Chapter 80 - Countess Catherine
"There are various things about my family."
After finishing conveying Alfred's business - the feeling of using aerial combat equipment, when I explained it like that, he nodded and said, "I understand."
After all, it was a carriage with the Gartner family crest on it, so I couldn't just not explain anything to Alfred.
I'm currently playing Gomoku with Alfred across the table, using a makeshift board. Like paper airplanes, if it's a low-tech game, you can make it casually, so I prepared it for Marian's pastime. Go seemed a bit too sophisticated to claim that I came up with it myself, so I chose Gomoku.
But if anything, Alfred seems more interested than Marian.
As for Marian, it seems she's more concerned about my hand than Alfred's. She peeks over from beside me, occasionally nodding slightly at the movement of the stones. Marian is quite clever, so she's quite formidable.
"Count Gartner is said to be a good ruler, but it seems that things are tough everywhere."
While saying that, Alfred placed a black stone and tilted his teacup. The "everywhere" he mentioned probably includes his own place. There was a subtle implication.
He's placing stones while looking calm, but I can't appreciate him trying to set up three or four combos by secretly connecting vertical and diagonal stones on top of stopping my hand. If I miss this move, Alfred will win on the next one, so I'll firmly block it.
"Five years ago, Father was quite busy with various things. Countess said to him, 'Leave the household matters to me.' Well, because of that..."
Well, that's why it turned into that mess.
No, for Catherine, things were going as she had hoped, so calling it a mess might be a bit different.
"...I see. Countess Catherine, the daughter of Marquess Broderick, right?"
"Former, yes."
"Marquess Broderick, huh? I haven't heard good things about them. They're obsessed with power, their extravagance is out of control, and the state of their kitchen is a disaster. They managed to recover temporarily with the support and trade from the Earl's family, but it seems the situation has been uncertain again recently."
Alfred is... he's certainly well-informed about these matters. He must be very diligent in gathering information in aristocratic society to protect himself.
I don't know that much about Catherine's family. Even if I did, there wouldn't have been much I could do, and since I've become capable, I haven't wanted to know.
Before becoming Catherine Gartner, she was the youngest daughter of the Broderick Marquess's family. She came from the Marquess's family to my father's house when he was still the eldest son, which was a long time before I was born.
"The Earl's family's support, huh?"
"Well, something like that. I don't know the details about the background."
In short, it's a political marriage, right? From the higher-ranking Marquess's family to the lower-ranking Earl's family.
You could see it as the stumbling Marquess's family and the Earl's family that got help and connections, or perhaps the Marquess's family, which was struggling, offered a marriage proposal while putting pressure on the Earl's family, and that helped the Marquess's family recover. I don't know which side initiated this discussion, but it's a story from my grandfather's generation.
At that time, Catherine brought along some servants from her family, wanting familiar people to take care of her surroundings, or at least that's what I heard from rumors the servants used to spread.
That faction gradually expanded, leading to the current situation. The newly recruited servants had a high turnover rate, and conversely, the long-serving ones sided with Catherine or turned a blind eye. Catherine had been building this environment for years. Even the tutors for Byron and Daryl were chosen by Catherine.
Father drew a clear line when it came to matters outside the family, but well, because of our social status and perhaps due to the fact that once I became capable, I didn't want to know, there were parts of Catherine's situation in the family that he couldn't easily inquire about.
If I were to talk about those people, it would inevitably lean toward my perspective, but that's just how I am. Father didn't seem to want me, who wasn't from an aristocratic family, and my mother's child, in his field of vision.
Although he was calm when facing me in front of Father and only stated the facts, he probably had the awareness that he was doing something shady, and he was probably trying to cover it up for Father.
While discussing such things with Alfred, we were playing Gomoku, and Grace said,
"I apologize for interrupting. Whose staff is this?"
Grace brought a black-painted cane. It wasn't a magic wand; it looked more like a regular walking stick.
"Hmm, it's not mine," Alfred said, shaking his head, and of course, it wasn't Marian's either.
"Maybe it's Father's. I think he forgot it due to the earlier commotion."
"Is it indeed Mr. Henry's? In that case, I can bring it later."
"No, it's fine. I'll go there myself."
"...Are you sure?"
"It's the same when Byron comes over anyway."
"If you've already tasted poison, you might as well lick the plate."
I need to take some aftercare measures; otherwise, all the effort I put into various things today will go to waste.
Besides, if I act like my old self around their servants and do something to Grace, it could cause problems. Judging by Byron's demeanor, I'm not sure if he knows Grace's current title, so it's better if I go directly.
"Theo, are you going out? I might be behind, but I've had enough relaxation. I think I'll return to the workshop. Um..."
Alfred gazes at Marian.
Lately, Marian has been taking care of things not only in the workshop but also at home. Marian gets along with everyone, and since it's a capable all-female household, Alfred seems reassured.
"What are you going to do? Playing at home?"
I ask, and Marian nods happily.
"In that case, I'll graciously accept your offer."
Alfred smiles wryly and leaves the house.
"Marian-sama, shall I read a book for you today?"
Marian looks up at Ashley with a delighted nod. Well, Marian should be fine. I also get up while sipping tea.
"Yeah. Well, I'm off. Since Caduceus isn't here, if you go out, make sure to go with someone."
"Understood... um, there's no danger, right?"
"For me."
I answer with a wry smile, and Grace also nods with a small, wry smile. Grace's seal should be lifted.
"Because of that, be a little cautious. There's a possibility I won't be back today, at least not early."
"I understand. Um... There won't be anything dangerous, will there?"
"I won't let anything happen to you."
With everyone seeing me off, I leave the house.
Now then. I need to change my mindset.
I'm heading to the central part of Termwills. It has a cityscape with a stone-built garden reminiscent of Seoreum Castle.
I noticed my father's forgetfulness from the beginning, but I kept quiet, thinking it would be a good excuse to visit Count Gartner's mansion.
Well, even if there were no forgotten items, it's just a matter of buying something in town that wouldn't be unnatural as my father's belongings and then saying I came to check if it was a forgotten item.
Right now, Caduceus is hidden in my father's shadow, serving as a bodyguard, or rather, keeping watch. The reason is that I heard they might strip Byron of his inheritance rights, and I don't know how Catherine will react. Even though no matter how much she protests, Byron's situation won't change, she might try to push it through as long as I agree. If it were just arguing or coming to my place, it would be fine, but it would be a problem if something happened to my father later. I didn't tell my father about this in advance because I know he wants to believe in us as a family until the last moment. If Catherine accepts without any trouble, I'm okay with that... but I don't trust her now that I've put Caduceus on my father. What's important is my father's safety. The rest is not essential.
Anyway, if there's a change in the situation over there, Caduceus is supposed to send a signal. Since the carriage with Catherine has returned to the mansion, it's probably my time to move.
Catherine seems to be in quite a tight spot. If she moves, it will be soon, and if I intervene, I'll have to make an alibi for visiting the mansion officially. I can anticipate what Catherine is likely to say or do. I knocked on the mansion gate while waiting for the right moment.
"Excuse me. Is this the residence of Lord Henry?"
"Yes. Who might you be?"
The servant who came out was an unfamiliar face.
"I am Theodore Gartner, Ambassador of the Otherworld. Lord Henry forgot something, so I stopped by."
"Theodore...? The young master of Lord Henry?"
"Well, yes."
"Um, currently, we are a bit busy...! Please wait for a moment!"
Since I had mentioned my title, they couldn't simply turn me away at the gate. The servant seemed flustered.
He retreated for a moment, then returned with a person who seemed to be the steward, but he was also an unfamiliar face.
"I apologize for keeping you waiting. Would it be acceptable to wait for a little longer?"
"That's fine."
I followed the steward inside the mansion.
Rather than the drawing-room adjacent to the entrance hall, we were taken to a room in the opposite direction. After all, I can't be allowed to pass when my father and Catherine are in the drawing-room.
I saw a few servants inside the mansion, but there wasn't a single familiar face among them.
"...If I may ask..."
"Yes?"
"I don't recognize any of the servants here. Are they the ones employed at this estate, or... well, I would feel reassured if I saw a familiar face."
When I said that, the servant lowered his head apologetically.
"I apologize sincerely. We were dispatched from the Count's domain, but we may not live up to your expectations, Lord Theodore..."
... It seems there had been a personnel reshuffle due to some scandal or something.
Since it wasn't something I could tell that might disadvantage my father, I just smiled at the servant who was avoiding a difficult topic.
"No, if it's something you can't easily say, you don't have to answer."
"I'm truly sorry."
As for the servants... it seems my father had already taken action. They seem to be well-educated, but... well.
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