Chapter 2
Duke Lars Ulrich Dahl Pierce-Connett. He first boarded a ship at the age of three and at fifteen, in his first battle, he sank fifty pirate ships with just twelve of his own. For the next ten years, the Duke never lost a battle. He left behind the saying, “The only virtue in the war, which is a collection of vices, is a swift end to it,” and the author of *Imperial Naval History* quoted this saying at the beginning of the book. Truly, he was an undefeated blue wave. It wasn’t without reason that sailors and pirates feared and revered him, calling him “the sea goddess’s bastard.”
Up to this point, these were verified facts. A cultivated person would trust verified facts over rumors, and Brienne was cautious about forming biases from mere gossip. However, the case of Duke Connett was different. Some rumors were frighteningly true. Brienne felt the Duke’s infamous reputation firsthand when Lady Claudia Blair, the daughter of the Marquis of Blair, proposed to Duke Connett. Finding a suitable match is quite difficult for someone of the Marquis’ daughter’s status; it would have to be someone of comparable rank, like another Marquis or Duke. So, Duke Connett was a perfect match for Lady Claudia.
Though his appearance likely played a role, Lady Claudia, having chosen Duke Konnert as her intended, had her father, the Prime Minister and the Emperor’s uncle, put forth the proposal. While she relied on her father’s power, her direct approach did not result in an insult. Instead, she received a memorable gift.
“In accordance with family tradition, we send a response to the proposal.”
When Claudia opened the box with high hopes, she was met with a cleanly severed head, and she fainted without even a scream. The daughters of other noble families present also collapsed. Only Brienne, who had no maid to catch her, remained relatively composed, contemplating the “gift.” Was this a traditional method of rejecting a proposal or accepting one?
Since then, no noblewoman had dared to propose to Duke Connett. At this point, it might seem like he was a severe misogynist, but according to the intermediary’s explanation, the Duke was equally ruthless towards men. “New attendants or servants who can’t withstand his temper run away, leaving only those with military backgrounds.”
A fair character without discrimination… or so it seemed. “What about the head butler? Even if everyone ran away, there should be a family that has served for generations.”
“That’s the case with other noble families. The Connett family picks a smart military man to be the butler. The current butler has endured the harshness of the family for forty years, but since he’s getting old, they’re looking for an apprentice.”
“Then, they should just pick a military man as the apprentice.”
“A soldier who can do arithmetic would be a general, and would a general want to be an apprentice?”
“That’s true…”
At the time, Brienne didn’t take the intermediary’s words seriously. “Are you kidding? Me, going to Duke Connett’s castle?” After making some half-hearted responses, she asked for other options.
“This isn’t a bad offer for you. The Duke is currently away at war. The war seems like it will be prolonged, so he won’t be back for a while. How about learning the ropes while he’s away? If it doesn’t work out, you can quit then, and gaining experience will help you get a job elsewhere later.”
“Still, that place…”
The fact that the Duke was away could be ignored. The real issue was the subsequent offer. “Room and board, four days off a month, and a weekly salary of two gold coins!”
“I’ll take it!”
…And that’s how it happened. “What’s money compared to digging my own grave?” Brienne banged her head against the carriage wall on the way to Connett Castle, feeling as if she might cry. Immediately, she felt subtle gazes upon her.
“Why? Are you feeling nauseous or something?” It was the intermediary.
No matter how much he had earned as a fee, he ignored Brienne’s refusal to accompany her and insisted on coming along, even renting a quite luxurious carriage for the journey.
“No, it’s nothing.”
Still, it was comfortable. The journey from the Institute to Connett Castle would take more than a week, and if she had been in a shared carriage with twelve to fifteen people, she would have been noticed halfway through.
“You might be anxious, but I think you’ll adapt well. You seem pleasant enough. There are only soldiers there, and their manner of speaking is stiff as can be. No employer dislikes a courteous employee.”
“Yes….”
She would change her manner of speaking immediately! At the very least, she was confident in imitating the soldiers’ way of talking. “It’s ‘danakkah,’ right? Just need to be careful with the endings.”
She didn’t entirely want to run away, but money had her trapped. Two gold coins!
In two years, that would amount to about 200 gold coins. She desperately needed that money right now.
The fact that the Connett territory was far from the Institute was a significant advantage. Brienne feared being caught by her fiancé, Baron Jirond Beo Barren, more than facing Duke Connett. It wasn’t because he was older, unattractive, and fat to the point where his stomach was visible before his toes when he bent over. It was because there were rumors that two of his former wives had been beaten to death in bed.
Under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t have been involved with someone like Baron Barren, no matter how the family’s fortunes had declined, as she was the last surviving bloodline of the Baron Auton family. She might have met a decent naval officer and lived a reasonably comfortable life, squabbling like other noble ladies.
However, problems began when her cousin Fabian appeared with her father’s will. The will stated that Baron Auton’s title would pass to Fabian. With no money to hire a lawyer, Brienne filed an objection by writing her own claim, referring to legal books borrowed from the library. But ultimately, the inheritance trial ended in Brienne’s defeat. Expert testimony that the handwriting on the will matched her father’s was decisive.
In the end, Brienne had to watch as the barony passed to Fabian. Fabian, who had always been ambitious, sold all the remaining property of the baron’s family as soon as he became a baron, to advance into central politics. Among the properties he sold was the most valuable asset, worth 200 gold coins. The money Baron Barren gave Fabian in exchange for marrying Brienne was exactly 200 gold coins.
Upon learning this, Brienne slapped Fabian’s face a few times. But she couldn’t change anything and eventually ran away that night.
She was certain that Baron Barren was now desperately searching for her. It was inevitable, given how much money was spent on the wedding funds.
What would happen if she was caught… she didn’t even want to imagine.
“Right. Who would think of Connett Castle? I’ll just close my eyes and endure for two years. Once I save 200 gold coins, I’ll throw them in Baron Barren’s face and find my freedom!”
But Brienne’s bold resolution ended the moment she entered the Connett territory.
“Huh? There’s a Duke’s flag hanging on the castle tower over there.”
“Huh?”
“Seeing the crossed rapier and the golden sea dragon flag, it looks like the Duke has returned to the castle.”
Duke Connett had returned to the castle after ending the war, which was supposed to be indefinite.
“This is outrageous!”
Brienne banged her head against the carriage wall once more.
