kscans

Chapter 185 - The Council of the Four Regent Families, and Maryanne and Her Uncle

Was it the next morning? Without any change in the scenery, I couldn't get a sense of time. I only knew that time was passing because a guard would appear to replace the candles just as they were about to burn out. However, the guard never responded, no matter how much I tried to talk to him. I considered making Maryanne stand naked to see his reaction, but she got terribly angry with me. Even when I lay down, a sense of drowsiness remained, but I didn't feel like I had gotten enough sleep. After a while, several guards came, the cell was opened, and they took Maryanne away. I was given a piece of bread and some water, and after being rushed to eat, I was put in manacles. My wrists were clamped in two holes in a rectangular piece of wood. It was made of a hard wood, and I couldn't budge it with my strength. The surface was finely engraved with something like letters, filling the gaps in the wood's grain. It was probably some kind of magic circle to seal magic. Then, I was led out of the cell.

Led by the guards, I walked down a hallway. This was the One-Land Family's mansion. It lacked the opulence of the Star Union estate and had a more modest atmosphere, but the decorations and furniture still looked expensive. Sunlight streamed in through the windows. The shadows were short. I realized it was no longer morning. I was reunited with Maryanne, who was also manacled. She was no longer in her town-girl attire from last night; instead, she was covered in a burlap sack-like cloth, her waist tied with a single rope—exactly what I imagined a sinner would wear. Her exposed thighs were a dazzling white. The contrast between her inherent grace and nobility and her attire was strangely arousing.

"P-Please don't stare... It's embarrassing..."

Maryanne bit her lip and looked away, as if she truly found the outfit humiliating.

"No, it looks great on you. Next time, let's do it with you in that outfit."

"Stop it! This is your fault, Mash!"

Maryanne cut me off. If it was my fault, did that mean this outfit was a punishment for not protecting her chastity? She seemed genuinely angry. But looking at her, an idea came to mind. I had never thought of making someone wear something like this. Next time, I wanted to make Mizuki wear this outfit and experience the humiliation. I looked at Maryanne and noticed she seemed a little pale. We were about to be brought before the council of the Four Regent Families. To clear my own mind of fantasies and regain my sense of tension, I shook my head.

"Maryanne, did you eat?"

"Yes. Bread."

"Don't be angry. I'm sorry for teasing you, I regret it."

But I'll be using it as a reference for future play.

"No, my uncle wants to break my spirit. I was prepared for this when I sought you out, Mash."

She lifted her head. A little color seemed to return to her cheeks.

"Maryanne, I don't really understand why you want to take control of the One-Land Family. I don't know if this city will be better off if you do."

"...Are you trying to make me give up too, Mash?"

She gave a weak smile.

"No. I'm about to return what you've lost to your hands. Just don't try to do everything yourself once you have power. Start by making the current forces your own."

"Huh?"

She stared at me, her mouth agape. The guards stopped. We were in front of a large door. It was a heavy wooden door with floral carvings. A guard opened it, and we were led inside.

It was a calm, composed room. Unlike the marble-paneled floors, this one was made of marquetry. There were many other wooden furnishings. In the center was an oval table, also made of marquetry. At the four seats sat a dwarven man, a human man, the elf Augustus Star Union, and a dog-eared man with drooping, dark brown ears. This last one must be Maryanne's uncle. He looked to be in his forties or fifties. He had a stern face, a wide forehead that glistened as if with sweat, and a portly build. He looked at us and snorted in disgust.

"Seim..."

Maryanne bit her lip, her face contorting. Did they hate each other so much that it was beyond repair? Behind each of them stood a person, either an aide or a guard. Maryanne and I were made to stand against the wall, where they could see us. On either side of us stood guard knights. From that position, we could also see the whole room and observe their expressions.

"Though I do not hold the office of consul this term, I am acquainted with the Hero, and so I shall proceed with their interrogation,"

Augustus said, looking around at the others. No one spoke for or against it; silence reigned.

"Now then, Hero, allow me to introduce those present."

He cleared his throat once.

"Those of us at this table are the representatives of the Four Regent Families. The city of Miglutt elects two consuls from among the four of us each year. The senate is composed of members elected from among the city's highest taxpayers, and these members govern the city."

It was a society built on a rigid social foundation with little mobility. The highest taxpayers were probably always the noble class.

"First, this human is Istvan Air-Ally."

He was an old man. His graying hair was long. He seemed a little stooped, but his sharp gaze, which seemed to try and intimidate me, held a strong life force that showed no signs of dying.

"And the dwarf, Katarzyna Sky-Lot."

He gave a small nod. Beside me, Maryanne also bowed her head. Were they on good terms? Come to think of it, the sword she had entrusted to me must have been made by a dwarf. Perhaps he had introduced her to a swordsmith. This man might be an ally to Maryanne. He had a stocky build, with a thick head of hair and a beard. His overall appearance was similar to Aidan's. Did all dwarves look like this?

"The consuls for this term are Istvan-dono and Katarzyna-dono,"

Augustus added.

"Finally, the convener of this meeting, the dog-eared Seim One-Land."

He sat with his arms crossed, puffed up. Then he snorted.

"Now then, I would like Seim-dono to explain why the Hero has been detained and what is to be discussed at this council."

"Hold on,"

I said, cutting Augustus off. He nodded at my words. I had no intention of letting this meeting proceed according to Seim's plans from the start. Sorry, but I was going to mess things up.

"You said this meeting is a gathering of the representatives of the Four Regent Families, right?"

He nodded.

"Then who's that fatso over there? He's not the representative of the One-Land Family, is he?"

I pointed at Seim with my chin, and he shot up from his seat, livid.

"You bastard, are you trying to mock me? I am here as the acting head of the One-Land Family!"

"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 Maryanne, who is right here. Maryanne, did you recognize this man as your proxy?"

She shook her head at my words.

"I cannot entrust politics to such a little girl. Besides, I have the confidence of those who serve the One-Land Family."

"Little girl? She became an adult last night. This was something you orchestrated, and it turned out exactly as you wished. You had her chastity checked this morning, didn't you?"

I exposed his trump card before he could use it, preventing him from accusing Maryanne of infidelity.

"You bastard!"

Seim strode over to me and raised his fist. I tried to dodge, but I had forgotten about the manacles. I was too slow, and he punched me in the cheek. I was slammed against the wall behind me and fell. Immediately, his follow-up kick landed in my solar plexus. A sharp pain made me groan.

"Mash!"

Maryanne, who had been next to me, cried out my name and threw herself over me protectively.

"Seim-dono, do not forget that the Hero is now my daughter's husband. Hero, I expect you to show some courtesy in your dialogue with Seim-dono as well."

Augustus stopped Seim with his words. He was breathing heavily, glaring down at me.

"I thought the head of the Four Regent Families was determined by bloodline, but if you have the confidence of the vassals, anyone can act as a proxy, overriding the head? So that means it's also possible to rule through violence like this, is that it?"

The smell of iron filled my nostrils, and the taste of blood spread in my mouth. I spat it out with my saliva.

"That is incorrect. The succession of the Four Regent Families is absolutely determined by bloodline. If there is a problem with that person, the remaining families may intervene."

The other families could not bend this rule of succession and recognize Seim. If they did, it could happen in their own families. It was ideal for the most capable person to inherit, but proving who was most capable was difficult. And getting the vassals to accept that was another matter entirely. Succession by merit often led to conflict, and even after a successor was decided, it would leave scars. Augustus sighed and looked up at the ceiling. He seemed to have figured out what I was trying to do.

"Then it's still wrong for this man to be here. The One-Land Family has an adult head named Maryanne. She has not recognized him as her proxy. And there are no other families who do not recognize her as the head."

"Th-That's ridiculous. This woman got involved in matters unrelated to Miglutt and led the army on her own accord!"

Seim said.

"You're the ridiculous one. 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 Kingdom, saying it had nothing to do with Miglutt. And now you're running around in a panic because of the threat of the bloated Demon Kingdom. To overlook changes outside the city is not protecting the city."

Maryanne stood up, and I stood up too. My legs were unsteady from the manacles and the recent blows, but I managed to stay on my feet.

"It happened in a settlement outside Miglutt's borders."

"So it's okay to stand by while all the villagers are enslaved and sold off? In that case, let's have this debate again, not here, but in front of the people of Miglutt, and you can denounce Maryanne there."

"..."

Seim's initial bravado was gone. He just stared at me resentfully. I glanced at Maryanne.

"Maryanne, what are you doing? Your seat is empty."

Her eyes widened in surprise.

"Go on, quickly."

I repeated, and she looked at the chair Seim 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!"

Seim lunged to stop Maryanne, but the knights who had been watching us stopped him. Without a backward glance, she walked forward. And she sat down in the empty chair.

"You bastards! I won't forgive you! Especially you and Maryanne! A duel! I'll settle this with a duel!"

Seim's shout echoed through the council chamber.