Chapter : 41

A feudal vassal was a being who had been granted a domain in exchange for loyalty.

This loyalty included various restrictions such as taxes, military mobilization, and legal subordination.

Therefore, every feudal lord in the Elang Kingdom dreamed of becoming a free and independent lord.

And Viscount Avignon, one of the five vassal families of the Bellua Margraviate, was one such ambitious feudal lord.

However, recently, Viscount Avignon's thoughts had begun to change slightly.

'Hmm, this is unusual.'

Viscount Avignon muttered as he looked at the pikemen lined up in various places.

Their presence was formidable. The sight of elite soldiers, rarely seen in any other domain.

He had known since the last war that the Margrave was not to be trifled with, but when on earth had he recovered this much power? Viscount Avignon could not tell.

'And was it called Fort Proven?'

Viscount Avignon's eyes twitched as he recalled the newly built fortress.

Numerous merchants came and went along the waterway, trading goods, and although it was still empty, the vast market site was where the famous L’Isle-Ponte merchant guild of the city-state alliance was establishing its branch.

In short, it had become not a fortress but a trade center. The Margrave would likely gain enormous commercial profits from there.

'That's why he made such an absurd proposal.'

He had scoffed when he first received the Margrave's proposal. To abolish the nominal feudal duties.

Finally, the Margrave had grasped the situation and was wagging his tail at them. But upon seeing the reality, it was not so.

The Margrave was confident.

Confident that he could reclaim the domains at any time, even after letting them go like this.

'What should I do now….'

Viscount Avignon's mind was in a turmoil.

At this rate, there was no need to take a confrontational stance against the Margrave like the other vassals.

As the saying goes, one must follow the trend.

It was said that the Holy See had also invited the Margrave.

He was probably slated for a major role in the newly formed southern crusade.

Therefore.

'Confrontation would be suicide.'

The Margrave had the upper hand in both justification and power.

As time passed, the power gap between the Margrave and the feudal vassals would only widen.

Hadn't he seen it with his own two eyes when he studied abroad in the city-state alliance of the northern Apennine Peninsula?

The power of money.

Money begets money and accelerates development.

The bourgeois of the cities had gained enormous military power through it. And the Margrave's policies clearly coincided with the actions of the bourgeoisie.

'The other fools will rejoice that the restrictions have been lifted…. They don't know that this is the worst-case scenario. At this rate, the domains we hold will be worthless.'

Viscount Avignon felt a sense of pity. There was nothing he could do in the face of the coming wave of change.

Once the power advantage was clear, the Margrave would try to reclaim the domains he had released. They would be utterly helpless.

But he couldn't just stand by and do nothing.

Viscount Avignon decided to do his best within his capabilities.

* * *

On the day of the summons to welcome the feudal vassals.

The tension in the domain was higher than ever before. From the lowest-ranking soldiers to the administrators, everyone wore a grim expression like soldiers going to war, and remained serious throughout.

The lord's dignity was their own face. The people of the domain did not want the lord they served to be disrespected by the feudal vassals. Chamberlain Hamil, in particular, felt this way even more strongly.

“Have all the accommodations for the feudal vassals been prepared?”

“The deployment of the pikemen?”

“Disarm them all so they don't get any funny ideas.”

“Have the cooks on standby as well. We must show them the lord's dignity.”

Chamberlain Hamil was at the forefront, meticulously checking everything one by one.

'He's unstoppable.'

Of course, I clicked my tongue at Chamberlain Hamil's actions, but I didn't stop him. This was how nobles were.

If you didn't show them splendor and strength, they would look down on you.

I remembered advising the emperor in the past to frequently hold lavish parties for the nobles. So, without disturbing Chamberlain Hamil, I approached Treasurer Palmer.

“The preparations are very well done. Treasurer Palmer, are there any other unusual matters?”

“There's nothing particularly different.”

Treasurer Palmer shrugged at my question. Then, as if something came to mind, he clapped his hands.

“Ah! The tax came in. 100 ducats in tribute.”

“Tax? As tribute?”

“Yes, my lord.”

At Treasurer Palmer's words, I tilted my head. The harvest season was long past, so why the sudden tribute?

“Did the feudal vassals bring it or something? That's a bad joke, Treasurer.”

I chuckled, imagining the absurd. But Treasurer Palmer's reaction was unexpected.

“Hmm? How did you know? Did Viscount Avignon tell you first, my lord?”

“Viscount Avignon brought tribute?”

Viscount Avignon.

In the game [Pangea Universalise], he was the feudal noble who always became a great lord by declaring independence whenever the Bellua Margraviate was devoured by Count Bozen.

Such an ambitious man was paying tribute at a time like this?

“Uh, it seems it wasn't something that was agreed upon beforehand, my lord.”

Seeing my expression, Treasurer Palmer wrinkled his nose.

“He came before the other feudal vassals, toured Fort Proven and the market, and then contacted me the next day. He said he would pay tribute and asked me to accept it.”

“Hoh?”

He saw Fort Proven and the market.

It seems he was so surprised by its prosperity that he decided to bet on me. He reads the currents of the time faster than I thought.

Well, that's probably why he rose from a simple feudal noble to a great lord in [Pangea Universalise].

'As I change, the future is becoming more and more twisted. I don't know where or how it will turn.'

I don't know if Viscount Avignon has bowed his head to me or is trying to make me feel at ease.

Looking at the future, it seemed more likely to be the latter than the former.

But that didn't mean I was afraid.

Wasn't this what I always did while playing [Pangea Universalise]?

It wasn't the first or second time I had to deal with an ambitious subordinate who was always looking to stab me in the back.

Besides, if the person in question was also competent, wouldn't it be more helpful to me?

“How should we, should we refuse the tax?”

Treasurer Palmer asked cautiously.

“No. It’s fine. If he pays taxes, that's a good thing too. We'll receive it well and use it for the good of the domain.”

Is this what it feels like to stumble upon a windfall?

I chuckled and said it was fine. It wasn't a problem to worry about much in the current situation anyway. It was almost time to lead the feudal vassals and hold the council.

* * *

Viscount Bordeing was not in a good mood.

Strictly speaking, he himself was from a collateral branch with succession rights to the domain. But the attitude of these domain bastards was utterly insolent.

Wasn't this an act of outright contempt?

They lined up pikemen as if to threaten, and the administrators were intentionally flaunting their money to break their spirit.

And that wasn't all.

A secret agreement made with Viscount Avignon the previous night had been shattered by his sudden action.

The plan to threaten the Margrave, seize enormous concessions, and challenge for the Margrave's seat as a member of a collateral branch had all collapsed.

'We'll see if I let this meeting pass smoothly. I'll ruin it completely. You damn Margrave.'

But it didn't take long for Viscount Bordeing to realize he had made a huge mistake.

“Say that again?”

“I, Viscount Bordeing, refuse the count's proposal. You will have to offer better terms.”

“Ha, so you can't accept it?”

I had thought there would be one crooked bastard. But I didn't expect him to come at me like this.

I had already made enough concessions. But to crawl up like this? Unless I was a saint from an old story, it was impossible not to get angry.

“Do you all think the same?”

I asked, glaring at the feudal vassals in the council chamber.

The feudal vassals flinched and avoided my gaze. They were already intimidated by the pikemen's review.

On top of that, Viscount Avignon's sudden action had made it difficult for them to decide what to do. So the decision they made was silence.

Only Viscount Avignon responded to my words.

“How could I oppose the Margrave's generous disposition?”

“Hmph! Viscount Avignon, shut your mouth. What has the count ever done for us that he should impose new restrictions on us instead of releasing us, and you agree to it!”

Well, what he said was true. During the previous lord's time, I hadn't been of much help in major or minor disputes.

But that didn't mean he could be so impudent. He was a feudal vassal, and I was the rightful ruler.

“If that’s what you think, then you know there’s only one answer, right?”

Viscount Bordeing flinched for a moment at my threat. I didn't miss it and pushed him further.

“By the authority given to me by God and the King, I can revoke your title. You should be careful not to make me choose that final option, Viscount Bordeing.”

“Th-this! You wouldn't dare! We will not stand for it!”

Viscount Bordeing, gritting his teeth, looked around at the feudal vassals pitifully.

They couldn't bring themselves to look away and just cleared their throats.

“Ahem, ahem.”

“Humph, humph.”

“Revoking a title is a bit….”

The issue of revoking a title was something that could happen to any of them at any time, so it seemed difficult for them to ignore.

I had already anticipated the feudal vassals' reaction. Weren't they just jackals looking for rights?

“Why? If you oppose, are you going to start a war or something?”

I deliberately made a provocative statement. At that, a spark ignited in the feudal vassals' eyes. Viscount Bordeing, emboldened by their attitude, shouted loudly.

“War! You think we can't? If we gather our forces, even the count will find it hard to ignore us.”

“Me?”

“That's right!”

Viscount Bordeing shouted triumphantly. The feudal vassals gave strength to Viscount Bordeing's words with their insolent eyes.

“I have no intention of fighting you.”

But all I could do was scoff.

“Why would I fight you? I will simply revoke your title and announce that I will appoint a noble from the King or the Duke of Bourgogne. Then they will lead their own soldiers and crush you.”

“A-are you mad? Are you trying to hand over the entire domain?”

It wasn't just Viscount Bordeing who was horrified. The expressions of the other feudal vassals were also distorted with shock.

The feudal vassals were from collateral branches. They were all connected by blood and had succession rights to the domain. In other words, they were beings who could aim for the

position of Margrave at any time. But if the domain fell into the hands of the King and the Duke of Bourgogne, it would be virtually impossible to aim for that position.

“What? Mad? I don’t think those are words that should come from your mouths.”

“Ugh.”

“A vassal relationship bound by mutual interest is better than close relatives who don't listen and are always ready to backstab. If I distribute the power of the King and the Duke in a balanced way, will they dare to defy me? Or will they be obedient?”

The feudal vassals' mouths were shut tight as if they had eaten honey.

“Well, of course, I have no intention of doing that. Because I have a better way.”

“What is that.”

“I will revoke your domain and issue a summons.”

“Hmph! You think we would obey a summons for that? When you're about to cut off our heads? Foolish count!”

Viscount Bordeing screamed at the top of his lungs.

“You won't come? Why do you think you won't come?”

I just felt sorry for him.

“I plan to divide your domain according to meritorious service. And of course, I will grant the dissolution of the feudal contract, which is today's agenda. Now, what do you think will happen? Will the surrounding vassals support you to the end?”

“Hup!”

There was no noble who would refuse an offer to increase their domain. Only then did everyone look surprised.

At the same time, greed flickered in the eyes of the feudal vassals.

And.

Viscount Bordeing could not help but fall into deep despair.