I Reincarnated as a Noble Bastard, So I'm Seducing All the Villainess
Chapter 48: My Idea is Too Shameless and Crazy for This World’s Standards

Chapter 48: My Idea is Too Shameless and Crazy for This World’s Standards

Alright, we got a decent help with the main players. Having the protagonist and two villains is enough firepower to deal with supporting characters in the story, I hope. The issue is the lack of manpower and also how my father intends to react to this.

Leonhardt will definitely fight by his side, unlike Ravenna and Moriah, but I don’t know what his idea is for taking down our enemies now.

It would be good if father was a bit warmer in his reception and stop thinking only with his head and more with his heart, but who am I to criticize when I only think with my lower head?

Ravenna can now handle herself. Escaping is easy, and there will surely be a lot of charred bodies rolling through the corridors to use as cover. What I need to care about is a conversation with the Duke, who must be in one of the offices now. Well, let’s go, I have nothing to lose anyway.

Leonhardt follows behind me and... By all that is holy, I’m going to turn around and punch his face at any minute now. It’s tiring being followed everywhere by this virgin, to the point where seeing him always in the corner of my eye is slowly driving me insane.

"Hey, don’t you have anything better to do?"

"No. Being in your company is the best thing I could ask for."

"I’m serious, aren’t there any monsters or anything to deal with out there? Stop following my ass everywhere."

"I apologize, that would be too much. Your life is at risk and... considering the situation, I decided to offer myself to the Duke to protect you."

"So you chose yourself to be my bodyguard? Don’t you think you’re weird, Leonhardt?"

"I might be a little strange sometimes, but I swear everything I do is out of good will. You are an incredible person and very respected in my eyes, I just want to reciprocate with a gesture of kindness."

Ew. All your luminescence is making me blind, you jerk. I wanted to know where this platonic feeling came from... just so you know, I’m not going to sleep with you in a thousand years.

You’ll still find that girl to have a dysfunctional heterosexual relationship, or maybe find a better person and be able to fulfill that desire of yours, but count me out of that equation.

The office door creaks open slightly, and the smell of burnt parchment fills my nostrils. Duke Moonlight stands by the window, hands clasped behind his back, his face turned outwards, watching the birds cross the sky. Leliana was talking to herself, sitting in the chair in front of the desk overflowing with papers and maps marked in red.

Strange, I thought there would be at least some noble softy for me to scare away with insults, but being that wretched woman, it’s at least tolerable.

"I’m telling you, even if they come, it will take time", she said, moving the piles of documents. "You need to act with what you have now, we can’t wait for reinforcements from nobles of dubious morals while this city sinks. And before you come with that disapproving air, I’m not questioning your judgment, just saying that I myself have seen the kind of thing they are trying to do. Waiting won’t save anyone."

The Duke didn’t answer immediately, only turning his head when he heard the door close behind us. His violet eyes met mine, then moved to Leonhardt. A minimal wrinkle formed on his forehead, the kind a father makes when he sees his son messing up and tries to hide his expression.

That was enough to know my presence bothered even the emotionally dead.

"Darius, Inquisitor Leonhardt... What do you need?"

"I think it’s obvious, isn’t it? I came to offer a hand to solve this crisis about to fall on our heads. They’re going to show up any minute now, right? Funny that even Leliana is lecturing you..."

"Strategy, not lecturing", she retorted, glancing sideways, still impatient. "My family’s army is days away. Even if they leave now, they won’t arrive in time to prevent anything. We’re on our own."

"No news there. The king still ran off with his tail between his legs and dumped this whole task on your lap, Father."

Leonhardt remained standing behind me, like a loudly breathing statue. I didn’t even bother telling him to sit, so I continue saying:

"And what are you going to do, Duke? Wait? Send a bunch of idiots to die in the alleys while you ponder which tactic favors you politically? Or are you going to pretend everything is still under control?"

The Duke finally sits in the chair at the table and stares at me with that deadly gaze. Oh, I’m talking a lot of crap because I really don’t know anything... Wait, talking shit is my specialty!

"We’re already alone here, and a bunch of lunatics are knocking on our door. Plus, they have war machines that will take at least ten soldiers each."

"What do you want by stating the obvious, Darius?"

My first impulse was to laugh cynically, making light of the situation, but... now, after finally feeling the danger in my veins and going through so much, I genuinely want to change the game.

A sigh escapes my mouth.

"I’ll tell you straight, old man. I care about everyone’s life in this, and I’m trying my best for us to win. I also have an idea how to buy us some time."

Leliana stared at me for a second, raising an eyebrow so high I felt it would fly off her forehead. Yes, amazing, Darius Moonlight can think, what a novelty!

"What idea?", the Duke inquires, resting his elbows on the table. "There are hardly any nobles in the Imperial City right now, and the ones who are here aren’t capable of any effective action. You say you have a good idea in this situation?"

"Of course, I do! You’re only thinking about how to minimize the damage to your wallets and not how to catch them easily! Check this out!"

I grab one of the papers on the table. It’s probably an important document, but screw it, I’ll scribble on it and then we’ll make a photocopy to sort it out. I use one of the pens on the table to draw on the paper, making horrible hieroglyphs.

"They won’t attack just any way, I bet they want a good opportunity to invade the palace and bring everything down... And the nobles are a bit desperate because of the terrorist attack, right? So we could throw a party, spread the word, and lure them here."

"It’s too simplistic. How would we maintain the guests’ safety? And what about the collateral damage to the palace from this invasion?"

"That’s a separate issue. We have plenty of competent fighters on our side, we can disguise them and mix them in, while the nobles downstairs can serve as decoys. This way, you refuse entry to any important nobles and send them away."

"How will we find out where they’ll invade from? What’s the best way to spread word of this sudden ball? How do we make it seem like it’s not a trap?"

"Ravenna can move and teleport through shadows, she can scout the underground for secret passages or routes they might use. The way to spread the word... you can leave that to me, I’d rather not explain. And to make it seem believable, it’s simple: appeal to their ego. Their goal is to spark a revolution and overthrow the nobility, so what happens if you rub it in their faces that we can still enjoy free food and drink even after that attack?"

Duke Moonlight strokes his beard, interested. Perhaps he’s weighing the pros and cons, though from a political standpoint, there are more cons than anything else.

Using a palace hall as a battlefield and destroying it to capture a bunch of revolutionaries would be frowned upon, as people might criticize how they used royalty and nobility as hostages. Still, if we can show that the Libertarians are a huge threat and cannot be overlooked, I think the king would love that, and we could silence the gossip.

"And what about the support from other nobles with troops?", Leliana questions, crossing her legs and also starting to think. "If we go through with this, we won’t be able to call them, because they’ll suspect the movement of so many men."

"Yes, we’ll be on our own with the palace troops, the mages from the Magistracy, and the inquisitors from the Church", the Duke added, analytical as always. "Casualties on those sides could result in a worsening relationship between the crown and the Church and the Magistracy..."

The silence in the room made my heart pound. Seriously, I’m thinking about the consequences of this crazy plan that just popped into my head. I’ve never studied war or anything like that, it was just something that came to mind when I thought about the safest way to capture them all at once.

Duke Moonlight looks at me again, this time more serene than before.

"We’ll do it. I’ll send invitations to the prisoners downstairs and also to some acquaintances of mine."

"Torvek, you can’t be serious!"

"Quiet, Leliana, I have more confidence in this idea than all the others that came before. Go ahead, Darius."

"Thank you, Your Highness." I make an exaggerated bow and wink, leaving the room with my usual mischievous grin.

As usual, Leliana unleashes a thousand and one words against my father, unable to believe he’s actually going to go through with my idea. I don’t care that much, even I wouldn’t trust myself.

Now, I need to spread some fake news... maybe visit my favorite place and find my favorite person can be a nice idea to start some fire.