Chapter 189 - The Council of Four Regent Houses, and Marianne's Uncle
Was it the next morning? The unchanging scenery made it impossible to get a sense of time. The only indication that time was passing at all was the presence of a guard who appeared to replace the candles just as they were about to burn out. He wouldn’t answer, however, no matter how I tried to speak to him. I considered trying to get a reaction by having Marianne stand naked, but she got terribly angry with me.
Even when I lay down, a drowsy feeling lingered, but I never felt like I’d gotten enough sleep.
Just then, several guards arrived, unlocked the cell, and took Marianne away. I was given a single slice of bread and some water. After being rushed to finish it, they slapped manacles on my wrists.
My wrists were locked into two holes in a rectangular piece of wood. It was made of a hard wood, and my strength couldn't even make it budge. The surface was covered in what looked like characters, finely inscribed to fill the gaps in the wood grain. It was probably some kind of magic circle to seal my abilities.
And then, they led me out of the cell.
The guards escorted me down a hallway. This was the House Wanland estate. It lacked the opulence of the Starunion mansion, giving off a more austere impression, but the decorations and furniture still looked expensive.
Sunlight streamed in through the windows. The shadows were short. I realized it had to be well past morning.
I met up with Marianne, who was manacled just like me.
She was no longer in the common town girl’s attire from last night. Instead, she was draped in a piece of fabric like a burlap sack, her waist bound by a single rope—the very image of what I'd consider a criminal. Her exposed thighs seemed dazzlingly white.
The gap between her natural air of nobility and her current attire stirred a perverse fascination.
"P-Please don't stare so much… it's humiliating…"
Marianne bit her lip and turned her face away, truly seeming to consider her appearance a disgrace.
"No, it looks great on you. Next time, in that outfit—"
"Please stop! This is your fault, Mash!"
Marianne cut me off. If it was my fault, did that mean this outfit was punishment for not protecting her chastity? She seemed genuinely angry.
But seeing her like this gave me ideas. I’d never thought of making someone wear something like this before. Next time, I wanted to make Mizuki wear this and savor her humiliation.
Marianne looked a little pale, as if she'd lost some color. We were about to be brought before the Council of Four Regent Houses. I shook my head to clear my mind of my fantasies and restore my sense of urgency.
"Marianne, did you eat?"
"Yes. Some bread."
"Don't be angry. I know I shouldn't have teased you, and I regret it."
But I'll definitely be using this for future reference.
"No… my uncle wants to break my spirit. I was the one who sought you out, prepared for this to happen."
She lifted her head. I thought a little color had returned to her cheeks.
"Marianne, I don't really get why you want to seize control of House Wanland. I don't know if this city will be any better off with you in charge, either."
"…Are you, too, trying to make me give up, Mash?"
She offered a weak smile.
"No. I'm about to return what was taken from you. But just because you're in charge doesn't mean you have to do everything yourself. Start by making the current powers your own."
"Huh?"
Her mouth fell open as she stared at me. The guards came to a halt. We were in front of a large door—a heavy, wooden door adorned with floral carvings. A guard opened it, and we were led inside.
The room within had a calm atmosphere. Unlike the floor with its marble panels, this one was made of intricate wood inlay. Many other wooden furnishings adorned the space. In the center was an oval table, also featuring wood inlay. Seated at the four places were a dwarven man, a human man, the elven Augustus Starunion, and a dog-eared man with drooping, dark brown ears. This last one had to be Marianne's uncle. He looked to be in his forties or fifties, with a stern face, a broad forehead gleaming with what might have been sweat, and a portly build.
He looked at us and snorted in disgust.
"Seime…"
Marianne bit her lip, her face twisting in pain. Was the hatred between them really so deep that it was beyond repair?
Behind each of them stood a single person, either an aide or a guard. Marianne and I were made to stand side-by-side against a wall so they could all see us, with watchmen flanking us. From that position, we too could survey the entire room and see their expressions.
"Although I do not hold the office of Governor this term, I am acquainted with the Hero-dono, so I shall take the lead in their interrogation."
Augustus looked around at the assembly. No one spoke, neither in agreement nor opposition. Silence reigned.
"Now then, Hero-dono, allow me to introduce those present."
He cleared his throat once.
"Those of us at this table are the representatives of the Four Regent Houses. The city of Migul elects two Governors from among the four of us each year. A senate is formed from those elected from among the city's highest taxpayers, and these members govern the city."
It's a society built on a rigid, seemingly inflexible social foundation. The highest taxpayers are probably all nobility.
"First, the human, Ishtvan Airally."
He was an elderly man. His graying hair was grown long. He seemed slightly stooped, but his sharp gaze, which seemed to try and intimidate me, radiated a powerful life force that showed no sign of fading.
"And the dwarf, Katalina Skynorth."
He gave a slight nod. Beside me, Marianne also bowed her head. Were they close? Come to think of it, the sword she entrusted to me was surely of dwarven make. Perhaps he had introduced her to the swordsmith. This man might prove to be an ally to Marianne.
He had a stout build, with a head of coarse hair and a thick beard. His overall atmosphere reminded me of Aidan. I wondered if all dwarves looked like this.
"The Governors for this term are Ishtvan-dono and Katalina-dono," Augustus added.
"Finally, the convener of this council, the dog-eared Seime Wanland."
He sat with his arms crossed, puffed up with arrogance. He snorted again.
"Now, I would like Seime-dono to explain why the Hero-dono has been detained and what he intends to deliberate at this council."
"Hold on," I said, cutting Augustus off. He nodded at my words.
I had no intention of letting this meeting proceed on Seime's terms from the start. Sorry, but I was about to make a mess of things.
"You said the representatives of the Four Regent Houses are gathered here, right?"
He nodded.
"Then who's the fatso over there? He can't be the representative of House Wanland, can he?"
I gestured at Seime with my chin, and he shot to his feet, his face flushing with anger.
"You bastard! Do you mean to insult me? I am here as the acting head of House Wanland!"
"Acting head? Who gave you that authority, and by what right?"
"The previous head."
"So you're not the head, then? The head I know is Marianne, right here. Marianne, did you recognize this man as your proxy?"
She shook her head at my words.
"Politics cannot be entrusted to a mere slip of a girl! Besides, I have the confidence of those who serve House Wanland!"
"A slip of a girl? She became a woman last night. This was all your doing, and it went exactly as you planned. You had her chastity confirmed this morning, didn't you?"
I exposed his trump card before he could play it, preventing him from being able to accuse Marianne of infidelity.
"You bastard!"
Seime strode toward me and swung his fist. I tried to dodge, but I’d forgotten about the manacles. I was too slow to twist away, and he punched me in the cheek.
I was slammed against the wall behind me and collapsed. Immediately, a follow-up kick landed in my solar plexus. A groan escaped me from the intense pain.
"Mash!"
Marianne screamed my name and threw herself over me protectively.
"Seime-dono, do not forget that the Hero-dono is now the partner of my daughter. And Hero-dono, I ask that you speak to Seime-dono with due respect."
Augustus verbally restrained Seime. He glared down at me, breathing heavily.
"I thought the head of the Four Regent Houses was decided by bloodline, but it seems anyone can serve as a proxy and override the head as long as they have the retainers' trust. Does that mean it's also possible to rule through violence like this?"
The smell of iron filled my nostrils, and the taste of blood spread through my mouth. I spat it out with my saliva.
"That is incorrect. Succession within the Four Regent Houses is absolute by bloodline. If there is an issue with an individual, the remaining houses may intervene as mediators."
The other houses couldn't bend this rule of succession to recognize Seime. To do so would be to invite the same thing to happen in their own houses. A system where the most capable person inherits is an ideal, but proving who is most capable is difficult. And getting the retainers to accept it is another matter entirely. Merit-based succession often leads to conflict, and even when a successor is chosen, ill will remains.
Augustus sighed and looked up at the ceiling. It seemed he'd figured out what I was trying to do.
"Then it's clear this man doesn't belong here. House Wanland has a head who has come of age in Marianne. She does not recognize a proxy. And no one from the other houses has refused to recognize her as head."
"D-don't be ridiculous! This woman interfered in matters unrelated to Migul and led an army on her own accord!"
Seime said.
"You're the fool. If you're going to say that, then ten years ago, you all stood by and watched the war between the Old Empire and the Demon Lord's kingdom, claiming it had nothing to do with Migul. And because of that, you're all scrambling now in the face of the threat from the bloated Demon Lord's kingdom. To ignore changes outside the city is not protecting the city."
Marianne stood up, and I followed suit. My legs felt unsteady from the manacles and the recent blows, but I managed to hold my ground.
"It was an incident in a settlement outside Migul's borders."
"So it's fine to stand by and watch all the villagers be sold into slavery? In that case, how about you say that again, not here, but in front of the people of Migul, and condemn Marianne then?"
"…"
Seime's initial bravado had vanished. He glared at me resentfully, but that was all.
I sent a look to Marianne.
"Marianne, what are you doing? Your seat is empty."
Her eyes widened in surprise.
"Go on, quickly."
When I repeated myself, she looked at the chair Seime had been sitting in just moments before.
"Mash… I…"
I didn't know what she was trying to say. But when I nodded, she took a step forward.
"W-wait!"
Seime moved to stop Marianne, but the knights who had been watching us held him back.
Without a backward glance, she walked forward. And then, she sat down in the vacant chair.
"You bastards! I won't forgive you! Especially you, man, and Marianne! A duel! I'll settle this with a duel!"
Seime's shout echoed through the council chamber.