The Princess is Going on Strike - Chapter 29
Chapter 29
The first piece of the puzzle is always the most important. This is because it’s the one that indicates where the puzzle starts and that’s exactly what I had to do.
“What can I help you with, Miss?”
I walked into a room where I heard a voice of a man who was tiredly scanning some documents. He had the face of someone who hadn’t slept in a long time.
The world truly is unfair.
The incompetent and useless people all went to attend the drinking party today while the talented ones are all keeping up with their jobs. I looked pitifully at the man in front of me and spoke.
“Count Giles Greeves. Did you not get a good night’s sleep last night?”
“Ah, yes. There was a lot of work to do, so I didn’t get to sleep much.”
The count got up from his chair, instructed a maid to serve tea, then sat down across from me. He looked at me with a tired expression after wiping his face with his hands.
“So, what brings you here so early in the morning?”
I glanced at him as he questioned me. Giles Greeves. He was the head of the Count Family of Greeves and famous for being the most powerful of the vassals who served the Brixia Family. However, because he was extremely stubborn and rigid, he had no flexibility. For this reason, he was someone Oledin tended to avoid. On the other hand, because of his abilities, Oledin handed over all the work and nuisances over to him. He was a man who knew full well how the vain Oledin was using him, but never spoke a single voice of dissatisfaction. Despite being over 50 years old, Count Greeves still had a piercing gaze. He received the tea cup from the maid and I thanked him as he handed me mine.
“Count Greeves. I heard that you haven’t taken your children down to enjoy the festival this year.”
“Yes, they’ve been guarding the territory because of the jobs they’ve been given.”
“Jobs they’ve been given?”
“Yes, well….. It has something to do within the family, so…”
He responded indifferently and glossed over the problem, but it probably wasn’t something so simple. Count Greeves’ children, who resembled him, were extremely talented and it has been quite a while since they weren’t in Oledin’s favor. This was due to Asterin’s inferior complex. I sighed, thinking about how Oledin was handling the situation.
Even so, it’s amazing how Count Greeves isn’t showing it. To think he’d be patient when his children are being bullied. Is he a fool or is he just too nice of a person? But thanks to that, there are a lot of things that I can make use of here.
“In any case, is anything the matter?”
The question that was cut off earlier was asked once more. I pondered about whether to drink the tea I was served, but decided to put it off until later since I was wearing my mask.
“Count Greeves. How long have you served my Father?”
“It has been about 20 years. Why do you ask?”
“Then I’m sure you’re quite familiar with him.”
It seemed that his expression hardened for a moment, but it quickly disappeared. I could tell that despite being good at managing his emotions, even he couldn’t help but falter for a moment.
“It could be a yes or no.”
“What do you mean?”
“People don’t even know themselves perfectly, so how can others? My meaning is that I only know one aspect of him.”
“Then which aspect of my Father do you know of?”
“…which aspect?”
For example…..
I tapped my mask lightly. The sound of the tapping filled the silence before I spoke.
“Such as, on my Father’s debauchery and incompetence.”
Count Greeves stared at me as if trying to find the reason why I had asked that question. He then raised his eyebrows and asked me in a soft voice.
“Are you testing me right now?”
“No, it’s nothing like that.”
“If not, then what is your intention in asking me such a question?”
His eyes turned hostile as they gazed at me. I didn’t speak for a moment and just started at Count Greeves through the eye holes of my mask. He may have asked me about my intentions, but it was a clear warning. His eyes were filled with doubt as to whether or not I was sent by Oledin to test him. Count Greeves’ reaction was normal. A single word could destroy his family. He was wary of Oledin, not me.
He probably thinks this is one of Oledin’s dirty tricks. I guess it’s a given.
Count Greeves got up from his seat and looked down on me. I met his gaze, nodded at him, and pointed to his chair. His eyes narrowed.
“Sit down, Count Greeves.”
“No. I want to hear the answer. Why did you come to me and ask me that question?”
“I was planning on explaining it to you, but do you mind sitting down? My neck hurts from looking up at you.”
Count Greeves, who was staring at me with hostile eyes, slowly sat back down. He adjusted his posture which was neat and upright as if to prove that he was a noble with outstanding abilities. I glanced at him and spoke.
“First of all, I came to you not under my Father’s orders, but because of my own will. It is because I need you, Count Greeves.”
“…..”
I smiled faintly behind my mask as I saw him sip his tea without answering.
I guess he won’t believe me so easily.
“The reason why I asked you that question earlier was to point the direction of our conversation. Which is why, Count Greeves…”
I need this man. By pulling this great man, Count Greeves, to my side, will I be able to recruit the competent people within his family. This was why I needed to show this man my true intention to some extent.
“What do you think about doing business with me?”
“Business?”
“Yes. It’s a simple business.”
“…..Let me first hear of it.”
Since Count Greeves gave me short answers, I spoke in the same way.
“It’s simple. I want you to invest in me.”
“Invest?”
I nodded as he narrowed his brows. I folded my hands above my legs and lightly tapped my finger.
[Tap tap.]
I continued to speak as if on the beat of my tapping.
“Yes, invest. Honestly, I could care less if the Brixia Family is destroyed or not. It may be a mountain that won’t collapse no matter how many times you stab it from the side, or like a wheel that’ll continue to roll even if left alone, but nowadays….. As you know, it’s a bit of a mess, isn’t it?”
“What do you mean…..?”
“Don’t try to deceive me, Count Giles Greeves. Decades of loyalty and honor as a family vassal which have been passed down from generation to generation may be precious, but if this continues, something big will occur. When that time comes, nothing will be left standing. And I’m sure the wise Count isn’t unaware of that.”
“…..”
“My Father is incompetent, but he doesn’t want to admit it. Isn’t it strange, Count Greeves? Isn’t it hard to believe that a man like that was able to sign numerous contracts and complete dealings successfully? As an assistant who stands by his side, I’m sure you know full well.”
One may be able to deceive many people by putting on appearances, but you can’t deceive the person standing right next to you. No matter how hard Oledin tried, he couldn’t hide the fact that he was completely incompetent from the people of the Brixia Family. But since they serve the family, they were only being careful with what they said. And amongst the vassals were people like Count Greeves who spoke the truth and were out of favor.
“It is a fact that my Father is incompetent. But the ones who know this are those who are powerless against the Brixia Family. If time passes in this state, problems within the family will arise one by one, whether we like it or not, but by then it’ll be too late to fix it. Which is why I wanted to make you a proposal.”
“Is that the investment you mentioned earlier?”
“That’s right.”
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