Chapter 41:
A Modest Goal
CALE’S GROUP had a slight delay in their departure.
“Leaving so soon?”
Antonio Guiller was walking toward the carriage with a radiant smile on his face. Cale’s brow furrowed as he watched him draw near.
They don’t get along?
Bilose thought it likely that the two nobles wouldn’t see eye to eye, considering each was closely aligned with a different prince. Furthermore, Cale had caused a disturbance in the territory by uncovering a human trafficking operation in the Duchy of Guiller, thus exposing the Guillers to pressure from the crown and the other nobles in the southeastern region.
Yet one aspect of the situation struck Bilose as odd. Strange… Why only pressure the southeast?
The northwestern and northeastern regions were peaceful. Central Rowoon was under strict scrutiny after the enraged crown prince had personally dispatched an investigation squad. Why were the other regions so quiet?
It clicked for him then. Ah, I get it.
There were no dukes or marquesses in the northeast, so that region had no true leader. Yet all the nobles in northeastern Rowoon were wary of what Count Deruth Henituse would think of their actions.
On the other side, Marquess Sten’s household held full control of the northwestern region. Taylor Sten, who had established his dominance of House Sten, was one of the crown prince’s people.
Bilose’s uncle, Odeus, was the kingpin of the northwestern underworld. When Bilose had sought to establish safe houses in the Mogor Empire and in Faern, Odeus had been more than happy to oblige. His offhand comment resurfaced in Bilose’s memory.
“If Lord Cale’s involved, of course I’ll cooperate. That’s the only way for me to survive in the northwest.”
Bilose hadn’t thought much of it at the time, but now it struck him like a sucker punch. Though he had worked with Cale on several occasions, he wasn’t privy to everything Cale had done or the extent of his connections.
Have I ever worked with someone I knew so little about?
The thought sent chills down Bilose’s spine. He then overheard Cale muttering under his breath, his eyes still glued to the incoming Antonio.
“So annoying.”
Bilose’s expression changed a bit at that. Cale’s irritation seemed genuine, but it wasn’t the resentment of a man running into his enemy and finding himself in an unpleasant situation; it felt more akin to frustration with someone who’d woken him up.
The Guiller heir’s behavior also surprised Bilose. Antonio and Cale definitely weren’t on good terms—or so Bilose believed—but their interaction wasn’t quite what he’d anticipated.
“Shouldn’t you check up on things before you leave, Lord Cale?”
Cale observed the rules of etiquette, disembarking from the carriage to stand before Antonio. “House Guiller took care of it. I’m sure you handled it well, so is there any reason for me to follow up?”
“I see. You trust my family.” Cale expressing confidence in the Guillers made Antonio feel peculiar indeed.
“We’re planning to lock the gate for a while,” came a voice from behind him.
Antonio turned around. Everyone present bent into respectful bows, Cale included. The duchess, Sonata Guiller, walked up to Cale. As she did, Cale thought, They’ll be keeping it shut for some time, she says.
The crown prince and Duchess Guiller had decided to hide the fact that a merchant guild from the Empire had purchased the slaves. Word would spread as soon as they caught the guild responsible, but for now, they sought to keep the news contained.
House Krish had sold captives to the merchant guild on three separate occasions. The timing of these transactions corresponded with Albert solidifying his position as Rowoon’s future king. With Albert’s influence expanding beyond that of the prince House Guiller supported, Baron Krish had determined it was most expedient to boost his financial power.
Although Albert hadn’t let his feelings show when conversing with Cale, learning about all this had filled him with fury. He was engaged in a covert investigation as to whether the slave trade had infested the kingdom elsewhere—hence his decision to suppress the intel about the Empire’s merchant guild.
Regardless, this did not erase House Guiller’s sin. They had neglected border security to the point that Rowoon’s citizens were being sold into slavery. After striking a deal with the crown prince, Sonata had made up her mind. This was the first time she had spoken about it to anyone other than her grandson.
Cale’s condition was that they secure the gate, but the gatekeepers’ duties involved more than locking it up tight. Sonata touched on this aspect as she said, “House Guiller will also temporarily pause its international activities and summon all our family members and vassals back home.”
Ceasing international activities. Recalling the family. Everyone’s face went taut as they realized the implications.
Though she’d used the term “international activities,” House Guiller’s so-called activities involved increasing the duchy’s influence. The individuals responsible for this were family members embroiled in the central region’s politics. Sonata’s announcement that they would halt these activities essentially meant that House Guiller would let go of any power they held in central Rowoon. Even if the pause was temporary, as she’d said, it was still a significant decision.
Permitting the slave trade was a major sin, but it didn’t necessitate this harsh self-punishment from the duchess. Since a vassal household had carried out the human trafficking, she could have feigned ignorance. She would’ve had to accept some responsibility, but such was the cruel nature of the world.
But why?
While everyone else wrestled with their confusion, Sonata, Antonio, and even Cale remained calm. However, Sonata’s next words dropped an even bigger bombshell. “I will also be passing the title of duke to Antonio by the end of the year.”
“Grandmother!” Antonio cried out in astonishment, but she was impassive—no, her gaze was downright frigid.
This was my fault.