Chapter 227: It’s Time for Me to Take Everything (1)
“The Grand Duke has arrived!”
“The Second Duke has secured his position!”
“Reports say the Third Duke just entered the castle!”
“The Fourth Duke is expected to arrive soon…”
“The Fifth Duke…”
Amelia frowned as her followers relayed real-time updates.
“Wow, he sure had a lot of kids.”
Currently, she and her followers gathered in a mansion near the Lord’s Castle.
Today was the day of the big feast. Almost all the heirs of the territory and key figures were gathering.
So, Amelia planned today as her day of reckoning. It was time to wipe out any dissenters.
However, with so many children her father had spawned, keeping an eye on each one felt like a full-time job. It was no wonder she was getting annoyed.
Clicking her tongue and furrowing her brow, Amelia asked Bernap, “What about Ghislaine’s movements?”
“Last news was he’s enjoying a feast with the princes of each territory.”
“Ha, seems like he’s living large with plenty of food and land now.”
Thanks to Ghislaine, Amelia had secured a massive supply of food. She had followed his plan, bracing for a loss, but that gamble had turned out nicely.
But whether Ghislaine’s success was due to luck or skill remained a mystery to her.
Predicting the weather and stockpiling food made no sense. He must’ve had different intentions for hoarding that food.
However, starting a war during a drought was truly a brilliant move. If he’d lost, everything would have been ruined, but he swiftly claimed victory.
‘That part is talent, I can’t deny it.’
Looking at what he had gained, it was clear he was no pushover.
‘Runestone, iron ore, I’m going to take it all. They were always mine to begin with.’
After seizing Raybold, she’d have no choice but to confront Ghislaine. To achieve her goals, she needed what he possessed.
She had to get her hands on them before Harold.
Thus, she had been keeping a close eye on Ghislaine’s movements since he took Count Cabaldy’s Territory.
“Still, I have to admit there’s a part of me that’s grateful to him.”
Though she had suffered losses because of Ghislaine, the benefits gained were substantial.
Thanks to Ghislaine inflicting major losses on Harold, Amelia had gained authority, allowing her to initiate rebellion whenever she wanted.
“Harold’s losses bring me such joy.”
A chilling smile spread across her lips.
Anyway, they were all people she’d eventually need to suppress. With Ghislaine busy battling Harold, Amelia found it quite advantageous for herself.
Ghislaine was distracting Harold while letting some steam off, which was a good thing for Amelia.
“I can just push those who interfere out of the way.”
First, she needed to take control of Count Raybold’s territory. She had prepared a lot for today’s grand plan.
Clearing her mind of thoughts about Ghislaine and Harold, she asked Bernap.
“What about the other retainers?”
“No problems. We’ve secured all positions, and their families are under surveillance.”
“Good, now we just have to wait for the time. Is everything ready?”
Bernap was the first to bow his head and respond.
“All the knights and soldiers in the escort unit are ready.”
Then, a middle-aged man in a gray robe, giving off a cold vibe, bowed his head.
“I’m ready.”
He was Caleb, the leader of the lynx smuggling gang that had once ambushed Ghislaine.
“Our guys are all set!”
A big, rugged man laughed heartily and shouted.
He was Ulkan, the famous bandit who had once terrified the North, known as the “Ruthless Butcher.”
He was holding a massive iron club, with a nasty hobby of beating people to death with it.
The merchant leader of the Aktium group, Conrad, next bowed his head.
“The mercenary forces are ready.”
Several other leaders also bowed their heads, signaling their preparations were complete.
They were all people that Amelia had long ago assimilated and nurtured.
Amelia looked around them and closed her eyes for a moment.
“Well, it’s finally starting.”
She had been preparing carefully since she first set her target.
Originally, she wanted to be a little more certain in her preparations, but because of Ghislaine, she had no choice but to move the operation forward.
That troublesome guy’s rampage complicated things, ruining Harold’s Northern unification plan.
“Well, it’s not all bad.”
Plans are just markers, anyway. They change as the situation changes.
What matters is ultimately achieving the goal.
Was Bernap a little worried about Amelia’s composed demeanor? He cautiously spoke up.
“Miss… Once you start, there’s no turning back.”
Amelia slowly opened her eyes and replied.
“I know.”
She wasn’t merely engaging in this out of ambition or greed. Amelia’s close associates understood the deeper intentions she harbored.
“It will still be tough even after getting Raybold. The lords and nobles of the North won’t recognize you as Count Raybold. Such a thing has never happened in the long history of the kingdom.”
“This has happened before. It’s just that there hasn’t been a woman who did it.”
“Yes. That’s why people will call you a legendary villain, a witch. You’ll lose the reputation and fame you’ve built up until now.”
“I don’t care. What others think doesn’t matter.”
“But as your infamy grows, the entire world will become our enemy. We will face a lonely battle our whole lives. Not just against other lords and nobles, but against people’s prejudices as well. Perhaps… this fight might never end.”
“…I’ve been prepared for this from the beginning.”
“If you stop now… you could live comfortably as the daughter of a great lord, honored and praised as a dignified and elegant noblewoman. Without a single worry.”
“That kind of life means nothing to me. I don’t want to live like a caged bird.”
“I don’t want to.”
“If we fail… we won’t die peacefully.”
“No, we must succeed.”
With those words, Amelia closed her eyes again.
No matter how bold she was, she couldn’t help but feel tense in the face of such a huge task.
She briefly collected her thoughts and recalled the events of the past.
Everything that had made her who she was now.
— What? Give more food to the territory residents? So the territory can thrive? Hahaha! How audacious for a woman to speak such bold words. Have you stolen some royal studies?
— Listen well. The territory residents are practically like livestock. All they need is enough to survive. That will enrich our family and territory.
— What does a woman know about politics? Don’t be so cocky; prepare for marriage like other young ladies. You are nothing.
Her father’s reaction was always the same. It was pitiful. He couldn’t even consider what was truly important to govern people.
Not just her father. The retainers were the same.
— Strengthening alliances between families is your role, Young Lady. You just need to marry well. Stop reading useless books.
— The more serfs we have, the more prosperous our territory becomes. That’s obvious. What rights do you think you can increase? We’re better off than other territories in the North. It’s a generous situation.
— We are already a great territory. That means the way we’ve been doing things has not been wrong. That will continue.
— Young Lady, do not utter such thoughts. It’s best not to cause unnecessary trouble. You are a woman. You are not the heir to the family, nor are you anything.
‘Nothing at all.’
Why did those words pierce her so deeply?
Why did everyone say such things to her?
Why did they all conclude that she was incapable of anything?
— Serve the Duke faction. Then you will become Raybold’s master.
— You will be able to live in luxury for your life. But that’s where it ends. Don’t try to change the world with useless talk.
— Don’t forget, Amelia. You are nothing but a noble lady. Without us, you are nothing.
Even the Duke faction that supported her said such things. At this thought, a self-deprecating laugh escaped her.
“Nothing at all…”
“Excuse me? What do you mean by that?”
At her abrupt words, Bernap beside her looked on curiously.
She smiled and shook her head with her eyes still closed.
“No, it’s nothing.”
Yes, those things were truly… nothing at all.
Creeeak…
The door of the hall they were gathered in slowly opened, and the Head Maid entered.
“Ah, Young Lady…”
She began with a trembling voice. It felt as if she would suffocate under the many gazes staring at her.
The Head Maid had seen many nobles and knights throughout her life. But she had never seen such terrifying people gathered in one place.
Some looked neat, some disheveled, some intimidating, and some cold.
A variety of people were gathered, yet their gazes were all the same.
A resolution to stain this territory with blood tonight.
The Head Maid shut her eyes tightly and spoke to Amelia, who was seated in the highest position. Her voice was still trembling.
“The feast… has begun.”
Amelia slowly opened her eyes at those words.
With her mind completely made up, a chilling voice escaped her lips.
“Dignified honor, immortal loyalty, the glory of my family and bloodline—these have all lost their value within me. From now on, I will move solely for my cause. Before it, rank and status are irrelevant, there are no good or evil, and even the institutions and customs that uphold this world are meaningless.”
She took a brief breath and continued as she scanned everyone around her.
“If any existence dares to block my way, I will crush, kill, and burn them all. Remember this: from now on, my cause will be the only justice, and it will be the goal you must stake your lives to follow.”
To fight against the nonsensical, one must become nonsensical themselves. She decided to turn herself into a monster.
She would trample everything and create the world she desired.
Even if it meant burning this kingdom to the ground.
Upon hearing Amelia’s firm resolve, Bernap knelt on one knee and spoke.
“I will follow you until the end.”
Then, everyone around them knelt as well and shouted in unison.
“I will follow you until the end!”
Amelia’s eyes sparkled with a fierce light as she looked at them.
With a voice filled with unwavering belief, she announced the beginning of her grand plan.
“Now, it’s time for me to claim everything.”
*
Meow.
The slender gray cat, Bastet, walked through the thick darkness towards Raybold’s Lord’s Castle.
As Bastet passed by, the people on the street hurriedly moved aside, their faces filled with fear.
It wasn’t the cat they were afraid of, but the people following behind it.
Meow.
With every step the cat took, one by one, more people joined in its wake.
Some joined from the street, while others emerged from a mansion.
Their attire varied widely. Some wore gray robes while others dressed like bandits. Knights and soldiers with proper armaments were also present.
As the crowd grew, torches illuminating the night also multiplied.
What started as just a few people quickly swelled to hundreds.
Leading this throng at the front was none other than Amelia.
The proud cat stopped in front of the Lord’s Castle and rubbed its face against its owner’s leg.
“Stop!”
The Guard Commander shouted loudly in front of the Lord’s Castle.
Today was an important feast day. Unapproved troops were not allowed to move at all.
Yet, suddenly so many troops appeared, leaving the Guard Commander completely baffled.
‘What the heck? How did such a force gather near the Lord’s Castle? What is the Public Order doing?’
While such a large troop marched right up to the castle, the Public Order had reported nothing. The atmosphere could not be ignored, something felt wrong.
The Guard Commander looked at the face of the one leading the group, trying to keep calm.
“My lady, you cannot bring armed troops into the castle, aside from a minimal escort. Please disperse your forces and attend the feast.”
Amelia did not respond to the Guard Commander’s request. She simply stretched out her hand elegantly and uttered one phrase.
“Get lost.”
