The Deeds Of An Extremely Arrogant Villain Aristocrat - Chapter 31: Claude's Priority

Gilbert Mansion, Reception Room.

Currently, there were four men present in it.

The atmosphere was far from pleasant and cordial. It was tense, as if the start of a war was imminent.

“Welcome, Earl Lennox. So, what brings you here? Kuku, or do we need to exchange pleasantries first?”

“…No need for that, Marquis Gilbert.”

Although he was trying to maintain a calm exterior, Earl Lennox’s frustration and hostility were clearly evident.

Yolande, who was also present, observed this with a faint smile.

(Hmm, it’s no wonder Marquis Gilbert called me here. This is too suspicious. What does a powerful noble from the royal faction want from him?)

“I have something to discuss in private, but why is someone from the Lonsdale family here?”

“Don’t ask questions you already know the answers to. I don’t dismiss people. Speak as it is. Don’t tell me you’re foolish enough to not understand the reason?”

“…Fine.”

Even though he said he understood, Earl Lennox’s anger was boiling inside him.

As someone who was accustomed to being respected and admired, Claude’s arrogant behavior was unbearable for him.

“Then let me ask you directly. What are you planning?”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t play dumb with me!”

With a loud bang, Earl Lennox stood up and slammed the table.

Despite being confronted with clear anger, there was no change in Claude’s expression.

This fact only served to further irritate Earl Lenox.

“I may not know your intentions yet, but I know that you’re up to something!!”

“…Kuku, so what?”

“… Ha?”

“So what? What can you even do if you know about it?”

“… Y-you—.”

Claude’s unrepentant attitude made Earl Lennox almost blurt out something he would regret, but he managed to hold it in.

However, he still couldn’t contain his rage and took out a letter from his chest and thrust it in front of Claude.

“Isn’t this also your doing!?”

“What is this?”

“It’s a letter from my third daughter, ‘Mia,’ who attends the Aslan Magic Academy.”

“…I see.”

In an instant, Claude searched for various possibilities, but no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t find anything that made sense.

Claude glanced sideways at Yolande, but even he shook his head.

“… Still trying to fool me?”

Earl Lennox aggressively took out the contents of the letter and pointed to a particular section. It reads as follows.

“I intend to devote myself to Luke.”

The moment he confirmed it, Yolande reflexively hid his mouth to conceal his twisted smile, so as not to be noticed by the Earl.

(Wonderful…! Luke, you are so amazing…!)

The statement that followed stated that if it was not accepted, she would leave the family.

Mia understood how much value she had for the Lennox family as someone who had manifested three attributes.

Mia possessed such strength.

Of course, the Earl Lennox did not admit it straightforwardly and came to Claude, who was considered the cause of everything, in a rage.

Well, he had another purpose for doing so.

“Isn’t it strange to say that she’ll devote herself to someone like Luke after only two months have passed? Damn it! Mia was offered marriage proposals from the first prince and the legitimate son of the Marquis Drummond! If she decides to leave the house, my position will be lost…”

Claude inwardly scoffed at the situation.

(What a useless man. To show such a weakness to me, a member of the noble faction…. And, as expected of my son. He even managed to win over the daughter of the King’s faction. But, well, it’s only natural that she would take a liking to Luke, who surpasses even me.)

If this were not a meeting, Claude’s face would have been very relaxed.

However, he would not show any gaps to others, and as such, his expression would not falter.

His thoughts just turned around calmly, pondering what would be the most advantageous option in this situation.

Yolande was also overcome with joy.

So much so that he was convinced that the world is smiling down on him right now.

(Marquis Claude is an excellent man. He will surely come to the same conclusion as me. If done properly, he can make the Earl Lennox family defect to the noble faction.)

If he could take in the powerful nobles of the royal faction, Yolande’s plan would make significant progress.

He had been thinking about making the noble faction solid before taking advantage of this opportunity.

(But…how did Luke do it? To make her so devoted to him in just two months… even I couldn’t do it. Fufu, Luke, you really amuse me…)

As Yolande was thinking about this, Earl Lennox, who had been hanging his head, suddenly looked up.

“…However, I have already accepted it. I didn’t come here today to talk about this.”

The Earl of Lennox then let out a sigh.

Everything he had said up to this point was nothing more than a complaint spoken in a fit of anger.

So what was his true purpose in visiting Claude?

“I would like you to take Mia as the wife of your heir, Luke Wizaria Gilbert.”

Yes, he had come to negotiate a marriage proposal.

The Earl of Lennox was a person who lacked any affection for his children, unlike Claude, who loved his children dearly.

If his children were capable, he would raise them for the sake of the family’s reputation, but if they were incompetent, he would disown them without hesitation. Such was the kind of person the Earl was.

However, his coldness allowed him to think logically, and the fact that he now held a position of power and influence was evidence of that.

Mia had grown up without the love of her parents, which is why she competed with Alice to prove her worth and became obsessed with being “wanted” by Luke.

“Kuku, does that mean you’re switching sides to the nobility faction?”

“Yes, it would be better to decide sooner rather than later. If I lose my position, my value will decrease. Besides, it’s not a bad idea, is it? You’ve already taken in some aristocrats from the royal faction, haven’t you? I don’t know exactly what you’re planning, but I atleast know that much.”

Yolande had to suppress the urge to burst out laughing.

(It was almost scary how well things are going, for Earl Lennox to change sides like this…)

A far more convenient turn of events than he had envisioned.

If not for the publicity, Yolande would have been rolling on his belly laughing.

Claude had yet to give his answer.

However, it was clear even without asking.

There was no way he would refuse.

“Hmm, I’ll think about it.”

“… Huh?”

“… Eh?”

This was such a shocking response that Yolande couldn’t help but exclaim.

It was also unexpected for Earl Lennox.

He was so surprised that he just stood there, staring blankly.

“I’m not asking you to make her his lawful wife. She can be a concubine, you know?”

“Yes, that’s why I said I’ll think about it. Don’t make me repeat myself twice.”

“What…! Why do you need to think about it? Stop playing games! I’m already making a concession just by proposing this!”

“Don’t misunderstand. I didn’t say I need to think about it for that reason.”

“Then what is it?!”

Claude sipped his tea elegantly, aggravating the Earl of Lennox even further.

For now, he had no choice but to wait for Claude’s answer.

And then…

“I have to ask Luke. I’m not foolish enough to repeat the same mistake.”

For Earl Lennox, who lacked love for his own children, these words were incomprehensible.

Why did he need to ask his own child? He couldn’t understand it at all.

From the moment Luke manifested the rare dark attribute, the Earl of Lennox had considered switching to the noble faction as an option.

It was easy to imagine that the noble faction would gain great power with the manifestation of the dark attribute.

However, he never considered the possibility of being rejected.

It was not arrogance, but rather a thought that he evaluated his own value calmly.

Claude’s priorities had been clear for fifteen years.

For him, Luke’s happiness was the top priority that must be achieved regardless of anything else.

That would never change even if the flame of ambition was reignited.

However, Claude made a mistake— to make Luke’s engagement with Alice.

He jumped to conclusions because he lost a little bit of his calm thinking when it came to Luke.

Claude noticed this immediately when he saw Luke’s reaction, but he couldn’t say anything.

He wasn’t foolish enough to not understand why Luke didn’t say anything.

(I won’t make that mistake again, Luke!)

Therefore, Claude was determined.

No matter what happens, he will never let Luke make that face again.

Yolande naturally realized that Claude had a great love for Luke.

However, he didn’t realize how extreme his parental love had become.

(I never thought it would come to this…)

Claude’s willingness to give up everything for Luke.

And the fact that his love for his child has gone this far beyond common sense.