Chapter 69
“Hmm, if the child refuses a marriage proposal, then it seems the head of the family can resolve it through proper discussion.”
“That’s right. If the parents raised them properly, naturally the child would respect their wishes.”
The face of Count Veldert, who had fiercely opposed the matter alone, turned bright red.
He was practically veins-bulging angry, yet everyone else remained calm and collected.
“…Ugh.”
“Why is that? Do Count Veldert’s children not listen well?”
Ha ha ha.
One noble, who normally had a bad relationship with him, mocked with a sneer, and laughter spread.
But Count Veldert could not utter a single retort.
Because it was true.
This whole fiasco happened because his relationship with his children was poor!
The mocking looks, the sarcastic tone.
Everything was unbearable, yet he could only take it helplessly.
The bill passed smoothly, and the news spread like wildfire.
‘Those brats, attacking at just the right time!’
Count Veldert drank himself into a stupor and returned home late at night.
There was no way he could endure it sober.
And waiting for him at home were Lady Mila and Polius, their eyes full of reproach.
“Honey, is it true that Melanie is engaged to Damian? That can’t be true, I must have heard wrong, right?”
“……”
“Father, you didn’t just let that happen, did you? Why? We should talk to His Majesty the Emperor again—”
“Quiet!”
Count Veldert shouted.
At some point, he had grown weary of Mila and Polius, who used to smile brightly at whatever he offered.
They had no idea what he had endured today.
Nothing but demands, demands!
More demands!
“Every day, it’s this, it’s that. How long do you plan to keep whining?”
“Honey, that’s not it!”
“Father! But Melanie—”
“Quiet, Polius!”
Count Veldert headed straight for his study without even looking at them.
He ignored their calls from behind.
Thoughts of his deceased wife and the son who had run away crossed his mind.
No matter how much he was the head of the household, it frustrated him that they relied on him so completely.
He couldn’t lean on Mila or Polius at all!
‘Emelda and Damian took care of their responsibilities well. In fact, they even helped me…’
He had always found them a bit arrogant and lacking charm, but today they seemed better than the rest.
Being treated like a god is one thing, but when expectations are not met, seeing them turn so dramatically…
“Damn it!”
Count Veldert called a servant to pour him another drink. He was warned that he was overdoing it, but he couldn’t bear to stay sober.
Bang!
But it was only for a moment. The usually quiet study door was flung open violently.
It was none other than his son, Polius.
“Father, are you drinking again?”
“What?”
“Polius, I told you to stop!”
Polius did not stop with just one word.
Lady Mila chased after him desperately, but it was useless.
“You didn’t even listen when I asked to be engaged to Melanie again!”
He brushed off Mila’s restraining hand as if it were a nuisance.
“This is too much. If you cared about me, you’d do something rather than drink. It’s obvious Melanie will be engaged to Damian, and you just let it—”
Polius couldn’t finish his sentence.
Because Count Veldert, who could no longer contain his anger, grabbed him by the collar.
“This is all your fault, and you still have the nerve to babble?”
“Honey!”
“Wasn’t it your fault that you couldn’t even manage one girl from the Clotilde family and she ran away?”
Polius struggled under the choking grip.
But Count Veldert’s fury did not subside. His face was bright red as he continued to scold.
“Is that all? You sold the prime theater building without permission, and you think using that money for a business is acceptable, yet it’s only a video production business!”
“Ugh…”
“Instead of helping your siblings, you let Damian trample everything! You abandoned Clotilde and chose a girl as a partner, and now you’ve even interfered with the royal family!”
The Ingda family had fallen into ruin.
Polius, as the business partner, fortunately faced no charges and was not punished.
But that did not mean there was no loss.
Fearing royal displeasure, other families who had normally interacted slowly cut ties, and the trade guild that used to spend money in the Veldert territory decided to bypass it altogether.
Suddenly, the Veldert family became isolated and suffered heavy losses.
To buy anything, they had to travel far, which not only raised prices but immediately lowered their quality of life.
“Count Veldert, raising taxes when your people are already struggling?”
“I’m the Count, not you!”
Count Veldert intended to cover the family’s losses by raising taxes.
By now, Polius had sold the family buildings, and Mila had sold luxury goods to pay off her debts.
At that moment, a thought crossed Count Veldert’s mind.
“Yes… you’ve come at the right time.”
“Uh… what?”
Polius, even after being released, could not muster a word.
His father’s serious gaze sent an unsettling feeling through him.
“After all, isn’t this all your fault? Take responsibility and step down.”
“Huh?”
“I said, leave the capital immediately!”
Polius stood dumbfounded. He could not grasp what his father meant.
“Father… but if we work together, we could solve the issue of Melanie’s engagement to Damian—”
“Ha! Still talking about that?”
Maybe what people said was right. Polius had been poorly raised, which was why he had grown crooked.
“Are you really that dull because your mother raised you? Or is it in your bloodline? Answer me.”
“Honey, no matter how angry you are!”
“Then am I wrong?”
“I raised him alone… Hah, Polius just happened to meet the wrong cunning girls! He’s such a good boy!”
“Then go somewhere you won’t meet those girls.”
Lady Mila tried desperately to argue, but it was useless.
Thud. The study door closed. Polius slowly considered the predicament he now faced.
“…Being expelled from the capital? Me?”
His father intended to place all responsibility on Polius and close the matter.
The father who had not even stopped the marriage reform proposal from passing at the royal council!
“Haha…”
“Polius, pull yourself together. On second thought, this could be an opportunity.”
Lady Mila bit her lip and grasped Polius’ shoulder.
“Even if Damian is capable, the Veldert territory doesn’t know him well. If you go down to the territory and take care of it, it could help you become heir.”
“…Heir?”
“Yes. Many nobles in the capital don’t properly manage their territories. Now’s your chance to go down and turn a crisis into an opportunity.”
“…”
“You need to protect at least your claim as heir. That’s yours alone.”
Polius slowly moved his dazed head.
Damian excelled at business but neglected the territory, whereas Polius, though poor at business, took care of the land.
Right… what’s the point of a noble making money? Business is just numbers.
A true noble rules over their land…
“I don’t know all the details, but it seems something’s happening in the territory. While your father is drunk, you can take care of it, right?”
“Yes… I understand.”
For something coming from Lady Mila, it was an impressive strategy.
Polius finally lowered his head in resignation.
He would not let Damian take what was his any longer.
If the girls and business had been swept away, he would at least protect his position as heir.
I went to the magic tower for work and, upon seeing Damian, immediately said instead of a greeting:
“Finally, the opponent has been decided as the master of the magic tower!”
I smiled brightly, announcing the news of the marriage system reform.
