Chapter 173

One night at the Celtrine family.

It was my first time experiencing this, since on the day I was possessed, I had to leave immediately for the Academy.

I entered my large, spacious, and cozy room, and immediately started searching.

To see if there was anything useful.

And then I found it.

A diamond ring, rolling around in the corner of a desk drawer.

I had seen this ring before.

On Regina’s hand.

Our engagement ring.

“ This bastard… he really wanted to end it, huh?”

I clicked my tongue.

I felt bad for Regina.

Well, normally, I’d be celebrating.

Not now, though.

Phew, phew.

I blew off the dust from the diamond, wiped it clean with my clothes, and put it on my left ring finger.

It was an expensive item, its brilliance clear, like a pure drop of water.

It looked good on my slender finger.

“ It looks good.”

I muttered, and threw myself onto the bed.

So soft…

My body couldn’t handle this luxury, after sleeping on that trashy bed in the common dormitory.

I could almost feel all the muscles in my body screaming in ecstasy.

I started getting drowsy.

But it would be a waste to sleep now.

I got up.

“ He said he’d consider it, right?”

I muttered, recalling what had happened earlier.

Count Celtrine didn’t give an immediate answer, and said he’d think about it.

A wise choice.

I would have been disappointed if the head of the family had just agreed to such a momentous decision because his beloved son had asked.

“ Well, I can wait.”

I had already presented my argument, with the most logical reasoning I could muster.

I didn’t doubt that he was capable of understanding its rationality.

I was certain that my plan wouldn’t fail.

“ The only thing left is… how to spend my time…”

My time, until I return to the Academy, would be spent here, in the Celtrine family.

I needed to use it effectively, as I always do.

“ Time to earn some brownie points.”

My current popularity within the Celtrine family… was probably in the negatives.

If it were a color, it would be a dangerous red.

A successor hated by both the employees and the people of the territory? Such a rare… No, this is just absurd!

If I ignore this, it could become a problem later.

Even in simulation games, if the people’s loyalty is red, it means the territory is screwed.

“ Alright, I decided.”

And so, I decided what to do.

* * *

Being an employee of the Celtrine family… was a terrible job.

The work itself wasn’t particularly difficult.

It’s the emotional aspect that was unbearable.

Their employer’s heir was someone worthy of being at the top of the “Worst Employers” list.

Insults, physical abuse… it was commonplace if he was in a bad mood, or if someone simply displeased him.

There wasn’t a single employee who hadn’t endured such abuse from Max.

But maybe… that was better.

The situation was worse for the maids.

Max would stare at them lecherously, make lewd comments…

He’d even casually try to touch them inappropriately, even while having a fiancee.

Anyway, Max Celtrine was the object of both fear and loathing among the employees.

Then why do most employees endure and continue to work here?

First, because most of them were responsible for supporting their families.

And second, the pay was high, befitting a wealthy family.

Most of them were enduring this terrible job just for those reasons.

But…

A strange atmosphere suddenly started to spread among the employees.

It happened right after Max returned to his family home.

* * *

“…Don’t you have a bad feeling about this?”

“Definitely.”

The maids were doing laundry by the well.

Chatting, like any other day.

But the topic of their conversation was strange.

They were talking about “that man,” a topic they usually avoided mentioning.

Max Celtrine, not getting angry, not cursing, not hitting anyone…

It was naturally a topic of conversation.

“ Bu-But… there’s something different about his eyes.”

A young maid said cautiously.

Max’s gaze was usually… lecherous.

But his eyes… there was no trace of that.

He almost… seemed normal.

Well, it’s a funny situation, that he’s making them uneasy by acting normal.

“ Sigh… You’re still young. Don’t be so naive. Human nature never changes. My late father said so, and it’s the truth.”

An older maid said, as if exasperated.

“ That’s right, that’s right.”

“ I’d rather believe that the sun won’t rise tomorrow.”

The other maids agreed.

It was only natural.

They had suffered a lot because of Max.

They probably had enough complaints to fill an entire night.

“ Umm… Bu-But… Hank said…”

The young maid scratched her head.

“ Hank? What about him?”

“ He was drunk… and he was… sobbing… saying, ‘Sob, sob, he’s finally human. The heavens haven’t abandoned the Celtrines!’ ”

“ What? ”

The maids looked baffled.

Hank, the captain of the Celtrine knights, hated Max more than anyone.

And that Hank… was sobbing, saying Max had finally become human?

It was so absurd that they were speechless.

“ Ugh, just how much did that guy bribe him? To make him change sides like that? He has no principles, none at all.”

The older maid clicked her tongue.

“ Do you think he offered a bribe? ”

“ Maybe he’s trying to win everyone over by acting like he’s changed. Ugh, scary.”

“ But… would there even be a reason for him to do that?”

“ Of course there is. He must have felt that his position as heir was in danger. Miss Liss, she’s so clever, her influence is growing.”

Max was “that guy,” but Liss was “Miss Liss.”

That alone showed how the employees viewed them.

“ A-A bribe…? I-I don’t think Hank would…”

The young maid’s meek protest was drowned out.

Just then…

“ Oh, come on, don’t hate him so much. I don’t think he’s committed any mortal sins.”

A man’s voice suddenly interrupted them.

Max’s voice.

“ Oh, my! ”

“ Kyaaa! ”

“ Uh, uh, uh… ! ”

The maids screamed in shock.

But even in this situation, they instinctively dropped to their knees and clasped their hands together.

Survival instinct.

“ Ple-Please… fo-forgive us… Yo-Young Master…”

“ We… We… di-didn’t say… an-anything… too bad…”

“ Th-That’s right… We just… hope you’ll… mercifully forgive us… ple-please…”

The maids pleaded for forgiveness.

They were pale, and scared.

It was understandable.

They knew Max’s terrible personality better than anyone.

And they had given him a reason to punish them, so there was no need to explain further.

“ Hmm, well… I understand. They say you can curse even the King behind his back. Who am I to judge? ”

“ ?!”

The maids couldn’t believe their ears.

Normally, he’d be showering them with insults and physical abuse.

But he was saying, with a calm expression, that he understood?

A shocking scene, unbelievable even while witnessing it.

They weren’t relieved, they were anxious.

Extremely anxious.

They feared that this strange behavior was a prelude to an even bigger storm.

The maids trembled involuntarily.

But …

“ Besides, I was the one who caused this. I have to admit that. So, let’s just… pretend nothing happened. What do you think? Okay? ”

Max even suggested letting it slide.

The maids’ faces turned even paler.

They sensed it.

That something was terribly wrong.

The maids begged for their lives.

“ Ple-Please… spa-spare us… Young Master! ”

“ Please… at least, spare our lives…”

“ Sob, sob… Just… let us leave on our own two feet! We’ll never come back, never! ”

Some were even sobbing.

“…”

Max looked speechless.

The situation was absurd, there was no talking sense into them.

I need to show them with actions.

One maid caught my eye.

A young maid, who seemed less scared than the others.

I pointed at her.

“ You.”

“ Yes, yes?”

“ Right, you. Get up.”

“ Oh, yes.”

The young maid got up cautiously.

I asked,

“ You heard me clearly, right?”

“ Ah… Yes, I did.”

“ Then… nothing happened, okay? ”

“ Ye-Yes…”

“ Okay. Don’t worry and just… keep doing what you were doing. I’ll be going.”

Max turned around and left.

But the maids remained frozen, holding their breath.

The young maid blinked.

“ H-He said it’s okay…”

“… ”

“ Sisters?”

Finally, they seemed to unfreeze.

“ Gasp… gasp… gasp… gasp…”

“ We’re… we’re… alive?!”

“ Wh-What… what just happened?!”

The maids were bewildered.

But the oldest maid, the most senior among them…

“ H-He’s… he’s… he’s… gone mad!”

“ Huh?”

“ He’s gone mad! ”

… She concluded that Max had lost his mind.

* * *

Every action of Max, since his return.

Everything he did was a hot topic among the Celtrine employees.

It couldn’t be helped.

His words and actions were so different from his past.

Even the employees, who had initially been skeptical, were now divided.

Those who believed he had truly changed and those who believed he was just putting on an act.

Even that… was a miraculous achievement, considering his past.

* * *

“ You’re… doing some interesting things.”

Regina said, exhaling a cloud of cigarette smoke.

We were sitting in the Celtrine family garden.

White snow was falling from the sky.

A thick layer of snow had already accumulated on the ground.

“ I’m not really doing anything special, they’re just making a fuss.”

I chuckled.

Instead of a cigarette, I was sipping hot coffee.

I need to take care of myself, I’m weak.

But she’s strong, so it doesn’t matter to her.

“ Heh. That’s what makes life easy for bad people.”

Regina said with a strange smile on her face.

“ Hmm? ”

“ When bad people show even a single act of kindness, people readily accept it, thinking, ‘ He actually has a good side.’ But when good people show even a single flaw, people express disappointment, saying, ‘ He was acting all nice, I knew he was like this all along.’ ”

I’ve heard this somewhere before…

Is this a common saying here too?

Anyway, it’s related to a truth about navigating society.

To never be a naive pushover.

The world doesn’t appreciate kindhearted fools.

They just treat them like tools to be exploited.

But, anyway…

“ I get what you’re saying… But are you implying that *I* was a bad person?”

“ You *were* a bad person. Not now, though.”

“ That’s a blunt answer. I won’t deny it, though.”

I smiled wryly.

She was right.

I’m getting these reactions because of how bad I was.

Regina exhaled another cloud of smoke and then changed the subject.

“ You’re doing this… for me, aren’t you?”

My engagement ring.

Her gaze was fixed on my finger.

“ Not really, I’m just… doing what I should have done a while ago.”

“ 70 points for effort, even though it’s late.”

I smiled faintly at her words.

Then …

Regina’s expression turned serious.

“ But… why aren’t you asking? When you care so much about these things?”

“ Asking what?”

“ About me… after graduation.”

About you… after graduation…?

Wait a minute.

It wouldn’t change anything, even if I *did* ask.

You’d still do what you want…

“ I’m… willing to consider your opinion, to some extent.”

My eyes widened.