Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Grasping the Weakness
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Chapter 1. Grasping the Weakness. (7)
“There’s no way that’s true. I was just worried you might be tired, Young Master.”
“Not at all.”
I added in a mocking tone.
“Thanks for your concern.”
Though I wasn’t thankful in the slightest.
“……Yes.”
Relief and a faint sense of emptiness flashed across Philip’s face. Watching him, I scoffed inwardly.
‘Concerned? More like he prays every day that I’d just drop dead.’
If I had to name the person in this territory who cared about me the least, it would undoubtedly be him.
Unfortunately, Abel’s body was sturdier than that. Even after plowing through that mountain of documents, I felt perfectly fine.
‘Now for the last one.’
I slammed the stamp down on the final paper and set it aside. While Philip neatly stacked the documents, I stood up and rolled my stiff shoulders.
“Phew.”
Today’s agenda was wrapped up, so time to move on to the next task.
“Young Master, your coat.”
Philip, having finished organizing, draped my outer coat over my shoulders. I straightened my attire and flung open the office door.
“Y-Young Master.”
Philip hurried after me.
“If I may ask, where are you headed……?”
“Can’t you tell?”
“Th-then, to your room again today?”
“Yeah.”
As I strode down the corridor, the servants around us hurriedly bowed their heads. They were filled with fear of incurring Abel’s wrath.
I passed through them like a king and headed to my room. When I opened the door, the changed interior greeted me.
I had shoved the expensive wine cellar into the corner to clear a wide space in the center. The floor was covered with thick mats, and beside them stood a heavy bar I could grip and lift.
‘This is, well……’
Indoor exercise, basically.
Lately, I’d been devoting all my spare time to building my stamina.
‘This body is too frail.’
Abel’s physique was agile, but his overall endurance was poor. His strength was lacking too, so his arms would tremble after just swinging a sword a few times.
‘Not nearly enough to wield Requiem.’
Of course, Requiem was far lighter than a standard steel sword. Yet it boasted superior cutting power and even drained the life force from any living thing it touched.
But……
Thump.
My heart suddenly beat irregularly.
“……”
I stopped in place, furrowing my brow.
‘Here it comes again.’
Abel’s mania would strike out of nowhere like this, even in everyday moments.
‘I thought it would fade if I stopped the killing.’
A destructive urge surged up—to tear apart any living thing in sight, rip out its heart, and crush it.
Honestly, it was a miracle Abel hadn’t gone mad already.
‘No, wait. He was mad, that’s why he did all that.’
I shook my head and squeezed my eyes shut. Then I leaped up and hung from the bar, which was taller than me.
‘I won’t lose to some petty impulse like this.’
If I couldn’t even control my own body, I’d never overcome Requiem’s whispers either.
A strong body houses a strong mind. And besides,
‘I need to learn swordsmanship soon anyway.’
This was preparation for the training sessions with Liam. They were bound to be brutal.
“One, two, three……”
I began doing pull-ups.
‘Arm strength first.’
Then endurance, so maybe I should jog around the castle grounds too.
As I ran the calculations in my head, I suddenly felt eyes on me. There stood Philip by the door, mouth agape in a daze.
His eyes screamed confusion.
*Why is the Young Master doing that?*
And who could blame him? The Abel he knew was a lunatic who tortured people every other day.
But for the past few days, I hadn’t laid a finger on anyone. Now I was throwing myself into workouts he’d never seen before—who wouldn’t be baffled?
“……”
I could almost hear the gears grinding in Philip’s head from here.
Not that it’d lead anywhere.
“Get out. I’ll call if I need you.”
I tossed the curt words at him.
Then I lowered myself and pulled up again, repeating the motion.
“……Twelve, thirteen……”
It hurt. It fucking hurt. My arms felt like they’d snap.
But effort never betrays you. There’s no better way than consistent training.
‘No, there is a better way.’
The problem was I couldn’t use it right now.
‘I’ll grab that one next time too.’
I mentally ticked off one future option. At the same time, I felt my limit creeping in.
“……Fifty.”
I dropped from the bar to the floor.
“Hoo, hoo.”
Sweat poured down my back like rain. My palms stung from gripping the bar.
“Hoo, gonna die, hoo.”
Looking at my hands, the parts that had gripped the bar were already red and swollen.
‘Calluses will make it better.’
I flexed and unflexed my hands to loosen them, but I still felt his gaze on me.
“Philip.”
I frowned.
‘Why is he still standing there?’
Philip looked lost in deep thought, his face blank. His wandering eyes finally settled on my furrowed brow.
“Young Master. Did something…… happen in Cader Territory by any chance?”
I twisted my lips.
“Do I have to tell you everything?”
“I’m just worried about your well-being,”
“Cut the crap.”
I turned fully toward Philip. He flinched but didn’t avert his gaze.
‘Ah, so that’s how you want to play it?’
Looks like I’d been too docile these past few days. Seeing him this bold proved it.
“It’s not me you’re worried about.”
I didn’t hide my sneering laugh.
“You’re worried what mess I might’ve made.”
He knew about Abel’s mania. So naturally, he assumed I’d stirred something up in Cader Territory and was lying low now.
But airing it out like this was a problem.
“Philip.”
I bared my teeth in a grin.
“How’s your daughter doing?”
Philip’s face went white as a sheet.
‘I’ll need to yank the leash periodically.’
The reason Philip despised me yet obeyed my every whim? I held his secret.
Philip sent part of his salary every month to his wife and daughter living far away.
The trouble started when his daughter wanted to attend the academy.
The empire’s academy demanded hefty tuition and fees—too much for a mere territory steward like him.
So he embezzled territory funds during Diego’s absence, falsifying the ledgers.
Diego, hopeless with numbers, never noticed. But Abel, who memorized every figure in the books, did.
‘This amount doesn’t match what I remember.’
Abel eventually uncovered the original ledgers Philip had hidden.
From then on, Philip became Abel’s loyal dog. As long as Abel had those books, Philip would obey forever.
Just like now.
“Young Master, please forgive me.”
He bowed so low his back nearly touched the ground.
“I’ve overstepped.”
The power to make a man twenty years his senior bend his proud back and grovel.
‘Fatherly love is a scary thing.’
Gazing at his graying crown, I said leisurely,
“I thought your memory was decent. Was I wrong?”
“I’m sorry.”
I reached out and gripped his shoulder firmly.
“Don’t question what I do, don’t ask why. Just follow orders. Got it?”
“Yes.”
The moment my hand left, Philip straightened up. Not a trace of emotion lingered on his face.
“I’ll take my leave.”
I just nodded without replying.
Philip turned and vanished outside—a perfectly obedient sight that pleased me greatly.
❖ ❖ ❖
I spent the afternoon leisurely, undisturbed, and even finished a light dinner.
As I set down my spoon, the maids attending me widened their eyes.
“You’re done already?”
“Clear it away.”
I waved them off and left the dining hall.
My appetite was usually hearty, and after sweating earlier, I was starving. But I stopped on purpose.
I had to meet Liam soon. A full stomach would make it harder to keep up.
“Time’s up.”
I rolled my shoulders and headed to the meeting spot.
A wide clearing behind the stables.
After 8 p.m., no one came or went—a quiet place with enough space to swing a sword freely.
The only spot in the castle to spar without prying eyes.
I lingered nearby on purpose, stepping in exactly at 8.
“……”
No one?
The thought had barely crossed my mind when,
“Young Master.”
Liam emerged from behind a stable pillar where he’d been hiding.
I suppressed the sly smile rising on my lips.
“You’re here.”
Liam stared at me warily. But he soon swallowed a shallow sigh and approached slowly.
The measured steps of a knight, the clink of his sheathed sword at his waist.
“One thing I’d like to ask.”
The worry on his face showed the path here hadn’t been easy.
“Why…… did you choose me?”
His question revealed the agonies he’d wrestled with to reach this point.
“Dissatisfied?”
“No, it’s not that. It’s just……”
Liam’s eyes were calm, merely seeking an answer to his curiosity.
“I want to know why. You had other options besides me.”
A fair point. I did have several choices.
I glanced at his waist.
‘Not on duty, but he brought his sword anyway.’
He was already committed to the deal. Since I’d struck his weak spot, he had no other options.
So his question was just a meaningless formality. I had no obligation to tell the truth.
“That doesn’t matter.”
I spoke in a flat, emotionless voice.
“I made the offer, you chose. Now just follow through.”
I pointed at his waist.
“Besides, your answer seems decided already.”
Liam’s hand twitched. He instinctively reached for his sword hilt, then pulled away.
“You’re right, Young Master.”
A sigh-like reply escaped him, and his gaze locked onto mine.
“Unnecessary doubt.”
Liam placed his hand back on the sword hilt.
The atmosphere was utterly different now. A sharp, piercing aura emanated from him.
“Let’s begin.”
I swallowed a laugh while watching him.
‘Yeah, that’s what I expected.’
I could read his thoughts plainly.
*Playing along with the spoiled young master’s scheme, half-ass the lesson, and be done.*
‘He figures a commoner who’s never held a sword can’t learn properly anyway.’
I didn’t bother correcting him. Time would prove it soon enough—he’d realize without me saying a word.
“Fine. But first, hold on.”
I stopped him with a hand and untied the bundle I’d brought.