kscans

Chapter 189 - The Council of the Four Regent Families, Maryanne, and Her Uncle

Was it the next morning? With the scenery unchanged, I had no sense of time. I only knew that it was passing thanks to the guard who appeared to replace the candles just as they were about to burn out.

He wouldn't respond, no matter how I tried to speak to him. I considered seeing how he’d react if I made Maryanne stand there 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 Maryanne away. I was given a single piece of bread and some water, which I was urged to eat quickly before they clasped my hands in stocks.

My wrists were locked into two holes in a rectangular piece of hardwood. It was so solid my strength was useless against it. The surface was covered in what looked like characters, finely inscribed to fill the gaps in the wood's grain. It was probably some kind of magic circle meant to seal away my abilities.

Then, I was led out of the cell.

Escorted by the guards, I walked down the corridor. This was the One-Land family's estate. It lacked the opulence of the Star Union mansion, feeling more austere, but the decorations and furnishings still seemed expensive.

The sun’s rays streamed through the windows. The shadows were short. I realized it was well past morning.

I was reunited with Maryanne, who was shackled just like me.

She was no longer in the common townsgirl attire from the night before. Instead, she was draped in a piece of cloth like a burlap sack, her waist bound by a single rope—the very image of a condemned criminal. The exposed skin of her thighs was a dazzling white.

The contrast between her inherent dignity—her nobility—and her attire was intensely humiliating.

"P-Please don't stare so much… it's embarrassing…"

Maryanne bit her lip and turned her face away, truly seeing the outfit as a deep humiliation.

"No, it actually looks great on you. Next time, in that outfit—"

"Please stop! This is your fault, Mash!"

Maryanne cut me off. If it was my fault, was this punishment for her losing her virginity?

She seemed genuinely furious.

But seeing her like this gave me ideas. I’d never thought of dressing someone up this way. Next time, I’d make Mizuki wear this and savor her humiliation.

Looking at Maryanne, she seemed to have lost some color, her face pale. We were about to be brought before the council of the Four Regent Families. I shook my head to clear my mind of my fantasies and restore a sense of urgency.

"Maryanne, did you eat?"

"Yes. Some bread."

"Don't be angry. I know I was wrong to tease you, and I regret it."

But I'll definitely be using this as inspiration for future play.

"No… my uncle wants to break my spirit. I was the one who sought you out, fully aware this might happen."

She lifted her head, and a little color seemed to return to her cheeks.

"Maryanne, I don't really understand why you want to seize control of the One-Land family. I don't know if this city will be any better off with you in charge, either."

"…Are you also trying to make me give up, Mash?"

she asked with a faint, powerless smile.

"No. Right now, I'm going to return what you lost to your own hands. But just because you're in charge doesn't mean you have to handle everything yourself. Start by making the forces you have now your own."

"Huh?"

She stared at me, her mouth hanging open. The guards stopped.

We were in front of a large door—a heavy wooden door adorned with floral carvings. A guard opened it, and we were ushered inside.

The room within had a落ち着いた atmosphere. Unlike floors with marble panels, this one was made of wood inlay. Many other wooden furnishings decorated the space. In the center was an oval table, also made of wood inlay. At the four seats sat a dwarven man, a human man, the elven Augustus Star Union, and a dog-eared man with drooping, dark brown ears. This last one had to be Maryanne's uncle. He looked to be in his forties or fifties, with a stern face, a wide forehead gleaming with what might have been a greasy sweat, and a portly build.

He looked at us and snorted in disgust.

"Seim…"

Maryanne bit her lip, her face twisting in pain. Was their hatred for each other truly beyond repair?

Behind each of them stood a single person, either an aide or a guard.

Maryanne and I were made to stand side by side against the wall so they could see us, flanked by knights on guard duty. From this position, we could also survey the room and observe their expressions.

"Although I do not hold the office of Consul this term, I am acquainted with the Hero-dono. Therefore, with your permission, I shall conduct their interrogation,"

Augustus announced, looking around at the others. No one voiced approval or dissent; 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 Families. The city of Miglutt elects two Consuls from among us four each year. The senate is composed of individuals elected from among the city's highest taxpayers, and these members govern the city."

It was a society built on a rigid, seemingly inflexible social foundation. The high taxpayers were undoubtedly the noble class.

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

He was an old man with long, graying hair. Though his back seemed slightly stooped, his sharp gaze, which seemed to try and intimidate me, radiated a powerful life force that showed no sign of fading.

"And this is the dwarf, Katarzyna Sky-Lot."

He gave a slight nod. Beside me, Maryanne also bowed her head. Were they close? Come to think of it, the sword she entrusted to me must have been made by dwarves. Perhaps he had introduced her to the swordsmith. This man might be a potential ally for Maryanne.

He had a stocky build, with a head of coarse hair and a thick beard. His overall appearance resembled Aidan's. I wondered if all dwarves looked like this.

"This term's Consuls are Istvan-dono and Katarzyna-dono,"

Augustus added.

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

He sat with his arms crossed, puffed up with arrogance. He snorted again.

"Now then, I would like Seim-dono to explain why he has detained the Hero-dono and what he intends to deliberate at this council of the Four Regent Families."

"Hold on,"

I said, cutting Augustus off. He nodded at my interruption. I had no intention of letting this council proceed on Seim's terms from the start. Sorry, but I was about to make a mess of things.

"You said the representatives of the Four Regent Families are gathered here, right?"

He nodded.

"Then who's the fat guy over there? He isn't the representative of the One-Land family, is he?"

I jabbed my chin in Seim's direction, 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 the One-Land family!"

"Acting head? Who gave you that authority, and by what right?"

"The previous head of the family!"

"Then you're not the head, are you? The head I know is Maryanne, who's standing right here. Maryanne, did you recognize this man as your proxy?"

At my words, she shook her head.

"Politics cannot be entrusted to a mere slip of a girl! Besides, I have the confidence of those who serve the One-Land family."

"A slip of a girl? She became a woman last night. This was all your doing, and it went exactly as you planned. You must have had her chastity confirmed this morning."

I exposed his trump card before he could play it, preventing him from condemning Maryanne for her supposed infidelity.

"You bastard!"

Seim strode towards me and swung his fist. I tried to dodge, but I'd forgotten about the stocks. I twisted my body too late, and he punched me square in the cheek.

I slammed into the wall behind me and collapsed. Immediately, his follow-up kick landed in my solar plexus. A groan escaped me as pain shot through my body.

"Mash!"

Maryanne cried out my name like a shriek and threw herself over me protectively.

"Seim-dono, do not forget that the Hero-dono is now my daughter's partner. And Hero-dono, I expect you to engage with Seim-dono with proper decorum,"

Augustus said, restraining Seim with his words. He was breathing heavily as he glared down at me.

"I thought the heads of the Four Regent Families were determined by bloodline, but it seems anyone can serve as a proxy over the true head if they have the retainers' confidence. Does that mean it's also possible to rule through violence like this?"

The scent of iron filled my nostrils, and the taste of blood spread through my mouth. I spit it out with my saliva.

"That is incorrect. Succession within the Four Regent Families is absolute by bloodline. If there is an issue with the heir, the remaining houses may intervene to arbitrate."

The other families couldn't bend this rule of succession to recognize Seim. To do so would be to invite the same thing to happen within their own houses. While it's ideal for the most capable person to inherit, proving one's capability is difficult. And it's another matter entirely for the retainers to accept it. Succession based on merit often leads to conflict, and even when a successor is chosen, resentment lingers.

Augustus sighed and looked up at the ceiling. It seemed he understood what I was trying to do.

"Then it's still a mistake for this man to be here. The One-Land family has an adult head in Maryanne. She does not recognize a proxy. And no one from the other houses has refused to recognize her as the head."

"Th-That's ridiculous! This woman interfered in matters unrelated to Miglutt and led an army on her own accord!"

Seim shot back.

"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, claiming it had nothing to do with Miglutt. Now you're all scrambling because of the threat from the bloated Demon Kingdom. To ignore changes outside the city is not protecting the city."

Maryanne stood up, and I did as well. My legs were unsteady from the stocks and the blow I'd just taken, but I managed to hold my ground.

"It was an incident in a village outside Miglutt's borders."

"So it's alright to stand by while all the villagers are enslaved and sold off? In that case, let's have you say that not here, but in front of the people of Miglutt, and condemn Maryanne there. How about it?"

"…"

Seim's initial bravado had vanished. He glared at me resentfully, but that was all.

I glanced at Maryanne.

"Maryanne, what are you waiting for? Your seat is open."

Her eyes widened in surprise.

"Go on, quickly."

When I repeated myself, she looked at the chair where Seim had been sitting just moments before.

"Mash… I…"

I didn't know what she was trying to say. But when I gave her a nod, she took a step forward.

"W-Wait!"

Seim lunged to stop Maryanne, but the knights who had been watching us restrained him.

Without a backward glance, she walked forward and sat down in the vacant 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.