The Failure Marquis Is A Genius [EN]: Chapter 198

Chapter 23: Side Story – The Naive Fool

#5

The moment has finally arrived.

The headache I’d been avoiding has come right to my doorstep.

“A bright red handkerchief, of all things…”

The woman who is, on paper, my wife, and whom the entire kingdom considers my spouse.

Rebecca de Arianne Elden, 42 years old.

It was her summons.

My relationship with Rebecca is complex and delicate.

She married me to gain the power to rule the country, and she perfectly achieved her goal.

Even now, she’s so busy governing the nation that she barely has time to breathe, let alone dream of romance.

Since our relationship was a contract without affection from the start, both she and I thought it wouldn’t matter as long as we provided our blood.

But as time passed and we got entangled in various events, the lines between public and private became blurred.

To put it precisely, I’m clear about it, but she keeps sending signals my way.

I found her suggestive letters burdensome, so I deliberately delayed my replies and minimized contact.

And then, this woman ended up causing a huge incident!

It happened a week ago.

She sent me a gift.

I felt something was wrong from the start.

The present was in a luxurious wooden box, and my druid instincts strongly urged me not to open it.

However, there are times when you can’t avoid a situation, even if your instincts protest.

Tearfully, I opened the lid, and the contents inside were enough to shock me.

Rebecca had sent a bright red handkerchief.

This has quite a suggestive meaning.

Let’s go back a bit and look at the history of the Elden Kingdom.

Hundreds of years ago, when the Elden Kingdom was in the midst of war, all the men in the villages were dying, and every house was filled with the wails of women.

Among the women who offered pure water and prayed to the gods for the safe return of their husbands or lovers, a strange rumor circulated.

It was the absurd superstition that if you gave your husband a handkerchief stained with your menstrual blood before he went to war, he would return alive.

There was no basis for it, but when people are desperate, they’ll pray to any fallen leaf.

The women all smeared their menstrual blood on handkerchiefs and put them in their husbands’ or lovers’ pockets.

After that, the survival rate of the men increased significantly, but that’s just a story passed down by word of mouth, so believe it or not.

Over time, the handkerchief culture has changed in many ways.

First of all, instead of going through the trouble of directly staining it with blood, they started making bright red handkerchiefs and giving them.

As peaceful times continued, the meaning also changed.

Rather than wishing for the safe return of a loved one, it became a kind of confession when a woman strongly desired a man.

In other words, it’s like saying, ‘Want to come over to my place for ramen?’ [A common euphemism for a romantic invitation].

The real problem is that in this era where a woman’s chastity is emphasized, the handkerchief is truly a last resort.

Usually, prostitutes or serf women often use it, and if a noble lady uses a handkerchief and the rumor goes wrong, it’s a shortcut to ruining her life.

The story of a married woman from a baronet family who secretly sent a bright red handkerchief to a handsome lumberjack and was caught and divorced is famous.

I guess it’s a relief that the target of the handkerchief wasn’t someone else but my husband, me.

There’s no problem in terms of chastity, but my head is unnecessarily complicated.

“I have to go, I guess.”

After this behind-the-scenes story, I arrived at the royal palace.

The journey was quick.

I teleported in an instant using the wormhole generator that connects the royal palace and Lloyd Fief [A territory or estate].

I was going to see Rebecca as soon as I arrived, but unexpected faces greeted me.

“Rakan? Aiden?”

Rakan and Aiden were also surprised, as they didn’t know I would appear here.

“What’s going on?”

“We were summoned by Her Majesty, but what brings you here, Master?”

While I was wondering what was going on, the door opened and the voice of the woman who created this situation was heard.

“I called everyone. Come in.”

Rebecca was still beautiful.

Wearing a green dress, she had her rich brown hair up, revealing her soft nape.

Her flawless skin was as white as if it had been made from kneading flour, and her moist eyes and lips made men nervous.

Moreover, her true identity is a vampire.

It was hard to take my eyes off her because of the unique charm of the vampire race.

I wondered where the shy and stiff appearance from the past had gone; the bookish girl with glasses had transformed into the kingdom’s most popular woman.

A table with warm tea.

Rakan, Aiden, and I sat down in turn.

Rebecca, who had set up the seats, looked at Rakan and started talking.

“Lord Molti, it’s been a while since the inauguration ceremony, hasn’t it? It’s an honor to meet you.”

I forgot to mention it.

Rakan, the leader of the Blue Hawk Mercenary Corps, received a title and became Lord Molti.

As you know, Molti Territory is currently in a rather unstable state, with elves and humans mixed together.

For me, I had to appoint a reliable vassal as the lord, and in that respect, Rakan was the most suitable person.

Rakan, who started as a mercenary and traveled all over the continent, was overjoyed to hear my offer to give him the lord’s seat.

Rakan, who became Lord Molti after receiving the title, gained the stable life he had dreamed of in less than ten years of serving me.

“The honor is mine, Your Majesty.”

“But I have a question.”

“Please ask.”

“If you govern Molti Territory, who will govern the Blue Hawk Mercenary Corps and Albus Territory?”

“Ah, Yucal, my adopted son, governs that place.”

“Yucal… are you talking about that genius swordsman?”

“Yes.”

I rescued Yucal from being dragged away as a slave in the free city of Liang and sent him to Rakan.

He used to be the vice-captain of the Blue Hawk Mercenary Corps, but now he has been promoted to captain and adopted as Rakan’s son.

He is also the lord of Albus Territory, which borders Hilton and Liang.

The reason he was able to become a lord at a young age was because of his incredible skills.

He is already a high-level Sword Expert, about to become a Sword Master [A highly skilled swordsman].

Considering his age of less than twenty, Yucal is one of the most talented people on the continent, if not as much as me.

Perhaps after I retire, he will become a hero or the first star representing the Seven Stars.

I should give him a few topics to help him transcend his realm when I have time later.

“There are truly many talented people in the Marquisate [A territory ruled by a Marquis]. Originally, if many masters are gathered in a small area, disputes are bound to arise.”

“With the Hero standing tall, who would think of such a crazy thing? Besides, my son Yucal wants to be like the Hero and is devoted to swordsmanship every day. He’s not going anywhere.”

Rebecca nodded and then looked at Aiden and said.

“Congratulations on becoming the mayor of Liang.”

“I’m sorry, it’s not because I’m doing well. I just hope to do even half as well as the former mayor.”

Recently, Yuron, the mayor of Liang, passed away after living a long life.

I naturally attended the funeral and comforted Aiden, who was shedding tears like chicken droppings.

Yuron was a talented person, but he was caught up in the conspiracy of the Twilight Church and suffered a great deal in his later years.

Thanks to me, he got out of the crisis, and he was grateful for that, mentioning my name in his will.

It was Aiden who was recommended as the mayor of Liang after Yuron left.

As the closest aide to Yuron and the person who practically commanded the Guardian Army, he was qualified enough.

Moreover, I, the Hero, openly supported Aiden in front of others.

In any case, the leader of Liang, who manages 15% of the continent’s total wealth, was decided to be Aiden, who is loyal to me.

“Lord Molti, Mayor Aiden, and Count Lloyd. I have called you here today to make an important announcement.”

I wonder what Rebecca is going to say.

Her reign over the years has been perfect.

She was like a textbook monarch.

It was difficult to seize power once, but after ascending the throne and having me as her support, she quickly purged the opposition and stood proudly as the ruler of the kingdom.

The Hilton County also fell, and she formed a marriage relationship with the most powerful Lloyd family, effectively completing the central government system.

Although various systems such as the investiture system and the tax system still follow feudalism, they will gradually transform into absolute monarchy over time.

“As of today, the Elden Kingdom will become the Elden Empire. And I, Rebecca, will be crowned as the Empress.”

A rather unconventional declaration.

Looking at Rebecca’s determined expression, it seemed she had already made up her mind.

“I understand what you mean. But why did you call us here?”

“Now that the kingdom has become an empire, it can’t be the same as before. I want the Elven race and Liang to be formally incorporated into the Elden Empire.”

I understand what Rebecca is thinking.

If the Elven race becomes imperial citizens, not only the elves but also the vast Eastern Great Forest will be included in the territory of Elden.

Not to mention Liang, which is known as a wealthy city.

It was her ambitious aspiration to seize both resources and wealth and stand tall as the leading country on the continent.

“And in order for my dream to come true.”

Rebecca’s gaze turned to me.

“I need your help.”

* * *

The meeting ended successfully.

In the end, she needed my permission.

Aiden, the mayor of Liang, declared the incorporation into the Elden Empire at my command.

Rakan, the lord of Molti, said he would discuss it with the Elven race, but it’s a problem that will be solved if I tell Sasha.

Calon, the only empire on the Arnia continent, will be uncomfortable with the emergence of a new emperor.

However, Calon’s crown prince is Pahel, and Pahel also owes me a debt.

Above all, considering the current national power, Calon is a setting sun and Elden is a rising sun. At least while I’m alive, Elden’s golden age will continue.

The current time is midnight.

It’s a night with a bright full moon.

I am in the same bedroom as Rebecca.

Originally, I was just going to leave.

But I had a strong feeling that Rebecca wouldn’t let me, so I had no choice but to come in here.

‘Come to think of it, is this the first time we’ve shared the same bed since the wedding?’

At that time, she was busy governing the country, and I was busy defeating the Twilight Church and the Demon King.

Besides, she didn’t seem to be particularly interested in anything other than governing the country.

Especially in terms of romantic relationships.

I was a little embarrassed that she had been actively pursuing me recently.

“I put the blood in the storage. There was a lot left originally, but I put in more, so it will be fine for the next fifty years.”

“Did you receive the gift I gave you?”

She’s being direct from the start.

Was she always like this?

Or did the position of the monarch change her?

Or are all royals like this?

“It was a gift I couldn’t not receive.”

“That’s a relief. I was worried about what to do if you didn’t come today without a reply again.”

“What’s wrong these days? You seem very different from before.”

“No. I’m always the same. The only difference is… I used to hide it, but now I’m revealing it.”

My mind stopped for a moment at the words that Rebecca had liked me from the beginning.

When I barely regained my reason, I recalled my dating experiences so far.

And then I realized a significant fact.

‘I… was a virgin!!’

During Kim Cheol-soo’s time, I grew up in an orphanage and was too busy making a living to have the common romance that others had.

Even during Henon’s time, I acted like a fool and caused all sorts of trouble, but I didn’t recklessly touch women.

Conclusion = Henon was a virgin.

I wasn’t in a position to criticize my father for being at Karina’s beck and call.

I was in the same boat.

“Do you dislike me?”

“That’s not it. It’s just too sudden.”

Rebecca looked up at me, bathed in the moonlight beyond the window.

I was more nervous than when I faced the Demon King Baal because of the breathtaking beauty.

She sighed deeply as she gazed at me intently, and then distanced herself.

“I want to be with you like this, but it wouldn’t be right to her who is next to you.”

If she’s talking about the woman next to me, is she talking about Zion?

“But it’s okay. In the end, the woman who will be by your side will be me. I’ll yield you to her for a hundred years.”

The lips, reminiscent of cherries, drew an arc, revealing a bewitching charm. Rebecca was indeed a born vampire.

“But even this much is within the acceptable range, right? It’s not an expression of affection, but a process of transfusing blood as a vampire.”

[Bleeding occurs.]

[Passive skill]

[Tenacious vitality activated]

[Recovery amount increases.]

The white bed sheets were stained red.

That night, I lost a lot.

Rebecca was a scary woman.

She has a lifespan of hundreds of years and doesn’t age.

I was completely fooled.

But why is that?

I don’t feel bad.

Rebecca was a beautiful woman, a wise wife, and the emperor of the continent with absolute power.