Chapter 53

Although Count Schwabin engaged fiercely with the trolls, thanks to the contributions of Baron Croilet, Baron Crescent, and myself, SIEL von Croilet, the situation is still a complete victory in terms of judgment.

As a result, Helzman swore that a few days later, he would pledge to cede his territory, the ‘Helzman Count domain’, to Count Schwabin von Nante.

And today, the ceremony to write the pledge began inside the castle of the Helzman Count domain, with Count Helzman and his subordinate barons present.

This was a ceremony that all nobles above the rank of baron were required to attend, so I participated as well.

**

Before officially drafting the pledge, a banquet was held to encourage Count Helzman and the nobles under his command, who had fought valiantly.

Count Nante and Count Helzman sat at the highest seats in the castle, with the barons under Count Helzman at the long table on the left, and the barons under Count Nante seated at the long table on the right.

In such a setting, nobles of equal rank are usually seated in order of age, but someone like me, who has made a special contribution, is often placed in a higher position among the retainers…

However, our esteemed Count Schwabin, perhaps harboring some ill feelings towards me and the baron, or burning with jealousy at my superiority, relegated me to the very bottom position.

Then, shortly after, Count Nante raised his glass and, with a pompous voice, proclaimed loudly.

“Well, then, let us raise a toast in honor of the noble nobles and brave soldiers who fought valiantly in this war and lost their lives. For honor!!”

According to reports I’ve received, the individual who has most squandered honor here is none other than Count Schwabin, and yet he dares to speak of honor and boast in this place…

It seems I wasn’t the only one thinking this, as the atmosphere of the room abruptly cooled.

It must have occurred to Helzman that his last battle couldn’t end like this; he stood up, raised his cup high, and earnestly exclaimed with a lively voice.

“To my knights who died fighting honorably, and to the valiant soldiers… and to Count Nante’s knights and soldiers, who were no less worthy opponents… cheers!!!”

“Cheers!!!”

“For honor!!!”

As Helzman made the toast, the atmosphere suddenly brightened, and it appeared that Schwabin, displeased at being overlooked as the victor, made a grim face.

However, Count Helzman seemed unfazed by Schwabin’s demeanor; he silently began to eat the splendid feast laid out before him.

Even though it was customary here to talk and laugh about war with the enemy, as a Korean, I couldn’t, at least on principle…

I didn’t want to casually chat with those I had fought and killed, so I remained silent.

However, Baron Croilet and the other barons were drinking and chatting merrily, whether sincerely or not, in accordance with custom.

“Ha ha ha, Baron Hailtz… your charge was truly sharp!! If I hadn’t worn three layers of chain armor on the day I set out due to my anxiety, I would have died!! What kind of lance did you use? It pierced right through the gaps in my armor…”

“It’s nothing. Your Excellency Croilet, it was just luck. Your leadership over the knights was impressive!!”

“Oh, now, look at this friend…”

“Well then, if I can find a different lord to serve and obtain stability, would you agree to a marriage alliance? It seems we will have no reason to be enemies with Count Nante for a while.”

“No need, your territories will serve the surrounding counts as they are… but our son has someone else in mind!”

“What a shame…”

Indeed, in the noble family of Count Nante, where intrigue runs rampant and suspicion is a permanent affliction of its head, he survived while exercising considerable power as a ‘guardian’.

Even though Hailtz was openly rude, he managed to counter it without damaging that gentleman’s honor.

As I observed the surroundings, I quietly consumed the fine wine, roast beef, and bread in front of me.

Having stayed silent for what felt like half a day, I noticed the barons’ faces beginning to flush slightly.

Yet, in that state, not one of them displayed any rudeness towards each other due to their drinking habits.

“Ah, no… Your Excellency Croilet!! Why are the infantry so sturdy? What kind of weapons did you arm the serfs with?”

“Weapons? That’s a misunderstanding. Our serfs have just been well-fed and grown strong.”

“Is that so… Nante is indeed prosperous. However, our Helzman Count domain is prosperous too. Please share some of that prosperity here. Otherwise… we’ll lose face, won’t we?”

“Your Excellency will do just fine.”

At those words, an unnamed baron could no longer bear to speak and merely forced a bitter smile, quietly retreating to his seat.

As the banquet gradually neared its end, Helzman started to walk slowly towards me, leaving Schwabin, whose face was flushed from drink.

Damn, don’t come over here… Even if you come just to talk, that damn Count of a hunk of meat will surely find a way to harass me…

However, Helzman ignored my small wish and approached me to speak.

“Are you SIEL von Croilet?”

I sighed and replied.

“Yes, I am.”

“You’re quite handsome. I even heard you’re smart! Lance mentioned that although this is only your second war, you managed to outmaneuver us and take the castle.”

While it seems he is complimenting me on the surface, Helzman is trying to embarrass me, SIEL von Croilet, who has brought about his downfall while preserving his honor.

For he must understand that just by seeing me seated at the very end, he is attempting to ‘contain’ me…

By talking to me alone, he is overtly focusing attention on me, suggesting that he has something in mind.

It’s truly disgusting.

“You flatter me. I merely assisted in Count Nante’s brilliant strategy. All this credit goes to Count Nante.”

Helzman, perhaps thinking he could no longer argue against my utterly impeccable statement, sighed with relief, patted my shoulder, and whispered.

“Count Nante is a fool. How dare he try to contain someone like you. If it were me, I would either give my daughter to you to make you a baron or assassinate you… Now that his family has suffered a complete defeat in its 200-year history, you must endure and survive.”

After finishing that remark, Helzman confidently returned to his seat.

Before long, the banquet came to an end.

**

The day after the banquet, which expressed ‘mutual respect’ between winners and losers while eating and drinking, we proceeded with the scheduled ceremony to draft the pledge for the ceding of the Helzman Count domain.

First, while still tipsy, we held a ‘worship to commemorate the honorable battles’, hosted by the bishop of the ‘Helzman Count domain’.

Usually, the Sunday service that is held every week lasts about an hour, but this ceremony went on for over four hours.

And the wicked bishop continued to preach for three hours, hoping that Count Nante, who would acquire this territory, would provide a donation.

The tone of his voice was like that of elderly professors, inducing sleep, and I struggled to stay awake.

It was so bad that during the service, I even thought of the design for the clothes I want to dress Ela in and the name for our future child…

However, fortunately, I was able to avoid dozing off during the service, and finally, the ceremony for drafting the ‘cession pact’ began.

In the center, there was a table where a long scroll stating the reasons for the cession of the territory was placed, with Count Helzman and Count Nante positioned around it.

Slightly apart from them, the baron with the highest title among the rest and the bishop volunteered as ‘the officiants’, while the other barons stood ready in their armor behind their respective lords.

Once everyone was in line, the bishop and the baron opened their mouths simultaneously.

“Under the venerable name of God, we pay tribute to Count Helzman and Count Nante for their honorable combat!! And now, according to the just outcome of this fair war revealed by divine will, Count Helzman will cede his territory to Count Nante! Oh, God!! Grant us peace as we are your servants.”

To claim that the war is fair is ridiculous and doesn’t even hold up in ancient times… And how can those who have fought a war be peaceful…

Truly, the ostentatious phrases of the nobles of this era are utterly absurd.

The bishop then presented each with their respective seal rings, dropped wax onto the space for sealing, and said.

“This contract will be carried out justly under God’s watch. Your Excellencies, please seal the document together.”

After hearing this, the two sealed the document quietly.

“Now, God will protect this contract. Thank you for your hard work.”

When those words ended, Schwabin extended a purse filled with ‘gold coins’ toward Count Helzman.

“I wish for peace in your life and that of your family.”

Count Helzman, hearing that, smiled mockingly at Schwabin, saying.

“Thank you. I also hope you live long, Count Nante. And I expect you to refrain from attacking my subordinates for three years as stated in the pact.”

“Is there any doubt about that? Let us go, Helzman.”

Wow, that madman… Just letting him go would have been enough to somewhat restore his ‘reputation’, but to omit the ‘honorific’ in this situation, trampling over the opposing side’s honor?

Indeed, it is Schwabin, the pig whose head is filled with nothing but women and drinking…

Honestly, anyone who follows that guy seems to deserve to die.

**

After Count Schwabin took over Helzman’s castle, we remained within the castle for about a week until the distribution of rewards took place.

During that time, unexpectedly, Count Schwabin made considerable efforts to normalize the internal affairs of ‘Helzman’ castle.

Although to say he did his utmost means he just had his subordinates distribute food appropriately and occasionally showed his face to be bowed down to…

Thanks to even such actions, no uprisings occurred after occupying Helzman Count domain…

So that was a relief.

If there had been an uprising… Count Helzman and his barons could have launched a counterattack…

While lost in such thoughts, I found myself absentmindedly listening to the self-congratulatory praise of ‘Schwabin’ echoing from the audience chamber of Helzman’s castle.

“That is why my victory is only natural.”

As his words finished, a young knight entered holding a scroll detailing the distribution of rewards from Schwabin.

He immediately began to read.

“The guardian is traditionally appointed until the first war is fought, thus, following this convention, Paul von Croilet will be relieved from the guardian’s position! However, considering his past contributions, he will be acknowledged as a baron. Additionally, his contributions in this battle will grant his family the territories of Windhelm and Pinthhelm. Furthermore, SIEL von Croilet, for his achievement of occupying Helzman castle without bloodshed, will be granted the territories of Orbo and Southron! At the same time, due to his unmarried status, he is permitted to marry the daughter of the late Count Nante, Lady Alice!!”

He may have considered his honor and granted a decent place from within his count domain, but that madman is giving the daughter of a concubine as the legitimate wife to me, the first contributor?!

Isn’t this effectively declaring war against our family amidst the Count Nante’s domain?

Is he really in a situation where he can do this?

Ah, now that he has also devoured Helzman Count domain, he thinks he has secured a position that cannot be shaken, right?

Damn, they say a hunting dog becomes dog stew once it’s no longer useful, and does he intend to make our family that way?