Trash of the Count's Family

Silence filled the guest reception room.

Antonio looked down at his clenched fists before slowly unclenching them. He could see his empty palm.

He had realized something about himself through this chat.

Why did he think that Cale Henituse was looking to get something for him or try to take advantage of him when all he did was ask for a chat?

Antonio felt as if there was a mask in his empty palm. The name of that mask was, ‘noble.’ He too was wearing a fake noble mask.

He started to speak.

“What do you mean by open the gates?”

Antonio's nervousness showed as he asked the question.

‘Open the gates to the Empire when the kingdom asks for it.’

It was a pretty dangerous proclamation if you understood it in the wrong way. It could be interpreted as the Roan Kingdom raising their sword against the Empire.

“Young master Antonio.”

However, Cale just responded back with a question.

“Are you worried that his highness the crown prince would want to wage war against the Empire?”

This was indeed the case.

The crown prince might desire to go to war against the Empire or another foreign nation. That was what Antonio was worried about.

Antonio could see that a corner of Cale's lip had gone up a bit.

“I thought I was very clear.”

Cale repeated his words once again.

“When the kingdom asks for it.”

Not the crown prince but the kingdom.

There was a big difference between the two.

However, Antonio did not realize that difference until just now. Cale added on after realizing that Antonio had caught on.

“The Gyerre household that works for the kingdom should know what I mean, right?”

‘Works for the kingdom.’

Those words lingered in Antonio’s mind. His expression turned serious at the same time.

A situation where the entire Roan Kingdom would want them to open the gates to the Empire.

That would mean that the Empire did something terrible that the Roan Kingdom could not simply brush aside.

The kingdom meant that the crown, the nobles, and the citizens all wanted it.

‘…What did the Empire do?’

The Gyerre household was responsible for the southwest region that was the closest to the Empire. Although he was the heir of the family, Antonio could not figure out what the Empire could have done in order to cause such a situation.

He called out to Cale after realizing that his lack of information was a more serious issue.

“Young master Cale-”

“Figure it out yourself.”

Antonio could not ask about what the Empire did after hearing Cale's response that drew the line.

He could not say anything about it.

With his weakness in Cale's hands, he had to do whatever was asked of him without asking any questions. Furthermore, it was only proper for the Gyerre household to figure it out on their own if it was something the Empire did that was related to the kingdom.

It was either that he investigate it on his own, or, there was another option.

“…I will ask his highness, the crown prince.”

He needed to go above the Duke level to ask.

Antonio looked toward Cale, who accepted his response as the obvious answer and made up his mind to stealthily investigate the Empire and go through the southwest region’s defensive maneuvers once more.

That was the response that Cale had wanted.

He wanted Antonio to be wary.

He also wanted Antonio to stealthily investigate the Empire. In addition, Antonio would be interested in the flow of events in the kingdom without only seeking power.

It would be beneficial for Cale if a noble who held power in one region of the kingdom held such a demeanor. Cale sat up on the chair and made eye contact with Antonio.

“I hope that you make the right decision after thinking about it.”

Cale did not want to talk anymore.

All requests were best if they were presented in a short manner.

Of course, he didn’t forget to threaten Antonio in the process.

“These documents are all copies. I have the originals, so I hope that you make your decision without forgetting that your weakness is still in my hands.”

“Ha.”

let out a sigh

to frown. Antonio was smiling after

‘…This is weird.’

him, but rather than frowning, Antonio

‘Why is he smiling?’

relieved while

grandmother

to request something on behalf of the kingdom is a, ‘true noble.’ Antonio felt as if something in

noble,

“Of course?”

could see that

I meet

a noble meant that Antonio had

will take care of

Antonio in check

satisfied that things

something that went a bit different than he

so I

as he was about to walk out of the guest reception

very much, young

“…Excuse me?”

turned around in

you for

vitality. Cale started

properly threatened him

a proper noble. He felt a bit disappointed, however, Cale forced a smile toward

was pretty much done with his

there was still one

could not do it until

guest bedroom. Cale leaned back on the comfortable bed

I connected it!

Wiiiiiiiiiiing.

Hong were sitting.

meat before turning his gaze toward

Young master Cale.

talking to crown

report to the crown prince. It was always necessary to report in after creating a

prince Alberu

that he was leaning on the bed. Who wouldn’t be angry after seeing someone relaxing on a

had filled his stomach with food, felt bad for

why he started

“Your highness-”

was frowning as he

are not the kingdom's star but the kingdom's

‘…What the…’

Cale’s expression stiffened up.

used his glib tongue for the

not even afraid of the darkness. You are

is he

to get annoyed even though

highness, shall

leaning on the bed and sitting

do so. I heard about

he started to smile brightly. Someone might even think that he was out enjoying

as if he was somewhere even better than a

while trying to capture human

part of it is

cough up blood

order to capture the human traffickers, destroyed their buildings with the silver shield, and rescued

“…I suppose so?”

indeed what had

seemed to

restaurant window before confidently taking them on

“…Could you please stop?”

to smirk. Alberu seemed

was no need to go into

heard about most of it,

knew that one of the crown’s informants would be in the

prince was a meticulous person

that much

My informant told me about the rumors spreading through

what was quickly spreading throughout the Gyerre territory. The Duke's Estate had no way of stopping

a conclusion

A good crazy bastard.

did not enjoy seeing

other information he had received said that he did not cough

why he

and reported to him in the morning, but he was uselessly proper and waited until past midnight

be the easiest to work with, even if he didn’t like the

Cale

it you need to

hold up a recovering person. Furthermore, this bastard was the one who would soon go to the Caro Kingdom’s

you the documents soon, but the merchant guild that traded with the Chryshi household is from the Empire, and there is also evidence of the Chryshi household hiring an assassin

felt a headache

a short

your highness. The Gyerre household will contact you soon. I put the chain on them so that you

…I suddenly feel tired.