Chapter 7 (Part 10)

“What?”

“Brother must participate in the territorial war. Only then will it end.”

“So you’re saying Beonar should go to the territorial war?”

Marquis Fedeurus shouted, frowning at Maxwell’s words.

“You’re a bastard-born second son, but Beonar is not! He’s the heir to this house!”

“Right now, it’s more important for Brother to participate in the territorial war, apologize directly to the Duke, and beg for forgiveness!”

“Are you saying he should beg for his life?”

Everyone knew that although Maxwell was a bastard with outstanding abilities, he was never considered for the position of head of the family.

“Then tell me your thoughts, Father. How do we resolve this dangerous situation?”

“You should go to the territorial war!”

With Marquis Fedeurus’s words, the meeting room fell silent as if cold water had been poured over it.

Participating in a territorial war means risking one’s life. If Anthus were to cut off Maxwell’s head during the territorial war, no one could object.

“Brother started this mess, and he must finish it. Even if I go, it won’t resolve everything. Duke Rockbellion won’t stop until Brother goes to the territorial war!”

“Shut up, Maxwell!”

“Father!”

Marquis Fedeurus approached Maxwell and slapped him.

“Didn’t I tell you to shut up! Go to the site of the territorial war and resolve it immediately! Otherwise, I’ll strip you of your position as the second son!”

Maxwell rubbed his cheek once and calmly stood up.

“Will anything change if I go to fix the mess Brother made? The diamond mine will be taken anyway. We might lose other things as well.”

The people in the meeting room all agreed with Maxwell’s words.

Currently, hiring mages from the Mage Tower or mercenaries is nearly impossible. To match Duke Rockbellion, a Sword Master, they would need someone like Mercenary King Erzen, who is already employed by the Duke. Finding mercenaries to match them, even with a lot of money, takes time. But the territorial dispute is happening right now. Hiring mercenaries immediately? As Maxwell said, there was no way to win the territorial dispute.

“We need to negotiate.”

“What? Negotiate?”

Initiating negotiations implies ‘defeat.’ Marquis Fedeurus’s hands began to tremble.

“We can offer one diamond mine, and if we negotiate well, we can protect and keep the other things. Father!”

Knock, knock.

“Come in.”

The door to the meeting room opened, and the butler entered with a pale face, exclaiming.

“Uh… the debt collectors who came earlier… those brutish loan sharks have returned. Young Master Maxwell!”

Maxwell looked at the clock.

<It’s useless to make a fuss now, so it’s better to come in two hours.>

<Why?>

Iudi was curious about Maxwell’s words.

<Causing a commotion then would be more effective.>

Maxwell made a circular shape with his fingers, indicating money, and smiled.

<Looks like you don’t mind if I turn your house upside down?>

<Come exactly two hours and one minute later. That’s all I have to say.>

Seeing Maxwell smiling, Iudi thought he was of the same kind as Duke Rockbellion.

Following his words, they made a loud entrance at the Fedeurus marquisate precisely two hours and one minute later, accompanied by knights from the Imperial Palace.

They showed the bonds and acted recklessly, breaking the marquisate’s belongings.

“Where is Young Lord Beonar?”

They shouted at the top of their lungs.

“No matter how I think about it, I must receive an apology!”

Iudi smiled more brightly than anyone else. The servants tried to stop the extreme behavior of Iudi and his subordinates, which started from the entrance of the mansion, but they were helpless.

“Look here! Look at this bond! The interest alone for not repaying the debt is 15 million gold! How will you repay the principal if you can’t even pay the interest?”

“Even if there is a debt, entering private property like this…”

The knights tried to stop Iudi and his subordinates.

However, the knights from the Imperial Palace restrained them. Iudi and his gang couldn’t hide their excitement, knowing that even the servants of a noble household couldn’t touch them, and they began to rampage even more.

“Are you trying to stop the enforcement of bonds authorized by the Empire?”

Holding the bond, Iudi and his subordinates laughed loudly.

Marquis Fedeurus’s face turned red as he came out of the meeting room.

“If you have complaints, tell them to the Empire, which allows the enforcement of bonds!”

“Let’s take the stuff and leave!”

Rough and dirty men swarmed in and began to take away the marquisate’s belongings.

All the retainers watched in dismay.

“Young Lord Beonar… No, is the marquisate in such difficulty that it owes even to such commoners?”

“With the territorial war… and debts…”

Marquis Fedeurus clutched his neck, unable to contain his anger, and collapsed again.

“Father! Oh… how could this happen… Call a physician immediately!”

Maxwell quickly lifted the fallen Hoden and shouted worriedly. He looked down at him more coldly than anyone.

But no one saw Maxwell’s cold gaze. Instead, they saw him as a filial son, concerned for his father, even though he was beaten and cornered.

“Since Father has collapsed, I will handle the situation.”

No one opposed his words. Maxwell entrusted the marquis to the butler and approached Iudi. After whispering something to him, Iudi nodded, grinned, and left quietly. The servants sighed in relief at this sight.

“Everyone, please clean up here. Rearrange the decorations.”

The retainers were curious about how he managed to calm down the brutish gang.

“Princess Seria provided some money… I gave them the gold coins issued by the Imperial Family.”

The retainers finally realized. Behind Maxwell was Princess Seria, and behind Princess Seria was the Emperor!

“Is it okay to give what the Princess provided?”

“It’s fine.”

“But is Young Lord Beonar still asleep, drunk, after causing such a mess?”

One retainer asked.

“My brother… is not well… He is recuperating.”

None of the retainers believed Maxwell’s words about him recuperating. They foresaw a bleak future for the Fedeurus marquisate under Beonar’s leadership.

* * *

Yuliana blinked, staring at Anthus’s red eyes.

“Yan, why does it feel like we’re going on a trip instead of a territorial war?”

Yuliana asked, hearing Anthus hum. He didn’t seem like someone going to a territorial war at all.

“Why do you think so?”

“Because you look very happy, Yan.”

“They say you can’t beat someone who enjoys what they do. Let’s finish the territorial war quickly, tour the territories we’ve expanded, eat delicious specialties, and enjoy the hot springs before returning.”

“Are we really going for a territorial war?”

“Of course, Lia.”

Anthus loosened his cufflinks slightly and approached Yuliana.

“Why are you suddenly approaching while loosening your buttons playfully, fiancé?”

“Why are you asking when you already know, fiancée?”

“Are you not answering because I already know?”

“I find your curious expression adorable whenever I don’t answer, Lia, so I guess I shouldn’t answer to keep seeing that cute expression.”

“Tease.”

Yuliana embraced Anthus’s neck as he approached with a playful smile.

“I’ve been through a lot because of the absurd rumors, Lia. From now on, if anyone speaks ill of you, I won’t let it go under the name of Rockbellion.”

Anthus whispered softly in her ear, causing Yuliana’s shoulders to tremble greatly.

“Lia… shall we depart in three hours?”

Anthus, breathing heavily, spoke with a flushed face. Yuliana knew well what his heated touch desired.

“Were you always such a man without self-control, Yan?”

“What is self-control?”

Anthus had long erased the words waiting and self-control from his dictionary, but only for Yuliana.

“It means holding back!”

“Oh! I used to be good at that, right?”

“Why are you suddenly talking about the past!”

Feeling Anthus’s heated body pressed against hers, Yuliana blushed, knowing what he was about to do.

“I’ve used up all my self-control over the past nine years, so I can’t restrain myself anymore. Besides, men are simple creatures who go crazy just having the woman they love beside them. They want to devour her regardless of the place.”

“But we’re about to have a territorial war… Save your strength, fiancé.”

“Don’t underestimate a Sword Master’s stamina, fiancée.”

Anthus, who had slipped his body between Yuliana’s thighs, licked his upper lip with his red tongue and spoke.

“You have no idea how much I hold back every day. Every time I see you, I feel like I’m going crazy, but I always control myself with superhuman restraint, and I really want to let you know that.”

Feeling Anthus’s heated body against hers, Yuliana’s face and neck turned red.

“Lia, can’t we really leave in three hours?”

Anthus began to whine to Yuliana, asking her to understand his sensitive body.

Yuliana, locking eyes with the desperate Anthus, smiled brightly and said.

“We need to leave quickly.”

Anthus awkwardly pulled away, his eyebrows twitching slightly, and said coyly.

“Then, at least a kiss…”

“It won’t end with just a kiss… Do you think I’d fall for that again?”

“But it’s because you’re so charming, Lia.”

“We need to leave quickly.”

“Understood. I’m a man who listens well to you, Lia.”

Yuliana suspiciously looked at the suddenly obedient Anthus.

“If you keep looking at me like that… we’ll leave in three hours…”

“No! Let’s leave now.”

Watching Yuliana walk ahead with a flushed face, Anthus smiled.

Anthus had a scheme… no, a plan. That’s why he could easily give up this moment now. By retreating just two steps, he could stride towards his goal in one go, so he decided to hold back a little longer.

Anthus took a deep breath, calming himself, and spoke to Yuliana.

“Lia, shall we set off quickly then?”