Let's Bully Jon

"Baron Alden, you know I can't help you on this, don't you? The one that's obstructing the issue is the first prince. If your son was deployed under a commander of the second prince, that would be a different issue. But he was a platoon captain under commander Billius, who had recently pledged his loyalty to the first prince. The things we could do are very limited in this case." –Said a man older than Baron and having higher status.

"But Marque, I'm willing to pay more than the ransom required by those damned Vitonians. Just tell me just how much I need to pay. I'll pay double if I have to. But please get my son out of there. I'm begging you." –Davies said. He gave up on his pride and started begging.

At first, in order to become the next family head, his first son Nicolas, had to show some military exploits. So, Davies used his influence to get him a position at the rear of the military.

It was supposed to be a safe place for him. But the war camp has its own rules. It doesn't differentiate between commoners and nobles.

At some point, Nicolas had to become the platoon captain of a supply platoon and was placed under the commander Billius.

And recently, the said commander had sworn loyalty to the first prince while Baron Alden supported the second prince.

And that was the cause of the issue.

Commander Billius had Nicolas go on a mission to supply the stealth group with rations behind the enemy line.

Even though he had no prior experience, he had to comply to go on this dangerous mission.

And as a result, he was caught by the enemy and now kept as a prisoner of war because they learned of his identity as a noble.

They asked for an exorbitant ransom to set him free.

But the first prince is unwilling to comply as Baron is from a different faction. He is giving an excuse that, because of war the kingdom's fund is already at a stretch. Now, it would be unwise to comply with Vitonia's demand.

Because that would just make them take more nobles hostage for money. He even refused to receive money from Davies to use it for the trade.

Baron knew those talks are all bullshits. The prince wants to get rid of the next head of the Alden family.

The viscount family that supports the first prince is eyeing the Alden territory.

It is known that one of its branch families holds a Baron Title but doesn't have a territory of their own. Being the most prosperous place near the Viscount's territory, they want that Baron to take over the Wolf Fang City.

That is why the first prince is scheming against him.

But even if he knew it, he didn't have anything to do about it.

Being only a baron, the voice he has in parliament is too little.

So, he came to the Marque, who had a higher voice.

But now it seems they are trying to sacrifice his son and use it to campaign against the first prince.

They don't care about his son. It's not like the Baron himself got caught.

'If one of his sons died, he could just make another one, right?' –that seems to be the thought process of the Marque.

So, Baron felt despair.

This all happened about a week ago.

Currently, Baron is sitting in the garden of his mansion in the capital.

His trusted friend and knight captain just left him here after giving him an earful.

"I know you. You can't sit here doing nothing in this situation. So get your head straight and think what should be done."

"Do you want your son to feel more misery there?"

Heavy kept saying these things. He had been trying to motivate Davies for over a week.

Though Davies kept listening, he didn't respond to any of it. 

But what could he do?

And when he left, the last thing he said was, "Davies, you know I'll give my life for you if it needs to be, right? So, be the man I'll be able to respect."

Davies kept thinking those words.

He looked at his hands and smiled bitterly.

Has he become weak? He must have.

Why else would be sitting in the corner of his room and keep sulking?

"Be respectable, you say... I should try a bit harder... But, what do I do?... Is there anything that can be done?..." –he said to himself.

But sitting here won't solve any problem. So, he had to do everything that he could do.

Thinking so, Davies got up.

That day, the Baron left the capital for his territory. At this moment, he wasn't that irrational person anymore. He had a steady goal.

.

"So Jon, you are here too, huh?" –Elena saw Jon walking behind Olen.

"Didn't you say that you would talk about 'that' today?" –Jon scratched his head.

"Oh, right, I remember. But it wouldn't be fun to just let you get free education now, would it?" -Elena said smilingly.

Jon's face got ashen hearing those words.

"What do you want me to do?" –Jon asked.

"I'm bored right now. I already got my hands full with this kid here in your request. Now, I have to educate you too?" –Elena thought for a bit.

"How about showing me your dance moves to make my mood better? So, I will very generously let you enter my house?" –Elena told smugly.

"Do you just want to humiliate me? This isn't right."

'This bitch' –Jon thought.

"What isn't right? You scared Chlera yesterday. You should be punished." –the voice of Petra came from inside the house.

Jon looked behind Elena and the devilkin standing there.

What a combo. In front of Jon are standing the people he hates the most.

Did they arrange a party called 'Let's bully Jon Together'? But before he could refute the other person talked.

"Petra, it's all right. You don't have to scold Jon for that anymore." –This time Chlera defended Jon.

She saw how Jon jumped in front of her so desperately. Though she was frightened by the transformed form of Jon, she still thought good of his intention.

Jon felt like crying hearing that. This is the first time any of these two tried to be nice to him.

He always knew Chlera was a sweetheart. It is that Petra that spoiled her.

"What? You must be confused. I'm sure this bad guy just wanted to scare you off." –Petra is unwilling to back off.

"Oi, bad guy. Did you know Chlera had a fever since she came back yesterday? I only brought her here today after big sis Elenora told me to bring her here." –Petra was angry at Jon. She just wanted someone to vent on.

How could someone hurt her sister on her watch?

But there was no one to put blame on. The damned snake is already dead. So, there is only Jon she could vent on.

"Now, now Petra... You shouldn't talk like that. After all, Jon did save Chlera in the end, right?" –There was a fourth person inside Elena's house today.

That person was Aleta Alden, the fourth wife of Baron Alden, and Chlera and Petra's mother.

This morning, Petra was very worried seeing Chlera having a fever. So, she ran to the most reliable person she came to know in the last two months.

She came crying that Chlera had a high fever and wouldn't open her eyes in the morning.

The doctor said, she just got a bit frightened. and she would be fine soon. But seeing her sister, who did everything together, lying in bed like that, Petra felt guilty inside.

Seeing this, Elena said she had a way of making Chlera feel better in no time. So, they brought her here. Of course, their mother came along to see.

She didn't approve at first, but Bianca gave her confidence and said it would be fine.

So, here they are... all troublemakers in one place.

But first thing first.

"I'm very sorry, Chlera. I was trying my best. I didn't mean to scare you." –Jon bowed to Chlera.

Even if it was unintentional, he was the cause of the problem this time. So, he apologized to the affected party.

"No, Jon, you don't need to apologize. If it weren't for you, my daughter would have been in a much worse state." –Aleta replied instead of Chlera.

"So, we should be the ones thanking you."

Aleta wasn't born as a noble. So, she didn't have the arrogance a noble usually has.

But even so, the reason behind this behavior was different.

Bianca convinced the other party that, it was Jon who killed the Snake spirit beast, not Olen.

She made sure Jon, Olen, Jully, and even Elena, who knew the truth, would describe the incident as such.

As for Chlera and Petra, they didn't even notice the snake, much less understand what transpired back then.

That's how Jon became the savior of Chlera there.

Well, it wasn't totally false, as the severed head, which could still poison Chlera, was caught by him. Though the trajectory of the snake head changed after being cut, the risk was still there.

"No, Madam, it is my duty to do so. You shouldn't do anything of it." –Jon.

"How can that be? I must reward you for your effort. So, what do you wish? I'll give it to you. Though, keep in mind I'm not as rich as your other Baronesses." –Aleta said.

'Could she be any more unreliable?' –Jon thought.

If she wanted to give him something, she should have asked him privately.

How could he ask for anything with people who knew the whole story?

Wouldn't Bianca come running when she hears he had taken unfair advantage of things her son did?

"No need for that, Baroness." –Jon could only refuse with an aching heart.

"Are you sure? I have a very good understanding of your first Baroness. I know you like that personal maid of hers. What was her name again? Sianna, right? I could make an opportunity for you there." –Aleta said curiously.

Hearing her say those words Jon's heart skipped a beat at first. Like her daughters, Aleta too had a tendency to put noses where they didn't belong. So, it was not surprising that she knew this even though Bianca didn't.

But then his heart bled as he refused the good intentions.

"It's all right, Madam. That should be won over by me."

Who is he kidding? Sianna doesn't even see him in a good light. He just missed a great opportunity.

Elena was looking at all of this weirdly.

'If you want to talk about all that, then go outside. Why are you discussing all this at my door?' –she thought.

But she couldn't say that. After all, Aleta is also a Baroness.