Chapter 44
Not long after the joy of the banquet had barely faded, the situation around the countship changed rapidly.
It started with a sealed letter sent from Earrengold II.
The central hall, where the Impera family crest — a red lion — was hung proudly, was where Aimon knelt on one knee in the estate’s main hall.
I adopted the same posture beside him, bowing low and respectfully.
Although I hated thinking about everything that king had done up until now, he was still the king and our family his vassal. If we wanted to avoid ruin after all the hell we’d gone through to prevent the family’s fall, we had to take what needed to be done.
Bang!
Before long the estate gates swung open.
A crowd poured in, led by a man in flowing red robes.
They were the central government official sent in proxy for Earrengold II, accompanied by his guard knights.
He strode into the estate with an upright posture and an air of authority.
‘Last time it was the heresy inquisitor, and now a central official shows up?’ I thought.
According to the novel’s setup, this was impossible. The Impera family was nothing special — a provincial count’s household living out in the sticks. It wasn’t a place where great figures came and went.
“Hmph.”
The official swept his gaze across the main hall and snorted.
Perhaps because of his escort, arrogance painted his face. Well, he was the king’s direct guard — at least rank five, maybe even rank six.
“Count Impera.”
“Yes. Head of the Impera family, Aimon Impera. Thank you for traveling so far to bring His Majesty’s message.” Even though Aimon was a count, the man came as the king’s representative, and proper courtesy was required.
I stayed kneeling meekly beside him.
I tilted my head and glanced at the central official. Seeing us prostrated, a smile flickered at the corners of his mouth. Given the circumstances, that smile felt unpleasant.
“I have heard all of the circumstances. The lord of the Vener family committed acts unfit to be spoken of,” he said.
“…Yes.”
“His Majesty deliberated long and has reached a decision. Obey the king’s decree.”
“Yes. I will devote myself to following His Majesty’s orders.”
“Very well.” The official gestured to one of the guard knights beside him.
A fully armored knight, face hidden by a mask, brought forward a box and handed it over.
Inside the box lay a long cylinder — likely for holding parchment. The ornate, gilded cylinder bore the king’s seal.
“Ooh…”
Aimon accepted the cylinder like a sacred relic.
“Well… I will take my leave then.”
“Are you not too weary? You should rest from your journey—”
“Your concern is appreciated, but duty calls.” The official bowed once and left as if his business was done.
From Aimon’s perspective the official’s behavior was impolite, but he said nothing. There was nothing to be done; it’s the burden of being weak.
Only after the official and his guard party had left did Aimon release a long-held sigh.
“Whew! I will never get used to folks from the capital.”
“They don’t come out this far just to sightsee.”
“Indeed.” Aimon wiped a cold bead of sweat from his forehead, then opened the cylinder bearing the king’s seal.
Inside was a sheet of pure white parchment — expensive-looking, fitting for a royal missive.
“What do you think it says?” I asked.
“Hm. Probably instructions regarding the disposition of the Vener countship. After all, not only the count but the whole lineage is dead. I wonder who will claim those lands…” Aimon sounded thoughtful. The Vener lands had once belonged, at least in part, to the Impera family some thirty years ago. There was a chance of getting those holdings back. Aimon seemed secretly hopeful.
He unfolded the parchment and began reading with shaking hands.
“…What, what?”
His face paled as his eyes moved down the page.
“What on earth could be written that makes him like that?” I wondered.
“No, it can’t be…! Why would His Majesty decide that?” Aimon blinked, rubbed his eyes, and read again as if unable to believe it.
“Read it out loud, son!”
“All right…” I took the parchment from him. The script differed from the old-world characters, but Ian’s memories still lingered in me, so I had no trouble reading it.
As I read carefully, Aimon’s reaction mirrored mine.
“…Huh.”
[To the loyal Impera family of Aisother,
This is an event so shocking it is beyond words. To employ vile black magic against Aisother — a glorious member of the Kingdomal Union who preserves the continent’s peace — is unforgivable!
The wicked line must be struck down at once. As the god of creation Crios’ judgment has obliterated the evil, we can only give thanks for this heavenly grace.
…
Therefore, all assets of the Vener family shall be restored to the royal treasury and used for the peace of the continent.]
So far, that could be understood. Under the Kingdomal Union law, the use of black magic or abetting black magic carries confiscation of property. The Vener count must have been hiding substantial wealth; it stung to think of it being taken, but that was lawful.
The problem was the next sentence.
[Additionally, all lands left without masters shall be transferred in full to the Impera countship.]
“Hah… His Majesty actually made such a decision…” Aimon kept his head cocked, half disbelieving, yet he couldn’t hide his smile. It wasn’t only that some of Vener’s old lands happened to be contiguous with Impera holdings — the king had decreed that all those lands be added entirely to the Impera countship. That was Earrengold II’s decision.
“It seems our family’s loyalty has been rewarded. Ha ha ha!” Aimon could no longer contain his characteristic warm laughter. What was wrong with having more land? Income would multiply and, considering the family’s current finances, it seemed wonderful news.
I, however, showed the face of someone finding half a cockroach in their meal.
“Son, is something troubling you?” Aimon asked.
“…Can we manage the Vener countship?” I asked.
“Hm?” Only then did Aimon grasp the gravity of the situation. Sure, having more land was good. More vassals, more tax revenue. But everything belonging to the Vener family had been seized. To operate their business holdings would require resources and entail large fixed costs.
Managing the expanded territory would need many more garrison soldiers for security, and keeping the businesses running meant feeding and paying more workers — expenses would skyrocket. They might survive a few months, but could the Impera family’s current finances last that long?
“…Father.”
“Yes?”
“How much time is left on the loan from the Golden Bank?” I asked.
“About a month. We’ve been paying interest steadily; perhaps we can ask for an extension…”
“We can try, but planning based on someone else’s mercy isn’t wise.” I saw what Earrengold intended. The Golden Bank was unlikely to grant an extension. I hoped that wouldn’t happen, but had to prepare for the worst.
If cash ran out, we’d have to sell business assets to repay debt, and other nobles of Aisother would smell blood and drive hard bargains. The Impera family would become penniless again; noble turmoil would persist. From the king’s point of view, it would be like solving a problem without lifting a finger.
‘That bastard.’ I thought. After knocking down the Vener count, I had hoped to live quietly, but the king wouldn’t leave me be.
“Sigh… What do we do?” Aimon asked.
“We’ll think. Convince the Golden Bank or find the funds.” I said.
“Hrm…” Aimon groaned.
“I’ll go to my room and think.” I said.
“All right. I’ll try to clear my head and think too.”
I sat in the room and sunk into thought.
Honestly, I felt awful. Not only for Earrengold’s filthy trick, but this debt wasn’t mine — it was Ian’s, that drunken bastard.
“…Kraaah!” I remembered times when he’d been a drinking buddy with Harun and I’d thought he might be useful. But now I had to repay the debts of this damned wastrel. The idiot!
I sighed and tried to calm myself.
Try to look on the bright side. If we can keep things for a few months, maybe we’ll earn a huge profit later.
“Only a few months…”
Was there really any way to last a few months?
I thought back to the opening of the novel.
“Hmm…” I jingled the bell on the table twice.
Islin heard and hurried into my room.
“You called?”
“Yes. Exactly how are the Impera finances?”
“Summed up: the debt to the Golden Bank is twelve thousand gold.”
“Twelve thousand gold…” One month’s pay for a guard in the Impera countship is one gold. In other words, twelve thousand gold could hire over ten thousand mercenaries for a month. It’s an amount most common people wouldn’t even be able to borrow. Only someone like Ian, heir to a count, could borrow that much — and then squander it on booze and gambling.
‘The more I dig, the more astonishing it is. He borrowed so much, spent it all alone?’
“How much comes in and goes out monthly?” I asked.
“If artifact production stays as smooth as it is, we take in about eight hundred gold a month. Expenses are about half that.”
“So net profit is around four hundred gold a month.”
“But to manage the Vener countship, outgoing costs will multiply. For a while we’ll be running a deficit.” Islin said.
Exactly. Selling the Vener businesses outright would be foolish. Throwing away a goose that lays golden eggs because you’re short on cash is stupid.
With nothing in hand, other options were limited.
“This is messed up,” I muttered. Where could we borrow money?
“Hey, Islin.”
“Yes, Young Master?”
“Do you have any money?”
“Huh?” Islin frowned at my question.
“No? Never mind if you don’t.”
“I spent everything paying a penalty for a botched commission. I don’t have a penny left.” Islin clenched his teeth and paid up after a failed job from Gio Criscini.
Right. He refused straight away. Cold-blooded.
“Tch.”
That left me needing quick cash.
‘Just when I thought I’d reduce the debt, damn the bank.’ The Golden Bank was cruel. They knew Ian was an alcoholic and had extended credit, only to then push him into gambling, making him lose everything. They make a show of saving you, then strangle you. Ian got laundered — even as an heir to a count, he behaved like a fool.
Whatever the tale, the debt had to be repaid.
“I have no choice.”
I would avoid it if possible, but what else? An urgent fire had to be put out.
“…I’ll go out.”
“Where are you going?” Islin asked.
“To make money. Any other options?” I said.
“Make money?” Islin tilted his head, puzzled. Suddenly trying to earn money seemed odd to him. He wouldn’t know I was going after the treasure hidden in the Vener countship. Diana obtained hers by chance, but I wasn’t one to leave things to chance.
I knew where it was from reading the novel. I no longer wanted to stray from the plot, but what choice did I have? My neck was on the line.
‘Sorry to the protagonist, but I’ll be borrowing it for now. I’ll return it later somehow.’
