In the Capital

Even though the food is better than at the Bernatore Territory mansion, the way the servants look at Luna is becoming increasingly unpleasant.

The fact that they’re staring like that even though a new master has arrived is proof of how ignorant the servants are about Scarl Bernatore.

‘Although, I did have Kasha deliberately conceal information.’

My appetite vanishes.

Clap—!!!

The servants’ gazes converge on the sound of the clap.

“Throw it all away. I have no appetite.”

“Yes, Master.”

The maids move with practiced efficiency, as if this is a common occurrence.

One of them, who was nearby, quickly approached to clear the dishes, and a tiny bit of food splattered.

I pretended not to notice, and she cautiously glanced at me before resuming clearing the dishes.

‘A good example has arrived.’

I twitch my eyebrow and raise my hand.

“Sc—”

Before Luna, familiar with this behavior, could stop me, my hand lashed out.

“I-I’m sorry—”

The maid’s apology, a half-beat too late, was cut short.

Smack!

Crash!

“Aaaagh!”

“Kyaaagh!”

One maid was knocked to the ground, and another who witnessed it screamed.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared.

“You. What’s the reason for suddenly screaming? It’s noisy. Come here.”

“I-I’m sorry, Master.”

In an instant, the atmosphere froze, and despair and fear of the new master filled their faces.

Satisfied with the pleasing sight, I smiled and called out to the next target.

“I said come here!”

The next one approached, trembling.

I licked my lips at her eyes, which were tightly shut.

“…”

“…”

“…”

“…”

All the servants avoided eye contact, but at that opportune moment, Luna entered my field of vision.

“…Everyone, go back to what you were doing.”

It was as natural as if the Head Maid were giving instructions, but in a way, she looked like the mistress of the house in her dress.

Luna approached and brushed off the dirt from my coat.

“I’m sorry, Scarl. I will educate them…”

I even gave her a dagger now, didn’t I?

I smiled crookedly and looked at Luna with a cold face.

Has she been too compliant these past two weeks?

I raise my hand.

Seeing Luna calmly close her eyes, I confirmed that it wasn’t time yet.

“…I’ll give you just one day! Educate them properly! If this happens again tomorrow, you’ll suffer the same fate, Luna!”

“Understood.”

The next day.

I ring the bell to summon Luna.

“Now, instead of me…”

Her chest is soaked with water.

‘You said you’d educate them directly? If you’re the Head Maid, you should order them to do it, not do it yourself!’

I ring the call bell once more.

“Why do you keep calling me! I’m here!”

I twitch my eyebrow.

“Quiet. You are to only await my call. That means you are not to do anything. You stupid Luna.”

“That’s absurd.”

Twisted desire and obsession.

Now, I must unleash all the desires I’ve suppressed for two weeks onto her.

“Come here. Kneel.”

“…”

She obediently kneels, and I grab her hair, pulling her under the large desk.

“Aagh! That hurts…”

‘Did I pull too hard? Should I loosen it a little?’

As I release the tension in my hand, a maid knocks and enters with a bow.

“Did you call, Master? Maid Daisy at your service.”

Luna, startled, stood up and made eye contact with Daisy, who had just entered.

Luna, disheveled, emerged from under the desk.

To instill certainty, I wrapped my hand around Luna’s waist, pulling her toward me, and gently massaged her stiffened body.

I didn’t forget Scarl’s signature sly smile.

“Take your hand off me, Scarl.”

My hand was slapped, but Daisy’s eyes took in the entire scene.

I gave a simple instruction and dismissed both of them from the office.

The servants in the Bernatore Territory at least had some familiarity with Luna and a sense of belonging as fellow territory residents.

But here, in the capital, they are all complete strangers.

There would be no more maids who would look kindly upon Luna, who was receiving the twisted favor of a trashy master.

Moreover, she became the Head Maid at an age much younger than them, at most having just passed her apprenticeship, and if she didn’t work under the master’s orders, even more so.

For a noble from the countryside to come to the capital to win the favor of a pretty maid is a more common occurrence than one might think in the [Regret and Obsessive Hero] world.

The problem is that such flings don’t end well.

A face that worked in the countryside is unlikely to work in the capital.

‘Luna is an exception, though. A new woman is a common interest for all men, too.’

The story that there are many maids who are abandoned in that way is something that the servants of the capital mansion would know very well.

The event that starts that way is ‘Country Maid.’

The first meal was clearly a romantic meal just for the two of us, but at the end of it, Luna was almost hit.

If this gets out even a little bit, the maids’ treatment of her will become even more harsh.

‘Will you let me choose an easier path?’

It’s all in your hands.

From the next day, I intentionally didn’t look for Luna.

I went out to check and deal with the events that had happened to Flare, even staying overnight at a hotel one day.

I also spread a false rumor within the mansion that I was bringing women in from outside.

After that, what I received through Kasha’s report was that the servants’ treatment of Luna was becoming harsher with each passing day.

With the master’s obvious lack of interest, the ‘Country Maid’ event was successfully triggered.

Knowing the last hope that Luna has, I stay in the office today, waiting for her to approach me first.

‘This is driving me crazy.’

Even though I had another maid hint that I was here, she still hasn’t come.

Should I say she’s like a tenacious weed?

Whether it’s venom or persistence, she’s holding out better than I thought.

‘Since I’ve lost, let’s deal with the urgent matters first.’

I call Luna to the office.

“Bring the Head Maid.”

“Yes, Master.”

The face I saw after a long time was very haggard.

“It’s been a while, Scarl.”

Hollow eyes, sunken cheeks, rough skin, and even dark circles.

‘I should have called her sooner.’

I compose my expression and utter the words I had prepared.

A nonchalant expression and a nonchalant tone.

“Leave the mansion.”

“!!!”

“I’ll give you one day, Luna. Go out and—”

I sensed that something was wrong as she left without even hearing me finish.

The only hill that Luna can rely on in the capital is, ironically, her enemy, Scarl Bernatore.

The last words he said in the office during the day became the key to breaking her down.

So tonight, I deliberately didn’t lock the bedroom door.

‘Sex or death.’

Midnight.

At our promised time, as expected, I heard the sound of the doorknob turning, and Luna entered naturally.

Seeing me awake on the bed, Luna let the gown she was wearing slip down.

The translucent negligee and the haggard face from the past few days exuded a decadent beauty.

“…What are you doing?”

Unlike my expectations, a glinting blade.

“Scarl. Die.”

This time, the choice was ‘death.’

I’m glad to see the Hero’s appearance, but I’m also displeased by her rejection of me.

Before I could savor the contradictory emotions, the dagger quickly pierced me.

I could have easily avoided it with my strengthened inheritance passive, but I deliberately didn’t.

‘…She’s too mentally cornered. Luna needs a human side right now.’

Thwack

The Black Rose dagger was embedded in my shoulder with a gruesome sound.

‘That fucking hurts?!’

“Agh—!”

“How is it? The people you hurt suffered even more than this! Scarl!”

I could see an icy chill in Luna’s eyes.

‘No.’

We can’t go that far yet.

Forcing my ruined shoulder to move, I threw Luna onto the bed and stood up.

“Scarl!”

“Ugh—!!”

I pulled the dagger out of my shoulder and threw it away haphazardly, grabbing Luna, who was lunging at me, and throwing her back onto the bed.

I held my bleeding shoulder with my hand and lifted my head.

“Stop it, Luna.”

“Why should I listen to you?”

She looked fierce, as if she would pounce on me at any moment.

I hurriedly continued the story I was about to tell earlier.

“Did you know that your sister couldn’t return to the academy?”

“!!!”

Of course, this would be the first time she’s hearing it.

My eyelids fluttered from the rapid blood loss.

“She lost all the money she received. The expulsion papers have already been processed and only the chairman’s final approval remains. It was a hassle to reinstate her, but I managed to do it somehow.”

In effect, I just threw money at it.

Giving an extra month’s tuition as a commission.

The capable Kasha handled it under the pseudonym [Daddy Long Legs].

“…Do you think I’d believe such a lie?”

Thankfully, our Hero, who had anticipated this situation, had sent a letter of gratitude to the anonymous benefactor.

Moving my still-functioning right hand, I took out the letter and a copy of the reinstatement certificate from my pocket.

Luna snatched the letter like a wary cat and quickly scanned the contents.

The madness and venom that had been visible in her eyes slowly faded.

“…That’s really Flare’s handwriting?”

Of course, the pseudonym [Daddy Long Legs] isn’t in that letter.

‘I have the real one.’

That’s a fake letter made by a handwriting expert who saw the real one.

Luna, deceived by the skillful work that even her own sister would fall for, couldn’t hide her bewilderment.

“So, you suddenly going out these days is also…”

“I don’t know what you’ve heard, but it’s all because of your troublesome sister.”

The wound on my shoulder was healing quickly, confirming that the inheritance passive was still active.

Luna, who didn’t know what to do with her hands, hung her head low.

“Leave the mansion, Luna. Go and comfort Flare.”

Suddenly, she stood up on her knees and shouted.

“…You could have just said that earlier!”

“You were the one who left without hearing me finish.”

Only an awkward silence flowed.

Then, my vision suddenly blurred.

There are variables in impromptu plans.

‘…I guess this much blood loss wasn’t in the plan.’

With eyelids that suddenly felt heavy, my consciousness faded.