"Hmm, so that's the man...."
Patrick stared intently at Count Parmas, observing him. He had been to the Parmas County several times for trade, but this was the first time he was seeing the Count himself. With gray-gold hair lightly streaked with white and a few wrinkles, his distinct features suggested that in his younger days, he must have made quite a few women cry.
He was a handsome, middle-aged man. His gait was confident, and his gaze was somewhat cool, giving a stronger impression of severity rather than benevolence.
‘Looks like a stubborn old man. Huh? But Father? What are you doing there?’
Beside the arriving Count, Patrick could see Baron Schneider, his anxiety plain on his face. Count Parmas then stepped forward and spoke.
"The person in charge of those who caused this disturbance, step forward."
At those words, Patrick let out a small sigh.
‘Haaa. Others start the fight, and I have to be the one to clean up the mess.’
This was a first. He had experienced the opposite countless times, however. In any case, what could he do?
"My name is Patrick Schneider."
"Schneider... Baron Schneider, is this your son?"
"Yes. I'm sorry to say he is."
"What's there to be sorry about..."
Baron Schneider glared at the muttering Patrick, silencing him. Then, he looked at the Count and spoke.
"My apologies. It seems my son and my soldiers have made a mistake. If there is anything I can take responsibility for, I will."
"Whether you need to take responsibility will be decided after I have grasped the situation. Now, young Patrick."
"Why?"
"Hmm...."
Count Parmas felt a flicker of interest as he watched Patrick respond to his call calmly, no, somewhat rudely—or to be more blunt, cockily.
‘Is the young brat full of courage? Or is he just thoughtless and ill-mannered?’
Usually, when people saw him, the Marching Count of the East, they would be visibly nervous, showing the utmost courtesy and trying their best not to be found at fault. But for this young man, who wasn't even a lord but merely a lord's son, to look so nonchalant.
Looking at the expression tinged with insolence, he felt more curiosity than anger.
"Alright. Can you explain why this fight broke out?"
"It's simple. First...."
Patrick told the truth as it was. We had already claimed a spot and were resting when they came and picked a fight, telling us to move. After that, an argument started, they insulted the Baron first, and as a result, Sanson threw a punch.
The brawl that followed resulted in the situation you see now. After hearing the full explanation, Count Parmas thought. 'With this many people gathered, I expected some degree of conflict.'
As the Marching Count of the East, he had to resolve this matter as fairly as possible.
"I understand. But I cannot make a judgment after hearing only one side. I must hear from both. Viscount Randes."
"Yes. Did you call for me, my Lord Count?"
Viscount Randes, who had joined the scene at some point, answered the Count's call.
"What is your side of the story?"
"I did not see it myself, but my knight would never commit such an outrageous act. He is a knight who knows honor."
"That son of a bitch..."
"And, even if there was a problem, isn't this too much? They unilaterally assaulted our soldiers who were not even resisting."
"Hooo.... So you're going to run your mouth, is that it?"
Viscount Randes was quite skillfully trying to steer the situation in his favor. First, he created an escape route by saying he hadn't seen it himself, then, without any basis, he played the 'my knight would never do that' card.
A superior coming over to cover for a subordinate who caused trouble, saying 'our boy is a good boy, he would never do that,' was the twenty-second thing Patrick hated most. On top of that, before the Count could even determine the facts, he also said, 'Even if that were true, isn't this going too far?'
Arguing that 'even if we were wrong, this was too much' was the seventeenth thing Patrick hated most. Finally, looking at the scene where his soldiers had been unilaterally beaten, he even pulled the 'we didn't fight; we could have won if we actually fought, but we let them' card. This was something Patrick hated so much it ranked ninth.
Patrick hated many things, but a single-digit ranking carried a different weight. In that short moment, the Viscount had touched on three of Patrick's taboos, and one of them was even a single-digit rank. This was dangerous.
‘What do I do? What should I do?’
‘Should I... should I stop him?’
‘Should I just stab him in the back right now?’
The soldiers, who had experienced enough of Patrick, could not hide their anxiety. To others, however, it looked as if they were afraid of the Count's punishment. Just as Patrick's hands were slowly moving toward his sword hilts...
"Viscount Randes."
"Yes, please speak, my Lord Count."
"Viscount. Do I look like a pushover to you?"
Count Parmas's single, icy remark stopped Patrick's hands. At Count Parmas's words, Viscount Randes became greatly flustered and said.
"My Lord Count, how could you say such a devastating thing...."
"I told you to explain your position. Did I not?"
"Yes, so I was explaining my position...."
"Is your position that baseless conjecture? Your knight would never do such a thing? How would I know that?"
"My... my Lord Count, I trust my knight. So in that trust..."
"And whether to punish them severely or not is for me, the master of this land, to decide. It is not for you to judge as you please."
"That... that was not my intention. I..."
Count Parmas looked at the flustered Viscount making excuses with cold eyes and said.
"You..."
"..."
"It seems you saw me as someone you could control and play with using that tongue of yours."
"My Lord Count, that's not it. I..."
"I must have seemed quite the pushover. Have I been too kind all this time?"
"I apologize, my Lord Count."
Leaving the prostrated Viscount Randes, Count Parmas spoke.
"Is there anyone who witnessed this incident from the beginning? If so, come forward and testify honestly."
As Count Parmas said this, a few of the knights who had been standing a step back came forward.
"I saw it from the beginning."
"It is true that Viscount Randes's knight, Gavin, started the argument."
"I also heard the remarks insulting Baron Schneider clearly with my own ears."
"And the claim that Viscount Randes's soldiers did not resist is a misunderstanding. They certainly fought back. They even drew their weapons against an unarmed opponent."
As the testimony continued, Viscount Randes's face turned deathly pale. If this were his own fief, it would be fine. If there had only been one or two witnesses, he could have recovered.
But with multiple witnesses now testifying to Count Parmas, this situation was irreversible.
"My Lord Count. Please, just kill me."
In the end, Viscount Randes prostrated himself flat on the ground. Once things had come to this, the only thing to do was to beg and beg again. Count Parmas looked down at him for a moment before speaking.
"Setting aside the crime of causing a disturbance in my land, it seems there is someone the Viscount must first apologize to."
Count Parmas then stepped slightly aside and spoke to Baron Schneider.
"As the one whose honor was insulted, what would you like to be done? Baron Schneider."
"Yes. Uh, hmmm..."
Momentarily flustered by being suddenly singled out, Baron Schneider cleared his throat and gathered his thoughts. In truth, the Baron, who had been worried about how to clean up the mess his son had made, had inversely seized an opportunity thanks to Count Parmas's impartiality.
If he put his mind to it, he could squeeze a hefty sum out of Viscount Randes right here. The only problem was...
"In my opinion, any problem that occurs within the Parmas County should be left to the Count's discretion and judgment."
‘Aigoo, Father...’
Patrick slapped his forehead and shook his head from side to side.
Yes.
He knew this would happen. He knew it would, but confirming it in person didn't mean he wasn't angry.
‘Father, father, my pushover father.’
If it had been Patrick, Viscount Randes would not be alive. He would have officially requested a duel and swiftly finished him off. But Baron Schneider had let such an opportunity slip away, and now only Count Parmas's choice remained.
"I shall pass judgment. Viscount Randes, listen."
"Yes, my Lord Count."
"Your knight was rude to Baron Schneider and insulted his honor, and you wickedly tried to cover up that fact with cunning words. Do you admit this?"
"... Th... that is..."
"..."
"Are you saying you cannot admit it?"
"No, I admit it. I admit it."
"Good. Then I shall deliver your punishment. Viscount Randes shall pay Baron Schneider two thousand gold in compensation."
"My Lord Count. If you command me to pay such a large sum so suddenly..."
"I do not mind if you pay in installments over ten years. But you must pay it within that time. This is an order."
"I... I will obey your command."
Viscount Randes had no choice but to promise, like a man forced to eat mustard with tears in his eyes. After delivering the verdict, Count Parmas turned his gaze towards Patrick.
"..."
"Patrick Schneider."
"Yeees. My Lord Count, did you call for me?"
"..."
Huh, what's this? Something's a little different. Count Parmas's original plan was...
[You are a vigorous young man. But next time, learn to choose your opponents and situations wisely.]
[I will keep that in mind.]
Well, he had been thinking of a conversation along those lines. He planned to conclude the situation by showing a mature side, giving advice to a young man who was full of confidence and vigor but still lacked wisdom. But Patrick's attitude was now completely different.
Where did the cocky and rude young punk from a moment ago go?
Now...
"Oh, my Lord Count. You have something on you here. I will brush it off for you."
What is this?
This sycophant?
Was the young man from just a moment ago, who was rude but whose confidence he had admired, truly the same person as this cunning fellow? Could he have been swapped with someone else somewhere?
"Ahem, do you have any complaints about this ruling?"
"No, how could I dare harbor any complaints about the Count's command? Who would do such a thing?"
"..."
"Just give me the word. I, Patrick Schneider, for a cheap price, will chop that bastard's head right off..."
"That's enough."
It seemed he had greatly misjudged the man. He thought he had seen a confident young man for the first time in a while, but it seemed he was just a petty person who only cared about money. If this was the case, his father, who was excessively polite and a good person, was at least better.
Count Parmas spoke to Baron Schneider, who was standing behind him with a devastated expression.
"..."
"You must have many worries."
"..."
Baron Schneider could not deny it.
"Ah... I mean, I did it on purpose. On purpose."
"..."
"..."
"What's our objective? To not draw any attention, not achieve any merits, and just stay quiet before going back, right?"
"..."
"But if we beat down enemies three times our number with our bare hands, what would the Count think? Wouldn't he think, 'Ah, these guys are useful. I should deploy them to the front lines'?"
"..."
"..."
"So I had no choice but to show the image of a pathetic guy who only cares about money to divert the Count's attention. I certainly did not... for two thousand gold... hehehe..."
"..."
"Ahem, anyway, it wasn't because of the two thousand gold... hehehehehe... that I acted that way."
"Haaaaa..."
Baron Schneider let out a sigh.
Yes.
To be honest, he couldn't believe that was Patrick's intention, but thanks to it, things had turned out as his son said. If they wanted to avoid seeking merits and just quietly hold their position before returning, they certainly had to avoid standing out.
"Alright. In any case, what's done is done. Let's just be satisfied that the matter was handled well thanks to the Count's wise judgment."
"Ah, now that I think about it, he was more impressive than I expected. The way he listened to both sides before making a judgment, and the atmosphere when he was dressing down that Randes or Rades bastard was awesome."
"Where on earth did you learn a word like 'awesome'?"
"That's not the point. The point is that the Count is a truly great man."
"Oh, good heavens..."
It was impossible to communicate with him. His one and only son was completely impossible to talk to. While Baron Schneider lamented this tragedy, praises for Count Parmas poured from Patrick's mouth.
"Kuh, the moment the words 'two thousand gold' came out of the Count's mouth, his charisma just exploded. It was epic, amazing, totally killer..."
"Shut your mouth. Just shut it!"
Baron Schneider grabbed Patrick's mouth with both hands and pulled it wide open.
"Wha ah oo oing, Ah-er?"
"Then just live like this forever."
"I ohn' wahn oo."
"What do you mean you don't want to!"
Baron Schneider prayed earnestly. He prayed that, at the banquet that evening, his son would please, please not cause any trouble.