Chapter 2

“Oh, you surprised me!”

Hans grabbed his chest and glared at his friend bitterly.

Seeing her holding the newspaper and arguing, saying that there’s no way this could have happened, it’s clear that she went crazy again.

「2nd place: Count Claude Emilton

◎ I’m curious about his desire behind his sweet mask! A man who stimulates women’s thrilling imagination.」

“How dare you! Brother Claude just took second place? Brother Claude was so perfect!” (Audrey)

“…”

That’s right.

Hans shook his head and quickly shifted his attention somewhere else.

Audrey, on the other hand, stared at the name engraved on it, bewildered.

「1st place: Duke Derek Fritt.

◎ A man like a beast that couldn’t be tamed. Ladies, be careful of this dangerous man!」

“…”

No way!

In this survey, just looking at the nuances, shouldn’t the ‘Prince of the Night‘ be chosen?

However, the man who took first place was a man who could easily shred a bed with only his bare hands.

Maybe he could even break a person lying on him…

‘Of course, shouldn’t everyone be careful? He’s the devil in the battlefield who cuts people like steaks!’ (Audrey)

If it was Duke Fritt, Audrey knew.

Wasn’t he the one who ended the half-century war?

I have never met him in person, but I’m familiar with rumors circulating throughout.

The demon of the battlefield, the butcher from hell, the bloodbath of criantes, the bloody Duke, the servant of the devil, and many more…

As the nickname suggests, he was a man famous for his rumors rather than his heroic stories.

‘The Duke of Fritt originally had dark eyes like the night sky. But the enemy’s blood splattered so much that his eyes turned red.’

‘What are they talking about? His eyes were originally red. That’s why he could only see red bloody things in the world. One time, they said he couldn’t tell the difference between water and blood, so he took a blood bath?’

‘Of course. It would be faster for Duke Fritt to kill a man than for me to catch a fly.’

Others said that he took out a child’s liver, or when it was a full moon, he went crazy and rampaged on people.

Since the parties did not come forward, there was no way to ascertain the facts.

However, if anyone had met him at least once, there was no doubt that all the rumors would be true.

Bloody eyes full of strange desire, those are the characteristics of a man who killed many people.

Because that was considered a proof.

Even some nobles have always carefully asked for regards whenever they met Audrey.

‘The Count… was he doing well?’

‘Of course.’

‘Was he sick?’

‘He’s very healthy.’

‘That’s good! You should always be careful, always.’

“…”

That’s why her father, Count Kevelson, his friend Count Emilton, and even Claude worked for that terrifying man.

However, Audrey has never met him.

“I’m sure he’s a tough-looking guy.”

Yes. That’s why the people were frightened about the news and produced this kind of timidity.

Maybe he used his limbs while he was already bound.

“…Hmph.”

Audrey stubbornly shut her mouth and threw the newspaper away.

If I could, I wanted to put a lot of more important details into the newspaper.

However, even for me, who doesn’t have any idea about Duke Fritt. He was just a scary existence like a summer night’s ghost story.

“What, why are you so upset? You look like a squirrel who lost its acorns.”

Hans picks up the newspaper to see if it has something interesting, while looking at his troubled friend.

As soon as he saw what’s in the newspaper, he became furious.

“But you always read the Imperial Newspaper? If you don’t like it, try something else…”

At that moment, Hans stopped speaking.

His eyes were fixed on a corner of the newspaper. Exactly at the end of number 15.

Hans blinked for a long time as if he couldn’t believe it, his friend also saw the newspaper.

Hans smashed the door, he looked like he’s in despair.

“What kind of results was this?”

“I know right?”

“It doesn’t make sense, Me? At the 15th place?”

“…”

“Hey, don’t ever believe in things like this. Really, me? No matter how bad I am, I could make it to at least 5th place. Wow!” (Hans)

“…”

Audrey’s face went cold. Her gaze at her friend was full of extreme hatred.

‘Well then.’

For some reason, I thought our plan worked.

What kind of result was that? How dare you try to match with Claude in just a palm of a hand?

He’s looking to make excuses with his sort of unhappy face. I could not even recognize his appearance.

“Lies.” (Audrey)

“Hey! You don’t know anything!”

“Oh, it’s too loud! I don’t really want to know.” (Audrey)

“You’re going to be surprised. I couldn’t even show you this… Anyway, it’s all a lie.” (Hans)

“I hope you’re not thinking of showing it to me, oh please! just keep it to yourself.”

“What? You, really!”

Hans acted as if he had been hiding something unusual.

However, Audrey only snorted, and did not pay much attention to what Hans was saying.

Hans, whose self-esteem was even more hurt, ran wild.

‘He’s just always bringing up age, when it comes to a moment like this.’ (Audrey)

He’s three years younger than me. So I only pretend that I know nothing.

She never held a man’s hand, because when she does she throws up.

But for Audrey…

“You’ve never held a girl’s hand either.”

The moment she blew out a nibble, his mouth had nothing to say.

‘…How could I lose at this one? This savage acorn.’ (Hans)

Even after waking up from death, Hans couldn’t beat Audrey.

Derek stared at the man in front of him with an expressionless face.

I don’t feel sorry for the way I look at someone who failed to kill me.

Even if he felt sorry for the man who he already killed, it wouldn’t mean much.

Lucas glanced down at the bloodstained human body and sighed.

“As soon as he was brought to the torture chamber, he suddenly vomited blood and died. However, they said it’s nothing like the poison used by the survivors was found. In addition, he had pieces of wood in his mouth.”

“…”

“Usually, most people commit suicide as soon as they are captured, but this one was a little bit unusual.”

“Any other clues?” (Derek)

“There was a strange pattern on the chest. But…”

Lucas rolled up the top of the body. However, there was nowhere else to be considered a clue.

“Neither mice nor birds have disappeared.”

“In conclusion, you don’t know anything?” (Derek)

“…I’m sorry.”

Derek, unlike other times, looked down at the familiar face and was lost in thought.

“Did you say he was a servant who worked in the horse section?”

“Yes, It’s already been a month since he started working here. It’s my fault I didn’t look closely.”

“Are they interested in what’s inside the castle?”

“I’m not sure.”

“…”

Lucas bowed his head in shame.

“Lord Derek was a man with many enemies.”

From the small nobles to the large imperial courts of distant continents, he was wracked with resentment.

It wasn’t that he was bad. He wasn’t a good guy either, but as soon as there’s blood in his sword, his enemies are increasing in numbers.

Even after the end of the war, the enemy sent a sprinkling of water as if to avenge the disgrace of the day.

The half-century war ended with the victory of the Criantes Empire, but the Duke was still paying the price for victory.

“I’m sick and tired of these guys…”

Even Lucas, who had been trained in a tight situation like this, has become serious at this time.

At this point the Duke might suspect his colleagues who have been with him.

This was because the man that was caught this time wasn’t guaranteed to be the first and only traitor.

If there are any remaining chances, they would attempt much harder to conceal their identities.

It may be a longer fight than expected.

“How many people have recently entered the castle?” (Derek)

“There are about 30 people who were recently employed, and if we include each department, there are well over 40 persons.”

“…”

“Let’s start with those who had been recently hired…”

“If we kill them all, it’ll be resolved.”

“Your Highness!”

Lucas, who was contemplating the extent of his dismissal, was shocked and stopped Derek.

‘Annihilation?’ Wasn’t that a last-ditch effort that could only be practiced at the end of a battle?

Then, as if there wasn’t anything special, he gazed at the aide grimly.

“…”

No, that’s not true. But still…

Lucas swallowed his words, which had been slurred several times in his mouth..

Looking back on the Duke’s life, it wasn’t even an incomprehensible order.

Derek Fritt was a man who spent about one third of his life on the battlefield.

It wasn’t a very good time and place to raise a child where killing was a norm.

At the age of fifteen. While his men were chasing after the ladies at the party, he chased the retreating enemy and finally beheaded them.

How was the mercy you showed to the enemy on the verge of death?

Obviously, the man, who was dying, became the last bomb and charged to the place of the Criantes army.

Derek realized the importance of confirmed kill only after desperately embracing the bloody body of his men.

It was not unusual for a man who had grown up and had decapitated 40 people with unknown affiliations.

‘Are you sure you could have a wedding?’

Suddenly, Lucas’ eyes, who were staring at his master seriously, became hazy.

Honestly, there’s no way that a woman would like the Duke of Fritt, unless that woman was crazy.

‘We’ve been together for a long time. It’s not the first time or twice that I got goosebumps.’ (Lucas)

Even if he tells him something that sounds wonderful that you’ve gone through hardships, he would have just faint or pee.

However, as a loyal servant, it was impossible to just stop watching over the Fritt family.

Lucas gave his advice with sincerity.

“Do you really need to put blood on your hands?” (Lucas)

“Do you want to see the Duke’s Castle bombing show tomorrow morning?” (Derek)

“I… would definitely finish it by this evening.” (Lucas)

“You should do it as fast as you can.”

“Yes. But, what should we do with this guy?”

Derek stepped forward silently.

Then, he drew his sword, and instantly pierced the man’s heart and waited for him to stop breathing.

It was a blood-curdling confirmation of the kill.

“..!”

“Burn it on fire.”

“…Ye-yes!”

Derek pulled out his sword again and turned around without regret.

Lucas looks at him from afar, fumbling over his heart in vain.

‘I wanted to say something straight to a man like that, what was I thinking?’ (Lucas)

At the same time he felt a strong sense of incongruity.

‘No matter how I look at it, you’re not even in love.’ (Lucas)

No matter what, no woman would be thrilled to see such a vicious and persistent man.

Unless the woman was really crazy

How could they be more excited about a man who’s closer to his death than love?

Lucas was worried about the 25-year-old Duke, without a lover, even though when he was 27 years old he still didn’t have a lover.

It was like a mouse thinking about a cat.