Chapter 46

Chapter 46. The Succession Battle for the Dukedom (5)

After finishing my private meeting with the Duke of Veneto, I returned to Viscount Chioggia’s residence.

I did not see Viscount Chioggia before entering my guest room.

He had probably been summoned by the Duke and was currently being persuaded.

After taking a bath, I headed toward the dining room with my secretaries.

A servant approached us.

“Viscount Marcel, Lady Chioggia wishes to see you.”

“I heard she was staying in her territory. Has she already arrived?”

“Yes. She is waiting in the reception room.”

“I’ll meet her together with my secretaries.”

The servant looked troubled.

Apparently, Lady Chioggia had asked for me alone.

Still, at this point, a little inconvenience was better than creating unnecessary suspicion.

It would be troublesome if someone thought we were secretly plotting something.

I took Diego and Martin with me.

Inside the reception room stood a rather attractive woman around twenty years old.

She also looked awkward when she saw that I had brought others.

There was no way I was going to meet you alone. You should have expected this much.

I clicked my tongue internally and used Appraisal.

[Merle Chioggia, 20]

[Third daughter of the Marquis of Saxony. Lady of the Chioggia Territory. Worships Helios.]

As expected of a noblewoman from the Saxony Territory of the Germania Empire, she worshiped Helios, the Sun God.

There was nothing particularly unusual in her information.

I greeted her calmly.

After a few polite exchanges, she served tea.

I took a sip.

There was something mixed into it.

A stimulant.

Thanks to [Status Abnormality Immunity], it had no effect on me.

I continued drinking as though nothing was wrong.

Lady Chioggia watched me carefully.

Eventually, she began speaking about the succession battle.

She wanted Vincent to become Duke.

Her husband’s own father wanted Vincent to inherit.

Now even his wife wanted the same thing.

“Why do you want Vincent to inherit the dukedom?”

“My husband is more suited to spending his life growing wheat in the Chioggia Territory.”

She emphasized her husband’s incompetence.

That was probably not her true reason.

If Viscount Chioggia became Duke of Veneto, he would become incredibly busy.

More importantly, he would likely take many concubines and political wives.

Her own position would become unstable.

She could be dragged into a struggle for power where losing her life would not be unusual.

Ultimately, Lady Chioggia was trying to remove me for her own sake.

This annoys me. I can’t simply let it pass. I should make her owe me and extract compensation.

I had already received rewards from the Duke.

Yet somehow, another unexpected opportunity for profit had appeared.

I stared at Lady Chioggia.

“Please give me another cup of tea.”

“......”

By now, she must have realized the stimulant was not working.

Her eyes shook.

“Using such a petty trick, aren’t you ashamed as a noble?”

“......”

She was a noblewoman who had lived like a flower inside a greenhouse, not a hardened merchant.

She did not even try to make excuses.

I leaned back in my chair and crossed my legs.

Then I spoke leisurely.

“I’m a man with many desires. What can you promise me if I withdraw from the succession battle?”

“...Tell me what you want.”

Pascal and I had already investigated the assets of the Veneto Territory in detail.

I recalled something valuable enough to demand but still possible for her to give.

“When Saxony and Veneto formed their marriage alliance, both sides invested in the other territory as proof of the alliance. Transfer one of those investments to me. If you sign the transfer agreement, I’ll withdraw peacefully.”

“Which investment?”

“I want shares in Rosso Bank.”

Rosso Bank was a global commercial bank headquartered in the Veneto Territory.

It had branches in the Germania Empire, Franche Kingdom, and Iberian Kingdom.

Besides earning money from deposits and loans, it also operated somewhat like an investment bank, investing heavily in trade, shipping, and real estate.

In a world where finance was still barely developed, Rosso Bank was one of the most advanced financial institutions.

Naturally, unless someone belonged to the ruling family of Veneto or was closely related to them, acquiring its shares was almost impossible.

Wanting shares in Rosso Bank meant I wanted to participate in financial business that influenced the entire Northern Continent.

“Rosso Bank? I don’t know whether I have enough authority for that, but I promise.”

Apparently, she did not even fully understand what she owned.

She truly was another golden spoon.

“My lady, you personally own twelve and a half percent of Rosso Bank. If you don’t believe me, call your maid and check.”

“I’ll check immediately.”

Lady Chioggia rang a handbell.

A maid hurried in and, following her instructions, brought the securities for Rosso Bank.

Without wasting time, we prepared a share transfer contract.

I received the securities into my own hands.

This was way too easy. I should at least pretend to give her useful advice.

I spoke to Lady Chioggia.

“Go to the Veneto lord’s residence immediately. The Duke is probably trying to persuade your husband right now. If you join him, your husband won’t be able to hold out. Tell him I became frightened, withdrew from the succession battle, and decided to return to my territory.”

“Ah! Understood.”

She jumped to her feet.

She had become impatient.

“I’ll go to the lord’s residence immediately. Thank you, Viscount Marcel.”

“Think nothing of it.”

I smiled while watching her hurry outside.

Husband and wife were equally easy to take advantage of.

Bird Droppings Island alone was already excessive compensation. How did everything work out this well?

Of course, if the Duke of Veneto learned what happened and became furious, I would take a step back.

Then I could simply replace the shares with some other compensation.

Either way, I would profit.

* * *

Later, Viscount Chioggia finally returned.

He spoke weakly.

“Viscount Marcel, things ended up like this because I was inadequate.”

I answered with a smile.

“Let Vincent deal with all the troublesome work. Why don’t you have a drink with me instead?”

“Haha... I suppose being Duke really is troublesome.”

His smile was bitter.

For a son who had failed to receive his father’s recognition, especially one compared unfavorably with his younger brother, this must have been a miserable day.

And now he had learned that the Duchess he admired had been the person who killed his older brother.

“I am truly sorry that Father threatened you.”

“Think nothing of it. Still, I could tell that the Duke genuinely loves you.”

“...Really?”

“Yes. He said, ‘It is true that I’m more attached to Matteo.’ He even said you were his most cherished child.”

“Ah...”

Large tears rolled down Viscount Chioggia’s face.

I did not particularly want to watch a grown man cry.

I quickly took him to the reception room.

I signaled a servant to prepare alcohol and food.

“Here. Have a drink.”

The sharp servant brought wine almost instantly and filled Viscount Chioggia’s glass.

He drank several cups in a row and soon collapsed drunk.

Looking at him, even I felt slightly guilty.

Sorry, my pushover father-in-law.

Today’s lesson.

Choose your son-in-law carefully, or he may extort you.

* * *

Even [Status Abnormality Immunity] could not do anything about a hangover.

I was immune to poison, but apparently alcohol did not count.

Maybe the gods had decided, ‘It would be too pitiful if he couldn’t even drink.’

Anyway, I woke with a headache that felt like someone had buried an axe in my skull.

Someone had been knocking on the door for a while.

Forcing myself up only made the headache worse.

“What is it?”

The servant outside entered.

“Forgive me. The lord’s residence sent word. They said you must not be late for the succession battle.”

“It’s morning already? Damn, my head.”

“A carriage is waiting. Please come out once you’re prepared.”

I hurriedly washed my face and changed clothes.

I combed my hair while walking down the corridor.

On the way to the carriage, I met Viscount Chioggia.

He was also wiping his face roughly with a wet towel.

“Haha! It seems even Viscount Marcel cannot defeat a hangover.”

“Alcohol is the enemy. Let’s go.”

“I apologize for dragging you into something dishonorable.”

Even though we had already agreed to withdraw, the succession battle itself still needed a formal conclusion.

The Duke needed justification to officially designate his youngest son, Vincent, as the successor.

Apparently, Viscount Chioggia considered deliberately losing a match to be dishonorable.

“It’s for the peace of your family. There’s nothing wrong with it.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

The carriage moved quickly.

Soon, we reached the lord’s residence and the third succession contest began.

The event for the third day was janggi.

Vincent and Viscount Chioggia sat directly across from each other at the board.

Anyone could tell Vincent was far more skilled.

Only a few turns passed before Matteo resigned.

“Vincent wins.”

The Duke announced the result.

Then Viscount Chioggia declared his withdrawal.

“Vincent is far superior to me. I withdraw from the succession battle.”

“Accepted.”

It was little more than a formal procedure.

Yet everyone gathered in the lord’s residence released a sigh of relief.

If Viscount Chioggia had fought until the bitter end, no one knew what might have happened.

With this, Vincent had officially been chosen as the next lord of the Veneto Territory.

Of course, regardless of the result, I had already made a considerable profit.

I need to hurry back home and start working.

Now I had even more things to do.

Why did it feel like the more money I made, the busier I became?