151 – The emperor gave me the duke (3)

I don’t feel really good enough to say anything, but there are things I have to do even if I really don’t want to do it in life.

I am nominally a vassal of the Emperor Elaine, so I have an obligation to respond to the Emperor’s call.

Also, seeing how our Highness, the Duke of Brussels, was using a trick and suddenly gave me the ducal title without even blowing my nose… There is a high possibility that there is a terrifying conspiracy that I have not even thought of.

So, I immediately handed over all administrative duties within the territory to my father, the Viscount of this territory, and immediately set off on the road to the Ecliptic Elysium.

The person to be taken is Balt, who will act as an escort, Baron Lauren, who will negotiate various administrative affairs, and… . My father’s bastard son, my half-brother, Ron von Kreuttel.

I wanted to take Irina, Ella, and Victoria with me too, but… I am now on my way to defend the Emperor and the Duke of Brussels’ heinous plans.

In such a place, especially Irina and Ella… I couldn’t help it because if I took Victoria, who hadn’t decided on a fiancee, there would surely be a lot of idiots who would bring me a line through an arranged marriage.

Now that we have to go for a long time, shall we just get some sleep…

As I was about to close my eyes, my half-brother sitting in front of me spoke to me.

“count… dismissal?”

The words made me sleepy and a little annoyed.

But anyway, if I sleep here, I won’t be able to sleep at the place I’m going to stay tonight, so it’s annoying, and I have something to say with this guy…

I spoke in a comfortable voice to have a friendly conversation.

“Even though you and I have different mothers, aren’t we children of the same father? Also, I officially recognized you as a legitimate member of our family a few days ago. So there is no need to call it that.”

Well, the reason I acknowledged him as an official member of our family wasn’t simply because I felt sorry for him that he couldn’t call his father father like Hong Gil-dong.

As a reward for his father, who worked overtime to manage the Hellsman region as a viscount under his son in his mid-to-late 50s.

Also, like the ancestors of other great aristocratic families, he had a lot of concubines and didn’t plan to mass produce blood-bound vassals who supported the family, so he needed this guy.

Lastly, it is to give him a new opportunity this time after seeing his ability to study law at the University of Volonia in Romania and to perform well as an inspector under his father for a year.

At that, he looked at me with eyes full of emotion and said.

“Thank you, brother… ”

“no. I should have accepted you into the family sooner since you are the only younger sister. I’m sorry about this brother.”

“No, thanks to that, I was able to organize my life of going to a bar after work and hanging out with prostitutes. And the way to marry a woman from a proper family and live as a nobleman was opened. All of this is thanks to my brother.”

If I hadn’t acknowledged that guy, he would have been treated coldly, at least until my son inherited the title…

I can understand why you thank me like that, but seeing him lower his head while holding my hand is too burdensome.

So I let go of the guy’s hand and said to get out of the burdensome situation.

“I just did what I had to do. By the way, it’s a wedding… Is there a real young lady who is thinking of you?”

To that, the boy had no answer.

“but… Up until now, I had almost no chance to go out of the territory, and I couldn’t even have a son, but those of my vassals who had daughters… I couldn’t even think of a proper matchmaking because I noticed. But I wouldn’t have thought that marrying a serf or a low-ranking knight’s daughter would be a nuisance to our family. sorry.”

When I said that as if I was sorry, Ron said with a smile.

“It’s just that I’ve never been in a relationship, and I’m only 21 now. And my older brother will find me a good wife anyway… What are you worried about? My brother will find a way for you.”

Read more novels at noblemtl.com

Marriage with one’s original wife is an era in which political elements are almost unconditionally included, so not being able to date is nothing in the world anyway.

Nevertheless, to say in a self-deprecating way that I have never been in a relationship must have been with a caring heart for my worries.

And I liked that he said that he would marry or do anything according to my order, the head of the family, while following exactly what he said to call him older brother.

Because I told you to treat me like an older brother, but if you keep saying no, it means that you don’t trust me or you’re very timid, so you can’t trust me as a subordinate.

But if you do it comfortably and cross the line… Yeah, it’s just a final decision.

“Okay, then let’s talk about it in earnest. Yes, as you know, His Majesty called us this time to appoint me the dukedom.”

“Yes, I know.”

“But, you know… I haven’t really done anything in this civil war. In such a situation, granting the title of duke, not any other title… Not a very good thing. Therefore, it seems that His Majesty the Emperor is trying to strongly bind me under His Majesty’s influence by granting me the duchy.”

I think it has more sinister intentions than simply putting it on a leash…

That guy is still not as trustworthy as Baron Balt or Frost, his son, or his father…

I can’t say anything that could sound like treason against the emperor. So, this would be just about right.

But Ron, perhaps believing that I had told him everything, gulped and focused as best he could on what I was saying.

“Perhaps His Majesty is likely to reward me by arranging a marriage with a collateral imperial family instead of a fief when I am appointed duke. After that, he will now order me to serve as a true duke of the empire married to the imperial family. Of course, as a noble of the empire, I deserve to serve the Elain Empire… Right now, I can’t afford to serve the Eline Empire so diligently.”

Having said that, I have no intention of serving the Emperor and the Duke of Brussels, who so far have done nothing for me other than maintaining inviolability for me.

Because once you’ve served, you’ll use my favor to make me a duke slave.

So there was a saying… Whatever it is, it’s hard at first, and then it’s terribly easy.

“You never know when the Emperor Francis, the Elector Counts of Romania, and the Emperor will aim for you… To fulfill your role as a vassal… You can’t just become a duke and serve the emperor for the sake of the empire.”

“That’s why, you can’t become a duke of the empire. However, if I unilaterally refuse this, His Majesty the Emperor might suspect me… I intend to promote your marriage to the daughter of the Duke of Brussels’ concubine. If you do that, it will be a form of marriage that moderately accepts His Majesty’s intention to deepen our relationship. How are you?”

Of course, she is said to be the daughter of a concubine, but now she is the daughter of a duke who holds the real power of the empire as the regent… The heir to the count’s family should be at least the right balance.

Therefore, no matter how prosperous our family is, as it was originally, it is a marriage that is not balanced with Ron, a member of the family…

The Duke of Brussels, whose cooperation with me is essential, has no choice but to accept my offer. And in the meantime, Ron is the one who benefits the most.

So Ron looked at me with bright eyes and said,

“It is an honour! brother!!”

“Yeah, thank you. However, no matter how favorable the circumstances are for you and me… Since you cannot give your daughter to someone who has no reputation, you must go to the imperial city and participate in all banquets as my representative to build friendships with the officials and successors of each family. At the same time, I ask them what they think about me becoming a duke.”

At that, Ron looked at me questioningly, but soon cleared all doubts and nodded in agreement.

After that, with nothing to do anyway, Ron and I spent time in the carriage talking all kinds of small talk.

**

After arriving at the royal capital after a long month-long trip, I immediately moved to the mansion assigned to us.

Although the mansion was located on the outskirts of the imperial capital Elysium, its size was the size of a small castle, if exaggerated.

After unpacking and tidying up the mansion, I went straight to the Duke of Brussels.

And as soon as the duke heard that I had come, he put off all his duties and said with a smile.

“Yes, Duke Creutel. I sincerely congratulate you on becoming a duke. If I had known you would grow up to be this big, my wife, Elizabeth, would have sent her only daughter as a concubine! what’s that important? The same peacock… Come on, sit down.”

At that, I replied with a smile.

“I have no intention of becoming a duke. Why would you? majesty.”