Chapter 104
A Difference of Opinion
“I have spent the intervening time preparing several things you may want.”
The Count placed a bundle of documents on the table.
Johan examined their contents.
The parchments contained detailed personal information on the members of the Council, along with a chart outlining their relationships with one another.
There were also several letters of recommendation, promissory notes, and adoption papers.
He prepared everything without even being asked.
The Count had been working on several fronts to help Johan ascend as a Grand Duke.
The information concerning the Council would prove particularly useful to him.
Johan did not know much about its members.
He possessed only a general understanding of them.
Even the original novel he had read had not described the Council in much detail.
The Chronicle of Demons and Men was an ensemble narrative, and stories of that nature could not explore every subject in depth.
The information the Count had prepared was far more comprehensive than the superficial knowledge Johan had acquired from the original novel.
As Johan read through the documents, a satisfied smile formed on his face.
“As expected, Cromwell. Your efficiency is one thing I genuinely appreciate.”
The Count remained expressionless.
“You would do well to memorize every detail in those documents. Pay particular attention to Horentz of House Marcano. Learn everything written about him without overlooking a single word.”
The Viscountcy of Marcano was the kingdom’s largest merchant house.
Despite their lowly origins, they had risen to the pinnacle of the kingdom through ability alone.
The current head of House Marcano was an especially capable man.
Horentz von Marcano effectively controlled the kingdom’s entire economy. He was a model for every merchant to emulate.
Johan nodded.
“I already know Horentz quite well. I intend to meet him before anyone else upon reaching the royal capital.”
Horentz had played a significant role in The Chronicle of Demons and Men.
The authority he possessed remained overwhelmingly powerful even during the latter part of the original story.
The Count narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Read the documents properly. Once you examine them closely, you will no longer speak of meeting Horentz.”
Johan chuckled.
“Horentz can read other people’s thoughts. Is that what you wanted to tell me, Count?”
Horentz could gain access to another person’s mind.
The moment he used his authority, his target’s thoughts and emotions flowed directly into his mind.
That authority was called the Mind-Piercing Eye.
As long as Horentz possessed the Mind-Piercing Eye, he inevitably held the advantage in every transaction and negotiation.
The moment Johan met him, even his most closely guarded secrets would be exposed.
He could never allow himself to meet Horentz.
The Count spoke calmly.
“You already knew about Horentz?”
“Among the members of the Council, Horentz is probably the one person about whom I know more than you do.”
There was another secret surrounding Horentz besides the Mind-Piercing Eye.
The Count appeared somewhat puzzled.
“How peculiar. There should be very few people in this world who know about the Mind-Piercing Eye.”
Johan shrugged.
“I happen to be one of them.”
The Count contemplated this briefly before speaking.
“...You already knew about Yeriyan as well. Now you even know about the Mind-Piercing Eye. Where did you obtain this information?”
Both Yeriyan and the Mind-Piercing Eye were secrets that could not be uncovered through ordinary means.
“If you are asking about my source, I am afraid I cannot disclose it.”
“You cannot disclose it? Do you mean that, regardless of whether you wish to reveal it, you are physically incapable of speaking about it?”
He was exactly right.
Johan could hardly say that he had read the information in the original novel.
The restriction would not allow it.
Johan nodded.
“Something like that. In return, I will tell you another secret about Horentz. Consider it repayment for your efforts.”
Although the Count was only doing it because of Yeriyan, he was still supporting Johan in every possible way.
Johan needed to offer something in return.
If nothing else, it was necessary for their future relationship.
“What is it?”
The Count remained expressionless, but he was undoubtedly listening intently.
He understood the power of information.
Johan spoke calmly.
“Horentz is not the one who possesses the Mind-Piercing Eye.”
The Count’s brow furrowed slightly.
“Then who is it?”
“Lady Serena Marcano.”
Horentz’s daughter was the true owner of the Mind-Piercing Eye.
“...Is that information reliable?”
“Of course. Think carefully. Horentz always brings Serena with him whenever he attends an official gathering.”
The Count searched his memories for a moment.
Just as Johan had said, Horentz was accompanied by Serena on most occasions.
The Count let out a disbelieving chuckle.
“So that was the truth. It finally makes sense. But why are you telling me this?”
Johan replied evenly.
“We are in the same boat now. We need to share information to a certain extent.”
The Count was extremely wary of Horentz.
He had always behaved with considerable caution in matters involving Horentz.
That reluctance would not help Johan advance his plans in the slightest.
Only if the Count exercised his overwhelming authority could Johan accomplish his goals as quickly as possible.
The Count nodded in understanding.
“I understand your intention. From now on, I will be able to pressure Marcano much more easily.”
Until now, the Count had always sent a representative whenever he was required to meet Horentz.
He had been wary of the Mind-Piercing Eye.
That would no longer be necessary.
As long as he remained cautious around Serena, the Count could manipulate House Marcano with ease.
He fell silent for some time.
His expression grew strangely cold.
Johan frowned.
“Count, I am warning you in advance. Do not lay a hand on Serena.”
The Count was probably considering ways to assassinate her.
Cromwell was more than capable of doing exactly that.
He spoke in a slightly puzzled tone.
“If Serena disappeared, House Marcano would gradually lose its power. I would think there could be no better outcome for you.”
The Viscountcy of Marcano was one of the foremost houses in the Royalist Faction.
The Royalist nobles would never recognize House Myatro’s right to autonomy.
For Johan, who needed to become a Grand Duke, House Marcano was a thorn in his side.
Johan spoke.
“Serena’s authority is far too useful. It would be a terrible waste to eliminate her merely because she stands in the way of my plans. I intend to make that power mine.”
The Count folded his arms.
“In other words, you intend to become engaged to Serena?”
“That would be the most reliable method. It is not as though I can physically steal another person’s authority.”
“Were you not planning to marry that silver-haired mage?”
Johan had sent Ilea to become the Count’s adopted daughter.
His intentions were obvious.
He planned to give Ilea the Staviana family name and then marry her.
What followed would be equally obvious.
House Staviana would fall into Johan’s hands.
The Count had no one else to inherit the family.
His only child was the daughter born between him and Yeriyan.
Naria de Staviana.
She was currently the Queen of the Kingdom of Artelga.
As both a queen and a woman, she could not become the successor to House Staviana.
The Count had no siblings, either.
Under the existing structure, the Count’s son-in-law would stand first in the line of succession to House Staviana.
That position would belong to Johan.
Johan spoke.
“That is correct. If possible, I also intend to become engaged to Ilea.”
The Count frowned slightly.
“You intend to take two wives?”
He had loved only one woman throughout his entire life. He appeared to feel some measure of disgust toward Johan.
Johan chuckled.
“There might be three, four, or even ten.”
Johan did not care how many wives he had.
If necessary, he could marry a hundred women.
The Count swallowed a groan.
“Kingdom law permits a man to have only one wife. Even with my authority, interfering with that principle would be difficult.”
It was both a law and a tradition that had endured for five hundred years.
Johan replied.
“Once I become a Grand Duke, what relevance will the kingdom’s laws have?”
A new body of law would be established for his grand duchy.
He would have no reason to concern himself with the kingdom’s laws.
The Count directed a cold gaze at him.
“...You are not wrong. However, you are still a noble of this kingdom. For the moment, you must obey its laws.”
Johan nodded.
“Do not worry. I am not saying that I intend to become engaged to two women immediately. First, I need to win Lady Marcano over. Ilea will come afterward.”
Nothing about his relationship with Ilea had been decided yet.
Johan intended to determine Ilea’s role as circumstances developed.
The Count spoke in a somewhat chilly tone.
“Has that mage agreed with your decision?”
“Agreed to what?”
“What does she think about your intention to take multiple wives?”
The Count had previously met Ilea and spoken with her.
In his presence, she had openly expressed her anger toward Hakain.
The source of that hatred had been obvious.
It was a defensive reaction born when something precious to her came under threat.
Ilea regarded Johan as someone exceedingly precious.
The Count could see it clearly.
Johan frowned.
“I doubt Ilea would care. More importantly, Count, why are you asking me these questions?”
Johan could not understand the Count’s intentions.
The Count gave a humorless laugh.
“You are an intelligent fool. You behave as if you know everything, yet you fail to understand the most important truth. A man who cannot comprehend the emotion known as affection can never stand above others. Every human desire is born from affection. Only by understanding, controlling, and exploiting that emotion can one truly manipulate others. Possessiveness toward people and objects, obsession, devotion, jealousy—all such feelings ultimately originate from affection.”
He had suddenly begun expounding upon his political philosophy.
Johan was utterly bewildered.
Is my desire to take several wives truly enough to irritate him this much?
For the Count, perhaps the sole romantic remaining in this age, that was entirely possible.
Johan, however, found it difficult to understand.
Let’s change the subject.
He had no intention of engaging in a pointless argument.
Just as he was about to steer the conversation elsewhere, there was a knock at the door.
“It’s Ilea. May I come in for a moment?”
The Count answered.
“Come in.”
The door slowly opened.
Johan froze.
He could not take his eyes off Ilea.
Adorned in an extravagant dress and light makeup, she looked like a figure from a painting.
The witch was beautiful enough to inspire awe.
Ilea smiled brightly and twirled in place.
“Johan, what do you think? Everyone says I look beautiful.”
Clothes truly did make the woman. Once dressed and adorned like this, Ilea looked no different from an angel.
For the foreseeable future, she would live while presenting herself in this manner.
Johan nodded.
“It suits you even better than I expected.”
Ilea’s eyes curved into a smile.
“Really? I’m glad.”
The Count watched the two of them with a meaningful smile.
He turned toward Johan.
“Allow me to show you proof of my philosophy.”
“What are you suddenly—”
Before Johan could finish, the Count spoke.
“Ilea, are you aware that Sir Johan intends to take wives other than you? Several of them, in fact.”
The smile instantly vanished from Ilea’s face.
The atmosphere in the room turned deathly cold.
Her face stiffened like wax as she opened her mouth.