Chapter 107: 107

Thinking that Raymond’s clipped answer was funny, the marquis laughed.

“That doesn’t mean I don’t like you though. You don’t have to be so wary. I loathe how a mere peddler dares to sneak into the sacred Assembly Hall. He’s nothing but a blood-sucking insect that deliberately incites conflict.”

“That’s a harsh assessment, Marquis. And I’m even more curious why you’ve called me here.”

“I want to give you a better option. It’s to express my sympathies after the tragedy that befell Baron Saytes.”

“You’re acquainted with my brother?”

“Somewhat.”

“It’s my first time hearing this.”

The marquis set down his cup and waved his hand. The music around them resonated louder.

“Actually, we’re not very close. But the thing is, I don’t quite like Verdic Evans. That’s all.”

“I see.”

“Cautious until the end, hm? I understand that you don’t want to make enemies, but staying that way would make it hard for you to make friends, too. You should think about my suggestion, even just once.”

And, the marquis beckoned another student right after that.

He was done talking to Raymond.

Later, when Raymond was about to leave, an attendant handed him a bottle of wine.

Inside that bottle were documents containing information about Verdic Evans. A lot of it.

* * *

“Lord Raymond, it’s been a while.”

“……”

Who’s this?

Raymond had to scan through his memories for a moment before he finally recognized the young woman in front of him.

Ah, right. Fiancée. Verdic Evans’ daughter. Met all but three times in the last five years.

“Father told me to pick you up because you didn’t come, Lord Raymond.”

This young woman was almost completely buried in her fancy clothes. She raised her head with a haughty air to her, but for the tall Raymond, all he could see was a child’s mimicry of an adult. And really, Raymond didn’t even look at her properly. Because he was looking at something else.

The letter that Marquis Penceir had sent to him.

“…I see. You didn’t have to.”

“But what has caused you to be late?”

It’s because your father is a villain.

However, Raymond could not utter these words.

* * *

After that, Raymond’s daily life was not all that different. However there was one small change—he became more earnest in his efforts. He had no time to waste.

His anger against Verdic was not anything trivial. It wasn’t the kind of anger that would be resolved after just stabbing Verdic with a dagger or shooting a bullet into his head.

“Father will help you with everything.”

Raymond was well aware.

“So please don’t do this again.”

From the very start, if Raymond were to stay quiet and obedient, Verdic would let him eat the finest hay no matter what. He was the new master—the de facto master—of the Saytes Barony, and this fact was evident in how fast the land was being developed every year.

All you could see in the estate before were pastures and meadows, but soon, mines and factories replaced them. Railroads were likewise built, and the population increased.

This all would be Raymond’s once again after he marries Isella. On the one hand, it might be better to put aside any thoughts of revenge and focus on taking everything that he could from Verdic.

“But I don’t want to live like that.”

He did not want to live like livestock that’s being reared by Verdic. If Raymond would let himself be so consumed by anger that he’d lose his way, he knew very well that he would not get anything in the end. Raymond had something to lose, and likewise, Verdic was the same. Throwing punches would do nothing in a fight like this.

What Raymond wanted was the fall of the entire Evans family.

And this wish benefited Marquis Penceir quite a bit.

“No, no. Don’t decide just yet. You shouldn’t give the impression that you’re calculating the pros and cons of a relationship. Look naïve, but also honest.”

“Wouldn’t that make me seem foolish?”

With Raymond being head and shoulders, in terms of physique and grades, above other young men who were full of vitality, Raymond didn’t really understand the marquis’ advice. However, the older man just shook his head.

“You’re still young, so it’s fine. There’s a difference between being seen as a joke and being seen as a show off. It’s natural for a young man to be foolish. Never show off. If the other person has even a small semblance of wit, they’d be able to see through it. It’s not worth showing off.”

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“Alright.”

“But of course, you shouldn’t look docile. It’s over the moment others get the impression that you’re subservient. It’s a good thing that you’re poised and have good looks.”

“Thank you.”

Raymond found this fact somewhat humorous. If he instead wasn’t handsome, Verdic wouldn’t have bought him. There were many terms to get it, but that man just wanted to give his daughter a nice stallion. What would have happened if, instead of his older brother, Raymond was the one who had gotten sick?

Clack.

“Apologies.”

“Speak half a beat slower. You speak a little too fast.”

“Yes.”

The lesson he was having right now was somewhat like what young noble ladies would have before their debut into high society. Raymond felt a bit suffocated by this.

This and that might not be very different from each other. But this wasn’t that difficult. Raymond also felt a small sense of accomplishment while he was developing his conduct through etiquette.

“And don’t ever go down from the top spot. Not for the sake of Verdic’s business, but for the sake of intellectual endeavor. Duke Dalton is actually quite the intellectual snob, but if a young man like you strikes a conversation with him, he would talk your ear off. And additionally, if people think that you’re kind, that would be better.”

Did the marquis also feel some sense of satisfaction whenever he’s throwing a bone at Raymond like this?

However, Raymond couldn’t ask that. Instead, the marquis saw Raymond’s sidelong glance, and he asked the younger man.

“Why do you think I’m fond of you?”

Raymond was curious about that as well. Was it because the marquis wanted to take Verdic down through Raymond? But why did he have to use such a roundabout method of doing so. Was it more worth it if it was through him? Because of his value as a stallion? But the marquis did not have a daughter to give him to.

Raymond gave up on thinking about this. It’s not the time to calculate, but to receive.

“…I am not sure. But I don’t want to disappoint you, Marquis.”

“What a fine student.”

At Raymond’s reply, the marquis laughed and hit him on the shoulder.

“I’ll tell you something important. You have to keep your purpose. It will be your strongest weapon.”

In the age of telegrams, Raymond did not know that carrier birds were still so widely used. Invitations and recommendations came and went in this way, avoiding Verdic’s eyes. Raymond began to find a way to live without having to rely on Verdic.

“People are still too zealous about values of the days gone past. More people have entered the House of Representatives, and Verdic has more wealth to his name compared to a respectable Count. But tell me, why do you think he’s trying so hard to become a nobleman?”

Raymond thought, was it now because most rich people turn out to be aristocrats anyway?

“If you have money, then the next thing you’ll want is honor and history.”

“I’m not so sure, Marquis. Just because you want honor doesn’t mean you’ll get it.”

Again, the marquis shook his head.

“No, Raymond. Honor is manufactured. You know well enough how people—so to speak, the righteous ones—have saved and developed the country, yet fell to ruin without stamping their names into history books. No one remembers who invented scissors.”

“But you can’t create something out of nothing.”

“Right, but you see, Verdic bought you to get the honor he so craves.”

“I have no honor.”

Raymond knew himself. All he had right now were his grades, and something like that was relevant only inside the academy. Apart from that, his looks, but that was all. His household had fallen, and the debts his family had incurred with Verdic were sky high.

“You’re insulting your ancestors right now. All the first household heads of the kingdom have received their estates and peerages through great effort. So, how could you not hold any glory and history? All the Evans family has is notoriety.”

“My mistake.”

“It’s not good to apologize too often.”

“Yes, sir.”

“No, just stay quiet and say nothing. But when you need to… find the right time to apologize at the end. Good grief. I can’t believe I have to teach you even something like this. No, no, don’t apologize. Do it later.”

Raymond closed his mouth.

Then, the marquis pointed towards the portraits behind him, hanging on one wall of the room.

“What Verdic Evans wants is history. Right, to put it simply, honor is not something like a piece of jewelry that could be bought. But what he wants is power. A stable foundation. You know that the Evans family hails from a country beyond the White Mountain Range, correct?”

“Yes.”

“That’s why their foundation is cash, gold and jewelry. Those things are nothing compared to a solid ground. By law, they need a foundation that hails from this land. It’s for this reason that marriage is essential for them.”

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