NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 20
Chapter 20: The Next Earl Becomes the Earl (Part 1)
“Lord Ace, that’s great news!”
“Yeah, we’ve got a chance to survive now.”
Ace responded immediately to Lugard’s words, but Lugard could still sense the tension in his voice.
(Lord Ace isn’t letting his guard down at all…)
“Lugard, the conditions Duke Zarfing proposed will only take effect once I become the Earl of Selens. He hasn’t signed the contract yet.”
“Y-Yes, sir.”
Lugard realized he had been getting ahead of himself.
“From now on, I have to take the earldom from my father and remove Fiona from the family register.”
“But, Lord Ace, shouldn’t that be easy for you?”
“No… Inheriting the title isn’t that simple. There are those who benefit more from my father remaining the Earl. I need to suppress them and increase my supporters.”
“That’s…”
“That’s why Duke Zarfing gave me a month. But I’ve decided to do it in a week.”
“A week?!”
“Yes, it’s the bare minimum. If I don’t show Duke Zarfing my capabilities, he’ll undervalue me. To exceed his expectations, I have to do it in a week.”
Lugard could feel the tension in Ace’s voice, and it made him nervous too. He thought the negotiation had gone well, but for Ace, it meant a new battle had just begun.
“First… I need to win over Lidys.”
“Understood.”
“If I can get Lidys, the head butler, on my side, the chances of anything leaking from the Selens estate will drop significantly.”
“…”
“It would be great if Lidys continues to serve as the head butler.”
Ace’s voice remained tense. For him, mixing up victory with a favorable situation was something he absolutely had to avoid.
“Lugard, when we get back, call Lidys for me. I need to work on some documents.”
“Yes, sir.”
Lugard responded immediately.
After returning to the Selens estate, Ace locked himself in the office for five days, not meeting with any family members.
* * * * *
When Ace summoned the Selens Earl and his wife, along with Fiona, to the reception room, their expressions were bright. They had conveniently interpreted Ace’s busy five days as a good sign.
“So, Ace, how did it go?”
The Earl asked casually.
(Father has no idea he’s about to be cut off…)
Ace almost sighed at his father’s insensitivity and lack of awareness. The past five days of running around were for the sake of the Selens Earl House’s servants, not their family, who were at the bottom of the priority list.
Yet, from his father’s tone, it seemed like they were the top priority, and the servants were an afterthought—if even that.
“Yes, I’ve been running around these past five days… and finally, things are looking up.”
At Ace’s words, the Earl, his wife, and Fiona all looked relieved. Ace had subtly implied, “What have you all been doing these past five days?” but none of them seemed to notice.
“That’s great, great! Well done, Ace!”
“Yes, as expected of our son.”
“Thank you, Brother. I knew you wouldn’t abandon me.”
Ace gave a small smile at their praises.
“Yes, I recently negotiated with Duke Zarfing.”
“Oh? And?”
“To cut to the chase, it seems the Selens House will survive.”
At Ace’s words, the three of them visibly relaxed.
“That’s wonderful!”
Ace smirked at his father’s cheerful tone and expression.
“Duke Zarfing proposed three conditions.”
“Three?”
“Of course, you worked hard to make them as favorable as possible, right?”
Ace nodded at his parents’ condescending remarks. This entire situation was entirely their fault—his parents and sister’s—yet they showed no sense of remorse for making him clean up their mess.
“Yes, the conditions are not burdensome for the Selens House. I was lucky to negotiate such favorable terms. Duke Zarfing is a reasonable man, and that really helped.”
“Hmph, that brat is reasonable? Ace, you really don’t have an eye for people.”
“Brother, of course, you’ve canceled my engagement to Leon, right?”
“Yes, and what about Fiona’s future? How did that go?”
The three of them grew more and more audacious with their demands.
“Yes, Duke Zarfing proposed three conditions. First, I will become the Earl of Selens. Second, Father and Mother will never leave the Selens territory again… and third, Fiona will be removed from the Selens family register.”
At Ace’s words, the three of them froze. Ace continued without hesitation.
“It’s a wonderful condition—if you can endure it, the Selens House will survive.”
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