I Became the illegitimate son of a duke

8 – Fairy Soldier (2)

Thump thump thump

“Brother! Master Claude! Are you inside!?”

“…Ugh.”

Noisy.

I was awakened by a loud bang on the door. I looked out the window and saw that the sky was slightly red, so I slept for a long time.

Chloe… Is still sleeping on my shoulder.

Usually, Chloe would wake me up, but this is a different experience.

Looking at Chloe sleeping peacefully with her eyes closed with her head slightly lowered, I felt it before going to bed, but the atmosphere is completely different from when I was awake.

Kung kung kung kung

“Brother! Master!”

“Oh, that’s right… Yes, come in.”

I forgot to look at Chloe.

After I gave my permission, two haggard-looking servants and an attendant entered the room. Even if you put a mask around your mouth, you can’t cover that distorted expression.

“What are you doing?”

“The Duke is looking for you.”

I don’t think that’s the only reason. Your face is dead.

Seeing that the old attendant, who always looked down on us with a relaxed attitude, had a slightly stiff expression, there must be another reason.

But if you dig into them here, you won’t get any meaningful answers, right?

“Yes, let’s go now.”

It would be quicker to ask the duke directly.

No, since the duke said he was looking for me in the first place, wouldn’t he tell me the reason first?

By the way… What should I do with him?

“Chloe is still sleeping.”

I could wake him up, but I’ll just keep him asleep. It’s been a long time since Chloe, who was always strong, showed such a weak side.

I carefully braced Chloe, who was sleeping on my shoulder, then slowly moved her arm down to place Chloe’s head on the armrest of the sofa.

The urgent servants frowned slightly when they saw me like this, but what are you guys going to do? The attendant is also silent, what do you guys think you can say?

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

I carefully followed Chloe and went out with the servants and servants.

“…”

Chloe was watching her from the back with narrow eyes, but no one noticed.

…………

“…Louis-sama and Anne?”

“Yes.”

The situation heard from the Duke’s mouth was more hopeless than expected.

While I was sleeping, things got out of control.

‘The eldest son, Louis, the eldest daughter, Anne, and their spouses all fell ill with the fairy disease. The third anchovy died yesterday, so now only the second son, Bruno, and the second daughter, Sophie, are left.’

The Duke’s face is so emaciated that it is hard to see him as the same person as he was two days ago. Well, I would be like that if my son got a fatal disease.

Both Louis’s son and Anne’s daughter also suffered from fairy disease, but it’s fortunate that they’re still children so the chances of them dying are low.

“How is Louis-sama?”

“He told me to… Prepare my heart. Not only Louis, but also Anne.”

“…”

I asked just in case, but Louis and Anne, who are adults, seem to have a hard time enduring the fairy disease.

Then, the reason the duke called me… Is it because of the successor issue? Asking for advice from me, an illegitimate child?

“Son.”

“…Yes.”

…After all, I can’t get used to it. To regard this old man who is calling me his son as his father.

I haven’t seen him for a long time, but I still have memories of my previous life, and I met him for the first time in this world when I was 13, so I consider this old man, Charles de Bourgon, more like my boss than my father.

“I know you don’t think of me as your true father.”

“…”

You knew that, too.

Because he always maintained a firm attitude, whether it was in public or in a private setting like this.

“And of course I know that you don’t get along well with the other kids. You’re out of the family and not close to anyone, so your opinion must be more neutral.”

“Yes…?”

Yeah, that’s true, but… It hurts a bit to say it out loud like this, doesn’t it?

It’s as if I was bullied… Or is it technically bullying? What?

“Who should be the successor, the eldest son of Louis, so the eldest son or the second son, Bruno?”

“…”

Why are you asking me this question…?

If you choose the eldest son, you will be hated by the second son, and if you choose the second son, you will be hated by him later when the eldest son grows up.

“…Wouldn’t it be better to succeed to the eldest son as a rule?”

In this case, in principle, you should dig in.

Because it’s the least hated choice.

“Principles… Principles are good. But don’t you know that the duchy is not in a position to do that now?”

“…”

That’s… You’re right. Right now, the Duchy of Burgon is literally in a state of turmoil.

When the former duke, that is to say, my grandfather ruled the dukedom, he liquidated his vassal relationship with the Carolingian kingdom, which was his master, and became independent, but it wasn’t just a good thing.

Since the Carolingian kingdom quickly became hostile, all borders were blocked, commerce died instantly, and now that they had to stand alone, their military spending increased enormously.

The most serious of these is the creation of borderlands, that is, territories that are separate from the mainland.

The Principality of Burgon is divided into two territories.

To the inland region where the Burgon family and the duchy’s birthplace, Dijon, the capital, and the coastal region newly merged by the former duke through wars of conquest.

When the Principality of Burgon was a vassal of the Carolingian Kingdom, it didn’t matter much to travel back and forth between the two provinces, but since it became independent, the inland and coastal areas were divided into the Carolingian Kingdom’s territory.

Even if we receive taxes from the coastal region, which is our land, it means that we have to pay a toll through the Carolingian Kingdom or the Holy Empire.

And the Carolingian Kingdom and the Holy Empire are taxing us with huge tolls. That’s not natural

‘Thinking about it again… He just went to work…’

80% Of the coastal areas newly merged by the previous duke through the war of conquest were originally the territory of the Holy Empire, and 20% were the territory of the Carolingian Kingdom.

Which country in the world is friendly with the country that stole its territory?

Conquering the territory of the Holy Empire is not enough, being independent from the Carolingian Kingdom and stealing the territory… Is a great achievement. Except for the option of diplomacy.

In my previous life, China and the United States had a huge weight class, so it was okay to ignore diplomacy. It’s hard to win even a kingdom, let alone an empire.

‘The country is surrounded by a kingdom in the west and an empire in the east, the territory is divided into two, and commerce is ruined, but a huge amount of taxes are being spent on military expenses.’

This is the current situation in the Duchy of Burgon.

…No matter how you look at it, it looks f*cked up?

Rest in peace to the person who will become the next duke.

“You know, I don’t think I’ll last long.”

“…Don’t say that.”

“No, I know my body better. I’m still 55 and my body isn’t what it used to be. My head hurts, my eyes blur, my hands shake… Haaa…”

If I, Louis, and my grandchildren had gotten married sooner, then I wouldn’t have to worry about this.

The Duke let out a big sigh before saying that.

I had no choice but to listen in silence.

“You also think so… Bruno… Take care of me.”

Seeing my attitude, the duke made an expression that didn’t know if he was laughing or crying, and then presented the option I was thinking about.

If I say it with my own mouth, there may be problems later, so are you saying it yourself? To think that even such a small detail worries me… Oh.

“…Yes.”

Staying by the principles could literally end the Principality of Burgon.

The duke chose a more stable option rather than adhere to principles, and I quietly nodded my head in agreement.

The elf disease that had spread within the castle only faded two days after it was completely sealed off.

Innumerable people without immunity died, including Louis and Anne.

…………

“Boss, let me look at your clothes for the last time.”

“Thanks, Chloe.”

“hehehe…”

With no genie patients showing up for a week, the duke decided to hold the funeral, which had been postponed for a while, all at once.

Following Pierre, the three sons who died by falling, the eldest son, Louis, and the eldest daughter, Anne, are enshrined in splendid coffins, while the other servants and attendants are enshrined in ordinary coffins.

I’m getting dressed for the funeral, and Chloe is getting my dress done for the last time.

“Okay! It’s done!”

“Then I’ll be back.”

It is said that the fairy disease situation is over, but to prepare for an unexpected situation, it was decided to hold the funeral with a small number of people.

Chloe cannot follow me because servants and maids are not allowed to attend funerals.

Chloe continues to touch my clothes, as if she was unhappy about it, and then says that it’s all over when it’s just about time.

“That… Boy.”

At that time, Chloe hesitantly called me as I was about to open the door and leave.

“What’s wrong?”

“In case you don’t know… There might be genie disease left… Stay away from others.”

“Yes? Okay.”

I don’t get genie disease, but other people aren’t immune.

It can be rude to other people if you push me just because I’m okay. Even if you haven’t been sick for more than a week, there’s an ‘what if’.

Seriously, Chloe is too nice to wear.

I smiled at Chloe and nodded her head, then headed to the church where the funeral would be held.

The funeral went smoothly, and finally, it was only the turn of the ducal family to pay tribute in front of the coffins where Louis, Pierre, and Anne were enshrined.

I am included in the duke’s family, but because I am an illegitimate child, the church did not recognize me, so I could not attend the memorial service, so I had no choice but to stand in the back row.

Then, a chandelier fell on top of them.