episode_0019

Lloyd lay in bed and blinked.

The pitch-black darkness that filled my eyes scattered and disappeared like flying pixels.

A pure white ceiling.

‘You fell down.’

Memories from just before losing consciousness come back in reverse order.

I was leaning against the Duchess’ body. My body was swaying. The reason I was swaying was because the tattoo on my arm was completely blackened.

‘The symbol of the blood cult…’

Lloyd glanced down at his left arm.

The pattern was a vivid black color.

I can hear voices around me.

“Did you hear the story? ‘He’ came to the mansion.”

“Hey, shh. Don’t you know you shouldn’t say things like that? I’ve been a maid here for months, and you still don’t have a clue. ”

“It’s okay, we’re the only ones here.”

“There’s that kid over there.”

Lloyd quickly closed his eyes.

As the silence passed, the maids continued their small talk.

“You’ve been down for quite some time. The Duchess must have really liked you. She even gave you instructions on nursing the child sold at auction. ”

“You’re handsome. Your body is also in good shape.”

“Oh, Dorothy. You like that kind of girl?”

“Hey. It’s not a child, it’s a boy. A boy. ”

“Oh my, oh my. This kid is going to be in big trouble.”

Lloyd barely managed to keep himself from frowning.

More than that, I wanted to hear who ‘that person’ was.

‘I need a variable.’

We need a variable to get out of this mansion.

Choosing Duchess Grey at the auction was the lesser of two evils, to avoid being included under the ‘Three Heroes’.

Of course, it also seemed like there was a lot to be gained.

For example, by using the Duchess to check the power of the ‘three heroes’.

So Lloyd was curious to know who the ‘person’ who was visiting the mansion was. The maids of the duke’s house were making a fuss. It was clearly someone high up.

“… Anyway, don’t speak carelessly about him. He is Estrid’s blood. Remember that even speaking his name carelessly is a sin. ”

“Tsk, well, they’re all red-blooded anyway.”

“This guy is real! The butler told me to watch my mouth!”

“The butler isn’t even coming here. Aah! Why are you hitting me!”

“Wake up, you guys. The higher-ups can hear and see anywhere in the mansion.”

Ouch.

The maid who got hit in the back with a smash jumped around for a moment.

They came to their senses and started tidying up the room again.

– Smart.

A knock is heard.

“Butler.”

Bow.

The maids bowed their heads, and Lloyd heard footsteps.

Lloyd creaked and turned his head away.

A man with his face covered by a thick veil.

“Wake up, Lloyd.”

He was an old man with a deep voice. He had a straight waist and a sturdy physique. The aura he gave off was no less than that of a strong man.

Above all, there was a faint scent of blood. Judging from the lack of useless decoration in his body movements, he seemed to have a rather cruel personality.

Lloyd got up from his seat and followed the old man.

The maids bow their heads to them at the door.

Crunch.

The tip of one of their tongues was split.

A scream that rings out late.

“This is your last chance.”

Gulp.

The butler stepped on the blood flowing on the floor and passed by. Ortega jumped up in the pouring blood. For some reason, the voice became infinitely clearer.

‘Fuck.’

I started feeling nauseous.

◆

Perhaps it is an arrogant illusion to think that you are in complete control of yourself.

Despite this, Lloyd thought he was in control of himself.

Or the sound of applause that keeps ringing in your head.

Ortega’s voice, for example.

Or maybe it’s the mansion’s unique, strange atmosphere.

In the midst of all these kinds of mental attacks.

But today was a little strange.

My eyes were unusually sore and my saliva kept drying up.

Ortega’s voice boomed in my head.

What on earth is the reason?

‘… maybe it’s because of the sign.’

A mark engraved on his arm. It is a symbol that appears when you eat the solitude of the Blood Cult. Although Lloyd ate the solitude, he digested it. Nevertheless, the mark appeared. Thanks to this, he was able to avoid the suspicion that he had not absorbed the solitude, but he was still curious. Why did this mark appear?

There were advantages.

“Take a seat here.”

The Duchess’s office.

The Duchess, sitting on the chair, tapped her snow-white thigh.

Lloyd frowned.

“I’m not a five year old and I don’t think my drawing will be good.”

“Haha. You’re really amazing. Even with the pattern so dark, you can still refuse the orders of the real woman. ”

“… Thank you.”

It seemed like he was scoring points with the Duchess in some way.

A friendly relationship with her is important.

Because the lady is the queen of this mansion.

Sararak.

The Duchess’s thighs, crossed, are pressed against the chair.

She opened her mouth without even bothering to lift the hem of her dress.

It was straight to the point.

“The princess is coming.”

Lloyd frowned reflexively.

When I think of the princess, the first thing that comes to mind is Aina. She is his former colleague who betrayed him.

“You really hate heroes. It shows in your expression.”

There is no need to hide it.

“They are of low quality.”

“If someone heard this, they would think that she was great?”

“Isn’t the meaning even greater?”

The woman spread out her fan and covered her mouth.

Her shoulders shook with laughter.

“Now that I look at it, you’re good at flattering too.”

Abu was right.

I had to get my hands on the possible duchess.

At least enough to follow my advice.

Lloyd’s goal was now clear.

Let’s make my wife ask me for advice.

Lloyd nodded.

“I only told you the truth.”

There is no one who hates flattery.

There are just people who are on guard.

The Duchess had no reason to be wary of Lloyd.

Because the child has already developed the symbol of the Blood Reformation.

The corners of her mouth went up.

“I like you too. I heard she’s really good at reading people.”

“I am grateful to have caught your eye.”

“Oh my.”

Hoho. She smiled and crossed her legs to the other side.

The main topic continued.

“The one coming as a guest is Aina. So it’s not the Second Princess. It’s the Third Princess, Julia.”

Only then did Lloyd recall his memories.

Third Princess Julia.

The third princess had little influence.

To be exact, he had a strong presence, but he quickly disappeared from the story.

That’s understandable, because she plotted a rebellion within the royal family and came pretty close to succeeding before disappearing into the mists of the gallows.

A princess who later completely disappears from the imperial lineage.

I really thought she would commit treason out of the blue…

‘You were involved with the Duchess.’

The political landscape of the empire is shaken up rapidly by the treason. Taking advantage of the chaos, Duchess Grey and the Blood Cult gain power. This is a kind of starting point.

Now the truth is coming into view.

It is clear that the Duchess had her influence.

The woman closed the corners of her eyes strangely.

“Do you know anything about the Third Princess?”

“I only know that he is a person with no greed and has stepped back quite a bit from the throne.”

“Half right and half wrong.”

“You mean like that?”

“Yes, I am the youngest of the five heirs. But I am greedy. I mean, greedy for the throne.”

“Are you waiting for your chance with bated breath?”

The Duchess laughed at Lloyd’s answer.

“That’s right. When the woman asked to invite me to her mansion, I quickly rejected her.”

“You probably want to expand your horizons.”

“I guess so. What do you think the girl I saw today should do?”

Okay.

Finally, the Duchess came to ask for advice.

Instead of clenching his fist, he swallowed.

This is where it got important.

What advice would you give to start the game?

Although she is only now being treated like this, the Duchess’s power is by no means small. Aside from being a senior member of the Blood Cult, she is a figure with considerable influence in the royal family.

Lloyd shook his head.

How should I lay out the board to my advantage? And in what direction should I go so that I can escape this mansion?

“I think it would be better to be friendly for now.”

“Is that so?”

“They have little but are greedy, so they are the type that can easily get and use what they want.”

The wife flapped her fan as if she liked what Lloyd said.

Lloyd continued.

“Besides, in the Empire, only Estrid is honored. As you know, bloodline is…”

“That’s a pretext.”

When Lloyd nodded, his wife smiled back. It was as if Lloyd was on top of his wife for a moment. It was a psychological advantage that would be unconsciously imprinted on her. Lloyd lowered his head, careful not to let her know about it.

“It’s a good idea to not spare support for the Third Princess. She can be played around with in her hand, and the bloodline itself has great meaning, so it’s a good card that the Duchess can use as she pleases.”

It may sound like advice, but it’s really more like a logically structured command.

Because the unconscious and temporary hierarchical relationships and environments that Lloyd has verbally established will make his wife nod.

“That would be good.”

The wife nodded and stood up from her seat.

She approaches Lloyd.

Sararak, sararak.

Long, cold fingers touch my head.

His wife smiled, stroking Lloyd’s head.

“I’m glad I bought you.”

Lloyd willingly bowed his head toward her.

“It’s an honor.”

Lloyd could bark if the Duchess told him to. That is, until he met his new master, the Third Princess.

Lloyd enjoyed the Duchess’ touch.