How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 165

Living as the Third Son of a Failed Novel – Chapter 166

44. The Second Founding Day

I met Count Lindaier again that night after leaving the palace.

The Count, who came to Rihas’s house where I was staying, held a luxuriously packaged wine bottle in one hand.

“Y-Your Lordship!”

Rihas, who opened the door with a bothered expression, wondering who it was at this late hour, looked as if his eyes would pop out.

Well, it’s a natural reaction since the person he serves appeared so suddenly without notice.

“It’s been a while.”

“I-If you had given me a heads-up, I would have gone out to greet you in person.”

“I shouldn’t cause trouble by visiting someone else’s house when it’s not even my territory.”

Seeing Rihas in such a state of near panic, I stepped forward to mediate.

“What brings you here so late?”

“You can’t possibly be asking because you really don’t know what my business is.”

“It’s late, so I was planning to visit you sometime tomorrow.”

“In that case, there’s no need to postpone it.”

“…Please, come upstairs. There’s a quiet study where we can talk.”

I took the wine that the Count had brought as a gift, handed it to Rihas, and went up to the study with the Count.

Arriving at the study where I had previously had a conversation with Marquis Irfe, the Count and I naturally sat facing each other.

“Impressive.”

He probably doesn’t mean my tired face is impressive; he’s probably talking about what happened at the palace today.

“Thank you for seeing it that way.”

The Count gave a bitter smile at my nonchalant response and took out a scroll from his cloak.

“This is what you want.”

What I want.

It’s obvious what that is. It’s the document proving the non-aggression pact between Lindaier and Basarak.

I need to hand that over as soon as possible so that Redran can start preparing for war with peace of mind. Besides, it was essential to completely take over the trade fleet.

“I’ll gratefully accept it.”

I bowed my head and reached out, but the Count snatched the scroll back.

“I can’t just hand it over.”

“…This plan has already been approved by His Majesty the King.”

“Don’t you know that the approval of the plan and my cooperation are different matters entirely?”

Why is he suddenly acting like this again when things were going so well?

Well, when I think about it, the Count isn’t wrong. Just because the King approved it doesn’t mean he delegated that authority to me.

Ultimately, it was my job, as the one leading the plan, to gain the cooperation of others.

“Is there something you want in return?”

“If you promise me just one thing, I’ll hand this over willingly in exchange.”

A promise? What’s with the sudden promise?

“What kind of promise are you talking about?”

“Whether your plan succeeds or fails, on the day the final outcome is revealed.”

The Count paused for a moment before nodding firmly.

“Leave the Lindaier family.”

“……”

“If you promise that, I’ll hand this over.”

What’s with that all of a sudden?

Is he telling me to leave the Lindaier family now?

* * *

“Why are we suddenly sightseeing in the city at this late hour?”

Roos, who followed me as I stepped out into the streets of the capital, tilted his head.

“I have something to think about.”

“……”

Feeling something was off from my short answer, Roos nudged Rihas, who was accompanying us, with his elbow.

“Did something happen?”

“I don’t know either.”

“Why don’t you know? You were at home the whole time I was out, weren’t you? Didn’t anything happen?”

“Nothing happened. Except that the Lordship came and had a private conversation with him…”

“The Lordship did?”

“Yes.”

I ignored their conversation and headed to a tavern.

Perhaps it was because of the atmosphere, which was heating up in anticipation of the Founding Day, but the tavern was crowded even at this late hour.

“Alcohol!”

I sighed at Roos’s beaming face, oblivious to my inner turmoil.

After taking a seat in a corner of the tavern, Roos ordered beer and grabbed a piece of jerky that came out first as a snack.

“Wow, the Founding Day is really just around the corner. By the way, who are you planning to choose as your opponent in the opening match of the tournament, Young Master?”

“I’m not choosing anyone.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t want to bother with every little thing like that. Just assign me anyone.”

“……”

Roos, who had been trying to liven up the mood by chattering about this and that, soon shut his mouth at the continued cold atmosphere.

Shortly after, as soon as I received the beer that the waitress brought, I took a big gulp without even toasting.

After finishing a glass of beer in one go, I ordered another one and leaned back against the chair.

Seeing me like that, Roos and Rihas cautiously sipped their beer, and Illia didn’t even touch hers, silently waiting for me to speak.

Feeling that it was time to start the conversation, I opened my mouth in a low voice.

“I’ve decided to leave the Lindaier family after this plan is over.”

“Pfft!”

Roos, who quickly turned his head away from me, spat beer at Illia.

“……”

“S-Sorry, Illia. No, more than that, Young Master! What do you mean you’re leaving the family?”

“It’s not because I want to.”

“You don’t want to? Then is it the Lordship? Are you perhaps being expelled?”

“If I insist on not leaving, that’s what will happen.”

“If you leave voluntarily?”

“To the outside world, it will simply look like I’m becoming independent.”

“……”

Roos, who had lost his words, closed his mouth with a dumbfounded expression.

Illia, who wiped the beer off her face with a handkerchief, asked cautiously.

“May I ask what the reason is?”

“What else could it be? He can no longer tolerate me, who’s carrying oil on my back and running around shooting at the fire [engaging in risky and provocative actions]. He must also be worried about Dane’s position as the successor being shaken.”

From mediating the Basrührn territory war to this matter concerning the East.

Considering the scale of the things I’ve been doing, the Count must have been very worried.

In fact, what has supported me so far has been the huge background of the Lindaier family.

It was because of that background that Duke Basrührn and King Belinthes approved my unreasonable requests.

But that also meant that when problems arose, the responsibility wasn’t just mine. Perhaps the Count’s demand for independence stemmed from that.

Of course, there’s almost no chance of me messing up since I know the contents of the novel… but that’s something the Count can’t know from his perspective.

Besides, there’s also the issue of Dane’s position.

Even now, some nobles who support the Lindaier family are quietly saying that I, not Dane, should have been the successor.

As time goes by, that number will only increase, not decrease.

No matter how much of a Count Lindaier he is, he couldn’t lightly dismiss such a potential problem.

“He probably made the decision after hearing Rihas’s report. No wonder his expression wasn’t good when I went to greet him.”

Suddenly called by his name, Rihas’s shoulders flinched.

“Did you… know?”

“How could I not know?”

“I see.”

Roos, who heard the conversation between me and Rihas, glared.

“Rihas, were you spying on the Young Master all this time?”

“It was an action more focused on assisting him. I accepted it because he allowed it. Of course, if you ask if that’s not spying, then I have nothing to say.”

“This guy, acting like he did something great…”

“Stop it, Roos.”

Roos shut his mouth at my restraint.

“The Lordship was just testing me through Rihas. It’s nothing to get angry about.”

“Testing?”

“Whether I’m in a controllable area.”

Rihas’s report must have had many loopholes.

Considering that the Count didn’t even guess this plan until I stepped forward, that’s even more likely.

Perhaps, unless the Count is an idiot, he vaguely realized that I had noticed the surveillance.

If so, the Count’s remaining choices are only two: to increase the intensity of the surveillance or to completely let go.

Of course, considering what he said to me today, it’s obviously the latter.

“The Lordship has simply judged that it’s impossible and decided to let go of me. It’s no one’s fault, including Rihas.”

“Even so, to treat a talent like the Young Master like a nuisance. Does that even make sense?”

“It’s normal to think that my success can’t last forever. You also said it was crazy when I risked my life to get involved in the Basrührn territory war, and told me to stop immediately, didn’t you?”

“T-That’s…”

“Think about the things I’m doing. They’re things where everything falls apart the moment I fail. To others, it’s no different from suicide. The system of guilt by association is still alive and well. It’s understandable to worry that the family might suffer significant damage because of me someday.”

“B-But the royal family also recognized the possibility of this plan and approved it, didn’t they?”

“If it fails, they can just cut off the tail [disavow responsibility]. Since I’ll take all the blame, they have nothing to lose. But what about the Lindaier family? Can they cut me off like the royal family when the time comes? A prestigious family has its own responsibilities, Roos.”

“……”

Of course, there’s almost no chance that the plan will fail, but it would be unreasonable to expect outsiders to understand that.

Well, anyway, when I think about it, this matter was just a little unexpected, but there’s no serious damage.

Since it’s a simple independence, not expulsion, I’ll still have autonomy over Sky Fortress, and I’ll still be the head of the Blue Wind Merchant Guild.

But the reason why I’m most annoyed by this situation is something else.

‘Roos.’

Strictly speaking, Roos belongs to the Wind Knights. He’s just by my side now, having received the mission to serve me.

If I become independent from the Lindaier family, Roos will have no choice but to end his mission and return to his original position.

Illia doesn’t matter. She’s already left the order.

Rihas? He’s a valuable talent, but if I have to let him go, I can give up.

But I can never give up Roos. It doesn’t make sense to lose Roos, who holds the power of Rungshen, right before my eyes.

‘But the Count Lindaier wouldn’t let go of Roos either.’

Roos is a talent that anyone would recognize, having reached the Expert level at a young age. There’s no way he would easily let go of such a talent.

And for Roos to leave the order? That’s also a realistically difficult story. Roos’s family has been living in Wind Nest, receiving the conveniences provided by Lindaier, until now.

No matter how much Roos follows me, he can’t just abandon all that grace in an instant.

As everyone was lost in their own thoughts, a silence flowed, and Illia opened her mouth first.

“If you become independent, what will happen in the future?”

“It’s too remote to use Sky Fortress as a base for activities… but when I think about it, there’s no suitable place to rely on either.”

When I thought about it, it wasn’t just a matter of residence; the problem was that I was losing a base where I could really live with peace of mind.

“How about asking the Lordship to grant you a small territory on the outskirts of the North instead of becoming independent?”

“There’s no way the Lordship, who’s trying to completely block the aftermath that might blow on him, would give up his territory. Sky Fortress is different because it should be regarded as a military facility rather than a manor.”

“I see.”

“Let’s think about it slowly for now. Independence or whatever is all after this plan is over.”

Well, it’s not like independence only has disadvantages.

Anyway, if this plan succeeds, I’ll have enough standing, so there’s nothing to worry about. Rather, it’s like I have more freedom of movement, so it might be better to be active.

But still, the issues of a base and Roos’s affiliation were problems that had to be solved.

Of course, there are a few methods that come to mind right away. But let’s take our time to think about it since there’s plenty of time.

“It seems like the atmosphere has only gotten heavier for no reason. Anyway, it’s almost Founding Day, so everyone take a good rest in the meantime. After that, we’ll really have to move without a break.”

“Understood.”

“By the way, Rihas. What about Sella’s education?”

“It’s almost over. She’s learning very well, better than I expected. Her absorption is fast.”

“Really? Then as soon as that’s over, Roos will take care of Sella.”

Roos, who was gulping down beer at my call, widened his eyes.

“Huh?”

“Teach her proper swordsmanship. She’s going to be the owner of the East in the future, so she needs to have the proper appearance.”

“Well, if it’s about teaching orthodox swordsmanship, Rihas would be better.”

“Rihas will have to work as a member of the Wind Knights now, so he won’t have time. But I can still somehow get you out for now.”

“Even so, how much she’ll grow after teaching her in that short amount of time…”

“I’m not telling you to complete her swordsmanship in a short period of time. For now, just make her look impressive to others. In a plausible way.”

“Ah, I see. That’s my specialty.”

“Yeah. Anyway, teach her well throughout this Founding Day. Stay by her side when she eats and when she goes out into the city. In a way, she’s the most important person in our plan, so make sure to protect her well so that nothing happens.”

“That’s not difficult. Understood.”

The complicated story was roughly finished.

But even after that, everyone in the group, including me, just silently sipped their drinks without anyone saying anything.

It’s probably because everyone has a lot to think about.

And that was the same for me.

That’s how I ended up facing the second Founding Day since I came to the Midlands with a gloomy feeling.