Chapter 377: I Brought some Gifts (1)
“Aiden, so it’s Aiden…”
Ernhardt, who was usually indifferent to everything, showed a rare spark of interest in Aiden.
It wasn’t unwarranted. Aiden’s abilities were exceptional, unmatched even among members of the ducal family.
“So, you’ve come to assist me?”
“Yes, Your Highness. I will be of great help.”
“Does the situation here seem dire enough to warrant sending someone like you?”
Though Ernhardt continued to smile, his words carried a sharp edge. Taking over the kingdom wouldn’t be a problem even without external help.
Aiden, unfazed, replied with a bright smile.
“Would we dare underestimate Your Highness’s power? However, it has become necessary to expedite the handling of the Ritania side of things.”
“What do you mean?”
“It seems we’ll need to advance the timeline for opening the ‘Gate.’”
Ernhardt raised his eyebrows with interest.
“Oh? And why is that? The agreed date isn’t far off, is it?”
“Things don’t always go as planned. Someone has started pursuing us.”
“Who?”
“The ‘Holy Maiden of War’ and the ‘Guardian of the World Tree.’ They appear to have caught wind of our activities. We’ve already clashed several times in the shadows.”
“Hmph… Even with such caution, we’ve been discovered sooner than expected.”
“Perfection is impossible in human affairs. The more we extend our reach across the continent, the higher the likelihood of mistakes. Moreover, they’ve been wary of our existence for a long time.”
“Indeed. Just as we have our mission, they, too, have theirs.”
“And… there’s another reason we need to hasten things—this kingdom of Ritania.”
“This kingdom?”
Aiden lifted his head, meeting Ernhardt’s gaze directly.
“Yes, because of Count Fenris.”
“Count Fenris?”
The name Count Fenris was one Ernhardt had heard often lately.
Because of that man, Raul’s plan to take over the kingdom with ease had fallen apart. The situation had deteriorated to the point where brute force was now required.
But Ernhardt had thought Count Fenris’s influence was limited to within the kingdom. Now, it seemed the man’s actions were affecting the grander scheme?
“Explain.”
“It’s because of the Forest of Beasts.”
“The Forest of Beasts?”
“There’s a rumor that Count Fenris has developed the Forest of Beasts. It was one of the final locations we were considering. And… we’ve confirmed that the first guardian protecting its barrier has recently died.”
Ernhardt leaned forward slightly, his eyes burning with newfound fervor.
“Are you certain it’s the Forest of Beasts?”
“We’re certain. We’ve already verified every other forbidden zone on the continent. Around the time Count Fenris began his development of the forest, one of the relic lights extinguished. Before he disrupts the Forest of Beasts further, we must finish the matter in Ritania.”
“Hahaha! Hahahahahaha!”
Ernhardt burst into hearty laughter.
The retainers, unable to follow the conversation, were bewildered by his sudden amusement. They had no idea what was so amusing.
Ernhardt, still chuckling, suddenly turned to Raul with a manic glint in his eyes.
“Raul.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Sever the puppet king’s head and trample the Forest of Beasts.”
The ducal family had previously forbidden anyone from tampering with the Forest of Beasts. They suspected it might hold something they were searching for.
But now that it was certain, there was no reason to hesitate.
Raul bowed his head and replied.
“We’re already preparing for war, to take the kingdom with minimal losses—”
Before Raul could finish, Ernhardt’s expression turned icy.
“Are you planning to waste more time?”
“Y-Your Highness, I understand, but if the Forest of Beasts truly holds what we seek… a significant force will be needed to conquer it. If we’re not careful, we may lack the strength for future battles…”
Ernhardt, unusually for him, glared at Raul with murderous intent.
“Even if everyone in the kingdom dies, it doesn’t matter. Once we’ve taken the kingdom, arm every citizen and throw them into the forest. Understood?”
“… I shall obey your command.”
“There must be no mistakes this time.”
After coldly dismissing Raul, Ernhardt turned back to Aiden.
“What will you do to assist us?”
“I will eliminate anything that hinders Your Highness’s great endeavor. And…”
Aiden flashed his characteristic dazzling smile as he continued.
“I will bring you Count Fenris’s head.”
—
The nobles of the royal faction gathered in the capital had been in turmoil for days.
It was because Marquis Roderick was now blatantly preparing to attack Fenris.
“Marquis Roderick has officially declared war on Fenris! Those bastards are already preparing to mobilize! That damned goose has forced a civil war upon us!”
Marquis Branford responded impassively from the old castle of Maurice.
“Whether we like it or not, a civil war was inevitable. It just happened that Marquis Roderick made the first move.”
“Because of him, the strategy we crafted is completely ruined! Now we have to deal with the western armies before even facing the Ducal families!”
As always, the Royal Faction’s primary strategy revolved around defense. Their goal was to protect as many fronts as possible, concentrate their main forces, and strike the Ducal families.
However, things had taken a strange turn. They couldn’t afford to lose Fenris, so they had no choice but to fight the western armies first.
Everyone knew mediation was no longer an option.
“He’s caused such chaos in the west that we have no choice but to deal with it,” Maurice grumbled.
The rumor that Ghislain had annihilated Marquis Roderick’s 20,000-strong army and pillaged their supplies had already spread throughout the kingdom.
At this point, even if the king himself stepped in, it was too late to put an end to the conflict.
Marquis Branford still couldn’t understand Ghislain’s intentions.
‘Why did he provoke the west in the first place?’
For the Royal Faction, it would have been better to gather more troops and prepare for war. Moving the army now only created an opening for the Ducal families to exploit.
As Marquis Branford wrestled with his thoughts, he muttered to himself.
“He’s not the kind of man to act thoughtlessly.”
“He doesn’t think at all! Because he’s a thoughtless fool!” Maurice exclaimed, beating his chest in frustration.
In his view, Ghislain was just someone living for today. His actions happened to succeed purely out of luck, giving the illusion of some grand plan.
In short, Ghislain was a man blessed by incredible fortune.
As they sat debating and trying to reorganize their strategy, a royal knight entered and delivered a message.
“Marquis, the Count of Fenris has arrived.”
The Royalist nobles’ eyes lit up at those words. It was an opportunity to confront him and demand an explanation about his actions and future plans.
“Let him in,” Marquis Branford commanded.
The knight, looking uncomfortable, hesitated before speaking.
“Uh….”
“What’s the problem?”
“Well, you might want to step outside….”
“…Is he out there?”
“Yes, sir.”
An awkward silence filled the conference room at the audacious demand. The first to regain his composure was Maurice, who erupted in anger.
“That bastard has lost his mind! Does being a Master give him the right to boss us around?!”
Being a Master did come with certain privileges. Still, the Royalist nobles believed that Ghislain’s success was due to their support and guidance. They weren’t entirely wrong in thinking so.
In terms of title, power, and age, they outranked him in every way.
“Is he getting cocky because he’s had some recent success? Call the knights! That arrogant Master needs to learn that he can’t act like this in the capital!”
Maurice jumped from his seat, shaking his thick beard furiously. As one of the most powerful figures in the kingdom, he couldn’t tolerate Ghislain’s insolent behavior any longer.
He hadn’t liked him from the beginning anyway.
The knight quickly tried to explain.
“Sir, that’s not it… Count Fenris brought a gift and insists you see it for yourself….”
“A gift? Then he should have brought it here himself, respectfully!”
“It’s just that… the size of the gift makes it impossible to bring it here.”
“Shut up! I’ll go by myself and teach him a lesson!”
Maurice stormed out, calling for his knights. The other Royalist nobles followed him, their curiosity piqued.
The gathering of knights and retainers grew massive, showcasing the true power of the kingdom’s ruling class.
Marquis Branford shook his head and reluctantly went outside as well.
The moment Maurice stepped out, he roared.
“Where is he? Where’s that brat?!”
He looked around, expecting Ghislain to be waiting nearby, but the area was empty. Confused, Maurice turned to the knight who had delivered the message.
“He’s outside the castle,” the knight clarified hurriedly.
“What? He dared to summon us outside the castle?”
“Well, actually….”
“Bring my carriage! No, my horse! And gather the soldiers! We’re going there immediately!”
Impatient as ever, Maurice didn’t wait for a proper explanation. This was his chance to humiliate Ghislain and put him in his place.
The thundering hooves of horses and the clamor of armed men echoed as the kingdom’s most influential figures moved out in force.
Their parade through the capital caused quite a stir, leaving citizens worried that a war was about to break out.
When they arrived outside the castle, they were greeted by the sight of countless wagons and soldiers flying the banner of Fenris.
Even a rough estimate placed the number of soldiers at about a thousand.
Maurice, upon seeing the scene, shouted at the top of his lungs as he marched forward.
“Look at that! That lunatic dragged his army all the way to the capital’s doorstep!”
Marquis Branford and the other nobles frowned deeply. The sheer number of soldiers made it hard to believe they were merely escorting a merchant caravan.
To bring such a force near the capital would have required overcoming numerous obstacles. The fact that no one had stopped them along the way was almost baffling.
When Maurice approached with his knights, Ghislain slightly inclined his head.
“It’s been a while, Marquis McQuarrie.”
“You insolent brat! What do you think you’re doing? Dragging such a large force all the way to the capital’s outskirts—are you planning a rebellion?!”
Ghislain responded with a brusque expression, unfazed by Maurice’s immediate accusations.
“It’s not that large, is it? They’re just escorts.”
For a merchant caravan, the numbers were indeed excessive, but to pose a genuine threat to the capital? They were far too few. Even a Master like Ghislain couldn’t pull off something like that.
As Maurice looked ready to erupt again, Marquis Branford intervened and asked calmly,
“Very well, what business do you have that requires summoning us out here?”
“Marquis, have you been well?” Ghislain asked with a smirk.
“Enough pleasantries. Get to the point.”
At the still icy demeanor of Marquis Branford, Ghislain clicked his tongue before replying.
“I brought you a gift.”
“What sort of gift would require creating this much commotion?”
Rather than answering directly, Ghislain gestured to his soldiers. The men stepped aside, revealing a clearer view of the wagons behind them.
Hundreds of wagons lined up in an orderly row, an awe-inspiring sight in itself.
The nobles’ mouths dropped open at the scene.
The wagons were packed to the brim with food supplies, weaponry, and military equipment. Even as some of the most influential figures in the kingdom, none of them had ever seen such a massive stockpile in one place.
As the nobles gaped in shock, Ghislain smirked.
“These are provisions, weapons, medicinal herbs, and various military supplies. A gift from me to the Royal Faction. They should prove quite helpful during the civil war.”
Even Marquis Branford, known for his stoic demeanor, couldn’t help but widen his eyes at the sight.
While the kingdom was starting to recover from the drought, resources were still far from abundant. Everyone had been conserving what little they had.
And yet, here was Ghislain, presenting an unimaginable quantity of military supplies as a gift. It was hard to believe.
“Are… are you serious? You’re giving all of this to us?”, the Marquis of Branford stammered.
“Marquis, it’s rare to hear you stumble over your words,” Ghislain quipped.
“…I asked if you’re serious.”
“Yes, I am. Marquis, you seem to be getting more suspicious with age.”
The nobles’ disbelief was understandable. Ghislain, infamous for his stinginess and tendency to take something on every visit, was now offering an enormous gift. But hearing him confirm it, their hearts raced as they tried to steady their breathing.
All eyes turned to Maurice, who had just berated the man for alleged treason moments earlier.
“You… you brat…,” Maurice stammered.
Flustered, Maurice dismounted his horse and strode toward Ghislain.
“What now?” Ghislain asked with his usual curt tone.
Maurice paused briefly before shouting, “You brat!”
And then, like someone reuniting with a long-lost family member, Maurice pulled Ghislain into a tight embrace.