Chapter 37: Monica Kasein
Baron Hess pushed open Andre's door with a dark expression, only to find his son pacing irritably inside, his face equally grim.
Baron Hess knew his son's temperament well. If they had been at their own estate, the room would have already been in shambles, perhaps even with a few maids dead. But here, in the Marquis's residence, he had to restrain himself.
When Andre saw his father enter, his sullen face lit up with joy. “Father! That—”
“Smack—”
Before Andre could finish, Baron Hess stepped forward and slapped him hard.
The force of the slap made Andre stagger, nearly falling to the ground.
He looked at his father in disbelief, but his expression quickly turned dark, his eyes filled with malice. “Why did you hit me, Father?”
“Heh.” Baron Hess sneered. “Why did I hit you? Why don't you ask yourself what you've done!”
Andre lowered his gaze, but he felt no fear or panic inside.
He didn't think he had done anything wrong.
“Not convinced?” Baron Hess's face grew even darker.
“If it weren't for that bastard, no one would have known.”
“Shut up!” Baron Hess slapped him again, this time with even more force, sending Andre flying. “Anna is your sister!”
“What about you, Father?” Andre looked up, a hint of venom in his eyes. “Didn't you also make a move on Aunt Pellen? And Uncle Al…”
Baron Hess stepped forward and kicked Andre in the chest, sending him flying again. Still unsatisfied, he stepped on Andre's face, his eyes now filled with murderous intent.
“If you weren't my son, you'd already be a corpse.” Baron Hess pressed down harder with his foot, his gaze as cold as ice. “But even as my son, my tolerance for fools is limited. Don't think the Billy Family must have you as heir. If the second generation fails, there's always the third!”
Andre suddenly calmed down.
The malice in his eyes faded, and he became noticeably more composed, as if reason had taken over.
Baron Hess looked down at his son for several seconds before finally removing his foot. “You'd better behave yourself. After tomorrow night's banquet, return to the Gem Territory the day after.”
With that, he turned and left without another glance.
Andre lay on the ground, not getting up immediately. Instead, he spat out a mouthful of dark blood.
He watched his father's back with a dark expression. He could still hear Baron Hess muttering, seemingly regretting bringing him along this time.
Andre was not unaware of his father's schemes.
Monica Kasein was now the third-generation head of the Kasein Family.
As the future lord of the Gem Territory, it was natural for him to make himself known to this young lady, to facilitate future cooperation.
Of course, if he could win her favor, it would be even better for the Kasein Family. If the opportunity arose, he believed his father wouldn't mind him marrying into the family.
But Andre didn't want that.
Marrying into the Kasein Family might benefit the Billy Family, but having a future marquess as a wife wouldn't be advantageous for him.
In the Gem Territory, he was second only to one, commanding everyone. After experiencing the thrill of power, how could he possibly live under someone else's authority?
So from the beginning, he never intended to win Monica's favor.
But not wanting to marry into the family and being looked at like trash by Monica were two different things.
Since arriving at the Red River Territory, his anger had been simmering.
But being in the Marquis's residence, he had no outlet. So when he finally found Anna alone, he acted.
He hadn't expected the room, which was supposed to be unoccupied, to have someone inside.
Not only did this ruin his plans, but it also made him the laughingstock of the entire Red Eagle Territory. Now, even his father had humiliated him.
Andre clenched his fists and slowly got up.
He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes sharp and filled with hatred.
“Yam Soderbell!”
…
Baron Hess stormed out of Andre's room.
But as he walked down the corridor, he unexpectedly glimpsed his daughter conversing with a young man in the open-air garden.
This discovery made Baron Hess unconsciously slow his steps.
“Brother Joshua heard that Miss Anna was frightened, so he came specially to check on her,” a cold, clear voice suddenly sounded beside Baron Hess. “But considering Miss Anna’s reputation, they chose to meet in the small garden.”
“Miss Monica.” Baron Hess was startled, but by the time he turned to look at Monica, he had already adopted a respectful and humble demeanor.
“I truly apologize for the disturbance today. I’ve already looked into it, it was a dispute between Andre and Anna that led to a misunderstanding. I’ve just punished him severely.”
“I know.” Monica smiled. “Anna told me as well. It was just a misunderstanding. The two Soderbell brothers were just being a bit immature.”
Baron Hess paused inwardly.
He was trying to decipher Monica’s meaning, though his face betrayed no emotion. “I don’t recall ever hearing of a ‘Soderbell’ family before.”
“Heh, just a couple of lucky fellows who happened to awaken bloodlines,” Monica replied with a smile. “Baron Ster had no one else to use. Your previous war frightened him quite a bit, so he had no choice but to rely on these two brothers. …Though I think someone should give Baron Ster a reminder, don’t you think so, Baron Hess?”
“Indeed.” Baron Hess relaxed slightly and nodded with a smile.
He understood Monica’s subtext.
The surname “Soderbell” had no heritage. It was merely a gilded title bestowed by Ster Bole, the Baron of White Mountain Territory. Marquis Visen had acknowledged it, considering the current value of the White Mountain Baron.
In truth, Baron Hess was most afraid of Marquis Visen’s reaction to Andre’s attempted assault on Anna.
Though unspoken, it had been tacitly understood that Anna would become Burton’s wife, at the very least, his lover.
But now, with Burton’s death just announced, Andre had dared to lay hands on Anna. That was tantamount to slapping the Kasein Family in the face. Baron Hess’s fury stemmed more from fear that his foolish son would offend the lord he served.
In fact, before speaking with Monica, he had considered confining Andre within their territory to prevent further trouble.
But now, seeing Monica’s attitude, he more or less understood the situation.
Though Burton was gone, the Kasein Family clearly didn’t want to alienate this “old vassal,” so they had arranged for Joshua, the fifth son of the third generation, to engage with Anna, thus indirectly mitigating the scandal of “Andre coveting his own sister.”
“Bloodline nobles are not defined solely by power. Otherwise, there would be no tiers among Bloodline Knights,” Baron Hess said with a smile.
“The Soderbell knight family still has much to learn… Whether they can pass their name on to the next generation is uncertain. After all, there’s never a shortage of Bloodline Knights in this world, is there, Miss Monica?”
Monica smiled brightly.
Of course she could hear the probing tone in his words.
But so what?
“Indeed,” Monica nodded. “Without at least three generations of legacy, how can one lay claim to the title of ‘noble’?”
There was more to that sentence.
But Monica left the rest unsaid, as it circulated only in more elite circles.
At this point, Baron Hess fully grasped Monica’s meaning.
After chatting briefly on a few small topics, Baron Hess took his leave.
Monica had no reason to say more.
After all, had her grandfather not hinted at giving her enough autonomy, she wouldn’t even have had the standing to speak to Baron Hess.
That would’ve been her father’s or third uncle’s duty. But Baron Hess was a clever man. Just seeing Monica step forward and discuss such matters with him, he could already guess Marquis Visen’s regard for her.
If earlier he had only suspected that Monica might be the third-generation head of the Kasein Family, now he was sure.
Monica was no longer just a nominal heir, she was being groomed as the true successor by Marquis Visen.
Watching Baron Hess’s retreating figure, Monica quickly withdrew her gaze.
She turned toward the garden, where Joshua was smiling brightly, and Anna wore a forced smile. Her expression turned indifferent.
“Next is the White Mountain Territory.”