Ch#106
Chapter 106However, he couldn't say such an embarrassing thing to his little sister, so he needlessly vented his frustration.
"You brat, I told you to study, but all you've been reading are romance novels."
"Ah, come on! I'm asking you to answer seriously."
"Even if the world split in two, that wouldn't happen, so how am I supposed to imagine it?"
Laslo flicked Linia's forehead and scolded her.
Then, with a sulky expression, he said,
"And finding Edel a marriage partner isn't something so urgent. We have a few years, so we can think about it slowly................"
"Oh my! Brother, you're so mean."
"This mean brother is the head of this house. Got it?"
"That's why I'm saying this. You're going to get married within a few years. Whether you want it or His Majesty the Emperor demands it."
"And?"
Linia shook her head as if she'd seen every kind of nonsense from humans.
"Do you think your new sister-in-law will look kindly on Edel? You think she'll just leave a young, pretty female steward alone?"
"That's..."
"By the time you get married, it would look strange from your new sister-in-law's perspective if you're the one finding Edel a match. So, it makes sense to secure Edel's marriage before that happens, right?"
Laslo was at a loss for words.
Before, when Edel had seemed to urge his marriage, he had said the exact same thing to her.
"If I get married, what do you think will happen to you? Would that benefit you?"
What had Edel's expression been like then?
'Ah, right. It was like she could disappear at any moment.'
.
Linia's words were flawless.
If he married, Edel would plan to quietly leave the house before upsetting the new lady of the house. Whether that meant going down to the territory, entrusting herself to Barbara, or................
'Don't think strange thoughts.'
He recalled Edel trying to unlock the carriage door and shook his head.
"Brother. Brother?"
"I'm not deaf."
"You were so quiet."
Laslo let out a long sigh and said,
"Fine, you have a point. A low noble without a title wouldn't mind Edel's flaws. If we pick a decent one from among them.........."
"Brother, but don't overthink it."
"What? You were just nagging me to find someone good quickly. Are you playing word games with me?"
"No, that's not it...... The perfect match for Edel might be right under your nose, so I'm saying to look around nearby first."
Laslo looked baffled, as if wondering what vague nonsense this was, but Linia smirked inwardly with satisfaction.
'Anyway, Edel would be too good for some low noble knight, brother.'
Then, as if her business was done, she stood up.
"Anyway, don't forget what I told you today. Remember it well?"
Linia, turning away, was already pondering how to coax her next target, Edel, but Laslo, left behind, felt as if he'd been bewitched by a ghost. He felt greatly persuaded by something, yet had no idea what it was.
When Edel truly didn't reply to the letter sent in his wife's name, Dustin Canian ground his teeth.
"This wench is really trying to abandon her parents and siblings."
However, he had no intention of letting Edel escape.
If Edel refused, he would have to drag her back by the hair. From his disadvantaged position, Edel as Laslo's close aide was a tool that could provide a great connection.
While racking his brains on how to bring Edel back, he suddenly changed his thinking.
No, wait. It's not necessary to bring Edel here to secure the connection. It's possible even without that.
You don't need capital upfront to start a business. You can show a business plan and attract investors.
As he pondered, he contacted House Winblair with a gambler's resolve.
'Anyway, just the fact that Edel, a daughter of our house, is Laslo's steward will make the Winblair Marquis take my hand.'
And his prediction was spot on.
Isaac, who had never spared him a glance before, permitted his visit.
Dustin steeled himself and visited House Winblair.
"I see you, Winblair Marquis. Have you been well?"
"Oh, Count Canian. It's been a long time."
Isaac welcomed him more warmly than expected.
Once tea was served in the splendid drawing room and the servants withdrew, Isaac cut straight to the chase without preamble.
"So, what brings you here? Your letter made it seem somewhat urgent."
Dustin made an even more poignant expression than when he had visited House Criserus.
"I worried about bothering you with family matters, but I had nowhere else to turn.........."
"What's going on?"
"Marquis. You must already know that my daughter Edel was handed over to Count Criserus as a captive, right?"
"Who wouldn't know that?"
.
Dustin let out a deep sigh.
"How could a parent's heart be at ease when their daughter was taken by His Majesty's scheme? So, to at least see my daughter's face, I visited House Criserus not long ago."
"Is that so?"
"Ah, please don't misunderstand. I have no intention of attaching myself there."
He spoke firmly with an expression as if reliving an unpleasant memory.
As Isaac's furrowed brow relaxed, he switched back to a pitiful face.
"We want to take our daughter back even now, but Count Criserus must have threatened her somehow—Edel is trembling in fear and won't even reply to my letters."
"Hmm......"
"Please help us, Marquis. Edel must return to her family's embrace!"
His plea seemed, at first glance, like heartfelt paternal affection. But Isaac watched silently before letting out a low chuckle.
"Heh, heheheh, ahahaha!"
"M-Marquis.....?"
Dustin called out in bewilderment, but Isaac laughed for a while longer before wiping his eyes and calming down.
"Haa, thanks to you, Count, it's been a while since I laughed like this."
"Marquis....... I, I don't quite understand what this means........"
Isaac gave a sly smile at Dustin, still feigning innocence.
"Count Canian. No need to beat around the bush between us who both know the score. There's no one else watching here."
At that, Dustin's drooping eyebrows slowly returned to normal, and the expression like he was about to cry vanished, replaced by his usual brazen, cold face.
"Now that you say so, this will make things quicker."
"Your daughter is quite the hot topic these days. Didn't she snag the steward position at House Criserus that no one else could penetrate?"
"Indeed. So she can be of help to you, Marquis."
"And thanks to such a daughter, you can successfully re-enter high society. Right?"
As Isaac smiled slyly, Dustin lowered his voice.
"If I can get Edel out, I can extract quite a bit of information on Laslo. Even from what I saw myself, Edel seems to be highly trusted."
"They even danced together—is it just trust? They might know each other intimately, down to the deepest secrets."
Dustin felt a pang of shame at Isaac viewing Edel as Laslo's mistress, but he considered it something to take up with Edel, not an issue to raise here.
"Please help. I've looked into various ways to bring Edel out, but the title of 'His Majesty's gift' makes it difficult."
"The biggest obstacle must be the document where you signed away all rights to her."
Dustin's face flushed red again.
"I had no choice then."
"Ah, of course I understand. If sacrificing one daughter could save the house, anyone would have no choice."
"Thank you for understanding."
"Well, anyway...... We need Miss Edel. She might give us a weakness to exploit against that sly fox Laslo."
Isaac took a sip of tea and nodded.
"His Majesty's power is great, but even he can't ignore public opinion in high society. After all, isn't the Emperor sustained by the taxes from us nobles?"
"You're right."
"So....... Let's paint Laslo Criserus as the villain. A cold-blooded man who stole a daughter from her desperate parents and won't return her."
At those words, Dustin's eyes sparkled.
"That's exactly what I was thinking."
"Show your face at every party from now on and spread this heartbreaking story far and wide, Count. Nothing tugs at hearts like a parent's longing for their child."
This was Isaac's promise to help House Canian re-enter society, and also to pressure the Emperor through formed public opinion.
.
Dustin smiled sincerely for the first time in a long while.
"Thank you. I will do my utmost for the victory of the Old Nobility Faction!"
Isaac responded with a satisfied smile.
Of course, his true intentions were quite different from Dustin's.
To come crawling right to me on his own two feet—now that's something to be grateful for, Count Canian.
With House Canian, now of use, coming on bended knee, there was no greater joy.
Isaac planned only to use Dustin to attack Laslo and advance his own goals one step further.
What happened to House Canian after it served its purpose was none of his concern.
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