AWDC Chapter 98

Chapter 98: The Milona Family Succession Dispute

Compared to the smooth progress of the coal development I initiated upon returning to Toriholi, the construction of the blast furnace, which I started next, was not going so well. My own knowledge was vague, and there were issues with the manufacturing technology level of this world. I was working hard, trying through trial and error to create a blast furnace.

Unexpectedly, Prince Raphael appeared at such a work site.

“You’re trying to make something strange again, aren’t you?” The Prince interrupted me as soon as I started explaining the blast furnace.

“Never mind such trivial things, listen to what I have to say.”

As always, he said something unreasonable and pulled me away from the site.

Currently, the Prince had left the capital with me and was now living in a mansion on the shores of Lake Milona.

At the time of the coup in the capital, the Prince had only about 30 guards, and it would have been too thin to bring his family and retainers. Therefore, I, from the Robertson family, became almost like an attendant to the Prince, taking on the role of guarding him and coming to the south together. And the Robertson family continued to be responsible for the Prince’s security.

The Prince was living the leisurely life of a wandering minstrel on the shores of Lake Milona, which was his lifelong dream. He disliked being tainted by the mundane life of Toriholi and should have been walking along the lake, absorbed in writing poetry.

I asked him with a dubious look why he had appeared at a coal-dust-covered work site.

“You know that the Milona family is in trouble, don’t you?”

The Milona family had sided with Prince Charles, and after the head was executed and the territory was halved, they had completely fallen. Moreover, the head who succeeded him died early and there was no male heir, so two branch families were aiming for the main family’s position.

“I am aware that the Milona family is in trouble, but I don’t understand why Your Highness is concerned.”

“Actually, um…” He suddenly became hesitant.

“Is it a woman?”

“That’s right, I have fallen for Milaine, the daughter of Milona.”

The Prince had lost his legal wife, whom he had been with for over 10 years, before the coup took place. However, for the Prince, whose relationships with women were unrestrained, there was no way his bed could have been lonely.

He was in a position where he could easily reach out to any woman he wanted. I didn’t understand why he had laid his hands on Milona’s daughter.

“It’s not from a frivolous feeling at all. I intend to make her my wife, and we already have a child.”

(Huh? Isn’t that a bit too fast?) I almost blurted out.

“And Milaine says that she is worried about the state of her house and cannot marry me if things stay as they are.”

(Why does the Prince meddle with the daughter of such a troublesome family? Isn’t that like taking on a family feud yourself?) I couldn’t say it out loud, but I really thought so.

“I am absolutely determined to make Milaine my wife. Therefore, I want you to resolve the Milona family’s succession problem.”

(Please stop joking. Milona is the head family of the Robertson family. Although the positions are reversed now, Robertson would not normally be able to interfere) I thought, but I was about to be pushed over.

“You forced me to become regent. So now it’s your turn to adjust the Milona family’s succession dispute in my place.”

(Please stop joking) Why does he say such unreasonable things?

Well, anyway, the Prince was willful, as befitting his royal lineage. No, let’s be careful with my words, he strongly expressed his wishes.

And I had been trying to meet the Prince’s wishes in the capital, and I had gotten used to it.

The Prince always pushed problems onto me.

“I believe the young lady of Milona is 17, but isn’t there quite an age difference between you, Your Highness?”

“Hmm, there’s almost a 20-year difference. I don’t care about that, so it’s not a problem.”

(Even if Your Highness doesn’t care, the people around you will) I couldn’t say that, so I had no choice but to say:

“This is a problem. I don’t know if there is a good solution, but I’ll try to investigate it anyway.”

“I’m counting on you.”

I couldn’t refuse because the Prince had been forced to become regent.

When I investigated, the financial situation of the Milona branch families was terrible. They had been actively participating in social gatherings in the capital, but most of their income was covered by remittances and loans from the main family. When the main family was reduced in rank, they could no longer afford to help the branch families, and they were almost bankrupt. That’s why they thought of taking over when there was no heir to the main family.

The Milona main family had previously provided financial support for the development of the Datar Plateau. To repay that favor, the Robertson family was trying to repay the debt early, and the Milona main family was trying to overcome its financial difficulties with that money.

The branch families were aiming for that repayment money. Moreover, two branch families had the same idea. They might have succeeded if they had joined hands and jointly taken over the family. But their greed had gone too far.

The truth of the family feud was that the greedy fellows were trying to monopolize the assets of the main family and started to pull each other’s legs.

Lending support to either of the two branch families would not revive the Milona family. That was my conclusion. The two branch families had no financial sense at all, and it was clear that they would devour the Milona family.

As the Robertson family, the downfall of the Milona family was a good opportunity to become independent. As long as the Milona family held us by the scruff of the neck, we had to ask for permission to do anything. But now, it would be very troublesome for a powerful family in the south to be in turmoil.

“This is going to require some degree of force to decide,” I resolved. No matter which side I listened to, I couldn’t see a good future for the Milona family. In that case, I had no choice but to show our power and silence the other party, even if it was forceful.

I consulted with the lord and John.

“I can’t agree to meddling in the Milona family’s affairs,” the lord was reluctant to get involved in the Milona family’s internal conflict in the first place. I understand that feeling. I wouldn’t have taken on such a thing if it hadn’t been for the Prince’s request.

“But if the Milona family is in turmoil forever, they will come out of the capital.”

“That’s the most troublesome thing. I can’t help it. John, can you prepare?”

“Yes, let’s do it. If Milona is in turmoil forever, we’ll be in trouble too.”

The three of us came to an agreement.

The inquiry into the Milona family’s succession dispute was held at the Milona main family’s residence.

All members of the Milona main and branch families participated in this inquiry. Or rather, they were forced to participate. John dispatched soldiers and summoned the heads and related personnel from each family.

There was no head of the main family, but the closest blood relative was Milaine, the only daughter.

“First, as the eldest daughter of the main family, I have requested Prince Raphael and Marquis Robertson to conduct the inquiry. Do you have any objections to this inquiry being conducted under the authority of both Excellencies?”

Milaine spoke first as the temporary head.

There was no room for objection. The two branch families who had caused the problem were forcibly taken away by John and were in a state of being tied up.

When I investigated the financial situation of the branch families, I obtained evidence of tax evasion, embezzlement, and other crimes. I presented that evidence and had them taken away.

“It’s okay to treat them a little roughly, just be sure to drag them in,” John had ordered his subordinates, so the two branch families were completely subdued.

Over 2,000 soldiers were stationed around the Milona main family’s residence, and the relatives of the Milona family who had entered among those soldiers were completely intimidated.

No one could raise a voice of opposition to Milaine’s declaration.

“Then, there is no one who opposes it. Then, Your Highness Raphael, please manage the proceedings,” Milaine urged Prince Raphael, who was next to her.

The leader of the southern region had been Prince Raphael since the turmoil of the Bawa Roma followers, during his time as regent in the capital, and even now.

“Very well, I will open my mouth first in this place. Everyone, is that alright?” Even the Earl families in their prime could not have answered back to the Prince, who was from the royal family. That was impossible for the branch families, let alone the main family.

“It seems that no one has any complaints. First of all, let me tell you that I have decided to make Milaine, who is here, my wife. Therefore, since I will be a party involved, I will have Marquis Robertson take over the management of this matter.”

The conference became noisy with Prince Raphael’s words.

(Milaine is going to be the Prince’s wife? I hadn’t heard that. If that’s true, is the Milona family going to be related to the royal family?) If you looked closely, Milaine’s stomach was bulging, and it was obvious whose child it was.

“Understood. Originally, Your Highness Raphael should have managed all the proceedings, but under the circumstances, I, in my unworthiness, will manage them.”

As if it were the most natural thing in the world, Marquis Robertson took over.

It was a scenario from the beginning, as if he had been asked here. This was a consideration so that if the Robertson family suddenly interfered, it would become troublesome later.

Most importantly, the current Robertson family had become a Marquis family, and the members of the Milona family, which had fallen from a Earl family, should not have been able to say anything.

“First, I will declare to the two branch families that fought over the headship of the main family. Isn’t your financial situation bankrupt? Moreover, it is clear that you have committed tax evasion and embezzlement. It is outrageous to want to succeed to the headship of the main family with such things. I will order a severe punishment.”

Saying that, when he glared at the two branch families, the criminals could only prostrate themselves.

“Next, the headship of the main family will be inherited by Milaine, although she is a woman. Because there is concern about her being a woman, Prince Raphael will be her guardian.

And when a son is born to Milaine and becomes an adult, that child will inherit the southern territory of Prince Raphael as well. I hereby declare to all of you to consider this carefully.”

In other words, if the child born to Prince Raphael and Milaine succeeded, the Milona family would recover its former territory. When they heard that, all the relatives had no choice but to agree.

“Toma, when did you start thinking about that management?”

“It was after I decided that those branch families should not be allowed to inherit. There is no one to inherit except Milaine.”

“But you know, I have sons with my previous wife. I have to let them inherit the territory too.”

That’s why you can’t let your guard down with this Prince. He indirectly hints that the territory to be given to the children will disappear, so think of another place.

“Your Highness has already secured territory near the capital, hasn’t he?”

I refused firmly. (I know that he acquired the territory of a collapsed aristocrat when he was regent).

“More than that, Your Highness, I will have you repay this debt someday, so please don’t refuse at that time.”

When I said that, the Prince made a bitter face.