Reincarnate as the Villainess's Husband - Chapter 54

Chapter 54: Something like that
Neonidas had chosen Baron Tluran to govern this city, but later he traveled to the Imperial capital, where the Emperor elevated his rank to that of a count. After swearing an oath of loyalty to the Emperor, he arrived at Neonidas’s location through a teleportation portal. Now, kneeling before Neonidas, he was pledging his new allegiance. After all, Count Tluran’s lands were now within the borders of the duchy under Neonidas’s protection.

Neonidas observed Tluran kneeling before him with a scrutinizing gaze. He had closely followed the events in the Imperial capital and the elevation of Tluran’s rank. This promotion was no coincidence—it was something entirely under Neonidas’s control.

“Your Grace, Duke Neonidas,” said Tluran, bowing his head. “I will govern these lands only under your protection. My loyalty and service are devoted to you and your duchy.”

Neonidas studied Tluran in a heavy silence. The title granted by the Emperor was nothing more than a formality in Neonidas’s eyes. The actual power still lay firmly in his hands, and he wouldn’t let anyone forget that—not even for a moment. Tluran’s loyalty was not only to be gained but also maintained through vigilance.

“Words of loyalty are insufficient, Tluran,” Neonidas finally said, breaking the silence. His voice was deep and commanding, making the air in the room feel heavier. “You must prove your loyalty through actions as well. The power you gained in the Imperial capital holds meaning only with my consent. Do not forget that.”

Tluran raised his head to meet Neonidas’s gaze. There was determination in his eyes that caught Neonidas’ attention. “I will prove my loyalty to actions as well, Your Grace. I am ready to obey any command you give.”

Neonidas nodded faintly, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. His sharp eyes scanned Tluran’s features. Although he did not fully trust this young man’s loyalty, it hardly mattered. Even if Tluran were to betray him, Neonidas could eliminate him with ease. The newly titled Count Tluran was given the responsibility of managing this port city—only a fraction of the late Marquess of Alexsaz’s lands. Another count would oversee the remaining territories. These were temporary arrangements. Once Neonidas’s child, born of Yuanna, came into the world, all the marquess’s lands would revert to that child—and, by extension, to Neonidas.

“I accept your oath. Now rise, Count Tluran. From this moment forward, I expect you to govern this city properly and to fulfill the tasks I assign to you.”

Tluran obeyed, rising slowly. His stern features carried an air of pride, yet he did not attempt to conceal the respect he felt for Neonidas. This balance between humility and confidence impressed Neonidas. A leader who bowed too much was weak, while one who displayed excessive arrogance was dangerous.

“I will govern this city according to the rules you establish, Your Grace,” Tluran said, straightening his posture. “I will ensure the prosperity of the people and eliminate any threats to our borders.”

Neonidas scrutinized the young count’s words. “Do not limit yourself to the welfare of the people and the security of the borders, Tluran,” he said in a calm yet authoritative tone. “This city is a vital trade hub for my duchy. If the ports are blocked, the entire region suffers. Smugglers, tax-evading merchants, or mercenaries threatening our borders—deal with them all. Furthermore, you must work harmoniously with the other counts while managing the city. Remember, whether your tenure is temporary or permanent depends on you.”

Tluran bowed his head. “I understand your orders, Your Grace,” he said. Yet he couldn’t ignore the underlying threat in Neonidas’s words. This was not merely an opportunity—it was also a test, and he was being closely watched.

Neonidas turned to his advisors after a moment. “Now go and begin your preparations. Count Tluran’s responsibilities have officially begun. First, I want the tax revenues from the city to be restructured and reports on the port taxes submitted. Continue with the port expansion projects meticulously. Also, assess the city guards. Investigate how many soldiers can be mobilized from this city for the upcoming war with the Kingdom of Hindonpon.”

The advisors nodded and quickly left the room to carry out his instructions. Tluran lingered for a moment longer. Neonidas noticed this and frowned slightly. “Do you have something else to say, Tluran?”

Tluran hesitated before gathering his courage. “Your Grace, this port city attracts not only merchants but also darker elements. I have received information about secret dealings among some traders and even the city guards. What would you have me do?”

Neonidas’s eyes narrowed slightly at this revelation. “Then consider this your first opportunity to prove your loyalty, Count Tluran,” he said. “Handle this matter with your own methods. However, do not take any major steps without presenting me with a complete report. Be careful about whom you trust—and even more careful about whom you do not.”

Tluran bowed deeply once more. “Your will shall be done, Your Grace,” he said before leaving the room.

As Neonidas watched the young count depart, his thoughts remained pensive. The political games of the Imperial capital and the other duchies would undoubtedly find their reflections in this city soon enough. They might make moves, but they would do so subtly. After all, Neonidas’ relationships with Princess Allea and even the Empress were well known.

His greatest concern, however, was the possibility of a sudden and unexpected assassination attempt. After all, lately Neonidas has been doing some pretty spectacular work. Fortunately, his immunity to poison allowed him to eat without fear, but he now urgently needed Soren and Solara by his side.

At that moment, a knock came at the luxurious wooden door of the chamber. At Neonidas’s command, a guard entered.

“My lord, a lady requests an audience with you. From her appearance, we suspect she might be related to Lady Solara. Shall we allow her in?”

Neonidas raised an eyebrow. Neither the novel nor his memories mentioned any relatives of Solara or Soren, but his curiosity got the better of him. He nodded at the guard. “Let her in.”

The guard bowed and left, closing the door softly. When it opened again, an exceptionally beautiful woman entered. Her long, straight white hair and blue eyes bore a striking resemblance to Solara. Her voluptuous figure, with ample curves, a slim waist, and long, shapely legs, was hard to ignore. Her face was flushed with embarrassment, and she leaned on a long staff, struggling to keep from collapsing because of her trembling legs. A masculine outfit that seemed too tight for her covered her fair skin, accentuating her form.

Even Neonidas felt his composure waver for a brief moment.

“May I ask… who exactly are you?” Neonidas questioned, his voice steady, though his curiosity was evident.

“I-I… I mean… I’m… Soren.”

Neonidas could hardly believe his ears. His gaze shifted to the flustered, seductive woman before him, and then to the staff in her hands. He recognized it immediately—it was the very staff he had gifted to Soren. But Soren was a man, and as far as Neonidas knew, this world had no such thing as gender transformation surgeries.

“You claim to be Soren,” he said, his voice sharp with skepticism. “Then prove it.”

Soren took a deep breath, visibly struggling to meet Neonidas’ piercing gaze. “Y-you bought me from the slave market… and saved my sister. Is that enough proof?”

For a moment, Neonidas was struck speechless. He recalled the event vividly, the memory of rescuing the siblings etched in his mind. “Alright. If you truly are Soren, then explain this to me: what happened to you? Why do you look like a woman now?”

Soren stepped forward hesitantly, sinking into a nearby chair. Her trembling hands gripped the staff tightly, and her eyes remained downcast, avoiding Neonidas’s gaze. “I found… a dungeon map. I left the city to search for it. After some time, I located the dungeon and began clearing it, bit by bit. Eventually, I faced the dungeon boss and defeated it… but then…” she trailed off, her voice shaky. Even being near Neonidas was overwhelming for her.

“And then… I transformed into a woman.”

Neonidas’s expression shifted from disbelief to utter bewilderment as he absorbed her words. Silence filled the room as he processed this bizarre revelation. “So the dungeon’s reward was… some kind of gender transformation potion? That’s absurd. Is there any way to reverse this?”

Soren hesitated, her lips pressed tightly together. She didn’t want to lie, but the thought of explaining everything in full detail was beyond her courage at the moment. “I… I don’t know. But I’m fine, really. Please don’t worry about me. My powers and personality are still the same—I’m just… a woman now. I hope my new appearance doesn’t disturb you.”

Neonidas leaned back slightly, his sharp mind racing with thoughts. The situation was undeniably strange. Whether Soren could return to his former self—or whether this transformation was permanent—was uncertain. However, one thing was clear: his loyalty and abilities hadn’t changed.

“Disturb me? Far from it,” Neonidas said, his tone carrying a hint of amusement. “In fact, I might even get used to this new look of yours rather quickly. From now on, I shall call you Sorenna.”

Soren—or rather, Sorenna—lowered her head, her face flushed a deep red. She hadn’t expected such a response and was relieved to hear that her transformation wouldn’t affect their relationship. Still, her heart raced uncontrollably in his presence.

“A-as you wish, my lord,” she whispered, her voice trembling with both embarrassment and respect. “But please, rest assured, my loyalty to you and my duties remain unchanged.”

Neonidas observed her closely, noting the uncharacteristic shyness that now defined her demeanor. Though the situation was unusual, he maintained his composed exterior. “Sorenna, I have no doubts about your loyalty,” he said, placing a hand firmly on the table. “What I am curious about is how your sister will react to all this.”

Sorenna flinched slightly at the mention of her sister. She clasped her hands tightly in her lap, her cheeks still flushed. “I… I’m not sure how she’ll take it,” she admitted. “But I’ll explain everything to her when the time comes. I just hope she doesn’t see me any differently.”

Neonidas smirked faintly. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, focus on adjusting to your new form. And remember—no matter what you look like, your value to me remains unchanged. Understood?”

Sorenna’s heart skipped a beat at his words. Bowing her head deeply, she replied, “Yes, my lord. Thank you.”