wooden door a light knock. A slightly higher-pitched voice replied with a short word from inside.
”Enter.”
”Excuse me.”
Upon opening the door and entering the room, Roeni saw a small man seated at a massive executive desk, his back to the rising sun.
Though short, his physique was round, and so was his face. When his completely round, innocent eyes recognized her figure, his stern expression transformed into the unreserved smile of a child.
”Oh. Welcome home, my wife.” Silcro greeted her, his voice full of warmth.
”I’m home, dear.”
Dealing with the conspiracy on top of his busy morning schedule clearly meant he was backed up on his decisions. But by the time Roeni had quietly shut the door and turned around, he was already standing up from his chair and moving quickly around the edge of the desk to approach her.
In the center of the room, they exchanged a firm hug. Embracing the head that reached only to her chest, the strength of the arms tightly wrapped around her back was deeply moving.
Gossipers might mock her husband’s small stature or the difference in their heights. But how many busy husbands would prioritize taking a moment like this to confirm their love?
Thinking of that, anyone who spoke ill of his characteristics just seemed to be revealing their own unfulfilled jealousy. Roeni was absolutely certain that meeting the man who gave her the same, unwavering love he had when she was a rough adventurer was the single most fortunate event of her entire life.
”Roeni, my dear. By the look of you, things went well, I take it?” Silcro murmured into her chest.
”Yes, Sil. I successfully met your expectations… and I’ve got the evidence of the assassination attempt,” she confirmed, pulling back just enough to look at him.
Her beloved husband’s name was Silcro di Confianza.
While his appearance sometimes led to him being underestimated when people first saw him, he was perfectly cheerful about it, finding it convenient for instantly spotting trustworthy individuals. His sheer boldness and his skill for safely managing their small house were more than enough reasons for her to have fallen head over heels for him.
”Assassination… so, His Highness was involved after all. Can you tell me the details of what you learned?” Silcro asked, his round eyes now sharp with focus.
”Yes, well, it’s like this—”
When she first noticed the odd change in Marcos’ duty rotation, it was only a very bad feeling, a mere hunch. But if such a plot were being enacted, it could only be against the Princess, who was currently exploring the Shallow Layer of the Labyrinth.
The matter involved a reliable junior adventurer, a dear friend whose feelings were complicated, and most importantly, the safety of the Princess herself—a Royal figure who, like the current King, was promoting the use of the Royal Labyrinth, the very lifeblood of the Baron’s House.
The net she had cast, hoping to confirm her fear was a mere precaution, had, regrettably, caught enough damning evidence to confirm the assassination plot. It was truly awful.
”My goodness. To think they’ve even managed to pull in those who, like our house, were supposed to be neutral—this is far bigger than I thought. While the safety of His Highness is of course important, we must first inform the Princess’s faction that their very foundation is already crumbling.” Silcro frowned, a rare sight.
”Yes. The situation is among the worst we could have imagined. And I don’t believe the Prince’s faction will be satisfied with simply killing Princess Marina. This will be the perfect chance to put further pressure on the Princess’s faction and make the succession of Marisio His Highness absolutely certain,” Roeni stated, her voice tight with political understanding.
Though political maneuvering was often necessary to widely trade Labyrinth resources, relying entirely on one faction would compromise their ability to act freely when needed. Because of this, even while secretly cheering for the Princess’s faction, they had always avoided visibly supporting either side.
But with things having progressed this far beneath the surface, the balance they desired was already shattered.
It was true that thanks to the Labyrinth spitting out resources endlessly, territories far from the Capital were suffering a great disadvantage. Roeni wouldn’t mock them, as the Confianza house had once been mocked, but she couldn’t stand by silently while the prosperity they had earned through legitimate effort was about to be destroyed by conspiracy.
”Right. We’ll send the most capable person in our house… ah, besides you, I mean. We’ll send them to be the herald for Count Alegria. Tell him I need to speak with him immediately about that matter. I’ll finish up these early morning decisions before we get everything ready,” Silcro decided, already turning back to his desk.
”Thank you, dear. I’ll help you finish things up as quickly as possible,” Roeni offered, stepping forward.
Since the matter was urgent, she offered to help him with the rulings, hoping to speed things along. Instead, he ordered her to go get ready.
She realized she was still wearing the adventurer’s gear she had pulled out to chase the culprits. She hadn’t rested for nearly twenty-four hours, and while her Blessing meant she still had plenty of energy and wasn’t sleepy or exhausted, she needed to clean up and make herself presentable to visit a high-ranking noble house.
”O-oh, how completely embarrassing! I’ll send for a maid right away to help me get dressed!” she stammered, covering her face.
”You look wonderful, even in the clothes I proposed marriage to you in,” Silcro called out, his voice affectionate.
Even for a meeting that was almost a secret rendezvous, appearing as a proper noble was better for distracting people from the true meaning of the visit. If she showed up with the evidence still on her, wearing the clothes she’d caught the conspirators in, it would only confirm suspicions for any watchers.
Therefore, a bright outfit that suggested a mere business negotiation was actually more appropriate. The noble composure she had only just started to master had been peeled away so easily after risking her life for the first time in ages, and she was truly mortified.
Even if he meant it, she couldn’t bring herself to be happy about him praising her former rough persona. She tried to slip past Sebastian, who had entered the room after being called, hoping to look unconcerned, but she likely failed.
However, the perfect butler didn’t let a single flicker of emotion show, merely bowing to her before turning to face her husband. Roeni felt a rush of internal admiration for his professionalism and managed to finally exit the study.
—
Summary:
The Baroness Roeni Confianza returns to her unique, bustling mansion after a dangerous, all-night mission. She successfully secured the evidence of the assassination plot against Princess Marina—a major threat to the Confianza family’s Labyrinth business.
After sharing a moment of deep affection and commitment with her short, capable husband, Baron Silcro, the pair immediately shift their focus to the political aftermath.
They must quickly alert the Princess’s faction and Count Alegria before the Prince’s faction can move to secure the succession, realizing the entire balance of power is on the verge of collapse. Roeni prepares for a crucial, high-stakes meeting, her past as a rough adventurer clashing with her new identity as a sophisticated noble.
—
Character Insight:
Roeni’s character is defined by her unwavering love for her husband, Silcro, seeing his often-mocked appearance as a benefit for judging character. Her time as an adventurer gives her a practical edge in noble and political life, which her husband greatly values.
Though she is now a Baroness, the high-stakes danger of the mission caused her to revert to her former, rougher self, highlighting the tension between her two identities. Her drive is fueled by protecting her family’s success, which is intrinsically tied to the Royal Labyrinth.
—
Behind the Scene:
Roeni and Hatcha have just completed a chase and investigation, successfully getting the proof of a conspiracy to murder Princess Marina, who is currently in the Labyrinth. Silcro, who was waiting anxiously, is ready to leverage this information with the highest-ranking noble in the Princess’s faction, Count Alegria.
Hatcha is being housed for her safety, as the Prince’s faction might attack her to get the evidence. Roeni must quickly change from her adventurer gear into formal noble attire to make the meeting appear like a simple business negotiation, protecting their political neutrality and the mission’s secrecy.
—
T/L:
1 [Lord Fried] is the literal translation of the Japanese term. It’s a title, often used in a slightly derogatory or common manner, for a powerful adventurer or mercenary leader, often with a skill or blessing. ↩
Notes:
• Hatcha – A trusted friend of Roeni from her adventuring days. She’s a quick, lightly armored swordswoman, characterized by her vibrant red hair and a distinct, large scar across her face that hints at a rough past and a violent capability.
• Ai – The recently-formed sub-divinity/ego who manages the world’s Skills. Her sudden, intense burst of divine will (‘ki’) almost bleached Yuuri’s wicked thoughts. Called Yuuri ‘Elder Brother’ and declared genuine affection and trust based on his efficiency with her Skills.
• Roeni – Guild receptionist, former adventurer, now a baroness—mentor to Yuuri. The wife of Baron Silcro Confianza, and effectively manages the labyrinth exploration business which is the foundation of their house’s power. She is a former adventurer, which gives her a practical, no-nonsense approach to problems. Look like Lisa from certain game, brown hair but neat hair.
• Silcro – The Baron Confianza, the quiet genius whose family’s survival depends on their exploitation of the Royal Labyrinth. He is short and round, a look that sometimes causes people to underestimate him, which he uses to his advantage. He is utterly devoted to his wife, Roeni, who he sees as his greatest asset and love.
• Marcos – A young, unsuspecting gate guard who was pulled into Roeni’s covert operation when he was displaced from his shift. He possesses the crucial
• Marisio – Princess Marina’s older brother who already holds the right to the throne.
• Marina – First Princess of Restea—needs labyrinth escort.
• Count Alegria – A distinguished noble and a key figure in the Princess Faction. He is known for his strict outward demeanor but possesses a kind heart and a fierce loyalty to his only daughter, Ashley. He has short, neatly trimmed silver hair and wears exquisitely tailored, dark three-piece suits and look like like Vayne Solidor.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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