Chapter 512
Charlotte looked at Count Gaston, whose face was filled with pleas, and her expression was inscrutable.
Duke Gaston had been killed by the Church, and his title stripped by Louis V. Rumors also spread throughout Lutecia that the King harbored great dissatisfaction with the Gaston family, seemingly intending to strip the entire family of their titles in one fell swoop.
However, these were only rumors.
Charlotte had been closely monitoring the movements in the Royal Capital, and from the various actions of Louis V, she discerned his attitude. As for the handling of the offending families, the Royal Family generally adhered to the principle of “punishing the ringleaders” without further escalation.
The scope of the Great Purge had been extensive enough already, and the power of the Royal House was not limitless. Even considering resistance from the nobles, Louis V would not expand the scope of the purge further.
As far as the Gaston family was concerned, to Charlotte’s knowledge, Louis V had only dealt with the Gaston Main Family and had not intended to involve the branch families.
Even if Count Gaston had just entered Lutecia, he could not have failed to understand this.
So… had he come seeking aid for the Gaston Main Family?
With this in mind, Charlotte couldn’t help but glance at the travel-weary count.
Count Gaston was a member of the Gaston family’s branch in Bold, and aside from Albrecht, he was the only one she had forcibly bound into a Blood Servant through a strong contract.
Oh, right, there was also Count Gaston’s eldest son. She remembered his name was Audis.
Initially, these two had allied with the Third Prince, attempting to launch a surprise attack on Charlotte during the Bold-Castel war, only to end up being “counter-killed” by her and turned into her Blood Servants.
After the war, as Duchess Eleanor of Bold was ill and unable to manage her domain, Charlotte supported Count Gaston in the background to become the Regent Minister of the Bold Duchy, indirectly taking control over the Duchy.
However, Charlotte remembered that the relationship between Count Gaston and the Gaston Main Family seemed not to be very good; rather than a branch of the Duke’s family in Bold, it was more like a loser who had been expelled from the Gaston Duchy after failing to compete for the title.
Count Gaston’s initial allegiance to the Third Prince was for the purpose of recapturing the Gaston Duchy in the future with the support of the Prince.
Now that the Gaston Main Family had met with misfortune, he was coming for help?
Charlotte did not directly answer Count Gaston.
She looked at him intently and said with profound meaning,
“The Gaston family’s collusion with the Blood Demon Church is irrefutable, and the King’s handling of the Gaston family is sanctioned by the Church and in accordance with the Holy Code and the Royal Authority Contract. It is unshakable by anyone.”
“However, this settlement is only targeted at the main house of Duke Gaston, and will not be extended to your Bold branch.”
Upon hearing Charlotte’s words, Count Gaston hesitated for a moment, then said cautiously,
“Mistress, I am aware that the main house will surely be dealt with, and I also know that it will not extend to our side branch.”
“The King’s handling of the main house is justified, yet it appears that he has no intention of selecting a new Duke from within the Gaston family…”
“The Gaston family has a contract agreement with the Valva Family, in which the Royal House has the power only to dethrone but not to strip titles but now… His Majesty the King has disregarded this agreement.”
Charlotte: …
She caught on.
Count Gaston was not here to rescue the punished Gaston Main Family, but for the title itself!
“Forget about the title and domain of Duke Gaston. His Majesty the King wants to strengthen central authority, and the territories taken back are unlikely to be returned.”
“Duke Gaston didn’t simply consort with the Blood Demon Church; he actually became a Protector and a core member of the Blood Demon Sect, which is a taboo under the Holy Code, more severe than being utterly condemned. Even if there were agreements to protect the title, it wouldn’t matter.”
Charlotte said.
Count Gaston still had some hope:
“Mistress, the title and domain of Duke Gaston belong not only to the main house but to the entire family.”
“For the Gaston family, the Duke’s domain is the foundation of our family. If we lose the Duke’s domain, then the Gaston family also loses its foundations!”
“Without a foundation, my position in Bold might suffer as well, which would also affect your covert control over the Gaston Duchy…”
Charlotte looked at him with an almost mocking smile,
“Oh? And then? You want me to support you to become the new Duke Gaston? Let’s not talk about whether or not it’s possible, even if it were, what then? Would His Majesty the King allow a Duke to also act as a Regent Minister for another Duke?”
“But… the domain of Duke Gaston could replace Bold as your power base! Compared to Bold, Gaston is wealthier, and a Duke can control the domain more effectively than a Regent Minister!”
Duke Gaston pleaded.
Charlotte shook her head:
“You also know that Duke Gaston’s Domain is richer than Bold, so you should understand that once His Majesty the King seizes the opportunity, he will not split such a wealthy land again.”
“Master, but the King is only a secular king, while you…”
Gaston wanted to say something more, but he stopped mid-sentence under Charlotte’s sharp gaze.
“Lord Gaston, do your own part. It’s not your turn to dictate how I should act!”
She said coldly.
A high-ranking Bloodline’s aura released from Charlotte’s body, turning Count Gaston’s face pale as he knelt on the ground with a thud.
He was sweating profusely, trembling all over, with an expression of terror on his face.
Looking at Count Gaston, who had collapsed on the ground, Charlotte slowly withdrew her pressure and said indifferently:
“At present, I have no intention of being an enemy of the New Moon Royal Family. If you want me to stand up for you, better give up.”
Then, she reminded him:
“Don’t even think about trying to fight for it yourself. His Majesty the King is on the rise; there is no need to stick your neck out. You can plan for the long term.”
“After all…the land and the claim won’t run away.”
After hearing Charlotte’s words, Count Gaston’s momentum drained away, but there was nothing he could do.
In the end, he sighed, accepting the reality.
Charlotte did not continue to discuss this issue but instead asked:
“Eleanor, has she come to Lutecia as well?”
After the war, Duchess Eleanor of Bold had been recovering in the Northern Land until just before Charlotte set off when she was brought back by the nobles of Bold.
Count Gaston answered timidly:
“She…she has come. The central meeting requires the Duchess’s attendance, so after her recovery was nearly complete, we brought her along.”
Charlotte was silent for a moment, then asked:
“How is she… now?”
Count Gaston hesitated a bit, his expression conflicted.
“Hm? Hasn’t her spirit recovered yet?”
Charlotte asked.
Count Gaston became more conflicted:
“Her spirit… has indeed recovered quite a bit, but it seems there’s been another issue…”
Charlotte frowned:
“What issue?”
Count Gaston glanced at her, his expression somewhat peculiar.
He hesitated for a moment and then said:
“She… doesn’t want to be a Duchess anymore, she wants to renounce her title and become a nun.”
Charlotte was stunned:
“She… has converted to the Holy Royal Court?”
Count Gaston’s expression became even weirder.
He swallowed hard and said:
“No, what she seems to believe in… is you…”
Charlotte: …
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