Chapter 58
An inn room.
Three people were in the dim room.
Though they were speaking with a reasonable amount of space between them, not a single sound could be heard in the hallway beyond the door.
"So, how did it go, 'Little Bird'?"
Sivi, who had been called Little Bird, cheerfully handed Nelfia a sealed letter.
"The Demisus bait took the hook. Burg=Varmington intends to appeal to the Demisus family. He wrote quite an impassioned letter."
Nelfia quickly skimmed the already-opened letter and handed it to Uno. Uno finished reading it just as quickly and returned it to Nelfia.
"I see. He intends to pin everything on Kinsley=Imbubey. He certainly came up with an impressively self-serving account."
Uno continued, looking exasperated.
"Messengers from Hummet have been coming to Burg repeatedly for some time. I already have more than enough evidence. Shouldn't we dispose of him along with Kinsley?"
Nelfia was also aware of Uno's report. If she wanted to, she could corner Burg at any time. However, instead of answering Uno, Nelfia turned her gaze to Sivi.
"Since Burg's letter is here, you must have switched it. What did you put in its place?"
Sivi nodded broadly, as though delighted to have been asked.
"I left this incident out and wrote that he wished to deepen their friendship, and that the messenger was someone who had long supported the Varmington family. I asked them to treat him especially well, since he wanted the man to be given an extended leave in the royal capital."
The Demisus family would probably be puzzled by such an abrupt letter, but they would hardly refuse a request from a powerful nobleman to deepen their friendship. The messenger carrying it would be treated as an honored guest in the royal capital for a while.
"Still, how did you get his seal?"
The seal used to stamp beeswax was extremely important to nobles, as it helped prevent forgery. It should have been kept securely.
Nelfia and the others had originally believed Burg was highly likely to take the bait, but they had been planning to seize the letter from the messenger.
The fact that they managed to replace it with a forgery before it was sent was the best possible outcome.
At that, Sivi said, "That was all thanks to my skill," tapping her arm and sticking out her tongue.
"...That's what I'd like to say, but Burg has been drinking heavily every night before going to bed. It was an easy job with no challenge."
"I see. Even so, excellent work."
Praised by Nelfia, Sivi silently clenched her fist and thrust it toward the ceiling. Nelfia looked away from Sivi and turned her attention to Uno.
"Let me ask you again, Uno. Should we take him down?"
Uno's expression remained blank as he was questioned.
"...You mean use him?"
"Well, I think that would be best."
"...If that's your decision, I have no objections."
As he said this, Uno ran a hand through his hair.
"Hey, Uno, since you handle food, why don't you cut your hair?"
When Sivi teased him, Uno threw a pen with nothing but a precise flick of his wrist. Sivi caught the flying pen as though nothing had happened, then skillfully spun it on her fingertip while giving Uno a challenging look.
Just when the atmosphere seemed about to turn ominous,
"Behave yourselves."
At Nelfia's words, the two of them smoothly wiped all emotion from their faces.
"A family head who can no longer make calm decisions and a useless son. They are just the right tools for gathering information on the northern nobles. Lure them into your net as you see fit, then leave the rest to you, Uno. Little Bird, stay at that household a little longer."
"Yes."
"Got it~"
The two replied, then immediately vanished through the window into the dark of night.
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"Oh, the Demisus family's reply is here!?"
Burg happily welcomed the messengers inside, but then frowned.
"...The messenger we sent isn't with you?"
The Demisus messengers were a man and a woman. The woman answered on their behalf. She had the ordinary features commonly seen in Rudek—a face one would probably forget by tomorrow.
"Actually, Burg-sama's messenger fell ill... Please don't worry. Our family is taking care of him."
"Oh, my, I'm sorry to have caused you such trouble," Burg said, spreading both hands before continuing.
"And what sort of illness is Ritz, the messenger we sent, suffering from?"
The woman kept smiling as she put on a puzzled expression.
"The messenger who came to our house gave his name as Raonu... Who is Ritz?"
Upon hearing her reply, Burg dramatically put a hand to his forehead.
"Ah, forgive me. I mistook him for someone else. It was Raonu whom we sent, wasn't it? As one grows older, one's memory becomes so unreliable."
"I see. What a relief. It would be a serious matter if the messenger had been an impostor."
"Indeed. Now, may I have your reply?"
The man responded to Burg's words. He respectfully took out a sealed letter and handed it to Burg with careful deliberation.
Burg tried to suppress his eagerness, but unable to wait, tore open the letter roughly and began studying its contents intently.
"...Oh, Lago=Demisus-sama is willing to take pity on our plight?"
The woman answered Burg.
"Yes. My master is deeply concerned that a prestigious family like the Varmingtons has incurred the King's displeasure because of an unfortunate misunderstanding."
"We are grateful. We acted solely out of concern for the Zodiac family. There was no ill intent whatsoever. Unfortunately, my foolish son behaved without sufficient consideration, and we have been saddled with an entirely undeserved suspicion."
"The central authorities have grown somewhat oversensitive because of the Ninth Knight Order incident as well. In light of that, my master has a message for you."
"A message? Could it not be put in writing?"
"Yes. My master considered that as well, but decided it would be better not to leave a written record."
"What is it?"
"Would the Varmington family, the pillar of the northern nobility, be willing to oversee the north? As you know, our country is at war with Riflerea. The security of the north is extremely important to both my master and the King. We do not wish to cause unnecessary turmoil."
"...I see. That is a major responsibility only our family could undertake."
"Thank you for understanding. If you give us a favorable answer, then, when victory over Riflerea is achieved..."
Burg smirked to himself.
This was an unexpected turn of events. If he played his cards right, the Varmington family would be destined for advancement whether Rudek or Riflerea won.
"Of course. You may entrust it to this Burg=Varmington."
"I was sure that a man renowned for his wisdom, Burg-sama, would say that. In that case, please conduct future correspondence through Pater."
The short-haired man the woman had introduced slowly bowed.
"Very well. I understand. Rest well today. I will write my reply before the day is out."
"Thank you."
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A list of Rudek's nobles from around ten years after Rudek's victory over Riflerea.
Even after examining it from one end to the other, there was no noble named Varmington.