Reincarnate as the Villainess's Husband - Chapter 46

Chapter 46: Loyalty can be bought
A few days later—

When Neonidas and his team stepped out of the teleportation portal, they saw the vast walls of a large city ahead of them. The city was enormous, and behind it, on top of a hill, stood a grand castle-manor. This place belonged to Marquis Alexsaz, and even from a distance, one could see how wealthy the Marquis was. To the west of the city lay an endless ocean, and this city was one of the empire’s important port cities. Of course, it had been losing its importance over time, but during Duke Leonardo’s reign, this city was undoubtedly the most important port in the empire.

However, due to Marquis Alexsaz’s outdated mindset and his unwavering attachment to tradition, the city was gradually losing its value. Nevertheless, this city still held immense potential; it was an excellent location for the duchy to establish trade with the outside world, especially with distant continents inhabited by other races. Some duchies had no access to the sea, However, although Neonidas had such an important city in his territory, he could not utilise its potential . The sole reason for this was, of course, Marquis Alexsaz.

Today was the day when the Marquis and all children over a certain age were to be killed. Neonidas looked behind him and saw his strongest men, including Soren, the most powerful of his guards. Each one had prepared for this day. Solara didn’t come because she needed to rest, but Neonidas already knew how to heal her, and that path went through the treasure chamber of Marquis Alexsaz.

“The plan is simple,” Neonidas said coolly as he moved forward. “We’ll quickly eliminate the Marquis’s power today. We’ll take this city.” His words echoed like a prophecy. Fenrilia moved alongside him, her eyes vigilantly scanning their surroundings. There was a silent harmony between them; Fenrilia was a master at sensing approaching dangers.

As Neonidas and his team neared the large city gates, he noticed the soldiers patrolling the walls of Marquis Alexsaz. These soldiers were well-armed, but there was no trace of hesitation on Neonidas’s face. He had reviewed his plan in his mind countless times and evaluated every possible scenario. The army of guards loyal to the Marquis, whose loyalty had been bought, were not a threat to him but rather a tool. To everyone in the city, the Marquis was a symbol of a quiet rebellion against Neonidas’s authority. However, in Neonidas’s mind, there was only one thing: to seize power quickly, cleanly, and definitively.

As his team approached a hidden passage beneath the walls, Neonidas heard Fenrilia’s faint growls. The great wolf had sensed movement around them. Neonidas immediately stopped, trying to silently understand what Fenrilia had sensed. Soren, standing just behind Neonidas, asked, “Is it the enemy?” as he drew his staff from its sheath.

Fenrilia silently glanced at a distant spot and then shook her head. Neonidas took Fenrilia’s warning seriously. The danger wasn’t right in front of them but was close by. “Continue,” Neonidas said in a low voice. “Move fast and carefully. Don’t let anyone notice us.”

Undermining the public’s trust in a leader, neutralizing enemies, and making one’s power unquestionable—this was Neonidas’s plan for taking control of the city and the Marquis’s entire lands. The soldiers under the control of Marquis Alexsaz were more loyal to the lower-ranking commanders than to him. Neonidas had devised a strategy to turn this to his advantage.

Having infiltrated the city through the passage, Neonidas and his men reached a small garrison where officers questioning their loyalty to the Marquis were stationed. Neonidas paused here, waiting for the officers to emerge. When one of them saw Neonidas, he immediately kneeled. “My lord, has the day you expected arrived?” the officer asked, with unwavering loyalty.

Neonidas’s eyes were cold, but undeniably captivating. “Today, the fate of this city changes. The end of Marquis Alexsaz has come,”

The officers exchanged glances and bowed to Neonidas’s authority. Most of them were already tired of the Marquis’s incompetent rule and had long desired change. Just a few days ago, when Duke Neonidas made them a generous offer, they had debated among themselves for a long time before agreeing to stand by Neonidas, but gradually they began to favour Neonidas. Of course, the main reason was the promises Neonidas had made.

Neonidas’s message quickly spread among the soldiers of Marquis Alexsaz: the Marquis’s rule was about to end. However, Neonidas carefully avoided creating the appearance of a rebellion. Gaining the trust of the people was far more important than a show of force. In the eyes of the people, Neonidas had to be their savior.

Neonidas advanced cautiously but decisively toward the city’s main control points. Thanks to the clear orders he had given Soren and his other men, the operation was proceeding smoothly. First, the second group, led by Soren, was to neutralise small units loyal to Marquis Alexsaz. Neonidas was determined not to turn the city into a bloodbath. He sought to win the people’s trust, not their fear.

As Neonidas, guided by Fenrilia, advanced toward the castle, he had a larger goal in mind. Simply killing the Marquis wouldn’t be enough; he needed to fill the void the Marquis would leave immediately. To solidify his authority in the eyes of the people, he knew he had to make the Marquis pay for his mistakes with his own hands.

Fenrilia suddenly stopped and let out a low growl. Neonidas turned in the direction she was looking. In a dark alley, a few soldiers had set an ambush. Calmly, Neonidas stepped back and said in a low voice to Fenrilia, “Take care of it silently.” The great wolf swiftly disappeared into the shadows, and a brief struggle ensued before silence returned. When Fenrilia reappeared, the threat blocking Neonidas’s path was gone.

When they reached the castle, Neonidas waited for his inside collaborators to make their move to open the gates. He knew very well that these men would betray Marquis Alexsaz immediately, thanks to the promises he had given them. Human nature is inherently selfish, and people are so self-interested that they will risk their lives for the right incentive. Neonidas, who knew human nature well, also knew how to draw people to his side. The rewards he had prepared for each soldier helping him here included large sums of money, lands, higher ranks in their professions, and for high-ranking soldiers, the chance to become nobles if they proved successful.

When the awaited signal came, the gates opened silently. Neonidas and his men made their way directly to Marquis Alexsaz’s private chamber. The Marquis’s guards had switched sides in exchange for the gold offered by Neonidas. At this point, Neonidas had expertly applied the principle that “loyalty can be bought.”

Marquis Alexsaz was sitting in silence in his palace. He was aware of the commotion beneath the city, but he hadn’t expected Neonidas to advance so quickly. When he saw the doors open and Neonidas step into the room, fear replaced the confident expression on his face. Just moments ago, he had not known who his enemy was, but now, after all the chaos, he saw the “brat” he had dismissed as a “milk-scented child” standing beside a wild wolf and his own guards. At this moment, he was probably more surprised than at any other point in his life.

Everything had developed so fast, but that was exactly what Neonidas wanted. A single, sudden, sharp, and decisive blow was always the best option for a ruler. When Neonidas and his men entered Marquis Alexsaz’s private chamber, they found themselves in a grand dining hall. Every corner of the hall was filled with details that screamed of the Marquis’ wealth. A long dining table, gilded with gold leaf, was covered with various delicious dishes. Oil paintings hanging on the walls represented the Alexsaz family’s lineage and power. A large crystal chandelier cast a bright light over the dining table, illuminating every corner of the room. However, this grandeur did not prevent the atmosphere inside from suddenly changing.

Marquis Alexsaz was seated at the table with his family. Beside him sat his elegant yet visibly fearful wife, and across from him were the nine children of the Alexsaz family. The children, all the different ages, were tightly bound to their father’s authority, though a few of them carried a faint hesitation in their eyes. The family rose in shock when Neonidas’s men suddenly burst in.

The Marquis froze in deep fear as Neonidas and what now seemed like his allies entered the room. Neonidas’s face carried a determined expression as he moved forward, his gaze not fleeing but threateningly scanning those before him. It had happened so fast that the Marquis had a hard time accepting the reality of the situation. As his children exchanged confused glances, the mother gripped the table with trembling hands.

As Neonidas and his men advanced, the Marquis and his family panicked and stepped back. Neonidas wanted to intensify this moment and deliver a crushing blow. For a ruler, a quick and merciless end to resistance was the best way to prevent further defiance.

“Marquis Alexsaz,” Neonidas said coldly, his voice carrying an air of sharpness and resolve. “Today, this will be your end. Because you have challenged my authority and my power, I will punish you and your family with death.”

“You little brat, who do you think you are?! Stop this stupid joke immediately or else—”

“Or else what? Will you rebel against me with the alliance you secretly formed behind my back? Unfortunately, it’s too late now, you old bastard. Everything you’ve built through greed over the years, I will destroy in just one night.”