Chapter 160
“So, what exactly are you planning to do here?”
At Lynette’s question, the man stroked his chin. Then he gave the most concise answer possible.
“We’re going to reveal the Count’s true identity.”
“…His true identity?”
“The current Count didn’t obtain the title through legitimate means.”
Perhaps deciding that, if they were going to tell her, it would be better to make everything clear.
Eshar began explaining the situation slowly.
“Ever since the previous Count inherited the title, this territory started collapsing. He only knew how to indulge himself, not how to earn money. Even so, this land isn’t extremely far from the Imperial Castle, and thanks to the wealth accumulated by the Counts before him, the family didn’t fall into complete ruin.”
The previous Count, who had enjoyed every kind of luxury without caring that the castle’s storerooms were getting empty, apparently died at a fairly young age. His wife couldn’t inherit the title, so it got passed to their young son.
Although he’s Count in name, the actual authority remained in his mother’s hands.
The woman who had lived as the previous Count’s wife continued her lavish lifestyle. Whatever remained of the precariously thin estate her husband left behind disappeared quickly.
Even after she went into debt, it did nothing to stop her.
The person she borrowed money from was the problem. She borrowed a large sum from a ruthless loan shark who would use any means necessary for money, and naturally, she couldn’t repay it.
If she could sell the title, she would have done so immediately, but titles were granted by the Emperor and could not be sold or bought at will.
And so the impoverished mother and son faced the prospect of being driven out, left only with the hollow name of ‘the Count’s family’.
That was when the loan shark made an enticing proposal.
He asked her to make him the new ‘Count’. In exchange, he would cancel all their debts and even provide them with living expenses.
It was, of course, impossible.
On what grounds could they transfer the title? And since the son is alive, it wasn’t even possible to pass it along to a ‘relative’. The only people who could inherit a title from someone that’s still alive were immediate family within two degrees of kinship, and one could not transfer the title back upward. Meaning that even if the boy died, the title would not pass to an uncle.
In that situation, the loan shark finally found a method.
“He decided to become the Count’s son.”
Lynette let out an incredulous laugh.
“Didn’t you say the son is still young?”
“He is. He’s either eleven or twelve right now. In any case, the loan shark hurriedly arranged a marriage for the Count, then registered himself as the Count’s child.”
“Is that even possible?”
“When the Imperial Family records family trees, they don’t check ages in person.”
He had exploited the loophole.
Sillian, who had been listening quietly, muttered with a smirk.
“So the Imperial Family can’t even manage their own nobles.”
It was meant for himself, yet clearly spoken so others would hear.
Euphen pretended not to notice.
“And then he pressured the Count’s mother to write a document stating that the Count would pass the title to his ‘son’.”
“So that means the current Count is the loan shark?”
“That’s right. The young boy is now the previous Count.”
“The problem is that the mother and son are no longer useful to him.”
At Euphen’s words, Eshar nodded.
“Yes. Now that he has the title, he has no reason to keep them around. Since he promised to maintain their extravagant lifestyle, it costs a lot of money every month.”
She paused for a moment, then spoke seriously.
“He won’t keep them alive.”
“And he’s funding the 2nd Imperial Prince as well. With the wealth he’s already built from moneylending plus the title and territory he now holds, he’d become a solid pillar for the 2nd Imperial Prince if left alone.”
“What are you planning to do about it?”
As Lynette asked, Sillian pulled her closer by the shoulders.
“You’ve heard enough. There’s no need to know more.”
He looked at Euphen and Eshar, his eyes warning them not to continue.
“But.”
“I trust you have no intention of putting Lynette in danger.”
He spoke stiffly to Euphen.
The man offered a faint smile and answered Lynette instead.
“Right. You should head in now, Lynette.”
Her lips trembled for a moment before she followed Sillian inside. When she glanced back, the two were still talking.
Seeing that, Sillian pulled her closer.
“Leave their matters to them.”
“…I wasn’t planning to interfere.”
At that, he let out a short sigh.
“Please don’t forget that feeling.”
He clearly thought that she would rush in the moment it involved Euphen.
Instead of defending herself and insisting she would stay out of it, Lynette simply stayed silent.
‘I shouldn’t get involved in dangerous things.’
Neither Sillian nor Euphen would want that. As for Eshar… Lynette had no idea what she thought, but it didn’t seem like Eshar expects anything from her anyway.
Back in her room, Lynette slowly sat on the bed.
‘I guess this wasn’t just an easy trip.’
Thinking about it, it was obvious.
There had to be a reason for them to fake their deaths.
He is an Imperial Prince, someone who would ascend to the throne.
Lynette let out a bitter laugh as she fell back onto the bed.
Suddenly, Euphen felt distant.
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