Chapter 3.2

Natong was thoroughly enjoying the taste of power for the first time in his life—until that young brat suddenly appeared, inheriting the title above Earl and becoming the head of the Arthus Family!  

The royal laws regarding inheritance among nobles stated:  

[Sons can inherit property regardless of blood relations. If a son-in-law is brought into the family, daughters may inherit, but the husband must be a noble.]  

Because of this law, families with only daughters often passed their inheritance to male relatives. Few noblemen were willing to lower their pride and enter another family as a son-in-law.  

Moreover, the wife held control over the property, leaving the husband to live under her influence—a situation most men found undesirable. The social stigma surrounding such arrangements meant that few men would choose subservience over being cast out.  

The Arthus daughters had long been married off to other families, and Benoit’s brothers were all deceased. While he could adopt one of his grandchildren, he had shown no intention of doing so, leading everyone to assume the family line would end.  

But then, unexpectedly, the old man adopted one of his grandchildren. Though Natong only heard rumors and didn’t know which family the boy hailed from, for Earl Marlon, it was like a bolt from the blue.  

Over the past few years, what had been his was now being returned to that brat.  

‘Damn Benoit de Arthus!’ 

If he was going to adopt someone, why didn’t he do it earlier?  

After declaring he had no suitable heir and would return his property to the royal family, the stubborn old man suddenly decided to throw a wrench into everything!  

‘Perhaps, facing death, he found the idea of relinquishing his wealth unbearable.’  

Of course, had Natong been the previous Earl of Arthus, he would have felt the same.  

Still! This wasn’t right!  

At least, not from Natong’s perspective.  

‘That brat is the problem too.’  

Liam de Arthus.  

The young man who seemed to have emerged from nowhere had a soft appearance, but his words were sharp and biting.  

His diligent demeanor reflected someone entrusted with full authority by the stubborn former Earl of Arthus…  

“Is there any reason to grant canal access rights to Debroge? Furthermore, I noticed the fees you charged them were lower than those imposed on other families.”  

The problem was that his target was none other than Natong himself.  

For the past six months, Liam had been combing through records and interrogating him at meetings. His observations were sharp, and each issue he raised was substantial, forcing Natong to pay dearly for underestimating him.  

“Monsieur Marlon, please answer.”  

Even his direct and confrontational tone was grating.  

Natong took a short breath before responding.  

“A successful merchant requires reinvestment. It’s a long-term investment strategy. Once they become accustomed to using our canal, they’ll use it more frequently and willingly pay higher fees.”  

“Your words sound eloquent, but to me, they don’t seem like a valid reason. According to your logic, Monsieur Marlon, Debroge should pay higher fees than others, yet they’re paying the least.”  

“Well, that’s…”  

“It’s not just Debroge. Your criteria lack consistency, which is bound to cause complaints among other users. Do you have any other reasons?”  

Why were the criteria inconsistent? The answer was obvious.  

He offered special benefits to those who bribed him and flattered him, rewarding those who pleased him.  

Though unspoken, most people were aware of the arrangement. Few refrained from participating—not because they couldn’t, but because they chose not to.  

Yet Liam de Arthus was deliberately exposing these hidden practices, poking and prodding relentlessly.  

‘Pretending to be above it all!’  

Even if he acted virtuous now, Natong could see that given time, Liam would wield power more ruthlessly than anyone else.  

Frustrated, Natong glared at Liam, but the young man merely tilted his head as if to ask why he was being stared at. This only fueled Natong’s anger further.  

Still, he couldn’t back down.  

Debroge was the family of his future bride, but more importantly, losing here would mean surrendering his hard-earned authority and freedom to that brat.  

He would be forced to live as a subordinate to the Arthus Family’s shadow once more, just as he had before.  

‘That cannot happen. Not after all I’ve done to seize power.’

Resolute, Natong spoke again.  

“Hmm, Monsieur Arthus, your concerns may arise from unfamiliarity. You’re still adjusting to the scent of the Seine River.”  

You’re young—you don’t understand yet!  

“If you examine the records, you’ll see that the Rido Canal has operated without issues. In fact, it’s thriving more than ever.”  

This is how things work here! Stop questioning it!  

But Liam was not one to back down.  

“Is that so? I have no desire to become accustomed to the scent of the Seine. It reeks of stagnant water.”  

I don’t like it.  

Understanding the underlying insult, Natong clutched the back of his neck in frustration.  

Where on earth had the former Earl of Arthus found such a brazen successor? 

Natong could only curse the old man.  

Liam’s relentless and disrespectful questioning continued, leaving no room for compromise. In the end, the meeting adjourned without resolution.

Due to the rule requiring meetings to rotate among the families’ estates, this meeting was held at Earl Marlon’s residence. As the host, Natong had done his best until the very end, forcing a smile as he saw Liam off.  

“Then, I hope you return safely.”  

“You should be more concerned about your own health, Monsieur Marlon. You’re at that age now, aren’t you?”  

“Thank you for your concern, I—ugh—appreciate it.”  

Natong could no longer hide his hostility. Although forty-five was still a robust age, he couldn’t help but feel insulted when compared to Liam, who was still in his twenties.  

Do you think you’ll stay young forever?!  

He wanted to shout it out loud, but with the Arthus Family backing Liam, he had no choice but to swallow his words.  

As Liam walked toward his carriage after parting ways with Natong, his aide, Gabriel, spoke up casually.  

“You could have gone easier on him. I thought Earl Marlon was going to shoot fire from his eyes.”  

“Let him try. He’d only hurt himself in the process.”  

“Still, it would be best to maintain a cordial relationship. From what I’ve learned, Earl Marlon holds significant power in this area. It wouldn’t be wise to antagonize him.”  

“That’s only because Grandfather let him. Everything will come back to me eventually.”  

“But you’re still unfamiliar with this region, Monsieur. It would be easier to turn Earl Marlon into an ally and use him.”  

“Does he look like someone who’d fall under me? His hostility was evident even before I said anything.”  

“Well, yes, that’s true…”  

Gabriel trailed off, unable to argue further. While his reasoning was sound, the underlying issue was clear.  

Having served as Liam’s play attendant in his childhood and later as his aide, Gabriel knew Liam better than anyone.  

Naturally, he understood that Liam was merely venting his frustration by targeting Earl Marlon.  

The frustration stemmed from being practically cast out to this rural area after his reckless behavior at the Conrad Marquisate.  

Even if he had been well-behaved, as the third son, he would have received little inheritance and eventually been sent away. But his antics had certainly accelerated the process.  

“Still, isn’t it fortunate that Earl Arthus decided to protect his grandson, even an unruly one, by granting you the inheritance?”  

“You’re right. That’s something to be grateful for. It’s thanks to my grandmother’s green eyes, which I inherited.”  

Liam sneered, quoting the former Earl Arthus’s will. The document stated that the inheritance would go to the relative or grandchild with green eyes. Among all the family members, only Liam had green eyes, allowing him to claim the estate.  

“Regardless, now that you’ve inherited it, you should make the most of it. Perhaps you should bolster Earl Marlon’s confidence at the next meeting…”  

“Wait.”  

Liam gestured for Gabriel to stop talking.  

“Quiet for a moment.”  

“…?”  

Gabriel instinctively fell silent, confused as he watched Liam’s gaze fix on something in the distance.  

Following Liam’s line of sight, Gabriel soon understood.  

‘Ah.’  

A young woman with bright brown hair was approaching from the opposite direction. Carrying a basket, she was so graceful that even Gabriel, who had seen countless beauties in the capital, couldn’t help but be captivated.  

‘How can such a stunning woman exist in a place like this?’  

Liam shared Gabriel’s sentiment.  

Her light brown hair, peeking out from under her bonnet and catching the sunlight, appeared almost golden. Her pale skin looked soft, like freshly kneaded dough.  

It was early summer, and she was wearing a lightweight empire dress. Whether intentional or not, the dress accentuated her figure.  

The airy fabric of her chemise dress highlighted her ample chest while emphasizing her elegant features.  

Judging by her attire, she was clearly not a servant. Likely a noblewoman…  

“Did Earl Marlon mention having a daughter of marriageable age?”  

“I believe he did…”  

“Was his late wife exceptionally beautiful?”  

“I don’t think so. That young lady is probably not Earl Marlon’s daughter.”  

“How can you be sure?”  

“I’ve heard that Earl Marlon’s daughter has ginger-colored hair and freckles, resembling her father.”  

As Liam and Gabriel whispered, the young woman drew closer. Even from a distance, her beauty was striking, but up close, she was even more breathtaking.