Episode 49 – The Two Edwards

*

I took Mela’s son down to the first-floor lobby.

Because I didn’t want to tire out Lara and Lily.

With the help of the employee at the counter, the two homonyms who entered the reception room on the first floor sat facing each other.

After dismissing the employee with a “We don’t need any tea or anything,” Mela’s son spoke first.

“So… the rumors were true.”

“What rumors are you talking about?”

“…The rumor that you, Baron-nim, have already fully recovered.”

“Does it look that way? I still have a lot of recovering to do.”

I raised the bandage I had 미리 wrapped around my left arm and showed it to him.

Mela’s son fidgeted with an expression of not knowing what to do, then looked up at me and called out my name.

“Baron-nim!”

Edward calling me in a desperate voice.

Come to think of it, I realized that this was the first time I was properly looking at Mela’s son, who was named after me, and his face like this.

Looking at him closely, he looked much younger than he did at the funeral.

He’s a young man in his late teens, with a bright impression and freckles on his face.

But right now, his expression looked very anxious and emotional.

Mela’s orange curly hair, which he resembled, swayed along with his anxious, dark brown eyes.

His face, which was a spitting image of Mela’s from his hair to his eyes, was full of sadness and desperation, and it felt like I could hear a creaking sound in my heart as I looked at it.

He bowed his head toward me and said.

“Baron-nim! Please, just help me once.”

I shook my head and replied.

“You may not have heard, but I clearly told you not to contact Mela Boldiras. I don’t know what’s going on, but…”

“I know very well that you, Baron-nim, have been continuously harming our family!”

“…Yes, Rose almost took the life of my maid, Daniel harmed my benefactor, Hobeoba-ssi, and tried to steal property by boarding my ship.”

“…Yes, I apologize once again for that…”

“Of course, since those two died, I didn’t hold them responsible and moved on. Not only that, but I even paid for the funeral expenses.”

“I will never forget that point and I am truly grateful,”

“However, this time, I’m very angry.”

At my last words, Edward froze like a statue and began to sweat profusely.

In fact, unlike my words, I wasn’t angry at all.

Furthermore, I knew very well what he wanted to ask for and why he came to me for help.

Ellie had already predicted everything.

*

Three days ago, the plan that Ellie told me was too absurd.

She said to me with a triumphant expression.

“I’m going to spread rumors that not only did the Baron meet the Princess, but also that the Baron has already recovered.”

“So, why do you have to do that, Ellie?”

“Do you know that Robin isn’t calling a priest to cure Dena’s undeadification?”

“What? What are you talking about? Has that bastard gone crazy?”

“Of course, he doesn’t want to reveal that in the middle of the capital, even in the Hero’s mansion, the Hero’s son has become an undead and attacked people.”

“Good heavens, is that bastard’s reputation more important than his own daughter’s life?”

I already knew that all of Robin’s misdeeds stemmed from his desire for honor, power, and success, but I couldn’t easily understand that he would even neglect his own daughter as she turned into an undead.

Lara also had an expression of disbelief at Robin’s choice.

Only Lily, who had directly looked into Robin’s memories, nodded slightly with a sad expression.

Perhaps Lily is the only person who perfectly understands Robin’s motives.

I’ve had that thought before, but I didn’t bother to ask her about it.

What good would it do to hear the story or circumstances of the son of a bitch who killed me?

Ellie looked at me, who was furious at Robin’s evil deeds of even abandoning his own daughter, and continued speaking with a smile.

“I agree with that to some extent, but it’s not just a matter of losing reputation.”

“What do you mean?”

“Think about it, it’s been 20 years since the Demon King died, and there hasn’t been a war since then. There haven’t been any corpses forcibly resurrected by the power of the Demon King, or corpses resurrected in this capital after being engulfed in magic because they didn’t have proper funeral procedures for 20 years.”

“So?”

“What if a spooky rumor spreads that the Hero’s son was resurrected as an undead in the Hero’s house? There’s even a record that the undertaker performed the proper funeral procedures.”

“I wonder…?”

“Anxiety that the Demon King has been resurrected could spread among the citizens, Ed. From rumors that the Hero didn’t properly defeat the Demon King to even more extreme rumors that there’s some connection between the Hero and the Demon King.”

“…Isn’t that too extreme of an imagination?”

“Do you think so?”

Ellie said that and pointed at me with her finger.

The finger that pointed at my chest felt like it was pointing not at me, but at the Demon King’s magic that was dormant inside me.

I understood what Ellie meant.

“You’re telling me to make it look that way.”

“Smart, as expected of you, Ed.”

Ellie stretched out the index finger that was pointing at me closer and closer to me and poked my chest.

Lara showed discomfort from behind my shoulder, but Ellie didn’t care and swirled her index finger on my chest.

I pushed Ellie’s finger away and asked.

“I thought Robin cherished his children. Of course, I don’t think that son of a bitch is overflowing with love for his sons and daughters, but at least he seems to cherish them as materials to continue and further grow his family.”

“Ah, there’s a slightly different situation with Dena, Ed.”

“…Huh?”

“Hehe, ask the son of the Saintess when he comes to find you later. It’ll be fun.”

Ellie chuckled with a playful face.

As I looked at Ellie like that, the more I thought about her words, the more questions I had.

“Mela’s son…? Wait a minute, Dena turning into an undead, Mela’s son, and even Banata. What’s the relationship between all of this?”

“Ah, that part is the most difficult to explain, but Banata is definitely in that mansion.”

Mena flinched greatly.

I looked straight at Ellie and asked.

“You clearly said you didn’t know at Os Gravi’s bar last time.”

“Ah- I didn’t tell you then because I didn’t know if Ed would be on our side or not.”

“…Ellie.”

“Hehe, sorry.”

Ellie smiled sheepishly and scratched her cheek with her index finger.

I looked at her in disbelief.

How far is this little devil-like girl thinking and preparing?

Ellie saw my stiff expression and said, removing the playfulness from her face.

“Are you angry? I’m sorry, it was almost morning then, so I didn’t have time to tell you.”

“Hoo, that’s true. But apologize properly.”

“Okay. Ed- I’m really sor-“

“Not to me,”

I pointed at Mena.

We were already almost certain that Banata would be in the mansion, but it still felt different to hear confirmed information from someone else’s mouth like this.

Mena’s face, after hearing Ellie’s words, looked like it was collapsing with worry and self-loathing.

Ellie turned to her, who was suffering from not knowing what she was being subjected to and why she couldn’t find her daughter in that mansion.

For the Princess to apologize directly to Mena, who was just a beastkin maid, was a greater demand than Mela, the Countess, apologizing to me.

If other people heard my words, they might foam at the mouth and bite me to death.

However, Ellie lowered her head towards Mena, the maid, without the slightest hint of displeasure.

“Mena, I’m really sorry. I knew that your daughter was in danger, but I hid it for my own benefit. It’s my fault. But I promise, in the name of the Princess of the Sionisia Empire, I will definitely save her, so will you please forgive me just once?”

“…!”

Even Mena, whose expression was dark with worry and concern, was startled when the Princess apologized with respect and even lowered her head.

Even Lara, who already heard respect from her, and Lily, who lived in the forest and was ignorant of social status, were surprised by how heavy her lowered head was.

Of course, I, who was talking informally with Ellie, was the same.

Mena stared at the top of Ellie’s head for a long time without saying anything, then quietly nodded.

Ellie slowly raised her head, briefly thanked her, and then turned to me.

“Did I do well?”

“Yeah, that’s enough. Like last time, you’re a Princess-nim who doesn’t have any resistance to bowing your head.”

Ellie flinched for a moment at my words.

It was only for a fleeting moment, but I definitely saw sadness flash across her face for a moment.

Ellie quickly smiled bashfully and said.

“…Ah, it’s understandable, why? Do you not like it?”

“…No, you’re the most likeable of the powerful people I’ve met.”

“Hehe, anyway, I’ll continue explaining.”

I pretended not to notice the emotion I briefly saw in her.

Ellie smiled and slowly continued her explanation.

“Banata is definitely in that mansion, Mena-ssi couldn’t find her, but maybe Ed can find her.”

“Aren’t you overestimating me too much?”

“Why is the legendary thief who robbed His Highness’s villa at the young age of fourteen being so humble?”

“…No, that’s,”

“Ahppappa, it’s okay. Of course, His Highness forgave that sin when Ed killed the Demon King and sacrificed himself. Hehe.”

“Heh, I’m even benefiting from Robin’s betrayal,”

“Anyway, this whole plan is based on the premise that Ed’s skills haven’t rusted. So you need to have a plan to re-enter the mansion, right?”

“That’s right, the problem is that the Baron, who has experienced such a thing and even told Mela not to contact him directly, how can he re-enter that mansion?”

“So the key to my plan is the son of the Saintess.”

“Mela’s…?”

“Unlike Count Boldiras, that son is desperate to save his sister.”

“…Yeah, that guy seems to be kind, like his mother.”

“Ed, you’re not suddenly bothered by using a kind person, are you?”

“…Not at all.”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

*

To be honest, I was half-convinced whether Mela’s son, Edward, would come to find me.

No, half is a generous estimate, I actually thought it was completely absurd.

From the beginning, spreading rumors is a difficult condition to satisfy so easily, even in Sioland, where words spread quickly, and the idea that Edward would come to find the Baron himself after hearing those rumors was too convenient.

That’s why I accepted Ellie’s bet proposal, but now he’s really standing in front of me.

Perhaps Ellie used some more tricks behind the scenes to execute her ridiculous plan.

I admired Ellie’s wisdom and execution and said to him according to her plan.

“Shouldn’t you be grateful that I haven’t revealed to the world that an undead appeared in your mansion?”

“…Baron-nim, my father is afraid that the fact will be revealed to the world and is trying to let Dena die.”

“Ho, they say the Hero is a hero who saved the world, but it seems that the qualities of a hero also include the resolve and ruthlessness to abandon even one’s own children,”

I said to him sarcastically.

I felt like I was unnecessarily tormenting Edward, but opportunities to openly badmouth Robin were rare, so I was going to savor this time to the fullest.

The sticky and damp cold sweat that flowed down Edward’s stiff face seemed to be holding him tightly and tormenting him, and he showed a painful expression.

“Baron-nim, after checking with the cathedral, it was confirmed that you did not call a priest separately. Can you tell me how you treated the undeadification without a priest?”

“I don’t know why I should tell you that,”

“Please, I beg you to help me just once, please, I beg you. Baron-nim!”

“…Edward. Was it?”

I called his name, which was the same as mine.

Is it because I rarely say my own name?

Even though it was my name, the sensation that felt so unfamiliar and strange that it would have definitely given me goosebumps if I had a living body ran down my spine.

“Yes, Baron-nim.”

“The Hero refuses to treat Dena-yang, but what can I do if I help?”

“My father is preventing priests from entering the mansion. I came to you hoping that your method of treating undeadification without a priest could save my sister without my father’s knowledge.”

“Even if you treat her without a priest, wouldn’t it be useless if the Hero finds out?”

“My father is worried about hiding the fact that Daniel was resurrected as an undead, not that he wants to kill Dena… probably not…”

“Probably?”

“…Even if that happens, I will protect all of my siblings. After removing the curse of undeadification from Dena, I am also thinking of having her recuperate in a safe place.”

“Hmm, separating a daughter who is not even ten years old from her father? I don’t understand, does the Hero have a reason to hate Dena?”

“…Th, that’s,”

The shadow on Edward’s face grew darker.

Is the reason Ellie mentioned for Dena the cause?

She told me I could look forward to some fun.

I could clearly see that Edward was hesitating whether to speak or not.

Seeing him groaning and agonizing made my expectations rise slightly.

“…Tell me.”

“Dena is… the daughter that Jennifer Imo-nim had through an affair.”

Wow, Ellie.

So that’s what it was.

At this moment, I decided not to torment Edward any further.

“…I will bestow one last act of kindness on your family.”

.