Revin Nightingale
I had come out of the shower when my bracelet lit up; a call is coming, and it's a familiar signature.
The one I had been waiting for.
"C"
'You idiot, I told you, when doing such things, keep a tight eye on everything,' interrupted the man on the other side. "I should have expected it; you merchants are not good at anything other than swindling people!' he added.
Now I am angry. He may be powerful, but I am of House Nightingale; I am the heir.
Once my father passes, I will be the leader. I will not bear this insult.
"Count Tamnir, you are noble, please remember that," I said sternly. I wanted to say much more, but I controlled my tongue. 'Believe me, I am controlling my tongue; I want to use words worse than that right now!' replied the man, sounding angry.
'Are you even aware of what happened?' he asked derisively, and I wanted to snap at him, but I calmed myself.
"We did everything according to the plan we had shared with you. We killed that bastard on the ship and his daughter in the territory, clearing the path for my son to become a baron," I replied.
He is our man in court, the Crown Prince's friend.
Once we finished, he would ask the Crown Prince to declare my son as Baron, and Silver wouldn't be able to do anything after that happened.
'Did you even confirm it?' he asked. "Of course I did," I replied.
I confirmed with the assassin, and Darian himself confirmed they finished with the Bastard's daughter.
'Hahahaha…' the man laughed, and it was loud and derisive, making me angry. 'You are really an idiot. I had specifically told you not to underestimate Silver, but you didn't listen,'he replied.
I didn't get a good feeling hearing that.
'His daughter had survived, and Silver had sworn her to be the new Baroness, even before dawn,' he informed.
"No, they killed her. The man who confirmed it is very loyal to the house," I said. Darian is loyal to the house, and so is Irling. Even one of the bodyguards of the bastard's daughter is our person.
'The Prime Minister had agreed to Silver's request to accept her as a Baroness. By evening, he will get his majesty's approval, making it official," he stated, and cut the call before I could even say a word.
I remained frozen in my place for I don't know how long and came to myself when the knock rang out on my door.
I got up, opened it, and saw my youngest son. To whom I wanted to give the barony.
"I will go talk to Grandfather before leaving for Greltheaven," he said, sounding excited. I watched him before moving past him.
"Father, what happened?" he asked. I didn't reply and kept walking. He asked again, but I kept walking until finally I reached the office.
The guards at it opened the door, and I walked inside. I saw my father sitting there, with his face impassive.
It sank my heart; he only bears such expressions when there is bad news.
"I talked to Count Tamnir. He said, the bastard's daughter survived, and Silver had sworn her as new baroness before dawn," I said, and there was no change in his face.
"What? No!" screamed Arthur, forgetting all propriety.
"Yes, I had talked to him; Silver had also called to inform me," confirmed grandfather.
Hearing him, I felt as if the ground beneath my feet had collapsed. "So much effort, money, and political capital wasted," I said, sitting shakily on a chair.
How did this happen? Did Darian and others betray us?
…
'As the Bishop informed you before, the church accepts the Baroness Nightingale; we have no objection,' replied Archbishop Kraniz.
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You'd better not.
The agreement we signed clearly states that, in all political matters, including heirs, they should either accept or remain silent. If they speak against it, I will be within my rights to throw them out of my dominion.
They might have dared to do this before, but not now, when my dominion is growing so fast, with population reaching over a million.
It won't be long before it reaches a million and a half.
"Thank you, Your Grace," I replied and cut the call, before lying back against my chair.
"I think you have talked to all the important people you need to," said Valentina, and I smiled. Yes, I did, including the Prime Ministers on both sides.
They might have interfered, but I called them after the oath.
So, they either have to accept or decline, but declining will have consequences, as they will infringe on the nobles' power, which they didn't want to do.
So, they happily accepted with a little sweetness of emotion essence.
"It's hard to believe that Nightingale is dead," she said. "It was a risk, and the man knew it," I replied. He took the risk for the territory and his daughter.
I did my duty as the lord and made his daughter a baroness.
"What are we going to do about it?" she asked. "Assassins are good at hiding their trails, but I asked Mariha to find out who killed Nightingale," I replied, but she kept looking at me.
She is asking about the real culprits.
"They will pay the price, but not immediately. They will be cautious, and besides, it would be premature to do something in anger." I replied.
It may not seem like it, but I am feeling simmering anger in my heart; they have killed my subject.
But acting out on it immediately wouldn't be wise.
House Nightingale is powerful and has extensive political connections. There would be consequences if I were to do something drastic. So, I will wait until those consequences become manageable.
Or no consequences at all.
I am a lord; I need to consider the consequences of my every action for my citizens, and right now it's not wise to act against them, no matter how much I want to.
"His daughter seemed smart. I hope she will use the money wisely, which her father died for," she said.
Nightingale had died, but he had gotten her the money, a lot. "She will," I replied. She nodded before her expression turned serious.
"We had revealed quite a lot of our cards. It will not please the other Barons," she said. I sighed, hearing that. In less than a year since they became our subject, we have done a lot.
We turned quite many people, so that we now know what nearly every Baron does.
Except for my sister and Harrods. Their people are tough to crack; we could not go as deeply as we liked. I am doing it not only with my own barons but with other Nakar Barons as well.
Grimvale is also doing the same.
"They would have found out, eventually. Besides, I am doing this for their benefit. They know I will stand by them rather than their families and will save them if their families try something," I replied, with a smile.
"Still, it will be a bitter pill to swallow for them," she said. To that, I nodded.
…
Marquess Grimvale
"So, he made her the Baroness," I said and leaned against the chair, feeling angry and irritated at Silver.
"This is going to bring us a lot of trouble," replied Dasir, and I couldn't help but nod.
"Now every noble and their family will ask, who will become heir. Their children or someone from the family," added Talmire with a laugh, but there was no mirth in it.
In the mainland empire, it's not a problem, but here it is.
The baronies are structurally different. More than half of the barons who came to Nakar came as placeholders. They were the members of a family that had little value.
So, they were chosen. If baronies didn't work or died by the undead, it wouldn't be a big loss to the family.
If they succeed, the family will have a noble title they can bestow on someone capable.
This is the internal deal with them, with families keeping hold of territory through financial muscle and people they have placed in important positions.
Until today, a delicate balance has been maintained between them.
The barons were letting their families believe they were still honoring the deal and taking their money, but slowly, they were making moves to lessen the families' hold.
The barons do not want to leave their positions, the power they hold, and become nobodies again.
Also, they want their children to inherit, not someone from their house.
Nightingale died, and Silver had chosen his daughter over his house, and these barons would demand the same. If I didn't do this, they would do things I wouldn't like.
I know very well the lengths people could go to protect the power and positions they have.
"Already, I am receiving inquiries from Barons and their houses on which side you will choose," said Dasir. I'm not ready to make this decision; I want to keep it vague for as long as possible.
Because I need the loyalty of the barons and the money of their families, I was managing it well until this bloody incident.
"As the Barons do not get out of dominion and also offer them protection guards. At least for a few years, I don't want to make this decision yet," I said to them.
"It won't be easy; already, many houses have started pressuring the barons to resign and have someone from their house take over."
"This incident will intensify those efforts," I replied. "And increase resistance from Barons," added Talmire.
"Delay it as much as possible," I ordered.
There is no other choice if I want to keep both happy. I would have chosen already if Silver had not been so damn tricky. Doing something about it opens opportunities, and he will leap at them.
"Should we ask the Countess to delay her trip to Greltheaven?" asked Dasir, and I shook my head.
"No, it does not relate to Nakar. Besides, delaying will show weakness, and we don't want to do that at this moment." I replied. Showing weakness is the last thing I want to do.
Not only Silver but also Tabes and the bastards, who are eying the region.
"I nearly forgot in this chaos, but intelligence was right; our sources confirmed it. Summerfield had created the proposal and soon will send it out to sell the territories," informed Talmire.
I am not surprised. He needs money and forces; selling territories to nobles will help with that.
It isn't just him, but Zanav is also thinking about doing it.
"How about Silver? Have our sources found out anything?" I asked. To that, both of them shook their heads. "Though Countess had started, she will try," replied Dasir, and I smiled.
That woman is dangerous and one I am most cautious of, but she is also a great asset. Let's hope she achieves all her objectives when she goes to Greltheaven.
