I Reincarnated as a Villainous Noble, Nothing More Than the Hero’s Foil: Since the Hero Can Only Bring Misery to My Favorite Heroine, I’ll Use My Game Knowledge and Over-the-Top Effort to Rewrite the Scenario and Make Her Happy. - Chapter 46

[Fritz, Count Schwarz’s Perspective]

A formal letter arrived at my estate, addressed from His Majesty Siegfried, Emperor of the Atlas Empire.

“I wish to take your son, Cain, as the husband of my daughter, the Third Imperial Princess, Angela.”

That was the content of the letter.

I was utterly dumbfounded, frozen in place as I tried to process the meaning behind it.

A marriage proposal from an imperial princess was, without a doubt, a political alliance. However, the House of Schwarz was neither royal nor particularly influential—merely a noble family governing a frontier territory.

It was hardly the kind of household an emperor would seek to forge a bond with.

Ever since Lancelot returned with the Schwarz Battalion, my headaches had been relentless.

“W-what do you make of this, Lancelot? What is His Majesty’s true intention?”

At a loss, I called for my steward, Lancelot, to consult with him.

Lancelot, ever the honest man, responded promptly.

“Sir, as I have previously reported, Master Cain captured Princess Angela, who was once an enemy general, and made her his slave. Furthermore, the Empire has been led to believe that Master Cain is plotting rebellion against the kingdom and that Princess Angela has chosen to aid him in this endeavor. This proposal is likely a response to that information.”

“T-the outcome of this campaign has far exceeded my expectations. I can hardly keep up… H-how did it come to this?”

If word reached the Emperor that Princess Angela had been enslaved, it could easily ignite a full-scale war.

Cain must have considered this possibility and manipulated the flow of information accordingly, but even so, it left me feeling as if I were walking on thin ice.

And what was this about rebellion against the kingdom? Was Cain truly serious about such a notion? Did he intend to seek the Empire’s support to make it a reality?

Every new development was more absurd than the last, and my headaches only worsened by the day.

“Most likely, His Majesty the Emperor believes that Master Cain has a high probability of defeating Prince Leon and claiming the throne. By offering Princess Angela now, he seeks to secure an advantage—perhaps even the kingdom itself.”

“Is His Majesty really evaluating Cain that highly?”

To be fair, Cain had managed to annihilate an undead army of 15,000 soldiers with a mere battalion of about 100 men. His military prowess was nothing short of extraordinary.

Somehow, my son had risen to such prominence that even the Emperor himself had taken notice.

It was an honor, of course—but at the same time, our house was now forced to walk a tightrope, where one misstep could mean total ruin.

“However, Cain and Selvia love each other deeply. If Selvia truly is the Saint of the World Tree, I cannot afford to let her go…”

Lancelot had also informed me that Selvia was, in fact, the genuine Saint of the World Tree.

She had deceived Prince Leon and refused to let her sacred power be exploited in the war against the Empire.

This was a matter that could only be addressed once Cain returned, but regarding His Majesty’s proposal… we would have to find a way to decline as diplomatically as possible. This was a precarious situation.

“Additionally, Sir, a confidential letter has just arrived from Princess Lydia. Shall I open it?”

“Princess Lydia? What could she want?”

I took the letter Lancelot handed me and began to read.

The first part expressed deep gratitude for our efforts in the recent battle against the undead army.

Then, at the very end, I was met with an utterly shocking statement—

“I wish to marry Cain and grant him the throne.”

“W-what is this?! Why would she offer the throne to Cain?! And wait—does this mean Princess Lydia has discovered the truth behind the secret reinforcements?!”

“…Hah. To be simultaneously proposed to by the princesses of two great nations—Master Cain is certainly remarkable.”

Lancelot skimmed through the letter, nodding in acknowledgment.

“Most likely, the one who leaked the information to Princess Lydia was Lord Gordon. Fortunately, given her estranged relationship with Prince Leon, it is unlikely that she will relay this secret to him…”

“W-what are we supposed to do? Princess Lydia not only wishes to marry Cain but also intends to cede the throne to him. If this information becomes public, Cain will be labeled a traitor against Prince Leon! A war of succession will break out, and the Empire will surely intervene—our House of Schwarz will be completely ruined!”

I found myself standing on the thin line between destruction and glory.

“Please rest assured, my lord. According to Master Cain’s latest report, he has spread intelligence throughout the Empire, using spies to reveal that His Majesty the Emperor is attempting to revive the Demon King. The Empire will likely descend into chaos, leaving them with no time to interfere with us.”

“W-what?! Are you serious?!”

It was becoming impossible to keep up with everything.

“I would suggest asking Master Cain yourself once he returns, my lord.”

Lancelot, though calm on the surface, seemed to have resigned himself to the fact that nothing could surprise him anymore.

“Furthermore, we have received word from Master Cain’s informants—right now, the royal capital has descended into chaos, all because of a rogue known as ‘Hero Abel.’”

“What…? What do you mean? Why is the Hero involved?”

“Apparently, his ultimate desire is to build a harem filled with the most beautiful young women. He has crashed the Prime Minister’s daughter’s wedding, abducted noblewomen of his choosing, and utterly decimated the military police when they attempted to arrest him.”

“…Huh?”

I had been busy negotiating the sale of mithril weaponry these past few days, and in the meantime, things had spiraled completely out of control.

“Moreover, the Hero has now been appointed as Vice-Captain of the Royal Guards. The once-proud Royal Guard has fallen to such depths. But rest assured—one day, I shall personally teach that so-called ‘Hero’ what true knighthood means.”

As a former Vice-Captain of the Royal Guard, Lancelot’s expression twisted into a menacing smile.

To him, a so-called “Hero” who preyed on noblewomen was utterly unacceptable.

“Count Schwarz!!!”

At that moment, a sharp, feminine voice rang out.

Startled, I glanced out the window—only to see a stunning young woman soaring through the sky on a mythical Pegasus.

It was none other than Princess Lydia!

“W-what?! Your Highness?!”

A member of the royal family traveling alone to a remote frontier estate, without guards or an official escort, was completely unthinkable.

She landed on the balcony.

“Did you read my letter? Please, arrange my wedding with Lord Cain immediately!”

“W-what?! I-I beg your pardon?!”

Princess Lydia, her hair disheveled, burst into the room, her voice filled with desperation.

“There is no other way to save this kingdom!”

“B-but! My son, Cain, is already engaged to Lady Selvia, the daughter of Viscount Fernando! I cannot give you an immediate answer!”

Princess Lydia seemed utterly desperate, and I had no idea what to do.

I could neither accept nor reject the proposal without first consulting Cain.

Even if we were to refuse, it had to be done in a way that wouldn’t offend royalty or breed resentment.

“Your Highness, please—let us discuss this in detail first—”

“My lord! Master Cain has returned!”

A maid rushed in with a timely announcement, as if sent by the heavens.

“What?! Tell him to come at once!”

“Yes! However, he has also brought 3,000 elves seeking to relocate here. He requests that we arrange housing for them immediately.”

“…What?!”

“Also, Princess Angela of the Atlas Empire has accompanied him! W-what should we do, my lord?! We haven’t prepared any formal reception!”

I had no idea what was happening anymore.

“Just—just bring them here with the utmost courtesy!”