The Matter of How Only a Political Rival Duke, Not My Own Family, Recognized My Worth After I Was Disowned ~When I Turned a Remote Frontier Territory Into the World’s Greatest City, the Noble Lady Assigned to Supervise Me Became the Best Fiancée~ - Episode 10: The End of a Fool and a New Dawn

Episode 10: The End of a Fool and a New Dawn

A cornered beast bares its fangs at the end.

Bertrand went like a crazed animal. He let out a furious roar, drew his sword, and charged straight at me.

“Useless trash!”

But that blade never reached me.

Like a gust of wind, the old butler Duncan stepped in front of me. He deflected Bertrand’s sword with his sheath. He then struck him squarely in the pit of the stomach with the hilt in one smooth motion.

“Gu—ah!?”

One strike.

That alone was enough to make my brother crumble to the ground with a pitiful croak.

I slowly walked toward him as he crawled helplessly across the dirt.

“How disgraceful, Brother.”

There was not a hint of pity in my eyes as I looked down on him.

“I will now read out your crimes. First, the crime of endangering the citizens by impersonating the name of the Silford family and instigating Goblins. Second, the crime of breaking national law and leading private soldiers to unlawfully invade another territory. This amounts to treason against the state.”

I paused. Then I crouched slightly to meet Bertrand’s eyes.

“And your greatest crime—by your foolish and incompetent command, you caused countless subordinates who believed in you to die meaningless deaths. You have neither the right to lead people nor the right to call yourself a noble.”

My calm, logical condemnation—and the scornful gazes of his former men surrounding him—completely shattered Bertrand’s hollow pride.

“H-hii… N-Noah… please, forgive me…!”

He pressed his forehead to the ground. He pathetically begged for his life.

“Don’t tell Father… please don’t tell him! I was wrong! So please, just spare my life…!”

“…I have no intention of taking your life.”

Relief spread across Bertrand’s face—but I continued.

“You will receive a punishment far harsher than death.”

I gave Duncan an order.

“See that my brother is given proper ‘protection.’ Treat his wounds, too. Then prepare a carriage and ‘return’ him to Father with the utmost courtesy.”

“…Are you sure about this, sir?”

“Yes. Brother, you will return to Father alive—and with your own mouth, you will confess every one of your foolish acts. That you used Goblins, that you led private soldiers—and that you were utterly and completely defeated by me.”

Bertrand’s face twisted in despair.

I pressed on.

“Oh, and all the mercenaries here will be released. I’ll even give them their weapons back. Along with enough travel money to reach the royal capital. I’m sure they’ll gleefully spread the tale of your ‘heroic battle’—and your pitiful begging for mercy—in every tavern they visit. It will be the finest entertainment imaginable.”

The complete death of a man’s social standing.

Bertrand could no longer utter a word. His soul seemed to have left his body as the soldiers dragged him away.

◇

When silence returned to the chamber, Isabella spoke to me.

“…Was this really the best way?”

“Yes. This is the optimal move.”

I replied as I walked toward the exit of the mine.

“Now Father will owe the Valenstein Dukedom a great favor to cover up his son’s treasonous crimes. Within the Silford family, the second brother will fall. And the succession struggle will descend into chaos. Without soiling our hands, we gain the greatest advantage.”

“…You truly are… to what extent will you go…”

Isabella looked at me with a mix of disbelief and fascination.

When we emerged from the mine, the eastern sky was beginning to brighten.

The morning sun illuminated the land of Grindel. As if blessing our victory.

Waiting there were our people—faces overflowing with joy and relief.

One mission—one project—had been completed.

Vengeance against my foolish brother was fulfilled.

But this was only the beginning.

My true enemy was not a small man like him—

It was the stagnant, decaying noble society that rooted itself in this kingdom.

Bathed in the morning light, I thought of my next plan.

“Well then. Let’s begin the next project.”