How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 201

How to Live as the Third Son of a Wasted Novel – Episode 202

The war that began in late autumn concluded around the time spring was in full bloom.

The Basarak garrison, which had occupied the southeast, either surrendered, went into hiding, or scattered and collapsed.

Nevertheless, some pockets of resistance remained, and Duke Trot and other lords quickly led their troops to eliminate them.

Thus, the Red Castle found its owner today, after hundreds of years.

“Is this the place?”

I nodded at Sella’s question as she entered the highest spire of the Red Castle.

“Yes.”

At my answer, Sella looked up with a complicated expression.

There lay Loongsen’s skeleton, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time. The armor he wore was still rusty and faded, and the chains wrapped around his body were intact.

“That corpse is….”

“Loongsen Flores.”

At my answer, Sella closed her eyes. When she opened them again, they were moist.

“It’s pitiful.”

“……”

Pitiful. Sella, summarizing all her emotions in one word, nodded slowly and gestured to the soldier standing beside her.

“Bring the body down. We will hold a funeral later, so handle it with care.”

“Understood, Lady.”

At Sella’s command, the soldiers brought a ladder and began to approach Loongsen’s body.

Seeing the soldiers, I chuckled and looked at Sella.

“Lady, you must be deeply moved.”

“……Are you teasing me?”

“Of course not.”

Sella Flores received amnesty from the royal family.

It’s not surprising. It was a promise made on the condition that Basarak would be destroyed and subordinated to the royal family.

[Count Cain. As promised, His Majesty the King has pardoned Flores and recognized him as the owner of the Red Castle.]

It was a message sent by Duke Irfe. It stated that Flores’ sins would be pardoned and that Sella would be recognized as the lord of the East again.

[……And I will visit you in the near future to hear more about the additional matter you requested.]

In addition, Duke Irfe, who was usually reluctant to travel, said that he would come to the Red Castle himself.

The ostensible [outwardly declared] reason was to bestow the title given by King Belinthes.

Originally, Sella would have to go back to the capital to formally receive it, but the royal family took special measures in consideration of the unstable situation in the East.

Of course, there was a real reason hidden inside.

‘There’s the issue of Redran’s custody, and he wants to see with his own eyes if Sella has other intentions.’

That’s why Duke Irfe is coming in person.

The thought of having to deal with that cunning raccoon again made my head ache, so I sighed and looked at Sella.

“By the way, Redran….”

“He’s in bed.”

“How’s his injury?”

“They’re treating him, but it’s a serious injury, so it will take some time.”

“Are you disappointed? I’m sure you’d like to lock him in the dungeon and torture him.”

“Do you think I’m a pervert?”

“Weren’t you?”

“…….”

I shrugged at Sella’s glare.

“Anyway, let’s have dinner together tonight. Make arrangements with Ruth to be there on time.”

“With Ruth? Is something wrong?”

“Do you remember what I said before?”

“If it’s what you said before….”

“The price for helping with all of this will be very high.”

Sella, recalling what I had said at Duke Trot’s manor, nodded with a stiff face.

“Yes. I remember.”

“I’ll tell you the price tonight, so let’s meet in the evening.”

“…….”

At my words, Sella nodded with a nervous face.

“Don’t be too scared. It won’t be that difficult of a request.”

“Do you know that’s what makes it even scarier when you say that, Count?”

“Who’s going to eat you?”

I smiled at Sella and turned around to leave the spire.

Anyway, I had defeated Redran and taken the Red Castle, but not all the plans were over yet, so I had a lot to think about.

* * *

That evening.

Ruth and Sella, who had been busy all day reorganizing the chaotic interior, gathered in the dining room with tired faces.

I cut to the chase with them.

“You two should get married.”

“Puhuhup!”

Ruth, who was drinking water in front of the lavishly prepared food, spat water on the table.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“Ah, I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Young master, what did you just say?”

“I said get married.”

“Married?”

“Yes.”

“Is that the marriage I know?”

“Yes, it’s the one where a man and a woman of marriageable age make a lifelong commitment, have a relationship, have children, and live happily ever after.”

Ruth’s eyes were filled with bewilderment.

On the other hand, Sella calmly wiped the water that Ruth had spat out with a napkin and opened her mouth.

“Are you telling Ruth and me to get married now?”

“You got it right.”

“Is that the price you want, Count?”

“Yes.”

“……I don’t think you’re just saying that to tease us.”

At Sella’s words, I nodded and drank from my wine glass.

“I need Ruth.”

“…….”

“But Ruth is tied to the Wind Knights. He can’t leave without a special reason. The Lindayer family took him in, fed him, clothed him, and raised him from nothing. As a knight who knows honor, he can’t abandon such grace [loyalty and gratitude].”

“…….”

“But if you two get married, Ruth can naturally leave the Wind Knights. As a de facto [in reality] son-in-law, he can’t stay in the North.”

By this point, Sella and Ruth realized that I wasn’t joking and began to focus on what I was saying.

“You’re saying you want to have Ruth completely in your hands.”

“That’s not the only reason. Didn’t I tell you? I want something very big.”

“You mean you want something bigger….”

“Flores must become an excellent assistant to Count Cain in the future.”

“An assistant?”

“Yes. I will soon become independent from the Lindayer family. After that, I plan to officially become the guardian family of Flores.”

It was a decision made after much thought.

I lost the background of Lindayer. Of course, I have a deep relationship with the royal family, but they are more like partners than assistants, a horizontal relationship.

But Flores is different. Sella, who only has legitimacy, can stand on her own if I help her.

On the other hand, Sella’s eyes widened at my words. Ruth, who also had a surprised expression, hurriedly opened his mouth.

“Did you say guardian family?”

“Yes.”

“You, Young master?”

“Well, there’s no law that says guardian families have to be tied to great families, right?”

“Well, that’s true, but.”

“I am currently training a knight order at the Sky Fortress, a military stronghold. Besides, I am already an Expert-level knight, and you and Ilia, who follow me, go without saying. I also have considerable influence on the royal family and have ties with the giant families of Lindayer and Baschren. Isn’t that enough?”

At my words, Sella nodded slowly.

“Count, you will support Flores with the knight strength and influence on the continent that Flores lacks, and Flores will support you with the vast manor and army in the East.”

“That’s right. It’s a great deal where we can fill each other’s shortcomings. Besides, this is also to grant your request.”

“To hold Redran’s custody, you must have the qualifications?”

“Yes. Qualification depends on whether you can become a self-sufficient lord, not just a puppet of the royal family. Of course, as I said before, that’s not impossible if I help you.”

“But won’t the royal family be wary of you, Count?”

“Wary?”

I scoffed and shook my head.

“What I’m going to do in the future is something the royal family would welcome with open arms. They can never abandon me. That much is certain.”

Of course. It’s not like I’m going to take Flores, I’m just going to be a guardian family and exert a little influence.

And that’s to prepare for the upcoming war, so the royal family will gladly understand.

Besides, I’ve already promised the king that I’ll give everything to the royal family if I conquer Rodkius.

Knowing that, the royal family would never throw away the card that is me unless they were crazy.

“But marriage… wouldn’t people around us think it’s strange?”

“Ruth is a promising young knight who has entered the Expert level. He also comes from the Wind Knights, which everyone would be interested in. Besides, he was the first to find the forgotten Flores. He already has enough qualifications, what else does he need?”

I shrugged at Sella’s hesitant appearance.

“Ah, are you dissatisfied because it’s a marriage without love? But it seems like the man definitely has it.”

“Yoooung Master!”

Ruth stood up with a flushed face at my teasing.

“Why are you so embarrassed? Like a teenager.”

“I was going to tell you that later….”

“Later when? In about ten years?”

“That’s too much!”

“What’s too much about it? The one who’s going to have a hard time is Sella, who will be living with a pitch-black bandit.”

I silenced Ruth and turned to look at Sella.

“Even if you don’t like it, there’s nothing you can do. Aristocratic arranged marriages to establish a position are common. It’s definitely not a bad condition for you, so I hope you just accept it.”

“……It’s not that I don’t like it.”

Oh, really? Look at this?

“It’s not that you don’t like it?”

“You took good care of me in the capital, and most of all, you stayed by my side for months when I arrived in Duke Trot’s territory.”

Sella, whose face was already red, shrugged.

“Of course, I still get annoyed when I think about our first meeting.”

“When I kidnapped you almost forcibly? I understand. I had to look fierce.”

“But that was all to help me. Besides, you granted my absurd request to wipe out the looters without any compensation before that.”

Watching the two men and women squirming [acting bashful or embarrassed], I felt goosebumps all over my body and couldn’t stand it.

“Do whatever you want after I leave, so I’ll take it that you’ll accept my offer.”

“Yes. Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“No. I’ll take care of the negotiations with Duke Irfe, who will be arriving soon.”