Reincarnate as the Villainess's Husband - Chapter 56

Chapter 56: How should I know?
Reforming an army could be extremely arduous and costly. Fortunately, thanks to the late Duke Leonardo, the duchy’s forces still had adequate capabilities, despite a few minor issues. The biggest problem, however, was the number of soldiers. Neonidas currently commanded a few thousand soldiers, a figure that was undeniably insufficient. Low wages and the better pay offered by other duchies had led the Oreoned Duchy to lose many of its troops. Of course, part of the blame also lay with the original Neonidas, who had squandered the duchy’s budget.

Neonidas quickly drafted an action plan, laying out the necessary basic reforms. Meanwhile, the steward was busy preparing the guest list for an upcoming banquet.

Neonidas felt an urgent need for several assistants or advisors. Finding qualified and intelligent personnel, especially in this era, was challenging, but he ordered the steward to prepare a job posting, regardless. The steward was pleased with this decision, knowing it would reduce his workload and allow him to focus on his primary responsibilities in the future.

Subsequently, Neonidas turned his attention to organizing the magic center. In this world, the presence of magic had stunted the development of technology similar to that in Neonidas’ old world. After all, magic was a powerful force in warfare, and certain forms of transportation here were even more advanced than those in his previous world—teleportation, for example, existed only through magic.

Magic completely dominated health care, achieving feats that modern medicine in Neonidas’ old world could only dream of. For example, to give the most popular example, cancer was a curable disease in this world. About a decade ago, new spells were invented that completely eradicated or cured genetic diseases in humans. These are just two examples and could be multiplied

While magic’s utility and value had skyrocketed, the invention of new tools or methods was largely left to non-magical populations in remote areas. Yet Neonidas dreamed of something different: merging magic and technology. Though this was part of his long-term plans, it held immense promise.

According to Neonidas’ vision, with sufficient funding and skilled magicians, he could develop magic as powerful as the first atomic bombs, but faster and at a fraction of the cost. This ambition to integrate technology and magic could change everything. If successful, nothing could stand in his way, and dethroning the Emperor would be child’s play.

Among all these plans, Neonidas believed secrecy was of utmost importance. If the other dukes—or worse, the Emperor—discovered that he was allocating substantial resources to such projects, it could spell trouble. Therefore, he intended for his sister, Zalira, to manage the magic center and help execute these projects. There was no doubt that Zalira would never betray him; she was utterly incorruptible.

Zalira was a woman who had renounced the duchy and all its inheritance solely for Neonidas. Thus, it was impossible for Neonidas’ enemies to sway her in any way.

Amid all these projects, Neonidas set aside time to write a letter to Zalira, requesting her return to the duchy. His letter was meticulously crafted. Every word was carefully chosen to reinforce how much he trusted and loved Zalira. But the content went beyond simply asking her to return. Neonidas subtly hinted at the projects, emphasizing that this was more than an ordinary mission—it was a grand purpose.

Before sending the letter via a trusted courier, Neonidas personally sealed it and added a magical security charm. This enchantment ensured that only Zalira could read the letter.

Zalira’s return would accelerate Neonidas’ plans and bring him a critical ally. Not only was she talented in magic, but she was also a strategic thinker. Neonidas regarded her not just as a leader, but as a visionary.

After dispatching the letter, Neonidas began compiling a list of local resources and magicians needed to establish the magic center. This task, however, was not simple. Most skilled magicians were either in the service of other duchies or employed by the Empire’s central magic academies. To overcome this, Neonidas decided to seek young magicians with potential but no established reputation.

Training these talented yet unproven individuals would prove far more cost-effective in the long run. Of course, if possible, Zalira could also have teachers or recent graduates of the Imperial Head Academy, which would be very good for Neonidas.

Meanwhile, the steward began posting job advertisements in key locations throughout the city. These postings were specifically designed to attract magic specialists and those capable of providing strategic counsel. The ads quickly garnered attention, as rumors of Neonidas’ plans to reform the duchy spread rapidly. The public was eager to be part of this transformation. Some even began to see Neonidas as a more serious and responsible ruler, shedding his former recklessness.

After all, how could the son of a lion be nothing more than a house cat? At least, that’s how public perception of Neonidas was beginning to shift.

—–

The opinions about Neonidas were not just limited to the local people; even the highest-ranking nobles seemed to share similar thoughts. In a dark, expansive room, seven dukes sat around a broad, circular table. The room’s darkness was not intended to create an intimidating atmosphere, but served a more practical purpose.

When a person performed magic, small symbols or patterns would manifest. Although each person’s symbols varied slightly, all of them emitted a faint light. For security reasons, the meeting place of the “Alliance of the Seven Families,” as these dukes were called, was kept deliberately dark.

Despite the alliance they had secretly formed, these seven dukes were naturally self-serving individuals who hardly trusted one another. Each of them had their family crests displayed on the table before them. While the room was dark, the faint illumination made their facial features somewhat discernible.

“I assume you are all aware of what that little brat has been up to lately,” an authoritative, deep voice broke the silence in the dark room. The speaker held a cigar-like object that glowed faintly with each inhale.

“Additionally, we have intelligence suggesting that he has been in close contact with his fiancée, Allea, and Empress Velriona. Let us not forget that Gredor seems to care for this brat,” echoed another male voice.

“So, what do we do? It’s likely that the war with that small kingdom will provide him with substantial funds from the Emperor soon. If this continues, it will become increasingly difficult to take him down,” said another.

“At this point, taking him down immediately would be unwise,” a woman’s voice interjected from a shadowed corner of the room. Her tone was elegant yet sharp. “Neonidas has not yet fully consolidated his power. However, if we allow him to advance his projects, he could gain a significant advantage in magic and technology. The key is to observe how far he can go while keeping him under control.”

“Under control? This new and changed Neonidas brat is not so easily tamed,” the cigar-smoking man retorted. “Even his father was uncontrollable, and this new Neonidas looks just as cunning”

The woman smiled and continued, “Which is why we must be patient. For now, we won’t pressure him, but we need to have leverage against him. Instead of acting directly, we should place someone close to him to monitor him. Perhaps we could plant an agent in his duchy.”

“No one can easily gain a foothold with this new Neonidas,” said another voice, this time from a younger man. “He’s young but dangerous—a child who has inherited his father’s intellect and his mother’s cunning. Moreover, if we don’t intervene, even the Emperor might support his rise. We cannot afford that risk.”

“The Emperor Gredor is already keeping an eye on him,” added another duke. “Velriona’s interest in him suggests that Neonidas poses not just a political but also a personal threat. The Empress seems to have her own agenda. Perhaps we should investigate Velriona’s intentions.”

A silence settled over the room as everyone appeared lost in thought. Eventually, the cigar-smoking man extinguished his cigar against the edge of the table. “Then let our decision be this: for now, we watch Neonidas. We continue to probe for his weaknesses. But if he achieves success in his magical and technological projects, we will not hesitate to act.”

“Meanwhile, one of us should approach him under the guise of offering commercial or strategic support,” the woman suggested. “If he truly has the capacity to merge magic and technology, we can exploit it for our own interests.”

Her proposal caught the attention of the room, though the skeptical expressions of the other dukes indicated their reluctance to fully embrace the plan. A younger duke, seated at the corner of the table, finally broke the silence with a slightly mocking tone.

“You talk about Neonidas’s intelligence and changing demeanor, but it seems you’re forgetting one thing—he’s still a man. The Emperor was also once strong and headstrong, so he once gave us a lot of trouble, but he was manipulated many times because of his weakness for women. Perhaps the same tactic might work on Neonidas.”

For a moment, silence dominated the room again as the dukes exchanged glances, seemingly debating their thoughts. Taking advantage of the pause, another duke continued,

“I have many beautiful and obedient daughters. I could send the strongest among them to Neonidas as a concubine. She would easily capture his interest, grow close to him, and provide us with an opportunity to observe him. While the depth of information we might gather is uncertain, it would give us an advantage over him. Moreover, with this leverage, we can increase our chances of neutralizing him when the time comes. I have one girl in particular that even Neonidas would fall head over heels in love with her beauty.”