Reincarnated as the Baron's son: My Infinite Card Upgrade System-Chapter 96: An unneeded war

"What exactly are you... Alaric Montclair?"

The question hung in the air, completely shrouded in the darkness that came after.

"W... what do you mean?..."

Meren replied, still carrying a straight face.

"Before you say anything, you should know I have a skill that allows me to detect when I’m being lied to. Quite frankly, I knew you were lying about your illness. I didn’t expect you to heal my knight, but seeing that you did makes me all the more suspicious."

Alaric could only listen, trying to make sure he didn’t say anything that would put him in some kind of trouble.

"The stories I’ve heard about you, the things I have heard you did, are, if anything, from a different world. You created a means to use electricity as a source of power. You completely turned your father’s barony into one of the most successful mining grounds in the entire kingdom. I could go on and on, but I’m sure you already know where I’m heading with this."

Alaric didn’t look away; he kept direct eye contact with the Duchess.

"Honestly, I get why you are suspicious of me. The things I have achieved seem inhuman, is that right?" Alaric voiced.

"That would be a simple thing for me to handle if that were the case. I’m quite efficient when it comes to that."

’What does she mean, efficient?’

"But here’s the thing..." Meren stood up from the chair she was seated on and calmly made her way toward Alaric, settling beside him.

"Your knight happened to be a diamond rank. You also have a diamond rank healer, which has never been heard of for a very long time. I also heard you command three powerful spirits and have a legion of goblins at your disposal. Alaric Montclair, you are dangerous. If you wished to fight me and my people, what could possibly stop you?"

The more Meren spoke, the more Alaric understood what she meant.

Fear.

She was afraid of how powerful Alaric was growing at such a fast pace.

This was her just trying to make sure Alaric was on her side—or an enemy of the people if he ever chose to be.

With a sigh, Alaric replied, "That’s such a weird thing to be worried about. I am not your enemy, Duchess. All I want is to live a peaceful life, nothing else. And truthfully, if I wanted to do exactly what you think I’d do, I would have already."

Meren was quiet.

Then she spoke—

"I’m sure you’ve heard about the war brewing in the east," she mentioned.

"Yeah. My father told me a thing or two. Do you really want to protect the northerners that badly?" Alaric asked.

"You’re not the first person to ask me this question. Well, not that I blame your judgment."

Meren stood up and walked toward the bookshelves.

"The land of the north is a neutral zone. At least, it was until Dergen forcefully took their land from them. The northerners were known to be the only people capable of speaking to spirits. Such a unique ability should be protected, not killed."

Alaric listened.

’So that is why she wants to protect them so badly. I’m guessing she’s one of those people who don’t like oppression. And here I thought she was going to be like the rest of the nobles in this world.’

"Is it wrong of me to want to protect that which cannot protect itself?"

Alaric sighed. "I don’t want to speak out of my limits, so I’ll just ask—Duchess, are you seeking my advice on this matter?"

Meren turned around, almost as if surprised by his question.

"What other reason would I have for asking you?"

"Yeah, it just seemed like you’ve come up with multiple topics so far. I can’t really tell why I’m here to begin with."

Meren’s face turned slightly red as she diverted her gaze. "I see. I didn’t realize that."

Ava, who was standing at the very back, her entire eyes widened with black shades. She first observed the Duchess’s expression, then Alaric, before looking back at the Duchess.

’Are you being for real right now?!’ she yelled in her mind.

"If you’re asking me for my opinion on the matter, I don’t exactly have one. As I said, I don’t really involve myself in politics. That said, if you do protect the northerners, despite it being the Duke’s land right now, wouldn’t that cause the other nobles to turn against you? Regardless of your reasons for it, it’s still not your land."

Meren looked at the ground.

She always knew it was not her land to begin with, yet she couldn’t help but want to do something.

The ability to speak to the spirits of the land was not something anyone should just throw away like that.

Alaric observed the Duchess for a while.

"But if you were somehow able to make the northerners fight for themselves and reclaim their land, then you can do as you please."

"How so?" Meren asked.

"According to the law, a land forcefully taken by dominion can also be taken by that very same method. Article II – Right of Challenge:

A land claimed by dominion may be contested by the same means. Any party may challenge the current ruler through force, strategy, or other means of conquest. The land does not belong to any single ruler indefinitely; it belongs to the one who can hold it."

He continued, "Since Duke Dergen used this very method, if the people of the north challenged him back, they could reclaim their land."

While Meren was surprised that Alaric knew that law so well, she still was not convinced it would work.

"Duke Dergen is strong, and his army is known to be one of the best in the kingdom. The northerners can’t win, not even on their best days," Meren said.

"That’s where you leave it to me. I’ll handle that part of the job." Alaric stood up.

"You want... to handle it?"

"That’s the main reason you called me, right? So don’t worry, I’ll handle it. You just get your—"

Alaric suddenly felt something stir up inside him, and then—

Blood.