Chapter 40: Honorary Count Deon Hart

A week had passed since the banquet.

The Killer Knights I’d wanted to dump in the middle of the forest were, fortunately, living in proper accommodations thanks to Rememver’s objection about wasting the budget.

And me….

“You want to build another dam? How much time and money does it take to build one? And on Hart territory, no less?! Are you insane? Who the hell approved this?”

“I did.”

“Ah… now that I think about it, having another one wouldn’t be so bad. Even if it’s just temporary territory, I can’t neglect its management. If it can prevent droughts or floods… I approve.”

Thump.

The seal was stamped.

…Yes, as you can see, I’m currently surrounded by mountains of paperwork, busy processing it all.

With nearly half a year’s worth of documents piled up, I haven’t had a proper rest in a week, doing nothing but paperwork. Naturally, dark circles have formed under my eyes!

And I’ve only been here for how long!

Part of me wants to just stamp everything without even reading it, but Rememver would never allow that.

My family butler is truly something else. He never raises his voice or even frowns, yet he’s a master at making people feel small. Look at him now, opening his mouth as if to speak.

He’s probably going to scold me for neglecting the management of Hart territory.

“It seems you haven’t heard the news yet.”

“…Pardon?”

“A week ago, His Majesty officially transferred the ownership of Hart territory, which he had temporarily entrusted to you, to you, Count.”

“What?!”

I could barely accept temporarily managing it. What did I even do?

“This… this joke is a bit much, Rememver.”

“It’s no joke.”

“I haven’t received any official documents.”

“It should be somewhere around here.”

…….

I stared at the piles of documents that had taken over not only the desk but also the floor.

Rememver continued calmly, seeing my bewildered expression.

“Hart territory is now your property, Count. You cannot neglect its management.”

“…Isn’t this too much for a ‘Honorary Count’? It’s not like I only received one or two territories. Why am I responsible for national defense too…”

I fluttered the documents containing reports of monster hordes lurking near the border.

“Because some of your territories border the national line.”

“That’s my point! Why is an ‘Honorary Count’ fulfilling the role of a Margrave?!”

Margrave, Count, Honorary Count.

All three are counts, but their treatment and privileges differ.

An Honorary Count holds the same position and receives the same treatment as a Count, but it’s a single-generation title. The title cannot be passed down, and upon death, the territory reverts to the Empire.

A Count? As you know, they can pass down their title. They can proudly establish their own ‘family’.

A Margrave refers to a Count who owns territory bordering another kingdom.

In reality, they’re only called Counts but receive almost the same treatment as a Marquis. It’s a benefit given to those who are responsible for part of the national defense.

In that sense, it’s absurd that a Count would become a Margrave, let alone an Honorary Count.

“Take it up with His Majesty. The one who granted you the rights and responsibilities beyond that of an Honorary Count is none other than the Emperor himself.”

“There’s no way I can argue with him….”

With a deep sigh, I collapsed onto the desk.

There were more than a few who lost their heads for arguing unnecessarily. Who would dare to argue with the Emperor?

Even if he bestowed upon me a territory that the Imperial Family should manage.

‘Right, that territory.’

The territory that made me take on the role of a Margrave isn’t even located on the border. It’s closer to the center.

In other words, it was originally a territory that the Imperial Family should have managed.

The Emperor bestowed that territory upon an unsuspecting me. Son of a bitch.

I’m satisfied with being an Honorary Count. Why is he so eager to give me more?

“…More importantly, I need to find a way to return Hart territory.”

I can give up the other territories, even the one that made me a Margrave, but Hart territory is the one I hate.

Since it belonged to the ‘former’ Hart family, I don’t have any good memories associated with it.

To be precise, their betrayal turned good memories into the worst kind of past.

I was annoyed at temporarily managing it, but who decided to transfer ownership?

I absolutely cannot let this slide.

“They wouldn’t accept it back so easily….”

Forcing me to temporarily manage it in the first place was the Emperor’s way of making me take it.

Should I just go and beg the Emperor to take it back?

It’s a painful thought, but offering to fulfill any one of the Emperor’s wishes within reason might not be a bad deal.

Thankfully, the Emperor isn’t completely insane and will accept intriguing deals.

“I should visit His Majesty soon….”

Knock, knock.

I couldn’t even finish my sentence.

An unavoidable message reached us from beyond the door.

“Count, General Nemesius has come to see you.”

I shot up from my seat. I knew without looking that my eyes were wide open.

‘The General? Why? Shouldn’t he be by the Emperor’s side? Why is he here in person? Has something major happened?’

Surely he’s not here to arrest me?

I flung the door open. My eyes met those of the waiting servant.

Only after seeing the servant flinch and tremble as if burned, did I recall a temporarily forgotten fact.

‘Right. Here, my eyes are unpleasant to look at.’

A complicated mix of emotions washed over me.

I should be used to the Human Realm by now, but my mind was still in the Demon Realm. How could I forget such a basic fact, like common sense?

I let my guard down.

Even though I knew that people other than the Imperial Family, the Killer Knights, Rememver, and others close to me found my eyes disturbing.

“…What brings you here?”

The astute butler answered for me.

“My old guess is that it concerns the captured members of the Revolutionary Army.”

“I haven’t received any official documents about that.”

“It should be somewhere around here.”

…….

Why does this feel so familiar? Didn’t I just say that?

I once again glanced around at the documents in the room before letting out a deep sigh and taking a step.

Either way, I couldn’t keep the General waiting.

Nemesius was my direct superior when I was the vanguard commander during the Eight Years’ War.

I clearly remember him subtly trying to keep his distance from me for some reason. The fact that he came all this way means he had no other choice.

Perhaps it’s due to the Emperor’s orders… I idly speculated as I opened the door to the reception room, only to freeze upon meeting the eyes of those inside.

“Long time no see, Count.”

“Deon Hart greets the future of the Empire.”

***

“The Honorary Count Hart single-handedly captured the Revolutionary Army members who attacked his mansion?”

“!”

“They say he even caught a bomb with his bare hands.”

The Crown Prince, who was having tea with the Princess in the garden, put down the newspaper he was holding. The Princess, who was sipping her tea, flinched.

She calmly swallowed the liquid in her mouth and placed her cup down. Her head followed suit, bowing low.

“Honorary Count Hart….”

“Why are you so gloomy again?”

The Crown Prince quickly straightened his crossed legs, a troubled expression appearing on his face as if he could see dark clouds over her head.

The Princess had been depressed for days since the banquet.

“He must find me utterly repulsive now, right?”

“It was no different from your usual behavior. Why the sudden change?”

“But I coughed up blood!”

The Princess raised her voice, burying her face in her hands. She didn’t notice the Crown Prince’s wide eyes.

I admit it. I’m inept at seduction, having never tried to entice anyone despite my status and looks that naturally attract people.

Even if there had been other sophisticated methods, I wouldn’t have been able to use them anyway… but I didn’t intend to cause such a big incident.

“I’m ruined… all my efforts…!”

“It didn’t seem like your little act was working very well anyway….”

“I should apologize, right?”

“In person?”

“Yes!”

“No.”

The Crown Prince’s expression hardened.

He usually let her do as she pleased, but not this.

“If you visit his mansion or he comes to the Imperial Palace at your request, there will inevitably be rumors.”

“Then that’s even better for me. I’ll turn the rumors into reality and marry him….”

“Aletea.”

A brief silence fell.

He stared at his sister for a moment before sighing.

“You don’t love him.”

…….

“And an apology would tarnish your act.”

The ‘Princess’ isn’t smart enough to apologize for something like this.

Only then did a flicker of understanding appear in the Princess’s eyes.

If you put it nicely, she’s innocent. If you’re blunt, she’s stupid. That’s the public’s opinion of Aletea.

“I’d welcome it if you wanted to stop.”

“…No, it’s fine.”

The stigma the Princess intentionally took on for the sake of the Emperor and the Crown Prince.

From the Crown Prince’s perspective, it was a regrettable assessment that proved his sister’s sacrifice.

“We need to be united, not divided by the succession issue again.”

“Yes… the succession battle is tiring.”

“And don’t worry about Honorary Count Hart. Even if I don’t love him, I do like him.”

I’m not so clueless that I can’t guess what she’s thinking and planning with that little head of hers.

The Crown Prince gently stroked the Princess’s head.

“I keep telling you, you can stop whenever you want. No one has ever forced you to do anything.”

The Princess smiled brightly at him.

“I know. So, can you go and find out what Honorary Count Hart thinks of me?”

“…What?”

“Hurry. I can’t go myself, can I?”

“No, something about this conclusion is strange….”

She burst into clear laughter, pushing her brother’s back.

The Princess has good instincts.

Her instincts told her that Deon Hart was the Empire’s most unstable hero. If she could completely tie him to the Imperial Family through marriage, that would be enough.

“If you really want to win over Honorary Count Hart, you need to change your approach.”

“Sorry that a stupid princess only knows this method!”

…….

Whether Deon Hart falls for it or not is irrelevant.

What matters is that the ‘Princess’ has expressed her liking for him, and everyone knows it.

Of course, it would be great if he fell for it, but even if he doesn’t, Deon Hart will have to make a choice the moment the proposal is sent.

Will he refuse and live alone forever, or will he accept?

‘Of course, this is just a feeling, so the proposal is still on hold.’

“Alright, I’m going. I was planning to meet Honorary Count Hart anyway, so I’ll check on it while I’m there.”

“As expected of you, brother!”

“But I’ll only check if he’s displeased with your rudeness, so don’t get your hopes up.”

***

Barely holding onto my sanity, I bowed my head. My voice was stiff and awkward, reflecting my inner turmoil.

As if understanding my feelings, the Crown Prince nodded with a gentle smile.

The Crown Prince, not the General!

‘Why without any notice…!’

And no one even told me.

I glared at the servant who had only announced ‘Nemesius’s visit.’ His face paled instantly, but the Crown Prince called out to me softly.

“Don’t scold the staff. I told them not to say anything.”

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

I was in front of the Crown Prince. I immediately straightened my posture.

Only after gaining some composure did I finally notice General Nemesius. I had only glanced at him in the banquet hall due to the chaos.

Skin tanned from the battlefield. A scar across his face.

My former superior looked the same as he did during the war, his expression stiff as if something displeased him.

Judging by his expression, he seemed displeased that the Crown Prince had come along.

Which means the Crown Prince came along without permission…

Why?

“His Majesty wants the Revolutionary Army members you captured. Well, that’s what he told the General… so it’s none of my business. But I became personally interested.”

“What are you referring to….”

“They say you caught a flying bomb with your bare hands?”

…….

For a moment, I almost made a disgusted face.

Thank goodness I remembered who I was dealing with, or I might have been dragged away for my insolence.

But where did he hear that story?

The moment I thought of Sir Lien, who seemed particularly impressed at the time, the Crown Prince chuckled softly.

“There’s no need to wonder where the news leaked from. Many people witnessed it that day. You can’t silence all the servants, and even if you did, someone passing by might have spread the word.”

He even kindly added that rumors were already rampant in the capital… My stomach churns.

Having my abilities exaggerated like this will only raise the Emperor’s expectations, which benefits no one.

For the record, I’m not happy about the Emperor’s expectations at all. It means I’ll be dragged into dangerous situations more often. Plus, the higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment.

My lifespan is getting shorter because of this…

“That’s a joke.”

“Pardon?”

“I mean the reason I came here. You catching a bomb is impressive, but it’s not my concern. It’s not a reason for me to come here.”

“Ah, then…”

“I’ve come to apologize for the Princess’s rudeness at the banquet.”

“Ah…”

Is he talking about the sneak attack from behind? It’s happened more than once or twice; I’m used to it now.

Besides, it wasn’t a genuine attempt to attack but a simple display of affection, so I can’t really complain about it from my position.

He must know that, yet…

“The position of future Emperor is quite burdensome, making even apologies difficult. If I visited privately, it would attract attention, so I followed along using official business as an excuse.”

“….”

“I’ve scolded the Princess sternly, so such incidents shouldn’t happen for a while.”

…For a while?

Considering the Princess’s personality, it’s understandable, but isn’t he being too honest? He’s still the Crown Prince.

Perhaps the Crown Prince felt a pang of conscience about the words ‘for a while’ he’d uttered. He glanced away for a moment before meeting my eyes again and speaking.

“Will you accept my apology, Count?”

“…Of course. It wasn’t even something you needed to apologize for in the first place.”

“In a normal situation, perhaps. But you did cough up blood.”

“….”

That wasn’t blood.

While I could only roll my eyes, unable to bring myself to say it, the Crown Prince stood up and said casually.

His tone was nonchalant, in stark contrast to the shocking content.

“I’m glad you’re not displeased. To be honest, I wanted to become closer to you, as His Majesty trusts you.”

“…Pardon?”

“Aren’t you too busy? Although we’ve built some rapport, it’s likely only superficial.”

“….”

“So, when Aletea acted rudely and you coughed up blood because of it, I couldn’t help but think I’d messed up.”

Messed up…

What am I even hearing right now…?

“So, while I’m here to apologize and build rapport, are you uncomfortable with me?”

“Ah, no, not at all.”

“Does that mean my efforts to become closer to you are acceptable?”

“Yes, they are.”

“That’s a relief. Then, could you drop by my residence whenever you come to the Imperial Palace?”

“…Pardon?”

I feel like I’ve gotten caught in something I can’t escape.

As I blinked with a bewildered expression, retracing the steps of how this conversation had unfolded, the Crown Prince adorned his face with a warm smile, as if confirming my feelings were correct.

“I won’t insist you come see me specifically. Just drop by when you’re at the Imperial Palace. We can have tea, spar with swords, and talk.”