How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 2

I spat out the black tea I was drinking, and the butler, startled, pulled out a handkerchief.

“Are you alright, young master?”

“Marriage? Me?”

Come to think of it, that might have been mentioned. My memory was hazy because he was such an insignificant character, but there was a young master who became a victim of a political marriage.

“Have you forgotten? You don’t seem to be feeling well today. I’ll call a doctor.”

His tone suggested how could anyone forget their own wedding, so I quickly pulled myself together.

“No, no. I’m fine.”

Waving my hands, I hurriedly racked my brain.

‘If things continue like this, I’m getting married in a week?’

Wait, which family was the Lindayer County set to form a blood tie with through a political marriage in the novel?

“The Bashrun Duchy?”

“Yes. The eldest daughter of the Bashrun Duchy is your bride-to-be, young master.”

“The eldest daughter? Don’t tell me, that eldest daughter is Fleta?”

“…That’s correct.”

*Thump!*

It felt like a boulder was dropped on my heart.

‘No way. It absolutely cannot be the eldest daughter of the Bashrun Duchy.’

I could easily recall her because she was the most unique and individualistic supporting character in the novel.

The Iron-Blooded Duchess, Fleta Bashrun.

A once-in-a-lifetime genius who personally proved that the Bashrun Duchy didn’t need sons, and an unparalleled magician.

At the same time, a heartless and ruthless psychopath!

‘They want me to marry *that* woman now?’

That woman is so crazy she looks for blood instead of water?

‘I’d rather bite my tongue and commit suicide.’

Wait a minute.

Suicide?

‘Come to think of it, what happens to me if I die here?’

Do I wake up from the dream and return to reality?

Or?

If I really die?

After organizing my mind, which was about to become complicated again, the only thing left was to stop that wedding.

I can’t live rubbing shoulders with a psychopath!

‘I’ll sort out the complicated stuff later.’

According to the butler, the wedding is only a week away.

With the thought that there was no time, I jumped up from my seat.

“Butler. I need to see my father.”

“Yes?”

“Why?”

“Are you referring to the Lord [referring to Count Lindayer]?”

“Is there a problem with that?”

“May I ask what it is regarding?”

“I have something important to tell him. But why do you ask?”

“…No, it’s nothing. I will convey your intentions to the Lord.”

‘Convey my intentions?’

Even though he’s a Count, isn’t it too distant since they are father and son?

* * *

“Yes, Kain. What brings you to me?”

It’s normal to be distant.

No, even if there isn’t distance, I have to create it.

I pushed my way in and faced Count Lindayer, that is, the father of this body, which was good.

However, the problem was that I only thought of the other person as a character in a novel, a mere arrangement of text.

“Why can’t you say anything? I asked what’s wrong.”

He looks like he just came from the battlefield after cutting down three or four people.

Perhaps it’s because he’s been handling mana for decades, but blue energy overflowed in the Count’s eyes, and his broad shoulders were like a mountain.

Even though it was his office, the armor he wore, albeit informally, and the scabbard he casually hung on his waist, completely erased the little courage I had left.

The feeling of the moniker ‘Lord of the North’ coming to me not as simple letters, but as a tangible sensation.

“I greet the Lord.”

“I asked twice.”

“Yes?”

“If I ask one more time, it will be three times.”

Only then did I realize that the Count had asked what was wrong twice.

‘Damn it.’

I forgot because you were glaring so intensely.

“The reason I came to see you like this is none other than to make a request.”

Ah, can I say this?

If I get hit by that pot lid-like hand, it seems like it’s only a matter of time before I die.

“A request?”

The Count tilted his head and subtly placed his hand on the scabbard.

With just that small gesture, cold sweat was already running down my back.

The Count may not have been aware of it himself, but I know. That is the Count’s unique negotiation technique that has reigned over the territory for decades. A habit that has appeared several times in the novel.

In other words, it also meant that the Count was ready to negotiate no matter what I said.

That gave me a glimmer of courage.

Because negotiation is a game that I can win depending on how I play it, no matter who the opponent is.

“I don’t want to get married.”

“…….”

This silence, it’s incredibly tense.

According to the settings in the novel, my head could explode with just one flick of the Count’s forehead right now.

*Toc, toc.*

The Count’s finger tapped the table.

It was a long time after that that the Count opened his mouth again.

“The reason you don’t want to?”

“Because it’s my life.”

It’s best to dig into the essence rather than listing pathetic excuses.

It’s my life, so I’ll do as I please, what can you say?

Furthermore, the Count’s character is someone who values principles quite a bit.

He is more ruthless than anything if there is no reasonable reason, but conversely, if there is a reasonable reason, he never puts himself first.

Either way, it was a bet with a certain amount of calculation.

“…….”

The Count’s reaction was quite peculiar.

The man, who seemed like he would be solemn even if he slapped his cheek, twitched his eyebrows. Following that, he raised the corners of his mouth, and finally burst into a low but resonant laughter.

“Kuhahaha!”

“…….”

“Because it’s your life?”

“That’s right.”

At my quick answer, the Count’s eyes widened for a moment, but returned to normal.

Following that, the Count stroked his beard and let out a hollow laugh.

“It’s so simple and clear. But it’s not wrong either. Good. I have no intention of interfering with you doing as you please with your life.”

The Count nodded a couple of times and expressed his agreement.

“However.”

The heart that was glad as if it was a success was only up to that point.

The Count was still looking at me as if I was insignificant and foolish.

“That’s the story when you don’t have everything the family has enjoyed so far.”

“…….”

“Yes. As a parent, I can’t expect a reward for raising a child. But that’s only until adulthood. Even after your coming-of-age ceremony, you couldn’t be a strength to the family, but instead, you wasted its wealth for your own personal gain, didn’t you?”

‘What? I wasted wealth?’

“Foolish fellow. Weren’t you the one who embraced dancers in pleasure houses and scattered gold coins in gambling dens, and wasn’t that entirely what you earned?”

“Th, that’s…….”

“Remember. Everything in the world comes with a price. And now, the price for everything you’ve enjoyed is marrying the Bashrun’s young lady. Life? Well said. Yes, your current situation is the life you created.”

It seems that the original owner of this body was quite generous with his spending. Still, is it okay to sell off your own child?

“Butler.”

At the Count’s call, the door opened and the butler, who was outside, came in.

“Yes, Lord.”

“How much of the family’s wealth has Kain Lindayer consumed since his coming-of-age ceremony?”

“Excluding official business, it’s about 1,500 gold coins.”

1,500 gold coins!

That’s enough treasure to cut down a mountain and build a villa.

‘Crazy.’

How much money did this crazy bastard spend?

No, in the first place, if your child is spending so much money, shouldn’t you stop him?

“Do you have anything else to say?”

At the Count’s sneer, I belatedly realized.

That human did it on purpose.

Since he was going to send me off for a political marriage anyway, he must have turned a blind eye to such a profligate life.

‘Damn it, damn it, damn it… Huh?’

Wait a minute.

Doesn’t that mean my value is 1,500 gold coins right now?

If so.

“I’ll pay it back.”

“……!”

Both the Count and the butler widened their eyes at the unexpected declaration.

“What do you mean by paying it back?”

“I mean that I will return the wealth I used privately, intact.”

“As far as I know, you don’t have a single copper coin in your possession, except for what belongs to the family.”

“That’s right.”

“Are you trying to play games with me now?”

*Whirr!*

It’s not a joke, but a blue aura really burst out from behind the Count’s back for a moment.

The entire space inside the office was dominated by the Count.

A sense of pressure that was so great that you couldn’t even breathe unless the Count willed it. Indeed, it was the aura that a transcendent who had reached the realm of a master would show.

But now that it’s come to this, it was either death or fainting.

“How dare I play games in such a situation.”

“If you can’t explain it, you won’t be able to leave the Lord’s castle even a single step until the wedding.”

“It’s as I said. I will pay back 1,500 gold coins.”

“Are you finally trying to humiliate me!”

*Bang!*

The teacup on the table shattered and pieces scattered in all directions.

I felt like my cold sweat was flowing so much that even my underwear was wet.

But I couldn’t back down after coming this far.

“It’s not a lie. I can pay it back.”

“This is your last chance. Explain yourself properly.”

“As you know, I don’t have that much money on hand right now.”

“But.”

“I can make it soon.”

There’s no way I can’t make it.

I don’t have a clear method in mind right now, but how can I, who knows the novel inside and out, not earn that little bit of money?

“Nonsense! What method do you have?”

“I can’t tell you.”

“You!”

“Please forgive my rudeness. That method is entirely my skill and everything.”

The Count glared at me.

That aura was like a beast in front of its prey. But I didn’t back down and calmly met his gaze. Of course, I hid my trembling hands behind my back.

It was then.

The Count’s mana, which had been tightening around my throat like angry waves, slowly began to subside.

“For a guy who has only done pleasure-seeking all his life, you’re quite the salesman.”

“…….”

“I don’t know what kind of absurd dream you’re having now, but since you don’t want to reveal your plan, I won’t ask any further.”

“Thank you.”

“So, that won’t be the end, will it?”

As expected of a nobleman who has been worn down for decades, he was quick-witted.

“I need time.”

“Again.”

“I also need people.”

“Again.”

“…I also need a little funding.”

“You’re a funny guy.”

The corners of the Count’s mouth slowly went up.

“So, what if you fail?”

“I will marry without complaint.”

“It’s not fair. That’s what I should have received in the first place.”

“What do you want?”

“Give up everything as a Lindayer and spend your life as a member of the Bashrun family.”

Give up everything as a Lindayer.

It means abandoning legitimacy.

He was clearly trying to prevent me from interfering in the family’s succession structure in the future, backed by the Bashrun Duchy.

As a Count, he would want to eliminate future troubles after deciding on an heir early on. He probably never saw me as such a talent in the first place, but he was trying to cut off the bud altogether this time.

Of course, it was a story I had no interest in in the first place.

But I couldn’t be indifferent.

“I understand.”

After pretending to think about it for a while, I answered, and the Count narrowed his eyes.

He was thinking whether I was really confident or just a shameless guy.

“Are you serious?”

“That’s right.”

“Good. Then it’s your turn now.”

“I need half a year.”

“Do you intend to make the great Bashrun Duchy wait for half a year?”

“Then how much is possible?”

“If you say you’re weak and have been suffering from minor illnesses, you can postpone it for about a month.”

Well, I didn’t expect to be given enough time in the first place. A month is tight, but it’s not impossible.

“I need about three skilled knights.”

“Knights for a mere playboy’s childish games? It’s absurd. Still, I’ll give you one so you don’t get stabbed with a knife in the streets. Of course, you’ll have to exclude the commander and deputy commander level.”

You have to rip me off so badly.

“…In addition, I need about 100 gold coins.”

“I’ll give you ten.”

This time, I almost cursed out loud. The Count sneered as if he had read my feelings.

“It’s the last chance to change your life, shouldn’t you be grateful even for this much?”

Yeah, laugh a lot. I’ll return that sneer someday.

“I understand. Instead, give me the right to choose that one knight.”

“That’s not difficult.”

“When can you prepare it for me?”

“From this moment on. The butler will take responsibility and take care of the rest.”

At the Count’s order, the butler bowed his head.

“I understand.”

The suffocating negotiation was over.

I achieved my initial goal.

I didn’t get the best result, but it wasn’t the worst result either.

One month.

It’s a short if it’s short, and long if it’s long time. I had to work my head hard from now on, even to not waste it.

In addition, I also gained the right to choose one knight to my liking. I also got a small amount of money.

“Then I will step down now.”

The real game starts now.

I turned my back on the Count, who had an interesting look in his eyes, and the butler, who had a worried expression, and strode out the door.