The next morning, Stephen heard another racket at the gates of the mansion. He stood up and glanced at the mansion's gates. "Oh, it seems as though they are back," he chuckled, settling back into his seat.
Knock, knock.
Stephen raised an eyebrow, a smile swiftly replacing his initial curiosity. He wondered what the officials wanted this time.
Deliberately, he chose not to respond, continuing with his paperwork.
Knock, knock.
Still, he ignored the persistent knocking.
Knock, knock.
Knock, knock.
Knock, knock.
Stephen let out a sigh. "Come in."
The door creaked open, revealing the officials once more. "What a lovely day it is, Count," Pierlot spoke, his tone excessively submissive, which Stephen found irritating.
Following Pierlot, each official greeted him in turn, furthermore giving Stephen a headache. Rubbing his temples, he fixed the officials with a cold stare, noting their flinching reactions.
"Speak. What do you want?" he demanded, his voice laced with annoyance.
The officials gathered before him like moths drawn to a flame. Pierlot, acting as the de facto leader, opened his mouth to speak. "We ask for your forgiveness."
Stephen let out a disdainful chuckle. It was apparent the officials were attempting to act submissive, trying to gain his sympathy. However, Stephen was not one to be easily fooled.
"We know that what we have done is wrong, so please forgive us," they pleaded in unison, even Wilfrid was bowing his head in submission.
This display only served to further incite Stephen's anger. "How disgusting," he said, his tone icy. "Apologies do not sway me. I do not care if you bow before me; what I want is the funds you have embezzled."
The officials flinched, beads of sweat forming on their foreheads. Observing their fearful reactions, Stephen laughed aloud, amplifying their dread.
He crossed his arms, glaring at them. "Don't tell me you can't pay me back?"
"W-We used up the money," Pierlot stammered.
Stephen ruffled his hair in contempt. "Used up the money? Is that your excuse? Come to think of it, all of you possess lands, do you not? Lands that the first patriarch bestowed upon you, correct?"
"Y-Yes," Pierlot replied, shuddering under Stephen's gaze.
"Well then, each of your lands is worth over three hundred thousand gold coins. Since you have each embezzled at least five hundred thousand gold coins, and some exceeding six hundred thousand, I require you to relinquish your lands and pay additional restitution for the remainder."
"B-But that is our livelihood!" Messier protested, his body trembling. The territory they owned under the jurisdiction of the count, was where most of them earned a few coins, allowing them to live quiet a wealthy life.
"Hmm, I recall the documents left by the former count. It is clearly stated that the land was granted to you, and now that the count is in need, you refuse to return it?"
Stephen stood face to face with Messier. "You are fortunate that I am only deducting the amounts you have embezzled from your lands, you goddamn imbeciles."
"All of you have lived lavishly, correct? Mistresses, gambling, and showcasing your nobility at every ball. But all of that has come from the Count, and now that I am the Count, I am taking it all back."
Sitting back in his seat, he rested his head on his hand, amused by the officials' trembling forms. "Now then, shall we proceed to sign the documents?"
"I-I object!" Wilfrid shouted. "Your demands are excessive. Those lands were given to us by the first count due to our families' contributions! You cannot simply take them!"
Wilfrid's reasonable objection seemed to bolster the courage of the other officials, who echoed their agreement.
"Wilfrid is right! You cannot seize what we have worked so hard for!"
"We?" Stephen interrupted sharply. "From the records, those lands were granted to your great ancestor for their contributions. To put it plainly, they were given to 'The Ancestor' who labored diligently for the count."
He pointed at each official. "What have you contributed? All you have done is corrupt everything; I see no hard-earned contributions here." Stephen could not suppress a chuckle. "You know what? I have changed my mind. I will take the land, but I will not deduct any from your debts."
"W-What?!" the officials gasped collectively.
"Now, why don't each of you start signing?" Stephen laid the contract before them, detailing that the lands and other possessions granted by the former count would be forfeited, along with the remaining debts. "If you sign now, I will at least deduct twenty thousand gold coins from your current debts."
Immediately, Pierlot seized the document and began signing. The others followed suit, and even Wilfrid, who had initially resisted, eventually succumbed and signed the papers.
'Dumb imbeciles,' Stephen thought as he collected the contracts. "Well then, I suggest you prepare to vacate the territory."
The officials departed, their faces clouded with sorrow, some even weeping.
As for Stephen, he placed the documents aside, having successfully extracted fifteen million gold coins from the officials. As for the servants, several had fled far away, and he could not track them down. "I suppose I shall let them slide,"
---
The following day, one guard serving the count appeared at each official's estate.
"W-What do you mean everything priceless? It is stated in the contract that only what our ancestor was granted is to be taken! Not everything!" Pierlot shouted, pointing an accusatory finger at the guard.
The guard sighed and presented the contract. "As you can read here, it does not specify that only items granted to you by your ancestor will be removed. Therefore, all items that date back to your ancestor will also be taken!"
Stephen had deliberately crafted the situation so that they signed the contract without thoughtful consideration. This approach resembled what in the modern world would be termed "high-pressure sales."
Now Stephen held the upper hand. Should all their valuables be totaled once more, it would not simply amount to fifteen million but up to twenty-five million.
Stephen chuckled, imagining the hideous faces of the corrupt officials.
Knock, knock.
"Come in," Stephen called. The door opened slowly, revealing a young man with blonde hair. "Ah, Tristan Delsarte. May I ask why you have come?" Stephen inquired, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.
Tristan, who was the same age as Stephen—twenty-two—had not signed the contract, even amidst the pressure Stephen exerted on the others.
"Lord, can you please spare my family?" Tristan pleaded, bowing his head. "I know that my family has committed a grave sin worthy of death, but... may I ask you to spare us?"
Corruption was a severe offense in the realm of nobility, where those who had engaged in it could expect to face the death penalty.
This fear had driven many of the former officials to hastily sign the papers.
"Isn't it rather selfish of you to ask for such a thing?" Stephen replied, raising an eyebrow.
From what he had gathered, Tristan was recently appointed as the new Reeve after his father's death. Stephen suspected he either had no knowledge of the corruption or was simply feigning ignorance.
Tristan, hearing Stephen's response, bowed his head further. "Please, my lord. It is indeed a selfish request, but... all I ask is for you to listen to me."
Stephen clicked his tongue. "Very well, I will listen. Speak."
"My family has served as the reeve of the count's territory for hundreds of years. Although we are officials, we possess very little. All we have is a small manor, and our duties primarily consist of—"
Stephen raised his hand, interrupting Tristan. "I am not asking for your family history; what I want to know is why I should forgive you and your family?"
Tristan paused, searching for the right words. "I... I would become your loyal servant. I would sacrifice my limbs and my body to protect you... Please, all I ask is for you to pardon my family. I can even become your dog!"
"You want to become my dog?" Stephen laughed. "I can have as many dogs as I desire. What makes you special?"
Although for now, Stephen lacked many things. He knew that as long as he played his cards right, he could muster up numerous dogs who were willing to die for him.
"I... do not know." Tristan grimaced, realizing he had failed to make a compelling argument. He had come to plead for leniency, aware that if the count seized everything, his family would sink into abject poverty.
Stephen rubbed his temples, contemplating the matter.
He had conducted some research and discovered that the Delsarte family, despite their official status, resided in a modest manor that hardly befitted an official.
They possessed little power, and worse yet, they had very few possessions. No artifacts or items had been bestowed upon them.
Perhaps the former count had despised them, or perhaps there was some hidden reason behind their plight.
Stephen dismissed Tristan, while contemplating what to do.
Stephen sighed and did not dwell on the matter further. Instead, he crossed his arms, a smile forming on his face. "He could prove to be useful. Besides, I need new servants."