Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Deliberately Stirring Up Anger. (9)
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His gaze shifted to my wrist after he finished speaking. To the spot wrapped so tightly in bandages that I couldn’t even move it.
“……”
The subtle turn of his eyes said it all: *Of course not. How could the Young Master possibly…*
I swallowed a scoff at the clear relief reflected there.
“Anyway, Pierre, was it?”
“Yes.”
“It’ll take him at least half a year to recover. Just cut him loose.”
Philip’s eyes widened in shock.
“Pardon? Cut him loose?”
“Or tell him directly to quit.”
“……”
“Was our territory’s finances so flush that we could afford paid leave for trash like him?”
I picked up Pierre’s sick leave application.
“Think it over. Which is the better choice?”
Right in front of Philip, I crumpled it up.
“……”
After a moment of wavering, eyes flickering with conflict, Philip bowed his head. He had no idea Pierre was Diego’s spy, so his deliberation was brief.
Above all, even to him, Pierre’s condition must have seemed hopeless.
“……Understood.”
Finally, a resigned reply slipped from Philip’s lips.
“Good thinking.”
The moment he spoke, I tossed the crumpled paper toward the distant fireplace.
Tadak.
The paper caught fire and turned to ash in an instant. Just like Pierre now.
“Heh.”
I couldn’t hold back the smile creeping across my lips.
I’d given that bastard a night he’d never forget and effectively ruined his future.
On top of that, I’d gotten to feast leisurely that day.
*Those thugs were delicious.*
Maybe because they were so full of vigor, their life force overflowed within me.
*The cutting felt amazing too.*
Slicing two throats in one stroke was thrilling. Their necks, especially fatty, gave such a satisfying, tender bite.
I grinned and wiggled my right fingertips.
*I can feel myself getting stronger.*
Especially after clashing with Diego—my skills had leaped forward. Thanks to practicing alone in my room, visualizing and blocking his moves from that day.
*Probably won’t run into another powerhouse like him anytime soon.*
A pang of regret hit me.
*Should I poke him again?*
The urge to seize another chance to grow stronger spurred me on. Then my gaze drifted to the bandages on my wrist.
*…No, no. That’s not it.*
I shook off Diego’s lingering image from my mind. No guarantee next time it’d end with just a wrist.
“Hmm.”
I licked my lips.
I wanted to grow stronger. Stronger than now, far stronger. Strong enough never to lose to anyone.
I didn’t want to lose this hard-won new life, this body. Didn’t want to get dragged along the original story’s path to death.
Only by becoming a true powerhouse could I survive.
“What to do….”
I tapped the edge of the desk, lost in thought. Pondering which of the many options to choose.
Then I noticed Philip sorting letters with his back to me. A stack already reviewed.
“Hold on.”
I reached out to stop him, crooking a finger to beckon him over.
“Hand over that stack of letters.”
“P-Pardon?”
Philip stammered in confusion.
“Th-These are already sorted…”
“Shut up and hand them over.”
Reluctantly, he placed the envelopes before me.
“Open them all.”
At my commanding tone, he fumbled and fanned them out like a hand of cards. His pupils shook unsteadily, like a child caught red-handed.
Propping my chin on one hand, I drawled slowly.
“The number’s gone up.”
“……”
“I counted eleven for sure. Now it’s twelve.”
A cold smile curled my lips.
“This one.”
I plucked one envelope precisely from the spread.
“Don’t remember seeing this before.”
“……!”
Philip’s face drained white. I dangled the envelope before him, shaking it tauntingly.
“From the border, right?”
White base with a blue border—the envelope hailed from the border, Diego Kindriel’s domain. The red seal meant *urgent*.
And it had already been opened. Without my checking it.
“Y-Young Master…”
Philip bit his lip and averted his gaze.
I said nothing, just stared silently. Giving him space to admit his fault himself.
“……I’m sorry, Young Master.”
At last, a dying whisper leaked through his clenched teeth. Ignoring it, I pulled the letter from the envelope.
“Ah…”
Philip let out a pained sigh, but I kept reading.
The letter bore Diego’s stern, weighty script, scrawled boldly.
[The proxy to the capital will be Knight Yonas Klein. Provide him a night’s lodging and comfortable rest. Prepare a swift horse suited for long distances and ample provisions to ensure he reaches the capital as quickly as possible.]
Different from the original, yet eerily similar.
In the original, attending the conference had been impossible, but this time it was happening—though not with Abel as the participant.
*As expected.*
I didn’t hide my bitter smirk.
The situation unfolded exactly as predicted, leaving a sour taste—thanks in part to Philip’s unwavering predictability.
“Young Master…”
Philip’s face, catching my expression, turned ashen-blue. I dropped the letter before him like trash.
“Let’s hear your excuse.”
A flicker of hope crossed Philip’s face. Not a slap, but a chance to speak.
He licked his parched lips and opened his mouth.
“First off, I’m sorry. I have no excuse, even two mouths wouldn’t help.”
“Before I deem that one mouth useless too, get to the point.”
Philip swallowed hard at my curt words.
“With your body and mind already scarred from the last incident… I didn’t want to disturb you further.”
“……”
“So I handled it quietly on my own. That’s all. I never meant to deceive you.”
Beating around the bush, but that was Philip’s intent.
After Abel had suffered Diego’s “discipline” disguised as violence, making him see his own son bypassed for a knight proxy?
*He’d throw a fit: ‘Why’s that outsider—who shares not a drop of blood—going instead?’*
But the man was a trained knight. Snatching the lord’s seal from his hand? Impossible.
Even in perfect health, let alone with one arm useless—the outcome was obvious.
*He figured I’d take it out on innocent servants.*
Lately, I’d been extra vicious, citing my sore arm. The servants’ grievances must have pierced the skies.
*As the steward overseeing the estate, his worries wouldn’t be few.*
Philip had wanted to welcome Knight Yonas, treat him well, and send him off without fuss. Which meant keeping him away from Abel as much as possible.
*That was before I knew this letter was coming, though.*
He’d thought he’d hidden the regular Noble Conference notice well enough.
Useless against me, who knew everything. Meaning no matter how he schemed, he was still in my palm.
Tap, tap.
I began drumming my fingers on my chin.
The habit when I focused—especially when zeroing in on ways to corner Philip.
“……”
Philip’s face darkened to charcoal.
I left him to stew in self-reflection and sank into thought.
*Yonas Klein.*
From what I knew, Diego had never sent him as proxy to the capital before.
*Why the change?*
The answer came quickly.
*The western border situation must be dire lately.*
The damage from those twenty trolls was massive. Repairing walls and tending wounded would’ve taken ages.
No way they could spare key personnel now.
*Yonas, huh… A stickler for principles, rigid personality, if I recall.*
His selection seemed based less on skill, more on temperament and political savvy.
He’d likely voice opinions boldly even amid high nobles. Probably volunteered himself.
*Though attending smoothly won’t be easy.*
I stopped drumming and fixed Philip with a steady gaze.
“Philip.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“So, you’re saying it was all for my sake?”
“……Yes, of course.”
Philip replied in a desperately earnest voice. I gave him a gentle smile.
“I’m newly impressed by your loyalty.”
“……”
“Not just considering my feelings, but handling Father’s orders so well. Truly touching.”
Philip’s complexion worsened at my polished tone. He knew it wasn’t genuine praise.
“Y-Young Master…”
“Right, then. Food and horse prepared properly?”
Philip rolled his eyes and answered.
“……Yes.”
“Plenty of provisions, sturdy horse—picked well?”
As my questions continued, confusion clouded Philip’s face. He stammered responses faithfully.
“……Y-Yes.”
“Good. Lodging for Yonas? All set?”
“……Yes. The maids are cleaning the room and preparing bedding now.”
“Oh?”
I clapped my hands loudly. With each clap, Philip’s face twisted further.
“Very good. Excellent.”
“……”
“Then you can handle this too.”
“Pardon?”
I beckoned Philip closer. But he hesitated, fingers twitching.
“Come now, don’t be scared.”
“……”
“Hurry.”
My tone dipped slightly, and Philip stilled his hands. He approached with slow steps.
“That’s it.”
Now beside me, he leaned in carefully.
“Why so frightened?”
I murmured, reaching toward him.
“Afraid I’ll hit you?”
Philip flinched sharply.
“No plans for that, so relax. Instead…”
I whispered in his ear. About what he must do next.
“……Th-That!”
Philip’s eyes bulged as he recoiled. Overwhelming shock etched in his pupils.
“Why?”
Covering half my mouth, I scattered a devilish smile.
“Can’t do it?”
It was a temptation—a command—he couldn’t refuse.
“……No.”
Philip’s head drooped. His clenched fists brimmed with helpless fury.
“As you command… I’ll do it.”
“That’s right.”
Singing my reply, I rose from my seat.
“I’m heading out now.”
“Ah, yes.”
Philip shook himself straight.
“No carriage again today, Young Master?”
“Yeah.”
Philip pressed anxiously.
“Young Master, did the coachman… make some mistake?”
“No. Why?”
“You’ve been going without the carriage lately, so I wondered if something happened.”
“Nothing like that, so don’t hassle innocents.”
I waved dismissively.
“If you get it, prepare for my outing.”