When Will the Succession Ceremony Begin?
"So, when are you starting the succession ceremony?"
"..."
Mist gazed at Abel, who lay still on the bed, breathing evenly.
After the fight with Kaizen and Bella, he'd ordered treatment for the dangerously injured Kaizen and returned to his room.
I'm exhausted...
Three days without sleep.
Having unleashed that much power in such a state, it was only natural for unimaginable fatigue to consume him.
I'm going to sleep. You rest too, Mist.
With those final words, Abel surrendered to the bed and fell asleep.
"..."
Rest. Rest, he says.
Mist pondered for a moment, then moved slowly to his bedside, her steps utterly silent—like those of an assassin, betraying no presence or sound.
"..."
Swoosh.
She cautiously extended her left hand, moving it with deliberate slowness.
The Duke's command to assist—or surveil—the illegitimate son.
That order had forbidden her any direct contact with Abel.
But in this moment, his words before sleep had created a loophole.
Rest—what was it? An act of recharging body and mind, free from duties.
Then what was her rest?
After much thought, Mist reached one conclusion.
Even the slightest touch. Contact with her master. That was her rest.
"..."
A touch so careful, so delicate, infused with the wish not to disturb her master's sleep. She moved slowly.
Tap.
"Ah..."
At last, her hand felt Abel's warmth.
In that instant, a strange sense of fulfillment overflowed in her heart.
She knew it well.
He flinched at her occasional lingering gazes, raising his guard whenever their bodies drew even slightly closer.
But look.
Slick. Slick.
Her hand touching his forehead.
First the fingertips. Then a knuckle. Finally, her entire palm covering it—his warmth filling her hand.
Her expressionless face crumbled, a faint smile blooming on Mist's lips.
Swoosh.
So careful, so incredibly delicate.
Movements restrained to the utmost so as not to wake him.
Swoosh.
All of it, her consideration to avoid disturbing the deep sleep born of extreme fatigue.
Sometimes she stared blankly at her master, wondering if he was tempting her.
The memory still lingered: his pure smile after declaring war on the entire ducal household via broadcast, calling it a "well-laid plan" even by her standards.
"Mm..."
Even now, he let out a soft whimper at her touch, his lips curving into a relaxed smile.
Swoosh.
clothes for going out twisted uncomfortably in sleep, exposing glimpses of pale skin that teased her as he shifted.
But she was a woman who could restrain her desires if her master wished it.
Of course, the restrictions still bound her, preventing her from acting first.
"..."
Slide.
"Ah..."
Suppressing her urges, Mist gazed at the nape of his neck revealed as he turned, letting out a quiet sigh.
***
"..."
My consciousness slowly stirred.
Feeling the soft bedding, I woke—then closed my eyes again.
"..."
The languid weakness unique to one just roused from sleep dominated my body.
Birdsong from the window.
The bed, freshly laundered daily even in my absence from the capital, filled with a pleasant scent.
The cozy warmth under the covers hindered full awakening.
After lingering a bit, I rolled over and stared blankly at the ceiling of the room the ducal house had provided.
Should I sleep more...
Even with my past life's sleepless training, this was the first time since reincarnating that I'd gone without sleep this long.
Fighting with abilities and mana in that state, then expending massive mana on my one named technique to block Kaizen's final strike.
Ah, what a pain...
Honestly, closing my eyes now felt like it would pull me back into deep slumber.
"...Nngh."
But I resisted the temptation, slowly sitting up.
"Yawn..."
Having fallen asleep in My clothes for going out, they were rumpled everywhere.
I straightened them as I stood and checked the clock.
Lunchtime?
Both hands pointed to 12.
Frowning at the clock, I thought back.
Wait, when did the fight with Kaizen and Bella start?
With sleep still fogging my mind, I recalled.
It was late afternoon, around 4 p.m., I think.
Not a long fight, so I hadn't come back too late.
Then, roughly...
Fell asleep right away, so late estimate 5 p.m.
"Slept about 20 hours?"
I must've been wiped.
No big deal with my military past-life experience, but my reincarnated body felt the fatigue harder.
"Yawn..."
Unable to stifle the yawn rising from my dantian, I moved to shake off the drowsiness.
After washing up in the bathroom and changing out of the wrinkled clothes, I opened the door.
Whoosh.
"You're awake, sir."
Mist, waiting silently at the entrance, bowed slightly and spoke softly.
"How is your fatigue...?"
Her voice carried undisguised concern.
I smiled faintly at her and waved it off.
"Ah, much better."
"I'm relieved."
If she was saying that...
I must've looked that exhausted. Hard to gauge how bad.
Smirk.
Gazing at Mist's sigh of relief, I flashed a playful grin and stroked my forehead.
"Yeah, lucky. Feels like someone's worry sped up my recovery."
"..."
First time seeing her so visibly flustered.
Her pupils contracted instantly; trembling eyes betrayed her panic.
"Master Abel, did you... wake up...?"
Smirk.
"Haha, who knows?"
Whoosh.
Thud. Thud.
Her footsteps trailed behind as I walked on without another word.
Destination: the Nebula Duke's master's chambers.
.
.
.
.
After beating Kaizen and Bella, the first change I noticed on my way to see the Duke was the servants' attitudes.
They'd never been rude before.
If anything, they'd shown full courtesy despite my illegitimate status.
But the difference was clear now.
"..."
Look—even now, the moment I entered their sight, they stopped and bowed deeply.
"..."
Yeah, well. I don't hate being respected.
I'm human; of course it feels good.
But excess is the problem.
Everyone hustling about froze mid-step as I passed, bowing in place. How's that natural? Not like Moses parting the sea from my past-life stories.
Servants splitting left and right as I passed was straight-up spectacle.
"Gotta mention it later."
"Pardon?"
"Hm? Oh, just feels like they're overdoing the deference."
Swoosh.
Just now, a maid cleaning windows bowed politely as I entered her view.
Mist, flustered by my tease moments ago, now wore her blank expression again.
"Isn't it only natural?"
She explained.
After my broadcast declaration of war on the other illegitimates, my popularity had skyrocketed among the servants.
Of course, losing to those two would've tanked me.
"Plus, having seen your full power, Master, this feels restrained even."
"..."
Objectively, hearing my actions... maybe it made sense?
"Nah, no way. Sigh... I've been thinking."
My declaration. Yeah, even I thought it was a solid setup.
Didn't expect the servants to elevate me this much.
"This Nebula Ducal Residence is a bit... no, pretty damn crazy."
Succession requires approval from their elite assassin group [Amyeong], right?
No confirmation yet, but the trials for us bastards were bizarre too.
Lost in thought, we entered the master's chambers.
"So, when are you starting the succession ceremony?"
The Duke's first words upon seeing me.
Ah, right.
With a madman like this as Duke, his people couldn't be normal.
His actions instantly resolved my doubts; I nodded involuntarily.
But.
The moment "succession ceremony" dropped, I felt Mist's gaze boring into my nape.
What? Why?
Did it hold big meaning for her?
"So I'll ask again: when do you plan to start the succession ceremony?"
The Duke's eyes gleamed with a strange light as he spoke.