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

visiting Jopis's residence. But he's not the type to listen, so Glenn Poeff agreed for Bud to enter the residence alone while he would assist

no matter how

enter the residence as well or contact the Mercenaries Guild to get reinforcements. Glenn Poeff apparently got a call on his video communication device at that

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

Alberu interjected.

confirmed that the Mercenary King was taken hostage?” That

someone. Glenn Poeff walked over with an awkward smile on

he started to speak. I recorded the contents of the call

Chhhhhhh-

soon shined as

“Human, it's Bud!”

‘It sure is.’

It was Bud, but…

frown while looking at the

see a

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

Alberu's voice behind

no way they would give a dethroned princess in exile a nice

be nice; the room they were looking at was

a few bookcases and an old but clean bed in the room, and those bookcases were full of books that seemed to have been read

that old but

Bud was flailing around.

arms and legs were tied down and there was a gag in his mouth as

and seemed to be trying to say something as he looked at the video communication device, but the gag made it impossible to understand what he was saying. Oh

a woman's voice in the video at

the bed and the bookcases… There were also

chairs and table were made of old

of those chairs smiled toward the screen. The

in a wooden cup was dressed simply but neatly.

of Duchess

her, but the way her hair was tied up without a single stray strand

that came from her expression made him think of

exile, but she gave off the grace of a woman enjoying a short tea

voice as she said the tea was

not look like someone who had lost

more majestic than Alberu.

are you looking

away as

won't be easy to

“…Yes.”

with

looked like a

after

Click.

gracefully put the teacup down before starting to

Smile.

on her face as well. Mister, tea truly

“Ah.”

Cale was certain.

be easy to deal with. Human! Bud seems like a stupid idiot who walked into

didn't disagree

knowing how Bud who was a sword master and had

Jopis looked elegant without a single drop of sweat on

respond to her in the recording. Shit, you must have accomplices in there with

struggled and shook his

would assist a dethroned princess that has nothing to offer them? For being the Mercenary King's smart close

Cale heard Alberu's voice.

to learn to

‘Me too.’

sounding elegant in the process. I want to learn it

shook his

talk like that. No more

you were a famous combination long before I

Smile.

smile made her look as if she was a

anyway, who you are

if she was

on Jopis in the

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

he came to learn the secrets of the Molden royal

He was captured after saying

hear

as he continued to

was smiling elegantly, but her eyes had not smiled even