How should I turn this down?
If a lowly hereditary knight like me rejects a marriage proposal from the Finance Minister, rumors will spread among the nobility that I don't know my place. I would have accepted any reasonable offer, but this is something I absolutely can't agree to. Give up my family name and noble lineage for a matrilineal marriage?
Plus, the moment I enter a matrilineal marriage, I lose any right to inheritance.
I can't receive a fief, and even if I did, it would pass to the matrilineal line.
This proposal directly conflicts with my goals.
But if I simply refuse outright, I'd be trampling on the Finance Minister's dignity after he praised and elevated me. Does it even make sense for a lowly knight to disrespect the Finance Minister like that? Even if the Finance Minister lets it slide, the nobles in his faction won't leave me alone.
"Are you having trouble deciding? Don't worry. There may be issues of status, but with my recommendation, the Elsheimers will accept. It would be fitting to match you with the second daughter. If the eldest daughter marries a prince, you'd be connected to royalty by blood, wouldn't you?" he asked.
Even a blood connection to a prince.
Why is the Finance Minister making me this offer?
I swallowed hard and activated the Manager Scouter.
[Heinz von Reinfeldt's History]
[Age: 53] [Affiliation: Finance Department – Finance Minister] [Address: Northwest District of Linz Boulevard]
[Heinz von Reinfeldt's Status]
[Health: Good] [Mindset: Deception – Exploitation] [Disposition: Deceit (Neutral)] [Favorability: 10]
His mindset toward me was deception and exploitation.
The Elsheimer son-in-law proposal was clearly bait.
What does he gain by pushing me into becoming a son-in-law? And his disposition is deceit (neutral), no less.
The scouter was plainly telling me he's someone I can't trust.
What could I possibly say to the Finance Minister, who was waiting for my answer with an easy smile? Just then, like a lifeline, a new quest appeared.
[Master Negotiator I Quest]
[Refuse the Finance Minister's marriage proposal]
[Diplomat Scouter temporarily provided]
[Reward: 500 points, 500 copper coins]
[50 Family Prestige points awarded]
Two things stood out most in this quest: the Diplomat Scouter and Family Prestige.
But I didn't have time to deliberate. First, I activated the Diplomat Scouter. According to the system's explanation, the Diplomat Scouter can identify negotiation objectives and justifications.
I can see the objective of the negotiation?
Since what I was most curious about was the Finance Minister's true aim, I activated it right away. My vision briefly distorted before normalizing. A common phenomenon when using scouters.
[To expand his eldest son Adelbert's influence over the Elsheimers, he's recommending a subordinate as their son-in-law. The Finance Minister, wary of his son's growing influence in the Finance Department, is pushing Wolfgang in as the Elsheimer son-in-law to use him as a convenient pawn.]
Did I read that right? He's trying to keep his own son in check?
The Elsheimers must be a hot potato within the Finance Department right now. The eldest son is also pushing his own subordinate in as a son-in-law, and the Finance Minister is using me to block his son's move. There was a reason he had showered me with all that flowery praise.
It wasn't just flattery—it was an elaborate scheme to bestow favors on a poor duchy knight and use him as a convenient pawn. Without confirming it through the Diplomat Scouter, I would never have known. To think he's using the Elsheimers and me just to keep his own son in check.
Father and son were waging a power struggle behind the scenes.
This is without a doubt a poisoned chalice.
But what grounds can I use to refuse?
I activated the justification search.
[Available Justifications: Knighthood, Merit, Family Status, Delay]
Let me try to craft something using these justifications.
"Is there anything to think about? It's rare for a lowly hereditary knight to receive such an offer," the count's voice came again.
"I'm grateful for the Finance Minister's kindness. However, I'm a knight who hasn't received official [knighthood]. How could someone like me, without even the Ritter title, marry into a prestigious family as their son-in-law?"
For now, I'm a lower noble who can't spar with the Finance Minister in debate.
I haven't even been knighted yet, so I'm not qualified to become the son-in-law of a prestigious family.
"The knighthood can be recognized through your father's merit, so that's not a problem. I'll inform His Highness about this matter and arrange it for you. Remember that such favors don't come often," he said, waving a hand.
"However, that [merit] belongs entirely to my father. It's not my own, and if a mere hereditary knight with no personal achievements becomes the Elsheimer son-in-law, not only will others look down on me, but I fear it might reflect poorly on you, Finance Minister."
"Oh, you think that way? How admirable. But that's not something you need to worry about. There'll be talk, sure, but it'll mostly come from the fools in the Administrative and Military Departments."
"But I have a desire to be recognized as a worthy knight through my own merit rather than my family's legacy. I want to elevate my [family's status] so as not to bring shame to the Elsheimer family or to you, Finance Minister. I'm terribly sorry, but could you please grant me a period of [delay]?" I said.
"You want to be recognized for your personal merit, not your family's? So you're asking for a postponement?"
The Finance Minister's gaze hardened as he looked at me.
A pressure bore down on me that made my old encounters with the CEO during my office days seem trivial. In a company, the worst that happens is getting fired, but here, I could literally lose my head. However, from what I could tell, while his expression was rather intimidating, the Finance Minister didn't seem too displeased.
I was truly fortunate to receive the Diplomat Scouter at this critical moment. Those eyes studying me intently were unnerving, but I could read the Finance Minister's mindset through the Manager Scouter, so I felt some measure of relief. Somehow, my justification seemed to be landing.
"Not a refusal, but a postponement? You have quite a way with words. I'll allow a brief delay. I'm not so unaware that every knight harbors such ambitions. But Sir Streit, let me advise you—mere stalling will only displease everyone involved. Keep that firmly in mind," he said at last, deliberately.
"I will keep it in mind."
Seeing the message that the Master Negotiator I Quest was complete, I felt a wave of relief.
I received the reward and gained 50 Family Prestige points.
Does higher Family Prestige confer some kind of influence?
And I acquired a title.
"Merit, huh. There happens to be a fitting opportunity. And it's not unrelated to you—it's something you uncovered yourself, after all," the count mused, almost to himself.
...Don't tell me it's the fence case.
From what I recall, the organization connected to that fence is Rafel.
The fake guard belonged to a slum organization called Rafel.
"My son is investigating that case. But there's been less headway than expected."
Isn't that a criminal matter? Shouldn't the Judicial Department normally be handling it?
The Judicial Department upholds law and justice, overseeing trials and public safety.
Why is Finance investigating that case?
But before I could wonder further, I had no choice but to accept.
Refusing when he's offering me a chance to earn merit would be tantamount to deceiving the Finance Minister. I had no choice. I had no other options or grounds to refuse anymore.
"...Thank you for giving me this opportunity."
"Show me the abilities that bureaucrats have been praising so highly. I'll be watching with interest."
As expected, his skill at ensnaring people was masterful.
But since I secured a promise of delay, I've bought myself enough time.