Sincerely, Vanessa [EN]: Chapter 94

The era was one where family crests were gradually becoming relics of past glory, a trend accelerated by the establishment of the Cabinet.

Initially, the officials in the Royal Cabinet were exclusively from noble families. This was unavoidable, given the limited number of individuals with adequate education at the time.

However, the King sought to diminish the nobles’ influence on Priba’s administration, desiring complete control over the Cabinet. Consequently, he invested heavily in expanding educational opportunities for commoners.

Thanks to this initiative, various academies established scholarship programs, and commoners gradually gained more access to education. Before long, the majority of Cabinet officials were commoners from wealthy families, with occasional positions filled by those from impoverished backgrounds.

Thus, the nobles keenly recognized that their class, based on lineage, was weakening. They foresaw a future where money would redefine social status.

Consequently, they began expanding their existing businesses using their consolidated wealth. Notable examples included the Valder family’s extensive mining operations and railway expansion projects, as well as the Alban family’s banking ventures.

Additionally, some meritorious families and influential nobles sought positions on the Joint Council to discuss matters concerning the leadership of Priba.

Therefore, nobles did not disappear entirely from Priba. Instead, the gap widened between those who quickly adapted to the changing times and those who were left behind with nothing but a name.

“Is Count Alban considering passing on his title soon?”

As the Joint Council meeting was nearing its end, Count Jenyata nonchalantly tossed out the remark. The gold buttons on his vest, stretched taut over his protruding belly, seemed on the verge of bursting.

“Well, my successor is already prepared, but these days are so chaotic… I’m concerned that passing on the title might be viewed unfavorably, so I’m considering postponing the date,” Count Alban replied, gently smiling with crinkled eyes. However, Count Jenyata did not stop there.

“Your daughter is fortunate. It’s quite something to have the head of Alban be someone who dotes on his daughter so much.”

The nobles in the Joint Council often found themselves as enemies or allies, depending on the agenda of the meeting.

However, Alban and Jenyata rarely found themselves on the same side. Jenyata, eager to seize monetary power, had been keeping Alban in check for a very long time. But now, the difference was stark.

As the bank under Alban’s crest grew increasingly powerful, Jenyata’s anxiety became palpable. The nobles in the Joint Council inwardly clicked their tongues. Witnessing the decline of Jenyata’s once-glorious past was rather pitiful.

Even so, his words were excessively ambiguous and lacked decorum, implying that Eugenia Alban had merely secured her position as heir because she was a beloved daughter.

Despite this, Count Alban did not lose his smile.

“I am the more fortunate one. I became the father of a child who is more precious than anyone else in the world. It was the greatest honor of my life.”

“The greatest honor? Your wife might feel slighted,” Marquis Rossini interjected. He was a middle-aged man with sleek, oiled-back hair, whose gaunt face and long chin gave him a sharp impression.

Count Alban laughed heartily.

“My wife was the most noble victory and defeat of my life. Everyone knows how long I pursued her.”

Small chuckles spread around at his words.

Count Alban’s wife had been a brilliant student at the academy and the daughter of a poor baron, but she had no desire to use marriage to climb to a higher position.

After graduating, she entered the Royal Palace as an official in the Ministry of Finance. At that time, Count Alban, who had just been listed on the Joint Council, saw her passing by and fell in love at first sight.

Count Alban raved about how beautiful her jet-black hair was, but everyone tilted their heads in confusion. Compared to what Count Alban possessed, the woman had so little.

Beautiful, yes, but not to the extent of ruining a nation. The conclusion was that Count Alban must have been bewitched.

Nevertheless, after all this commotion, the woman rejected his advances.

Everyone’s mouths dropped open, and the King burst into laughter. The reason was, ‘You are quite decent, but becoming a Countess would mean more work, which is bothersome.’

Count Alban grabbed her sleeve and begged her to marry him, promising to do all the work himself. After three years of courtship, the two finally married.

Count Alban’s tearful promise was well kept. She only managed internal affairs within the mansion and rarely engaged in external activities, so even the nobles in the Joint Council did not often see her ebony hair.

“The Duke should learn from this,” Marquis Latitia remarked with a grin, but Gideon completely ignored her. Unlike Count Alban, Latitia had three mistresses and was hardly one to give advice.

However, that one comment disrupted the atmosphere, which had been about to disperse, and everyone settled back into their seats, chattering again.

“It is still concerning that you have no heir. How old are you already, Duke?”

“Now that winter has passed, he must be in his mid-twenties. It is a concern for all of Priba that someone who is such a great pillar of the Joint Council pays so little attention to this matter….”

“That’s right. You should meet a suitable young lady soon. Didn’t the second daughter of Count Elze propose to you publicly the other day?”

Someone slammed the table and laughed loudly, vividly recalling that day.

“It was quite a farce. She suddenly appeared, crying and wailing… reeking of alcohol. What was it, she had been in love with you for five years since she was sixteen? Yet the Duke didn’t bat an eye, and Count Elze appeared and dragged his daughter away.”

“Ah, I remember. Count Elze still closes the carriage windows whenever he passes by Valder Castle.”

“Haha, it was certainly worth it! All the Cabinet officials saw it. How could Count Elze, who values his reputation, handle that?”

“But why did you refuse! Isn’t it well known within Pyudom [the capital city] that Count Elze’s second daughter is beautiful?”

The people who had been chatting excitedly flinched slightly as Gideon’s expression darkened.

Even if he was among the youngest here, he was the only Duke of Priba. Even if the power of lineage was fading, his position was not light. Rather, the Valder crest had become much stronger since the young Duke mercilessly purged his greedy relatives.

However, they deliberately ignored the Duke’s annoyed face and opened their mouths again. After all, commenting on other people’s private lives was the most enjoyable thing.

Besides, it was a truly important issue. The Duke of Valder was also the representative of all the remaining nobles in Priba, so the day the Valder crest faded would be the day the nobles truly disappeared from Priba.

Still, they were afraid of his cold gaze, so they lowered their tone.

“Ahem, I’m only saying this because bad rumors sometimes circulate and we are concerned. That you cannot leave an heir….”

“Haha, surely that’s not the case.”

“That’s right. Still, you should get engaged soon to prevent unnecessary talk.”

“What about Count Jenyata’s daughter….”

“My daughter is in talks with Marquis Rossini’s cousin. The Duke of Valder’s standards are so high.”

A curt voice came from Count Jenyata.

“Marquis Rossini’s cousin? Ah, Abelpa?”

If it was Abelpa, he was at least a young cousin of Marquis Rossini.

“It is not Abelpa.”

Marquis Rossini concluded the conversation with a subtle smile. His expression clearly indicated that he did not want to say more, and the person who had asked the question stammered and closed his mouth. Marquis Rossini’s fierce temper was well known.

However, everyone sitting around the huge table wondered if Jenyata’s situation was not so good. Was there a reason to marry his daughter to Marquis Rossini’s older cousin?

Gideon and Count Alban’s eyes met briefly and then scattered. Gideon opened his mouth indifferently.

“I will take care of my heir, so it would be best to stop here.”

As Gideon rose to his feet first, the other nobles also awkwardly stood up.

Gideon turned and glanced at Marquis Rossini as he passed by. He was still looking down at the table with his eyes lowered.

A combination of Rossini and Jenyata.

Gideon strode out of the conference room. It had not been long, but the stairs were already right in front of him with his wide strides. Then someone called out to him in a loud voice from behind.

“Duke! Duke Valder!”

Turning his gaze, he saw Count Alban smiling broadly with wrinkles around his eyes. He caught up with Gideon at a leisurely pace and asked a light question.

“How about my cousin’s nephew? He is a wise and good child. He also achieved excellent grades at Rosenbaum Academy.”

“…….”

Even though Gideon did not answer, Count Alban did not stop.

“The Duke of Valder’s heir is a truly important issue for us. I hope you will not take it so lightly…. Jenyata is being quite annoying today. How dare he mention my daughter.”

After pretending to talk about an heir, Count Alban transformed into a chilling voice as soon as the surroundings were clear of people. Gideon glanced down, and the amiable smile was gone, replaced by a savage face wondering how to deal with Count Jenyata.

Gideon sighed briefly.

“I had something to discuss with the Count, but I will discuss it with Eugenia Alban instead.”

At those words, Count Alban slightly raised his eyebrows.

“With Jenny? Are you perhaps trying to cut off the funding of those hiding behind the scenes?”

“You know without me saying. Well, aren’t you Alban, who has informants all over the continent? It wouldn’t be surprising if you had moles in the Ministry of Justice.”

“That’s an overstatement. Wouldn’t Valder be the same?”

Count Alban rolled his eyes for a moment and then raised the corners of his lips.

“Well, it wouldn’t be bad for my daughter to directly intervene and trample them. I will send a carriage this afternoon. You will be in the Special Forces office, won’t you?”

What a nice guy. It’s a shame that there aren’t many who have seen that expression. Gideon quickly moved away from him, thinking that.