Chapter 157: Chapter 156: Dianey’s Question

After Ossen Count received Princess Blanche, Dianey followed her father to a small courtyard in Wushan Castle.

Her intuition told her that Earl Jesus’s arrival was likely connected to her father, Ossen.

“Father, did you invite Earl Jesus to Wushan Castle?”

Ossen looked at his daughter and slowly nodded. “Dianey, your intuition is as sharp as ever. That’s right, I did indeed invite Jesus.”

“Why?”

Dianey asked, puzzled, “You know the Marquis is not on good terms with him. Wiggin despises him even more.”

Years ago, when the territories were being divided, Lurans and Jesus had some disputes.

Then, thirteen years ago, when the Polante Thief Gang was just beginning to gain power, they invaded Sari Town in the Wushan Territory. Baron Amos Sari was killed in the ensuing battle.

It’s said that Amos sent a distress signal to the Count of Moonlight Valley, but Jesus took no action.

After Amos died, the tragic news reached Wushan Castle. His daughter, Fatima—Wiggin’s first wife—wasted away from grief not long after.

This is why Wiggin despises Jesus. Loathes him, even.

“To secure Bretton’s status as the heir,” Ossen said.

Dianey shook her head slightly. “I don’t think Bretton’s position is unstable, Father. Although Ronin has been performing quite well recently, I don’t believe the Marquis would change the heir without a compelling reason.”

“Heh, there’s nothing that man Lurans wouldn’t dare to do.”

Ossen said with a smile, “I know Lurans far better than you do. Even if he doesn’t make a change in the next three to five years, if Ronin demonstrates sufficient aptitude for governance over time, there’s a very high chance he will revise his decision.”

Dianey wasn’t convinced. What Wushan Castle needed most right now was a powerful heir. Ronin wasn’t it, but Bretton was.

What outsiders didn’t know was that at Bretton’s rate of Cultivation, he could easily become an Intermediate Knight by the age of fourteen.

By the time he came of age, he would likely be an Advanced Level Knight. Such talent for Cultivation was truly rare!

Dianey wanted her son to inherit the Wushan Territory, but she wanted it whole, not a domain riddled with conflict and torn by division.

She was indeed using her own family’s influence, but she didn’t want them to offend everyone in Wushan Castle, along with many other nobles, in the process.

“Then what do you plan to do?” she asked.

Ossen laughed, gently swirling the Crystal Cup in his hand. “You saw it for yourself. In the square, Jesus already made his intentions known. Now, even if Lurans wants to change his mind, we—no, Jesus and the others—have a reason to intervene.”

Regarding the issue of “appointing two heirs simultaneously” back in the square, Ronin’s answer, no matter what it was, would not have changed the outcome.

“Dianey, this Blanche is meant to marry Ronin. With a connection to the Royal Family, even if Ronin tries to do something in the future, we won’t be able to act too harshly against him.”

A cold glint entered his eyes. “Therefore, we must ensure that if Lurans wants to change the heir again, he will have more to hesitate over and consider. It can no longer be a decision he makes alone.”

When Ronin was disinherited, Lurans was able to make the decision all by himself.

But now, if he wants to disinherit Bretton, not only will I, Ossen, disagree, but many others will as well—especially with the questioning that will come from the Royal Family. That will be enough.

So, that was one of Ossen’s reasons for inviting Jesus.

Dianey wanted to say more, but she had to admit it was a viable strategy and beneficial for Bretton.

She sighed. “Father, I hope you’ll inform me first next time something like this happens.”

“I’m very sorry, Dianey. This all happened so suddenly that I didn’t have time to tell you.”

Ossen said solemnly, “But I promise, it absolutely won’t happen again.”

They spoke for a little while longer before Dianey left the courtyard.

Both Blanche’s sudden arrival and Earl Jesus’s appearance afterward were beyond her expectations.

’Perhaps I’m capable of helping Bretton govern the territory, but I don’t have the ability or the foundation to think and plan from the perspective of men like Lurans and Ossen.’

Over the years, she hadn’t managed to build up her own faction in Wushan Castle because Lurans, the man most people were loyal to, was still alive and well.

’Once Lurans dies, Wiggin will, at best, only be able to maintain the status quo in the Wushan Territory. I’m not even sure how many vassals would offer him their sincere loyalty.’

’So for me now, the best-case scenario is for Lurans to live on peacefully for another ten years while my son, Bretton, grows up securely as the third-generation heir. That would be ideal.’

’In ten years, Bretton’s strength should reach the Golden Level, or perhaps even higher. By then, far more nobles in the Wushan Territory will be willing to follow him than they would Wiggin. Even my own family will have to think twice before making a move, unlike now, where they don’t even bother to ask for my or my son’s opinion.’

’Perhaps I should also find a suitable marriage match for Bretton,’ Dianey thought.

「Meanwhile」

At Princess Blanche’s accommodations—a guest courtyard in the Marquis’s Mansion that had been prepared in advance—Blanche was changing her clothes in front of a mirror while talking to her guard.

“Missy, what do you think of that Ronin?”

“He’s much better than we thought when we set out.”

Missy recalled Ronin’s reaction when the Griffin Squad had swooped down on them.

“Your Highness, he’s braver than I am, and his appearance and manners are quite proper. Aside from his lack of strength, I have yet to find any other faults.”

“I have.”

“Hm?” Missy tilted her head, confused.

Blanche draped a fur coat over her shoulders and tied the sash at her waist, instantly making the lines of her figure look even more elegant.

“I’ve discovered that he’s not very good at making conversation in private.”

On the way back just now, she’d asked Ronin a few questions about Mountain Forest Town. He’d said it didn’t even have a proper castle, that the population was barely over four thousand, and that he could hardly afford to pay his Knights’ wages…

In short, nothing good.

’In a situation like this, shouldn’t the man be trying to paint a better picture of himself?’

Blanche looked at her reflection with a hint of grievance. “I think he’s saying all that on purpose because he finds me disagreeable.”

Missy couldn’t help but smile. “Your Highness, people can only look up to you. Who could possibly find you disagreeable? Those rumors are just rumors. You needn’t pay them any mind.”

Blanche sighed. She raised her hand and quickly traced a Magic Pattern in the air. A ball of black mist materialized above her palm.

It looked like the white fog from dry ice constantly swirling on a stage, only the mist in her palm was black.

“It’s because of those rumors that I don’t dare tell anyone I’m a Mage.”

Dark Attribute.

She flicked her wrist, dispelling the Magic and revealing her fair, slender hands.

“Let’s go. Ronin is still waiting outside.”

Blanche composed herself. “I hear there’s a lively competition at the Wushan City Beast Fighting Arena today, and Ronin is planning to invite us.”

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