Chapter 54

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“Hoho.”

Lord Howard sat in his office, a satisfied smile on his face.

In his hand was a glass of wine, and the red liquid swayed every time he tilted the glass.

Knock-knock—

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

“Come in.”

Creak—

The door opened, and a young man entered.

He had sharp features, strikingly similar to Lord Howard’s.

It was Lord Howard’s son, Gulden.

“Father.”

Gulden spoke in a low voice.

“I heard. You’ve captured Lord Leyton and his knights?”

Lord Howard set down his glass and smiled.

“Yes, everything is ready now. The forest in Leyton Territory, where the magic stones are buried, will soon be ours.”

“Congratulations.”

Gulden’s eyes gleamed as he approached.

“But there’s still one thing left.”

“What’s that?”

“Capturing Lord Leyton and taking his territory is a brilliant plan. However, there’s one concern…”

Gulden paused for a moment before continuing.

“There’s a chance it could lead to war.”

At that, Lord Howard let out a soft laugh.

“I’ve already thought of that. It’s true that the Leyton family isn’t an opponent to be taken lightly. If war breaks out, we’ll lose. But there’s no need to worry. Lord Leyton’s sons are still just children. They’re too young to wage war.”

“I’m not worried about the Leyton family, Father. What concerns me are the other lords.”

“The other lords?”

“Yes. This matter will inevitably become known, and the other lords will surely intervene. Lord Leyton is highly respected in the region, and above all, there are magic stones involved. The other lords won’t tolerate us monopolizing the magic stones. They’ll try to interfere under the guise of helping Lord Leyton. After all, we’ve acted despicably…”

“Hmm…”

Lord Howard’s expression darkened.

Once Lord Leyton was captured, there would be no war with the Leyton family.

Lord Leyton’s sons were still too young to lead a war, and more importantly, if a war broke out, Lord Leyton’s head would roll.

But as Gulden said, the other lords were the problem.

They had plenty of reasons to intervene.

For justice.

To help Lord Leyton.

To prevent Lord Howard from monopolizing the magic stones.

“…That’s why I’ve come up with a solution.”

Gulden said.

“A very good way to prevent the other lords from intervening, Father.”

“What is it?”

“It’s for me to marry Lord Leyton’s daughter, Ellie.”

“…”

Lord Howard’s expression stiffened.

“But… isn’t she too young?”

“She’s still young, but once Ellie and I are married, the Leyton family will become our in-laws. At that point, we can simply release Lord Leyton. With Ellie by my side, Lord Leyton won’t dare act recklessly. The other lords will also lose their reason to intervene. If they do, they’ll end up making enemies of the Leyton family as well…”

“Oh…”

A smile spread across Lord Howard’s lips.

It was an excellent plan.

“Then we must arrange the marriage first. Once the marriage is settled, we’ll release Lord Leyton to prevent the other lords from intervening.”

Lord Howard stood up and embraced his son.

“You’ve thought this through very well.”

His son, who had always been gloomy and reclusive, had come up with such a brilliant plan.

“I’m very proud of you today.”

“…Thank you, Father.”

“We must send a letter requesting the marriage immediately. The sooner, the better.”

“Then I’ll take my leave now.”

“Yes, go and rest.”

Gulden bowed his head and left his father’s office.

As he walked down the hallway, a smile slowly spread across his face.

Soon, Gulden arrived at his room.

As soon as he opened the door and entered, he burst into laughter.

“Hahaha!”

Gulden strode toward the wall.

“Finally… finally…!”

The wall was covered with paintings, each depicting the same girl.

A girl reading a book in the garden, a girl dancing in the banquet hall, a girl sleeping peacefully in bed…

All of them were painted by Gulden, and the girl in the paintings was none other than Ellie.

“Finally…!”

Gulden tenderly caressed each painting.

His fingertips trembled slightly.

“Finally…!”

A year ago, Gulden had visited Leyton Castle by chance and saw Ellie.

At the time, Ellie was playing in the garden, laughing brightly.

Gulden had been so struck by her that he couldn’t move.

He couldn’t take his eyes off her.

Her clear laughter.

Her hair shimmering in the sunlight.

The pure smile on her lips.

‘I want to protect her…’

At first, that was undoubtedly his feeling.

Gulden wanted to protect Ellie.

But that feeling gradually turned into obsession, and eventually, it morphed into a desire to possess her.

“Finally, I can have you… From now on, I’ll protect you… You’ll…”

Gulden’s face twisted with desire.

“You’ll be mine forever, Ellie…”

◈

“…”

Lucy squinted at the bread Ellie had made.

The bread Ellie made looked much more presentable than the one Lucy had made.

Even though it was her first time making it.

Are you sure you’re not lying?

“Hehe, what do you think, Lucy?”

Ellie asked proudly.

“Do you think my dad will like the bread I made?”

“…”

Lucy chuckled softly as she looked at Ellie.

What could she be thinking?

There’s no way such a pure child would lie.

It must really be her first time making bread.

Yet, it looked so much better than the bread Lucy had made…

‘She must’ve gotten lucky.’

Lucy reached out and wiped the flour off Ellie’s cheek.

“He’ll love it. You made it really well.”

“Thanks, Lucy. I’ll give you some too!”

“Yeah. Then, my bread too…”

“I’m good!”

“?”

Lucy looked baffled, and Finn slowly shook her head beside her.

“Lucy, what you made isn’t bread. It’s some kind of cursed object. Even a demon wouldn’t eat it, I’m telling you.”

Lucy’s expression darkened.

Sure, even she wouldn’t eat it, but still, someone might…

Whoosh—

Lucy decided to summon Amon.

She held onto the hope that maybe Amon would eat it.

“…Keke.”

Amon emerged from the magic circle.

“Ah, Amon!”

“It’s Amon!”

Ellie and Finn rushed toward Amon, and Amon awkwardly hugged them both.

Lucy also approached Amon.

With a forced smile on her face.

“Amon, I have something for you.”

“Huh?”

Amon turned his head.

Lucy pointed to the bread she had made.

“That’s the bread I made. I want to give it to you.”

Amon stared at the bread for a moment.

Ellie and Finn quietly observed Amon’s reaction, while Lucy looked tense.

Surely he wouldn’t refuse.

This was the same guy who ate human heads and even tried to eat a fairy’s… sweat. He wouldn’t refuse just because the bread was a little messed up.

Amon slowly opened his mouth.

“I’m… not really hungry…”

“!”

He refused.

Lucy bit her lip and stared at Amon.

“W-what if it’s an order?”

“…Even if it’s an order, that’s too much. If you offer me a sacrifice, I might close my eyes and eat it. Like thirty human heads…”

Whoosh—

Lucy dismissed Amon.

Even she couldn’t bring herself to offer thirty human heads just to get him to eat the bread.

“Lucy…”

Ellie looked at Lucy with pity.

But Lucy wasn’t ready to give up yet.

If a demon wouldn’t eat it, what about an undead?

Lucy immediately summoned Darcan.

“Ah, it’s Darcan!”

Ellie rushed toward Darcan, and Darcan happily hugged her.

Finn, seeing Darcan for the first time, just fluttered around.

“Hehe, Ellie, long time no see, hehehe.”

Darcan chuckled sinisterly as he patted Ellie.

Lucy quickly pulled Darcan away from Ellie.

“Come over here, Darcan.”

She led him to the bread and stood him in front of it.

“Eat this.”

“…Huh?”

“It’s bread I made. You can have it. I made it for you.”

“…”

Darkan’s blue eyes dimmed.

“W-well, this is a bit…”

“It’s an order. Eat it.”

“Even if it’s an order, this is… Unless you grant me a request…”

“What request?”

“It’s simple. If you could wear a cute dress and strike a pose…”

Whoosh—

Lucy dismissed Darkan too.

Then she slumped to the floor.

“…”

In the end, both the demon and the undead had refused.

How had such a bread even come into existence?

She followed the recipe.

Was it because she was a necromancer?

Thud. Thud.

Just then, someone entered the kitchen.

“How’s the bread-making going?”

It was Ed and Ron.

“Ah, Ed! Ron! Look, it’s the bread I made!”

When Ellie proudly showed off her bread, Ed and Ron smiled.

“Wow, Ellie, not bad. It looks delicious.”

Ed said that, and Ron nodded in agreement beside him.

Then Ed and Ron noticed the bread Lucy had made.

“What is that… evil-looking thing…?”

Lucy struggled to her feet and said to Ed and Ron, “That’s the bread I made.”

“Ah…”

“Hmm…”

Ed and Ron let out heavy sighs.

A self-deprecating smile appeared on Lucy’s lips.

“But it’s so bad I think I should just throw it away. No one’s going to eat it anyway…”

“Ah…”

“Hmm…”

Ed and Ron seemed to ponder for a moment, then resolutely said, “I’ll eat it.”

They spoke in unison.

Then they looked at each other.

“…Are you sure, Ron? That doesn’t look like something you can handle.”

“Are you sure, Ed? Eating that might cost you your life.”

“I’ve already staked my life.”

“Same here.”

“…”

Watching them, Lucy decided to just throw the bread away.

She could always make a better one next time.

Just then, Ellie approached Ed and Ron.

“By the way, when is Dad coming back?”

Ed and Ron stopped talking and looked at Ellie.

Both of their expressions were strangely dark.

“I want to give him the bread I made soon…”

Ellie pouted.

Ed quietly spoke to her.

“Ellie… there’s something we need to tell you.”

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
At the very least, the old lord isn’t a minecraft youtuber like his son.

That’s at least somewhat respectable… right?