Chapter 10

Time had passed slowly for a while. The roses I saw during my walk before had somehow distracted me from my feelings of tension, so now I had my bedroom and office decorated each with one flower, and its scent would soothe me whenever I felt tired. Still, when I pushed myself too hard, I would personally take a stroll in the garden, so I felt like I had expanded my living space for a bit.

I felt bad for making Craig accompany me every time I would take a stroll, but I felt most comfortable with him somehow since I knew he was on the righteous side. Well, he was probably sick of it deep inside, but him not saying anything made me take it as a good opportunity to drag him around.

Speaking of Craig… The names of the deceased were slowly increasing on the list of prisoners in Prison One that I had been checking from time to time during my spare time at work, as if waiting to see how I would react. According to Karl, who was investigating the traitors, those who were presumed dead had escaped, which means that all the prison guards and the servants in charge of disposing of the bodies were already on Craig’s side.

I knew Craig had some capabilities, but… There were a total of less than twenty who were assigned to that role. You’ve been betrayed altogether, serves you right, Heinreid! But it’s also me, though!

And so the days had gone by, and I finished writing all the hostage release notices for Prison Two. Ah, it’s finally over. I haven’t held a pen like this since high school. I immersed myself with the feeling of accomplishment, rubbing the callus in my finger that had slightly formed when I heard the sound of a familiar knock.

“My lord, I have an urgent report.”

I wanted to say, ‘You sound rather calm for giving something so urgent.’ The perfect butler Karl, came in when I gave him permission to enter the room and… was holding some sort of luggage in his hand. Still, as though the presence of the luggage was irrelevant, Karl bowed at a fixed angle and gave his report.

“A guard on patrol found two suspicious people at the Pieira River. They didn’t seem to be from town, so they interrogated them and tried to take them to the estate, but they seemed to have resisted. I have just been informed that they are currently engaged in battle.”

One of the words from his report caught my ears and instinctively twitched.

The Pieira River was a large river located a short distance away from the town. The deep, fast-flowing river ran along the Rodvelia territory.

And I had heard of the name of this river… even before I had become an atrocity.

I see. They’re finally here.

‘Hmm,’ I scoffed once as if to mock them and left my seat.

“They’re bold suicidal candidates. But as long as they’re running rampant in my territory, I’ll have to see their faces.”

Karl firmly lifted his face as he heard my words and opened the luggage he had in his hand.

“The horse and the guide are already outside. I’ll help you change your clothes.”

As Karl approached me, he buttoned my open shirt to the top and wrapped a scarf on top of it. After fixing it on the neckline, a thick belt was placed around my waist and attached the iron whip to its strap. Finally, he had me wear a black jacket embroidered with silver threads and I was ready to go.

That happened only for a minute. Despite being quick with his hands, he was able to complete my outfit for going out without being completely unruly.

…Is there anything this guy can’t do? By any chance, is Karl actually my final boss?

I had nothing else to complain about (not that I wanted to), so I headed straight out. Craig, who was always standing by the door, said he was going ahead to get the horses ready, so the one to escort me until then was Karl. The imagery of the perfect butler accompanying the atrocious noble walking at a brisk pace seemed to have brought some tension to the servants they had passed by on their way, trembling as they bowed their heads.

…It’s like my existence itself was already poisonous. I’m sorry for disturbing your work.

Once we reached the front door, that was as far as Karl went to see me off. I simply sent a signal behind my back that I’d be entrusting the estate to him in my absence, and then looked forward.

There were six horses lined up and five guards. Each one of them wore a black hood that was provided for the guards. Craig, the head knight of the guards, was the only one who wore a red hood… and then, he slowly lifted his face.

”

”

“…My lord.”

…What’s with that look on your face, and the sound of the voice you’re making?

Please stop that, I know it’s difficult. But right now, I can’t spoil you, and I can’t also joke about it. I’ve teased you a lot until now, but this one’s probably nothing like them… Today, “I am1” going to hurt you.

Ignoring his clinging gaze, I called out to one of the guards wearing a black hood.

“You’re the guide, aren’t you? What were the appearances of the two suspicious people?”

“Yes! A man with red hair, and a woman with long, brown hair, both wearing blue clothing of good quality and carrying long swords!”

“A woman? A woman is also fighting, huh. Interesting.”

With these words, I mounted the horse that had been quickly prepared. As someone poor, I naturally didn’t have any experience in riding horses, but Heinreid was pretty good at this. Taking that as a signal, the assembled guards also straddled onto their horses one after another. Only one of them didn’t move.

…I placed a lid on my feelings of guilt. From an elevated point of view, I consciously spat cold words at Craig.

“Let’s go, Craig. What are you standing around for? You want to be dragged around by a horse?”

He slowly raised his emerald eyes and met my eyes.

“…I’m coming.”

The battle between the suspicious people and the soldiers had not yet ended when we sped our horses to reach the Pieira River. They seemed to be very skilled, despite the obvious difference in their numbers.

There were soldiers just lying around, and the suspicious people… the two people who would later become saviors of this country, stood there with overwhelming strength.

There were two young men and women, dressed in royal blue battle outfits, fighting together to watch each other’s back.

The woman kicked the soldiers away as she danced, her brown hair fluttering around.

The man had his red hair bristled up and wielded his sword bravely.

…Ah, it was just as I had expected… No, it was just as I had read.

I narrowed my eyes and gazed at the youths of “justice”.

I didn’t even have to use Heinreid’s playing cards to confront them. All I had to do was trace every single word of that novel in my memory.

I got off the horse, picked up the iron whip I had equipped around my waist and spun a set of lines.

“Good grief. I heard a rat had gotten in and came to see it… but how come their heads are still intact?”

I didn’t even have to raise my voice that much, but the noisy battle stopped instantly, as if it were a lie.

Four eyes of a young boy and girl turned around and caught us.

The true demise of the atrocious noble… had finally begun.