Ch-21 Little Red Riding Hood's Relatives.

He wanted Little Red Riding Hood - no, Britney to be reunited with her family.

Of course, he had his reasons.

Britney was Baron Osvid's daughter, and now she was the only legal heir to his title and lands.

According to the laws of the kingdom, Baron Osvid's lands and title should be rightfully hers. But Britney had been missing for three years, and no one could confirm her identity.

Proving her status would be no easy task. The kingdom would not recognize her claim based on words alone.

But if another noble close to Baron Osvid could vouch for Britney's identity, her inheritance would be assured. Once that happened, not even the king could deny her right to the barony.

In this world, noble inheritance was not easily interfered with, even by a monarch. Unlike some societies where a king's word was law, here the rights of nobles were protected.

If a ruler unfairly deprived a noble of his land or titles, the affected noble could gather his forces and wage war to reclaim what was his.

The relationship between a monarch and his nobles was more like a partnership than a hierarchy. The monarch granted territories and titles, and in return the nobles provided military support during wars and paid taxes.

Beyond that, nobles were independent in their territories, often exercising greater authority over their land than the monarch.

As the saying went:The subjects of my subjects are not my subjects.

It may sound awkward, but it was the truth.

For him, gaining noble status was essential to solidifying his position in this world. And Britney's inheritance offered the perfect opportunity.

If Britney could reclaim her title and lands as Baron Osvid's heir, then marrying her would make him the legal husband of a baroness.

This was no trivial matter. In a society with rigid class distinctions, one's lineage and origin determined everything.

A noble title, even a minor one, carried immense weight. It could open doors that would otherwise remain closed. Nobles would welcome him as an equal, and he could command respect and loyalty even in times of war.

On the other hand, no matter how wealthy or capable a commoner was, he would always be considered beneath the nobility - a nouveau riche who could never enter the true upper echelons of society.

It was the same as in ancient times, where wealth couldn't compare to the prestige of noble families with deep ancestral roots. Titles were the ultimate stepping stones, and without one, the door to the aristocracy remained firmly closed.

To become a noble through conventional means would take too long. He would have to start as a squire, serving a noble lord and learning the etiquette and rules of chivalry. It would take years-three to five at least-just to become a knight of the lowest rank. It would take even more time, luck, and effort to become a noble.

He didn't have that kind of time to waste.

However, in a world tied to fairy tales, interacting with characters like Snow White or Cinderella required a suitable identity. Without noble status, he couldn't even approach such characters.

So Britney was his shortcut.

In this unfamiliar and hostile world, Britney was young and vulnerable, with no one else to rely on. He could guide her, train her, and secure his place at her side.

After placing Britney in his portable space for safekeeping, he began gathering information about Baron Osvid.

"You're talking about Baron Osvid? He died three years ago," said a trader he questioned.

"Did he have any relatives?"

"I heard he had a sister who married a count from a neighboring kingdom," the merchant replied.

That was just the clue he needed.

An aunt married to a count, even one from another kingdom, was still a countess. Her testimony would carry considerable weight. If Britney's aunt could confirm her identity, the matter of her inheritance would be settled.

However, traveling to another kingdom to find her aunt would not be quick or easy.

He sighed and shook his head. For now, he would try to pursue this route. But if that failed, he had a backup plan.

His second option was to find a suitable noble, imprison her and use a magic potion to brainwash her into becoming his puppet. This would allow him to achieve the same result, but it would take more time and carry significant risks.

The stronger the target's willpower, the harder it would be to brainwash him. There was also the possibility of failure, which could result in turning the target into an idiot, wasting time and effort for nothing.

Therefore, brainwashing was a last resort. For now, he concentrated on the safer way.