Chapter 22

It was just me and Craig in the bedroom. This would’ve been my usual morning routine, had it not been so long ago.

But it wasn’t morning, but rather evening, when it had just started to get dark. On top of that, I was supposed to be the owner of this room, but now… objectively speaking, Craig looking down at me with one hand on his hip, almost made me think that he was the one in control.

“Glad to see you’re awake. Did you sleep well?”

“…Why are you here?”

I was finally able to ask him that question when he spoke.

It was also idiotic to speak while lying down, so I slowly sat up straight on the bed.

“I was assigned to wake you up.”

“I have relieved you of that duty a long time ago. You’re violating my orders.”

“Is that so. But I’ve already been dismissed. Don’t you think I’m no longer obligated to listen to your orders?”

Then, he just contradicted himself with his answer to my question earlier. He most likely didn’t have any intention of telling me the truth.

…Well, if you would look at the situation calmly, you would be able to get the general idea without asking directly.

I see. If that was the case, then it would probably converge in a way similar to the novel.

“…Have you met your real master?”

We were already at this point, so I wanted to at least know for my peace of mind. The blue robes I saw from the shadows of a dark alley, back in town – those were Sieg’s and Natasha’s. I couldn’t tell which one was which, since they immediately retreated… However, they were not supposed to be working separately, so it meant that both of them had already invaded the town at that point.

Nevertheless, I was a little worried since it wasn’t information I had confirmed myself. I wondered if they were able to safely rendezvous at the rebels’ hideout.

Craig was still looking down on me when he answered, with slightly raised eyebrows.

“I don’t know how you knew that he was there at that time, but I’d like to extend my gratitude to you. I was also able to take my family to safety.”

“Heh, good for you. You’re now a free man.”

“Yes, you’re right. That’s why I came back here… to you.”

As soon as he finished his words, he lightly pushed me on the chest. Without resisting it, I let my upper body sink into the black sheets again, and Craig climbed on top of me right away. The iron whip that made a clattering sound was probably in the way. He removed it from the belt, and threw it on the floor. My weapon was taken away, so I was already left unarmed; but Craig grabbed both of my hands and pinned them to the sides of my head just to make sure.

The man who had held me captive frowned in a complicated way, when he saw me comply obediently without screaming.

“Aren’t you so composed? Are you perhaps still half asleep?”

“Not really. …Oh, just a word of advice… After you kill me, return to the Royal Capital immediately. If I die, His Majesty will finally make his move. If he is in direct command, the damage to the people will be immeasurable.”

I was expecting to be slain with a sword, but perhaps I would be strangled instead. Or, beaten to death.

If he was going to do it, I would rather he do it quickly and get it all over with.

“Do you intend to let yourself be killed obediently?”

“Wouldn’t there be nothing better than that?”

Not just for me, but for you, as well. It must be what you’ve been wishing for.

“Yes, you’re right. If you were truly the lord, it would’ve been.”

I had those thoughts, but then Craig said something unamusing. …He was still doubting me.

I sighed with an attempt to sound exasperated.

“There you go again. You never learn, do you?”

“I wasn’t convinced, even back then.”

“What? Don’t lie. You grabbed me by the collar.”

I’m sure it’s still fresh in your mind, how you were provoked and enraged. Don’t say you’ve forgotten.

I pointed that out to him, and he seemed to be conscious of it, as he gave me an awkward look.

“…Well, not completely, anyway. But, you haven’t really answered any of the questions I raised to you in the first place.”

“…I did.”

“You said it was ‘an experiment to enjoy my reaction’, right? Assuming that was really the reason, then it would be strange if things didn’t go back to the way they were, after revealing your true intentions. You acted very much like it, but you remained quiet in your actual behavior.”

Without giving me time to interject, Craig pressed further, “And…”

“The decisive factor was the disappearance of the Marquis of Sekles and his family. …The one who told them, no, Angelica, where to escape was you, right?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“If you’re just going to feign ignorance, you don’t have to answer me. After all, I already got proof about that matter. I’m sure… you’ll find it troublesome to think of an excuse for why you tracked down the traitor’s headquarters, leaving them alone, and in fact, even using them.”

“…”

Didn’t he say he had proof? Huh, did Angelica tell him about how I guided her? I know I may not have been able to keep her mouth shut, but I thought she’d be smart enough to figure things out after I had gone through all the trouble to instruct Craig so he wouldn’t hear us…”

For some reason, I felt like things were not looking so good. In fact, what Craig said was not far off the mark. I was just trying to smoke out a lot of things by provoking his anger, and when he was composed, I was quite at a disadvantage.

From the looks of it, he probably saw through my intentions, so I didn’t think I could use the same kind of provocation as before.

—However.

“Even so… I am Heinreid.”

The crimes that I had committed would never go away. The one who did all those irreversible atrocities, was undoubtedly me.

It was too heavy to throw away, and too deep to forget. If I was going to make such a choice, I wouldn’t have started settling my affairs in the first place.

“…I’m sure you are. I don’t think you’re a completely different person anymore, either.”

“Then–”

“But,”

Craig interrupted me, not letting me say anything.

“Lord Heinreid. You can no longer commit atrocities, can you?”

He wasn’t trying to confirm it. His voice contained the sound of assertiveness.

“Then, either way, you’re not the same person as the lord was.”

I was taken aback by his words.

What the hell is this guy talking about? He’s making an irrational, no, more like an emotional argument. Who the hell would be convinced with that? Or perhaps, did you convince yourself that?

His theory was so far-fetched that I couldn’t help scrutinizing it. I could even provide at least one piece of circumstantial evidence. It wasn’t like I haven’t committed any atrocities since I woke up.

“D…on’t be stupid. Have you forgotten how I made you point your sword at Sieg at the Pieira River?”

“How could I forget? But, I also know that your actions are being reported to His Majesty. Under such circumstances, you had to play the role of the lord to some extent in order to slip through his eyes… You couldn’t ignore it now that the reports have come in, so you had me, something you still have control over, turn my sword on him. The fact that you didn’t let the pursuers fire at them is also a good piece of evidence.”

That was… because I already had the knowledge that they could get away with it… No, that’s not important right now.

“You’re stretching it a bit. That’s just a convenient interpretation for your ego.”

Hm? But why would he need to interpret it like that?

A question mark floated in my mind, and Craig looked truly annoyed.

“…We are not getting anywhere at this rate. If you really insist, I will prove it to you quickly.”

Prove it?

“What do you—?”

Before I could even finish my question, Craig had made his move.

He held me down, and his face came close to mine… Before I knew it, our lips were pressed together.

…Huh?

“Nn…?!”

The instant I became confused, a tongue slipped into my mouth. It slipped in unobtrusively, tracing my teeth, tickling the roof of my mouth, and stimulating my tongue as if it was being dragged out.

When my ears caught the wet, sticky sounds, I finally understood what was going on and tried to push back, but my seized arms wouldn’t budge.

This stupid strength…!

I was being handled from above, so the saliva kept flowing to me one after the other. Most of it just sloppily spilled out from the corner of my mouth, but some went down my throat and into my windpipe, probably since I didn’t have any intention of swallowing it. My throat made an unpleasant choking sound.

When Craig heard that, he finally pulled back.

The moment our lips parted, I coughed as hard as I could.

The spit I spat out made an even darker stain on the black sheets.

“Cough, haa…! Craig, what–“

After the coughing had somewhat subsided, I looked at Craig.

The man who had done such an outrageous thing to me, even seemed not the least bit concerned.

“What’s the matter? If the previous lord had something like this done to him, he would have bitten their tongue and have them killed in less than a second.”

“It’s not like this situation was ever going to happen in the first place! Not to mention, you set it up as a surprise–“

“Understood. Then, it’s fine as long as there’s a warning, isn’t it?”

No, it isn’t! You don’t get it at all! Stop trying to find flaws in every single thing I say!

However, before I could argue those thoughts with him, he grabbed both of my seized hands and forced me to rest it against his neck. I could feel his Adam’s apple against my thumb, and unconsciously flinched.

“I’m going to kiss you now. If you don’t like it, you can kill me and run.”

“Wait, w… n-nnngh—!”

In spite of my words to stop him, my lips were sealed once again. His outstretched tongue played around with the inside of my mouth as he pleased, ravaging it. The vulgar sound of liquid mixed with my own groans, drove me to tremendous shame.

I wasn’t restrained. Rather, my hands were around Craig’s neck.

Just as Craig had said, if I was the original Heinreid, I wouldn’t hesitate in strangling him or biting off his tongue. I would’ve done the same… if it was before I became Heinreid. If something like this had happened to me in my life before I killed myself, I would’ve rejected it with all my might.

But, now… The memories of Heinreid killing others kept me from doing so. Maybe I was traumatized. My reason cried out: What if I resist, and they get hurt? What if it unfolds into a bloodbath? I don’t want to see such a… fearsome scene again. I lost my strength. My will to reject him collapsed.

“Hh… a?!”

As I surrendered my lips to him, unable to offer much resistance, I suddenly felt a new sensation.

Craig’s hands were free now that he wasn’t restraining me, and so were mine. He smoothly traced along my jawline from behind my ear to the bottom of my chin. While I shuddered from the tickling sensation, my clothes were loosened around my neck, a large and slightly rough hand entered between my disheveled shirt.

He swam across my chest for a while, as if playing with it, but when he eventually found a protrusion that felt different, he pinched it without any hesitation.

“—~~~~!!”

My body jolted. My eyes widened, and I saw the man’s face as he skillfully made our connection shallow enough to prevent our teeth from colliding at the last second.

The expression on his face narrowed, as if he had finally found something.

I didn’t know if it was due to shame or anger, but heat rose to my head.

Don’t get cocky, you little shit!

Both my hands that had been around Craig’s neck were now on his head.

Without a moment’s delay, I pulled him closer, and welcomed his tongue more deeply. With my own will, I caressed his tongue that had stopped moving after being caught by surprise. After aggressively twisting it and pulling back a bit to nibble it with my lips, I licked up the underside from the base to finish it off.

“…!”

Craig realized that he was about to lose the initiative, and straightened up as if he couldn’t take it anymore. I took the opportunity to pull my open garment closed, and covered my mouth with my other arm.

“…I wasn’t expecting that technique. You got me.”

“Ha… shit. Move!”

I had no intention of moving my arms, so I ordered him in a muffled voice while covering my mouth.

However, Craig finally drew an arc to his lips, smiling and uttering dreadful words.

“Well now, what shall I do? You seem to be on board with it, too.”

“Don’t give me that nonsense! …Tsk, if you went more than that, then…!”

“Then?”

I thought desperately, as I used my elbow to restrain the person who was about to lean in on me again.

But there was nothing left for me to bluff with. Eberhardt had already given up on me, and I had already freed all the hostages to Craig.

The only thing I could say I have left would be…

“I-I will take my life right here! I’ll bite off my tongue and die!”

Freeze.

Whatever I shouted in my desperate attempt had a positive effect. However, Craig, who was still closing in on me, had stopped moving.

During that interval, I slipped out of the arm cage that surrounded me and got up on the bed.

I couldn’t take any more insolence and fixed my disheveled clothes. Craig watched me, proceeded to sigh and spoke resentfully.

“…You speak of foul words, if not atrocious. You don’t go easy when it comes to exploiting people’s weaknesses.”

“…You’re the only person, after all, who could use my life as a hostage. Why are you doing this?”

I didn’t really know. I was sure there were other ways to confirm my true nature, but the fact that he dared to do it this way… probably meant that, didn’t it?

Was there ever opportunity for that to happen?

“Well… To tell you the truth, I’m in a state of reluctance myself. We’ll talk later.”

What the hell is with that?

The younger man who seemed impossible to decipher, made an exasperated sound, not having the energy to get into it at the moment.