Trash of the Count's Family

“…Bud is being held hostage by the dethroned princess?” That is correct, young master-nim.

Ron's benign smile didn't register correctly in Cale’s mind.

Alberu confirmed that the underground stone chamber was not visible to Raon and Ron as they were in the middle of the staircase before starting to speak toward Cale who seemed to be deep in thought.

“Elisneh the First, the current monarch of the Molden Kingdom, rose to the throne in her early thirties. She is said to have used her amazing leadership to turn the Molden Kingdom into the strong kingdom it is today.” That is correct, your highness.

Ron respectfully agreed with Alberu.

Alberu leaned on the wall as he continued to speak.

"There are many people in the Eastern continent who consider the Roan Kingdom to be the second Molden Kingdom.”

There were talks about the Roan Kingdom being similar to the Molden Kingdom as both nations had a young person coming into power and developing their nation into a strong kingdom.

“But there is one thing that was different.” It was the issue of successorship.”

Alberu smiled and casually commented toward Ron.

“Looks like you’re quite knowledgeable about the Eastern continent's situation.” It isn’t much, your highness.

Ron feigned ignorance and stopped talking.

Alberu quietly watched him for a moment before continuing to speak. He continued his explanation for Cale.

“Originally, there were two monarch candidates who fought viciously for the Molden Kingdom's throne.” It wasn’t much of a fight because Elisneh the First was superior in every category.

“Correct.”

Intelligence, strength, background of maternal relatives, number of followers, and capital. Elisneh was superior in every category.

“Elisneh the First from the beginning to the end… Showed superiority in all aspects and ascended to the throne. However, there was a moment when her younger sister, Princess Jopis, threatened Elisneh the First's hold on the throne.”

“…Jopis.”

Cale mumbled that name.

“Yes. Princess Jopis. Unlike the others, she aggressively tried to defeat Elisneh the First. However, she is said to be living quietly after losing the battle. Well, she can only live quietly as she has been exiled.”

Unless the heir to the throne is determined early as it was with Alberu, there were only two options left for the others who fought until the end.

Death or exile. Should they choose exile, they had to live the rest of their lives as quiet as a rat under surveillance.

“…Honestly speaking, I still don’t know why Jopis tried to go up against Elisneh the First.”

This was because Elisneh the First's victory was almost guaranteed.

“Furthermore, the two of them are blood-related siblings. They aren't even half-siblings.”

“Siblings?”

“Yes, that is why Jopis couldn't even get support from her maternal relatives. They all supported Elisneh.”

Alberu tilted his head to the side.

He had been gathering information about the Molden Kingdom after Cale told him about the Molden Kingdom and the Illusionist last time.

“Furthermore, the two of them were said to have a very good relationship with each other until Jopis suddenly started to fight for the throne. Jopis and Elisneh's maternal relatives still don't know why Jopis suddenly started to rebel against her older sister.”

“…Really?”

Cale’s eyes clouded over. Alberu looked toward Cale and responded.

“I guess you felt the same thing I felt while telling you about it.”

Alberu looked toward Cale, Raon, and Ron as he continued to speak.

“Doesn’t it feel odd?”

“That does seem to be the case.”

Cale started to think about Bud.

“The Mercenary King, Bud is not someone who bluffs. He told me he would get information about the Molden Kingdom, so the fact that he approached Jopis should mean that she has some sort of secret.”

“Yes. Either a secret or the key to revealing the secret.”

A secret or a key.

Cale turned back toward the video communication device.

“How did Bud end up getting captured?” Using the information from Glenn Poeff who was watching from the rear…

started to explain the

But he's not the type to listen, so

never came out no matter how

Mercenaries Guild to get reinforcements. Glenn Poeff apparently got a call on

device?” Yes, sir. The calling video communication device was Bud’s, so Glenn Poeff immediately

Alberu interjected.

the Mercenary King was taken

motioned to someone. Glenn Poeff walked over with an awkward smile on his face and bowed toward

the contents of the call I received and you should be able to understand the situation after taking a

Chhhhhhh-

shined as the

“Human, it's Bud!”

‘It sure is.’

It was Bud, but…

frown while looking at

could see a simple and

smaller than what he expected for the residence of a former princess who

heard Alberu's voice

guess there’s no way they would give a dethroned princess in exile a

nice; the room they were looking at was old and

those bookcases were full of books that seemed to

on top of that old but clean

Bud was flailing around.

were tied down and there was a gag in his mouth

the video communication device, but the gag made it impossible to understand

voice in the video at that

than the bed and the bookcases… There were also an old table and two chairs in

were made of old

one of those chairs smiled toward the screen. The tea tastes

who was drinking tea in a wooden cup was dressed

reminded of Duchess Violan as he

hair was tied up without a single stray strand and the noble way she was

the refined look of grace that came from her expression made him think of

living in exile, but she gave off the grace of a woman enjoying a short tea time at

she said the tea was wonderful sounded extremely

like someone who had lost

than Alberu. Cale subconsciously started

are you looking

away as he

be easy to

“…Yes.”

agreed with that

looked like a

certain after

Click.

gracefully put the teacup down before starting to

Smile.

her face as well. Mister, tea

“Ah.”

Cale was certain.

not be easy to deal with. Human! Bud seems like a stupid idiot who walked into a

didn't disagree

of knowing how Bud who was a sword master and had an

looked elegant without a single drop of sweat on her right

recording. Shit, you must have accomplices in

struggled and

would assist a dethroned princess that has nothing to offer them? For being the Mercenary

Cale heard Alberu's voice.

to learn to speak

‘Me too.’

speaking quite uniquely while sounding elegant in the process. I

his head

learn to talk like that.

who I am? Sir, how can I not? The two of you were

Smile.

as if she was a

then heard Glenn’s anxious voice. Well, anyway, who you are is not important

lived a long time as a princess even if she was dethroned and lived in exile now, had

his gaze on

looked straight into the video recording device at that moment and he ended up

he came to learn the secrets of the Molden royal

That idiot! He was captured after saying

could hear Glenn

he

her eyes had not smiled