“Rasau is a damned bastard.”
That was the first thing Count Bogenberg said.
Keldric sipped his wine with a reluctant expression.
“I’ll refrain from commenting.”
“Just listen for now. Rasau… No, calling him a Lord is too generous. A man born a lowly shepherd receiving a noble title… It’s absurd.”
The conflict between Count Rasau and Count Bogenberg, which Keldric had heard about from Alyssa, seemed to be true.
Otherwise, there was no reason for Count Bogenberg usually as genial as a friendly grandfather next door to respond this way.
“Those who labor (Laboratores) and those who fight (Bellatores) are separated by God’s will…This is unacceptable. It’s the kind of thing that calls for divine punishment.”
Those who pray (Oratores), those who fight (Bellatores), and those who work (Laboratores).
The Oratores, the clergy, serve and represent God’s word.
The Bellatores, the nobles, protect the king and the church.
The Laboratores, the peasants and serfs, handle production.
This trinity-based social view was an absolute theological concept of the time.
Feudalism, after all, was considered authority granted by heaven.
Nobles owned land and power by the grace of God, and their position was sacred, beyond challenge.
In other words, nobles were divinely ordained to oversee war and governance.
Even if Rasau were the illegitimate child of the emperor, he was still born a commoner and lived as a shepherd. By that logic, he was no noble.
That was the essence of Count Bogenberg’s argument. Keldric listened quietly.
“That lowborn shepherd doesn’t know his place and is consumed by greed. It’s no exaggeration to say his avarice boils over.”
“…”
“If, in his recklessness, he dares set his sights on my territory, I will not stand idly by.”
Count Bogenberg had to protect both his electoral seat and his lands.
Conversely, Count Rasau needed to absorb Bogenberg’s domain to assert stronger legitimacy and authority.
In the end, it was war.
It wasn’t unreasonable to feel that the northern region’s recent circumstances seemed ominous.
“Sir Keldric, what do you think about helping me crush that impudent man? I’ll ensure you’re well-rewarded.”
Keldric closed his eyes for a moment and pondered.
Count Bogenberg’s claims might sound far-fetched to some.
However, from the perspective of the times, almost everyone would side with him.
The idea of a shepherd-born commoner rising to the rank of count and aspiring to the imperial throne was little more than a joke.
Moreover, Count Rasau, as a shepherd-turned-commoner noble, often acted without hesitation, targeting surrounding territories to compensate for his lack of authority and legitimacy.
Conversely, he was willing to accept any noble into his ranks without much discernment if it would strengthen his position.
Baron Gottfried, who had attempted a night raid on the Bellaf family, was an example of this.
Serving Count Rasau, Baron Gottfried had no qualms about committing such acts for the scraps that might fall from Rasau’s table.
As a result, Lady Hilmer and the Bellaf matriarch nearly lost their lives. And Fritz, deceived by Gottfried’s schemes, had been crippled by Keldric.
“Jacob.”
Above all else, what gnawed at Keldric was Jacob’s death.
From the moment he witnessed Jacob’s demise, Baron Gottfried had become the top name on Keldric’s personal kill list.
But facing Gottfried alone was foolish, so Keldric had been biding his time.
Keldric’s decision to avoid aligning with Count Rasau stemmed largely from this.
Jacob had been like a father to him.
Though not his biological father, Jacob’s warm and caring treatment of Keldric had left a lasting impact.
Jacob’s death, though directly caused by foolish servants who had betrayed their house, ultimately traced back to Baron Gottfried’s machinations.
Previously, Keldric had refused a vassalage contract with Count Bogenberg for a reason.
A large part of it was the expectation that his value would increase after the tournament.
Other factors included the grudges he’d attract from pro-imperial nobles and the discomfort of signing a vassal contract during Lent.
However, this time, Count Bogenberg’s offer was different.
Rather than a vassalage contract, it resembled a straightforward mercenary agreement, exchanging money for military service.
For a knight to wield force in pursuit of personal honor and prestige was not only acceptable but also noble.
The Church would find no grounds to object, and while the pro-imperial nobles might be slightly irked, their resentment would likely fall short of outright hostility toward a mere hired knight like Keldric.
“I plan to raise an army after Lent. They won’t expect a move so soon after the holy season.”
If the conflict began after Lent, the dynamics would change significantly.
Keldric nodded slowly. He would need to hear the exact terms, but it was unlikely that Count Bogenberg, in his right mind, would propose worse conditions than before.
“I do not act out of personal gain, but my sword can only be wielded in accordance with the will of God.”
“Hmm…”
“Therefore, there must be a reward befitting divine approval for me to take up arms.”
It felt a little too forward to ask directly, ‘What’s the reward?’ So Keldric cloaked his intentions in appeals to God’s will.
After all, having won the tournament under the banner of Saint Venantius, it wasn’t unreasonable to appear devout.
“That’s a fair point. I may have been too hasty in my proposal.”
“That is not the case.”
“Thank you for saying so. In any case, let us discuss the reward you will receive.”
It was a tense moment. Keldric clenched his hidden hands tightly beneath the table.
“What if I were to grant you the rights to the lands we conquer?”
Count Bogenberg’s proposal exceeded Keldric’s expectations.
“The rights to the lands, you say?”
“Yes. If a territorial war breaks out, it will likely center around Jaben and the areas near Gottfried. I propose granting you the rights to the territories you personally capture.”
While Baron Gottfried’s domain wasn’t vast, it wasn’t insignificant either.
It encompassed several villages and included a castle where the baron resided.
The offer meant that if Keldric captured part of it—especially the castle—he would gain rights to that land.
It was an exceptionally bold proposition.
While receiving a barony title required the emperor’s approval, and thus might be difficult, Keldric could still consolidate control over Gottfried’s domain.
Once firmly established, even the emperor would have limited options.
Denying Keldric recognition as a baron would leave him legally unbound by feudal obligations, granting him considerable freedom to act.
Though he would lack formal legitimacy and recognition as the land’s rightful lord, with Count Bogenberg’s backing, there was little to fear.
In a time rife with factional strife, the emergence of land not bound by feudal duties could embolden others to openly defy the emperor.
That was the last thing the emperor wanted.
What Count Bogenberg and the other nobles desired was straightforward: the removal of Count Rasau and a definitive end to any claims he might have to imperial succession.
While the nobles might oppose the emperor’s will, they had no intention of going so far as to depose him.
The emperor, on the other hand, had taken a gamble to strengthen his authority, but even in the worst-case scenario, he could still secure his position.
Maintaining feudal obligations would be beneficial for the future.
In summary, Keldric now had a chance to ascend to the rank of baron.
“As much as you contribute, you will be duly rewarded. I also promise that our military actions will not obstruct your conquests.”
Moreover, the arrangement allowed Keldric to claim the spoils entirely for himself, making this opportunity almost too good to be true.
Keldric was strongly drawn to Count Bogenberg’s bold proposal.
If he could obtain Baron Gottfried’s title, he would be free from the shadow of the Bellaf family and could establish his own household.
He could found a family under his own name.
The title of Baron Gottfried might not be particularly prestigious, but one couldn’t expect to achieve greatness in a single step.
If Keldric was to stand on his own, there would be no better opportunity than this.
“Count Bogenberg, your proposal has truly struck a chord with me.”
“Then, you mean…”
“I accept.”
“You’ve made a wise decision! Let’s not delay—let us formalize the agreement. I’ll summon someone from the Church immediately!”
Even if it wasn’t driven by greed, the desire to rule, to lead, exists in everyone to some degree.
Earning renown as a knight had been fulfilling, but there were limits to that path.
Keldric aspired to reach greater heights.
☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩ ☩
After drafting a contract in front of an elder priest urgently dispatched by the church, Keldric officially entered the service of the Count of Bogenberg.
This meant he could now delve into more sensitive topics.
“Explain the current situation.”
“Understood.”
Keldric looked at the map the Count of Bogenberg was pointing to.
A vaguely sketched, abstract map lay on the table. From what Keldric could make out, the best he could do was roughly identify areas using rivers or mountains as references.
“My territory is well-positioned. It’s no wonder that scoundrel from Lassau might be eyeing it greedily.”
The Countdom of Bogenberg, connecting the northern and central regions of the Empire, held exceptional strategic significance.
To the north, it bordered the Empire’s perpetual permafrost regions, ensuring a steady supply of high-quality furs.
To the south, the Ronauen River facilitated connections to central regions of the Empire and even farther to the southern Republic.
To the east, it bordered the bishopric of Camnon, easing cooperation with the northeastern Church.
To the west, it was neighbored by the Countdom of Lassau, and farther out, the archbishopric of Marchen.
The fertile plains stretching across the southern part of the territory ensured an abundant food supply, and with both iron and silver mines, its industrial power was unmatched.
Among prime lands, the Countdom of Bogenberg ranked near the top.
“There’s no immediate threat to my land. However, Salzhoff and Yaben are under threat.”
“Salzhoff and Yaben…”
“Salzhoff is close by, making it easy to defend. But Yaben is a different story.”
Keldric listened attentively to the Count of Bogenberg’s words.
“Although the Baron of Salzhoff is my vassal, he is also in an alliance with the Baron of Spitzenberg through marriage.”
The fact that the Baron of Salzhoff, a vassal to the Count, maintained good relations with neighboring nobles through marriage was not inherently bad.
The issue lay in the Baron of Spitzenberg, allied through that marriage, wavering between the Count of Lassau and the Count of Bogenberg and leaning slightly toward Lassau.
For the Count of Bogenberg, this was like having a fire lit under his feet.
“So, if Spitzenberg were to… switch allegiance to the Count of Lassau…”
The Count moved a carved wooden piece across the map.
The piece, inscribed with “Spitzenberg” in elegant script, was placed west of a small territory.
To its west lay the Countdom of Lassau, and above it, the Baronies of Yaben and Goffried.
“Yaben would be surrounded on three sides. While there are routes in and out, they are narrow and lack any villages suitable as bases along the way.”
“The outer edges of your territory will be vulnerable.”
“Exactly. If that happens, Belam will be isolated.”
Indeed, Keldric nodded silently. As the Count said, if the wavering Spitzenberg shifted to the side of the Count of Lassau, the Barony of Yaben would be in deep trouble.
The southern route would be blocked by Spitzenberg, while the western and northwestern areas would be flanked by the Countdom of Lassau and the Barony of Goffried.
This meant the Count of Bogenberg had to act decisively.
“A territorial war won’t erupt immediately. However, I have a task I’d like to entrust to you.”
“What is it?”
“I want you to go to Spitzenberg and deliver my message…clearly.”
The Count of Bogenberg’s message was simple:
I’m preparing to face off with the Count of Lassau. If you plan to pick a side, join mine. If not, stay out of the way.
While sending a letter might suffice, dispatching a knight directly carried the weight of a strong warning.
“You don’t need to rush, but I’d like it delivered before Lent ends.”
Keldric nodded obediently.
A few days of rest in Bogenberg, then he would head straight to Spitzenberg.
“I’ll do as you ask.”
“I will cover your travel expenses. Go without any concerns.”
Keldric’s next destination was decided.