Chapter 56

On the continent of Europa, everyone believes in the universal faith known as “Deusism.”

Deusism is very similar to Catholicism, except that it worships the one true God Deus instead of the Holy God.

It has a clerical system with priests, assistant bishops, bishops, archbishops, cardinals, and popes, and it believes in the one and only Son of God who forgives sins.

Like Catholicism, it also practices “confession”—the confession is, indeed, an event well-suited for secret meetings.

Because at confession, there’s no one but the priest and the believer present.

Arriving at the Great Cathedral one hour earlier than the scheduled meeting with the Duke, I entered the room closest to the main door among the various confession rooms.

Once inside, a slightly damp smell wafted through, possibly due to the humidity.

Even though it was still daytime and bright outside, the confession rooms were made in such a way that hardly any sunlight reached them, and it seemed they had already lit candles.

In the small room of about three pyeong, there was a chair for me to sit, a wooden wall with a tight iron mesh in the middle, candles and a chamber pot for when confessions were long, and even a blanket…

Touching the blanket, it seemed they had prepared it very nicely for my arrival…

Damn it, did they think I would secretly indulge myself here like other nobles after my formal confession?

After waiting for a short while, a deep voice came from beyond the wooden wall.

“Brother, what brings you here? Deus is listening to your sins. Speak all, and you shall be forgiven.”

A formal greeting to begin the confession, and in response, I recited my scripted lines in a sorrowful voice.

“Father… I am a sinner. Nevertheless, can I be forgiven?”

“Of course, for Deus died on the cross for you.”

“Well then… I truly have a woman I love. However, since I am sinful, my eyes wander toward other women. There’s a maid named Sara who works at my mansion, and I can’t help but notice her behind and chest…”

Although Ella is objectively the prettiest among the girls I have seen, and she attentively satisfies my desires every night…

I am still human, and sometimes my lower instincts lead my eyes elsewhere.

Among them, the girl I behold the most is Sara…

Talking about Sara in the confession room brought to mind her plump and bouncy behind…

Upon hearing this, the priest responded with sincerity.

“Oh, brother. It is inevitable for us as humans to have lascivious thoughts… However, have you not acted on those desires?”

“No, thinking of that girl who loves me, I could not bring myself to act.”

“A brother who possesses such restraint is a good person. However, a good disposition is one thing, and sins are another… So…”

“Please speak. The lamb will listen carefully.”

“As penance, if you donate ten silver coins to the cathedral, you will be forgiven of those sins. And please give what you feel guilty about for that beloved woman.”

After finishing his words, the priest opened the iron mesh with his own hands, allowing me to deliver my silver coins.

I handed him one gold coin that I had prepared, and he gave me a priest’s robe that fit my body.

Is this person the one the Duke prepared for…?

In that moment, I thought about asking aloud, but I figured it was best not to ask such a clumsy question, so I silently received the priest’s robe.

After changing into the priest outfit, I read the Bible inside to pass the time until the Duke arrived when I heard a coarse cough from across the way.

The only person who would enter at such a timing must be the Duke, so he is probably the Duke of Brussels I am looking for.

But knowing that, I decided to wait until he spoke first.

After a moment, a voice came from beyond the wooden wall.

“Father, I am a sinner.”

“Speak.”

After a moment of silence, the Duke shouted loudly as if to drown out the confession room.

“I am a person living in sin. Before I came here, I personally killed two barons who daringly attempted to collude with foreign powers. I am a sinner because, even at the Emperor’s funeral, I worried more about the civil war surrounding the empty throne than mourning His Majesty’s death… I am a sinner, for…”

Then he paused for a moment and whispered in a voice barely audible to me.

“I have come to meet a young baron at a time when I should be mourning His Majesty’s death. Because I found him intriguing.”

Although he spoke in a whisper to me, I felt an overwhelming sense of fear from his words.

It was as if I had become a small mouse facing a gigantic lion.

Still, I calmly responded without a quiver in my voice.

“I, SIEL von Croilet, the rightful lord of the domain of Croilet, humbly greet His Excellency, Duke Brussels, the golden lion of Elaline.”

“John von Brussels the First. So, you wanted to see me?”

“Yes, Your Excellency. This unworthy individual wishes to personally receive your guidance. However, I was in trouble due to a lack of means, and thankfully, His Excellency Brandele offered his assistance…”

After hearing these words, the Duke laughed heartily.

“Ha ha, stop with the nonsense. I’ve heard rumors about you too. You truly gave that Helzman from Franche a run for his money? At just 23 years of age. I, at that age, could only knock down one knight during my first outing with my father…”

“I was just lucky.”

Perhaps my humble words didn’t sit well, as the Duke responded with a hint of irritation.

“Actually, that Helzman fellow came to see me when he was going to his wife’s family, the House of the Duke of Rance. He was raving madly about your strategies and tactics. That guy fought alongside me in war as an equal. After defeating such a person, do not pretend to be humble. There will not be a second chance, SIEL von Croilet.”

“Yes, understood.”

“By the way, is there something you wish to ask of me? Brandele mentioned you are unmarried, so shall I arrange a marriage for you? We have a decent girl in our ducal family, although she is the daughter of my concubine. I’m sure she will suit your tastes.”

The daughter of a Duke’s concubine offered to a baron is an immensely favorable condition.

Because becoming relatives through marriage with a Duke who has core or equivalent bloodlines or status among the royalty is fundamentally different from taking a count’s concubine’s daughter.

While a count’s concubine’s daughter is merely the daughter of a good knightly family, a duke’s concubine’s daughter stands on equal footing with a count’s daughter.

In other words, it means that they are willing to treat me as, at least superficially, “a count”…

What on earth did Helzman say when he went around?

“It is an undeserved honor. However, why do you make such an offer to me? What did His Excellency Helzman tell you?”

“I’ve captured the Count of Nante entirely, but because of a young brat who seized Helzman’s castle, I lost the count’s domain, he said. He then cursed the fools of Nante for not properly valuing a talent like you.”

Even though nobles of this era sometimes drink and entertain women together after a war if they are somewhat close…

Helzman went out of his way to see the Duke of Brussels after he fell, which must mean they had quite a special relationship.

Then, he would surely know somewhat about me…

“It’s an honor, Your Excellency. However, I am already engaged to Lady Emily, the daughter of the late Count of Nante. And I am but a lowly baron serving Nante. Like a baron…”

“Stop the nonsense. Tell me why you cannot accept the marriage that I propose.”

“I cannot abandon my domain and my people. Although His Excellency Helzman evaluated me as a talent, the reason I could shine like that is because of the knights, soldiers, and serfs of my territory. Therefore, I cannot serve Your Excellency.”

Upon hearing this, the Duke spoke in a surprised tone.

“Remarkable, to understand the duties and obligations of nobility so well at that age. Indeed, nobles are noble because they can unite the industrious and draw great power. Well then…”

Now it’s time for me to reveal my true intentions.

After all, it’s all or nothing, and I have a backup plan if I can just ‘survive here.’

Furthermore, as long as I don’t overtly act like a traitor, even a Duke cannot kill me, a retainer of the Count of Nante.

Instead of verbally responding to the Duke, I took out a letter I had secretly stashed in my pocket and handed it to the Duke beyond the wall.

“Please read this. It is written by His Excellency Duke Maxburg, a principality of the Holy Romania.”

“Duke Maxburg? Have you fought with Duke Maxburg?”

“I have fought against two of his barons, who are his retainers.”

The Duke remained silent, reading my letter without saying a word.

After a while, I heard the sound of the letter being torn apart over the wall.

“Your Excellency, have you read the letter in its entirety?”

My nonchalant question received a passionate response from the Duke.

“SIEL von Croilet!!! What on earth are you thinking?!!!!!”

“Your Excellency, please calm down. It’s just a letter.”

“Just a letter? Just a letter? The contents written inside are outrageous!! Of course, I don’t think you would have followed what this letter proposed. If you had, you would already be one of Romania’s nobility! It’s maddening. To offer the entirety of the Count of Nante’s domain on the condition that you become the vanguard against Count Nante, and to give you the daughter of that Maxburg brat’s concubine?!”

That letter was actually given to me by a “spy from Duke Maxburg” who came through the door a month before coming here.

I had prepared for this eventuality by reading the letter and keeping the original hidden in a secret space of my desk.

And this letter is very likely not just a typical deceptive plot in exchange for a domain, but a genuine proposal. It can almost be said to be a 100% certainty…

Because from Maxburg’s perspective, sending me as a vanguard makes it easier to advance right up to the Duke of Brussels’s domain…

Considering my military strength, including the power given to me by Schwabin, I could defeat forces comparable to “the military of a direct count’s territory.”

Of course, Nante is a much richer place, boasting strength greater than most counts’ territories, comparable to a Duke’s domain…

However, considering that I managed to defeat the two barons he specifically sent without significant sacrifice, it isn’t at all unusual for him to make such an offer.

Also, it’s said that the one who loses their temper first in negotiations loses, and since the Duke of Brussels in front of me has already shown anger…

It’s now time to lay down the cards I hold.

“Your Excellency.”

Upon hearing those words, the Duke sighed and responded in a voice tinged with irritation.

“What do you intend to say now?”

“I maintain a standing army of 5,000 men already. And with a little effort, I can muster a standing army of 10,000 to withstand for two years. His Excellency Helzman has probably already mentioned this: Before the domain was given to Count Nante, Baron Croilet led in 3,000 elite soldiers.”

Now, the negotiations begin, Your Excellency.