[Yard]
At seventeen, Yard returned to the marquis’ mansion after nearly a year. Three months after Van had been sent to a remote village, Yard and Sesto had each been assigned as deputies in large cities to study internal administration and the management of their own domains.
For the marquis, sending only the youngest son, Van, out into the world had begun to stir rumors. To prevent any ill gossip, the second and third sons were also appointed as city deputies, while the eldest was rigorously trained as the marquis’ aide, creating the appearance of fairness.
Yet Yard, sent out as a deputy during the critical years of mid-adolescence for a noble, felt deeply anxious inside.
Yard and Sesto, both with an aptitude for fire magic, should have been among the strongest candidates for succession within the four siblings. So why was he not the marquis’ aide, but merely a city administrator?
Jalpa, always on the battlefield, could die at any moment. That was precisely why the role of the marquis’ aide was so crucial.
Yard thought this to himself.
Although he had been serving as a deputy in the southern side of the Marquis Feltio counties, opposite Van’s Ceat Village, Yard had still heard news of Van becoming a baron and of the conflicts with the Yerinetta Kingdom. Yard saw these events as a great opportunity.
When he received an urgent summons from the current marquis to return, Yard eagerly went back, seeing it as his chance to demonstrate his power as the marquis’ aide, and stood before Jalpa.
“Father! Yard Gai Feltio, reporting home!”
As Yard said this and raised his face, Jalpa responded with his usual stern expression, nodding lightly.
“…How did it feel to govern a city as a deputy?”
At this simple question, Yard’s expression changed.
“…I learned how to govern a city as a lord—how to generate profit and how to foster development. I have learned much. Moving forward, I wish to test my abilities on the battlefield as well, to further strengthen the Feltio Marquisate.”
Jalpa narrowed his eyes, observing Yard intently. He knew that both Yard and Sesto had been assigned experienced aides, and that their year had consisted mostly of learning from these aides. Moreover, the cities they had governed were peaceful and economically prosperous. To put it bluntly, anyone who applied themselves would inevitably achieve results.
Yet the reports from the aides merely stated that Yard and Sesto had been diligently performing their duties. Jalpa was not naive enough to accept such reports at face value. After all, the aides would be reporting to Jalpa, the current marquis, about the future potential heirs. There was no room for careless writing; conversely, if there was any positive achievement, the aides would likely exaggerate it.
However, after almost a year, the cities remained largely unchanged from when Yard and Sesto had arrived—no significant development had occurred. The only report was that the two had performed their duties diligently.
Jalpa judged this as the result of idle behavior.
He cast a piercing glance at Yard and let out a small sigh.
“…While you were managing a city for a year, Van has slain a fully-grown dragon, become a baron, developed a village into a fortified city, and even achieved glory on the battlefield. Are you not ashamed as his older brother?”
Hearing this, Yard’s face instantly twisted.
“N-No, surely that was with the assistance of Count Ferdinant. I’ve heard rumors that Count Ferdinant’s daughter lives in Van’s domain. Van must have acted as their agent. He probably used the Count’s influence to defeat the dragon and develop the land. If it were done that way, then even I could—”
There was no way an eight-year-old youngest brother, with minimal magical aptitude, could accomplish such feats. Yard’s preconception led him to suspect Count Ferdinant’s involvement.
Initially, Jalpa had thought similarly to Yard. But after witnessing Van’s magic firsthand, Yard’s suspicions seemed nothing more than delusion.
“Don’t be foolish. His Majesty personally visited Van’s domain and acknowledged him. If Ferdinant were involved, His Majesty would never be deceived. Besides, attempting to defeat a full-grown dragon the conventional way would require two to three thousand fully-equipped knights and several top-tier four-element mages. Attempting such a feat openly would immediately be discovered by His Majesty.”
Jalpa’s words left Yard opening his mouth to argue, but no words came.
He had not expected Jalpa to speak in a way that seemed to recognize Van, and Yard tried in confusion to grasp the situation. He wondered if he had only been summoned to be reprimanded. Just as he was thinking this, Jalpa let out a sigh and spoke.
“…Last month, Van captured a key stronghold of the Yerinetta Kingdom. Are you aware of this?”
“Y-Yes! As expected of Father…”
Yard replied cautiously, and Jalpa furrowed his brow, lowering his chin.
“I see… That stronghold is now to be managed by Van.”
Hearing this, Yard’s eyes widened, and he froze, immediately raising his voice.
“Th-That’s impossible!? There’s no way such an important stronghold could be entrusted to a child not yet ten years old…!”
Yard’s eyes widened in disbelief. Jalpa nodded in agreement and snorted.
“The main forces who captured the stronghold have returned to their lands, but they will soon regroup for the next battle. Therefore, Van should have other minor nobles and various lower-ranking allies remaining as his collaborators. However, our marquisate’s loyal knights could not be placed among them.”
“…To leave such a stronghold defended only by lower nobles… What is His Majesty thinking?”
Yard muttered in frustration. Jalpa merely shrugged, shaking his head.
“Even lower nobles should be able to defend it for a month or two. Any losses would be insignificant for the kingdom. Yet leaving things entirely to chance would be uninteresting. That is why I have instructed Murcia to be dispatched from the marquisate to provide assistance.”
Hearing this, Yard’s face lit up.
“…I see. So, if anything happens, my elder brother will take command and achieve glory for the marquisate, correct?”
“Exactly. However, the Feltio Marquisate has always proven its worth on the battlefield. Most likely, His Majesty will soon continue to chip away at the territory of the Yerinetta Kingdom. That will be the moment our marquisate can truly demonstrate its strength. That is why I summoned you and Sesto back.”
Jalpa fixed his gaze on Yard. In truth, Murcia was assisting Van under the king’s orders, but for the marquisate’s purposes, the explanation had been altered to suit their convenience.
Unaware of this, Yard accepted Jalpa’s words at face value, taking it as a test of his suitability as a potential heir.
“Understood. Together with Sesto, we shall make the marquisate’s name known.”
Yard said this with a fierce grin.
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