Happy Daily Life of a Reincarnated Noble Blessed with Vassals - Chapter 19

“Hah! This is way better quality than I imagined! When that old man suddenly swung at you, I almost killed him. But honestly, he’s got real skill. Next time, I’ll have to teach Big Bro Odo a thing or two,” Mary said cheerfully, holding up the newly purchased knife in the manor.

At first glance, he looked like a young man excited about receiving a gift. In reality, though, he was an assassin thrilled about buying a new blade. The contrast between his appearance and true nature was striking. Just a moment ago, he had been threatening the blacksmith, yet with his youthful face, you’d never guess it.

“I’m glad to see your mood has improved, but please, ease up on terrorizing civilians, alright?”

“What are you talking about? That old man should know he’s only alive because I was the one guarding you.”

“And what’s that supposed to mean?”

“If Big Bro Odo had been the guard instead of me, he would’ve lopped off the guy’s head, machete and all, the moment he attacked. If Gramps had been there, he wouldn’t have even bothered with words—he’d have killed him, then buried the shop in rubble. I was there, so it ended with just a threat.”

Yeah, that sounds about right. In terms of loyalty, those two are definitely the most extreme. The idea of them casually executing someone for rudeness is pretty terrifying. Come to think of it, Mary might actually be the mildest of the group.

“I suppose that’s a bit… no, I can’t deny it entirely. Too much loyalty can be a dangerous thing.”

“The real issue is you’re too soft, bro! You’re a count! Act like one! You’re one of the top nobles in the country, aren’t you?”

“The family is prestigious, sure. But I’m just a piece keeping it running. I’d prefer not to be attacked over and over, but there’s no need to flaunt my status.”

People already see me as a dangerous figure. If I start relying on the family name, my reputation will only get worse. Humility is key. Unless absolutely necessary, I avoid abusing power.

“You’re so noble. Sometimes I don’t get why people call you a madman.”

Exactly. Though, I kind of understand why. Rex Hesselink didn’t conform to the norms of aristocracy. He handled things with precision, where other nobles would let them slide. That’s why they labeled him a madman.

“To nobles, anyone who strays from their rules appears insane. Especially since I’m a Hesselink, their bias makes me seem even more of an eccentric.”

“I don’t mind being seen as one of the ‘Hesselink retainers!’ though.”

“Ordinarily, this would be the part where I apologize for putting you in a difficult position, but none of the retainers seem to care.”

Everyone took great pride in serving House Hesselink. Maybe it was because they were ‘drawn from the gacha.’ But they were living, breathing people. And I was fond of them.

“Of course! People expect some kind of freak when they hear about the infamous ‘Madman Rex Hesselink,’ but you’re surprisingly normal. Your mother’s great, too. Sure, there’s that one oddball, but we only see her once a year, so who cares? The pay’s good, and my comrades are solid. Complaining would be a sin!”

Ah, that kid. Yeah, she was a surprise. Cute, in a way.

“Glad to hear it. I’ll do my best to keep everyone’s trust.”

“Make sure you do! Once you get a wife, your next noble duty is kids! I’ll teach them some fine skills when the time comes.”

“What exactly are you planning to teach them? Alice and Irina will be handling that, obviously.”

After a few more days of banter, we received word that Count Canilunya had finally arrived in the capital. A servant visiting the manor immediately requested a meeting, saying the count was eager to meet right away. I didn’t mind, but something felt off.

As it turned out, something was off.

“Could you explain what’s going on, Count Canilunya?”

Across the table from me, Count Canilunya bowed deeply. He was an impressive older man, with a luxurious mustache and sharp features—distinct double eyelids and a well-defined nose. It wasn’t hard to imagine how popular he must have been in his younger days. And yet, here he was, practically groveling, repeatedly apologizing.

“You have every right to be angry. We invited you to the capital, only for this mess to happen. I sincerely apologize for our blunder.”

“You don’t need to bow your head. I simply want to confirm the facts. The other day, I received a letter from you, Count Canilunya, expressing a desire to proceed with a marriage proposal. The wax seal was undoubtedly yours, and as I recall, the letter mentioned meeting swiftly in the capital to announce the engagement publicly. Is that correct?”

I’m not mistaken, right? The letter wasn’t written in the typical vague, roundabout way of nobles. It was pretty straightforward.

“I have no intention of making excuses. Everything you said is true. However, the situation has changed.”

“A noble has appeared, demanding Lady Amy’s hand in marriage. And not just any noble, but a senior member of the Great Noble Houses.”

In short, another man has come forward wanting to marry Lady Amy. And the other suitor belongs to one of the most powerful aristocratic families. Normally, you wouldn’t want to go up against someone like that.

“The Artemitos Marquisate is a prestigious family with royal blood. They’ve produced many key figures who serve in important roles at the royal court, and their influence is vast. When a family like that seeks your daughter’s hand, it’s not easy to simply refuse.”

“If I were in your position, I’d do the same. I’m not blaming you. The real issue here is the improper behavior of the Artemitos family. They’re likely doing this on purpose.”

“Exactly. Otherwise, it would be unthinkable for someone to ask for a young woman who hasn’t even made her formal social debut yet.”

“I don’t know their reasons, but could this be an attempt to harass my family? How utterly ridiculous. Do they see Lady Amy’s life as just a pawn in their games? It’s infuriating. Mary!”

It would be one thing if they were just trying to annoy me, but Amy’s future is on the line. I’m starting to get pretty angry too. Is my mind slipping into Rex Hesselink’s mindset?

“Yes, my lord!”

Sensing my shift in mood, Mary knelt, not as my younger companion, but as a retainer of the Hesselink household. I spoke to him with as much authority as I could muster, “Send a fast rider to Orenang. Summon Jean-Jacques. Tell him to come to the capital as quickly as possible.”

Jean-Jacques, a specialist in earth magic, excels in group battles rather than one-on-one fights. He’ll be perfect if we need to strike hard this time. I’d also want to summon Odolski, but that would leave Orlenang too defenseless.

“Understood.”

Mary stood up after giving a brief response, fully grasping my intent. However, (would-be Father-in-law) Count Canilunya wasn’t as composed. He raised his voice, clearly panicked, “Jean-Jacques… the Massacre General? What are you planning, Count Hesselink?”

“The answer should be obvious. There’s an old saying: those who interfere with love get kicked to death by a horse. In this case, Artemitos will be trampled, not by a horse, but by Hesselink.”

“Ridiculous! Are you declaring war on Artemitos? Think again! I have no intention of forcing my daughter into a marriage that would make her miserable. Give me some time. I’m well acquainted with Marquis Artemitos, and I’ll find a way to resolve this peacefully.”

Wait, really? If my soon-to-be father-in-law says that, maybe I should reconsider. Acting impulsively might add to my reputation as a madman again. Oh, Mary—cancel that fast rider.

“It’s no use, Count Canilunya. My lord has already decided to strike Artemitos. His decision is absolute. For the sake of marrying Lady Amy, he will ravage Artemitos’ lands.”

Hey! What are you doing making such bold declarations? I haven’t decided anything yet! I was planning to back off if they agreed to drop the matter!

“I understand your desire to protect my daughter. It moves me as a parent. But this is different! The difference in military power is too great! Even if Count Hesselink and his retainers are individually strong warriors—”

“You needn’t worry, Count. My esteemed lord’s reputation as a madman is well-earned, and you will soon witness why. And though we are but humble retainers, we shall give our utmost. Why, you ask? Because Lady Amy is worth that much to us. The Hesselink Nightmare? Perhaps it’s time we give the capital’s theater troupes some new material.”