episode_0063

In truth, I had been watching everything from the start in a transparently transformed state.

-It seems you don’t have a partner. Would you care to dance with me?

When Service asked Elaine to dance, I felt a slight tension.

-Oh, I’m sorry. I have to go see someone right now.

But it was quite satisfying to repeatedly reject conversation requests with a smiling face.

For some reason, I felt a happy breeze and ended up following Elaine out onto the balcony without much thought.

“You liked me… Have you already grown tired of me…? Is that why you’re leaving me alone? Should I have danced with the Crown Prince?”

I was honestly a bit surprised when Elaine said that.

‘She liked me…?’

I had only kept her by my side because she was needed. There were no romantic feelings involved. The engagement was in the same context.

Moreover, the other words that came out of her mouth were things she could say only if she liked me romantically.

Perhaps due to being heavily intoxicated, emotions flared up unnecessarily due to the sudden rush of alcohol.

“Eos?”

When Marno Luteon entered and suddenly called my name, how surprised I was.

I almost killed him in a fit of rage when he reached out to Elaine.

Fortunately, just before releasing my transparency, Elaine threw a strong punch, avoiding murder.

Anyway,

If caught eavesdropping, there was no need to confirm that the situation would become complicated.

So, after Marno fell,

I opened the door, took a step back, released my transparency, and entered.

Fortunately, she seemed completely unaware.

“What do we do now?”

As Elaine sniffled tears and spoke softly, breathing a sigh of relief, there was nothing to worry about.

This was a trivial matter, and she had simply enforced justice.

“You did well.”

I gently patted Elaine’s head.

“But if this fact is revealed, Eos will suffer because of me…”

“Don’t worry, leave the rest to me.”

Leaning against the railing, I whistled.

Whooosh-

Soon, a tremendous gust of wind swept in as Aquila descended.

“I entrust Elaine to you.”

“Eos, I-I can’t go! If I go like this, you’ll be in trouble…”

I wrapped her in the wind, forcibly placing her on Aquila.

“Don’t do this!”

“Aquila, please.”

“Just trust me! Let’s go, Elaine. Surely, after a night flight with me, everything will be resolved!”

Whoosh!

Aquila quickly moved away.

“…”

I summoned the time spirit Aitas to check if Maruno Lupens had any memory issues.

Due to the severe shock, there was no trace of memories left from the swift punch by Elaine.

Some memory loss occurred due to the intense impact, erasing the memory of reaching out to Elaine.

As I delved into his memories, I could confirm why he had touched Elaine.

“Service.”

It was his doing.

-There is the fiancée of the Crown Prince on that balcony.

-How am I supposed to…?

-Teach that insolent woman some manners.

“Ha-”

Apparently, having been rejected twice hurt his pride considerably.

-Well, even though she’s the Crown Prince’s fiancée… There are many eyes watching…

-Don’t overstep. Just give her a little scare. If you make that arrogant woman realize her place, instead of your brother, you will inherit the family line.

-I-I will do my best!

That’s how it happened.

Going further back in time,

Before the Emperor and Empress, before the Bart Viscount’s family arrived, there were disgusting memories of people shouting about Elaine in front of many others.

-Well, the fiancée of the abandoned prince was a servant. A woman who spread her legs for the desperate prince in order to climb the social ladder… How devoted is this wretched creature?

Maruno Lupens did not hesitate to gossip about Elaine.

There was a reason why Service chose Maruno.

While Maruno was making a scene, everyone except one person did not stop him.

They all just laughed joyfully.

-They say even the king’s name is cursed in absentia, but no matter what, everyone here is truly going too far. Is there anyone among those present here who does not trade with Viscount Bart? If he were to cut ties, any family would suffer severe losses, yet how dare they sympathize with such nonsense?

The only one who opposed was Count Gunter. His family members also wore displeased expressions.

-The minds of these so-called nobles are so vulgar.

-Indeed, Mother. All they have inherited is wealth and money, fancy clothes, and all they know is backstabbing behind others’ backs.

Count Gunter stared sternly at Maruno Lutein.

-Luteon Youngsik.

-Yes…

-If you keep spouting such nonsense, won’t your position as the heir be taken by your younger brother? Isn’t that right?

-…

-If you don’t want even your life taken away, please be careful.

There was nothing more to see.

Until the morning before the banquet, drinking, gambling, and harassing servants.

It was such a miserable life that it almost seemed pointless to watch.

Slap! Slap!

To bring him to his senses, I slapped him back and forth.

“Ugh, ugh….”

It took about 5 seconds for his dazed eyes to widen.

“You, you…!”

Thwack!

I flicked his nose with my fist.

Now he would remember being hit by me from the beginning.

“Grr!”

“How dare you insult my fiancée?”

“Oh, no… It’s not like that…”

“Saying ‘it’s not like that’ is disrespectful.”

Crunch!

“Ack!”

His face was covered in blood in an instant.

But it was too unsatisfying to end it like this.

If done well, it could be good material to lull enemies into complacency.

So, gripping his hair, I slammed the door shut and left.

In one hand, I held the wine bottle that was on the table.

“Ugh… P-please, f-forgive me…”

Perhaps out of terror, he suddenly started apologizing.

“Do you think I’m the one you should apologize to?”

Thud!

“Ack!”

I stomped on his chest.

Such people should never be allowed to have offspring.

That was the way to contribute to the happiness of all humanity.

And.

There was no mercy left for someone who had already crossed the line.

Dragging the bloodied Maruno, I walked to the center of the banquet hall.

“Ahh!”

A horrific sight made screams and gasps erupt everywhere, and everyone retreated in confusion.

The only thing filling the stillness left by the music was the trembling unease.

The Emperor furrowed his brow, wondering what was happening.

The Empress, covering her mouth with a fan, was holding back laughter.

‘Well, yes. There’s no way the poison has been completely neutralized.’

She seemed to be thinking just that.

Indeed, it’s easy to handle those with intelligence.

They believe in their judgments so much that if you throw a few plausible ingredients, they’ll believe it without question.

Service deliberately avoided looking in that direction.

He needed a more definite warning.

That’s why he brought the wine bottle.

It was a kind of ingredient for performance.

“Why… Why are you doing this to me… What did I do wrong…?”

The attitude of those spouting lies is always the same.

Until they are exposed, they play the innocent victim who has committed no crime.

Squelch-

“Are you still not getting the situation? Pull yourself together. I poured some wine as well.

*Klack!* *Gasp!* No matter if you are a prince… *Cough!* Do you think you can get away with doing this to me…!

However, if he could have pulled himself together, he wouldn’t have ended up in this state in the first place.

“I-I haven’t… said anything wrong…! Your fiancée is just a lowly servant of Marquis Bart-”

In the end, I lost my temper once again and struck him on the head.

*Crash!*

The wine bottle shattered.

*Thud.*

I looked down at the unconscious Marno and spoke loud enough for everyone to hear.

“Expect it. You’ll see me again soon.”

“… ”

“When that time comes, you will also realize how terrifying a person with nothing to lose can be.”

It was a warning to all.

Servis seemed to fully understand the meaning of my words, and I felt a strong sense of confrontation from him.

Servis, sitting beside the Empress, was looking at me.

A satisfied smile played on his lips.

His relaxed demeanor was incredibly provocative.

As if to say, ‘I now understand you properly.’

But does he really understand?

Over the past month, I have not just been twiddling my thumbs.

I have been constantly eliminating the Duke Shurain’s lackeys.

Utilizing Marquis Bart’s wealth, I have already won over a considerable number of frontier nobles to my side.

Of course, if Servis were to reassemble his scattered army, my current strength would not be enough to oppose him.

But I had already laid out plans to devour his army.

So, Servis.

Just wait a little longer.

Soon, I will personally kill you with my own hands.”