[P3] I am fascinated by what happened to Viscount Joisontak

The first thing to note is that there are actually three factions, not two. However, since openly supporting a noble from another duchy is treason, the Georgine faction claims to be a part of the Veronica faction.

Gerlach is essentially Georgine's right-hand man within Ehrenfest, so he's essentially the head of the Georgine faction.

We aren't told whether Joisontak is apart of the Georgine faction, or the Veronica faction, but assuming he's apart of the Veronica faction, disposing of him could allow Gerlach to gain more influence over the other Veronica faction nobles, or even attempt to place a different Georgine faction noble into the now vacant position of Gibe Joisontak, giving Georgine more power in Ehrenfest.

There's definitely more layers to the political machinations that are happening that we aren't aware of, since the story is narrated by someone who is completely oblivious to political strife, and we don't typically get side stories that delve into those deeper aspects.

Gerlach was more than willing to [P4V9] put Viscountess Dahldoff at risk and made her carry 100% of the blame in their plot to steal Ehrenfest Bible despite her being namesworn to Georgine

And before the Joisontak incident we can be sure that Gerlach and his group were behind the nobles that manipulated Wilfried (including Roderick father) given the Gloria SS in which they discussed the matter.

Given all this, him drugging and using Giebe Joisontak is not surprising at all. Grausam did not care for most of his faction and even for those he cared, he still would use them as pawns if needed be for Georgine's sake

Viscount Joisontak was the older brother of Rozemary, the Third Wife of Karstedt. The Second Wife was an archnoble (maybe mednoble) who was Veronica’s retainer previously before marrying Karstedt.

Thus, the Rozemary and Trudeliede arguments within the household were actually a larger fight within the Veronica faction between the families of the two wives. Hence, why Elvira felt the need to step in and mediate by taking Trudeliede’s side since Karstedt took Rozemary’s side. She was trying to prevent their household conflict from blowing up duchy politics at large.

Viscount Gerlach probably didn’t care much for Viscount Joisontak or the Joisontak family. If the plot worked to kidnap RM, great, and if it didn’t that was also fine to by letting the foolish Joisontak take the fall.

A lot of the plots up to this point are targeted at harassing the archducal family and feeling out their responses; if the plots succeed that’s fine to but if they don’t it’s not the end of the world.

Viscount Joisontak was a moron and in the long term a danger to Georgine so he got rid of him as you would with any useless tool. He is a danger as he would open his mouth and put both feet in, see admitting to the planning and kidnapping of an archduke family member.

As to the longer term well most nobles in Yurgenschmidt don't think that far ahead.

Wither Viscount Joisontak was Georgina and/or Vironica faction really doesn't matter, Viscount Joisontak saw Rosemyne as a good bet to jump ship to basing cover story of her being his niece. (probably still has info sources in the Linkberg household that left over from his sister's time), as such he was potential threat to the Viscount Gerlach

Just like the Ivory Tower incident, Gerlach is using a sacrificial pawn to put pressure on Sylvester. It's not about accomplishing any specific goal, it's just about seeing what he can get away with. And if it weakens Sylvester and his family, then that's a cherry on top.