PLOM Chapter 153 - Moonlight Novels

As if the new doubts weren’t enough, a person who was nothing if not the embodiment of suspicion itself has also appeared.

A Duke personally came to greet me? And no one else but Duke Jurian Berkeley-Gratten?

“Duke.”

“Speak.”

“Are you going to break into the dinner between his majesty and me without notice?”

Haha. The swordmaster laughed dryly with a face that said he found the remark uninteresting.

“Break into, you say. What a sad expression. I am merely here as the person in charge of overseeing the security of the Imperial Palace to welcome you as a guest of His Majesty the Emperor. Given the circumstances, it is an unavoidable situation. The servants and courtiers are being prohibited from going out as much as possible.”

“Couldn’t you just send anyone to pick me up?”

“I can’t go into detail, so just consider it that I had ulterior motives in making the decision, so I could see you again.”

Well, whether he was being sincere or not, from my perspective, this was a natural opportunity to inquire about Dian Cecht’s last relic. The swordmaster personally held an umbrella over my head, which was nothing short of bewildering. His shoulder was pressed against mine, creating a moment suitable for a private conversation.

“Viscount Weatherwoods!”

A familiar interrupter approached from not too far away.

“Count Rosebell.”

“You finally arrived! I’ve been waiting. I have something important to discuss. Can you spare a moment?”

Now? At the imperial palace? I was taken aback by the unexpected request.

“I have to go to meet His Majesty the Emperor.”

“I know. You’ll have to wait for about an hour anyway. Do you mind if I take away the Viscount for some time, Duke Jurian? Ten minutes are enough.”

The swordmaster replied, tilting the end of the black umbrella closer to cover my other shoulder.

“Why don’t you just talk here?”

“It’s about a household matter.”

Ah.

I had a vague idea of what it could be. I didn’t know whether it was because he mentioned a household matter or because I actually had enough time to spare, but the swordmaster let me go without any more questions.

I intercepted the umbrella that Count Rosebell was about to hand over to me and took the lead towards the path to the garden. Count Rosebell whispered as he approached closer in his military raincoat.

“Be careful.”

“Yes? What for?”

“What else? The Imperial Family. I feel uneasy about many things, so I’ve decided to stay here for a few more days by extending my security duty. Duke Raphael is also in the vicinity, and he’ll be by your side if need be, so don’t worry.”

He extended his duty just out of concern for my safety? Such touching goodwill. As expected, only a teacher thinks so much about their students. Of course, I was no longer a student, but still.

“Thank you. But did you call me separately because of that?”

“Actually, I’d intended to tell you back at the banquet, but as you know, I became preoccupied with guarding the palace. When I returned to the banquet hall, you’d already left.”

“I’m still not very used to social gathering, so it just turned out that way.”

Ahem. Count Rosebell, who coughed softly, spoke with a sheepish expression that didn’t suit him.

“You’re the first I’m revealing this to, Viscount. My wife has given birth to a late-born child.”

A late-born child.

I tried to recall how old Count Rosebell was. Adding the number 4 to the age I last remembered, I couldn’t help but marvel at the boundless breeding ability of humans.

“Congratulations, Count. What a blessing for your family. Is the Countess doing well?”

“Thank you. Despite the difficulties of childbirth, she’s still fine. It feels a bit strange to be sharing this news with no one but you.”

It was a sentiment that I could fully understand.

Enat Rosebell, the Count’s only child, had married into the Weatherwoods family and left the world without leaving any offspring. From the perspective of the Rosebell family, the Weatherwoods family must have a negative impression.

“You must already know that our family’s title and estate are intended to be inherited by the Viscount, right? I’m not one to beat around the bush, so I’ll say it bluntly.”

Count Rosebell, who had stopped walking, calmly began to speak in a deliberate tone that was neither fast nor slow.

“Viscount Weatherwoods, I wish to pass on our family’s title to my newborn child. I don’t want the estate. I know it’s difficult to accept, but allow me to hand over my title to my child. I hope you will seriously consider it, which is why I’m making this request separately.”

“Okay.”

“….”

Count Rosebell, who blinked blanky, slowly opened his mouth again.

“It seems like you didn’t understand what I said, so I’ll reiterate. The title of the Rosebell family…”

“I heard you correctly. Do you want me to be clearer? I don’t need the gardens, treasures, money, mansion, or any other estate either. Just pass them on to your new child.”

Count Rosebell’s eyes looked unconvinced, like he couldn’t comprehend it at all.

“Why?”

The answer to the question of ‘why’ was simple.

Because I didn’t want it.

That position wasn’t mine to begin with.

‘It’s understandable that Count Rosebell may not understand from his perspective.’

Inheritance? It was something that I only profits to gain from, and would no suffer loss if I were to get it.

However, I, Daisy, wasn’t from the Weatherwoods bloodline. The only thing I had in common with Enat Rosebell was that we belonged to the same species as humans. Moreover, I was in a situation where I could die tomorrow or the day after. Even if I were to inherit Count Rosebell’s estate, chances were high that I wouldn’t be able to use it properly and it would deteriorate into nothing.

And above all.

‘Count Rosebell is my benefactor.’

He wasn’t like the grumpy benefactor from whom I received Medicine. I’d received medicine from the swordmaster. But the countless pieces of advice that were given to me by the Count on my swordsmanship, survival skills, camaraderie, and other affections…

Count Rosebell wielded his sword risking his life, saving dozens, hundreds of people from the brink of death. He was not just my benefactor. He was a hero of war and a benefactor to humanity.

Therefore, I didn’t want to do anything that would put Count Rosebell in a difficult position.

For the Hero, Count Rosebell, had a duty to be happy.

“It’s just that those things are unnecessary for me.”

“That’s nonsense. They can’t be unnecessary.”

“Is that so? But I don’t need it. Moreover, I heard that Count Rosebell was like a mentor to my younger brother. I feel that my heart will be more at ease if I can repay that debt in some way. I am not in a position to worry about inheritance. Consider it as a gesture of gratitude for taking care of my brother.”

Count Rosebell took a deep breath and puffed out his chest, then suddenly bowed.

“I thank you from the bottom of my heart, Viscount Weatherwoods.”

“There’s no need.”

“No, this is a proper expression of my gratitude. And debt? Never, never consider it a debt. If we talk about debts, it is Andert whom we owe a great one. We owe him a debt we can never repay for the rest of our lives…”

With a cloudy expression, he took off a ring from his right finger and handed it to me.

“Take it.”

“What is this?”

“It’s a wedding ring left by my father.”

My shoulders stiffened in surprise.

“A wedding ring? Why would you give it to me?”

Count Rosebell placed his right hand on his heart and solemnly spoke.

“I swear on this ring. I, Goth Rosebell, a close friend of Daisy Weatherwoods, will risk my life without expecting anything in return when you need me.”

“Count.”

“I would prefer to engrave an oath with magic, if I could. But since your body is not well, leaving this as a token will put my mind at ease.”

“Well… that’s a bargain.”

After I put the received ring into my pocket, the Count, whose face instantly brightened, burst into a cheerful laughter.

“Haha! Viscount Weatherwoods is right. It seems I’ve used up all my luck in my final years. The future seems daunting, haha.”

That’s when it happened.

“What are you so happy about? It’s been years since I’ve seen Count Rosebell laugh so freely.”

Inside the garden, two men wearing the exact same raincoat as Count Rosebell approached. They were Marquis Calpenweaver and Count Rogenhoff. Perhaps it was because they’d gotten old, but they seemed more interested in gossip than in their prime.

“Well, well. Something happened. It’s our own secret, so there’s no point in prying. Oh, by the way, Viscount, didn’t you say you were looking for a husband?”

That darn husband search. Why were people so interested in other people’s marriages? Was it because someone else’ business was always more entertaining?

“Yes. But it’s more or less resolved…”

“There’s quite a good candidate here. Count Rogenhoff…”

“I’m not interested.”

“…has a very clever and handsome younger brother. Ah, have you already found a partner?”

Even without a partner, I disliked Count Rogenhoff. I’ve never met his younger brother, but I dislike him just the same.

Count Rogenhoff, whom I disliked, glared at me with a deeply annoyed look.

“I feel the same way. My brother already has a lover.”

“What? That’s a shame. It’s rare to find a talented person like Viscount Weatherwoods. The Count’s younger brother is really unlucky. Is he going to be lucky in his later years, like me?”

“Why are you talking nonsense about my brother, Count Rosebell?”

Despite Count Rogenhoff’s grumbling, Count Rosebell, who had no regard for anything, asked again.

“In that case, what is the Viscount’s ideal type? Do you prioritize looks? Or perhaps family background or personality?”

I thought of Rue and answered.

“Personality doesn’t seem to be the priority.”

“Oh, how surprising. To think there’s someone willing to endure the hardships.”

Marquis Calpenweaver, who had been silently observing, threw in a comment.

“Why are you so concerned about finding a husband for the Viscount, Count? She already seems to be doing well with his excellency Duke Raphael.”

“…..”

“Hmm? Was I mistaken? My second daughter, Tara, said the same thing. According to her, Count Serenier is certainly who the Viscount prefers. However, since he is considerably older and has already been married once, she might choose Duke Raphael. I mean, I found it pretty believable.”

Daisy thinking of Rue and immediately cutting out personality from her requirements is making me wheeze omg

Also something is making me think that Count Rogenhoff and Daisy were def not best friends back in the army lmaoo