That night, after finishing his secret talks with Mikoshiba Ryoma, the Earl of Bergston sneaked through the back gate of his mansion in the aristocratic district, as if to avoid being seen.
I'm sure you're not the only one. I'm sure you know that, but don't say a word about tonight.
　When he stops talking to the man who has served him for so many years, the Earl of Bergston hands him a small leather bag that he has prepared from his pocket.
　There are several members of the Bergston family, but the man in front of you is a vassal of the family lineage who has been in the service since his grandparents' generation.
　You'll be able to find out what you need to do with your own money.
　This is the best person for covert activities that hide in the shadows, such as this one.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on in the world.
　As long as he doesn't make any major mistakes, his son will probably start working as an apprentice in a few years.
　With that in mind, it's no surprise that he's far more trustworthy than a commuter.
　It's not a bad thing to say, but it's like you're holding your family hostage.
　But that's why the Earl of Bergston never treats a vassal of the family line like him poorly.
　For there is nothing more important to a nobleman than a trusted vassal.　
　Certainly, the world's reputation of aristocrats as arrogant, cold-hearted and ruthless is not wrong.
　But it is also true that this is only one aspect of being a nobleman.
　They weren't foolish enough to think that they could maintain their current position by their own strength alone.
　To be more precise, those fools who couldn't understand that would not be able to keep their homes.
　Eventually, misfortune, such as illness or accident, would come and pay the price for that folly.
　Just like a debt, the bills will come around, strangely enough. To you or your family, or their bill of account....
Now go home and get a good night's rest. Then buy the kid a toy or something.
I'm afraid so....
　After lightly checking the weight of the bag handed to him in his hand, the gyoja man bowed his head lightly and without opening his mouth, he returned to the gyoja stand and quietly let his horse proceed.
　It was already midnight.
　The time is already late at night, the hour of the midnight sun, when the plants and trees are asleep, so to speak.
　It's a time when everyone is dreaming in their beds, unless they are in the entertainment district, which is called the city that never sleeps, like the downtown area of modern Japan.
　The same is true for the Earl of Bergston, who is a nobleman.
　The lights have been dimmed and the house is completely dark.
　It's also a good idea to have a good time to get a good idea of what the master of the house is going to do at such an hour.
　The only exception is the night watchman who opened the back gate?
　Inside such a mansion, the Earl of Bergston proceeds to rely on the light of the lamp held in his right hand.
(Who's there?)
　Just as he was about to turn the doorknob of his office, the Earl of Bergston felt the presence of someone from inside the room and stopped moving.
　If he listened carefully, he could hear some kind of paper flipping sound.
(Assassins?　(No, then I wouldn't have been so careless...)
　Even if he had received a little bit of hand-holding as a nobleman's etiquette, he was only as good as the Earl of Bergston, who couldn't be flattered as a genuine warrior, but he was only as good as a hint.
　If the person in the room was an assassin, that guy would be a second-rate fool, a slacker who can't even be a third-rate.
　Besides, this mansion is a separate residence of the Earl Bergston family in the royal capital.
　Even compared to the mansion in the estate, its security is tighter.
　And also the assassination attempt on my brother-in-law the other day and the secret messenger sent to Mikoshiba Ryoma was someone's secret agent, the guard's vigilance level is even higher.
　At the very least, there is no possibility of an assassin sneaking into the house.
　At the same time, neither his wife, nor the maid who is in charge of managing the mansion, basically does not go to this room.
　And moreover, it was unthinkable that they would be in this room in the middle of the night.
(Then.........)
　In an instant, the thought of getting that far passed through the Earl of Bergston's mind and he turned the doorknob.
''Hernan it's you after all.
　It's not quite the same scene as the one that popped into his mind, and he couldn't help but sigh.
　It's a good thing that you're a trusted brother-in-law, but it's only natural that you'd be dismayed to find him mucking about in his office in the middle of the night.
　It's a good thing that he's not angered by the fact that he's still rational.
　However, Count Bergston's thoughts were met with a cheerful smile, as if to say that his actions were flawless.
''Thank you for your late night. You must have been cold.''
　As he said this, Count Zeref, like the master of the room, took out a bottle of brandy from the shelf and held it up to show it to you with a natural movement.
　It's an unexpected action, considering the demeanor of Count Zeref, who is usually reserved and uncommunicative, stepping back behind his brother-in-law, the Earl of Bergston.
　However, Count Bergston doesn't reveal his anger at his brother-in-law's attitude.
　He has a long history with his brother-in-law in front of him.
　The amber-colored liquid poured into the offered glass is drunk in a single gulp by the Earl of Bergston.
　It's a fairly strong drink, distilled many times.
　The spirit of the drink burns your guts.
　But the burning sensation was pleasant to the Earl of Bergston, who had finished his job.
I'm sure you'll be able to talk to her as well. First of all, congratulations.
　Apparently, he could tell the result from his brother-in-law's expression and attitude.
'As usual, you know it well. I always thought it was a big deal.
My brother-in-law and I have known each other for a long time, you see. Well, not as long as your wife.
　The Earl of Bergston smiled at his brother-in-law's words.
　He is a politician who has been through many political difficulties.
　He is not so naive as to be able to read his gut from his expression so easily.
　He laughs when he is sad and mourns when he wants to laugh.
　That's exactly what he does, and he has the acting skills to match his real job as an actor.
　There are only two people in the world who can't get through to him in such an act.
　His wife and his brother-in-law, who is smiling right in front of him.
　It is not impossible for his wife, who has been with him for many years, to sense the slightest change in the Count Bergston.
　But although Count Zeref is indeed a trusted brother-in-law, they do not live in the same house.
　From that point of view, the man named Hernan Zeref is so insightful that you wonder if he has eyes that can see into people's hearts.
　However, a superior ability is something that is seen as dangerous by those around him.
(Well, I suppose that's why this guy is stepping back from the political stage.......)
　He has a rounded shape and a good-natured face.
　I wouldn't call him stupid, but he has an appearance that would never be considered sharp.
But his true value has nothing to do with his looks.
　No, this brother-in-law even takes into account the impression that his appearance gives to those around him and acts accordingly.
　In the eyes of the uninformed people around him, Count Zeref is nothing more than an existence that uses his blood relationship to attach himself to Count Bergston, and Count Zeref himself is aware of this and is mimicking it.
　It is extremely difficult to detect Count Zeref's ability from his appearance.
(No.........those people were able to see through it.......)　
　ベルグストン伯爵の脳裏に、二人の男の顔が浮かび上がる。
　一人は、今は亡き敬愛する義父殿。
　ゲルハルト公爵との政争に敗れはしたが、一時期はこのローゼリア王国の宰相として全権を担ったほどの人物だった。
　そんな彼が、愛娘達の婿に選んだ男こそベルグストン伯爵とゼレーフ伯爵の二人だ。
　当時、口さがない王宮の雀達はゼレーフ伯爵が婿に選ばれた理由について首を捻っていたものだが、義父はそんな周囲の言葉に影響などされはしなかった。
　そして、もう一人の男。
　つい先ほど新たな主君となった年若き覇王もまた、ゼレーフ伯爵の事を重視している。
（恐らくは私以上に……）
　そんな思いが脳裏を過り、嫉妬の念がベルグストン伯爵の心をかき乱す。
　だが、それはあくまでもほんの一瞬の事。
（馬鹿馬鹿しい……子供でもあるまいし……）
　ベルグストン伯爵とゼレーフ伯爵の能力は明らかに別の物。
　政治の才と謀略の才。
　それは例えるなら、魚が翼を持つ鳥を羨むのと同じであり、鳥が水の中を自由に泳ぐ魚に妬む様なものでしかないだろう。
　完璧な才能を欲する心を否定はしないが、嫉妬に駆られて判断を誤る様な真似だけは慎まなければならない。
　何せこれから大きな仕事が待っているのだから。
「さて、それではあのお方のご命令を聞くとしましょうか」
「あぁ、そうだな……御屋形様からお前に色々と伝える様にと頼まれているからな」　
　ゼレーフ伯爵の言葉にベルグストン伯爵は深く頷くと、部屋の片隅に置かれたソファーへと腰を沈めた、