Chapter 73 - Episode 16: Let's Burn It Down!
Good day. I am Violia Nico Fortesia.
I have just finished writing the letter of accusation against House Hornbone addressed to the Royal Family.
Since I want to deliver the accusation to the Royal Family as soon as possible, I will send the letter to land using a bird I had loaded onto the ship in advance. After that, Keeb and Doran, who are waiting on land, should be able to manage somehow.
Now. This ship will not arrive on land for a while yet. Why? Because I only want to dock at night! Of course, it is also because I want to increase House Hornbone's debt!
So in the meantime, I will be spending my time confined to my cabin as much as possible. It is not a good strategy to expose my form unnecessarily any further.
...So, I was bored in my room. Then there was a knock on the door, so I opened it, feeling a little happy.
"Little lady, good work. Since we're here, how about a drink? I made it a light one just in case. Oh, of course, for me, not for you, lady?"
Standing there was Giovan. In his hand was a bottle of fine wine and a basket that seemed to contain light snacks and appetizers. He understands well, doesn't he!
"Yes, good work to you too. Come, please. I was just bored after finishing my letter."
So immediately, we decided to enjoy the wine as a slightly early victory drink!
The sunrise and the sea visible from the cabin window, exquisite wine and delicious appetizers. And an almost promised victory! It is the best!
"Oh, this is delicious, isn't it?"
"Someone who makes quite clever things was here, it seems."
The food here is being made by a newly procured slave. I believe we had also put on board a slave who used to work in the kitchen of some noble. That is why the appetizers are quite delicious.
Smooth white fish pate spread on thinly sliced baguettes. Or light whipped butter mixed with salt and herbs wrapped in thin slices of prosciutto. Mushroom marinade, chocolate-covered dried fruits... if I'm not careful, I'll eat more than I drink. But well, since I skipped dinner, it might be just right to eat a bit too much.
"Ah, man, but with this, is House Hornbone finished?"
Well, this kind of talk is just right as a side dish for the alcohol. I love this sort of thing.
"I don't think it will happen immediately. But, for the Royal Family, I think an annulment of the engagement is inevitable."
...It is quite possible that the Royal Family will give up on Hornbone.
After all, Fawn is of slave status. And Princess Scola, who was engaged to Fawn, is also a slave.
If that's the case, the talk of marriage between House Hornbone and the Royal Family will have to be scrapped for the time being.
Of course, it is possible for the Royal Family and House Hornbone to 'secretly' recover Fawn and Princess Scola, release them from slave status without letting them contact anyone, and quietly put them into a marital relationship. Of course, there is no benefit for either side, but in that case, would the Royal Family and House Hornbone become 'accomplices' hiding the same secret?
...Well, that is all a story for 'if the Royal Family decides to cooperate with House Hornbone.'
If it's discovered that House Hornbone has debts, or if it's known that House Hornbone is purchasing slaves who look very much like the princess, and various bad reputations follow them, I don't think the Royal Family will do something as risky as becoming an 'accomplice' with Hornbone.
Rather than that, it is safer to denounce House Hornbone while bringing other nobles to their side. Otherwise, even the Royal Family will be looked down upon along with Hornbone. I don't think the vain Royal Family will protect House Hornbone.
So, from now on, I intend to spread bad rumors to have House Hornbone expelled from the noble world.
Buying slaves who look like Princess Scola, having debts, having mistresses, this and that—just by listing 'only true things,' I should be able to do something quite interesting!
While the wine was progressing more and more as I thought of House Hornbone's downfall.
"...I, you see."
Abruptly, Giovan spoke up.
"I'm actually Fawn's older brother."
...Eh?
"Eh? Brother? What do you mean by brother?"
"It means big brother. Just like that."
Eeeh...? N-No, I don't quite understand the meaning...? Isn't this a bit too sudden...?
"Oh, of course, half-brother, okay? There's no way I'm the child of the legal wife."
"That is true..."
For one thing, they don't look alike. Giovan and Fawn Tart Hornbone. They don't look alike at all.
The people of House Hornbone have darker coloring, and they aren't skeletons like this... Uh, oh, but their features might... if Giovan reached a slightly average weight, they might look similar. I can't imagine it from his current chicken-bone state, though.
"I'm the child resulting from what the current head pulled while he was engaged. My mother was apparently a servant of House Hornbone at the time."
"...That is a shocking story."
"It sure is. It's the half-life of a villain, so it's fine to have this much stimulation, right?"
It is more than stimulating... I knew the Hornbone lot were womanizers and unfaithful... but I guess blood is something that is inherited...
"But you, why are you being a villain of the back alleys...? You were a child of a noble, weren't you? Even if you were an illegitimate child..."
"Yeah. That's the thing. Until I was about seven, I was raised relatively normally as a young noble master. Nominally as the previous head's adopted son. ...But after that, my mother got a bit too greedy. When a servant started making a fuss that I was the next head even though a child with the legal wife had been born, well, of course, we got kicked out."
Oh dear... if I say it's a common story, that's that, but... hearing it from the person himself... it's quite painful.
"Moreover, after being kicked out, the previous head died, and during the inheritance of the estate, my mother again... yeah, that's when my house burned down, my mother died, and I became a street urchin (T/N: 'Kuso-gaki') in Elsemarin."
In short, because she was a bit greedy, Giovan's mother was, well, various things! Ultimately, she was killed to silence her! Is that it!?
It's gone beyond being just a common story!
There, Giovan emptied his wine glass, poured the contents from the bottle with a bit of bad manners, and took another sip.
"The role of the moneylender today, my volunteering for it was for a slightly wicked motive. ...I thought maybe he'd notice, you see."
"That is..."
"Well, he didn't seem to notice at all! ...I intended to say a sarcastic thing or two if he noticed. Oh, sorry, lady. For deceiving you."
...I can't say anything to that.
But, strategically, there was no particular problem even if he had been noticed. It would have been the end of it if Giovan played dumb, and besides, whether he noticed or not, he absolutely had to borrow money there, so the outcome wouldn't have changed. So there is no problem at all.
But... thinking of Giovan's state of mind, it is just complicated.
"It's deeply moving. That my birth house is going to be crushed."
When he says that while wearing a smile, it is truly difficult to say anything.
"...Ah, sorry? I guess I'm, yeah, a bit too drunk. Pathetic."
"I do not mind. My wine progresses with your pathetic side as a side dish."
While being given a wry smile, I continue drinking the wine. Well, no matter how much I drink, I cannot get drunk at all!
"...Does anyone else know about your circumstances?"
"Doran knows perfectly. After all, he's the guy I teamed up with when I was a street urchin to become the brat duo of Elsemarin."
So that's where Doran and Giovan's encounter was... No wonder the villainous spirit is so ingrained in those two.
"Also, Chesta might know a bit. He was also picked up by Doran... well, when he's not high, he's a pretty sensitive guy. He knows I hate nobles too."
So Giovan's hatred of nobles was rooted here. I'm convinced now, even if it's late.
"...Well, fine. The fact that you told me must mean you trust me to some extent."
"I've trusted you since way before, lady. It's just, I'm a poser, you see. Me. I didn't want to say it, but I guess I was just in the mood to talk today by chance."
"Oh, is that so?"
As I thought, isn't he drinking too much? Well, it's none of my business.
"...I'd like you to listen to this as the nonsense of a drunkard."
The drunkard started saying something.
"Lady. Do you have any intention of burning down the Hornbone mansion?"
"Burning it...?"
"Because my house and my mother were burned... ah, yeah, never mind."
...I understand the feeling. I understand what Giovan is saying.
I too, had the Fortesia mansion burned down... yes. I understand!
It is a trivial thing! I also think it's being too bound by form!
Even so! If we were made to fall, we make them fall! If we were burned, we burn them! And! If we were killed, we kill! That is the way of things!
So! I! Have decided!
"I understand your feelings well! Let us definitely burn it down!"
We shall burn it!