Chapter 93. Next Lord

Ian pushed Beric's sword hilt with the edge of his hand, finding it absurd. How could a man who had a hole in his stomach from fighting a knight in the desert have the confidence to take on three at once?

The knights glared at him as if he were a madman, but they seemed to be holding back because Ian stood his ground.

"Stop talking nonsense and bring Lord Romand here."

"Oh, that's what you meant? Sorry."

Though he didn't look sorry at all, it was better to say something. Ian signaled to the lady with a nod.

"Everyone, go out. Help that guy bring the advisor, or do your own work. Don't stand here and make things worse."

"......"

The knights seemed to judge that staying here wouldn't help, and they left the room without further argument. The butler, caught in the middle, looked around helplessly, and the lady, taking out a new cigarette, gave an order.

"Butler, go and make some tea. Even if the situation is chaotic, we must maintain our manners for the guest."

"Yes, my lady."

One of the knights stood in the corridor with his arms crossed, his head held high even as the door closed, clearly indicating his intention to detain the lady.

Creak.

Once the door was fully closed, she exhaled smoke with a blank look. Then she muttered, looking at Ian.

"You're really out of it, aren't you?"

"Pull yourself together, even if it's forced. We need to secure the rights of the manor before those knights do something rash. Did you inform the Earl's brother of the facts?"

"Not yet."

"If not, it's best to do so quickly. Those knights have control over the military, don't they?"

Unlike Brats, Merelop didn't need a large army. A small number of guards and three knights were enough to maintain a stable manor, as there were no threatening enemies like the Tianli tribe.

"Perhaps? I guess so."

"From your answer, I understand why they're acting this way. If you don't hurry, you might end up like the Earl."

Ian nodded toward the bedroom where the body lay. Now was the perfect time to wipe out the Merelop lineage and write a new history.

"If I end up like that, wouldn't Sir Ian be in trouble too?"

The lady smiled, blinking her eyes. She must have realized early on that there's no such thing as a favor without a price. Ian shrugged in response.

"Not really. It would be a nuisance, but not fatal like it would be for you."

Isn't it tiring? This time, the royal palace is paying attention to Merelop. But by then, Ian would be in the capital, and most importantly, he had nothing to do with this incident.

'If the lady wants to threaten me, she can try...'

For example, threatening to falsely confess to a negative relationship with Ian if he doesn't help her, thus dragging him into the mud.

"Is that so? Well, I just put out the most valuable thing I have. The choice is yours, Sir Ian."

When Ian showed signs of hesitation, Beric, standing behind him, picked up both items without a second thought.

"Why would you refuse something that's being offered?"

"Beric, haven't you left yet?"

"I'm going, but... why won't this come off?"

"Amazing. Really."

Beric must have slipped his finger into the ring without thinking, and it seemed to fit perfectly. Ian looked at him with a disdainful expression, and Beric just laughed nervously.

"Can I use some oil?"

"Cutting your finger off would be faster. Lady, could you lend me a knife?"

"...I'll go fetch Lord Romand right away. Master, please wait."

At Ian's joke, Beric quickly left the room, not forgetting to take the powder box.

"Use a new container. I heard men are starting to use makeup, but it still feels awkward."

"Where would I use it?"

"You're going to the capital soon. From what I've heard, there are plenty of occasions to use it there."

Who knows where she heard it, but it was quite accurate. The capital of Barial was glamorous and chaotic, with a tense atmosphere. Most of those at the center of power struggles would likely stay up all night.

"The lethal dose is more than 2 grams a day, for a month. As long as you follow that, there should be no problem."

"The side effects might not appear for a few years. Still, are you sure about this? I can't understand how Beric just smelled it and collapsed."

"I don't know, but I was fine. Maybe your subordinate has an unusual constitution."

The lady looked sincere. After all, a man with a hole in his stomach could still walk around, so his constitution wasn't normal. Ian turned his head to look behind him. The doctor was packing up his instruments.

"Actually, the tribute money is the best, even better than these small items."

"I could sell some jewels to get it. But I'm not sure if there's a jeweler around here who would take them. I might have to go to Sheiron to convert them to cash."

In Merelop, only the head of the family had the authority over finances. In Brats, Lady Mary managed the household, but the Earl, who was jealous, wouldn't have shared power with her.

"Anyway, hurry with the matter. It's best to act before the knights do."

"...What about Clark?"

As Ian was about to leave the room, the lady grabbed his arm and asked. Despite her calm and dull expression, her voice was unexpectedly moist. She was a strange and mysterious woman.

"What about Clark?"

"What will happen to him? Won't he be executed?"

"Of course. Without exception, it's the death penalty."

Apart from the royal palace's legal execution, like in Derga, the murder of a noble was a serious crime, and if the perpetrator was a slave, there would be no trial.

"I was surprised that Clark is still alive. The fact that the knights didn't hold an immediate trial suggests they have other intentions."

"...Is there really no exception?"

"Have you ever heard of a slave killing a noble and surviving? It's possible, but I've never heard of it. Oh, I heard there's a king in another country who was a former slave..."

Ian paused for a moment. He wanted to confirm if the history he remembered was the same as what was happening now. Checking the years, it seemed the timing was roughly the same.

"They say he first killed a noble who was his master. If Clark becomes a king, he might survive."

The lady tapped her fingernails lightly, as if deep in thought. She seemed determined to save Clark's life.

"Can you help him?"

"Lady, I'm sorry, but I need to go to the capital soon. I can't get involved in any more trouble."

"Sir Ian, I think you can help."

"How can you save a slave who killed a noble?"

"No, you've already done it. You came from a commoner background, crossed borders, and survived to become the head of a household."

Ian frowned. The conversation was starting to go off track. The lady was mumbling to herself, and Ian was answering in his own way.

"Lady."

"I will become the lord."

"Excuse me?"

"Is that not possible?"

Ian was taken aback by her confident question.

"...There's no law that says only men can be lords. But Lady, you're not of the Merelop bloodline. Even if you had a formal adoption, it would be different. With the Earl dead, from the Merelop family's perspective, you're an outsider."

Not only that.

The Earl's brother, who held the key to support and opposition, would never agree. So, to become the lord...

"You'd have to change the ruling family here."

Just like in Brats, erasing the Merelop name. It wouldn't be much different from what the knights were planning. The lady sat back down, lost in thought, looking out the window.

"If I become the lord or the head of the family, I won't be able to leave here, will I?"

She could leave the place, but in essence, she would be tied to one location. It wouldn't be much better than the situation Lady Rien was in, who desperately wanted to escape.

'No, it would be better without the Earl.'

Freedom and love.

Ian could guess the two conflicting thoughts swirling in the lady's mind. Honestly, it would be more beneficial for Ian if the lady became the lord rather than the Earl's brother, whom he had never met. They had some connection, he knew her secrets, and she didn't seem to have any ambition to expand the territory.

If the knights or the Earl's brother became the lord, who knows what they might do while Ian was in the capital.

'But with the Earl's brother around, acting rashly could complicate things.'

It was a game of strategy.

If Ian absorbed Merelop, Gail might have a reason to intervene again, citing the excessive expansion of power in the border region. But on the other hand, it could firmly establish his value to Marib.

'First, I should meet the Earl's brother.'

Ian straightened his coat and turned to look at the lady. She still seemed lost in her own thoughts.

"I'll inform the Earl's brother and return. He lives in a house on the outskirts of the village, right? What's his name?"

"Dive Merelop."

"I'll be back soon."

Ian muttered, checking his pocket watch. If he hurried, he could return before Beric brought Romand.