Chapter 16
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: I'm Really Upset
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"So yeah, it was unavoidable and all, but the gap in skill was on another level entirely."
"…."
"My side still throbs sometimes from that final wooden sword strike."
"…."
Late afternoon sunlight streamed through the window.
I was venting to the man seated across from me about everything that had happened so far.
Normally, I wouldn't share personal gripes like this since it'd just mean losses on my end if word got out.
But he already knew it all anyway, so no harm done.
-Flutter.
The man set aside the documents he'd been reading, turning his busy eyes from the page to me.
"…So why are you telling me all this, Dane Rovelen?"
"Oh, even when it's just us, you're treating me like family?"
Alster Rovelen, head of the Rovelen family.
Duke of the Partian Empire and the current Sword Saint.
Any ordinary person would shrink under those intimidating titles.
'Whatever.'
To me, he was just the uncle who'd dangled a wish-granting token as bait to work me to the bone.
Since he needed me too, didn't that make us equals?
If not, I could always bow my head and beg—surely he wouldn't kill me over that.
Best-case scenario works out; worst-case, it doesn't.
"Just wanted some recognition for my troubles. Things have been rough lately."
"…Isn't everything except the sparring your own fault?"
"Hmm, you already knew, huh."
I'd subtly tried to hype up my value, but he'd seen right through it.
Not that I'd expected otherwise.
Even I had to admit most of it was self-inflicted.
"The wish token's still valid, right? Lena Sis said it helped her out a lot."
"…What did you just say?"
"Ah."
I clutched my mouth like it'd been a slip-up.
Of course, I'd said it on purpose.
I'd specifically asked both of them to keep the nickname "Lena Sis" under wraps.
Best to drop it at an unexpected moment for maximum impact.
And prepping the 'we're close' vibe early would help secure my safety.
"We sparred together and all, so I feel like Lena Sis and I have gotten pretty tight?"
"…."
The Duke had a personality like mine.
Just as I hustled hard for survival and a comfy future, he was doing the same for Elena.
If the ducal family had come first, they would've handled it without the risk of summoning me.
If it were him alone, what meaning would there be in death when his health was already failing?
And guys like this Duke were usually massive daughter-cons.
"Planning to use the wish token…? What do you want?"
"The right to command the Rovelen Knights whenever I need."
"…."
What I wanted was power to protect my people if I ever stepped outside.
Of course, I had no intention of mentioning Bern and Riel directly.
Just as Elena was the Duke's weakness, those two were truly mine.
If he found out, he might work me to death.
…No, worse—I didn't want to put their lives at risk before mine.
Bern and Riel… yeah, they felt like my only real family.
If it came to that, I'd oppose the ducal family to protect them.
"Why do you need that?"
"Come on, obviously for when I move independently. I'm not an idiot."
To the Duke's probing gaze demanding details,
I shrugged nonchalantly and continued.
"When I snag an enemy's tail, I need the power to climb up and slit their throat, right?"
"…The Hilton earldom?"
"Yes, since your brother-in-law's still kicking around unharmed. You didn't think they'd just sit idle, did you? That'd be disappointing."
"Dort's already been dispatched to monitor them. No unusual activity so far."
"…Dort?"
Dort was one of the few who knew my true identity.
…Was it smart to send him out? Perfect setup for leaks.
"It's fine. Dort won't betray us."
"…He's trustworthy, you mean? Nah, people betray as easily as breathing once conditions align."
"It's not some half-hearted issue. It's about gains."
The Duke sighed deeply,
tapping his neck thoughtfully before replying.
"Dort's a man who calculates meticulously, knows how to weigh profit against loss."
"So… since betraying the Rovelen family would only cost him, it's safe?"
"Yes, until I fall."
Fair enough, then.
I nodded and brought up another concern.
"What about the 1st Prince?"
The Rovelen family's current enemies: the Duke's brother, Theodore Rovelen, sheltered by his maternal Hilton earldom,
and the 1st Prince's faction eyeing the family head position and its power.
Essentially, a defense game for the Rovelen house.
Hold off their attacks within the time limit and protect the family!... Something like that?
Of course, it wasn't a real game—you had to venture out and strike back.
Pure defense would just invite fiercer assaults.
"They're fine."
"…Pardon?"
"They won't touch us."
I tilted my head.
What?
Was I just shadowboxing alone this whole time?
Truth be told, Theodore alone, exiled after losing the succession fight, had no real power left.
Even if he went mad and sent Hilton troops for all-out war,
it'd only give us justification, and they'd lose militarily anyway.
So petty schemes were all he could manage, and the Rovelen family wasn't so weak as to fail at blocking those.
I'd pegged the 1st Prince's faction as the true mastermind, but apparently not?
Damn, my face is burning.
"…May I ask why?"
"…."
Duke Alster clamped his mouth shut, staring at me.
Seemed like he was debating whether to spill.
"…We've already signaled we won't antagonize them."
"To whom?"
"The 1st Prince, the Northern Grand Duke, and by extension, His Imperial Majesty the Emperor."
Emperor? Northern Grand Duke?
Hold on, this scale's ballooning—don't tell me….
"W-Wait a sec. Isn't that the kind of info that gets you assassinated just for hearing it? No, let's stop here. Pretend I didn't hear."
"If you want to wield the family's power, you need to know at least this much."
"Argh, damn it."
Didn't expect it to go this far.
To the Duke's gesture asking if I'd back out now,
I slowly shook my head.
Ignorance was bliss before, but now that I knew this much, better to hear it all.
Acting half-knowledgeable around the players? That'd just get my head lopped off.
"The 1st Prince and Northern Grand Duke won't oppose us—their weaknesses lie within the Rovelen family."
"Weaknesses?"
"Yes. That's why we declared our intent to withdraw by betrothing Elena to the 2nd Prince, who has almost no claim to the throne."
So the betrothal to the 2nd Prince wasn't about love or power—just a show?
The Duke closed his eyes gently, speaking as if reminiscing.
"A few years ago, nearly all nobles gathered in Arvent to decide an imperial matter of great import."
Trouble in the empire drawing every noble—classic cliché.
"During that time, Elena crossed paths with her in the imperial palace gardens."
Her?
So the weakness was a woman.
"By the time I noticed, they'd been exchanging letters without my knowledge."
"And?"
"Tired of swinging her sword in the North, she came straight to Elena. We couldn't oppose it, so we had no choice but to shelter her."
"…Hold on. That couldn't be…."
"Just as you suspect—it's Eirin's story."
The only close woman by Elena's side was Eirin anyway.
I'd sensed something more during the drug bust, but ties to the North and palace? Who knew.
Yeah, she always hated using mana in Arvent, even if she'd die for it. Back at the manor, she toggled it freely.
"…."
"…Why stop now?"
"That's all you need to know."
"No, come on."
Aren't we at the reveal-her-identity point?
This guy's such a tease.
"I've told you everything necessary. When mobilizing the knights, avoid the 1st Prince and Northern Grand Duke factions as much as possible."
"Hmm."
"And don't go digging into Eirin. In these dangerous times, making enemies everywhere is reckless."
I had no such plans.
I only heard because they forced it on me.
Poking around out of curiosity? Perfect way to get assassinated.
"So, I can assume I have the right to command the knights?"
"Yes, about three times."
"Thank y—…Three times?"
What the hell was this guy saying?
Wish token! One request fulfilled!
I shot him a pointed look conveying that, but he snorted dismissively.
"Yes, the right to command the knights. I granted your wish, didn't I? Be grateful I upped it to three."
"…What if I'd asked for unlimited from the start…?"
"I'd have refused. It doesn't balance. Don't expect too much from a verbal promise."
…Never dealing with this guy again.
Back-alley me would've punched him and bolted over wordplay like this.
But I held back—I'd lose in a fight.
The old man's the current Sword Saint, after all.
One wrong move, and I'd be sliced in two.
"One more thing—you have a duty."
"…Duty, after all this? You think I'll just go along?"
Why do father and daughter both love slapping conditions on deals?
Were they scammed in a past life? I was getting screwed right now.
"Poor choice of words. Not a task—a duty. Refuse, and only your life is at risk."
"…How'd you know I'm bored and itching for work lately?"
Refuse and get sliced—got it?
Fuck, I'm really upset.
"You may not know, but Hilton spies are already in the manor…."
"Ah, I know. Figured there were Hilton spies or agents hiding out."
"…Yes. Their silence means they're biding their time."
Couldn't stop rumors of the ducal family finding their bastard son from spreading.
From my registered village to local officials.
Unless you killed everyone, money would leak it somewhere.
So their first move? Plant agents in the manor to siphon info.
"That's why I plan to weed them out."
"How?"
"Your welcoming banquet hasn't happened yet."
Banquet, huh.
Normally a fun feast, but context suggested….
"…Using me as bait?"
"Exactly."
"Risky—might lose the black-haired bastard you just found."
"It's fine. I'll discreetly request a priest from a temple allied with us."
Invite them under banquet pretense.
They could swoop in perfectly timed if I got hurt.
That made it tolerable, but….
"Plus, with your spirit contract, surely you can protect yourself."
"…Overtrusting spirits, aren't you?"
"Not the spirit—I'm trusting you."
In another context, it'd be touching.
But from a guy plotting to use me? Kinda ruins it.
"Your life is your most precious asset, isn't it?"
"…."
Even if an assassin came, I'd fend them off somehow?
From the Duke's view, success exposes my hidden cards—win-win, or whatever.
Makes sense to rely on priests, but….
How could I trust them? They might get bribed and let me die.
"Ha."
Screw it.
When have things ever gone my way?
Just dive in.
"I'll do it."
"Good."
"But if we expose the spy before the banquet, no need to get assassinated, right?"
"That'd be even better for both sides."
Guess I needed to patrol the manor starting tomorrow.
Training with Eirin was mostly adapted—no issues for daily life.
Ah, damn.
Regretting coming to the ducal family?
Back-alley days felt easier sometimes.
If there's a spy, they'd be watching me up close.
Servants had free access to the annex anyway.
I didn't pick and choose who to talk to, so they'd approached me ages ago to relay info.
Suddenly, everyone around me looked suspicious.
"Hmm."
"…Do you have something to say?"
The knight teaching me swordsmanship, for starters.
Perfect chance to stab me anytime.
My bruised gut hurt like hell, but not fatal—so if spy, they'd wait for better shot.
Note to self.
"Hmm."
"Young Master, is something wrong…?"
"Need anything…?"
The maids cleaning the annex.
Had keys to my room—could enter and kill anytime.
Once spilled water on floor at dawn, wiped with handkerchief.
Morning? Gone. Outside, maids gazed fondly at me.
Denied it, but they wouldn't believe.
Might be killing me with shame—note it.
"Hmm."
"…Young Master, you've been 'hmm'-ing forever—can you stop? Reminds me of my little brother embarrassing himself as a kid… makes my stomach tickle…."
"Hmmm…."
"No, you're around that age too… just came late…?"
Arwen.
Occasionally recharged magic stones, dropped by annex for tea.
Could blast me with magic anytime.
-Wong.
-Squeak!
Cute chatting with white rat—plus one point.
Note anyway.
"Hmm…."
"…If you want to swing a sword, just say the word."
Eirin.
She's clean.
If Hilton ally, wouldn't have brought me here first.
Elena glancing over while swinging might crave 'sis' call again—retreat for now.
-Thud.
"Got it."
I closed my book and stood.
For days, I'd wandered the annex gathering intel.
Closer than I thought—explains the weirdness.
"Heading out!"
I waved to Maylin, nose-deep in a book.
Passing her beaming bow, I headed to Eirin's room.
Knew who now—time to ask for a tail.