Help, I'm in Another World and All the Men Are So Hot! [BL]-Chapter 261: A Plan for Augusto’s Future

Damien couldn’t disagree with Lucian’s point. If the Crowell family was filled with former Castellani people, it could end up effectively becoming a Castellani faction.

"That is, in a way, the goal," Theo said. "And it is also the second advantage."

"Huh?"

Damien was confused. How could being taken over be considered an advantage?

He and the four retainers all exchanged puzzled looks as they stared at Theo.

"Well, this idea actually came from Sebas," Theo explained.

Ah, so it was Sebas’s plan.

Damien glanced around at his loyal retainers. They all seemed to agree, nodding in unison.

"Understood."

"Hey, at least let us hear the full story first," Theo said with a wry smile.

Well, it was Sebas’s idea, so there shouldn’t be any issues with it.

"Well, I think it’s a good plan myself, but please, at least hear me out," Theo urged.

Given how strongly she was insisting, it must be an important issue.

"Alright... so what exactly do you mean by ’being taken over’ as an advantage?"

It was certainly an odd thing to say.

"First, as for the takeover, there’s really no need to worry too much," Theo began. "The people we plan to hire are those who advised the head of the household... those who have a strong loyalty to me. So, it’s unlikely they’ll try to take over Damien’s house and rebel against me."

Ah, that made sense. It was true that he wouldn’t hire anyone who sympathized with the former viscount. He wouldn’t even consider it.

"If such a situation were to arise, it would only be if the relationship between the adopted child and Damien deteriorated beyond repair..."

"Well, if it’s Damien, there shouldn’t be any problem."

Damien wasn’t sure what to make of that. He nodded, determined to do his best to live up to expectations.

"I should also mention, the child is quite adorable... your son... no, Augusto."

Damien wondered if that was important information.

Well, in his case, it probably was.

He made a mental note to keep his distance as much as possible—though, as the one looking after him, that might not be possible.

He tended to fall for people easily.

He’d have to make sure not to make any mistakes.

"...Alright, I understand that the risk of being taken over is minimal, but if that’s the case, it seems contradictory to say that being taken over is an advantage. Could you explain further?"

Lucian picked up the conversation again.

"That’s where Sebas’s idea comes in. While we won’t be taken over by the Castellani family, the Castellani influence within the household will certainly grow stronger. This will help Augusto when the time comes for him to restore the Castellani family."

With the Castellani family’s servants and retainers gathering around, it made sense that the family’s influence would grow stronger.

Damien now understood. They were planning to have him look after Augusto so that the restoration of the Castellani family would be incorporated into the plan.

"And this is the second, and most important, advantage. By making the Crowell family synonymous with the Castellani family, if Damien ever wants to retire from the barony, he could adopt Augusto, allowing Damien to step down. While it wouldn’t make him exactly like a commoner, at least stepping down would free him from the burdens of nobility."

"Wh—what?"

"Wait, is that even possible?" Damien asked, his surprise evident.

"Yes, it is," Theo replied confidently, nodding with a smug expression.

Damien tried to process it. If the Crowell household essentially became the Castellani household on the inside, then maybe there wouldn’t be any personnel issues...

"Hmm? But can the Crowell family even afford to hire all the Castellani household’s retainers? The Castellani family, as viscounts, would have had more retainers and servants than we do, right?" Damien asked.

He didn’t know much about noble households beyond Theo’s, but it seemed logical that higher-ranking nobles would have more people in their employ.

"Generally, that’s true," Theo admitted. "While the difference between a baron and a viscount isn’t huge, the Castellani family was an exceptionally wealthy viscount family, comparable to an earl’s household. So they likely had a much larger staff. While the Crowell estate is prosperous for a barony, it would still be difficult to take on everyone from the Castellani household."

"That makes sense," Damien murmured.

If that was the case, they’d need to carefully select who to hire.

"However," Theo continued, "as I mentioned earlier, we wouldn’t be taking in anyone who sided with the former head of the Castellani family. Many others would have already found new employment. In the end, the number of people we’d need to hire should be manageable for the Crowell household."

Damien nodded thoughtfully. It was true—anyone who had supported the former viscount’s betrayal couldn’t be trusted. They wouldn’t be hired.

"I suppose decisions about these selections would be best made in consultation with Isaac," Damien said, recognizing that he’d need the steward’s help to navigate this.

"Additionally," Theo said, dropping a bombshell with an air of nonchalance, "after some time has passed and things have settled, you’ll be inheriting the Castellani estate as well. In the end, you’ll likely find yourself short-staffed."

Damien froze, his mind racing.

"Wait, wait, wait! What do you mean I’ll be inheriting the Castellani estate!?" he blurted out, unable to contain his shock.

Damien’s startled exclamation echoed in the room.

Wait... was he the only one surprised?

Looking around, he realized Leonide and the others were completely unfazed.

"My lord, noble households and their lands are inseparable," Leonide explained. "By taking in the heir of the Castellani family and hiring their former retainers, you’re essentially inheriting their legacy. That naturally extends to the Castellani estate as well."

Theo nodded in agreement. "Exactly. This isn’t new information. Remember when we discussed hiring servants? It was mentioned then that most retainers and servants come from the noble’s domain. A noble household is deeply tied to its land."

Everyone else nodded along, making it clear that Damien was the only one in the room who hadn’t grasped this earlier.