Inheriting the Novel

Chapter 56 : She Comes (2)

She Comes (2)

"Strange? I must have just imagined it."

Riya glanced around and then took a sip of the tea Monet had brought her.

Only then could I, who had been startled for a moment, let out a sigh of relief.

'Wow, that was scary. Was it just instinct?'

[... I was surprised too. That girl is really a monster.]

'She didn't really notice, did she?'

[If the person isn't wearing the ring, they can't hear me, so of course not. For a moment, I thought maybe I had accidentally activated the ring.]

Grancesia never made the ring sparkle unless she wanted to initiate conversation.

Most of the time, like now, she just spoke quietly through it.

"By the way, Clay, who was that person just now? They seemed rather noisy..."

"Oh, it's nothing special. It's going to be resolved soon anyway, so you don't have to worry about it."

"Yes."

It was somehow fascinating to see Riya calmly sipping her tea.

To think the princess of the Empire was drinking tea in our mansion.

When it came to Dorian, at first, he simply thought she was the young lady of a noble house, but after hearing Monet's explanation later, he was so startled he nearly fainted.

'If I think about it, my own situation is unusual too.'

Speaking informally, which had been awkward at first, had now become fairly natural.

To dare to speak so casually to the princess of the Empire—if anyone else saw, they would be utterly shocked.

"So then, Clay, is it alright if I stay at the mansion for a while?"

"We have plenty of empty rooms anyway, so it's fine."

Since I owed a lot to Riya during my time in the Empire, I was willing to grant her any favor she asked for.

From Riya's perspective, it might have been for the Empire, but to me, it was simply something to be grateful for.

If it hadn't been for her, I wouldn't have been able to deal with the first calamity so easily.

"I know it might sound presumptuous to say it's in exchange for staying here, but if you ever need a favor, please let me know. I'll help you."

"Alright."

Having seen Riya's smiling face many times, I could now distinguish her expressions rather well.

'Hmm, it seems she really means that.'

She even seemed to be in a very good mood. While she always smiled brightly, it was rare for her eyes to smile too.

Now that the matter with Riya was resolved, I shifted my attention back to the issue with Nior.

'It'll probably take about two days for a reaction?'

Around that time, word should reach the ears of Count Bellen.

Since he was among the first to abandon our family, I was all the more eager to confront him directly as soon as possible.

'I wonder how Count Bellen will react to my offer.'

With that in mind, I decided to wait calmly.

And exactly two days later.

A letter arrived at the Vanhart family's mansion.

"A letter has come from the Bellen count family!"

"Really? Let me see it."

It seemed he thought it would look bad for him to act directly.

'As expected.'

Though the letter was long, to sum it up, it was very simple.

"My son seems to have done something wrong, but I'm sure he's repented enough by now, so send him back."

After reading it, I felt like the time spent on the letter was a waste.

Count Bellen still seemed to think I was the same old Clay Vanhart.

"Time has passed to the point where the empire's princess has arrived here, yet he hasn't heard any rumors?"

If he had heard about the Founding Festival, no matter how much he looked down on me, he wouldn't have behaved like this.

Even if the title was honorary, as the Count of Asktalin, I now enjoyed the Empire's protection.

And for someone to provoke me was to offend an imperial noble as well.

'I can't just let this slide.'

I stood up, grinning widely.

* * *

"So the brat from the Vanhart family has come to visit?"

"Yes. He seemed quite shocked by your letter, my lord."

Count Bellen wore a pleased smile.

When he first heard news about his son, he had been greatly alarmed. What Nior had done was no small matter.

'But in the end, he's just a greenhorn.'

After some deliberation, Count Bellen decided to play tough.

If he backed down here, it would be an admission of guilt.

On the contrary, if he shamelessly pushed the idea that there had been a misunderstanding, the other party would have no choice but to be flustered.

'War hero? What does that matter?'

Even if he was being revered as a hero, that was just personal prestige; it didn't directly translate into the power of the family.

Maybe later, off that fame, he could revive his house, but for now, the Vanhart family was as weak as ever.

Even if we were in the wrong, they wouldn't dare act out rashly.

"Did Nior come with him?"

"Yes, it looks like it. Shall I show them to the parlor?"

Count Bellen nodded slowly.

He was running over all the ways to manipulate Clay in his mind.

'A thousand gold coins or so should be enough.'

While a thousand gold coins wasn't a small sum, for a noble's life, it was incredibly cheap.

But Count Bellen wasn't even keen to pay that much.

'Was it a mithril mine? If Nior was going to cause trouble, he should've at least done it properly.'

Continuing that train of thought, Count Bellen stroked his chin.

'No, it's not too late.'

It might be better to use this incident, claim Clay Vanhart had kidnapped and threatened his son, and use it as a pretext to start a domain war.

'The Vanhart family doesn't have proper knights or soldiers anyway; they'll refuse for sure. That'll be my excuse to take the mithril mine.'

No matter how he thought about it, it seemed a brilliant plan.

Nior's actions were foolish indeed, but thanks to that, he could set the stage for this masterstroke.

"I should give Nior some praise later."

Muttering to himself, Count Bellen rose from his seat and headed to the parlor. Just thinking of Clay's anxious face made him break into a smile.

"This is the first time I've seen you since you succeeded the title, Count Vanhart."

With that, Count Bellen walked into the parlor.

Inside, Clay, a young woman who looked to be his maid, and Nior were already seated.

As he surveyed them, Count Bellen was taken aback.

"Gasp...!"

It was because Nior's condition was much more serious than expected.

His face was badly swollen, and there were no intact teeth visible between his split lips.

"C-Count Vanhart! What happened here! What did you do to Nior!"

Of course, he'd assumed there might've been some minor friction, considering the circumstances.

But he'd never imagined it would be this bad.

"You think you'll get away with doing this to the heir of the Bellen count family?"

Count Bellen shouted in a rage, and Clay could only be dumbfounded.

"Are you saying that even after Nior here tried to take my life? Frankly, I believe I was magnanimous enough just letting him live."

"W-what? Clay Vanhart! I'd heard you'd grown arrogant, but I never expected it to be this bad!"

Just who was arrogant here?

Clay slowly shook his head.

"So Count Bellen, are you displeased with the current situation?"

"Of course I'm displeased! With such insolence, there's no way I can let this slide!"

"And if you can't let it slide, what do you plan to do?"

Clay's tone carried a faint smile, stunning Count Bellen.

He had never imagined Clay would respond like this.

"I hereby challenge the Vanhart count family to a domain war!"

"Ah, is that so?"

Clay answered nonchalantly, then turned his gaze to the maid sitting beside him.

"What do you think about this, Your Highness, the Princess?"

Your Highness, the Princess?

At that out-of-nowhere statement, Count Bellen closed his mouth mid-shout in shock.

'No way...'

Very slowly, the maid lifted her bowed head.

Platinum hair, golden eyes.

A breathtakingly beautiful face.

For Count Bellen, who had often attended the Empire's New Year Festival, there was no way he could fail to recognize her.

"H-hold on! Princess Riya Asktalin?! W-why are you here...."

Count Bellen hurriedly knelt, bowing his head.

The princess of the Empire was someone even the king of Talua could not mistreat.

'Why is the Princess next to Count Vanhart?'

Nervously, Count Bellen glanced up.

There, he met the cold gaze of Riya, who was looking down on him with a faint smile.

"How ridiculous."

Riya's voice, as it slowly emerged, was icily cold.

"To think the one at fault would act so brashly..."

"T-that's a misunderstanding! Count Vanhart was the one—he did that to my son, so..."

"I was the one who did that to him."

"... Pardon?"

"He dared to call me a feisty wench and even tried to lay hands on me."

What was this now?

Count Bellen learned, right then and there, what was meant by the sky turning dark.

"So startled, I reflexively slapped him a few times. I never imagined Sir Nior, a knight, would be so fragile."

Fragile? Nior might be a bit of a fool, but he was still a Sword Expert knight.

He couldn't picture a knight ending up like that from just a few slaps.

"N-Nior! Is that true?"

"..."

Nior only averted his eyes.

And that reaction made it clear that it was true.

'The mithril mine isn't the problem!'

Count Bellen came to a realization. This could end with not just losing the mine, but his entire domain being wiped out.

He'd called the Empire's princess a feisty wench and tried to manhandle her?

If the Empire sent their forces in right now and razed his lands, even the king of Talua wouldn't dare protest.

"Count Bellen."

At that moment, Clay spoke quietly.

But Count Bellen had no mind to reply to Clay. He was too busy worrying about what else might come out of the princess's mouth.

Seeing Count Bellen stay silent at his words, Riya's lips curled slightly.

"... Are you ignoring Clay right now?"

"Pardon?"

"Clay just spoke to you. Why did you ignore him?"

"N-no, I didn't mean to ignore him. It's just that, er, I've gotten old, so my hearing isn't what it used to be."

Count Bellen frantically shook his head in terror.

'Did she just call him Clay?'

Could the rumors be true?

The gossip linking Count Vanhart and the Empire's princess, the rumors about the Founding Festival—they had started reaching Talua one by one.

Count Bellen had dismissed it all as nonsense, but seeing the pair now, it seemed there was more to it.

With a deathly pale face, Clay smiled kindly and spoke to him.

"You really don't need to be so nervous, Count Bellen."

"Ah, yes."

"First, about the domain war you just mentioned..."

"N-no, forget it! D-domain war—I was just speaking nonsense!"

"Is that so?"

Count Bellen nodded rapidly.

If he provoked Clay now, regardless of Clay's ties to the princess, his house would be destroyed.

"Then, as for Nior Bellen, it seems you believe your son did nothing wrong when he attacked me."

It was one crisis after another. Grinding his teeth, Count Bellen bowed his head deeply.

"No, my son did something terribly wrong. If there is anything you want, I'll grant it!"

"Ah, how admirable, seeing Count Bellen taking responsibility."

Clay wiped his eyes as if deeply moved.

That disgusting performance made Count Bellen want to explode.

"Still, I must demand proper compensation for what happened to me. After all, things must be settled clearly, don't you think?"

"Y-yes, of course."

"Then, please give me this."

Clay pulled out a map from inside his jacket and spread it on the table.

He pointed at an area clearly marked in bright red.

It was a mine.