Surviving as the Mad Son of the Ducal House

Chapter 51

As soon as Ian arrived at the Lord's Castle, he sought out the Auditor's Department without even taking off his armor.

Bain, the Head of the Auditor's Department, who had been waiting, rushed out.

"Young Lord!

The preparations are complete, just as you contacted me!"

Now that I've dealt with the bastards causing trouble outside the house, it's time to clean up inside.

"How's the situation?"

"We've managed to contact most of them.

Since they all haven't left the domain, I think we can bring them all in!"

The overly excited Bain shouted at Ian.

"When should we bring them?

Some of them are in Front Hold, so if you just give the order, I'll go and get them myself!"

While attacking the slave merchant guilds and waging war, the head, with the help of the Dark Elves and the House of Count Mogul, had found the old vassals of the Moner family.

The old vassals who had disappeared after the Regent entered the domain.

Bain, who had especially missed the former Head of the Auditor's Department, looked so excited he seemed ready to run out at any moment.

'Even though he had a good relationship with the old vassals, he seems a little too excited…….'

Ian, who had been looking at the grinning head with a slightly sour expression, said to him, just in case.

"Bain, I'm saying this just in case, but even if the former Head of the Auditor's Department comes, the Head of the Auditor's Department won't change."

In that instant, a dark cloud passed over the grinning face of the head.

To think that he could finally throw the resignation letter he had been carrying in his heart.

For the Head of the Auditor's Department not to change.

"Wh-what do you mean……."

Seeing Bain's face, which had lost its smile in an instant, Ian, who had finally regained his crooked smile, said.

"The head must be buried in the bones of the Moner family.

What are you thinking?"

A person this responsible was rare.

Bain, who possessed both the sense of responsibility and justice essential for the position of Head of the Auditor's Department, was an indispensable figure in managing the domain.

To gift him freedom was unthinkable.

In the first place, how short-staffed must they be to have to bring back retired people to work?

That was how short of labor the domain was.

"First, have the Auditor's Department bring all the retired vassals.

Even if there are those who don't want to return, tell them we'd like to have a talk."

"Th-then……."

"In the meantime, I'll have to prepare a place for the vassals to return to.

How much of the investigation I mentioned before is complete?"

Before starting the war, the young lord had said he would show no mercy to corrupt officials.

In the investigation that had been going on for several months, hundreds of crimes had already been brought to light.

"It's almost finished.

The ledger we obtained when we raided the Merchants’ Association was a great help."

Bain handed over a thick document.

A ledger that recorded the crimes of the vassals and lower-ranking officials that the Head of the Auditor's Department could not touch.

"The Black Noble Troop will take care of this, so the Auditor's Department should do its best to find the old vassals."

Now, it was time to announce the return of the prodigal son .

* * *

The young lord, who was called the scoundrel of the Moner family, suddenly held a banquet.

A letter requesting attendance at the 'Temporary Head Inauguration Ceremony' was delivered to all the vassals and officials of the domain, except for the front-line Front Hold.

"To think things would turn out like this……."

The Regent frowned and checked the letter that had come to him once again.

[Temporary Head Inauguration Ceremony]

Even though he was in a position where he effectively controlled the domain, he could not grasp the events that had unfolded over the past few months.

Even the royal family, with whom he had been in constant contact, had cut off communication after notifying him a few days ago that the young lord would be appointed as the temporary head.

"Are they going to abandon me……."

When he had cut off trade with Obsol and Merchen, he had laughed at the young lord for underestimating the solidarity between the three domains.

When he had been making a fuss about starting a war, he had been certain that he would soon come clinging to his trousers, begging for help.

"Was all of that also a deception."

He rubbed his face with his hands several times in frustration and asked his adjutant.

"The Empire?"

"My lord Count, our contract was only to provide the drug.

The Empire cannot provide any help other than the drug."

The Regent's face crumpled and he shouted at the adjutant who spoke with an expressionless face.

"You're saying that even after seeing this situation!

It's a drug that reveals one's true nature!

Didn't you promise that he would not be able to escape death in the end!"

Seven years, for a damn seven years he had waited.

He had spent that long time in this damn domain, firmly believing the Empire's promise that they would surely make him a duke if the young lord died.

"How many times have I told you that your damn drugs don't work anymore!"

Even at the Regent's furious gaze, the adjutant remained calm.

"I will say it again, that drug has no antidote.

Haven't you experimented with it several times already?"

A poison of the ages that did not react to the holy power of a cleric, to medicine, or to medicinal herbs.

He had conducted numerous experiments and knew the results well.

"Then the young lord!

How can a young lord who has been poisoned by a deadly poison be running rampant!"

The Regent, who was trembling with anger, suddenly changed his expression and opened his mouth, glaring at the adjutant.

"Yes, what does it matter now whether he was poisoned or not.

The problem is that he is still alive and well."

The young lord was alive and well.

There was no way that a madman who had killed the Obsol family in front of the prince would let him live.

To survive, he had to flee right now.

But where to?

This was his land and his home.

After dedicating seven years of his life, did he have to run away, pushed out by a bastard who was drowning in women and poison?

Absolutely not.

The Regent, who had made a decision, looked at the adjutant with cold eyes.

"Does the Empire want the downfall of the Moner family?"

"Of course not.

The Empire does not wish for the death of the guard dog that protects the Demonic Beast forest.

It just wants to put a leash on it."

It had been wrong from the beginning.

The moment he had taken control of the family's leadership, he should have killed the scoundrel, even if it was a stretch.

He had been naive to think that he had broken him to the point where he could not recover.

Just because you put shit on a tiger cub doesn't mean it becomes a puppy.

He had been deceived by his actions and words and hadn't even felt a threat even though the tiger cub was sharpening its claws.

He had to correct that mistake right now.

"I will be that leash."

Most of the vassals, except for the forces at the front and Count Mogul's defense forces, had already been won over.

Count Mogul would not move no matter what, and Count Sven would not be able to leave his post as he was guarding the front.

"I will personally become the leash of the Moner family, so give me that drug."

At the Regent's determined words, the eyes of the adjutant, who had maintained an expressionless face, curved beautifully.

* * *

The officials and vassals of Moner gathered at the inauguration ceremony were full of complaints.

"Where in the world is there such a shabby banquet?"

As the noble full of complaints said, the banquet hall where the inauguration ceremony was being held had no decorations or food prepared.

"Exactly.

He didn't just invite the noble vassals, but also commoners and low-borns who hold official positions… I really wonder how much he plans to lower the dignity of Moner."

"No matter how little he has seen and learned, for a young lord who is about to take on the position of head of the family to not even be able to prepare a banquet of this level……."

The conversation of the vassals who were constantly expressing their dissatisfaction naturally turned to one topic.

"To entrust the position of temporary head of the family to the young lord, I really don't know what His Majesty is thinking."

"Tell me about it.

Everyone is so worried right now.

If things get out of hand, the vassals of the Moner family will have to submit a petition……."

Both the officials and vassals gathered here had heard the rumors spreading in the streets.

The ridiculous rumors that the young lord had single-handedly invaded Obsol, punished the count, and stolen their food, and had become the head of the family for that achievement.

Unlike those who had directly experienced the changes brought about by the young lord as the food on their tables changed, most of the nobles here did not believe those rumors.

Those who had eaten hearty meat and soft bread even when the people of the domain were starving had ears but could not hear, and had eyes but could not see.

"What did I tell you!

Didn't I warn you several times when that good-for-nothing was running wild with his scabbard!

Aigoo, if the young lord loses his mind like before and drives out the Regent, I really wonder what will happen to the domain……!"

The tax official, who had barely recovered his health after being beaten to a pulp by Ian's scabbard, shouted with his eyes wide open and then his eyes fell on a woman.

"By the way, who is that lady over there?"

"I don't know.

The others have asked several times, and they say she is a cleric from the Holy Empire."

"Why is a cleric here?"

"Well, he must have seen something, so he's probably thinking of receiving a blessing from a priest for his inauguration ceremony, right?"

Just as the complaints of the gathered people reached their peak, a servant announced the arrival of the second prince.

"Prince Trimia, the pillar of the great Reime Kingdom and its rightful heir, enters!"

Trimia, who entered the banquet hall, glanced around.

He spotted the cleric, Shendelzar, and the giant standing guard by her side in the distance, and approached her to greet her.

"We meet again."

"May the royal family of Reime be blessed.

What brings you here, Your Highness?"

"I waited and waited, but the invitation never came, so I asked to be invited."

Trimia had been eagerly awaiting the invitation from the Moner family ever since he heard that the inauguration ceremony was being held, but the invitation never came.

Not only him, but no one from the royal family was invited.

So he asked to be invited.

"……?"

"Ah!

I did say I was coming today.

After all, I, who inherited the blood of the royal family, cannot enter the Moner family's territory without saying anything."

The bewildered Shendelzar stared blankly at the confident prince.

"I don't think this will be the kind of inauguration ceremony you are hoping for, Your Highness……."

"Hahaha!

If it had been a boring inauguration ceremony like any other, I would have been a little disappointed."

Trimia's glittering eyes quickly scanned the banquet hall.

"A banquet hall full of people but no food or drink.

I think it will be the inauguration ceremony of my dreams."

Trimia, with a satisfied smile, continued in a whisper.

"Coming to the famous Lord's Castle of the Moner family, and what a coincidence, there are no soldiers or knights to be seen."

It was a fact he had learned only after his escort knight, who had found it strange, had told him, but that was not important.

Apart from the noise of the bustling people and their footsteps, not a single note of a string instrument, which should have been heard, could be heard.

The prince had a gut feeling that this bleak inauguration ceremony would become one of the best moments he would remember for a long time.

"Hoo… since you've come this far, would you please stand by my side."

At Shendelzar's words, the prince stood next to her.

Even though many people were whispering, looking at the prince and the nameless cleric, Trimia did not get angry or annoyed as usual.

"It feels like I'm watching a play."

He was just watching the people who were talking with a smiling face, as if he were watching a play.

"Why, aren't the actors whose deaths are predestined more dynamic and realistic?

That's why they are more meaningless and shabby."

The prince, who chuckled, looked at Shendelzar with a broad smile and continued.

"I think I will learn something good from my friend today as well."

At the madness in the eyes of the Righteously Mad King , Trimia, Shendelzar unknowingly made the sign of the cross.

* * *

Not long after the prince entered, the waiting servant announced the arrival of Ian, whom everyone had been waiting for.

"The sole heir of the great Moner family that protects the Demonic Beast forest and the master of this land!

Young Lord Ian de Moner enters!"

Thud, thud, thud.

Clank, clank, clank.

The gazes of those who had turned their heads to watch Ian's entrance soon turned to the Black Noble Troop that followed behind him.

'The Duke's Pillows?'

'Aren't those the women who were playing knight……?'

Ian, who was wearing a uniform and a sword, commanded the Black Noble Troop that stood guard behind him.

"The Black Noble Troop will escort the servants out and guard the doors."

At his words, the Black Noble Troop spread out in all directions and began to escort the servants and attendants outside.

"Lina and Reina will gather those who are to live in one place."

Lina and Reina took a few of the lower-ranking officials and some of the vassals and headed towards where the saintess and the prince were.

As the atmosphere of the banquet hall instantly became chaotic at the sudden appearance of the Black Noble Troop, Ian slowly walked to the front of the banquet hall and opened his mouth.

"My name is Ian de Moner."

As Ian's low, subdued voice covered the chaotic banquet hall, silence fell under his presence.

"I am the master of this land."

Finally, the master of the Moner family announced his return.