Ch.108108. You’ve Shown Off Quite Enough.

“Whew, what’s he trying to do?”

“Who is it?”

“It’s Young Master Selden, didn’t you know?”

“S-Selden? Then who are those men picking a fight with him?”

“They’re knights serving Young Master Jason Alphonse.”

“Then isn’t Selden in big trouble…?”

Listening to the whispers of people in the tavern, Renata swallowed hard.

Even if Jason Alphonse had power within the family, should “Selden Alphonse” be intimidated by his subordinates?

In Renata’s judgment, it wasn’t surprising.

Jason Alphonse’s influence within the family had grown the most recently.

Now the situation was neck and neck even when compared to Evander Alphonse, the eldest.

Their arrogance was, in a way, only natural.

Selden Alphonse cracked his neck lightly to both sides before speaking.

“The hierarchy’s a mess, isn’t it?”

“Oh my, Young Master, you’re frightening us. Surely you won’t report this to Baron Byron?”

Renata and the other subordinates of Miria Alphonse bit their lips as they watched the situation unfold.

If this matter escalated and reached Miria Alphonse’s ears, they too could find themselves in an awkward position.

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

It was Lucas who raised his voice.

With his playful expression nowhere to be seen, he furrowed his brows at Jason Alphonse’s subordinate.

In response, one of Jason Alphonse’s men let out a short sigh.

“This is an Alphonse family matter. Young Master Lucas, please stay out of it.”

“Ha, this is ridiculous.”

“…Can you handle Young Master Jason?”

Lucas hesitated at the word ‘Jason’ before speaking.

“Do you think what you’re doing right now is normal?”

“And what if it isn’t?”

Just as Lucas was about to click his tongue at the brazen attitude of those backed by Jason Alphonse, Selden Alphonse slowly walked toward them.

Renata squeezed her eyes shut at the sight.

She thought, this is it, the inevitable explosion.

For her, this was nothing short of the worst-case scenario.

Why?

If Jason and Selden clashed, it was painfully obvious which side her mistress Miria would take.

Reluctantly, Renata exchanged glances with her colleagues and was about to step in to intervene when—

THWACK!

THUD! THUD!

It happened in an instant.

The incident erupted before anyone could do anything.

And Renata couldn’t believe her eyes.

The ones sprawled on the floor weren’t “Selden Alphonse” but Jason Alphonse’s subordinates.

THWACK!

THUD! THUD!

Without so much as blinking, Selden began alternately stomping on the faces of Jason Alphonse’s fallen subordinates with his hard boot soles.

‘How on earth did this happen?’

The men lying on the floor screaming weren’t weak knights within the family.

Not only that, but Renata had completely missed Selden Alphonse’s movements just moments ago.

This wasn’t something that could happen by chance in a scuffle.

‘…Did he really hide his skills all this time?’

There had been rumors since Selden Alphonse left his place of exile.

Absurd gossip that he had been concealing his true self all along for the succession battle.

Renata had tried not to give it any credence.

She had seen him stumbling back to the mansion with glazed eyes after frequenting pleasure districts so many times she couldn’t count them on her fingers.

But to think it was all an act…

What grand purpose could possibly justify such behavior?

She had thought Selden Alphonse wasn’t that kind of person.

She had often seen him trembling in fear even before Leonard Alphonse, the least powerful in the family.

Just “the wastrel from the eastern continent’s edge.”

That was the label she thought Selden Alphonse would carry for life.

But.

Something had seemed off from the moment she was forced to greet him on Miria Alphonse’s orders.

When he stepped out of the carriage, not only was there his vibrant gaze, but despite his slender frame compared to ordinary men, an inexplicable aura emanated from him.

‘It must just be a coincidence.’

Renata denied it once again.

If anything, she was concerned that her mistress still maintained a relationship with him to the point of coming out to greet him.

The other knights felt the same way.

Today’s gathering was also a drinking session filled with complaints and worries about the relationship between Miria Alphonse and Selden Alphonse.

Moreover, how absurd it was to see Selden Alphonse’s friend asking to join their drinking session, as if bad habits never die.

THUD!

THWACK!

But now.

Watching Selden Alphonse beat Jason’s subordinates to the point where their screams could no longer be heard, Renata felt a strange thrill deep in her chest.

THWACK!

THUD!!!!!

Of course, that feeling lasted only briefly.

The cold look in Selden Alphonse’s eyes as he continued his violence even after they had lost consciousness filled her with terror.

Thump! Thump!

Jason Alphonse’s subordinates were at risk of dying pathetically in the tavern if this continued.

To prevent the situation from escalating further, Renata took heavy steps toward Selden Alphonse.

“…Young Master, please stop and have a drink with us.”

At Renata’s words, Selden Alphonse paused, then looked indifferently at his blood-stained boots.

Then, as if accustomed to it, he wiped his boots on the clothes of the fallen subordinates before turning his gaze to Renata.

“Renata.”

“Y-Yes, sir.”

Renata swallowed hard.

Selden Alphonse placed his hand gently on her shoulder and whispered in a low voice while maintaining a bright expression.

“Hey, if you tell my sister about what happened today, you’re dead, got it?”

*

“You roughed up my knights last night?”

My second private meeting with Jason Alphonse in his study.

While I was methodically building a plan to strangle him, I needed to provoke him a bit.

I couldn’t keep being disrespected within the family.

“Your subordinates disgraced the family, brother.”

“Disgraced the family?”

“Yes, by disrespecting me, they naturally disgraced the family as well.”

“Do you think you have that much influence in the family?”

“Well, compared to you, I’m not even worth the dirt under your fingernails, but I still carry the Alphonse family blood, don’t I?”

Jason Alphonse forced a smile and continued.

“They all suffered serious injuries. How long am I supposed to endure this?”

I flashed an artificial smile, as if I’d been waiting for this.

“I acted precisely because I feared you wouldn’t be able to endure it, brother.”

“What…?”

“Would you have stood by while your beloved youngest brother was insulted? Rather, I stepped in to end it at my level.”

I pouted and joked around, causing the usually composed Jason Alphonse to click his tongue.

“Tsk, your eloquence has improved quite a bit during your exile.”

“What?! You mean you were planning to do nothing while the family and I were insulted?”

“Your unnecessary acting skills have improved too.”

“Acting? That’s absurd. How could I possibly deceive my heaven-like brother?”

I shrugged with my arms spread wide.

Jason Alphonse leaned back in his chair and continued.

“I’ve confirmed that all three will need a year for rehabilitation.”

“Really? I thought I hit them lightly. Your subordinates seem to be exaggerating.”

“…Enough with the jokes. Let’s get to the point. You know I’m in a succession battle with our eldest brother, right?”

“Of course, the two most proud figures of the Alphonse family.”

“But you’ve complicated things. Those subordinates you beat up were quite skilled.”

I tilted my head, pretending not to understand.

“What’s been complicated?”

“Because of you, I’ve lost three important subordinates.”

This bastard…

Does he think I’m a pushover because I’ve been tolerating him?

I dropped my smile and adjusted my posture.

“Isn’t that a good thing? Subordinates without loyalty to the family only cause internal strife.”

“Right now, I need subordinates with higher loyalty to me than to the family.”

“Are you planning to start a war within the family?”

“Haha, no, having good subordinates can be a very secure defense mechanism.”

“So what do you want?”

Jason Alphonse crossed his legs before continuing.

“I admit my subordinates were wrong. But you can’t deny that you’ve caused me to lose valuable assets.”

“Just get to the point.”

“I want Rio Sergang. I need immediate reinforcement.”

So after all that long-winded talk, he just wants Rio?

I folded my arms heavily and curled up the corners of my mouth.

“I’m sorry, but that’s not possible.”

“Then I’ll have to speak to father.”

“Go ahead.”

“W-What? Are you saying you don’t care if father hears that you caused trouble while in exile?”

Does he still think ‘Selden Alphonse’ fears Baron Byron?

Well, given his personality, he probably denies all rumors about me and believes only what he sees.

To be frank, if Baron Byron extends my exile period, that would actually be beneficial.

I’m already planning to stabilize Lake Territory after the monster wave ends.

Still maintaining my relaxed posture, I nodded.

“Yes, I don’t care.”

“…Was I too polite in my approach?”

“You were sufficiently arrogant.”

Jason Alphonse glared at me with a face turning red and blue.

In this tense situation, Butler Blackwell entered the study after knocking.

“Young Master.”

“Are you entering my study without permission?!”

Butler Blackwell, who had entered the study, saw Jason Alphonse’s furious expression and wiped away cold sweat from his forehead before speaking.

“…People from the Familia family have just arrived at the mansion.”