There's Always a Way
"I'm speechless. Seriously…"
"You're telling me all of this was confiscated from the branch families?"
Two days after the civil war in Paul Wyvern Ducal House came to an end—
While Heinkel and the knights were striking down Helian, another war had been unfolding within the territory of Leinrant.
"To think they had hoarded this much…"
Confiscated goods were being stacked one after another in the mansion courtyard.
And it wasn't only the knights who were left stunned by the sight.
"You said you couldn't touch the core upper ranks, correct?"
Priscilla asked one of the administrators who had just returned from completing his assignment.
"Yes, Your Grace."
The administrator under Priscilla bowed apologetically.
"We tried to conduct audits by every possible means, but it has no effect on nobles above the rank of count."
"They're under the protection of Imperial knights, and some even had knight orders directly guarding them…"
"I see."
Fwoo.
Letting out a short sigh, Priscilla encouraged the administrators bowing before her.
"Still, you all did well. Thanks to your efforts, His Highness was able to head to Paul Wyvern without interference."
Even while saying that, Priscilla looked toward the luxury goods piled throughout the courtyard with a conflicted expression.
"But that also means there are still several times more funds hidden elsewhere."
The Duchy of Leinrant was famous for its low tax rates.
Harsh lands.
Endless winters.
The founding duke's philosophy had been that since it was the peasants themselves who cultivated such unforgiving land, the harvest rightfully belonged to them.
And yet the branch nobles had still managed to accumulate wealth on this scale.
That could only mean exploitation had occurred through methods other than taxation.
And judging from the expressions of the administrators who had audited the branch territories, that assumption was correct.
"I never imagined they'd manipulate things this badly. There wasn't a single aspect of the commoners' lives that wasn't taxed!"
"It gets even worse the farther you go into the provinces. One bastard was even collecting taxes because it was his child's birthday!"
The large-scale audits launched to restrict the movements of the branch nobles had exposed their true nature to the world.
"Your Grace. We've received reports that the branch nobles above the rank of count are gathering together."
Appearing behind her, Berkman whispered quietly to Priscilla.
"Where?"
"Count Buchenheim. The second-in-command of the branch faction."
Buchenheim.
The moment she heard that name, Priscilla's eyes narrowed sharply.
The lord who governed the borderlands between the Empire and Leinrant.
Before Helian crossed over into Paul Wyvern, he had practically served as her right hand.
"To think this is all we managed despite finally getting our chance."
Priscilla muttered bitterly at that moment—
"No. This is more than enough."
At the voice coming from the mansion gates, everyone turned toward the same direction.
"Klein…?"
Standing there beneath everyone's gaze was a young boy smiling calmly.
Klein.
"He's one of the Imperial Knight Commanders. If we recklessly mobilize our knights—"
"Then just like in Paul Wyvern, we'll give the Empire justification to intervene."
The Imperial Army had already aided Helian in step with her movements.
If they provoked them carelessly, the Empire would undoubtedly respond the same way again.
Unlike Paul Wyvern, which had accumulated wealth through maritime trade, Leinrant's finances were still fragile.
They could not afford to plunge recklessly into a civil war the same way Paul Wyvern had.
"So all of this is…"
"Resources squeezed out of Paul Wyvern."
Land deeds.
Bills of exchange.
Gold coins.
Treasures filling an entire carriage.
Priscilla lost her words upon seeing the immense wealth.
"With this, the family's finances have finally stabilized. Supporting the knights will become much easier as well."
As I said that, I remembered Petrieus—
No, Emperor Merdir—and the thousands of knights he had brought with him.
More specifically, I remembered the enchanted equipment they had all been wearing.
'A true master doesn't blame his tools? What utter bullshit.'
I mocked the old saying inwardly.
Knights were soldiers.
Warriors deployed to the battlefield to produce maximum combat efficiency.
At the same time, each knight was a high-value asset requiring immense resources and years of training to cultivate.
'And yet those knights are wearing armor with barely any enchantments? Absolutely unacceptable.'
Only now would the knights of Leinrant finally receive equipment worthy of their value.
"The craftsmen of Keruen will be delighted. They were always complaining about lacking materials."
Though Priscilla said that, her expression remained dark.
'Well, I can roughly guess why.'
Honestly, that worked out better.
The sooner we started moving, the better.
"You've worked hard, Klein. Go inside and rest for now—"
"There's no time for that."
Stopping Priscilla before she could summon the maids, I continued.
"The remaining branch nobles are going to gather together. We can't simply sit back and watch."
At my words, Priscilla stared at me silently for a long while.
"How… did you know that…?"
She trailed off uncertainly, and I shrugged.
"This is probably the first situation the branch families have ever faced. There's no way they'd feel secure trying to solve it alone."
The branch nobles had tormented the main family for decades.
Through wealth.
Political influence.
And countless schemes carried out behind the scenes.
'But now the situation is different.'
Heinkel's mobilization, linked directly to Priscilla's audits.
And the result had been catastrophic for them—
The death of Helian and the withdrawal of the Imperial Army.
For the first time, the branch families had witnessed a full-scale counterattack from the main house.
And now that Helian—their center of gravity—had disappeared so suddenly, chaos among them was inevitable.
"The one holding the reins is probably Count Buchenheim. Since he possesses his own knight order, he's the most suitable candidate."
After I said that, Priscilla and Berkman once again fell silent.
"Then as for a countermeasure…"
As I lifted my head midway through speaking, I saw the expressions on both Priscilla and Berkman's faces.
"…What?"
"You show no hesitation at all."
I had expected them to praise me for being sharp-witted, but instead—
'Why do they look like they've just seen a ghost?'
While I was thinking that, Priscilla strode straight toward me and spoke.
"Assassination attempts. Civil war. After enduring all of that… you're already moving toward the next step without even the slightest hesitation."
Priscilla said that as she grabbed both my shoulders.
"Did you already know everything, Klein?"
"E-Excuse me?"
It was such a sudden question that I reflexively asked back in confusion, but Priscilla continued staring at me.
"Did you foresee Helian's death… and everything that's happening now?"
What was this supposed to mean?
Foresee…?
"And just like Claire, the things yet to come as well…!"
"My Lady!"
Just as the situation grew even more incomprehensible—
Berkman abruptly cut Priscilla off before she could continue.
"…Claire?"
"?!"
The moment I spoke that name aloud, Priscilla hurriedly covered her mouth as though she had uttered something she never should have said.
Even Berkman looked visibly shaken into silence.
The knights who had been bustling around moments earlier.
The maids as well.
Everyone had gone deathly quiet while cautiously watching my reaction.
'Those are the faces of people who realize they stepped on a landmine.'
The two remained silent.
Watching the others nervously gauge my expression, I pieced things together.
The name they had spoken was that of my birth mother—
Claire la Justia.
A duchess of foreign blood obsessed with necromancy.
A woman whom every noble outside the main house had called a witch.
Under normal circumstances, I should have demanded to know why her name was suddenly being brought up.
If I truly were Klein Leinrant.
"Fwoo…"
I had been born as Klein Leinrant.
But my memories, my knowledge—
And my identity—
Were those of Archimond.
As for what "mother" meant to me…
Well.
I was curious, certainly.
But in the middle of such urgent circumstances, I had no desire to pry into it right now.
'And even if I asked, I doubt I'd get a proper answer anyway.'
After finishing my thoughts, I deliberately changed the subject.
"…I simply analyzed the balance of power among the branch nobles and made deductions."
The moment I said that, the awkward atmosphere hanging over the mansion eased slightly.
"Was there… something incorrect about my assessment?"
I alternated my gaze between Berkman and Priscilla, making my meaning clear.
I had no intention of discussing this matter further.
"…Ah."
Only then did Berkman seem to realize my intent, hurriedly responding.
"N-No, not at all. Your judgment was extraordinarily accurate."
He quickly began showering me with praise.
But Priscilla, who continued staring quietly at me, wore an expression far from ordinary.
"If you've deduced even that much…"
At that moment, another voice interrupted from elsewhere.
"Then I suppose you've already thought of a way to break this situation as well."
The owner of the voice was Heinkel.
Apparently finished sparring with Delline, he handed a towel to the maid attending him and approached me.
"Yes. I have."
"Then speak."
Relieved at least to have escaped the suffocating atmosphere, I slowly began explaining my next plan.
"I was thinking we should place a spy among the branch families."
"A spy?"
At that single sentence, all three of their expressions changed immediately.
"Young Master? That's…"
"At this point, it's impossible."
Questions were questions.
Official matters were official matters.
Apparently having reorganized her thoughts already, Priscilla immediately began refuting me.
"The branch nobles are already deeply entangled through mutual interests. Some are even connected through marriage."
"I know."
"And now that Helian is dead, if an outsider tries to infiltrate them, they'll immediately become suspicious."
"Of course they will."
In response to my proposal, Priscilla listed example after example explaining why it would fail.
When I calmly agreed with every single point instead of arguing, her expression only became more complicated.
"Then how exactly are you planning to infiltrate a spy into the branch faction?"
At that question, I answered without losing the smile on my face.
"We simply recruit one of the branch nobles themselves."
An even more absurd statement than the last.
Priscilla immediately shook her head.
"Klein, you heard what I just said. They're already—!"
"Can it be done?"
Interrupting her, Heinkel asked me directly.
"Heinkel…!"
"I asked whether it can truly be done if I permit it."
Meeting Heinkel's gaze head-on, I answered without the slightest hesitation.
"It can."
The moment I said that, Heinkel lowered his eyes briefly before replying at once.
"Very well. I permit it."
"Your Highness…!"
Just as Berkman tried to protest the sudden decision, Heinkel raised a hand to stop him.
As though telling them to trust me, Heinkel gave a small nod.
And once the duke himself had spoken that way, neither Berkman nor Priscilla attempted to argue further.
"When should we begin?"
"Immediately. The confusion among the branch families right now is the perfect opportunity."
"Mm."
When Heinkel said that, Priscilla's expression darkened.
'Well, it's not like hearing him out will hurt.'
Thinking that, I answered Heinkel calmly.
"I'll look forward to it."
My tone was deliberately bright, as though telling them not to worry.
"But… what exactly are you planning to do?"
Still unable to shake her anxiety, Priscilla asked me once more.
Looking at her worried face, I gave the sort of sinister smile villains always wore.
"There's always a way."
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