"My lord," Baron Dane abruptly spoke as my knight was about to break the seal, "I would advise that you read it yourself."
My knight glanced at me, as if waiting for my order. I gave him a small nod, and he bowed, presenting the scroll towards me.
I took it from his hands, noticing the seal that closed the scroll.
I broke it and began reading the scroll quietly to myself.
"Baron Dane,
As previously reported, this is a follow-up regarding Viscount Rakhal recent movements. My spies have observed him meeting repeatedly with Baron Lorne, Baron Tharic, and Baron Eldric, often in private and very late into the forenight. These late-night gatherings could indicate secret plotting or coordination away from the Count's prying eyes.
My spies report a surge in troop numbers, along with an increase in personal military personnel. The timing of these movements coincides with the discreet meetings, suggesting they are preparing for a rebellion or a coordinated action against the Count once they have amassed more soldiers to openly challenge the Count. My spies have also observed exchanges of documents during these meetings, likely secret plans.
More concerningly or rather, importantly my spies have discovered a gold deposit within their lands that has yet to be reported to Count Amadeus. The barons appear to be hiding this resource deposit.
While there is no concrete evidence of rebellion, these actions are highly irregular and, if I may say, deeply concerning. I recommend to take swift actions, as the deliberate concealment of resources and the amassment of troops can only mean one thing.
Given the current unrest in the kingdom, I advise immediate action, as these activities likely constitute treachery and must be stopped before their plans come to full fruition."
The air in the room seemed to grow heavier as I read the scroll. I did my best to keep my expression unchanged.
"Baron Dane.".
"Tell me. What is the crime for treason?"
"EXECUTION!" Baron Dane shouted his words somewhat echoing.
"The person who sent this letter, how trustworthy is he?"
"My lord! I guarantee it... no I swear it! The man who sent this scroll, he wouldn't dare lie!"
I stood there staring down at Baron Dane, unable to tell if he was telling the truth.
As I kept staring at Baron Dane, my mind raced. Could I trust him or was this a trap? My mind screamed caution. Acting upon this could cost me my new life. My chest tightened under the weight of uncertainty, the air itself feeling heavy.
I was trapped in a dilemma. If the scroll was true, I would have to deal with these traitorous bastards immediately. But if it was false… then Baron Dane might be the one trying to sow chaos in my county. Or perhaps it wasn't even him and maybe it was the messenger who sent the scroll seeking to incite disorder.
A thousand scenarios played out in my mind, each more dangerous than the last. Whatever the truth, I had to act and fast.
Every choice before me was a gamble. One mistake could spell disaster and the end of my precious second life, something I could not afford to lose no matter the cost.
I would do anything to keep this life. Even if it meant spilling rivers of blood, betraying those around me, or becoming something unspeakable. I wouldn't… No! I couldn't let anyone take this away from me.
"Baron Dane, this information, you shall neither speak of it nor act upon it. Is that understood?"
"I understand, Count!"
"And all of you, none of you will speak of what has happened here today," I said, glancing around the room.
"We swear it, Count!" they all answered in unison.
"Well then, if that is all, Baron… you may take your leave."
"Thank you, Count. Again, I apologize for disturbing you so abruptly this early in the morning."
"You are forgiven," I muttered.
With that, Baron Dane and his retainers withdrew from the room, escorted out by several blue-armored men.
"What was all that about, my lord?" a knight beside me asked. Though I had ordered everyone in the room not to speak of this incident, they hadn't seen or heard anything from the scroll, in fact I was the only one who had read it.
"Just… some information about some traitors trying to take treasure on the Baron's lands," I replied casually, keeping my tone light.
As I spoke those words, my eyes fell on the candle on the table. I stepped toward it, grasped its handle, and pressed the scroll into the flame. It ignited, curling into smoke before crumbling into ash.
A couple of hours later, I was surrounded by books, mounds upon mounds of them.
My eyes widened as I closed one. "What… is this world?" I muttered. The books I was reading mentioned no historically significant events or figures from Earth; all I found were what seemed like wildly exaggerated, mythological histories.
The kingdom my county belonged to was the Kingdom of Marethil, a land rich in ores and surrounded with active volcanoes was recorded in this history, yet there was quite literally no mention of any of Earth historical figures, events, or kingdoms. All I saw were unfamiliar houses and kingdoms, and the way these histories were written made it impossible to reconcile with anything I knew.
As I read, I came across the name of the land I was standing on: Aldaria. It was named after an ancient empire that had supposedly once united it, and yet again, it was a name I that did not recognize.
A thought I dreaded to consider crept into my mind: "Is this… another world?" The idea terrified me, yet it explained everything I had read and learned, and why there was no record of any significant events from Earth's history here.
I shook my head, unable to imagine how I had even ended up in this place or what the implications of such a thing could even mean.
I continued reading the mounds of books I took until something had caught my eye.
"Record of the Houses of the Kingdom of Marethil."
I froze immediately, this was one book I was specifically trying to find, I started opening the book.
I kept skipping pages until I finally found the one I was looking for. The page bore a crest: a blue hand holding a large flame. Quite a simple design for a family crest, I thought.
"The origins of House Magus are not quite known. The earliest notable figure of the house is its progenitor, Lord Palhan, a mage of great skill whose mastery of the magical arts laid the foundation for the house's legacy. His talents were so great that he played a decisive role in shaping the history of the Kingdom of Marethil, aiding the mighty House Althoria during the war that overthrew the once-powerful House Valemont. In recognition of his contributions, Lord Palhan Von Magus was granted the title of Count, cementing the house's place among the kingdom's neutral five counts."
The books I read about this kingdom were quiet interesting, before Valemont founded this kingdom it was just a bunch of city states that often fought with each until House Valemont conquered them all and formed the Kingdom of Montreal.
Though not long after, barely thirty years later, House Althoria overthrew them and took the throne, changing the name from the Kingdom of Montreal to the Kingdom of Marethil.
Anyway back to the records of my house, After my progenitor aided House Althoria, he was awarded a county, and since then his house has been ruling these lands for three generations or approximately 110 years.
My father, Lord Dareth, was a mage. While not as exceptional as the progenitor, he was skilled and valued by House Althoria. He was on his way to becoming a Marquis when he suddenly died three years ago, which cancelled the coronation of his title. Since then, I've held the title of Count.
The Records of House Magus were surprisingly brief. This book contained the histories of other houses in the Kingdom of Marethil; most traced their lineage back to the time when the land was divided into a bunch of city-states. House Magus, however, was one of the few exceptions to this.
I closed the book, and picked up another book from the pile.
I froze, staring at the title of the book.