I'll Take Down Your Son First

Afternoon at the Welling estate.

Having finished the hospital business, I returned for now.

It had been a while since I’d come, having been busy with the investigation headquarters, handling the Sagittari estate, and going to the hospital.

Lisera greeted me at the entrance.

“You’re back?”

“Yeah.”

My daughter’s bright voice made me smile.

Miriel, holding Lisera’s hand, fidgeted.

“……Y-you’re back? I’m indebted to you. I’m staying comfortably.”

A small voice.

Embarrassed, she couldn’t look at my face properly.

When I nodded, Miriel blushed and gripped Lisera’s hand tighter.

“Sister, it’s okay if you go ahead.”

“Mm. No.”

“I can see the outlines of things now. I’ll come soon, so please rest in your room.”

“……Okay.”

Miriel glanced at me briefly then left with quick steps.

As I watched with a wistful heart, Lisera smiled.

“You won’t tell her?”

“Absolutely not.”

I spoke seriously.

There were various reasons for not revealing I was Sirik.

But if I had to pick a personal reason, Miriel came first.

“Miriel is still young. And she had too terrible an experience recently……”

A hundred years had passed, but Miriel only looked about twelve or thirteen at most.

Not just in appearance—mentally she was still young.

It didn’t even seem like puberty had come yet…….

“In this situation, imagine if I told her I’m actually Sirik. She’d be incredibly confused.”

Try telling a child that some unfamiliar uncle is actually her dead father from long ago.

Imagine if the surrounding family told her she had to believe that.

How emotionally confused would that be?

“Even when parents remarry, kids that age get their heads tangled up…… but reincarnation? Impossible.”

“Thank you. You really do put us first.”

“Of course. You’re my children……”

I stopped mid-sentence.

Lisera was smiling gently but somehow there was distance.

Ah, right.

I’d been asked why I distanced myself from the empresses, but I hadn’t answered yet.

I spoke with a feeling like making excuses.

“……Well, first I told Lang Ei and Iselen who I am.”

“Yes, that’s really wonderful.”

Lisera gripped my hand tightly and rejoiced.

She was genuinely happy as if I’d brought home chicken for dinner, so my heart lifted watching her.

Actually, Lisera had never asked me to reconcile with the empresses.

I’d just said it feeling sorry that the kid was concerned…… but seeing her this happy made me happy too.

“So, have you eaten? Let’s have dinner together in a bit. Where’s Amelia?”

“Amelia went to the hospital now. She’ll return soon.”

Ah, she went to take care of Kalbina.

“Right now Roderic is receiving a guest……”

Lisera released my hand mid-sentence.

For a moment I looked at my daughter wistfully, but Lisera even closed her mouth and stepped aside.

Footsteps.

Roderic and a familiar man approached the entrance and stopped.

The familiar man was Count Welling.

The noble who’d leased this estate to us.

“……Ah, there you come. Hahaha, Young Master Rigen. I truly wanted to meet you.”

Roderic had a troubled face, but I answered with my gaze that it was fine.

I invited Count Welling.

“Since it’s a good opportunity, shall we talk a bit?”

While I solved the capital’s terrorism and military problems, Roderic and Alicia hadn’t been idle either.

The two and Melius conducted various meetings and diplomatic battles with nobles in the Librata name.

Right place, right person.

Actually, I found placating nobles bothersome.

On the other hand, Roderic was prudent, thoughtful, and the eldest son.

I sat facing Roderic and Count Welling on the terrace.

Count Welling spoke with a smile.

“I apologize that your residence is too small.”

“Haha, right? Too cramped to host an empress and even princesses?”

I replied bluntly to the pleasantries.

When Count Welling laughed awkwardly, I grinned.

“You’ve already discussed such talk with my brother. I’ve heard several times you desperately wanted to meet me. So, what’s your business?”

“Mmm……”

“If it’s noble, social talk, you’d be much better off exchanging it with my brother. As Count Welling well knows.”

At my gaze, Count Welling looked around anew.

“Promise me first. If I give you information, Young Master Rigen will also give me information.”

“I promise. Shall we even write a contract?”

Count Welling had been harshly dealt with by me before.

That’s how we got this estate too.

Count Welling thought briefly then shook his head.

“No. I’ll just trust you and speak. Actually, there’s someone who wants to know the structure of this estate.”

“What does that……”

Roderic was puzzled.

On the other hand, my face hardened completely.

“Who is it?”

“I cannot tell you that.”

“Please tell me. Otherwise, I’ll spread word that Count Welling informed us. Through the dark elf information network. Everyone in the capital will know by tomorrow.”

“Wh-what?”

Count Welling was flustered, but I didn’t stop.

Though it became a threat instead of a negotiation, I pressed forward.

“If someone wants to know this estate’s structure, they have purpose to infiltrate. The targets would be Princess Lisera and Princess Miriel, planning to forcibly secure them with force. There’s no other reason.”

“……”

Only then did Roderic understand and grew serious.

I snapped while organizing my thoughts.

“The empresses? No. Since they’re blood relations anyway, it’s better to just visit or persuade, military conflict is too dangerous. Then ordinary nobles or knighthoods? That’s not it either. What benefit is there in recklessly kidnapping princesses? They’d only self-destruct.”

“……”

“Then it’s the Imperial Military. Planning to launch a coup in the military and secure the princesses to establish legitimacy.”

At my words, Count Welling’s mouth fell open.

His complexion went pale white, but I didn’t back down.

“Who is it?”

“……I-I don’t know. A coup!”

“You must know. Who is it?”

I growled while even using Roar.

If it were just a negotiation, I wouldn’t go this far.

But when someone’s trying to kidnap my daughter, how could my eyes not spin?

As I kept glaring, Count Welling trembled like an aspen.

Fifth rank ability, mana field.

The oppressive pressure I emitted was intimidating him.

On top of this, if I used Roar, even decent warriors felt fear.

Unable to endure, Count Welling spoke.

“I-it came secretly through one connection. I’m not certain either.”

“You have a guess. Which of the twelve houses is it?”

“……A-Ariedt.”

“……”

Currently third among the twelve houses, one of the human factions inside the military.

When I nodded, Count Welling spilled everything.

“I knew absolutely nothing about a coup either. B-but there were quite a few evaluations that Librata hosting two princesses was excessive. So I just……”

“You only thought they’d forcibly suppress Librata and take the princesses? Are the kids packages?”

“I-I’m sorry.”

As Count Welling trembled, I closed my mouth.

This man didn’t plot it, so no need to press further.

I turned to Roderic and asked.

“What kind of people are Ariedt?”

“Upper ranks even among the twelve houses, one of the four great dukes. Even called dukes, their rank differs from other families. The knights they command are powerful, and they have many private soldiers too. The current family head is an Imperial Military Hundred Swords Commander, the second son is a Thousand Troop Commander.”

“Powerful.”

But just a Hundred Swords Commander has limits for staging a coup?

Count Welling barely stopped his trembling and read my mood.

“Count Welling.”

“Y-yes.”

“I’m not trying to hold you responsible. However, I wanted to inform you of the situation and request cooperation going forward.”

When I spoke politely, Count Welling’s complexion gradually brightened.

He’s also a noble with sense.

He knows Librata’s stock is soaring high right now, and that there are nobles who envy it.

He came planning to sell that information to us at a high price.

But a coup is a completely different story.

From the position of Count Welling, a vested interest, established noble, political chaos would benefit him nothing.

At minimum house arrest, worst case his property confiscated and killed.

Also, I who’d been intimidating him let up and bowed my head politely.

Sorry for startling you, and I need your help.

“Actually, we Librata have weak voice among nobles and the Noble Assembly. We desperately need Count Welling’s help.”

“Wh-what could I……”

“Aren’t you a young noble doing well in the Noble Assembly? I’ve heard much about you from my brother too.”

When I praised him, Welling seemed quite appeased.

I leaned forward while grasping Welling’s hand and spoke earnestly.

“In case of emergency, I hope you’ll support our actions in the Noble Assembly.”

“That’s……”

“The political situation is chaotic, but I’m on the side trying to prevent chaos. That’s why Empress Lang Ei and the princesses are staying at this estate.”

When I invoked the imperial family, Welling thought for a long time then nodded.

I bowed my head deeply.

“Thank you. I’ll discuss details with my brother. Could you wait in a room for a moment?”

“Yes, I’ll do that.”

Welling rose from his seat with a dazed face.

As I became lost in thought, Roderic looked at me with a surprised face.

“……Not like you.”

“The flattery? I’m sincere.”

Isn’t it a matter involving my children’s safety?

Whoever the opponent, I could ask any amount.

“Someone who values noble status like Count Welling may submit momentarily if pushed with force, but will rebel later. Earnestly requesting like this works much better. Of course, Welling is also calculating, so he’ll consider the future political situation and his own position…… but if we’re advantageous, he’ll support us.”

“Rigen.”

“……Mm.”

When Roderic patted my shoulder, I sighed and nodded.

“I’m sorry. I was a bit hasty.”

“No, no. I was also shocked hearing about a coup. There was no such talk among nobles…… is it that dangerous?”

“It’ll happen within days. I don’t know when D-Day is. But it’ll be within two weeks.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Because Grand General Lerik returned.

Originally they must have planned to launch the coup while Lerik was on eastern inspection, but in the meantime I cleaned up Byorn and caught Dierk.

The coup’s schedule was completely tangled.

Still, they can’t stop what they started.

“Brother Roderic, please soothe Count Welling well and bring Heinkel.”

“Alright, calm down.”

“Ah, don’t worry.”

When Roderic worried, I deliberately smiled.

“When we have time, let’s visit sister together.”

“……That girl needs to get scolded by Amelia.”

Roderic also left with a bitter smile.

I sat and pressed my forehead while sighing deeply.

“Probably Miriel……”

The one handling state affairs in the palace now is the Fifth Empress.

The coup forces will also try to capture the Fifth Empress and establish a new system.

Instead, they’d put young Miriel forward as a figurehead.

This must be why House Kedrik threatened Miriel in the first place.

As I sketched the enemy’s plan, Heinkel arrived.

“You called?”

“Look into the twelve houses, Ariedt.”

“Yes, I already investigated. Her Majesty the Queen gave instructions.”

Iselen was one step ahead.

Heinkel spoke.

“Ariedt Hundred Swords Commander’s son, second son Thousand Troop Commander Silver Ariedt, has been frequently meeting with human officers of the Central Army recently. It seems ominous.”

“His father also serves in the Central Army? Isn’t assigning blood relations to different units basic?”

“The first emperor established such norms, but they loosened after his death.”

“Loosened? Who?”

“The Fourth Empress.”

Setting that aside for now.

“So are father and son joining forces to plan a coup? The Hundred Swords Commander father gathers sword commander-level officers, and the Thousand Troop Commander son agitates young troop commander-level officers?”

“Hearing you say it, it seems so.”

“Are there any peculiarities about the two?”

“The son’s weakness is women. He frequently visits high-class bars with his gang. He spends lots of money but is notorious for being troublesome.”

I nodded.

“Then I’ll crush the son first.”

You dare target my daughter?

I’ll take down your son first.