Chapter 135: It’s Not a Difficult Request. (3)
Caught off guard by the unexpected response, Rosalyn continued speaking, slightly flustered.
“If I just let it slide without any form of payment, I wouldn’t be able to save face. Feel free to say whatever’s on your mind.”
“Really, it’s perfectly fine. Just your recovery is enough for me.”
Honestly, I didn’t want to get more tangled up with this intimidating woman. The treatment was over, and I had no reason to stick around.
Whatever I needed, I could just ask the newly appointed Guardian, Marquis Branford.
However, Rosalyn pretended not to hear Ghislaine’s words and exclaimed, as if an idea had just struck her.
“Even if my father provided a reward, the one indebted is still me. Ah, then I shall become Baron Penris’s personal sponsor from now on.”
The retainers were taken aback by her words.
Despite living in hiding due to her illness, Rosalyn had been managing the organizations she previously sponsored all along.
If she wielded the connections and resources she had with those organizations, she could paralyze half the capital’s economy in an instant.
‘When she moves, not only Marquis Branford but also her maternal family will back her up.’
Rosalyn’s mother, Lady Branford, was currently estranged from her husband.
Her father was the kingdom’s Chancellor, and her brothers were the capital’s Chief Administrator and Chief Justice.
Growing up in such a prestigious family, Lady Branford couldn’t tolerate the cold-hearted personality of her husband.
However, since their marriage was a political arrangement, divorce was out of the question.
In the end, Lady Branford could only stay at her family home.
Still, she made sure to send good medicine to her daughter from time to time and exchanged letters regularly.
Rosalyn’s maternal grandfather, the Chancellor, adored his granddaughter immensely.
For Rosalyn to become a sponsor meant she would also gain support from her maternal family—an incredible opportunity.
“What do you think? Is this enough of a reward?”
With a triumphant expression, Rosalyn asked, but Ghislaine firmly declined once again.
“I appreciate the offer, but I’ll have to decline.”
While Ghislaine was aware of her background, she didn’t see it as necessary.
After all, Marquis Branford would be the one to assist me in the future, so what could Rosalyn offer?
“Still, what can Rosalyn offer to help me?”
“If I accept, I might get some money. But getting involved with Rosalyn will definitely be a hassle. It’s time to draw the line here.”
Rosalyn, looking genuinely regretful, said, “Don’t you have a lot planned? I can help.”
“Is it really okay…?”
Swish!
Before I could finish my refusal, the fan was opened again.
“Hoo…”
She took a deep breath as if trying to hold back her rising anger and revealed only her eyes again.
“You will accept, right?”
I felt a chilling aura coursing through me.
Ghislaine sighed inwardly. I was trying to avoid trouble, but if I keep refusing, it seemed I’d only get more entangled. I guess I already was.
“…Thank you.”
It’s true she dragged me here under the pretense of finishing the treatment within the time frame, even insulting me. So it felt better to accept this.
‘Well, someday I might need help, so having options isn’t a bad thing.’
“Hehe, you won’t be disappointed.”
Swish.
The fan folded back, and her gentle face reappeared.
What kind of expression was she making behind that fan?
The retainers swallowed hard, unable to say a word.
I wanted to object, but Rosalyn was frightening in a way that was different from Marquis Branford.
At that moment, one retainer whispered quietly to another.
“Was the young lady always like this? Her personality changed too suddenly to be from recovering from an illness…”
“Shh!”
The other person turned their head sharply, looking panicked before the whispered comment could finish.
The oblivious retainer finally felt an ominous premonition and slowly shifted their gaze.
And their eyes met Rosalyn’s, which were filled with a terrifying glare.
She was fiddling with the dagger strapped to her waist, which had almost pierced Ghislaine’s head.
“Oh no. So it wasn’t that her personality got better; she was just acting nice in front of Baron Penris.”
The retainer immediately bowed their head, sweating coldly. I might be involuntarily retiring soon.
As I awkwardly watched her back, which radiated danger, Ghislaine cautiously called out, “Um, Miss?”
“Yes, Baron.”
Rosalyn turned to him with a smile that looked angelic.
Ghislaine felt a tightness in his chest as if he had just eaten a sweet potato.
It was clear this wasn’t her real personality, yet she kept displaying such a friendly and bright demeanor, which felt so out of place.
‘I can’t see it; her real expression is completely hidden.’
“……”
“Why do you look like that? Baron?”
Her sparkling gaze felt overwhelming. Ghislaine averted his eyes and mumbled.
“…It’s nothing.”
Rosalyn smiled as if she understood everything in his heart.
Marquis Branford, who had been watching the exchange, spoke in a nonchalant tone.
“Looks like the thanks are wrapped up. Given your upfront approach, I take it you have something you want from me as your guardian?”
“Given how you’re approaching me, it seems you have something you expect of me as your guardian?”
Ghislaine nodded obediently. Finally, she was able to fill the most lacking part of the Penris Territory.
“There is something I would like you to help with, Marquis.”
“Considering you’ve come to me, it can’t be an easy task.”
“Yes, but it shouldn’t be too difficult for you, Marquis.”
It must be something only a powerful figure in the kingdom could handle.
If it weren’t, she wouldn’t have gone through all this trouble to ask for help.
Marquis Branford smirked slightly.
“I’m curious about what you’re going to say next. Go ahead, tell me what you want.”
Ghislaine beamed with satisfaction.
Regardless of anything else, she really appreciated this straightforwardness.
There was no need for lengthy explanations or wasting time.
“If it’s troublesome for others to hear, I can change locations.”
“It doesn’t matter; everyone will find out anyway.”
Everyone held their breath quietly, gazing at Ghislaine.
The purpose of requesting a guardian was obvious—it meant she had more than one thing she wanted.
The first request was truly the most important and urgent one.
As the retainers of the Marquis would be the ones to handle this matter directly, they couldn’t help but wonder what Ghislaine was thinking.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Ghislaine replied.
Since finishing treatment last night, she had thought long enough about what to ask the Marquis.
“I need some people.”
The biggest problem in the Penris Territory right now was the lack of manpower.
If the Marquis hadn’t accepted the guardian position, she would have asked him to resolve this issue instead.
Marquis Branford tilted his head and asked, “You need some people?”
“The Penris Territory was nothing but wasteland before I took charge.”
“I know.”
“I’ve initiated many things to develop the land, but we lack the workers to actually do the work.”
“I understand your feelings, but increasing the population isn’t something we can just will into existence.”
Even a king can’t create new people out of thin air.
But Ghislaine shook her head as if she had a plan and continued.
“Please allocate some of the royal direct territory’s people to our territory.”
At those words, Marquis Branford frowned. The retainers of the Marquis began to murmur.
Not just any territory, but to ask for the royal subjects—she was quite bold.
One of the retainers scoffed, “The royal family wouldn’t allow that.”
Even if you were a guardian, making such unreasonable demands from the get-go?
Mockery and derision started to mix in the expressions of the retainers.
Rosalyn, watching from the side, sent an intrigued glance.
‘That’s a rather large request for just a favor, isn’t it?’
Labor, taxes, and troops all come from the people living there. Thus, the population is essentially the lord’s power.
Who would willingly share their strength without compensation?
Moreover, the royal family is focusing on keeping the Duke Delphine in check. There’s no way they’d allow anything that would diminish their influence.
He was pouring out his thoughts. There was no way he would allow anything that would diminish their influence.
However, Ghislaine wore a confidently smug expression, ignoring what others were saying.
She looked certain that the Marquis would agree to her request.
Marquis Branford, who had been silently watching her, asked, puzzled.
“Even though I am the Guardian, there are things I can and cannot agree to. Do you really think it’s possible to redistribute the royal assets?”
“Yes, I think so.”
“Why is that?”
“If you’re going to push for it anyway, isn’t it better to push it firmly? Please put me forward as the representative of the North. No one else. The place you’re currently considering… honestly, doesn’t it not sit well with you?”
“H-ha ha ha ha!”
Out of nowhere, Marquis Branford began to laugh.
His daughter, Rosalyn, and the retainers who had been with him for a lifetime were taken aback by his reaction.
They had hardly ever seen him laugh so heartily.
To think that this ever-expressionless and cold Marquis could laugh so joyously!
Not knowing why he was laughing made the situation even less comprehensible.
After laughing to his heart’s content, Marquis Branford suddenly glared at Ghislaine with sharp eyes.
“How did you know? Did you plant a spy?”
“I simply thought and predicted by myself. I only became confident my thoughts were correct after seeing your reaction, my lord.”
Marquis Branford raised his hand as if to dismiss everyone except his closest associates but hesitated.
Even though it was something they had carried out secretly, all preparations were already complete.
Once matters progressed in earnest, everyone would know anyway.
Even Ghislaine, who had been in the outskirts until now, seemed to have some inkling, so hiding it had become meaningless.
‘No way, if that guy caught on, the ones living in the Capital must be clueless about this?’
Marquis Branford clicked his tongue, casting an unhappy glance at his retainers.
Then, in a low voice, he asked Ghislaine.
“So, where do you think the territory I’m considering is?”
“Isn’t it the Brivant territory where the Tower of the Bloody Flame is located?”
“Why do you think that? The North has great lords like Raybold and Desmond too.”
“Raybold is self-righteous, and Desmond is suspicious. Beyond that, aren’t they all either vile lords or beggars? They wouldn’t catch your eye, would they?”
The Marquis looked at Ghislaine with a glint of interest in his eyes.
“So you’re saying Brivant has value worth pushing?”
“Count Brivant is close with the Crown Prince Faction and the Mage Tower, so it’s advantageous for defending the territory. Thanks to the Tower, he also makes quite a bit of money and is comfortably well-off.”
Ghislaine explained matter-of-factly. The Marquis raised one corner of his mouth intriguingly and replied.
“So you’re asking me to push you instead even knowing that?”
“Yes, wouldn’t that be better for you, my lord? It would also be easier for you to exert influence as a Guardian on my side.”
