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 7: The Blueprint for Counterattack

Episode 7: The Blueprint for Counterattack

Inside the tent, the lamplight dimly reflected off the Brau Workshop’s engraving.

Isabella was unable to hide her excitement. She spoke quickly.

“With this, we finally have undeniable proof that House Silford was behind it all! If we report this to the central aristocratic council through my father—”

“It’s useless.”

I calmly interrupted her.

“You’re being naïve, Lady Isabella. With the kind of influence House Silford holds, they could easily pressure the Brau Workshop into testifying that ‘the weapons were stolen by bandits.’ In the end, the workshop’s owner would take the fall, they’d cut off the lizard’s tail, and it would all be over. We’d gain nothing.”

“Then what should we do…?”

“What we need is an accumulation of irrefutable circumstantial evidence. And—” 

I narrowed my eyes. 

“—A single, devastating strike delivered in the way they’d hate most.”

I laid a new sheet of parchment over the spread-out map of the territory.

It was the blueprint for the counterattack I was about to set in motion.

“Our greatest weapon is the development of this land itself. House Silford wants to sabotage our progress. In that case, we’ll outpace their schemes and make Grindle prosper far beyond their imagination. Every time they hear of our success, their envy and frustration will rot them from the inside. That will be the most satisfying revenge.”

I pointed at one section of the blueprint.

“The irrigation canal will be completed soon. Next comes the establishment of the primary industry—agriculture. At the same time, we’ll start preparing to mine the iron vein I located with my skill. Gaining overwhelming economic power—that’s our first arrow.”

“…And the second arrow?” 

Isabella asked. She swallowed nervously.

“Information warfare,” 

I replied with a fearless grin.

“Use House Valenstein’s connections to spread a rumor in the royal capital’s social circles: ‘It seems Brau Workshop’s weapons somehow ended up in the hands of frontier Goblins.’ Make sure the source can’t be traced. Once the rumor spreads, the workshop’s credibility will crumble. House Silford will panic and pressure them to cover it up—and that’s when we strike at the cracks.”

It was a plan far too cunning and intricate for the usual rules of noble society.

Isabella stared at me for a long moment—then slowly, her lips curved into a stunning, almost chilling smile.

“…You’re truly fascinating. No—terrifying. Very well. I’ll join you. House Valenstein will commit its full power to this plan.”

And so, our quiet war began.

◇

Two weeks passed.

Our project advanced at a breathtaking pace.

After the battle with the Goblins, the villagers’ unity had reached its peak.

Everyone was filled with life. They were eager to make the village—and the territory—better with their own hands.

And then, the destined day arrived.

“—The water’s coming! It’s hereee!”

At someone’s shout, the entire village erupted in cheers.

Life-giving water surged down the channel carved through rock and earth.

The sight of the long-dry land greedily drinking up the water with a roaring sound was magnificent.

People ran to the canal. They splashed themselves. They were crying tears of joy.

“…You truly did it,” 

Isabella whispered beside me. Her voice was trembling with emotion.

“This is just the beginning. The real work starts now.”

As if to prove those words, the miracle’s rumor began to spread through neighboring lands like wind.

“In Grindle, there’s work—and fair pay.”

“The new lord is like a god.”

Peasants suffering under tyranny, unemployed craftsmen, and the lost and desperate began arriving at Grindle’s gates day after day.

Among them were men whose strong, hardened bodies clearly didn’t belong to ordinary farmers.

The territory was undoubtedly beginning to grow.

◇

That night. 

Isabella entered my tent. Her face was grave.

In her hand was a crystal imbued with magic—a communication device.

“A regular report from our spies in the capital.”

“Did they find something?”

“Yes…”

She paused. She then looked at me with firm resolve.

“After investigating the Brau Workshop affair, they discovered something interesting. The workshop master met with someone from House Silford just a few days before the Goblin attack.”

“…Who?”

“Your second brother, Lord Bertrand von Silford.”

As expected—my arrogant, thoughtless second brother.

I could feel the cold light flicker in my eyes.

“…I see. That makes things simple.”

The enemy’s face was clear now.

It was time to make the next move.