Chapter 247 - Chapter 240: Determination
Julian bowed his head, practically rubbing his forehead against the table as he faced Noein.
"..................Sigh~"
Looking down at the crown of Julian's head, Noein let out a deep, long breath after a period of prolonged contemplation.
"...Kimberly."
"Yes, Master."
Kimberly, the steward who had been erasing his presence like a shadow in the corner of the room, responded instantly.
"There should still be a few vacant houses near the mansion. Provide one of them as lodging for Julian Kivileft-dono and his party. Until preparations are complete, have them rest in the mansion's guest rooms."
"Understood."
Hearing this exchange, Julian raised his face, showing a radiant expression. In fact, his face was sparkling with tears and nasal mucus.
"No, Noein-dono! Thank you! Thank you so much~!"
"Ah, enough already. Stop that."
Noein pushed away Julian, who was leaning in toward the table, with a look of displeasure.
"It's not that I felt sympathy for you as a half-brother. You offered 20 million Rebro as a reward. I judged that to be a sufficient amount to temporarily set aside our past grievances and protect your party. That is why I accept it and permit your stay. That is all."
Noein spoke in a deliberately curt tone.
"You can stay for a while, but once the Kingdom wins the war and the situation settles, leave. Or rather, I'll kick you out... As for how your clan handles themselves after that, I'll put in a word for you with the Royal Family or other nobles."
"I-I understand!"
Without seeming to mind Noein's blunt manner of speaking, Julian nodded repeatedly with a smile.
"Guest, I shall guide you to the guest rooms for the time being. This way, please."
At Kimberly's prompting, Julian stood up, and Ernst also attempted to leave the room following him. Noein called out to his back.
"Lord Alessandri. Could you remain? There is something I wish to discuss."
"...Yes. What is it?"
Ernst answered after Julian had left and the door had closed once.
"It was seven years ago, was it not? During the border conflict with the Pallas Empire, there was an incident where a mercenary group hired by the House of Count Kivileft was nearly used as pawns, resulting in them killing knights of the Count's territorial army and fleeing. Are you aware of this?"
"...I remember. I handled the practicalities of the contract when hiring the mercenary group."
"A few survivors, including the leader of that mercenary group, managed to escape to the northwestern part of the Kingdom, and by chance, they are now retainers under me."
Hearing Noein's words, Ernst raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Hearing this fact, what do you think? Do you wish to avenge the grudge of having your comrades in the territorial army killed? Do you wish to report this to the Royal Family or other noble houses?"
While asking in a gentle tone, Noein stared at Ernst with freezing eyes.
"...No. It is a story of the past. The one whose subordinates were actually killed was not I, but the captain of the unit deployed to the conflict at the time. That person likely died during the Betumia invasion as well... Considering the gratitude I owe Your Excellency for accepting my new master, Lord Julian, I shall never make a report that would be disadvantageous to Your Excellency."
Between the current Julian and Noein, it was clear whose position would be stronger after the Kingdom repelled Betumia and survived. There was no meaning or advantage in opposing Noein here. Ernst thought so as Julian's subordinate.
"That is good. I hope you remain just as prudent. For the sake of your master as well."
If he spoke of it, it would harm Julian. To Noein, who had hinted at this, Ernst gave a small, silent bow.
"...Ah, and one more thing."
Stopping the cold gaze from before, Noein's tone suddenly became light.
"Is the magic tool crafter Daphne Alessandri your relative?"
"...Yes. She is my niece."
Daphne must have told her uncle where she was migrating to when she left Laden. Perhaps having a suspicion, Ernst nodded without appearing particularly surprised.
"I thought so. You may have heard from her yourself, but she has established a workshop here in the Arqvist territory. If you like, I shall arrange for you to meet her at a later date."
"...I am grateful for your consideration."
Bowing deeply, Ernst left the room for good this time.
.....
After seeing Julian and Ernst off, Noein relaxed his body and leaned sloppily against the back of the sofa.
Once they were alone with Matilda and Clara, Noein had Matilda, who had been standing behind him, sit beside him, letting the two of them snuggle close to him.
"...I'm totally exhausted."
"It is only natural."
"You truly worked hard, Lord Noein."
As Noein muttered, the two of them hugged him from both sides, sandwiching him, and answered while stroking Noein's head.
"Thanks, you two... Honestly, why did Julian have to come all the way here? On top of that, despite having 20 million Rebro, he reveals that trump card right away—what is he thinking? Does he not realize I hate him? What did he plan to do if I decided to slaughter all of them and just steal the money?"
Given the way he was dressed, he must have continued fleeing while hiding his status. No one would know that survivors of the Kivileft clan had come here. If he had killed them and then burned or buried them, the matter would have remained in the dark.
"But, you did not do that."
"...Because there was a baby."
Told this by Clara, who wore a smile that could not be kinder, Noein answered with a weak laugh.
As he answered, Noein remembered the baby who had started crying, startled by Noein's shouting. Perhaps because the baby resembled the utter fool Julian in features, the infant did not look particularly bright.
"That baby hasn't committed any sins yet. If I harmed them just because they are Julian's son, I'd end up just like that piece-of-shit father of mine. A baby needs a mother, and for that unreliable lady to survive, she probably needs a husband, even if he is a fool like that. That's why I let them all live."
"Yes, I thought you would surely think so. You are a kind person."
"...I just didn't want to fall myself."
As Noein spoke, pouting slightly as if to hide his embarrassment, Clara affectionately drew Noein's face close and kissed his cheek.
"Matilda, sorry. I'm sure you don't have good feelings toward Julian either."
"There is no need for you to apologize to me. There is no way I would ever have doubts or objections regarding Lord Noein's thoughts or decisions."
While answering with a smile to the slightly anxious expression on Noein's face, Matilda pulled Noein's head close as if embracing it to her chest.
Snuggled between Matilda and Clara, Noein fell silent for a moment. Then, suddenly looking up at the ceiling, he spoke.
"...Even so... that piece-of-shit father... he died, huh."
The last time he had met Maximilian was at a banquet in the royal castle two years ago. At that time, Noein had told Maximilian to please live a long life, so that he would continue to feel regret while hearing rumors of his illegitimate son's success.
However, Maximilian died. It wasn't confirmed, but judging from the situation, he had almost certainly died. It seemed that useless father hadn't even granted the trivial wish Noein had expressed two years ago.
"What the hell was that old man doing..."
Noein lamented, letting out a deep, deep breath. Matilda and Clara snuggled close to Noein's sides without saying anything.
"What's this about 'dying in battle while fulfilling his duties as a lord'? After living such a scummy life, he tries to act cool at the very end. He probably just hated the idea of fleeing and being pointed at by noble society. Don't just die easily. My revenge, which I staked my life on, is ruined. Who was I supposed to show off to by working so hard until now..."
"...Lord Noein."
"...My Lord."
As Noein muttered complaints and curses, Matilda and Clara hugged him even more tightly from both sides.
"Even if the development was something you started as revenge against your father, as a result, many people have found happiness and had their lives saved thanks to you. I am one of them. You are a great lord and noble. You are a wonderful lord, incomparable to your father. All of us living in this land are witnesses to that."
"Whether Maximilian Kivileft exists or not no longer matters. Lord Noein, you now possess a certain happiness. Everyone in the Arqvist territory has found happiness under Lord Noein's protection. Your happiness is our happiness, and our happiness is yours."
Being persuaded by the two whispering in his ears, Noein stopped his cursing. His heart was cleansed by their pleasant words.
"...You're right. It's as you two say. Matilda, Clara, thank you."
With a small smile, Noein raised his body from the back of the sofa.
"I've decided. I'll start a new revenge. I will live a life different from Maximilian Kivileft. I'll live longer than that piece-of-shit father, surrounded by my beloved family, subordinates, and people, and in the end, I'll leave this world peacefully and happily. To make that happen, I'll keep living until that ideal final day."
Completely different from just a moment ago when he was cursing with a sullen expression, Noein spoke with strength.
"To that end, first, I'll overcome the threat before me. I won't let some foreign invaders trample my territory. It's no joke to have the happiness of my people, subordinates, and family—my own happiness—threatened by something like a war. I'll drive them back across the sea, no matter what means I have to use."
He would continue to protect the happy days of loving his people and being loved by them, trusting his subordinates and being trusted by them, and living surrounded by his beloved family. He would definitely overcome this crisis.
Noein made that determination.