Chapter 53
Chapter 53: Things That Must Be Done
***
Knock knock knock.
“Duke, it’s me.”
A deep male voice came from outside the door, interrupting their conversation. The Duke and his wife exchanged glances, and he could see the nervousness reflected in her eyes.
Then, he gave her a reassuring look.
“Come in.”
The door opened, and the faint metallic smell of blood wafted in, making Madam Catherine wrinkle her nose and cover it, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
Blood-soaked Hoover stepped into the room, and upon seeing the madam, he was visibly stunned for a moment, awkwardly scratching his head.
“Duke, Madam…”
The Duke put down the book in his hand, his expression unchanged.
“Sit down first.”
Hoover looked at the blood covering his body. Although he had done some simple cleaning before coming, he still couldn’t get rid of the color that had claimed countless lives.
So he spread his hands with a bitter smile.
“I’d better not. I’ll just stand.”
The Duke smiled lightly, not insisting, and then asked: “All killed?”
Hoover became serious.
“Not one left.”
“What about the workshop?”
“Valarr’s confidants have all been beheaded, and Ulysses is handling the aftermath. However, we found a hidden compartment in his room with a ledger inside, this one.” Hoover took out a thick book from his chest and handed it over, “Everything is recorded clearly in here, from the Inspectorate and Treasury above to the craftsmen in the workshop below. Over these years, too many people have received favors from him… He’s been entrenched in the grand warehouse for too long, and the web he’s woven is much more complex than I imagined. Dealing with these people one by one… would be quite troublesome.”
The Duke casually flipped through the ledger, then tossed it on the table.
“It doesn’t matter, people act for their own interests, there’s nothing wrong with that. These people often sway with the wind, forever loyal only to themselves. All they need is the position of squad captain, and Valarr has long since lost his value to them, they can’t wait to stay away from him. After tonight’s events, some keen-nosed hyenas will take the bait on their own… Shanter Castle is about to get lively.”
“Duke, what if someone tries to escape?”
“Escape? Would they dare? That would be openly telling me they’re on that side, no one would be stupid enough to do such a thing, they’ll only rack their brains trying to find ways to make up for their mistakes… By the way, where’s Bella?”
After asking this question, Hoover’s eyes darted around as he scratched his face, glancing briefly at the madam before quickly looking away.
“Well… she, she went back first, but asked me to relay a message to you, saying that the rats in the second squad have all been cleaned up too.”
“Is that so.” The Duke responded casually, then changed the subject, “Still no news from Count Lafayette?”
“Not yet. But by my calculations, he should be back within two days.”
“Hmm… good work, go wash up. Oh, and have someone watch Peipei, don’t let her find out… try not to let her find out.”
“Yes, Duke.” Hoover accepted the order and was about to leave, but suddenly showed a hesitant expression, “Duke…”
“Say what you want to say.”
“What do you plan to do next?”
The Duke tapped the table, not directly answering this question, but instead asked Madam Catherine beside him.
“Catherine, how long until the Divine Birth Day?”
“Less than a month now, 26 days counting today.”
“Hmm… let me think. From Winter City to Order City, even taking the church’s carriage would take about a month… If I remember correctly, the Royal Academy starts in mid-February, right?”
“Yes, but new student enrollment begins half a month earlier.”
“Half a month, huh… That’s fine, there’s enough time. Tomorrow, tell Carlos to have Peipei stay at home a bit longer, let’s wait until after Divine Birth Day to leave.”
The madam frowned at these words.
“Divine Birth Day? Are you thinking of taking Peipei to the palace in Cheliers City… Wait, Scalliger, you mean…”
The Duke nodded.
“Yes. Write to the Kariye, Erenburg, and Larfeil families tomorrow. This year’s Divine Birth Day, we’ll hold the banquet at Shanter Castle.”
“Start preparing soon. The first annual feast at Shanter Castle should be grand, consider it a celebration of Peipei’s return home.”
The Duke spoke these words plainly, without any particularly obvious emotion in them.
But Hoover’s face showed wild joy.
Because he knew what this meant.
Divine Birth Day.
The Holy Church had designated January 16 of each year as the birthday of the ancient gods, hence this day was called Divine Birth Day, and it was also the day when the people of the Western Continent celebrated the arrival of the new year. In the past, all nobles of the Valen Empire had to arrive at the empire’s capital, Cheliers City, on this day to attend the banquet set by His Majesty the Emperor in the palace, while also settling the annual income and expenditure of their respective territories. Since he had always gone with the Duke’s family in previous years, he knew this very well.
And now, the Duke was saying he would hold a banquet at Shanter Castle, and was preparing to invite the three most prestigious families in the Valen Empire apart from the royal family… Hoover knew this was asking them to choose sides.
He looked at the man before him who, though over 50, still radiated vitality.
Did this man not even consider the possibility that no one would come, that they would be left in solitude… Such confidence.
Hoover was a man of passion who had been by the Duke’s side since he was very young. Over these many years, he had seen many things, and sometimes felt frustrated. But the Duke always seemed unconcerned, leaving him unable to say anything, always having to swallow his emotions.
But at this moment, after the Duke spoke these words, Hoover’s blood was boiling.
Perhaps he was about to follow this man’s footsteps to a position he hadn’t dared to imagine.
“Hoover.”
“Yes.”
“Starting tomorrow, double the training time for the Shanter army, you’ll be personally in charge. Also… send people to find out Edward’s location.”
“Hoover, at your command!” He straightened his chest, his right hand clenched in a fist lightly hitting his heart, his pupils dilated with excitement, burning with fierce light, “I swear loyalty unto death to the Duke!”
……
After Hoover left the study, the madam hesitated for a moment, her expression relaxing.
“…This is good too. Since you’ve already decided, let me handle the banquet arrangements.”
The Duke walked to her side and gently held her hand.
“Then I’ll trouble you with it.”
“I’m fine… Scalliger, I just want to remind you, now that things have come to this point, the church definitely won’t stand idly by, what do you plan to do?”
The Duke smiled slightly.
“As for the church, we’ll just wait for them to send someone. Don’t worry, perhaps… this is the situation they want to see?”
“You mean…”
“Big brother has been too concerned with gains and losses, and has been perfunctory about church matters for years, causing the empire’s major dioceses to have deep grievances against him. Lafayette has done quite well in this regard, frequently associating with the church and spending a lot of money on many matters, plus with me being a diligent Pontifical Knight, and our little princess Peipei… I think making a choice shouldn’t be too difficult.”
“What if they insist on supporting His Majesty’s side?”
“They won’t. The Central Workshop supplies the church with large quantities of high-quality weapons and armor every year, and Winter City is one of the world’s four great royal cities. As long as these two points remain in our grasp, the church will definitely lean towards Shanter Castle.”
The madam sighed.
“I don’t understand much about these things, just make sure you know what you’re doing. I only hope our family can be safe and happy.”
The Duke’s smile grew wider.
“You think I don’t? It’s precisely because I hope for that too, but I have a power-holding, suspicious big brother. I don’t want to see a day when the people I love most become others’ prey, that’s why these things must be done.”