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

start to frown.

‘…This is weird.’

thought that Antonio had understood him, but rather than frowning, Antonio had a

‘Why is he smiling?’

was relieved while Cale

grandmother said

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

a noble, young master

“Of course?”

that Antonio had understood

I meet his

that Antonio had called him a noble meant that Antonio had a

prince will take care of the

would know how to keep Antonio in check as

satisfied that things

was something that went a

busy, so I will be on my way

was about to walk out of the guest

you very much, young

“…Excuse me?”

around in

you for

giving off a sense of vitality. Cale started to feel odd after seeing Antonio looking happy, contrary to

threatened him and taken something in

requested any material goods from the Gyerre household in order to act like a proper noble. He felt a bit disappointed, however, Cale forced a smile

with

was still

was for tomorrow. He could not

largest guest bedroom. Cale leaned back on the

I connected it!

Wiiiiiiiiiiing.

and Hong were sitting. There was a lot of

quietly chewing on some meat before turning his gaze toward the

Young master Cale.

talking to

report to the crown prince. It was

Alberu was

on the bed. Who wouldn’t be angry after seeing

who had filled his stomach with

was why he

“Your highness-”

him off. Alberu was frowning as

are not the kingdom's star but

‘…What the…’

Cale’s expression stiffened up.

his glib tongue for the first time

you, our Roan Kingdom is not even afraid of the darkness. You are not

is he

annoyed even

shall I

leaning on the bed and

no need to do so.

to be in agony as he started to smile brightly. Someone might even think that he was out enjoying a beautiful flower

as if he was somewhere even better than a

coughed up blood and almost fainted while trying to capture human traffickers in

part of

cough up blood

used amazing charisma in order to capture the human traffickers, destroyed their

“…I suppose so?”

was indeed what

to be

be drunk and observed the human traffickers through a restaurant

“…Could you please stop?”

Alberu seemed to

realize that there was no need to go into details about today's

heard about most of it, your

crown’s informants would be in the Gyerre

prince was a meticulous person after

expected that much information to be delivered so

me about the rumors spreading

quickly spreading throughout the Gyerre territory. The Duke's Estate

a

A good crazy bastard.

seeing Cale

that he did not cough up much

be why he was laying

morning, but he was uselessly proper and

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

was because Cale was similar to

you

a recovering person. Furthermore, this bastard was the one who would soon go to the

short report. I will send 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 guild in order to

suddenly felt a headache coming

is a

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

…I suddenly feel tired.