Like Recognizes Like

Shakline couldn’t help but lament at Scarl’s nonchalant demeanor.

“Th-th-that! Not even a change in expression! I don’t know how a piece of trash like you got to know the Princess and Aiden’s vice-master, Kasha! Your Highness! Kasha! You must know. This man is—”

Just as Shakline’s tone lowered dramatically, Scarl interjected.

“Kasha, come here.”

“Yes.”

Guessing that this was the moment he had foreshadowed, Kasha stood next to Scarl.

Everyone’s attention was focused on Scarl’s lips, like the highlight of a stage performance, wondering what the baron, who had been silent until now, would say.

Scarl put his arm around Kasha, who had approached him.

She flinched in surprise, but that was it. She remained silent as Scarl caressed her shoulder.

“As you can see.”

At that sight, Shakline quickly accused Scarl.

“…I see. So, a baron is reduced to being a gigolo? Your Highness—”

Scarl cut off Shakline’s words, who was calling out to the Princess, once again.

His tone, unlike Shakline’s, was even, neither excited nor fearful.

He spoke calmly in his usual deep baritone, as if stating a fact.

“Those are harsh words, Count.”

People sensed confidence in Scarl’s composure.

Doubts about Shakline’s claims began to sprout from there.

Scarl’s hand, which had been on Kasha’s shoulder, slowly slid down her back.

Passing her slender waist, he stroked her smooth thigh, then moved up to grab her hip and pull her close.

“Ah.”

Kasha’s bewildered expression and the way she nestled against him looked natural.

She buried her face in his arm and didn’t resist at all.

A small gap.

A small hole appeared in the trap that Shakline had set, thanks to Scarl’s actions.

It wasn’t the scene he had originally intended, but Scarl wanted Kasha to be surprised naturally like this.

Most of what Shakline was spouting was slander based on the assumption that the group didn’t know about Scarl’s womanizing ways.

But what if everyone in the group already knew that Scarl was trash?

“Luna.”

No matter what Shakline said, Luna approached with a purely devoted look in her eyes.

“Yes, Scarl.”

Scarl gently placed his hand on Luna’s waist.

Unlike Kasha, it was an unannounced action, but she leaned into him even more, as if not wanting to lose.

‘He must have something in mind.’

It was always like this.

Everything he did always ended up benefiting us.

The four of them, except for herself, seemed to already know that Flare and the viscount’s son had something going on, and for some reason, that Count Shakline was attacking Scarl.

Let’s just trust Scarl for now.

He’s been our guiding light for the past five years.

Believing in that experience, Luna snuggled into his firm arm, just like the day she met him again.

“…Scarl.”

Luna, looking at Scarl with a blushing face, as if embarrassed, lifted her heels and whispered softly in Scarl’s ear.

“I’m only helping you this time.”

Her words were mixed with a sense of self-doubt for not knowing anything about the current situation, resentment for not being informed, and jealousy for Kasha being found first, but Scarl didn’t notice.

‘Cold, Luna.’

To everyone else, it looked like a sweet lovers’ whisper.

Neither woman resisted.

What this meant was clear.

Scarl wasn’t afraid to show off his womanizing ways in front of the Princess.

An attitude that a normal playboy would never take.

He’s always been like that, always been trash.

So, the Princess must have known about it beforehand.

That thought crossed everyone’s minds.

Shakline, not expecting him to be so brazen, pointed his finger with an angry face.

“What are you doing in front of the Princess so rudely!”

How belated.

Shakline’s miscalculation was that Scarl was more insane than he thought.

But it was only natural that Flare and Sophia, who were watching from behind without knowing anything, had their expressions sour.

Kasha, who had been told something by Scarl, gave the two a quick wink.

Only then did the two hide their emotions and compose themselves.

Starting with Luna and Kasha, the four women decided to follow Scarl’s lead in this moment, just like they had for the past five years.

Everyone around them was frozen with surprised expressions.

If they could inflict violence with their eyes, he would have been covered in blood just now.

‘Contempt, disgust, anger, jealousy…’

His heart ached at the sight of Flare and Sophia’s surprised faces, but it was okay.

He figured he would get an earful from Luna later when they were alone, but it was okay.

‘Even if he pretends to be nice for a moment, trash is still trash.’

He turned his gaze to Kasha.

“M-master.”

Unlike her trembling voice and the increasingly rapid beating of her heart, Kasha’s eyes, as she looked up at him, were filled with composure.

‘She already understands my intentions. She’s so smart.’

He massaged Luna’s waist with the hand that was holding her.

“Stay still, Kasha, Luna. The Count suspects our relationship, doesn’t he? Hmm?”

Luna, who had been quiet, replied in a flushed voice.

“…Yes.”

Kasha carefully clung to his arm and buried her face in it.

“As you command.”

He released the arm Kasha was holding, gently stroked her hair, and looked at Shakline with a sly smile.

“Gigolo? What else are you curious about, Magistrate?”

He sent the two women behind him.

Shakline’s back trembled as he lowered his head, as if he had lost, as if he had nothing more to say.

‘That bastard’s lips are twitching?’

Shakline’s eyes, as he raised his head, were not dead.

“Guards! Come in here! James!”

‘James.’

James, whom he had taken care of yesterday, and the other five all entered.

“The great Count Shakline! That’s right! That man assaulted me yesterday!”

Not only James, whom he had caressed yesterday, but the others were even worse.

As if they hadn’t even bothered to get treated, they were covered in casts, bandages, bruises, and scars.

‘As expected, he got caught and beaten.’

“That’s him! That’s the bastard!”

“That’s the man who interfered with Magistrate Sanuf Shakline’s orders!”

“Here! Look here! My eye is bruised from being hit! My lip is torn too!”

“My arm is broken!”

The five of them screamed and vehemently accused him.

‘If this is the case, the shark must have taken the bait properly.’

Is it his turn?

Shakline, smirking, approached his five subordinates and patted them on the shoulder as if to encourage them.

“There was such an unsavory incident yesterday as well. I wonder how you’ll explain this, Baron Bernatore.”

Instead of answering, he released his mana.

Everyone looked at him with surprised eyes.

“Are you saying that since words don’t work, you want to fight?”

He shook his head at Shakline, who was trying to intimidate him.

“No. Right now, I am tracking the corruption of Sanuf’s magistrate, Drake Shakline.”

Just as he thought.

He knew there would be something like this in the mansion.

“Found it.”

Shakline’s pupils, beginning to panic, couldn’t find their way, his words stuttered, and his voice grew louder.

“Wh-what are you talking about! Suddenly! Answer what I said! Baron!”

Ignoring Shakline, he knelt on one knee in front of Sophia.

“Princess Sophia.”

Sophia’s face, as she looked up, was filled with disappointment towards him.

“…What is it, Baron Bernatore?”

‘I have no choice.’

He lowered his head again and loaded his words with mana so that everyone could hear.

“I believe the royal family has the right to summarily execute corrupt officials.”

He hoped that Sophia would recall their conversation from last night before his actions just now.

His question of who Shakline was.

“…That’s right. Could it be?”

He raised his head and made the most trustworthy expression he could.

Sophia covered her mouth with one hand and looked back and forth between him and Shakline as if she was truly surprised.

“Yes. I didn’t assault the magistrate’s subordinates, but rather, I set a trap for those who were colluding with the magistrate in corruption.”

Wasn’t this a mud fight that they started first?

In any case, no one knows the truth.

“What do you mean, Baron?”

Only material evidence would be the only correct answer.

“There must be things somewhere in this mansion that a magistrate shouldn’t have.”

He didn’t know what would be there.

There might only be treasures, including the gold coins he gave, or there might be commoner women imprisoned.

‘The important thing is that Sophia now has the justification to search this mansion as she pleases.’

The clever her would quickly grasp the pros and cons.

Sophia, pretending to ponder while stroking her chin with one hand, looked at Shakline.

“…Let’s trust the baron’s words for now. A short time will be enough.”

Shakline began to panic at Sophia’s words.

He hurriedly approached him and knelt down, looking up at the Princess.

“Wait! Princess Sophia, I think there’s been a misunderstanding!”

Sophia with an ‘oh my’ expression.

“Count, I never gave you permission to speak. Get up, Baron.”

As the situation turned in his favor, Viscount Brookrudi, who had been silent, intervened.

“Baron Bernatore! I’m sorry! I was deceived by that cunning tongue and made a mistake!”

“I’m sorry, Professor Scarl! Flare! I’m really sorry! I’ll apologize on my knees like this!”

The two knelt behind him and begged him and Flare.

They must have thought that if they stayed still, they would be caught up in Shakline’s corruption and bleed, so they quickly prostrated themselves.

‘Fox-like bastards.’

“Flare, take care of it.”

The gazes that had been looking at him with desperate expressions turned to Flare.

“Please! Please! Forgive us, huh?”

“I’m really sorry! I was crazy for a moment! Now I really…!”

Flare with a troubled expression.

But her mouth was hanging on her ears as if she was delighted.

Flare showing mercy to the Brookrudi father and son.

“Stop it. Both of you, get up.”

She approached Louis, who was slightly raising his body, and warned him.

“Don’t ever do that again, Louis Brookrudi.”

“Of course! I’ll be your dog at the academy! I’ll do whatever you tell me to do! Flare!”

“Good.”

Flare turned her gaze to Sophia.

“…Then again. Baron, lead the way.”

He was about to follow the signal of the tracking magic when the movements of Shakline’s subordinates were suspicious.

‘Most of them have their hands in their pockets, and some are emitting killing intent…’

He thinly spread his mana to count the number of people inside the mansion.

The only part he couldn’t account for was holding him back.

‘Excluding our group, there are more than 50 combat-capable personnel.’

4 against 50 without weapons?

He needed to revise his plan urgently.