I Became a Lord in the Game

Chapter 226

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Chapter : 226

A ‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍great noble of the kingdom’s south.

The ‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍union between the Margrave of Bellua and Your Grace, Duchess of Aquitaine, sent a shock through the Duchy of Bourgogne that was anything but small.

“They ‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍joined hands?”

“If ‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍the Margrave of Bellua uses the princess’s bloodline to rule the kingdom, what becomes of our independence?”

He ‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍had not shown any such intentions yet, and I had already promised to lend an arm for the Duchy of Bourgogne’s long-cherished wish, but how could they truly trust it? Before power, everything tended to waver.

Even ‍‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‍now—look.

“Th-then what happens to me, Duke of Bourgogne? If the Margrave of Bellua changes his mind, are we not finished? What if they join hands with the Western Nobles’ Alliance!”

A new king who had climbed onto the throne after bringing down his own blood kin.

It was a crown in name more than anything, yet the title of “king” appealed to him all the same. He had no intention of handing his court over to anyone.

“Please calm yourself, Uncle.”

Thanks to that, the Duke of Bourgogne felt as though he had aged ten years in a single breath.

The situation had stopped being amusing. As the saying went, there could not be two suns under one sky.

There was a reason the emperor of the Holy Empire ran rampant the way he did.

Once someone held power, it was human nature to want to wield it.

The Margrave of Bellua was hiding it well for now, slyly and carefully, but no one knew when he might change his mind.

In advance…

They needed a response.

No matter what it took.

“Is not such a union something that has happened countless times?”

“Th-that is true, but…”

“Do not be shaken. When a sovereign wavers, those below him waver as well. So do not falter—wait. I will resolve this properly. In the end, if we simply crush the Western Nobles’ Alliance’s invasion swiftly, will not this anxiety fade away as well?”

“Kh… ahem. Very well.”

The Duke of Bourgogne soothed the king like that, then had an attendant summon his children.

A stratagem for the future.

Even if he had to borrow the hands of children, he had to make something—anything—happen.

And after discussing their scheme deep into the night…

“The Western Nobles’ Alliance has collapsed! Count Vuchong has sent a letter declaring his surrender.”

Just as he had boasted, the Duke of Bourgogne broke the Western Nobles’ Alliance’s offensive—and went further, bringing them to ruin.

---

“So… you shook them with a sowing of discord, won the decisive battle, and then dismantled the alliance with co-optation?”

“Yes, Your Grace. They say two counts within the alliance—who never had a good relationship—were the targets. The moment the decisive battle began, they betrayed each other, and the battle line collapsed in an instant.”

“How cowardly!”

“As expected of that insidious Duke of Bourgogne. A man who seems to know nothing of honor!”

At the messenger’s report, everyone around me cursed in unison.

The Duke of Bourgogne’s habit of steering situations through division and conspiracy was not a method that would sit well with nobles who prized honor.

“Hmm. Does it not feel… familiar?”

“Ahem. Cough. What do you mean by that, Magician Agpiel?”

“Oh, nothing… It is just that the man they are cursing looks strangely familiar to me. Huhahaha.”

“……”

Of course—he would not be Magician Agpiel if he did not tease me.

Good heavens, that old man.

I shot Magician Agpiel a slight glare and calmed the heated nobles.

“Enough, enough. We can be angry later. First, should we not sort out the situation?”

I was not immediately curious about what methods the Duke of Bourgogne had used to split them and bring them down.

No—those details were not even important.

What mattered was what came next. What would the Duke of Bourgogne do after crushing the Western Nobles’ Alliance?

To anyone, that sudden movement could only be read as a move to keep me in check.

Now that he had seized the northwest, the size of the territory the Duke of Bourgogne could command was not something that could be compared to mine.

He fell short of the Holy Empire’s Emperor, but still—his lands were nearly on par. No, because he ruled the wealthy northern regions, he was likely richer than the emperor in fiscal terms.

“Did the Duke of Bourgogne say anything in particular?”

“Yes. His Grace the Regent Duke said he prayed that peace would come within the kingdom, now that this victory had been achieved. And to commemorate the victory, he intends to convene the Estates-General along with a grand victory ceremony.”

“Hmmm…”

A victory ceremony, and the convening of the Estates-General.

For now, it showed an intention not to fight me.

After all, having just subjugated even the Western Nobles’ Alliance, there was no need for him to immediately turn his spear toward me. And in truth, was the Duke of Bourgogne not a man who moved for his house’s long-held dream of independence?

“If this goes well, I might be able to end it neatly with words.”

No matter how I turned it over, the Duke of Bourgogne’s desire to keep me in check came from the fear that I might seize the kingdom and obstruct his independence.

“In truth, there are many who urge the throne upon me in ways that are anything but subtle. They mention it so openly that, from the Duke of Bourgogne’s perspective, it must be uncomfortable.”

Your Grace, Duchess of Aquitaine, was also of the king’s direct bloodline.

If I were bound to her through marriage, then by the laws of succession I could, in principle, claim the rights of a claimant.

In this chaos, there was no claimant whose fame stood higher than mine. My place in the line of succession was far back, but it was not an utterly absurd notion.

If the nobles approved, the Church acknowledged it, and the people cheered, that would be the end of it.

The Duke of Bourgogne was clearly misunderstanding this situation.

Misunderstanding that, one day, I would seize the throne and desire a whole and united Elang Kingdom.

But I…

“I have no such intention at all.”

If anything, what I wanted was to spur the Duke of Bourgogne on. That way, I could use him as a pretext to carve off a great chunk of land and rule it as I pleased.

Even now, there were far too many parts of my rule constrained by the kingdom’s laws.

“Is this not too transparent, Your Grace!”

“That is right. At the wedding, he sent a miserable excuse for an envoy, and now he demands that we attend his victory ceremony?”

“The Duke of Bourgogne is as insolent as he is greedy. You should refuse to attend the Estates-General, Your Grace. If you do, the nobles will gladly support you.”

Perhaps they mistook my brief silence for displeasure, because the nobles seized the moment and began to complain loudly.

In the end, this was a world where people lived—desperate flattery meant to curry favor.

“What are you even saying?”

The problem was that what they were saying was, to me, nothing short of alarming. That was not a complaint—it was practically a declaration that we were going to throw down.

If we did that, a life-or-death struggle with the Duke of Bourgogne would be inevitable.

“The Regent Duke is not that sort of man. We will attend the victory ceremony and the Estates-General.”

“But still—”

“Enough. Why do you think only of conflict? Long ago, God taught us to resolve matters not through strife, but through love, mercy, and words.”

“Hmmm… indeed.”

“You are truly a pious Margrave, Your Grace.”

“Though I do not know whether that insidious Duke of Bourgogne has any faith at all.”

At my words, they sighed as one and drew the sign of the cross. A few still looked displeased, but none dared to argue.

I had built authority enough that my words could not be lightly contradicted—especially because my reputation for piety was persuading them in exactly this way.

“Hmm. This is not bad.”

Most of the time, it felt like a nuisance, but in moments like this, it was useful.

I watched the nobles nod with reluctant expressions.

Then, suddenly, one noble narrowed his eyes and asked again.

An elf with hair as white as snow.

It was the elf king—the Prince-elector of Bohemia.

“Hm? Then… are you not going to fight the Holy Empire’s Emperor? This is the perfect opportunity!”

“Your Grace, Prince-elector of Bohemia. Even if I wish to join you, how could I, when matters stand as they do? One must settle the affairs of one’s own house before tending to what lies outside.”

“Hoo… I was truly looking forward to roaming the battlefield with you.”

“It still cannot be helped. Once the situation with the Duke of Bourgogne is settled, I will join Your Grace then.”

At my firm refusal, the elf king—the Prince-elector of Bohemia—let both ears droop, his face turning mournful.

He looked pitiful, but I could not be fooled.

That man—no, that elf—was a mad barbarian king who felt exhilaration when splitting open skulls.

“Ahem. In any case, keep that in mind. For the time being, it seems I must handle the kingdom’s affairs. Prepare to attend the victory ceremony and the Estates-General according to the Duke of Bourgogne’s envoy. The matter of the Holy Empire will come after.”

“Understood, Your Grace.”

“We will obey your command.”

---

After that day, the many nobles who had gathered in the capital of Aquitaine ended the party and returned to their respective domains.

I remained at the side of Your Grace, Duchess of Aquitaine, utterly overwhelmed as I dealt with the war’s aftermath.

There was an invitation from the Duke of Bourgogne, but I could not go at once.

Once a man reached my station, moving anywhere required a great deal of preparation beneath the surface.

Money, supplies, troops, adornments befitting my authority, and so on.

I did not enjoy such things, and even when I requested frugality to the fullest extent, the numbers alone amounted to nearly a thousand.

For reference, that figure excluded the army—it was only the attendants.

As a result, the funds consumed by this enormous mass were truly astronomical.

“So this is what people mean when they say money drains away even if you do nothing but breathe.”

After receiving the report on the procession’s expenses, I sighed.

With this money, how many ruined farms could be restored? How many soldiers could be trained? How many new goods could be developed?

But it was a necessary expense, and I could not bring myself to order it cut—only making it all the more suffocating.

“Meee. Looord. Why do you look so gloomy? Mehr.”

Bishop Marco, walking beside me, asked in his usual goat-bleat.

“Meee? Is that truly what you are worrying about, Looord!”

After hearing my troubles, he snorted as if it were ridiculous and continued.

“Why worry about that. Meee. Our looord… I still have so much to teach you. Mehr.”

“……?”

What was this goat beastman going on about? Come to think of it, Bishop Marco had gone out many times to meet people beyond our lands.

A grand procession like this cost a fortune—so how had he returned having made money instead?

“Meee. Such a pathetic expression. Just trust me, looord. Meee. I will teach you. Watch me and learn. Mehehehe.”

And not long after, I learned exactly how Bishop Marco, the goat beastman, had managed to earn money from large processions all this time.

On the road to the kingdom’s capital.

A small domain we happened to stop at.

“I-it is a pleasure to meet you. It is an honor, Your Grace the Margrave. Bishop Marco!”

“Meee. You fool. Your sincerity is lacking. How can you meet a Performer of Miracles and not be pious? Mehr!”

“Uh, uhh… yes?”

“Yes? Meee! Sincerity! Your sincerity is lacking, Mehr. You must show sincerity to take Your Grace’s hand. Meee!”

The goat beastman Bishop Marco cleverly drew a circle with his finger and gave a wink.

Only then did the noble understand. He hurriedly gestured behind him, and a large sack was brought forward.

Bishop Marco lightly tested the sack’s weight, then looked at me with a deeply satisfied expression.

“See? Looord? Mehehehe.”

“…….”

It was… voluntary sincerity(?).

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NOVEL FULL

I Became a Lord in the Game

Chapter 226

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