I Thought It Was a Common Transmigration - Chapter 106

“I suppose in your eyes, Renon, I’m the kind of woman who would betray her family with the flip of a palm.”

“No, to be honest, I think you have the courage to turn your back on your family. How many women are treated like tools because they don’t have that courage? And that’s wrong.”

If I hadn’t met Killian first, I would have liked Renon.

A sincere man with an expressionless face who says sweet things in a subtle way, he’s a little less dominant than the male leads, but what a great guy to marry and live with!

“……you are a good person, Renon.”

“This is my first time receiving such an evaluation.”

“That’s because other people don’t know the real you, and I hope you can meet with a really nice lady.”

“Thank you for thinking so.”

Renon bowed nonchalantly, showing no sign of being flattered.

I went back to organizing the documents for the Ryzen estate, imagining Killian and I running Ryzen together.

It was such a thrilling imagination that I couldn’t help but smile.

***

Tricia, where the territorial war was taking place, was sandwiched between Ravena, Ludwig’s territory, and Pizarro, Riegelhoff’s territory.

The lord of Tricia was out for blood, having been forced to surrender his estate to the Riegelhoffs, but unfortunately for him, the victory had been tilted in favor of the Ludwigs from the start.

“This time, an armored cavalry corps and an infantry division appeared from behind Mount Roseto and flanked our troops, resulting in a heavy defeat.”

“Duke Ludwig is probably the best in the Empire when it comes to tactics.”

“Cliff Ludwig and Killian Ludwig are knights beyond their father. It’s hard to believe they’ve never fought a war.”

As one despairing report after another came in, a grim mood settled over Count Riegelhoff’s camp.

Count Riegelhoff’s usually immaculately groomed hair was disheveled, a few strands falling across his frowning brows.

“Bastards! They’ve deceived us so thoroughly. Is this the way to treat your ally?!”

Count Riegelhoff was outraged by the fact that Duke Ludwig had been hiding their military power from them while he had been deceiving them at the same time.

Even though he should be blaming himself for being confident that he fully understood the current state of Duke Ludwig before starting the territorial war.

Shane was equally surprised.

He’d always looked down on Cliff for being lucky enough to be the heir to the dukedom, seeing no difference between him and himself.

But the Cliff they met on the battleground was a monster.

Rumors that he resembles the previous Duke Ludwig, who led the war against the Janok Kingdom to victory, do not seem to be false.

‘Damn it, damn it, damn it!’

Realizing the gap between himself and Cliff as the days went by was not a pleasant experience at all.

Even Cliff’s brother Killian was far superior to Shane.

In one particular battle, Shane’s entire soldiers had crumbled under Killian’s hooves.

“This is Edith’s brother? I can’t believe it.”

Killian’s scornful voice echoed in his head like a nightmare.

‘You arrogant bastard……! I will bring you to your knees at any cost!’

Shane gritted his teeth along with Count Riegelhoff.

And just then, a letter arrived from Sophia.

– Miss Edith does not seem to be willing to cooperate to the end. Perhaps it would be better to trust that unknown helper.

His Excellency Archduke Langston has made arrangements for his residence in the capital.

He asks you to hang in there, because sooner or later, the imperial throne will fall into his hands.

When Count Riegelhoff finished reading the letter, his eyes gleamed conspiratorially.

“I suppose you can find out nothing more about this unknown helper inside the Ludwig mansion.”

“It appears so. With Duncan kicked out as well, it’s even harder to determine this man’s identity.”

They were still thinking about the mysterious person who had contacted them, offering to help them, not long before they had declared war.

Duncan, the spy they had planted in the Ludwig mansion, had been discovered, severely beaten, and thrown out as soon as the Riegelhoffs had declared war.

It was as if they already knew his identity.

Even Edith had rejected the last offer, and while the Count was wondering what to do, a letter arrived.

– I work at the Ludwig mansion. If you’re trying to bring down the Duke, I’d like to lend a hand.

I can’t reveal my identity, but you’d be better off trusting me than your daughter.

At first, the Count was skeptical of the sender’s identity.

But he seemed genuine.

He detailed the number of knights and occupants left at the mansion, and he offered to install sleeping incense and a door lock prevention device.

However, it is said that the anti-lock device was discovered and removed by someone.

“His Excellency the Archduke Langston is ready, and we can’t put it off any longer. We must trust this man.”

“Very well, then I will ride up to the capital tonight under cover of darkness.”

“You must not fail, understand?”

“Don’t worry!”

Telling no one, not even the knights, and taking only one of his closest confidants with him, Shane sneaked off to the capital that night.

Unlike the tense and gloomy Riegelhoff’s camp, Ludwig’s camp was in a relaxed mood.

“Thank you for your hard work today.”

“Is it even worth the trouble? They’re so bad it’s starting to get boring.”

“Don’t let your guard down.”

“Yes! Understood.”

After thanking the knights and returning to his barracks, Cliff took off his heavy armor and stretched lightly.

He stood still, scanning his surroundings for any sign of presence, then swept his hand under his bunk.

The envelope dangled from his fingertips.

“It’s already here.”

It was the envelope containing the report from the investigator Cliff had hired and Lizé’s letter.

Cliff opened Lizé’s letter first.

– I miss you, Cliff,

How are you doing? All those stories about the territorial war are unsettling, to say the least.

You really aren’t hurt, are you?

I’m always praying for your health and victory.

The mansion is peaceful.

The Duchess is heading up the duchy with aplomb, and the butler and knight leader are taking care of the mansion and its defense.

Edith and I have been checking the doors of the mansion every night.

The first time I ran into her, I was a little surprised because I wasn’t expecting it, but now it’s routine.

Edith is also very anxious, and in addition to checking the doors, she walks around the mansion to make sure nothing is out of place.

When Cliff finished reading Lizé’s letter, he immediately opened the investigator’s report.

– Sophia, Shane Riegelhoff’s closest confidante and former maid to Edith Riegelhoff, has contracted with a mercenary organization under an assumed name.

The force is likely to operate within the capital, with Shane Riegelhoff presumably stepping forward to lead the mercenaries.

There are also suspicious movements on the part of Archduke Langston. The target is the imperial palace.

“That’s why I couldn’t see Shane since the day before yesterday.”

Cliff then sneaked to the Duke’s barracks late at night with two letters in hand.

He’d called ahead to let him know he was coming, and the Duke was waiting for him with his lantern dimmed.

“What’s the matter, Cliff?”

“First, this.”

Cliff showed the Duke the investigator’s report first.

The Duke’s eyes quickly turned vicious as he read the report that Shane was up to no good.

“Do you think this mercenary force will outnumber the mansion’s defenses?”

“Shane isn’t stupid, so he’s probably contracted a fairly large mercenary force, but fifty men at most. The knights I left at the mansion total seventy, and there are quite a few servants, so they should be able to hold them off…… but if he has any allies inside the mansion, that’s a different story.”

Cliff handed the Duke the letter from Lizé as well.

“Lizé doesn’t seem suspicious, but don’t you think it’s a little odd that Edith is wandering around the mansion?”

“It certainly is……”

“I think they’re trying to target the mansion.”

The Duke clenched his teeth at Cliff’s speculation.

“How shameless. They don’t know a bit about honor as a nobleman, and they’re going to do it like a pack of wild dogs.”

“It was wrong from the start to allow such men to have the right to distribute iron ore.”

Duke Ludwig, who had never gotten along with the Riegelhoffs, had been keeping an eye on them ever since they had gotten the iron ore rights.

He deliberately treated them as friends, keeping them close and under surveillance, and manipulating the forces around them to make sure they didn’t abuse their power.

Nevertheless, the Riegelhoffs succeeded in every investment they made and amassed an enormous fortune.

“Edith’s contribution to the growth of the Riegelhoffs was significant.”

“Their investments were successful because of the information she collected.”

“Do you know how I felt when I pushed Killian to marry such a woman? I’ll probably carry that guilt with me until I die. Still, it’s spilled water, and to betray us like this after we tried to accept her……”

Cliff didn’t bother to mention that Killian was getting along surprisingly well with Edith.

He didn’t want to sway his father’s resolve when it was something he’d have to deal with anyway.