Chapter 8.1 (Part 3)

The faces of the vassals twisted as if they had heard something absurd. Unfazed, Sellakia looked at Shulman next to her.  

“How far is the distance between the sea you protect and the shipping route of the slave ships?”  

Only then did the vassals understand Sellakia’s intention, and they let out a breath.  

“Ha. Are you saying we should use pirates to catch the slave ships?”  

Sellakia nodded.  

“That’s right. Seidon has a grave duty to eradicate pirates. If, during the mission, foreign slave ships happen to get caught… it’s inevitable.”  

“Well, the justification sounds plausible. Pirates are an international nuisance, and we can’t overlook the plundering acts committed in Seidon’s territorial waters.”  

“It’s an extraordinary strategy, but will the pirates really attack the slave ships as we wish? There might not be any valuable goods to loot on the slave ships.”  

Sellakia had anticipated sharp reactions to her naive suggestion, but surprisingly, the opposition wasn’t strong. Such minor doubts were manageable. Sellakia looked around the table.

“Do you know who becomes a pirate?”  

“Probably wretched commoners. Do we need to know such things?”  

A blunt tone returned immediately. Given the generally poor perception of pirates, it was a predictable answer.  

Sellakia spoke carefully, making sure her expression and words didn’t seem too sympathetic towards pirates.  

“To be precise, most are people with antisocial tendencies who voluntarily left their homes. Some were forcibly exiled from their homeland. Some settled on pirate ships because they had nowhere else to go. For instance, like those who were being sold on slave ships.”  

Although people who were not welcomed anywhere also gathered on pirate ships, she kept this thought to herself, fearing it might hit too close to home.  

“As far as I know, pirates, especially those with crow figureheads on their ships, frequently attack slave ships to free the people and recruit them as crew members.”  

“Is that true? How do you know so much about pirates, Madam?”  

“Pirates used to appear frequently in the Lensch Strait. I heard a lot of stories from my mother back then.”  

In truth, the stories she heard from her mother as a child were vague. Most of Sellakia’s knowledge about pirates came from books she read out of interest.  

Perhaps because of the proximity to the sea, there were many books about pirates in Seidon’s library. Lensch was also a territory by the sea, but its library was not the same. Books about pirates were classified as subversive literature in the Empire.  

The day Sellakia first discovered books about pirates in Seidon’s library, she was deeply impressed by Seidon’s audacity to possess such subversive literature.  

She had struggled to read the books secretly from Roberta and Nancy, and it was fortunate she no longer had to do so.  

“The former Viscount Lensch. His heroic tales are famous.”  

“I’ve heard of them too. It’s been over ten years since then.”  

Whether they were convinced by the brief explanation or not, they no longer harbored doubts and nodded. However, Sellakia’s opinion wasn’t immediately accepted.  

“But Madam, your opinion doesn’t offer a fundamental solution. We can’t use pirates like that every time.”  

“That’s true. It’s just buying time for you to come up with a better plan.”  

“I also oppose it. I can’t shake the feeling that it’s a cowardly method. Should Seidon avoid the issue by using mere pirates? It’s disgraceful!”  

“…”  

This time, Sellakia couldn’t respond smoothly. She hadn’t anticipated that using pirates discreetly would be directly linked to the family’s honor.  

For once, Sellakia couldn’t open her mouth easily, and it was Tenus, who had been silently observing the situation, who spoke.  

“Viscount Bartol.”  

He looked at the Viscount with a warning-filled gaze.  

“If so, present your opinion.”  

“What…?”

“Didn’t you oppose Sellakia’s words because you had a better alternative?”  

“That’s not it… I was just concerned about Seidon’s dignity…”  

Tenus coldly cut off Bartol’s words.  

“Anyone can flap their lips without substance. Isn’t that so? Criticizing without argument is so easy.”  

“…”  

“Even if I bring anyone off the street, they could do as much as you, Viscount Bartol.”  

It sounded as if he intended to replace Viscount Bartol with someone else. The atmosphere at the table instantly cooled, and Bartol’s complexion turned pale.  

Tenus heightened the tension with a heavy silence, then dispersed the momentary pressure with a light voice.  

“I appreciate your loyalty, but it’s better to view Seidon’s prestige accurately.”

“…”  

“What’s there to fear about using pirates? Even if the Duchess became a pirate, it wouldn’t put a single scratch on Seidon’s standing.”  

“…What?”  

The vassals’ faces all looked bewildered at the unexpected words.  

A beat later, awkward laughter flowed over the table. Everyone seemed to think Tenus had made a dull joke.  

The only person who remained stiff in this situation was Sellakia. She was so shocked she even stopped breathing.  

Taking advantage of the slightly relaxed atmosphere, the vassals hurried to wrap up the topic.  

“The strategy of using one enemy to catch another is an ancient tactic. As the Duke said, it’s not something to be ashamed of. It’s worth trying.”  

“Well, even if it fails, we won’t suffer losses. I agree too.”  

Tenus asked Viscount Shulman.  

“Can you do it?”

“Though I’ve struggled to eradicate the pirates, I’m confident I can steer them in the desired direction. I won’t disappoint this time.”  

Viscount Shulman answered with determination in his eyes.  

“Then, at the right time…”  

“The slave ships use our shipping route once a month, so we’ll time the pirate ships accordingly…”  

“The festival is approaching, so we must also prepare thoroughly for that…”  

The meeting resumed lively.  

Sellakia couldn’t afford to enjoy the fact that her opinion was readily accepted. She couldn’t even feel the satisfaction of being helpful. Her mind was preoccupied with Tenus’s meaningful words.  

The Duchess becoming a pirate…  

Did he know something? Or was it really just a clueless joke?

While Sellakia was mired in thick confusion, Tenus spoke as if to put an end to her doubts.  

“I thought you liked pirates.”  

Sellakia’s body twitched at the precise remark.  

How did he know? Did Roberta report it already?  

But she had only stood at a distance and hadn’t approached Tenus closely since arriving in the garden.  

Could it be Mark? He couldn’t possibly hear the conversations in the room…  

Sellakia quickly turned her thoughts while trying not to show her embarrassment and answered curtly.  

“I still know how to prioritize.”  

“Prioritize?”  

“Yes. It’s only natural that the family’s affairs are most important.”  

“Ah.”  

Tenus let out a short sigh.  

Though his face was as composed as usual, Sellakia instantly realized he was pleased. His lips were slightly upturned at a very subtle angle.  

“What? Why are you smiling?”  

“…Am I?”  

Tenus touched his lips with his hand under Sellakia’s sharp gaze. It was as awkward as touching someone else’s face.  

He massaged his lips for a while, then furrowed his brows as if he found himself incredulous.  

“Ha. It’s happening all the time now.”

With a complicated sigh, he muttered in a somewhat self-deprecating tone.  

Since Tenus usually didn’t show his emotions to the point of seeming ascetic, his smile’s intent was highly suspicious. Moreover, there was no reason to smile during the ongoing vassal meeting.  

Sellakia tried to guess why he had smiled.

Surely, he wasn’t smiling because of what I said…  

It must have been due to the relief that the slave ship issue was resolved. The only thing that could make Tenus happy would be the peace of the territory.  

“Anyway. As expected from the next Duke…”  

Whether or not Tenus heard Sellakia’s mumbling, he gestured toward the dish in front of her.  

“Eat up.”  

He was still touching his lips.