CHAPTER 280: GIVE ME LAND

Hera Dren.

The youngest child of Marquis Dren’s family.

‘She has great ambition. Although she didn’t stand out within the marquis family, she eventually went to the academy and achieved excellent results.’

Ethan had quite often become friendly with Hera Dren at the academy. Making Hera Dren an ally would allow him to make good use of the power of Marquis Dren’s family, which was responsible for one axis of the Twelve Families.

Of course, since Hera Dren didn’t have much influence within Marquis Dren’s family, all that could be expected was just the value of her name.

‘When you get close enough, you can understand their true feelings. I know everything about what situation she’s in now.’

There were several complex factors that led her to have great ambition.

Born as the youngest, she was already behind in the successor race, but with her siblings’ interference and even assassination attempts, there wasn’t a single day in her life when she could feel at ease.

How hard it must have been for her to actually enjoy the rigorous academy life.

‘She said it was nice not to worry about assassination. Even if there was conflict with fellow students, there was no risk of death, so it was very comfortable.’

Probably every moment was a series of tensions. She couldn’t relax her guard even at mealtimes, let alone in bed.

She said her siblings aimed to kill her slowly, just in case it might be discovered.

Although they had different mothers, they shared the same father’s bloodline.

Perhaps because of her siblings who tried to kill her from time to time, Hera Dren was in a tremendous dilemma.

‘Although she’s a candidate to succeed the marquis territory, ironically, she wanted to destroy the marquis territory.’

The root of all this was Marquis Dren. He tacitly approved of the power struggle between the successors and even secretly encouraged more competition.

He thought that was how the next successor could elevate the marquis family to a higher position.

When Hera Dren reported this fact, she was severely scolded by Marquis Dren, and as a result, she came to the academy as if fleeing.

‘That’s why I know well.’

Hera Dren’s ambition and purpose. Hera had little emotional response to her father Marquis Dren’s death.

If he had been a proper father, she would have been sad. Rather, she would consider this incident an opportunity.

So all he needs to do is scratch that part. He doesn’t know if it will work out well, but the Hera Dren he know will surely accept it.

‘And one more.’

The most ambiguous third child.

As soon as Ethan saw the five successor candidates, he got a sense of who should be brought to this side.

‘I’ll deal with the first, second, and fourth. Of course, I don’t need to handle it myself.’

He intended to entrust it to Hera Dren in front of him.

‘It was them who fed her medicine that weakened her body for a whole year.’

Moreover, it wasn’t that the three plotted and did such a thing. It was just that three people with the goal of being successors took the same action.

‘It’s impressive that she’s still alive.’

Ethan waited for Hera Dren’s answer as she looked at him, shocked.

Hera Dren was making quite an interesting expression, apparently surprised by the story she had heard.

Destroy the Marquis Dren family and incorporate it into Count Whiskers’ territory?

And the Whiskers family would become one of the Twelve Families instead?

The scale was too big.

It was more than Hera could handle.

In other words, it could sound like nonsense. But Ethan’s voice was very serious, with not a hint of playfulness mixed in.

“Do you think… you’ve already won? That the situation is over because father has passed away?”

“It’s not a matter of winning or losing. You know, don’t you? The ship has lost its captain. In a state where there’s no talent to lead the ship instead of the captain. But this ship is full of treasures. There are also treasures stolen from me. In this state, I’m saying I’ll take all the treasures.”

Having finished speaking, Ethan sank deep into his chair.

“Because I can handle it.”

“……”

“I made the proposal because I approached first. Whether to accept it or not is up to Miss Hera Dren.”

“If I refuse……”

“This proposal will go to your other siblings. Secretly. It seems that only a few people properly understand the current situation.”

Clearly, Ethan was not emitting an aura.

Yet something strong was felt from him.

Fear. No, an emotion similar to it.

This is a huge game set up by Ethan Whiskers.

What would happen if Marquis Dren died, how this side would react. On top of that, he seemed to know exactly how many people were properly judging the current situation and how they would respond.

The opponent is prepared, but this side is not prepared at all.

Even with cards that could be used at any time, they weren’t in a state to use them properly.

A sinking ship.

The current marquis family was in a situation that perfectly matched those words Ethan had said.

To think it would come to this just because one person, Marquis Dren, died.

But that one person was not someone who could be killed so easily.

If it had been easy, all those who opposed the marquis family would have targeted Marquis Dren as their top priority, and the marquis would have died soon.

“I won’t stay in the marquis territory for long.”

Ethan stood up from his seat. It was time to finalize this matter with the other successor candidates.

“If I don’t hear from you by tonight, I’ll take it as a refusal.”

Bang-.

With the sound of the door closing behind her, Hera Dren, left alone, closed her eyes with a determined face.

***

“W-What? What did you just say!?”

“This matter. In exchange for turning a blind eye, give me land. Any land that belongs to the marquis territory will do. In return for that, I’ll hand over all the Nightwalkers and end this matter here.”

In the grand conference room.

As soon as the children of the marquis entered, Ethan stated his negotiation terms.

“You want land? Our land?”

“You’re talking nonsense! We already know everything you’ve done, Count Ethan Whiskers. You’re trying to cover our eyes with this ridiculous meeting, but you can’t fool us. And in the midst of that, you’re asking for land? That can’t be put on the table as a negotiation condition.”

The land belonging to the marquis territory had considerable significance.

If they gave up land here, it would mean the marquis family had been robbed.

Since rising to the Twelve Families, the marquis territory had never once been robbed of its land.

They had only increased it, never lost it.

Giving land to Whiskers at the same time as Marquis Dren’s death? That would have too much of a negative impact on the future of the marquis family.

Paris Dren, the eldest, reacted roughly to Ethan’s proposal.

“It seems this won’t work with words. Is that really your proposal? Is this even a negotiation?”

“Hmm, is that so?”

Ethan smiled and took out a parchment, starting to write something on the spot.

“I think you all probably know. Right now, I’m maintaining a good relationship with the princess. Since you won’t accept my negotiation. I’ll ask a higher authority to judge this matter. If I tell the princess, it will probably reach the top well.”

At those words, everyone turned pale. If it goes through the princess, it will directly reach the emperor’s ears.

If this matter is judged on the imperial judgment seat, the marquis family will naturally have to compensate Count Whiskers family greatly.

It’s impossible to know how much that compensation will be.

But the important thing wasn’t the compensation. It would greatly tarnish the very reputation of Marquis Dren’s family.

If there’s a crack in the status of being one of the Twelve Families, that’s the end. There was a possibility that other families of the Twelve Families might try to expel the marquis family.

The expressions of the successor candidates turned pale as their thoughts reached that far.

“W-Wait. The conversation isn’t over yet.”

“Count Ethan Whiskers, please wait a little longer. We will answer that proposal after we have another meeting.”

“I don’t have much time.”

Ethan stood up from his seat and dusted his collar once.

“Until evening. Decide for yourselves whether to accept these minimal conditions I’ve put forward. I’ve written down here how much land I want.”

With those words, Ethan pushed the parchment forward.

“Decide for yourselves.”

***

“To think it would come to this just because one Marquis Dren is gone. It’s really surprising.”

“If he had gradually divided up the work to train them and given them even small positions, it wouldn’t have turned out like this.”

Marquis Dren was young.

Compared to the heads of other Twelve Families, he was more than 10 years younger.

That’s why he didn’t bother to divide the work among his children. He probably intended to run the marquis family himself, holding all the power.

Just like how Ethan sent managers to various parts of the expanded Whiskers territory, simplifying the reporting system and increasing speed.

Holding power alone had big disadvantages, but the marquis had a background that could cover these disadvantages.

The Marquis Dren family, one of the Twelve Families. Who would dare to touch the head of a huge family that no one on the continent could mess with.

Even fairly important people would lower their tails in front of Marquis Dren. So he could hold power alone and completely erase those disadvantages.

‘That’s what created this situation.’

“But will they really give the land?”

“It doesn’t matter if they don’t. I’ve already made Plan B.”

If they give it, that’s fine.

If they don’t give it, there’s a plan for that too.

“There is one variable though.”

The fact that Marquis Dren was young in his lifetime meant that the previous family head had quickly handed over the position.

‘That means he’s still formidable.’

“The previous family head is still around. Since he retired quickly, his claws might still be intact.”

“He might already be returning after hearing the news.”

Yerica’s expression changed. If it was the previous head of the Marquis Dren family who retired quickly, he would surely be deeply involved in her grandfather’s death.

“If that happens, it could create quite a troublesome situation.”

If the previous family head comes directly to move the situation, troublesome situations could arise.

‘He surely has connections no less than Marquis Dren. He’ll bring people who can pressure me and the Whiskers family.’

Although Princess Evangeline and the Pope are behind Ethan, that’s just a deterrent.

‘With decades of experience. But it’s just a variable as they say. I know the nature of high nobles very well. What can beat connections is.’

Another connection. And Ethan had been continuously building good connections with high nobles.

“I’ve built up quite a few connections too.”

The princess and the pope were just a definite period. They weren’t all the connections Ethan had.

“I never thought there would be a war like this.”

“The other Twelve Families won’t be this easy. You’re not letting your guard down, are you, Yerica? You still have two more families as targets for your revenge. And those two families might attack you instead after seeing the Marquis Dren family fall.”

“They already know about me, don’t they.”

“Since you showed yourself openly. Now everyone knows that you, my bodyguard, are the granddaughter of the late Lord Hecate. So.”

Ethan could be certain after seeing Yerica deal with Marquis Dren.

“If we get land here. I’m going to entrust that land to you.”

“Land to me? I don’t have that kind of ability. Even in the magic tower, I just placed necessary people in necessary parts. I’m confident in magic, but I lack the ability to manage.”

“That’s exactly it.”

Ethan said with a smile.

“It’s fine if you can place necessary people in necessary places. A territory isn’t run by one person anyway.”

“But why do you want to entrust it to me specifically? I’m your bodyguard. If there’s any part where I’m lacking……”

“You need to take revenge, Yerica. I had to take direct action for Marquis Dren, but for the other two families, you need to take revenge with your own hands.”

Ethan said.

“That’s what you want, right?”

“……”

To be honest, that was true. Although getting Ethan’s help would be the best, there was a desire to achieve revenge with her own hands in the end.

‘You need to have that kind of self-directed attitude.’

Ethan grinned.

“So manage the territory and take revenge as you wish.”

“But if I do that……”

“What’s the problem? Now I’m your background.”

Suddenly Yerica’s eyes widened.

“All the actions you take from now on will be guaranteed by Ethan Whiskers of the Whiskers family, which will be newly incorporated into the Twelve Families.”

Ethan patted Yerica’s back.

“Do it in the name of Count Ethan Whiskers.”

“…Yes. I’ll take proper revenge. And I’ll use your name a lot, Lord Ethan.”

***

Late evening.

Someone came to Ethan’s room.

When he opened the door to the knocking sound, Hera Dren was seen, deeply hooded in a robe.

“I’ll cooperate. But I need to properly secure my own position. As long as you don’t intentionally overthrow it, I’ll take care of my own position.”

Ethan slowly smiled as he looked at Hera Dren.

“Contract completed, Hera Dren.”

Now that they had agreed to work together, she was no longer a young lady.

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