I Became the Male Lead who was Clinging onto the Female Leads

Chapter 45: Son, have you returned to the way you were? (1)

TL/Editor: Raei

Schedule: N/A

Illustrations: Posted in discord.

Join the discord! Here

One week earlier, within the Grace Barony mansion.

Dallas von Aren, head of the Barony, was seated at his office desk, his features etched with deep worry.

"What to do about this..."

Although far from his sixtieth year, his hair was peppered with white, and his face bore the deep lines of prolonged mental torment.

As per usual, he was deeply troubled by his family's dire affairs.

A letter from the Hobart Viscounty was to blame.

-To the Head of the Grace Barony,

On a sunny afternoon, with warmth filtering through the windows, I, Jacob von Randel, head of the Hobart Viscounty, send greetings and a letter.

It has been some time since I assumed the role of head of my family.

Despite the suddenness of my ascension following my father's untimely demise, it seems I may have a natural affinity for leadership. Peace and smiles have swiftly returned to every face in my domain.

I hope that your family, which I know to be enduring difficult times, will soon see better days as well.

I am aware of the substantial debt your house owes to mine, and I can well imagine the burden as the day of repayment draws near.

As a man of considerable empathy, I cannot overlook such difficulties.

Paying off the debt may be challenging, but extending the deadline is within my power. I am eager to assist.

Since this will be of great benefit to the Grace Barony, I desire something of value in return.

You are no doubt aware of my long-standing admiration for a young lady of your household, Erika von Rubia.

I wish to make Lady Erika my bride.

Though I have a legal wife, have no doubt about my eternal love for her, even as a concubine.

I will soon pay a visit to your esteemed home for dinner, where we can discuss the prospect of welcoming Lady Erika as a concubine.

A favorable response will ensure my full support for the Grace Barony.

Being a man of wisdom, you surely understand my expectations.

And should you fail to meet them, you are well aware of the consequences that await.

Wishing you strength and health, I conclude my message here.

Jacob von Randel, Head of the Hobart Viscounty

Crunch.

The lengthy letter was crumpled into a pathetic ball.

"To send this... as a letter..."

It was a polite way to phrase it, but in essence, it was an ultimatum.

Though filled with reasonable content, the letter was filled with insidious pressure, and the real message was concise enough to be summarized in just a few lines.

Prepare accordingly to receive Lady Erika von Rubia of the Grace Barony as my concubine, or face the consequences.

"......"

The hand holding the crumpled letter shook uncontrollably.

Jacob von Randel of the Hobart Viscounty, who had ascended to his position following the sudden death of the former head, was known for his voracious greed and notorious indulgence in pleasures of the flesh.

'My daughter to become his concubine...'

Concubine was merely a courteous term; it was clear that Erika, once sent to the Viscounty, would be treated as nothing more than an object of entertainment.

'How did things ever come to this'

He was consumed with regret that he couldn't even protect his precious daughter, a sentiment so strong it made him wish for death.

His family hadn't always been in such straits.

In his youth, before he took over as head, his family was among the continent's wealthiest, owning the largest iron mine in the land, even though they were just a Barony.

His father, the lord of the time, was a wise and benevolent man who led the family to prosperity.

The family was on an upward trajectory, with smiles abound at home.

However,

'It must have started back then...'

That was when the misfortune began.

Though the exact cause remains unknown, his astute father suddenly lost his wits.

The spark in his eyes dimmed, and the wisdom in his speech disappeared without a trace.

He stopped caring for the family.

He spent night after night gambling, ensnared in the very vices he had never given a second glance before, squandering the family's fortune.

His reputation crumbled, and even his family began to shun him.

Many tried in vain to bring him back to his senses, but he never returned to his former self.

His deplorable actions led the family to ruin, with debts piling up.

After several years, the debts became insurmountable.

Then one day, the final blow to the family's downfall was struck.

Unable to manage the massive debt, he sold the family's iron mine to the Hobart Viscounty at a fraction of its value.

The entire family was plunged into shock and mourning.

Although the debts were overwhelming, that mine was the family's history and tradition, their most significant source of income.

With that treasure lost, the means to repay their massive debts vanished forever.

The man who brought the family to ruin passed away not long after.

And so, his son, Dallas, rose to take the mantle of the head of the family.

For the sake of all within the family, he worked tirelessly, day and night.

But the magnitude of the debt was so extreme that the situation only worsened.

The scant taxes collected from the vassals all went toward the interest on the colossal debt.

With every repayment date that came around, every possible means to settle the debt was exhausted, resulting in the loss of even the rights to the taverns and shops within the domain.

Not a single dent was made in the debt, yet the family's assets had all but disappeared.

If the Hobart Viscounty, holding the majority of the debt, did not show mercy, there was no doubt that by the next repayment date, the family name would have to be taken down, and they would be reduced to the streets.

And in the midst of this dire situation, they received a letter demanding Erika.

'How wretched and sorrowful...'

Erika was a kind and lovely child.

Thinking back to her selfless nature from childhood, always considering others before herself, she would willingly sacrifice herself to preserve the family's vain honor.

'How could I witness such an atrocity befall her in my lifetime?'

Such an event must not happen, not while I draw breath.

As her father, it was my duty to protect my daughter.

However, he was powerless.

If they did not comply with the Viscount of Hobart's wishes regarding Erika, force would be used.

And it would not end with just the loss of his daughter.

They would be stripped of everything and left destitute on the streets.

'There truly is no solution...'

He could only sigh in the face of this hellish situation.

"My lord. May I come in?"

At that moment, the voice of the chief butler, Philip, came from outside.

He seemed to have returned from carrying out his assigned duties.

"Come in."

Philip opened the door and stood before me.

From the gloom on his face, I could guess the nature of the words that would come from his mouth.

"I sent out letters seeking help from the neighboring houses as you instructed... but not a single one has replied."

"Really... not one?"

"Yes..."

"......"

Dallas let out a deep sigh.

"It doesn't have to be noble houses. Try the merchants, guilds, or even street vendors for financial aid."

"I am sorry to say... that has already been done. There is no one left to ask."

"Is that truly the case?"

"Yes, my lord..."

"......"

With a deep sigh, Dallas spoke.

"Then... send a letter to my son."

"Do you mean to Eugene, sir?"

"Yes. Is there a problem?"

"......"

Philip's eyes closed tightly.

'Eugene...'

As desperate as things were, Eugene was not an option.

'He was once a fine man...'

Eugene was intelligent and had a bright future.

He had been the hope of the entire family since his youth, and to Dallas, he was the family's lucky charm to rebuild the house.

But when he returned to the family after half a year at the Royal Academy, Eugene had transformed into a fool, devoid of his former brilliance.

Dallass face showed a man who felt as though the heavens had crumbled upon him.

In the days following, he forsook food and drink, spending days bedridden with despair...

It was true, then, that the mention of calling Eugene now stirred more resignation than resolution.

'I will send it, as it is the lords command...'

The expense of sending a letter to the distant capital, Luciana, seemed wasteful.

He crafted a letter and approached Dallas once more,

"Are we really sending this...?"

His expression alone spoke volumes, suggesting the funds might be better allocated toward the debt repayment.

It was enough to feel like an insult to Eugene, without a word being uttered.

Yet, such concerns were a luxury beyond the reach of the current dire straits of the Grace Barony.

"In times when even the smallest help is precious, what other choice do we have?"

"If that is your decision, my lord, I have nothing more to say..."

"The lad is in good health; he could prove useful should we need to make a hasty night escape."

"......"

'My lord, you've even considered running away?'

With a throbbing headache, Philip pocketed the letter and turned to leave.

"I will send the letter and return."

"Do so."

Exiting the office and walking down the corridor, Philip let out a long sigh.

He was a head butler who had served the family all his life.

The thought of the name 'Grace' vanishing from the world was a fate he wished to avoid more than death itself.

'Is the day when our family name truly fades close?'

But the familys plight was so desperate that no matter how hard he thought, no answers came.

'If only someone could appear to lift our family from this crisis.'

With that wishful thought, Philip departed with the letter.

---