Arc-6 Ch-46

Earl Leon Fou Bartfort, elevated to the rank of count and simultaneously appointed as a military advisor to the Holfort Kingdom Army. Everyone in this room was looking at me with very happy expressions. Even the idiot king was clapping with a face that showed he was having fun from the bottom of his heart. This guy is definitely overjoyed because he managed to shove a troublesome job onto me. How do you grow up to become so twisted like this? I guess when royal blood accumulates over generations, it stagnates and produces tyrants or foolish kings more easily?

"Earl Bartfort, continue to devote yourself to the Holfort Kingdom from here on. A talented young man like you is truly a treasure to this nation."

His attitude was pompous, but it was completely obvious that there wasn't a shred of sincerity behind it. If I punched him like I did back at the tavern, would he cancel this promotion?

However, Rachel Holy Kingdom and the Voldenova Holy Magic Empire are lurking behind the scenes regarding national defense right now. It is indeed necessary to urgently rebuild the kingdom's army. If I can give advice on training soldiers and the management of the army, and in exchange get exemption from military service and wages, I guess it's a pretty good deal. Otherwise there's no way I could put up with this job. Why am I becoming a military advisor anyway?

I'm only good at tactics; I can hardly manage anything on the strategic scale. I really don't understand why Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke have expectations for me.

"Let me ask you bluntly: can the Holfort Kingdom in its current state win a conflict against the Rachel Holy Kingdom or the Voldenova Holy Magic Empire?"

"Impossible. It's too reckless, so I recommend you either flee quickly or surrender."

"The fall of the kingdom would bring far too many complications. In the current weakened state, it could very well deliver a fatal blow. You should push all responsibility onto His Majesty and take charge of the political affairs yourself. Less hassle for you that way, right?"

"Lord Bartfort, I hold you in high esteem. I apologize for having underestimated you until now. I thought you lacked too many things to marry Angelica. However, it seems you are more than adequate in terms of talent."

Who was the one who met Her Majesty the Queen more than half a year ago and gave his honest opinion about the state of this country?

Me.

Who was the one who pressured the Duke with something close to blackmail to urge reconciliation between the Holfort royal family and the Redgrave ducal house?

That was also me.

Thinking back desperately, I realize I've been warning Her Majesty and the Duke about the threat of the Principality, the Holy Kingdom, and the Empire. Creating an external enemy to encourage unity among people who don't get along is a psychological tactic often used to rally troops on the battlefield. With that mindset, I've been telling every royal and noble I've met for the past six months, "If the royal family and the feudal lords don't work together, the other nations will attack and it'll be bad."

Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke are intelligent people who wouldn't cling to their positions to the point of mutual destruction. So I believed that if I scared them a little, they'd reconcile for the sake of national interest. And this is the result, huh? My past self was a complete idiot.

I definitely went too far; they got so alarmed that they're desperately trying to make use of someone like me. Come on, why did it turn out like this?

I can pull off battlefield operations where my life is on the line, but when it comes to politics nothing goes the way I intend! Normally they’d find a subordinate who speaks too honestly annoying! A son-in-law who threatens his father-in-law should be someone you'd want to strangle! Why do you people like me!?

"I too am fortunate to have such a competent subordinate. Now then, devote yourself to your military duties."

The idiot king’s smug grin irritated me to the core. Go fall into hell, you bastard.

"Your Majesty, why are you speaking as if this has nothing to do with you?"

"Hmm?"

"The Holfort royal family is in a critical situation right now, particularly in terms of losing authority. Not only the feudal lords, but even commoners regard the saint Olivia with more reverence than the king, and some even consider placing her as the ruler."

"No, the possibility of internal rebellion has decreased…"

"In this state of deepening chaos, the sovereign cannot simply do nothing."

"…………"

I sensed an overwhelming pressure coming from Her Majesty the Queen. Her face was still elegantly smiling, but inside she must have been boiling with anger. This woman is really scary. She’s beautiful, but I don't really want to get any closer to her. The Duke and Chancellor wore pleasant expressions, but their eyes weren’t smiling. Count Atley remained indifferent. Even His Highness Julius was frowning at his foolish father. Me? I had absolutely zero intention of defending the king.

"Earl Bartfort."

"Yes, Your Majesty the Queen."

"First, submit your opinions on the training plan for the soldiers and the training methods used in your territory."

"Understood."

"We should retrain the soldiers currently in the kingdom’s army. We must formulate a detailed plan so that future recruits will be capable of defending the nation."

"I completely agree."

"His Majesty will personally tackle this issue. Please use harsh, severe, and rigorous training methods to correct his twisted nature."

"Wait!?"

The idiot king screamed at Her Majesty the Queen’s words. His unnecessarily handsome face distorted, making him look worse than average-faced me. He cast pleading glances toward everyone around him, but not a single important figure stepped in to help.

Serves you right, idiot king.

Being born royalty must come with many hardships, but a king with less sense of responsibility than a self-made upstart like me deserves no sympathy.

"You want me to train together with the new recruits!?"

"That is hundreds of times more beneficial to the Holfort Kingdom than you sitting idle in the harem."

"A king cannot do something like that!!"

"Saint Olivia, who is revered by the people, travels across the land personally to help those in need."

"If the king is absent, government will stagnate!!"

"I am the one handling government affairs. A king who doesn’t even grasp the situation would only get in the way."

"You old hag!!"

"Silence, you delinquent middle-aged man!!"

S-somehow the king and queen have started hurling insults at each other that are unbearable to listen to. It was no different from the shouting match of some rural middle-aged couple. Even I felt a bit taken aback. Should I really be here?

As I spaced out thinking that, His Highness came into view with a tired expression.

…Yeah, I’m a father now too.

It really hurts when your parents don’t get along. I patted His Highness on the shoulder and pointed at the door, and he silently nodded. For the first time, I felt like we truly understood each other. I gave a small bow and fled the room.

Will the Holfort Kingdom be okay? If even I’m worried, things must be really bad.

I shook my head to dispel the bad feeling. At times like this, there’s nothing better than family time. I'll go home, play with the kids, and flirt with Angie. I hurriedly left the royal palace as if running away.

※　※　※　※　※

Seeing the back of the king, who had sulked and left the room, the queen sighed. If he took his political duties seriously, he might not be praised as a wise king, but at least he wouldn't be slandered as a foolish one. Born with talent greater than others, raised in the best environment, and the result was a ruler who indulged in pleasure and was scorned by nobles and commoners alike. No matter how excellent the ancestors, the descendants are not necessarily gifted. Roland Rapha Holfort was the perfect example.

No, even if someone is blessed with much talent, if they use it solely for themselves, they have no right to stand above others. Yet she could not tell whether the faint hope she held was due to her affection for the father of her child, or her sense of duty as the queen engaged in governance.

"Are you certain about this?"

"It is a good opportunity. To rebuild the fallen royal family, the royals must take the lead. At this rate, the Holfort Kingdom will collapse within decades."

"A glorious end might not be such a bad conclusion either."

"For a mere common man, perhaps. But royalty must struggle until the very end for the sake of the nation and its people."

"And you believe His Majesty is fulfilling that duty."

"I do not, which is why I will fix him. Otherwise, it would not set a proper example for the kings of the past or for the people."

The Duke’s words were harsher than usual, but it was understandable. One of the greatest causes of the deepening rift between the royal family and the feudal lords was the overly selfish actions of the king and prince. Laws are created by those in power to suppress desire and aim for social harmony so the country can operate. If those same power-holders do not accept judgment and instead act according to their selfish desires, who would willingly abide by the law?

To recover from the postwar chaos, it is necessary to urgently reform not only military regulations but also various laws and administrative departments. After thinking that far, She reconsidered. This was not solely the fault of the king and prince, but the very history of the sins accumulated by the Holfort royal family. Under the pretext of protecting the royal family, they neglected to build trust with the feudal lords.

To prevent rebellion, they imposed countless restrictions, forced conscription and political marriages, and mercilessly cornered them. There was no trust left to restore, because the royal family had always treated the feudal lords as enemies from the start. It was likely impossible for the Holfort royal family to regain its former glory. The feudal lords would sense the decline of the royal family and try to maneuver advantageously.

The lower nobles and commoners had realized that they were capable of protecting the nation. The kingdom had been protected by those whom the royal family had dismissed as insignificant insects. A commoner saint, a lower-noble-born military advisor. Compared to them, how unreliable the royals and court nobles seemed.

"Julius’s mistake was letting Angelica go. A daughter like her is rare in this country."

"A chick that is fed by the mother bird without effort will grow fat without knowing the hardships of hunting or gratitude for the safety of the nest, and will be unable to fly. Sometimes teaching the harshness of the world is an act of love."

"Could it be that Earl Bartfort, though young, is so mature because he has lived a life full of hardships? At that age, having no interest in advancement—does he have an incredibly low self-esteem, or is he simply without desire? I can't tell."

"It is certainly true that he has talent, considering he acquired such knowledge through self-study. Mrs. Bartfort, who trained him, also has keen insight."

"Which is precisely why I arranged for her to be betrothed to Julius to become the next queen. So why is it that my own son lacks both discernment and political acumen?"

Indeed, it was true that Julius was an excellent young man even compared to noble sons of the same age and his half-brother princes. But the future king cannot just be moderately competent. Especially with the husband being as he is, it was necessary to have the backing of the Redgrave Ducal House and a wise queen to erase such a negative legacy. And yet, the person himself ended up breaking off the engagement. I sighed yet again, wondering if my view of my child had been clouded by love, as it often was.

"Leaving competent sons nearby so they wouldn't suffer was also a mistake. What the next king needed were loyal ministers who could admonish him, not subordinates who would flatter him. In that regard, it is regrettable that Earl Bartfort was born as a lower noble in the frontier."

A lower noble of the frontier, with excellent military insight and political judgment. A previously insignificant existence, scorned and belittled by the royal family and court nobles. Yet it is precisely there that the key to rebuilding the kingdom lies. A small flower blooms in a well-maintained flowerbed on the bridge, starting to wither, while on an untended plain, a flower blooms vigorously, enduring and leaving seeds behind. Those who ruled the Holfort Kingdom may have been suffering from a narrow perspective. For the kingdom to survive the coming turbulent era, it must be fundamentally reformed from the ground up.

"Earl Bartfort, who freely expresses his opinions to us without fear, shows promise. From now on, we should have him work actively."

"Is that so, I wonder?"

Against the royal family and court nobles, who had found a faint hope for the kingdom's future, the voice of dissent came from the head of the feudal lords, the Duke of Redgrave, Vince Rapha Redgrave.

Strange words, indeed.

Earl Bartfort is none other than the son-in-law who married the duke’s daughter, Angelica.

"Oh my, what a strange statement. Could it be that even the Duke of Redgrave cannot hide his jealousy at his progress?"

"Underestimating Earl Bartfort as just a promising young man would only result in being severely hurt."

The duke, who shies from great enterprises, had a somewhat rigid and somber expression. Indeed, up until about a month ago, he had thought the same way. Arrogance born of being a great noble, and as a result, an indelible awe toward a young man of the same age as his daughter.

"That man attempted coercive actions to reconcile us with the royal family. He claimed he would point a gun at me and my son and place his grandson as the head of the Redgrave family."

"I heard from Julius that you and the Earl had a dispute. Did you seriously believe that was possible?"

The succession of a noble house is not something done lightly. Strict examinations are conducted, and the conduct and history of the heir are scrutinized in detail before the succession of a title is approved. No man who kills to seize a position should be recognized. If allowed, it would lead to conflicts between parents and children or among siblings, and great noble houses would frequently fall into bloody struggles with each succession.

"He boasted that if he used our lives as a bargaining chip, the royal family would have no choice but to accept it. The only reason he did not kill us was that he himself did not seek advancement, and because he did not want to sadden Angie."

"Did he really think that I would acknowledge his achievement in stopping a rebellion?"

"I do not think so. He calmly discerns the method that the opponent would most dislike. With madness and cunning, he could harm not only the duke but even the king. It would be wise not to assume he could be tamed with food."

Malice, murmured silently by everyone except the duke. The act is to crush any fleeting hope for the kingdom’s future. Even so, they could not help but feel a glimmer of hope in this exceptional young man. Leon Fou Bartfort was truly a peculiar man.

"He cannot be called a capable minister in governance. Rather, if he makes one wrong choice, he could slay the king and aim for the throne."

"Is that a warning?"

"A sleeping lion can serve as a deterrent to other nations, provided it is not recklessly provoked. And the trigger in this case happens to be my daughter."

"You want to take pride in the fact that Angelica holds the reins of the Earl? It seems to me that she raised him herself."

"If my daughter alone can eliminate the seeds of civil war, it is a small price to pay."

Those aware of the truth behind the Bartfort family felt conflicted. If the Earl possessed immense power, he might have been able to ascend the throne. Or, if the duke’s daughter incited her husband, they could have caused a disturbance shaking the nation. Yet that future has been partially extinguished. It is precisely because the couple themselves do not desire it.

The man who could have become king and the woman who could have become queen, glimpsing such a world, chose another future. Those unaware earnestly wished that the frontier-living couple would not disturb the peace.

※　※　※　※　※

"Damn it!! I've been trapped!!"

Since returning from the royal palace, Leon had buried his face in my thigh, continuously venting cursed complaints about the royal family and my father. It had been nearly a month since Leon had stayed at the ducal residence, and he had spent that entire time doting on me and the children without returning to his territory. He looked nothing like the same person. Even so, he did not take his frustrations out on the children, showing that his reason as a father prevailed.

Recently, he had not left the newborn Leah, and had been tending to her alongside the twins, competing to care for them. I wanted to scold him for his behavior, which was unbefitting of a lord, but seeing my husband tenderly cherish our children, I lacked the will to do so. Since returning from the awards ceremony at the royal palace, Leon had been holding me close and endlessly grumbling. Lionel and Ariel were absorbed with Leah in another room and paid no attention to their father’s shameful behavior.

If this had happened in front of the children, I would have scolded him. But seeing my husband desperately seeking me, I could not help finding it irresistibly endearing. Since giving birth, we had hardly had any private time together. The newborn’s sleep and meals were irregular, leaving no moment of respite. At a ducal household, it would be easy to secure a wet nurse or dedicated servants, but except when absolutely necessary, the children were always near me.

"Ughh! I can't take it anymore! I’m retiring! I want to hand over the household to my brother, Colin, or Lionel!"

Despite this being a rare moment alone as a couple, he displayed such shameful behavior that could not be seen by the children. There was not a shred of dignity as a father, and anyone looking would not think him a high-ranking noble excelling in military affairs. Leon, naturally, comported himself appropriately in public; these scenes were reserved only for me. I alone knew this hidden side, and it made me blush.

"Are you satisfied? I’m getting tired of listening."

"Be a bit gentler, will you? The capital has no forests, hot springs, or fields. I want to return to the Bartfort territory. I want to relax there."

"The party will come for you in a few days; until then, endure it."

"Damn it, every time I come to the capital I get dragged into trouble. I won’t come here unless necessary for a while."

"Do as you like. And Leon—"

"What?"

"Stop groping my butt."

"Why not? It doesn’t diminish."

"It increases my stress."

"Tch."

It seemed that he was finally satisfied, and the hand that had been fondling my buttocks at last let go. Why is it that you are so adept only in such areas?

What a troublesome husband he is, even more difficult to handle than the twins, who are hard enough to manage, or the newborn Leah, whose behavior is unpredictable. Although I gave birth to only three children, it feels as if I have taken in an even more troublesome child.

"So, what are you planning to do from now on, Earl Bartfort?"

"Stop it. I don’t want to get used to such a position."

"Then, Military Advisor Bartfort—"

"Stooop it!"

Leon, writhing on my lap, looked quite adorable. I find it impossible to resist when Leon presses himself against me like this. At the same time, when I retaliate against his cheekiness by teasing him with titles and positions, he makes an even more displeased face and sulks. I can truly understand the feeling of a child being mean to someone they like. No matter how much I scold him, Leon has no choice but to cling to me. Every time I see that, my heart feels fulfilled.

"That is proof that everyone recognizes you, Leon. You should be aware that you have achieved a glory that ordinary nobles could not accomplish in a hundred years."

"Too many obligations, and the rewards aren’t worth it. I just want to live a life suited to my own stature."

"You could even be a king in another world. Be aware of your own blood and talent."

"I don’t want that. I’m suited for the life of a rural farmer."

"Truly, you are without desire."

"My desires are that simple. I don’t know about the desires of others."

Having great talent is a different matter from personal happiness. Inheriting noble blood comes with duties and responsibilities. For Leon, titles and positions are nothing but burdens. Left alone, they would eventually crush him. Therefore, he needs someone by his side to continue supporting him. Curiously, even if Leon himself does not wish it, people who admire him naturally gather around. By borrowing the strength of such people, he should be able to fulfill his duties unless political upheaval or foreign invasion occurs.

"If I take a position, Angie’s burden will increase. You just gave birth; that would be tough."

"On the contrary, I am pleased. If Leon comes into the light, people will naturally gather, and we will gain power. That will be a good opportunity for the development of the territory."

"I rely on you completely, Angie. Can you not grow tired of such a pitiful husband?"

"Despite appearances, I long to support my husband. This is fulfilling in its own way."

"If only you became queen, you could do whatever you want with this country."

"For that, Leon would need to become king. Even now, it wouldn’t be too late to rebel against the royal family."

"If you want to do it, it’s not a bad idea. Do you still want to become queen?"

"For that, you would need to ascend the throne. Conversely, if Leon becomes king but is unhappy, it has no value."

"I absolutely refuse to be king."

"Then I will also refuse to be queen."

We laugh together, joking that we could destroy the kingdom at any time. Perhaps, if we had sided with the ducal family from the start, we might have been able to receive a ducal title even without becoming king. From what I saw during the queen’s education in my childhood, Emperor Roland and Lady Mylene did not seem happy from the outside. No, on second thought, Lady Mylene had been striving to save her husband and children. The Emperor, while leaving things to his son, was planning to send his wife and child to another country.

There are countless forms of marriage; just because it is expressed differently from ours does not mean it can be denied. It was the war that bound us together, but what we truly seek is peace. Driven more by immediate desire than the survival of the country, I am no longer a woman suitable to be queen. Listening to my husband’s complaints while taking care of the children, I can only satisfy myself as a foolish woman. However, being so clingy, he is even hindering me from fulfilling the minimum duties as a mother.

I am already busy taking care of Leah. A newborn cries and demands food every few hours. At the ducal residence, it would be enough to have others take care of the child. Royals or high-ranking nobles often hand over newborns to wet nurses to return to work. That is supposed to be normal for nobles, but wanting to personally raise the newborn Leah shows that I have changed considerably since my time in the ducal residence. Even though the ducal residence is where I was born, it may no longer be where I live.

"Leon, it’s time to let go."

"No, I don’t want to."

"It’s time to nurse Leah. Right now, I prioritize being the children’s mother over being your wife."

"How busy… can’t we even flirt properly?"

Leon, refusing to speak while wrapping his hands around my waist, is slightly annoying. I now understand why a female animal that has given birth can be harsh toward a male. Maternal instinct is an irresistible drive. The primordial act of giving life is comparable to marital affection. At least wait until Leah can hold his head steadily.

"Then give me your breasts too."

I am exasperated by Leon’s words, which could even extinguish a lifelong romance. If I overlooked this, it would be bad for the children’s upbringing. It goes beyond what could ever be forgiven, no matter how many hardships one endured.

"Why must you do such a thing?"

"I need healing. To do my best as a military advisor from now on, I need new energy."

"And?"

"When I touch Angie’s breasts, which grew even larger after giving birth, it motivates me."

"Hmm."

"My motivation makes me work hard. Holfort Kingdom’s military readiness will improve quickly."

"And?"

"When the military is ready, we can protect the children and have more time to flirt."

"In other words?"

"For the future of this country, I want you to offer your soft breasts."

"……"

"Do you agree?"

"No way, idiot!!"

With a serious expression, Leon gave such a ridiculously foolish answer. Perhaps the Holfort royal family and the Redgrave Ducal House were hasty in their personnel decisions. A man who behaves this foolishly affects the dignity of domestic nobles even as a count. Perhaps I spoiled Leon too much.

"Why not take a mistress? Among counts, there are not a few nobles with concubines or lovers. Noble women are surplus as it is. You would have your pick."

"I don’t want that. Wouldn’t Angie get angry if I touched another woman?"

"……Honestly, I want to turn her into ashes with my flame."

"If you are not convinced, don’t say it. Angie, you are not as calm and collected as you think."

"Don’t say that to me, Leon."

Continuing the argument further will yield no conclusion. More importantly, Leah is probably getting hungry by now. Thinking of nursing her, my chest naturally swells—an instinctual response of the body.

"This argument is over. I can’t deal with this any longer."

"Wait! If we are going to see Leah, I’m coming too."

"Are you going to cling unnecessarily and make him cry again?"

"It can’t be helped. One’s own child is so adorable that you can hardly take your eyes off them."

Leon continues to gaze at the newborn Leah for long periods, lifts him, rubs his cheek against his, and eagerly changes her diaper. Perhaps due to experience babysitting Finley and Colin, he is several times better than I am, which is infuriating. Above all, seeing Leon soothing our child noticeably reduces the apprehension of the ducal household servants, who had previously underestimated or feared him. Leon might indeed have the potential to be a king. Such a man deeply desires a peaceful retirement in a frontier territory—a waste of his talent. Yet strangely, it does not feel bad.

"Don’t make Leah cry."

"I’m not making him cry. Baby Leah is just always in a bad mood."

"Don’t you understand why Ariel treats you harshly?"

Accompanied by the sulking Leon, I head to the room where the children are waiting. As usual, Leon ends up making Lean cry again and is scolded by me. A few days later, Leon and I return to the Bartfort territory, celebrating his promotion to Earl and the birth of our third child grandly.

It was one of the moments in our life where we felt the pinnacle of happiness.

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Authors Note

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While reading Marie Route Volume 4, I wrote this chapter. (Self-promotion)

The original Mob Sekai has many harsh depictions, so I made Leon and Angie flirt to soothe my own heart.

Gradually, the setting for the next generation of children is also being solidified.

The next chapter is scheduled to be published simultaneously with an adult-themed installment.

Postscript: At the request of the client, the illustration for this chapter was drawn by Ponnu, and the illustrations of the grown-up children were done by feNao.

Thank you very much.

Ponnu: Pixiv

feNao: Pixiv

I would appreciate your opinions and impressions, as they will serve as motivation for future works.