The Marquis’ Eldest Son’s Lascivious Story-Chapter 302: Alduke Conference (2) - The Founding Tale

Her mother was from a collateral branch of the imperial family, and her father was from the weak Managris family. However, she was the granddaughter of the First Emperor, Emperor Zinkaen, and the Second Emperor, Emperor Argin.

Siltrinn of the Imperial family...

Whether she holds any political value or not is a delicate question. Or perhaps it could be said that she does, or doesn’t. If an ambitious individual were to gain control of her, it would cause great unrest for the empire. It could even lead to much bloodshed.

Her color changes depending on who holds her. She’s like a litmus test, I’d say.

[I’m a little surprised. I didn’t expect my grand-uncle to bring up something like that.]

I gently point out his overstepping of authority.

As a collateral relative of the Imperial family, the fate of Siltrinn is up to Emperor Ferolt, the head of the family and the current Emperor. In principle, the retired Emperor Zinkaen can only offer advice. It might have been one thing if they'd discussed it beforehand in the Imperial Capital, but there’s no way he could have just suddenly proposed marriage here.

And it’s a similar story here. The head of the Quordenze family will decide who I marry. As the eldest son and designated next head of the Quordenze family, I do have some right to have a say, but the final decision still rests with my father. My grandfather can only offer advice.

Even so, I don’t think Emperor Zinkaen wasn’t aware of this. Maybe he’s trying to say that this is merely an informal inquiry, and that it’s part of gathering information he needs to advise the head of the family. That’s a bit of a far-fetched excuse, though.

[What? This is a private meeting, after all. Let’s speak more loosely.]

I’d insulated myself by creating a very private atmosphere, so he took advantage of that and barged in.

“There’s an outsider here”

, I said, turning my gaze to Count Nongite, but he still didn’t move an inch. If he'd reacted in any way, I might have been able to use that as a starting point to break through, but I just couldn’t get a grasp on him. He was like a Jizo statue at this point.

[Tarzast, I know this is boring, but I’ll continue for a bit.]

[Yes. Take your time.]

And so, the escape route Nongite was blocked.

[So, what do you say? It might not be a bad idea to pull him closer now.]

Now, there’s no escape. I could hear that voice. It seemed to be enjoying my reaction.

The First Emperor is a position where a sense of balance is so important, yet he acts and speaks so aggressively. It’s dangerous and makes me nervous... Why should I be the one to worry?

But now, I have no choice but to prepare myself. Fortunately, they've raised the level of privacy in this space, so a little rudeness will be forgiven.

I force a lewd smile. This was my cue to strike back.

[Hahaha... It seems that my great-uncle hasn’t gardened in a long time. Buds will quickly wilt if handled roughly by an inexperienced gardener.]

It’s nothing short of a cold shower for an old man who’s been bedridden for so long and is now trying to get involved in politics.

[If a flower is misplaced from its intended spot, it won’t even be able to drop its seeds. Who am I to casually lure it close to me.]

Siltrinn already has the role of restoring the Managris family. It’s troubling to see such a reckless proposal being made without any prior preparations.

[Gardening requires one to look far into the future.]

Besides, it’s unclear whether his current health will last, so stirring up political unrest with impulse is a bad move, and irresponsible.

After finishing my sentence, I tilted the corners of my mouth up and waited for his reaction. Emperor Zinkaen gave a wry smile, and my grandfather sighed in exasperation.

[...Galfis, Cassia was a pain, but she wasn’t this harsh.]

[That’s because

Anja

keeps messing around. Don’t complain.]

It was a great learning experience to realize that he wouldn’t get angry even after being insulted so much. From now on, I’ll be able to speak to him with a certain degree of strength. I was a little nervous, but hitting him back was the right decision.

[That’s only a problem if you’re thinking ahead. You can just leave the Managris house behind.]

[Hahaha, your great-uncle is quite harsh. It must be lonely without your family home.]

It wasn’t meant to be particularly sarcastic, but Emperor Zinkaen’s expression soured.

[That’s not right.]

His voice was completely monotonous, void of any nostalgia. It was clear he had no interest in the rise or fall of his family home.

Since he’d gone to the trouble of reviving it at the time of the nation’s founding, I thought he’d have some emotional attachment to it. That’s why this reaction was a bit unexpected.

Emperor Zinkaen must have noticed my curiosity, as he continued in an exasperated tone.

[What? You haven’t told your grandson anything? ...You don’t believe that nonsense about being banished from home, do you?]

Yes, I do, actually.

“It’s not my fault”

, I thought, glaring at my grandfather. He then began to make various excuses to his sworn brother, seemingly unsure. It was a look that didn’t suit my usually lively grandfather. Well, it would be hard to say, “It was because you were unwanted that I didn’t want to bring up this topic”.

Seeing how I tried to save face, it seemed he’d realised that my knowledge was based solely on heroic tales. Emperor Zinkaen snorted once.

[To be banished was the better choice back then. I get to live. The third son of a weak, small family is nothing more than a convenient soldier for the other Highlords. Had I stayed in that house, I would have been crushed to death.]

It was a pleasant surprise to hear the truth of this heroic tale from the person himself. My military officer was acting as a secretary in the room, so this conversation could be duly recorded.

I decided to take this opportunity to listen to more of his stories. And while he continued to ramble on about the past, I’d also consider in the back of my mind how I would respond if the topic of marriage came up again.

[So, great-uncle couldn’t bear the treatment you received, thus you left home?]

It seems that Emperor Zinkaen, also known as Zadis Managris, had a difficult time in his youth.

[Indeed. I still remember it.]

It happened just before he turned ten, Emperor Zinkaen began.

[We were fortunate that day, but I entered the battlefield, defeated the enemy army, and surrounded the general. He was a brave warrior with a renowned military reputation in the area. Defeating him would have completely changed the situation surrounding Managris. ...But my father didn’t want that. He was simply afraid.]

[For what reason?]

[If he took action, he would incur the hatred of the general’s bloodline. Killing a renowned warrior would make those around him fearful. If too much resentment and fear gathered, they would eventually destroy Managris. He was afraid of being killed, and afraid to kill.]

Apparently, just as they were planning to bury the general with a crushing formation, his father, the head of the Managris family, gave an emergency order to stop. Apparently, they agreed to release him on the condition of a ceasefire agreement, some compensation, and territorial arrangements.

However, peace during times of war is nothing more than halftime in soccer. Shortly thereafter, the agreement was broken, and the two noble families once again found themselves at war.

[When I faced that general on the battlefield again, I was astonished. I realized that the same thing would only continue to happen.]

His father had been lukewarm toward the enemy on several occasions before, but he hadn’t really minded it until then.

However, the fact that he released that fierce general and then engaged in a rematch shortly after left a strong, negative impression on the young Zadis.

Emperor Zinkaen said that this incident made him clearly aware of his own dissatisfaction. He had several opportunities to defeat other enemy generals after that, but he was often ordered to release them against his will, and his resentment only grew.

[Ultimately, a battle is never over until the enemy is subdued or decapitated. My father probably didn’t understand that. It was an insufferable act of stupidity.]

The image of Zadis, a poor young soldier, forced to fight by a ruthless family, was instantly wiped away.

Emperor Zinkaen has slaughtered more nobles than my grandfather, so perhaps he’s been like this since he was a child. It’s frightening to think that a young highlord around the age of 10 has driven so many enemy generals into dire straits.

[Of course, this doesn’t just apply to only my father.]

Emperor Zinkaen soon realized that this wasn’t limited to the Managris family. Whether intentional or unintentional, he didn’t know, but many neighboring noble families were also fighting half-heartedly, neither winning nor losing too much. ...Well, this is just Emperor Zinkaen’s personal opinion, and in reality, I think everyone was fighting with all their might.

In any case, you’d think that if that were the case, they should all just join hands and stop fighting, but that was impossible. The hearts of the nobles had been hardened by over 100 years of war. Perhaps war had become too commonplace. It was an era of constant skirmishes.

[If you don’t muster up the courage to overcome your fear, you’ll be controlled by it forever. Since you’ve started, you must finish it. If you want to keep fighting, I won’t stop you, but... I can’t stand it.]

“I don’t like killing each other that much”

, Emperor Zinkaen said with a self-deprecating laugh. It was a funny joke.

“Stop dragging it out, kill each other thoroughly and settle this quickly...”. It sounds outrageous when you put it into words, but it’s not entirely wrong. Continuing to exchange win and lose will only prolong the overall misery. If the winners properly eat the losers, like poison, the conflict will eventually end.

However, not all noble families want to grow big. If they try to grow too big, there’s a risk that neighboring noble families will join forces and crush them. The bigger they get, the more prone they are to a family feud, with collateral family members plotting independence and leading to division. That’s exactly what happened with the Quordenze family.

I think it’s inevitable to prioritize not losing and maintaining the status quo over winning. Or rather, it’s precisely because so many noble families thought this way that the continent’s era of turmoil has yet to end. Not many people are capable of forging ahead despite the resentment and fear they face, and the shedding of blood.

[So I took all my valuables and left the castle. I guess my father thought I was difficult to deal with, because no one pursued me.]

The head of the Managris family at the time didn’t want to stand out, so perhaps his son, who had become too much of a fighting force with his radical views, became a burden instead. Emperor Zinkaen seems to have considered his actions to be desertion, but in reality, I feel it would be more accurate to say he was banished.

It’s said that among the items stolen from the castle at this time was a banned sword. My grandmother used this story as the basis for creating the anecdote about the thrown sword.

[So you set out on a wandering journey in search of power?]

[Certainly not. After leaving Managris and becoming nothing more than a single person, the war had nothing to do with me. I tried banditry and working as a mercenary, living from day to day. I even traveled to faraway lands wherever my fancy took me.]

Emperor Zinkaen’s expression was bright, and his voice was cheerful.

Since he’d run away in anger due to the state of the Managris family, I expected him to say something lofty like, “I’m going to end the war!”, but it seemed he was just wandering around aimlessly, enjoying his position as a free-spirited Highlord. In retrospect, Well, I guess that’s what a boy in his early teens is like.

Considering the historical context, he’d be wandering the Western continent in a hilarious, end-of-the-century frenzy, with conflicts breaking out everywhere, but I’m glad to see he seems healthy.

[That was how I met Galfis... though not at the pass.]

One of Emperor Zinkaen’s heroic tales is called 『Little Demon Pass』. It is featured at the very beginning of the Wandering Arc.

After leaving his home, Emperor Zinkaen traveled from place to place to build his power, and while stopping in a city along the way, he heard a rumor. A demon had suddenly appeared in a certain mountain town and taken up residence.

Possessing terrifying power, the demon defeated the noble’s army and took complete control of the town, doing whatever it wanted.

After hearing this, Emperor Zinkaen resolved to slay the demon for the sake of the people, and set off into the mountains toward the rumored town. Hearing this, he traveled along a long mountain path, and as he approached a pass, a boy claiming to be the demon appeared before him.

In the end, a fierce battle begins at this point, but in the end, Emperor Zinkaen wins. However, the story doesn’t end there. The townspeople rush to his aid and protect the defeated demon.

When Emperor Zinkaen asked what on earth this meant, the villagers replied... One day, a cruel and evil man became the head of the town. From then on, the town began to suffer from harsh taxes and conscription. With no workers, the town was on the verge of collapse. Then, out of nowhere, a boy appeared, claiming to be a demon, and caused mayhem. The town head, afraid to fight the demon, abandoned the town. By becoming a pitiful town ruled by demons, the town was able to escape taxes and conscription. Thanks to the demons, we’re somehow surviving...or so they said. The town had been in cahoots with the boy.

When Emperor Zinkaen heard this, he was furious at the head of the town for his misrule and oppression of the people. He returned the baton and attacked the noble’s headquarters, slaughtering the head of the family.

Seeing this bold action, the boy was impressed by Emperor Zinkaen’s strength and manliness. Meanwhile, Emperor Zinkaen was touched by the boy’s determination to protect his people even at the risk of suffering a stigma.

The two recognized each other and swore an oath to be brothers. Together they began traveling the western part of the continent.

In essence, this boy who called himself the demon was my grandfather.

[So where did you two meet?]

Given his statement that they didn’t meet at a pass, it seems likely that Little Demon Pass is also fictional.

[Do you remember, Galfis?]

[I don’t remember, it was so long ago.]

My grandfather said he was Emperor Zinkaen’s sworn younger brother, and that his origins and past didn’t matter at this point. Judging from his expression, it seemed he simply had no interest, rather than trying to avoid answering because he didn’t want to.

[Hahaha, that’s a problem. I don’t remember either. Which city was it... Nex, you should remember.]

The apprentice brought my big brother also forgotten.

Nex Kanfor, the elderly knight waiting in the corner of the room, straightened his back in embarrassment at the question. He too had traveled all the way here from the former Managris territory. While Emperor Zinkaen’s intimidating presence was a major factor in their smooth passage through the Kyborf Corridor, the skill of this old knight was also a major factor.

[Affirmative, I kept hearing the name of the town several times, so I still remember it. That was...]

Nex mentioned the name of the town, but it didn’t register in my mental database. Hearing the name of the Imperial noble family that currently occupies the land finally gave me an idea of its location, but it apparently has nothing to do with my grandfather’s origins.

My grandfather was the sole survivor of a destroyed noble family.

Apparently, Emperor Zinkaen discovered him fighting alone, surrounded by a hunting force, and took him into his care in exchange for a reward. However, my grandfather’s family home had been completely destroyed, and there was no one to take him in, let alone offer a reward. By the time Emperor Zinkaen rescued him, the knights and soldiers guarding my grandfather had all been wiped out.

My grandfather was still a child at the time, barely aware of the world outside. Emperor Zinkaen felt he couldn’t just leave him alone afterward. Soon, they began traveling together and forged a relationship as sworn brothers.

Incidentally, the noble family that destroyed my grandfather’s family was later destroyed by another noble family. Impermanence is truly a thing in the era of turmoil.

[Brother and I traveled to many places together... it brings back memories.]

[I guess he gained a foothold after he became a mercenary.]

They apparently traveled from place to place, alternating between banditry and mercenary work, but as mercenaries, the Highlord brothers were quite conspicuous. Many of the Lord-class mercs who fought alongside them on the battlefield were drawn to them. Nex was one of them.

As they continued their journey, they gradually gained more allies. Once their group grew to the point where they could be called a mercenary band, constantly moving around from place to place became inefficient.

[Was that the time you met Grandmother?]

[Yes. It was around the time our numbers started to grow.]

By that time, they had apparently grown into a large mercenary group with over ten Highlords. This included many other Lord-class mercenaries working under each one, so the sheer number of people easily exceeded 100. At this point, they were already a force in their own right.

[Cassia came to us when we were building our base.]

My grandfather spoke as if they were building a secret base in the forest, but it wasn’t such a friendly tale.

My grandfather and his men had just captured a random town and occupied it. Naturally, there was a noble family that originally owned that town, but they were apparently afraid of the mercenary group led by the Zadis and Galfis brothers and didn’t try to recapture it. They probably thought it would be better to wait out the storm rather than take action. They had given up, expecting them to leave eventually ... Perhaps this is the origin of Little Demon Pass.

As the eldest son of the Quordenze family, I can’t help but sympathize with the nobles whose territory has been occupied. It’s depressing to even think about having part of one’s territory taken over by an armed group from outside.

It’s like a corner of a shopping district controlled by a traditional local gang being taken over by a gang or a foreign mafia. To the average decent citizen, the former would probably be preferable.

[I heard that after her meeting with Duke Gadace Juliaeres ended unsuccessfully, Grandmother went to visit great-uncles...]

The Principality of Arpeo once existed in the Arpeo region, and the Friaeles family, its leader, was headed by Gadace Juliaeres.

At the time, the Principality of Arpeo in the west and the Kingdom of Voistra in the east were known as prominent forces in the western part of the continent. To counter the Spierzieg family, also known as the Kingdom of Voistra, Grandmother envisioned an alliance between the Quordenze and Friaeles families, and even held a meeting with Gadace. Apparently, it ended in failure.

[Gadace... Sovereign? What a nostalgic name. Everything changed after that tomboy arrived.]

My grandmother apparently concluded that the Principality of Arpeo was unable to compete with the Kingdom of Voistra. However, perhaps sensing something special about Emperor Zinkaen, she greeted him and immediately joined the mercenary group.

My grandmother then began to propose various ideas, including breaking away from the landless mercenary group, proclaiming the cause of ending the era of turmoil, and establishing a major power to replace the Friaeles family.

[She was intelligent, but there was something dangerous about Cassia back then... I couldn’t help but want to help her. She was like a troublesome younger sister.]

Emperor Zinkaen apparently had no intention of going along with Grandmother’s proposal. Seeing this somewhat reckless girl boldly express her outrageous ideals, he wondered, “Is it alright to leave her alone?” and decided to lend her a hand, thinking, “I’ll just play along until she’s satisfied”.

Strangely enough, however, this worked out well.

Although there were many initial failures due to lack of ability, they gradually began to produce results. One after another, they devoured the surrounding noble families, defeating and subjugating the famous nobles of each region. The mercenary group grew into a force known as the Zinkaen Party.

With the south and west under their control, the Zinkaen Party invaded the Principality of Arpeo.

[No battle was more fierce than the Great Battle of Arpeo... the Duke, that man was also a fearsome monster.]

Gadace of Friaeles was killed by Emperor Zinkaen himself. This marked the collapse of the Principality of Arpeo and the demise of the Friaeles family.

After that, the noble families of the Kyborf Corridor were subjugated, the Kingdom of Voistra was dissolved, and the Zinkaen Empire was founded. My grandmother’s childhood boasts had become reality.

[...If that’s the case, why did you revive the Managris family when the Empire was founded?]

After recounting the truth of the heroic tale, I asked Emperor Zinkaen, who was sipping tea.

[We needed to drive a wedge into the west. We couldn’t ignore the influence of the Evil King. We had no choice.]

The Evil King. Who was the Evil King?

While I was thinking about this, Siltrinn explained with a smile.

[It’s the end of the Crimson Sisters.]

[Ah, the three spears and the five swords...]

The Wandering Arc of the heroic tale basically ends with my grandmother’s reunion, and from there, a new chapter known as the Advancement Arc or Expansion Arc begins, in which we defeat the surrounding noble families. There are several boss characters in the storyline of this Expansion Arc, and the Crimson Sisters are one of them...or rather two, as they are twin sisters.

The Western Marquis of Durdaram, or Marquis of Durdaram, was founded by a Blessed Child, and the Crimson Sisters were the daughters of that founder. The older sister served as the second head of the Durdaram family, replacing the first head who retired due to physical disabilities caused by residual magic power.

The sisters get along well, and both are said to be highly intelligent and manage the Durdaram family with skillful diplomatic tactics.

[Didn’t the Durdaram family completely surrender?]

[They did... but Cassia said it was unclear whether that would last. We kept breaking the evil king’s weapons.]

The Crimson Sisters had a total of eight sons, and unlike their mother, they were aggressive warriors. By utilizing these sons appropriately, the Durdaram family was rapidly expanding its territory. These sons are sometimes called

**the Three Spears and Five Swords**

, symbolizing them as the weapons wielded by the Crimson Sisters.

The Zinkaen party clashed with the Durdaram family, led by the Crimson Sisters, and killed many of their sons in the battles. Ultimately, the Crimson Sisters surrendered, but Grandmother feared that one day their hatred for Emperor Zinkaen would outweigh their fear of him. As for the surviving sons, they apparently admired Emperor Zinkaen’s power.

[Durdaram has more connections than we think. She even said that leaving them alone would be a foolish decision.]

The fact that both of the Crimson Sisters were still alive at the time of the surrender was a major concern. Grandmother had apparently concluded that the Durdaram family was more influential than they appeared. Any sneaky sabotage in the western part of the Empire could have led to the Empire’s collapse, so some kind of countermeasure was necessary.

The revival of the Managris family at the time of the nation’s founding was, simply put, a countermeasure against Durdaram.

Even though he was banished, the Managris were still the noble family from which Emperor Zinkaen came. Sending the disinherited second child, Nex Kanfora, as their chief knight would send the message that "the Great Emperor is watching over you". It was a way to discourage any unscrupulous moves.

A weak noble family with a hotline to the upper-echelons of the Empire... like a child who’s always ready to tell on the teacher. They seemed like a pain to the Durdaram family.

[...But, the evil king has already turned to ashes. The chaos of the early days of the nation’s founding is gone now. There’s no longer any point in preserving Managris.]

Perhaps the deterrent was effective, or perhaps their fear continued to prevail, but neither of the Crimson Sisters showed any signs of rebellion until the day they died. Perhaps they were content to end the war in the favored position of the Marquis of Durdaram, a powerful noble family in the Zinkaen Empire.

The Marquis of Durdaram still wields considerable influence within the Empire, but Emperor Zinkaen and Nex don’t seem to view them as much of a threat. The current head of the family isn’t particularly stupid, but to the two who know the Crimson Sisters, he likely seems too lenient.

[A family that claims to be the source of the Empire is both unnecessary and dangerous. We should destroy it while we can.]

Emperor Zinkaen said that preserving the Managris family name only carries risks. He then declared that a new noble family should be founded by the third son or a collateral relative of an Imperial noble family who is obedient to the Imperial family, and placed in the former Managris territory.

Although, with the Yersinia Calamity, I doubt such talent will be found anytime soon.

[Nex should also take this opportunity to return to the Imperial Capital. It’s a long and arduous task, and a great cause.]

[At once.]

Grandpa Nex seems to live solely out of loyalty to Emperor Zinkaen and my grandfather. The last time I met him, he was eager to fight Spierzeig, but perhaps that meant he saw the end of the Managris family and wanted to live the rest of his life as he pleased.

[...In that case, we need to consider what to do with our grandchildren.]

Emperor Zinkaen placed his hand on Siltrinn’s shoulder. The conversation returned to the topic of marriage.

With such a logical explanation, the argument that the Managris family is unnecessary is easy to understand. There’s no room for argument, and I agree. However, the premise remains unchanged.

[Well, it seems your grandson doesn’t think so.]

Before you try to reach an agreement between your grandsons, you need to get on the same page with the other grandson, Emperor Ferolt.

[Why don’t you take the bite?]

I couldn’t say anything more. I certainly want to bite Siltrinn and lick her, but I’m afraid of what might happen later, so I held back.

[You’ve become quite timid for someone who carries out such a brave plan. A new path may be opening up... Have your fangs fallen and your jaw dislocated?]

He looked at me again, testing me.

So that’s where it all leads in the end. I wonder how brave and combative he thinks I am.

Gathering my strength to resist the pressure, I glared back, intent on knocking him down.

[I did what I could.]

Before Emperor Zinkaen could speak, I continued.

[Protecting the Quordenze. That is my duty, and my will.]

This is my true, honest feeling.

While avoiding direct expression, I repeated my words to convey my thoughts as much as possible.

Above all, I want to protect the life I have now. I don’t want my family and those close to me to be unhappy. I also want to enjoy having children with my concubines, be smitten with my cute little sister, and be pampered by princesses from other families as the heir to the Grand Duchy.

Protecting the Quordenze will ultimately protect all of these things. I will spare no effort to achieve that.

[...I want to protect the happiness that is within my reach. That’s all there is to it.]

I simply wanted to protect the things that I hold dear.

I couldn’t succumb to the Spierzeig family’s counterattack, and I couldn’t let Fanny be taken as a bride. That’s why I took action, that’s all.

I have no interest in fantasy stories like ending the era of turmoil or conquering the continent. Because that’s not what I want, and it’s not what the eldest son of the Quordenze family should do. I don’t know.

[Hmm...]

After I finished expressing my passionate feelings, Emperor Zinkaen fell silent.

It must have been a little emotional, too. But I wanted to make it clear here that I have absolutely no intention of carrying on the cause that Emperor Zinkaen had advocated. In that sense, I’d like to think that it wasn’t a bad statement.

The silence continued and I felt uncomfortable, but trying to cover it up would be a disadvantage. I simply waited in silence for a reaction.

I hope that my thoughts were properly conveyed... but please don’t give up and die suddenly after this.

[Is that so? ...In that case, do that.]

Emperor Zinkaen smiled.

It wasn’t a smile of joy. It wasn’t a provocative smile. It was a gentle smile, almost as if he cared for me.

His violet eyes stared intently at me.

What kind of reaction could this possibly be? But before I could find an answer, Emperor Zinkaen’s lips moved.

[Once started, it must be finished.]

He had said those words before. Perhaps this was the philosophy that Emperor Zinkaen held within himself.

I doubt it, but I hope he’s not about to say that we have to end the era of turmoil for good this time...