### Chapter 51: Servant Cedric (17) – Uncle Barthelemy
‘The fact that Claudia acting on her own isn’t that scary, but if surrounding allied Lords rally together to voice their collective opinion, it might become somewhat exhausting. Perhaps I should subtly have Prince Barthelemy put a check on them under the name of Prince Barthelemy.’
‘Measures against assassination are also necessary. The fact that attempts on the second and third princes’ lives have been thwarted implies they have highly skilled guards. There’s also the possibility that they might target my life in a desperate gamble, so I must guard myself thoroughly.’
‘There’s also a need to make it crystal clear about the benefits Redbell would gain through Claudia’s marriage. Once the trend forms where everyone around starts to expect the union, any clumsy attempts at a propaganda campaign by Claudia would simply be swept away by the tide.’
Armin of Redbell’s political maneuvers were truly meticulous.
Even though Claudia’s forces were relatively weaker, he remained vigilant and systematically blocked any means or methods she could employ.
Unlike his younger siblings who clumsily invested their strength incrementally, his strategy from the start aimed for a complete shutout, clearly showing why he had already solidified his position early on as the successor to Redbell.
However, the one misfortune for Armin was that he judged his opponents within the confines of common sense.
“Armin Redbell!! How dare you stab me in the back?!”
As a result, when the second prince, his face red with anger, stormed into his territory, Armin couldn’t help but panic as he was unable to fully grasp the situation.
“Calm down, Highness. How could such an uncouth act come from me toward Your Highness? Let us calmly talk—”
“Calm? Calm down? Do you think I can stay calm right now?! Do you even know what Baslemagne told me?!”
Baslemagne Duke.
The brother of the King and a giant contender for the next throne, hearing this name stiffened Armin’s face slightly.
He instantly realized that the prince’s rage was not going to be resolved by a mere misunderstanding or trivial incident.
The intuition that the second Prince’s accusation wasn’t mere speculation was confirmed by his following words.
“That man told me, ‘Your Highness, I understand your urgency, but to think that you would go so far as to sell your own family’s children for profit shows questionable character as a member of the royal family.’ Now, word has spread throughout the royal court that I was trying to build my power by selling my nephew! That Claudia is testifying alongside Baslemagne, claiming that the entire incident was my conspiracy! And you’re still here pretending like nothing happened!?”
“That’s utterly… absurd…”
Armin involuntarily swayed on his feet.
It felt like he had just been struck hard on the head with a hammer.
‘Redbell family betting on the second prince while allying with Baslemagne against him? Have they lost their minds?’
The families of Viscount Redbell and Lord Sarunos respectively support Prince Barthelemy and Duke Baslemagne, each pouring considerable effort into ensuring victory.
For the victor, Redbell’s efforts will be amply rewarded; for the loser, the stakes are equally high.
If Baslemagne wins, the Redbell family, who hindered the way for the second prince to victory, would not be left alone.
Though Redbell’s influence is formidable enough to resist outright extermination, if the royal family and Sarunos family collaborate to suppress the Viscount’s family, the potential damage would be unimaginable.
Yet, in such a precarious situation, to betray an ally by attacking from behind — refusing a marriage?
‘What kind of foolish woman…!! There’s such a thing as acting within one’s limits!!’
Even careful and meticulous Armin, or perhaps because of his meticulousness, could not have imagined that Claudia would resort to such tactics.
Sure, it might get her through the current crisis for now.
But what then?
If Prince Barthelemy wins, he would certainly not let Claudia go unpunished. Should Duke Baslemagne gain the throne, Claudia’s usefulness would diminish.
Will Redbell continue to control Claudia as a puppet? Would loyal retainers ever accept a traitor to the family?
In Armin’s judgment, Claudia’s move was tantamount to burning down the whole house just because one disliked having pests in it.
Though things might seem fine during the summer, in winter, one would inevitably freeze to death.
And worse, Armin himself was caught up in this calamitous move of self-destruction.
“Please don’t misunderstand, Your Highness! This was Claudia’s unilateral decision! It was never a conspiracy orchestrated by our family!”
“Would you have me believe that the mighty Redbell Estate did not know that one of their ladies absconded to meet the Duke? Are you saying that you failed to supervise a potential candidate for a strategic marriage?”
“That is…”
Armin gritted his teeth.
Although he had undoubtedly ordered his subordinates to keep tabs on Claudia, not a single one had reported anything amiss, or even noticed Claudia’s movements.
This was the perfect evidence that meticulous planning from above was wasted without the cooperation from those on the ground.
Of course, his subordinates had their own excuses.
It wasn’t their fault that Claudia’s hired servant was an adept capable of using high-level magic like invisibility.
“And even if all this were truly the girl’s own doing, it doesn’t change the fact that Redbell attacked me from behind!”
In a world where collective punishment is the norm,
whether Claudia’s actions were independent or not, as long as she shared the bloodline of the Redbell family, Armin Redbell could not escape accountability.
Armin was now the unfortunate group leader for the truly dangerous family assignment tied together by blood.
Worse still, the actual leader was too powerful to be touched by anyone, and Armin was left as deputy leader to bear the brunt alone.
As he tried to placate the fuming second prince, Armin seethed internally.
‘Claudia! I will surely make you pay for this indignity…!’
*
“Hahaha! That young man was truly turning purple with rage — it was the best show I’ve seen recently!”
An elderly man with a striking shock of silver hair erupted into uproarious laughter.
Barthelemy, Duke of Virca Kingdom, and Claudia’s great-uncle.
Claudia smiled at Duke Barthelemy.
“If my actions bring help to the Duke, then I am truly delighted.”
“Enough with the formalities, just call me uncle.”
“If you insist, Uncle.”
“Ho! Usually, you’d expect some modesty, yet here you are agreeing so easily?”
“I tend to be straightforward.”
“Hahaha! Good, good! Unlike the cunning Viscount Redbell, you don’t seem to have inherited that nasty streak. What a relief!”
Claudia’s words and actions were remarkably bold.
Even though she refrained from outright impudence toward her noble uncle and observed the bare minimum of respect, it stopped there.
However, the Duke found her straightforwardness refreshing and continuously displayed a jovial demeanor.
“When my brother decided to hand over his daughter, your mother, to that treacherous Viscount, I was highly dissatisfied. To give such a young girl to a man so much older as a second wife— I didn’t think it was justified. Especially since she was frail.”
“Political marriages are quite burdensome when you’re on the receiving end.”
“Rest assured, you’ll not undergo the same ordeal as your mother. I am not like the shameless fool who would recklessly sell his own niece.”
Claudia didn’t fully trust the Duke’s bold promises.
Despite his act as a hearty, loving grandfather concerned for his niece, the Duke was a seasoned politician who spared no effort in plotting and manipulating to secure the throne.
Just by using her as evidence in various testimonies to attack the second prince, it was clear enough what kind of person he was.
While she was helpful to the Duke currently, whether he’d continue treating her with the same warmth once her utility diminished was uncertain.
“To me, it hardly matters. After all, I am using him too.”
While someone like Armin might consider her actions reckless, Claudia thought differently.
Even if she switched sides to support the Duke, it wouldn’t necessarily mean immediate defeat for the Redbell family and the second prince.
The Viscount had already secured many advantages.
For a while, the fight would drag on.
It was only after much time that Claudia’s utility would diminish.
But with ‘time’, Claudia was confident that she could grow beyond just being useful. She believed she could become the game-changer in this royal struggle.
The improved crystal vision gifted to her by Cedric was indeed an extraordinary item.
Even if she were to abandon Redbell entirely, with some grace period, she believed she could cultivate a force rivaling it.
Of course, just because she could abandon her current assets didn’t mean she had to.
“Uncle, you haven’t forgotten, have you? This entire plot was orchestrated solely by Armin Redbell, acting on his own accord, and not the actual will of the Redbell family.”
“Hmm, wouldn’t it be better to take advantage of the situation to hit them harder while we’re at it? Especially since Sarunos’ family is already clamoring for an opportunity.”
“Which would result in bigger wounds: a sharp prick of the tip or a swipe with the dull side of the blade? The more you hit, the more your power is dispersed.”
“Haha, cleverly disguising the suggestion to cut out the problematic first son and leave the rest for you to feed upon! Indeed, directing this strike at ‘Armin Redbell’ rather than ‘Redbell’ as a whole would indeed reduce backlash from their retainers.”
“Moreover, by doing so, wouldn’t that help your side gain new supporters? If the only support you had were from the Sarunos family, you’d have to respect their opinions even if you achieved the throne. But if the supporters were divided between me and the Sarunos family, you could have them compete according to your preferences.”
“Hmm…”
Claudia’s words made Duke Barthelemy’s eyebrows twitch.
Though he continued smiling, the emotions behind it had changed.
“I must take back what I said earlier. Although you look like your aunt, there’s no doubt that your nature is truly inherited from the Viscount.”
“…Let’s forget that last statement.”
Claudia’s face turned sour immediately.
Her unabashed, almost human reaction made the Duke burst out laughing again.
In the corner of the room where they conversed,
Cedric silently stood in readiness like the other servants, but a satisfied expression appeared on his face.
This was, in truth, because the broad strategy was set by Cedric, but the finer actions and adaptability in the field came from Claudia herself.
The once frivolous noble lady, deemed unruly even by her household’s servants, had developed to the point where she could now discuss the nation’s future with a candidate for king-in-waiting.
This was happening just a week before Cedric’s contract with her was due to end.
