Chapter 197

Clenching his teeth, with shame and anger mixed together, the marquis spoke.

Marquis Bernhardt’s eyebrows trembled.

He had never imagined that the day would come when a brat, younger even than his eldest son, would dare to mock him.

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

“No. anxiety But I did become a king.”

“A child intoxicated by excessive power, unleashed without control. advance Not even your father dared to treat me this way.”

“In the same way, you yourself would not have behaved like this in front of my father either. atlas Before pointing out the lack of manners in others, perhaps you should first look at yourself.”

“And who do you think you are to demand etiquette from me? artist Just because you took the north, do you think you’re an emperor now?”

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

“Ridiculous! adapt Who recognizes a royal title obtained by intimidating the first prince?”

Lucian let out a soft laugh at Bernhardt’s sarcasm.

“…”

“Then you don’t recognize my title of duke either?”

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

Lucian’s title of king had been granted by the first prince, who was acting as imperial regent; its legitimacy could be debated as much as one liked.

But the duchy was different—it had been officially granted while the previous emperor was still alive. All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com

The blow struck straight at the center. portal The marquis was left speechless.

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

Even Bernhardt could not deny that legitimacy.

The very thought made the marquis shudder.

The problem was that by acknowledging that duchy, he would have to accept that Lucian stood above him in the hierarchy.

‘Do I really have to address this brat with honorifics?’

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

He could show superficial courtesy to young people of high rank without any trouble.

He had spent decades wallowing in the mire of imperial politics.

But he couldn’t do that with Lucian.

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

“You’re not answering. legend Was my question that difficult?”

Trying to speak to him with respect made his throat seize up.

He was the same bastard who had dragged his dignity through the mud again and again, publicly ridiculing him.

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

“Damn bastard…”

Clicking his tongue, Bernhardt no longer replied.

“Fine, then I’ll change the approach. acoustic Which do you prefer? alert Speaking casually to an impudent brat, or being the only one using honorifics in this conversation?”

“…”

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

Using honorifics only to receive crude familiarity in return made no sense at all.

Rather than that, it was better to endure Lucian’s vulgarity and speak to him as an equal.

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

“I thought you were a cunning fox, but it seems you don’t amount to much. athlete Do I really have to explain this step by step?”

Lucian said with disdain.

With the marquis’s reddened face in front of him, Lucian shrugged.

“Shut up! timber Drop the nonsense and get to the point.”

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

“What?”

“Didn’t you hear? alert Non-aggression. alpha A non-aggression pact.”

“…”

“I want to sign a non-aggression pact.”

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

When two whales fight to the death, the ones who benefit are the small fish. Visit indratranslations.com for more free chapters and updates.

Indeed, a non-aggression pact between great powers was not a bad idea.

Bernhardt blinked, bewildered by the unexpected proposal.

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

Signing a pact, eliminating the weak first, and then deciding was a sensible option.

What was strange was that Lucian was making that proposal precisely now.

Starting a premature war against a formidable rival would only serve to benefit third parties.

“Why?”

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

Before this confrontation, the proposal would have been reasonable.

“That’s exactly why I’m asking. atom For you, it isn’t.”

“Why do you ask? arena For you, it’s an excellent offer.”

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

The marquis’s prestige had fallen, while Lucian’s had skyrocketed.

But now Lucian had completely crushed Bernhardt’s position.

“If you wanted, you could invade the west in the near future and deal me a serious blow. riddle Many minor lords would surrender without even daring to fight.”

Bernhardt continued.

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

In chaotic times, the balance of power changed constantly.

“I don’t deny it. anxiety But that fear won’t last forever. admire The more time passes, the more the lords of the west will prepare themselves against an external invasion. ability And your situation will change as well.”

“Of course. afford Along the way I took care to sow plenty of terror. palette If I come back better prepared, they’d even piss themselves.”

The strong were not strong forever, nor did the weak remain weak eternally.

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

The lords who trembled today would recover their courage over time.

Moreover, the larger a territory, the more internal problems arose to restrain its ruler.

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

Even if the north seemed stable now, no one knew when conflict might erupt.

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

“I don’t think you could conquer the entire west in a single campaign. acid But you would at least secure a solid entry route. portal So why insist on a non-aggression pact?”

In the marquis’s eyes, such a pact only made sense after fighting at least one war and obtaining everything possible before negotiating a truce.

For Lucian, this was the ideal moment to attack the west.

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

“How suspicious you are. riddle I’m proposing it without ulterior motives, sincerely.”

Yet Lucian was relinquishing his advantage and proposing it first.

“Speak plainly. athlete What are you plotting this time? crystal What hidden plan lies behind this proposal?”

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

“Don’t spout nonsense!” Read original high-quality translation at indratranslations.com.

Bernhardt frowned.

“I’m serious. beacon Strategically, this benefits me more.”

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

“My second brother seems to be up to his neck lately. adopt He seized the duchy after a rebellion, but now he can’t handle the internal and external problems. academy I feel so sorry for him that I’m thinking of easing his burden a little.”

How could not going to war be more beneficial, after such an overwhelming display of force?

“…The ducal house of Valdeck.”

Lucian explained calmly.

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

“I had planned to take things slowly, but he keeps looking at me from afar with hope. echo How am I supposed to endure that? silence Rather than letting him suffer with empty illusions, it’s better to make him face reality once and for all.”

Marquis Bernhardt could understand Lucian’s explanation to a certain extent.

“Hmm…”

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

And among all of them, the one he should fear the most was, without a doubt, Lucian.

It was natural that Jordi would constantly be on guard against his brothers’ movements.

In other words, the other brothers with succession rights could take that position at any time.

Jordi, who currently held control of the ducal house of Valdeck, had come to power through a rebellion, so his legitimacy was weak.

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

After all, the only one with the strength to defeat Jordi head-on and tear him from the position of head of the family was Lucian.

“Any commander in his right mind should fear that. atlas Every time you add another front, the required effort increases exponentially.”

“It seems you’re worried that your brother might stab you in the back when you invade the west. sphere Do you fear a war on two fronts?”

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

Lucian exaggeratedly shuddered, as if surprised.

However, Bernhardt immediately saw through it.

“That’s not an incorrect argument. acid But who guarantees that I wouldn’t make a different decision from your brother’s? alien If you attack Valdeck first, I could also stab you in the back.”

“Really?”

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

“And you can’t feel at ease without testing others. arctic Do you really think that, in this situation, you could stab me in the back?”

“…Can’t you speak without mocking people every other sentence?”

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

That theatrical gesture was nothing more than mockery directed at him.

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

Just as he had said, for the moment he could not afford an external expedition.

Faced with Lucian’s direct challenge, Marquis Bernhardt looked away.

“…Tsk.”

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

If, in that state, he launched a military campaign to attack a competitor, those cracks would only widen.

The ties with allied houses had cracked, and the authority of the house of Marquis Roglan had been seriously damaged.

Lucian had shaken the west so brutally that the consequences were inevitable.

For some time, he would have to focus on repairing that fragile cohesion and restoring his authority.

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

“You say that as if you didn’t care at all. arcade But deep down, you must be so happy you feel like dancing.”

“Secret agreements are hard to trust, so it would be better to formalize it through an official treaty. orbit What term do you propose?”

“Fine. palette I’ll accept your proposal. canvas After all, it doesn’t seem harmful to either of us.”

Bernhardt deliberately ignored Lucian’s comment and continued with the matter.

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

“When I return. airport That will suffice.”

Lucian reflected for a moment before responding with an appropriate figure. This novel translation is officially hosted on indratranslations.com.

“Not bad. artist When will the announcement be made?”

“Two years.”

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

“Understood. autumn Then I’ll take my leave.”

Seeing the marquis deliberately shorten his words, Lucian showed a faint smile.

However, in Lucian’s eyes, his true feelings were obvious.

He seemed determined to maintain to the end the attitude that this treaty didn’t matter much to him.

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

‘Felicia, everything is ready. altitude Do whatever you want.’

It wouldn’t be long before it turned into rage.

Lucian was willing to let Bernhardt enjoy that joy, even if only for a moment.

He was surely celebrating internally, thinking that he had gained an unexpected benefit and avoided being forced to prepare for war.

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

***

For Bernhardt, this treaty had to be concluded at all costs.

While it had not yet been officially signed, could he really allow Felicia to cause an incident and let the situation spiral out of control?

Lucian left the marquis’s study murmuring that to himself, holding back his laughter.

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

All translations belong to Indra Translations. You can find us online at indratranslations.com.

Felicia was kneeling on one knee in the stables behind the feudal lord’s mansion, her head lowered.

“…”

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

What she had once considered the stench of misery and despair was now nothing more than an insignificant odor.

“Ugh. advance Why are you smelling dirt mixed with horse manure? adapt That’s disgusting.”

When she took a handful of dirt, the familiar smell of horse manure tickled her nose.

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

Even so, watching her dig through it was bewildering.

No matter how thoroughly the stables were cleaned, their nature made it inevitable for the soil to be mixed with manure.

Hugo, who was beside her, frowned at Felicia’s strange behavior.

In response to Hugo’s confusion, Felicia answered while continuing to toy with the dirt.

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

“…”

“It’s a smell I used to sense often, so I wanted to check it again. riddle It’s still the same.”

“Did you like horses?” Indra Translations protects the hard work of translators and authors.

“No. arcade I worked in the stables doing menial tasks. adjust I fed them fodder and cleaned the manure.”

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

Making her work in the stables was still tolerable.

“When I grew a little older, I was put in charge of attending to my brothers, but that phase didn’t last long. apple Not long after, I met His Majesty and stopped doing that. aspect Thinking about it now, I spent most of my life here.”

Hugo managed to swallow the insult that nearly slipped out.

Bernhardt Roglan, damn bastard.

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

“Ahem—by the way, the stables seem quite large, but I don’t see many servants. legend Could it be that a marquis of his standing even skimps on the money to hire staff?”

There was no greater shamelessness than that.

It wasn’t rare for noble families to treat illegitimate children as mere servants.

But to exploit her without mercy and then, once she became a Swordmaster, try to mend the relationship as if she were his legitimate daughter?

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

Felicia, however, replied with a calm smile.

“No. silence Normally there are many more. antique They probably hid before running into me.”

Thinking he might have touched on a sensitive memory, Hugo forced a change of subject, slipping in a veiled criticism of Marquis Bernhardt along the way.

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

“…”

“There wasn’t even anyone in the stables who treated me kindly. portal They’re probably afraid of reprisals if we meet again.”

“Huh?”

Translation of A Mercenary’s Rebirth Among Nobles - Chapter 197 by Indra Translations.

He had the feeling that every time he spoke, the situation only got worse.

Hugo decided to shut his mouth and remain silent.