Chapter 135 – Pride and Weakness

Thank you always for reading my work.

Around 2:30 AM on the 11th, I made slight revisions to the flow leading up to the conversation with Malcolm in “128 Medicine, Scent, and”. The overall story and development remain unchanged.

“Theodore-sama. This is my younger brother Norman Broderick. Norman. This gentleman is Theodore Gartner-sama. His Majesty’s direct vassal, the Otherworld Ambassador.”

“Well, well.”

As Malcolm introduced them to each other, Norman approached with a smile, spreading his arms wide as if in a theatrical gesture.

“I am Norman Broderick. Of House Broderick. I hope we shall become acquainted,” he said, performing an exaggerated, dramatic bow.

“I am Theodore Gartner.”

“Gartner, you say… Might you be from the Count’s family?”

“Count Henry is my father. Though I’m not the legitimate child, but an illegitimate one.”

When I answered, Norman’s smile vanished for just a moment and his eyebrows twitched. But perhaps remembering that I was the King’s direct vassal, he put on an ingratiating smile again.

“I see, is that so? Actually, I’ve come to the Royal Castle to deliver an invitation.”

Norman beckoned to someone nearby who appeared to be his attendant, received an envelope from them, and offered it to me.

“We will be holding a banquet at the Marquis’s residence in the coming days. It would be an honor if Theodore-sama could grace us with your presence.”

Ugh… This is exactly as Malcolm predicted, and it’s giving me a headache.

“…I’ll give you my answer after reviewing the invitation.”

“Of course. We plan to make it quite grand, so please do come.”

I gave a safe response. Inviting me, of all people… Judging from his reaction, it seems he hasn’t been told about how the Marquis asked me for a loan and was refused. From Marquis Broderick’s perspective, perhaps it’s only natural he wouldn’t tell his son about being turned down by the illegitimate child of a lower-ranking noble family.

…According to what Father said about investigating the Marquisate, the territory apparently isn’t very prosperous after all. The farmland development isn’t going well, and the mines remain unproductive.

Malcolm’s expression darkened as he put a hand to his stomach area. Was his stomach acting up again? Perhaps it would have been slightly better if either Malcolm or I weren’t present.

“Oh my, brother. You don’t look well.”

“…It’s nothing. I’ve obtained some very effective medicine.”

“Is that so?”

Norman snorted at those words. I suspect the cause is largely Norman and the Marquis himself. Norman didn’t seem to think he’d done anything wrong, as he wore a faint smile.

The smile Norman directed at Malcolm was quite different from the ingratiating one he gave me. He was pleased by his brother’s poor health… No, wait, I think it might be slightly different.

Ah. I see. So the reason the second son went out of his way to come deliver the banquet invitation in person… I wondered what for, but it’s basically a round of greetings.

They’re probably planning to announce at the banquet that the family headship will be transferred to Norman. It likely serves both as an introduction of the next Marquis Family Head and as an attempt to secure attendance from as many important figures as possible by personally delivering invitations, since the guest list has become rather lackluster.

This attitude toward Malcolm—he must be quite confident. I suppose he secured a promise of succession in exchange for helping his father through this emergency.

“…Still, holding a banquet at this time is rather unusual. Has something auspicious occurred?”

When I asked, Norman’s face lit up with delight.

“Indeed it has. One could call it a new beginning for House Broderick.”

Norman said this while glancing sideways at Malcolm, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

So it is about the family headship after all. And this provocative loose tongue. In short… Norman can’t help but gloat over his victory against his brother.

He seems ecstatic about having extracted a promise from his father and has let his guard down. He probably thinks he’s beaten his brother.

Maybe I should probe a little here. If it’s requisitioning, it’s definitely better to act sooner rather than later.

After sending a brief glance toward Malcolm, I spoke to Norman.

“…I see. For you to come to the Royal Castle personally to deliver invitations, Lord Norman. It must be quite a grand affair.”

“Indeed it is. I’m certain even Theodore-sama, as His Majesty’s direct vassal, will be thoroughly satisfied.”

“You flatter me too much, but someone like me isn’t that important. It’s a new position related to the Labyrinth, so it’s closer to an honorary title.”

Truthfully, I don’t show my face much at the palace, and I don’t have much authority outside my area of responsibility.

I revealed this while being modest, implicitly suggesting that even if he befriended me because I’m a direct vassal, there wouldn’t be much in return—that I couldn’t meet his expectations.

“Not at all. To hold a new position at such a young age, you must have considerable achievements?”

“I wonder. While I’m happy to be highly regarded, lately I’ve been spending most of my time crafting things in the workshop or testing them in the Labyrinth, so I don’t really know how that’s being received at the palace.”

“Ah, I see. I did think you seemed rather young.”

Norman nodded as if satisfied.

It seemed his wariness had decreased somewhat. Norman had been in the provinces. He hadn’t been in Termwills long and had likely been busy with his father’s aftermath. Plus, the truth about the Otherworld Ambassador and the Demon Slayer had been kept from him.

“More importantly, House Broderick itself seems to be doing quite well, which is wonderful. The Marquis’s mansion is known as a social venue, after all. By the way—speaking of the Marquisate of Broderick, your mines are famous, aren’t they?”

“Eh? Ah, yes. That’s right. Our proud mines, passed down through generations.”

For a moment, Norman’s eyes darted around as he said that. This reaction. There’s definitely something going on.

“Is that so? The Marquis’s mansion seemed bustling all through the winter, so you must be generating substantial profits.”

“Ha, haha. Indeed. Recently, our farmland management has also gotten on track. The future of House Broderick is secure.”

So said Norman. Malcolm’s eyes widened at the conversation’s direction. I had intended to probe through reactions, but… I hadn’t expected Norman to blurt out something so clear.

I see… So Norman can’t afford to show weakness in front of Malcolm at this moment. Having already gloated about his victory despite no results yet, regardless of the actual situation, he has no choice but to maintain a facade of composure here.

Since the Marquis has also kept his shame hidden from Norman… Norman didn’t anticipate that I’d find the very act of holding a banquet suspicious from the start.

Also… how should I put it.

Malcolm is somewhat familiar with the Marquisate’s circumstances. Though he’s not allowed involvement now, so he certainly doesn’t know the current reality. But he does know the mines are unproductive. As the reason for House Broderick’s prosperity, he had to assert—even if only superficially—in front of his brother that the farmland development was going well.

Otherwise… Malcolm himself might grow suspicious and potentially raise objections about the succession.

Needless to say, if Norman had nothing to hide, that conversation wouldn’t have been problematic at all. Precisely because of that, his inability to conceal his fluster was likely fatal.

“Oh, Theodore.”

—And then. Who appeared there was… King Melvin, accompanied by his knight escort.

“Your Majesty.”

Malcolm and I performed the vassal’s bow, with Norman following a moment later. Cold sweat beaded on Norman’s forehead. All his earlier composure had vanished.

“Very well. At ease. I was taking a stroll in the gardens for a change of pace when I heard Theodore was waiting at the guesthouse for an audience. The weather being fine, I decided to extend my walk a little.”

King Melvin flashed a mischievous smile and winked at me.

Ah. So he’d received a report that Norman had come to the Royal Castle to deliver an invitation.

King Melvin is quite the trickster. He might have overheard our conversation just now. His timing was almost too perfect.

“Thou art the son of Marquis Broderick’s house?”

“I-I am Norman Broderick.”

“Hmm. I overheard a bit of your conversation earlier. It seems your farmland development is proceeding smoothly? The transition from the mines appears to be progressing without delay, which pleases me.”

“…W-we are doing our utmost.”

Norman’s voice was strained—but at King Melvin’s next words, he turned completely pale.

“I should think so. Accordingly—I wish to obtain estimates for future harvests. I shall send officials to inspect the Marquisate of Broderick. That should be acceptable?”