Reincarnated Maid is About To Be Captured by All Players

The seven great dukes of the Kingdom of Michel maintained alliances among themselves. Kings often worried whether such powerful vassals might rise up to overthrow the state, but at least the current generation's King of Michel could rest easy.

Setting aside Duke Valois, who had distant blood ties to the royal family, this generation's Duke Borgia and Duke Merovingian were both loyal vassals to the king. Duke Carolingian had married the First Princess, so he would not openly rebel against the king either.

The Kingdom of Michel had welcomed a golden age of internal stability. If only this peace could last forever.

Duke Merovingian was certain this wasn't just his own sentiment—every citizen within his territory cherished the current peaceful prosperity. Follow current novᴇls on n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net

Among the seven great dukes, Duke Borgia would probably be the first to retire.

He was advanced in years, and the expedition against the [Vampire King] half a year ago had left the Borgia family's direct bloodline extinct.

Nominally, Duke Merovingian held equal status with Duke Borgia, but to Duke Merovingian, he respected Duke Borgia like a beloved uncle.

Duke Merovingian remembered when he was born, his father had spared no expense inviting the Pope himself to perform the baptism. Duke Borgia, already highly respected at the time, had the honor of becoming his godfather. During Duke Merovingian's formative years, Duke Borgia had served as an excellent mentor. Many doctrines that even priests couldn't explain clearly, Duke Borgia could offer his understanding of.

The two shared a relationship that was both elder and junior, as well as friends.

"...My lord, we have arrived."

The old butler led Duke Merovingian to the sealed door of Duke Borgia's chamber.

"You may go."

"Please don't hesitate to call if you need anything."

The old butler knew Duke Merovingian was his master's close friend, so he said nothing more.

Moreover, Duke Merovingian currently carried the king's secret orders, coming to inquire about Duke Borgia's reasons for using the [Barrier].

After the old butler withdrew, Merovingian raised his right hand and placed it on the door.

Before he could knock, an aged voice came from within.

"You've come."

"...Don't you intend to see this old friend face to face?"

"How could I not... I was just thinking, thank goodness it was you who came... You volunteered to the king for this task, didn't you?"

"Indeed. We haven't seen each other for months, the chess set at home is gathering dust."

"Haha... forget it, even when we play chess I lose more often than I win..."

The two exchanged simple pleasantries. From Duke Merovingian's understanding of Duke Borgia, he had never seen Duke Borgia in such a listless state.

Though he tried to act as vigorous as usual, he ultimately couldn't hide it from an old friend who had known him for years.

"Your condition is very poor. You need a physician for treatment."

Duke Merovingian pointed this out directly. He didn't immediately ask on the king's behalf about Duke Borgia's unauthorized use of the [Barrier], but instead worried about his friend's health.

"No... there's no need for that anymore..."

"What do you mean..."

"Come in, don't stand outside."

The door was locked, and Duke Borgia, having said these words, showed no intention of unlocking it.

However, this didn't trouble Duke Merovingian. He phased his right hand through the door and opened the locked entrance.

The room had no lights on.

Perhaps it hadn't been cleaned for many days as the once luxurious chamber had become an opulent garbage dump. The windows were tightly shut, and the room was filled with a foul odor.

"...?"

It wasn't just the ordinary smell of garbage. Duke Merovingian had participated in campaigns against undead creatures, and that stomach-turning stench was impossible to forget easily.

—Living dead.

Among undead creatures, they were quite low-level monsters, but also a form of desecration of the soul.

Reviving corpses and making them move like puppets, even when their heads were severed or hearts pierced through, they would still advance toward their target. This was undoubtedly evil magic that displayed the utmost disrespect for the dead.

Why would there be the smell of living dead here?

And that elderly figure sitting on the sofa… Duke Merovingian witnessed his current physical state.

"........................"

Are you really that hero of the Kingdom of Michel?

The question stuck in Duke Merovingian's throat. He firmly believed the voice he had just heard could not possibly be wrong.

"Let me give you... my last testament."

"Last testament...?!"

"Yes. As a friend, I earnestly request that you listen quietly to the end. All your doubts will be answered."

"..."

Duke Merovingian cast wind magic, targeting not Duke Borgia, but dispersing the corpse stench that had begun spreading into the corridor.

Duke Merovingian expressed his understanding through actions, yet his hands were also trembling.

You are the last person who should be doing such things.

Tell me... the reason behind this.

"I became a father when most people my age could already be grandfathers. Many people advised me, criticized my wife Maria. I know they meant no harm and were only thinking of me… Our marriage had lasted ten years without producing an heir."

In medieval times, especially among noble lords, marriage didn't necessarily value whether the other party was a virgin.

In the past, childbirth was generally a dangerous endeavor. Backward conditions made giving birth extremely risky, so the most sought-after marriage candidates were often not virgins, but beautiful widows who had already borne children.

Ordinary families were one thing, but for nobles, and especially those with territories, if the lady couldn't bear a male heir, it would lead to a quite fatal problem.

—Lack of a family successor.

In other words, whether one could continue the family bloodline was the sole standard for judging if a woman qualified as a proper wife.

If a duke-level noble's wife remained childless for years, even the Pope would approve of divorce.

"I didn't care about any of that. I loved my wife, and no one's gossip could shake my love for her. But my wife didn't think the same way. She felt that failing to leave me an heir was her dereliction of duty. Not wanting to see my wife grow more worried and haggard each day, I went to the church to confess to the bishop. I prayed to God: 'God, please have mercy on us and bring us a boy who can inherit the family. I am willing to pay any price.'"