How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 203

Living as the Third Son of a Failed Novel – Chapter 204

50. Arfen

[To Count Kain, this is Jess Orleans. As a result of aggressively pursuing opportunities in the munitions industry in anticipation of the recent war in the East, the Bluewind Merchant Guild was able to generate considerable profits. I am sending the detailed breakdown enclosed for your review.]

After reviewing the details Jess sent, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“I could literally build a house out of gold coins.”

There’s a saying that once your income exceeds a certain point, you lose track of exactly how much you’re earning.

That was the case for me now. Frankly, this income was so unrealistic that I wouldn’t even notice if Jess skimmed a little off the top.

I gave a wry smile, burned the letter to ashes, and began to prepare for my departure.

The Red Castle was almost completely organized. Confirming that I was no longer needed there, I finished my preparations and went to find Sella.

She was busy, sitting in the Red Castle’s office. It was only natural; simply changing the sign wouldn’t solve everything.

Sella would probably be stuck here for the time being, managing the affairs of the territory.

Fortunately, Sella had found and taken in the surviving members of the Riley family.

As members of a noble family, they would likely assist Sella with their expertise.

“You’re quite the lord now, aren’t you?”

“Ah! You’ve arrived, Count?”

I nodded at Sella’s greeting and pulled up a chair to sit across from her.

“How’s the work going? Manageable?”

“Don’t even mention it. The Riley family members are helping, but it’s still so difficult…”

“You’ve gained a large estate, so you have to endure some hardship.”

“More importantly, what brings you here?”

“Nothing much. I’m leaving tomorrow.”

At my words, Sella’s eyes took on a strange light.

“You’re leaving? Where to?”

“To Windnest.”

“Ah, to see Count Lindayer?”

“Yes. I have some unfinished business to take care of.”

“…It’s a bit of a shame.”

“Did you think I’d be here forever?”

“Would it be nice if you could?”

“You won’t get used to the work unless you keep doing it, right? Besides, Baron Trot is going to help you settle in, isn’t he?”

“That’s true, but…”

“I’ll settle things with Ruth quickly and send him back, so don’t be too sad.”

“Count! That’s not why I’m saying this.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at Sella’s sulky expression.

“Anyway, what about the task I asked you to do?”

“Ah, the captured heavy cavalry?”

At my question, Sella nodded and took out a piece of paper she had set aside.

“I’ve selected the individuals you specified. I’ve arranged for them to go with Redran when he’s sent to the Sky Fortress.”

“Really? I appreciate that.”

“It’s nothing. You’ve done so much for me. Besides, if Redran can rot in a place like that, I’m all for it.”

I shrugged at Sella’s renewed anger towards Redran.

“Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”

“But is there any chance Redran might have other ideas there?”

“You don’t have to worry about that. I’m sending Ilia with him. Besides, even though he’s got a twisted personality, he’s still a noble who knows what honor is. He wouldn’t do anything so despicable.”

Sella nodded, seemingly relieved that Ilia would be accompanying him.

“If Lord Ilia is with him, there shouldn’t be any problems.”

Thump!

Sella stamped Flores’ seal on the certificate containing the order to transfer the prisoners and handed it to me.

“Anyway, thank you for your hard work. I’ll never forget this debt I owe you, Count.”

“The Red Castle originally belonged to Flores. I just returned everything to its rightful place.”

“Still, I’m grateful.”

“If you say so.”

As I put the certificate in my pocket and stood up, Sella followed me to see me off.

“Take care, Count.”

I bowed exaggeratedly at Sella’s sincere farewell, extending one arm.

“Sella Flores, may the Lady of the East forever enjoy good health.”

“…Just go already.”

* * *

Windnest.

The city where the Lindayer family’s lordly castle is located—the overlords of the North—and also the vanguard guarding the kingdom’s northern border.

As I returned to Windnest’s gates after so long, I was greeted by a familiar face.

“Young Master! Lord Ruth!”

It was Rihas. With his characteristic bright smile, Rihas ran up to Ruth and me, looking delighted.

“Hey, Rihas.”

“Lord Ruth! How have you been?”

“I’ve been well. How about you?”

“I’m doing great too.”

Rihas lightly bumped fists with Ruth, then turned to me and bowed.

“Young Master, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

“We parted after coming up from Capital, so has it been about half a year?”

“Has it only been that long? It feels like about ten years to me.”

“Stop exaggerating. More importantly, what brings you out here to greet me?”

“I heard you were coming, Young Master, so I’ve been waiting here.”

“What about the Knights?”

“It’s my day off today.”

Rihas smiled and gestured to the guards guarding the gate.

The guards, who had been wary of me in my travel-worn clothes, retreated in unison at Rihas’ gesture, clearing the way.

I nodded at Rihas’ consideration, as I had been worried that the area would become noisy with my long-awaited return.

“Did Count Lindayer send you?”

“No. It was First Young Master Dane who sent me.”

“My brother?”

“Yes. He said you probably wouldn’t want to return in a commotion.”

“I see…”

I had informed them of my approximate arrival date by letter, but to send someone to meet me so precisely…

I shrugged, suddenly thinking of Dane’s face.

“Well, it’s all good. Let’s go straight to the lord’s castle.”

“I’ll guide you there!”

“Why would I need a guide in my own house?”

“Come on, I have to escort you safely.”

I scoffed at Rihas’ grinning face.

“Escort me safely, my ass. You just want to hear about the Eastern War, don’t you?”

“Oh, was I found out?”

“It’s obvious.”

“I was dying of curiosity. How did you turn the tables with such a difference in power and finish off Redran?”

“What’s the reaction in the North?”

“Well, everyone’s just saying that the female lord Flores is very capable. Only a very few people know that you were behind it all along.”

“They think she’s capable, huh…”

“Everyone predicted that Redran would take over the East, especially since Lindayer had even signed a non-aggression pact with Basarak.”

“Since it was unexpected, her position must be more solid.”

Rihas nodded at my question.

“The public opinion that initially ignored Sella has completely changed now. Those who don’t know the details probably all think that Flores is not an easy opponent.”

“I see.”

“By the way, Young Master, stop beating around the bush and tell me in detail how you defeated Redran with the Allied Forces, okay?”

I sighed softly at Rihas’ question, who was sticking close and shining his eyes.

How long had we been walking, being held back by Rihas, telling him what I could tell him while hiding what I had to hide?

The lord’s castle of Windnest began to appear in the distance. It was a welcome sight. The unchanged appearance made me feel relaxed.

‘Still, it’s home.’

The one who greeted Ruth and me as we entered the lord’s castle was the butler who had served the Lindayer family for a long time.

“You have arrived, Third Young Master.”

“I think it’s about time to take off the ‘Young Master’ title.”

“Is that so? But in my eyes, you’re always the same.”

“Is that a compliment or an insult?”

I smiled and held out my hand, and the butler, who hesitated for a moment, firmly grasped it.

“Welcome back home, Count Kain.”

“It’s been a while, Butler.”

“I have warmed the bathwater. I will prepare a meal for you to eat as soon as you come out after washing.”

“I appreciate that. By the way, where is the Lord?”

The butler nodded at my question.

“He is in the lord’s castle.”

“What about the meal?”

“Of course, he hasn’t eaten yet. He’s probably waiting to eat with you. Of course, this story is…”

“I shouldn’t know?”

“Yes.”

“Say no more. I’ll go up then.”

“Understood.”

I was escorted by the servants and headed to the bath.

Soaking in the warm water made me feel like all the fatigue had melted away.

“This is great, great.”

“What’s so great?”

A familiar voice came to my ear. I turned my head and saw a man with a dignified physique leaning against the entrance of the bath, arms crossed.

“Dane?”

“Yeah.”

“Peeking at someone washing; your manners are terrible.”

“I’m not interested in men.”

Dane chuckled and slowly walked over, sitting across from me in the bath.

“I heard you were bedridden in Capital, but if you woke up, you should have shown your face right away. What have you been doing that you haven’t been seen until now?”

Dane didn’t know that I had planned and controlled the Eastern War. Officially, my last whereabouts were probably in Capital [the kingdom’s capital city].

“Well, this and that.”

“By the way, Kain, you’ve heard the news, right?”

“News? What?”

“That the East has reunited under the name of Flores.”

“Who doesn’t know? That’s all everyone’s talking about these days.”

“Hmm.”

Dane narrowed his eyes and scanned me. I knew what he was thinking. He was wondering if I was involved in that incident.

Well, I have no intention of telling him the details.

I chuckled and looked at Dane to change the subject.

“Anyway, how have you been? You must have been busy with this and that since you became the official successor.”

“Don’t even mention it. I have so much to do… It’s spring again. I’ve met over a hundred managers while touring the territory so far.”

Spring is the season for planting new seeds for autumn, and at the same time, it’s the time to determine the taxes that the estates belonging to the territory will pay to the Lindayer family for the year.

Even within the same territory, some places are doing well, and some are not. Dane had been touring and handling those things with his own eyes.

I shrugged at the sight of him steadily taking steps as the successor.

“I’m glad I gave up the position of head of the family.”

“…I feel like telling you to take it back.”

“Really?”

“Can’t you even take a joke?”

After exchanging such silly jokes, Dane suddenly spoke with a serious face.

“Anyway, I heard you’ve become independent from the family this time.”

“That’s right.”

“What are you planning to do? Are you going to start a new family in the Sky Fortress and the barren land below? Or are you going to Capital?”

Starting a new family was never going to be easy. There wouldn’t be enough estates to do so, and Count Lindayer wouldn’t give up land with established infrastructure.

Of course, Count Lindayer would gladly give up the abandoned territory near the Blue Mountains in the northeast.

But when would I gather people in that barren land, and when would I cultivate the land and build a city? It would take at least a dozen years.

So Dane probably thought I was going to Capital. After all, since the title I received from the royal family was a title, I would be able to secure a suitable position.

And that prediction was only half right.

Capital would be my main stage, but I had no intention of entrusting myself to the royal family.

“Well, I’ll have to go to Capital.”

“Or how about taking over a suitable family? If it’s hard to find, I can look into it for you.”

“Look into it for me?”

“Yeah. There are a few nobles in central Continent who have ties with me and don’t have any heirs yet. They are not large, but they are families with growing estates. With your skills and standing, they would be willing to give up the position of head of the family.”

“Why would they give up their entire family to someone they’ve never seen before?”

“Of course, you would have to marry the daughters of those families to do so. But isn’t that a bad offer? Or are you really going to start from scratch?”

Anyway, this guy and that guy are all trying to keep me from being left alone.

I suddenly remembered King Belinthes trying to somehow connect me with his sister.

“I know my worth. If I’m going to sell my body, it should be to the royal family at least.”

“The royal family?”

Dane, who had widened his eyes at my words, nodded as if he agreed.

He must have belatedly realized that I was an expert who had reached the level of expert in just a few years, a talent who was faster than Count Lindayer, one of the few masters on the continent.

“I made a pointless suggestion. Well, the royal family would be interested in you.”

“Anyway, I’ll take care of my own business, so don’t worry too much.”

“Okay.”

Dane nodded and was about to get up when he suddenly looked at me.

“Oh, and a letter came for you.”

“A letter?”

“Yeah. It arrived quite a while ago. I was going to send it to you in Capital since it came to Windnest, but it had a sealing magic on it, so I couldn’t touch it rashly.”

A letter with magic on it? What is it? Did Fleta send it?

Some figures flashed through my mind, and I asked back.

“Who sent it?”

Dane shrugged at my question.

“I don’t know. Nothing was written except that the sender was the Volum Mountains.”

The sender is the Volum Mountains?