The Viscount's Family Troubles

The Viscount's Family Troubles

"Still so young, and already a baron. The Clayton Family has produced another noble."

"March, look at him, then look at yourself."

As he spoke, Miles fixed a murderous glare on a middle-aged man seated at one side of the table.

March Miles, Viscount Miles's second son. As the head of the Miles Family, which had endured for centuries, Viscount Miles had fought desperately in his youth. He had been one of Grand Duke Mayers's key generals during the campaign to seize Northwind Province.

After their victory, the declining Miles Family relocated from the South of the Empire to Northwind Province. Having claimed the revenues of all Zero Crossing Prefecture, they rose to prominence once more, while Viscount Miles became the prefectural governor of Zero Crossing Prefecture.

His contributions had been immense, but because of the political struggle between Grand Duke Mayers and the Empire's other nobles, the outcome had ultimately fallen far short of expectations.

Other than Zero Crossing Prefecture, Viscount Miles possessed only a few Pioneer Lord and Pioneer Knight writs.

He had given one Pioneer Lord writ to his second son. After all, the Viscount's Territory would be inherited by his eldest son, so he had wanted to give his second son an opportunity.

But the problem was that March Miles was simply too incompetent. In less than ten years, he had abandoned his territory in disgrace and returned to Viscount Miles's side to idle away his days.

Having wasted a noble's ticket, he naturally could not be given a second chance.

However, Ryan had heard yesterday at Barnes Manor that the territory March Miles had chosen back then had happened to border the territory of the youngest son of Viscount Dragoon, the other viscount of Zero Crossing Prefecture.

March Miles's disastrous defeat and return had much to do with that man.

That Steward had taken several Gold Coins from him before telling him the story, but Ryan had already understood. The relationship between the two viscounts of Zero Crossing Prefecture was more serious than he had imagined.

Viscount Miles had possessed great ambition in his youth, allowing the decaying Miles Family to rise again in Northwind Province. But the entire Miles Family had long since rotted from within. Other than Viscount Miles himself, no one remained capable of supporting this family estate.

As Viscount Miles gradually grew old, this viscount family would once again decline into obscurity.

That was the true reason for Viscount Miles's anger. He could not see a single outstanding heir among his descendants. Moreover, the Miles Family was huge. Beyond them were countless other Miles relatives, all clinging to this great tree and sucking its blood, without the slightest awareness of what would become of them if the Miles Family fell.

Ryan simply did not know whether Viscount Miles had grown senile or was doing it deliberately.

After all, his own barony had also been acquired through far from harmonious means. It had likewise been the result of the Empire's political struggles.

It was difficult to say whether Miles's bringing up the matter came from goodwill or ill intent.

"Lord Miles, I actually came here this time because I have something to discuss."

"Oh? What is it?"

"Ryan, when I see you, I am reminded of seeing Count Clayton in the imperial capital all those years ago. That count once struck against Pirates on the West Coast and achieved the feat of wiping out an entire pirate crew."

"I also know about your Frozen Earth Territory. If you wish to borrow grain, the Miles Family still has some in storage."

Ryan looked at the viscount in confusion. He had the distinct feeling that this viscount did not think much of him.

And if he had not been a teenager, Viscount Miles certainly would not have been so blunt. But upon seeing how young he was, the man had lowered his guard. Did he think Ryan could not sense the faint malice in his tone?

As for why this somewhat hostile viscount was still treating him courteously, Ryan guessed it was because his father, the count, had returned to the Empire.

No imperial viscount, wherever he might be, could possibly ignore the Empire's noble circles.

As a noble family with centuries of history, the Miles Family likely still had many connections and contacts in the South of the Empire.

Northwind Province lacked nothing when it came to Mineral Deposits. Over the years, the Miles Family had certainly deepened many ties with southern nobles through Iron Ore.

Although, after becoming a noble, Ryan had effectively separated from the Clayton Family and established his own Ryan Family, he was still that count's son.

Ryan had no intention of arguing with Miles over such matters. The orcs were marching south, and if they were not careful, everyone would die.

"Lord Viscount, I did not come here over grain."

"Actually, I have an extremely important piece of information that I wish to relay to the governor of Zero Crossing Prefecture."

By invoking the viscount's official position, Ryan made Viscount Miles sit up slightly straighter.

"Oh?"

Ryan smiled. "This information is quite valuable. I simply wonder what price Viscount Miles is willing to offer."

Where profit was concerned, Ryan naturally intended to secure sufficient benefits.

Viscount Miles stared at Ryan, his aged eyes revealing nothing. But Rag Miles, the viscount's youngest son, who was four or five years older than Ryan, had already cried out.

"Baron Ryan, you stand before Viscount Miles, the governor of Zero Crossing Prefecture. If you possess important intelligence concerning the Empire's security, please reveal it immediately."

Ryan looked at Rag Miles with some surprise, then discreetly swept his gaze across the others. He saw the satisfaction in Viscount Miles's eyes, as well as the confusion and shock on the faces of the other Miles family members.

Ryan had invoked the authority of the governor of Zero Crossing Prefecture, forcing Miles to take the information he possessed seriously. Yet Rag had used the same method to try to force Ryan into yielding.

After all, the orcs' march south concerned the safety of the Empire's entire frontier. No noble could bear responsibility for such a matter.

"I never expected the Viscount Miles Family to have such a descendant. It seems Viscount Miles has a worthy successor."

Ryan spoke to Viscount Miles from the position of a noble, from the position of a baron. Naturally, although Rag was older than him, Ryan was the one looking down on him.

At this dining table, there were only two true nobles: Baron Ryan and Viscount Miles.

Yet after saying that, Ryan glanced at March Miles and Viscount Miles's eldest son, Kristan Miles. The implication was quite thought-provoking.

Ryan smiled at Viscount Miles. In a noble household, power struggles were inevitable. Would this Viscount Miles, who had once followed Grand Duke Mayers, have a way to handle it?

"Baron Ryan, since this concerns a major matter involving Zero Crossing Prefecture in the Empire's Northwind Province, it would not be appropriate for the others to participate. Come with me to the study."

"Kristan, you come as well."

Upon hearing that, Ryan understood. This Viscount Miles could not handle his own family affairs.

Remembering how Viscount Miles had earlier mocked him with his family, Ryan instinctively looked toward Rag, the youngest child of the Miles Family.

"Shouldn't Lord Rag join us? Just now, it seemed that only Lord Rag understood the news that the orcs were marching south."

Ryan's voice remained as youthful and innocent as ever, but many of those present changed expression.