I Regressed to My Ruined Family – 81

 #I returned, and my family fell into ruin (82)

Challenge.

It was a word with many meanings.

The nobles looked at the members of the Seven Families of the kingdom.

It was not difficult to understand how the situation had come to this.

“They’ve got him by the ankles.”

It was not in the Seven Houses’ interest for the coronation ceremony to end with the Crown Prince firmly established as the head of the family.

If that were the case, they would never have sent the Third Prince away in the first place.

The western nobles quietly furrowed their brows. They acknowledged the power of the Seven Houses of the kingdom.

However, just fifteen years ago, the western part of the kingdom was the region where the Duke of Ardan’s influence was strongest.

The duke was a family that ruled but did not dominate.

The western nobles paid the duke respect and a small amount of taxes, and in return, they were protected under the name of Ardan.

That was a tremendous benefit.

Even if you searched the entire kingdom, or even the entire Western Continent, there was no region where war was as rare as in the western part of the Kingdom of Haidern.

However.

Recently, that trend had been gradually changing.

“Damn them.”

Recently, the Seven Families of the Kingdom had begun to expand their power in all directions.

The same was true in the west.

The west could be divided into three major regions.

The west, ruled by the Duke of Ardan.

The central region, occupied by various nobles.

Finally, the east, ruled by the Viscount of Fractal, one of the seven families and known as the Spirit Noble Family.

The central region of the west.

Recently, the House of Fractal had been expanding its influence in this region, where many noble families gathered.

“The duke’s family is much better.”

The east, the north, and the south.

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Recently, the Seven Houses of the kingdom, which were expanding their power in various regions, were nothing short of tyrants.

Not only did they have to pay enormous taxes and tributes simply because they were under the rule of the Seven Houses, but it was also common for nobles to send their children as hostages.

As is often the case, there were successful nobles and unsuccessful nobles.

The Seven Houses of the kingdom.

They called themselves the aristocracy, but the benefits were limited to only the former.

And nine out of ten aristocrats belonged to the latter group.

This was because the standard for being considered successful was much higher than expected.

“Even if you’re not good, you’re still a hundred families.”

Those below that were not even considered by the Seven Families.

They had to offer numerous tributes along with their children just to hear a single word of appreciation for their efforts.

The Seven Families’ reputation for cruelty had already spread far and wide. That is why this opening ceremony was a very important event for the nobles of the west.

It was an event that would provide a clear answer to the question of which side they should take amid the slowly fading prestige of the dukes and the encroachment of the Seven Families of the kingdom.

So what was the result?

“…It exceeded expectations.”

The Grand Duke’s skill and talent.

And his guts were also on full display. How else could he have charged at the superhuman Count Marek without hesitation?

He was a beast.

A beast that charged at the superhuman Count Marek without hesitation.

“It will take quite some time for the Three Princes to exercise their right to challenge him.”

Teron and the Grand Prince.

The Grand Prince had the overwhelming advantage in their battle.

Even if the Three Princes decided to challenge him again, it would be almost a year before they could do so.

If the Grand Prince, who had achieved this level of skill in just six months, were given another year, what would happen?

He might even reach the level of a master or a superhuman.

“Furthermore…”

If you consider that the Earl of Wellington, one of the leaders of the royalist faction, stepped in to mediate.

“His Majesty’s heart is leaning toward the Grand Prince rather than the Seven Families.”

The Seven Families of the kingdom were indeed families with immense wealth and military power, but that did not mean that the Grand Duke would fall without a fight.

After all, the king himself was watching over him.

He was a figure with a promising future. That was the Grand Duke.

[And thus, the 18th head of the family was elected.

When Cheiman finished speaking.

The nobles quietly applauded, but their eyes were shining. No one dared to approach the Grand Prince yet.

The Seven Families of the Kingdom and the Grand Prince.

It would not be too late to decide who to support between the two after some time had passed.

The Three Princes and the members of the Seven Families left the Grand Tournament Grounds.

The same was true for Count Welington.

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The grand arena.

Now, only the Grand Duke remained.

Ethan looked at the audience.

“It’s done.”

The nobles from the central region in the west were starting to watch him.

They would start to seriously consider him instead of the Seven Families of the kingdom.

“This is enough for now.”

The central region.

If he could gain the support of the nobles gathered in this region, he would be able to stand up to the Fractal family, known as the tyrants of the west.

Just laying the groundwork to reach out to them in the future was a sufficient harvest.

“There’s no need to try to win them over right now anyway.”

A noble was the head of a family. It was not a position where one was responsible only for oneself, so one had to be cautious in every decision.

It would not be too late to win over the nobles of the central region after showing more of his abilities.

“The first thing to do now.”

Ethan’s gaze naturally turned to the nobles of the five collateral branches.

The cancerous tumors within.

It was time to deal with them.

He began to approach Cheiman.

* * *

“…!”

The nobles of the five collateral branches trembled at the sight of the grand duke approaching.

The head of the family had been decided.

Even if it was only temporary, he was still the head of the family.

Now, the Council of Elders was practically dissolved, and this place was the headquarters of the Duke’s family.

They couldn’t help but tremble.

Even Myers, whom they had been supporting, had declared complete submission to the Grand Duke. Cheyman immediately stepped forward.

“I… I will obey the head of the family. Please… have mercy on us!”

The tide had already turned to the point of no return.

All they could do now was beg for mercy from the grand duke, or rather, the head of the family.

That was when it happened.

Ethan smiled coldly and said,

“Do you know that?”

“What…”

“When I first opened my eyes in the hunting lodge, the first thought that came to mind was that I would break the necks of those who had reduced the direct descendants to this state.” “My lord…”

[I declare it as the lord!]

The nobles’ eyes were drawn to Ethan’s cry.

The collateral branches kneeling beneath him begged for mercy. Would the Grand Duke really show mercy to them?

From what I saw here today, that was out of the question.

Soon, the Grand Duke’s verdict was announced.

[The heads of the five collateral branches present here have not only violated their vassalage contract for many years, but have also openly violated the ideals of the Duchy through excessive tyranny and oppression. Therefore.]

“No, please…”

[Pernes, Liman, Kesten, Henaris, and Ailian. All five noble families will have their titles revoked, and as an example of their crimes, the five of them standing here will be beheaded right now.] “……!”

Not only were they being stripped of their noble titles, but their own heads were to be cut off!

It was a merciless act.

Cheiman exploded.

“Even if you are the lord, you cannot commit such an atrocity! How can you treat those who bow their heads so badly?”

“Those who have committed crimes must be punished accordingly.”

“Knights, protect me!”

The five nobles began their last desperate struggle. They had brought only a small number of knights with them, confident that they would win at this opening ceremony.

“…If only I could get out of here!”

He could return to his domain, reorganize his army, and face the Duke of Gong.

The knights instinctively moved forward. Ethan looked at them and said,

“They are no longer nobles. How dare you reject Ardan’s will?”

The knights trembled.

Come to think of it, that was true.

The temporary authority of the Council of Elders had effectively disappeared with the elevation of the Grand Duke to the position of Duke. Furthermore, the five nobles were vassals of the Duke’s family.

Their noble titles, lands, and even their vassals. They were nobles in name only, bound by contract to the lord, who could take everything back with a single word.

“From this moment on, anyone who protects the five collateral branches will be considered an enemy of Ardan.”

“…!”

The knights were not so foolish as to not understand what it meant to be considered an enemy of Ardan.

It would start with the revocation of their titles as knights and quasi-nobles.

They were saying that they would never be employed in the west again.

“…Should I help the lord?”

There was no justification, no benefit, and no reward.

Everything was going against them.

“Even if we help.”

There was no future.

No matter how much the duke’s domain had declined, the vast lands and the people who lived there were not going anywhere.

The collateral branches of the family, led by Cheiman, would begin to collapse one by one.

At best, they would have to surrender to the seven houses of the kingdom.

“The Duke’s family.”

They were a family of heroes.

Even if there were practical benefits, it would be unthinkable to become enemies of the Duke’s family, let alone when there were no practical benefits at all.

Facing the Grand Duke, who had demonstrated his abilities as an outstanding knight, was nothing but foolishness.

The knights put down their swords one by one. Even the 1st Division, which consisted of the six knights specially trained by Cheyman, was no exception.

The situation had turned so completely against them.

Seeing this, the nobles of the five collateral branches cried out in desperation.

“You… You bastards! Are you really knights? Remember who appointed you!”

Despite his desperate cries,

only a handful of knights stepped forward to protect the nobles of the five collateral branches.

“My lord, I will help you!”

Before anyone knew it, Myers raised his shield and took his place beside Ethan.

As if that weren’t enough.

Knights dressed in black armor were rushing toward the training ground.

The Dragon Slayers.

Nearly thirty knights surrounded the nobles led by Cheiman.

“There’s no chance of winning.”

The people in the stands quickly made their decision.

The Grand Duke and the youngest prince.

Those two were already accomplished knights. Even if only the two of them charged, the chances of winning were slim, but with the renowned Dragon Slayers joining the fray, it was hopeless.

“…There’s nothing more to say.”

The prediction was spot on.

The Grand Prince charged at the nobles, and in less than five minutes, Chey-man and the other nobles were all captured.

The five nobles were bound and forced to kneel.

[It is time for punishment.]

With a cold expression, showing no mercy, the Grand Duke swung his sword.

Deng!

The necks of the five nobles were cut off in an instant.

[Their families will also be punished. The Yongsal Corps has already begun to move.

The nobles flinched.

They realized that the Grand Duke was not acting on a whim.

He had a plan.

“…If I subdue all of their families…”

Ten collateral branches.

The families that had ruled the duke’s household would be completely destroyed.

It would be like squeezing out all the pus from an internal wound, and the duke’s family would rise again in all its glory.

The nobles’ eyes lit up.

* *

Silvia.

Her side was covered with communication crystals. The figures of the Dragon Slayers could be seen through the crystals.

The nearly 100 knights who had not accompanied the Grand Duke this time.

They were currently infiltrating the territories of the five collateral branches.

Sylvia spoke after seeing the crystals.

“The Grand Duke has been elected head of the family. We will proceed with the plans we have prepared.”

At that moment,

the leaders of the Dragon Slayer Corps nodded, and soon they began to move toward the inner castles of the five territories.