Rising prestige of the Marquis

I visited the child that saved my beloved wife and befriended my daughter, he was a lovable child.

A well rounded cheek consisting of baby fat, round eyes that seems to captivate you and his wavy hair that covers his forehead.

He was nothing short of adorable. I could see why my wife likes him, after all she's weak to something cute.

I was about to get called by the damn Emperor, but I told him it would take a while, even though I ran for my wife from a distance in a day means I wouldn't do the same for the Emperor.

"It's the viscount in the north!"

This made me angrier, the Emperor sponsors the viscount from the North, it's obvious who's doing this is. I can't help but commit a massacre but if it's on the cost of making Penelope sad I couldn't take it.

By tomorrow I set forth towards the Imperial palace, I got received with quite the mocking looks by the damned filth of nobles in the emperor's audience.

"So. Why did you leave the battlefield, Marquis Lennon?"

With my left leg kneeling and my head low I spoke dignified, loud and clear for everyone to hear.

"My wife was poisoned, your majesty."

"Hmm.. And I heard she recovered?"

The Viscount who is the emperor's dog was there sneering at me, I inhaled slowly and calmed myself.

"Yes, your majesty. Thanks to a potion."

The viscount was shocked momentarily, confirming what the boy said. After this ordeal it's your bloodline who'll vanish.

"hmm.. "

"Your Majesty, may I speak with Impertinence?"

"..yes?"

"I accuse the Viscount,"I pointed at the wretched man whose name isn't worth mentioning "Of poisoning the madam of the marquisate."

Gasps filled the room, some with mockery as they are against me, but I couldn't care less. The Emperor looked at me with his eyes narrowed.

"How dare you!" The wretched viscount yells "You don't have any evidence!"

"I do. I do have an evidence"

I stood up and reached for my pockets. But before I do some knights aimed their weapons at me.

The Viscount who is sweating bullets pointed at me whilst yelling 'Knights! Seize the fool who dares bring a weapon in front of his majesty!' whilst sweating bullets.

"Enough."

The voice of his majesty gave us an overbearing pressure for a second. He has his palm on his face like he was disappointed.

"And what is this evidence, Marquis?"

I steeled myself as I started taking out a blue mushroom off my pocket.

"three weeks ago, my wife was taking care of the slum area of my territory. And somehow a madman managed to bite her. Even though she has escorts. They thought it was just some sort of disease but it turns out it was poison. A specific poison I say"

I looked at the viscount with rage and disdain, smiling provocatively as I was about to say more.

"A poison made from this mushroom, that's only found in his territory"

"Lies! I'm being framed—"

"Silence!" The Emperor yells and glared at the Viscount. "And continue"

"What's more is that we found out that the Slave traders in my territory are owned by him" I pointed at the viscount again.

The emperor's eyes widened and looked at the viscount with extreme disappointment, betreyal and rage.

I was baffled by his Majesty's reaction. If he planned this why is his eyes is tinted by betrayal? Unless…

"Looks like we have to clean the ranks…" the Emperor muttered.

I could hear it at this distance for one reason, I'm a 2nd class swordsman. My senses are heightened to its maximum limit.

"I see, you all may go. Marquis, let's talk in a more discreet space, shall we meet at a later date?"

I was confused about the development, but then I realized something, it might not be the Emperor who sent me to the western border. I nodded and kneeled at the Emperor.

"You all may leave." the emperor stood and left.

Everyone at the audience dispersed as well, but the viscount was dragged away by knights while screaming like a banshee.

I went to the nearest estate I own in the capital. I stayed there for the day as I pondered for a bit, Disappointment and betreyal.

Those are the emotions of the Emperor when he heard my words, what is going on? That, however, was answered the following day.

"The Viscount has been doing things behind us, haa.."

The Emperor sighed. It's different from what I expected, the Emperor was supposed to be corrupt but he was doing everything he could to wipe every filth on the Empire.

"I apologize your majesty"

"Hm? I don't remember warranting an apology, instead I owe you an apology sending you to the western border"

"Yes… but I also thought you were corrupt so.. "

"It was a misunderstanding, a big one at that, I'm just glad this turned out for the better. Though…"

The Emperor looked at me and his eyes became serious.

"That Mushroom you've shown is the Blue Lauf mushroom. There's no antidote for that kind of poison.. Unless"

"Yes, it's an elixir"

The emperor's brows jumped, anyone would be surprised about an elixir, healer of all diseases, sickness and injuries. And even revives someone from the dead.

"It was found in the dungeon on my territory. Your majesty, do you perhaps knew about the Butch Dungeon?"

"That Gorish dungeon?"

"Yes, that's where the elixir was found"

The Emperor nodded, he then looked at me and spoke with a serious tone once again.

"Thanks to you Marquis I found a traitor within my ranks, and since the Viscount will now be facing execution for assassinating a noble, his territory would fall to his relatives, say instead of giving it to them would you like me to reward it to you instead?"

I was about to speak and decline the offer then the dark haired child came up to my mind, Samuel is finding his little sister who was sold by the slave traders, and the slave traders were owned by the viscount.

If I could hold this territory then he can at least widen the scope of search. That's the least I could do after giving my wife an elixir, after all I'm massively indebted to that child.

"I will accept it with honor"

"I am glad we could have this conversation. Say, Marquis. Will you join my ranks?"

I did expect being invited, and knowing that the previous actions of the Emperor wasn't his, I then proceeded to accept, all to remove the filth in this Empire.

"That would be such an honor"

There's no harm in joining him, whose goal is to clean the filth in the Empire. I too have a grudge against those filth as they almost cost me my wife.

I'll make sure this never happens again.