Picking Fights is World-Class
Picking Fights is World-Class
From the moment I learned that the Duke was the witch Sercia, the Duchy was no different from a witch's house.
The target of such a witch is Renoa.
Even though her value as a vessel has plummeted because her mana core is broken, it's still too early to relax.
Because there's no telling what Sercia might do.
For that reason, I haven't left Renoa's side for even a single moment.
Not for a second.
It didn't matter when we were at the Academy. No, that was a problem too, but at least there was room to rationalize that it was okay.
Because there, aside from a few maids, it was just me and Renoa.
But it's not like that here.
Nobles and knights are everywhere.
Since I'm sticking to Renoa's side like glue, the way people look at us is no joke.
Just like right now.
"Hey."
"Yes."
"What's up with him?"
"What are you talking about?"
"What else? I'm talking about that slave."
Dinner time for the Edelheid clan.
Everyone except for the Duke, who was away saying he had work to do, gathered in one place.
The eldest daughter, Idella, stopped eating and stared intently at me.
Not just her, but everyone in the dining room was looking at me as if I were some kind of weirdo.
Having been dragged semi-forcibly to the family dinner by Renoa, I had to stay by her side.
"It's because I almost got assassinated before. I can't live in peace unless I have a guard knight by my side."
Renoa stabbed a piece of food with her fork. Then she turned around and beckoned to me, standing behind her.
"Ah, open up."
"Agassi...?"
"Ah."
"......."
I checked everyone's reactions.
I knew I shouldn't, but Renoa's attitude was so firm that I couldn't find an opening to refuse.
I reluctantly accepted and ate the food.
"How is it?"
"It's fine. Please eat with peace of mind."
"Who asked that? I asked how it tastes."
"...It's delicious."
"Really? Then try this too."
Renoa fed me one bite after another. To the point where it was hard to tell if I was here to guard her or to have a meal.
If I, the person involved, was losing my mind, I could only imagine how the others felt.
Sure enough, Florencia interjected.
"Have you truly lost your mind? What do you think you're doing right now?"
"It's because a maid I trusted fed me poison. I can't eat unless I check if there's poison like this. How is it? What's the tastiest?"
"......."
"Answer me."
"As expected, the meat seems to be the best."
"Meat? Then have another bite."
Renoa's assassination excuse was truly an all-purpose shield that blocked everything. Seeing as even Florencia, famous for her spite, couldn't say a word.
In the end, I had to accept every single piece of food Renoa gave me, reaching the point where I had basically eaten a full meal.
"Agassi. I can't fit any more in."
"Full already? You're not just pretending to be full, are you?"
"Agassi...."
"Fine. Let's go. I'll be taking my leave first."
Renoa finally stood up. I was only pretending to be full, but fortunately, Renoa accepted it.
I followed Renoa with quick steps as she walked out of the hall confidently.
"Um, Agassi? Aren't we drawing unnecessary attention? In our position, there's nothing good about being noticed."
"So what."
"What do you mean 'so what'...."
"Do you know what kind of treatment I've lived through from those people?"
I didn't not know.
Since I had personally seen her get slapped by Florencia.
But if she were taking actual revenge, I'd understand, but what does this have to do with that....
"Those people probably pray for nothing but my unhappiness. They're the type who would rather choose death than see me succeed."
Is it that bad?
Of course, I've seen posts like that while browsing online communities.
Receiving 100 million won while the person I hate most in the world receives 10 billion won.
'I get 100 million and Gerard gets 10 billion....'
That's not bad?
I could just beat the shit out of Gerard and take the 10 billion.
What's the problem?
Anyway, her personality is so twisted.
She should have a kind heart like me.
"So you're saying you're trying to grate on their nerves by putting on a lovey-dovey show with me?"
"Well.... something like that."
"I understand. But would doing that with a slave even be meaningful?"
"Looking at their expressions earlier, it seems to be working."
I see.
So that's why Renoa's mood seemed strangely uplifted every time she fed me.
She was enjoying the thought of teasing them.
'Somehow, her bad personality never changes.'
As expected, no matter how much the environment changes, the fundamental parts don't seem to change much.
Though that is Renoa's identity.
"Hmm?"
While I was chatting with Renoa, a person came out of the dining room.
It was the eldest son, Cassius.
The other members of the Edelheid clan have personalities that are clearly visible on the outside, making them easy to read.
But this Cassius has no expression and doesn't speak, so it's impossible to know what he's thinking.
'I heard he's close with Aether.'
Usually, you have to be most careful around guys like this.
"Did you enjoy your meal? Orabeoni."
There it is again.
Renoa's provocation.
You might ask how that's a provocation, but Renoa is an illegitimate child.
No one considers Renoa a member of the Edelheid family.
Conversely, Renoa is the same.
She doesn't call her father 'Father,' and she doesn't call her sisters 'Sister.'
Such a Renoa called the eldest son, Cassius, 'Orabeoni.' This was a clear provocation.
I wonder how Cassius will react.
Renoa and I quietly waited for his mouth to open.
Soon, Cassius's mouth moved.
"Don't call me Orabeoni."
And the words that followed were.
"Because you are not an Edelheid."
It was an extremely cold and exclusive declaration, no different from the others.
Since it was a reaction already within expectations, Renoa wasn't affected at all.
Her languid gaze actually showed a hint of disappointment.
"Even if we have different mothers, to be so cold to a sibling of the same blood. You're too much."
"Don't delude yourself."
Tteubok-tteubok, Cassius narrowed the distance until he was right in front of Renoa's nose.
He tilted his chin up and looked down at Renoa.
"Even if you participate in imperial banquets and go to the Academy, you are not an Edelheid. You are merely a replacement."
"......."
"Stop playing the clown while using the family name. It's an eyesore."
As if further conversation was a waste of time, Cassius passed us and disappeared.
Staring at his back, Renoa muttered lowly.
"How boring. I thought he'd be a bit different."
"......."
"What's wrong?"
"No.... just...."
His way of speaking.
His expression.
His voice.
The overall atmosphere was as cold as if it were choking the life out of me. It was similar to when I first met Renoa.
An innate sense of intimidation.
I felt that from Cassius as well.
'But it's strange.'
There was no such thing as hostility in the pressure Cassius directed toward Renoa.
He was just growling out loud.
Without any substance at all.
'Did he pussy out because of Renoa?'
Like a scared dog barking loudly for no reason.
That could be it.
Renoa is quite the mad dog, after all.
"Let's just take a walk."
"You're going to walk me?"
"What?"
"Nothing. Let's go."
The Imperial Castle of the Capital.
Aether Argenwald, who had entered the Academy, had returned. It wasn't that he had quit the Academy.
His prestige wouldn't hold if the very person who made a declaration before the crowds and gathered people just vanished.
He had only stepped away for a while using his physical condition as an excuse. He would return as soon as his business was finished.
"Welcome back, Imperial Prince-jeonha. How was the Academy? Did you make any friends?"
"Don't even get me started. They wouldn't leave me alone for a second."
"That must mean there are many who wish to socialize with you, Jeonha. Were there none among them who caught your interest?"
"There were some."
The Lord Chamberlain stroked his mustache as if his interest was piqued.
"Ho-oh. To think someone caught your eye, Jeonha. Who might they be?"
"The second daughter of Edelheid and her slave knight. The other one is a commoner."
"That sounds like a peculiar combination just hearing about it."
"Truly. Time flies when I'm with them."
Aether let out a chuckle.
Just imagining it, the sound of their conversation replayed perfectly in his mind.
The Lord Chamberlain changed the subject.
"I've heard the news. That you've found the witch."
"It's thanks to a friend's help. That's also why I returned to the Imperial Palace."
"Do you intend to lead the subjugation force yourself, Jeonha?"
"Of course I must."
The witch Sercia was a calamity that had once plunged the entire Empire into a crucible of fear.
To the point where even a newborn infant among the Imperial citizens would stop crying upon hearing that name.
The subjugation of such a witch is one of the great and fateful duties that the Imperial Family must conclude.
They would execute the public enemy who slaughtered innocent citizens and honor the souls of those who died unfairly.
Furthermore, the witch's subjugation would add to the people's support for the Imperial Family. That would lead directly to the strengthening of the imperial authority.
Only if Aether, the strong candidate for the next Emperor, took the role of commander would that meaning be fully realized.
"However, there is a concerning part. How do you plan to prove that the Duke is the witch?"
Sercia's appearance as the Duke of Edelheid is not mimicry.
She has possessed that body.
If it were only for a short time, the ego would be pushed to a corner, but Sercia has been the Duke for over a decade.
One must consider the Duke's ego long gone.
In other words, the current Duke is the Duke himself, whether viewed externally or internally.
"If you execute a noble—especially a Duke—without clear physical evidence, it will be seen as a civil war unilaterally provoked by the Imperial Family."
No matter how powerful the imperial authority is, one cannot blindly kill the head of the Empire's greatest family.
If force is wielded without a clear and just cause, one will be recorded as a tyrant who purged loyal subjects under the pretext of treason.
A bloodbath without justification was the worst possible move that would cause even the other great nobles, who had been staying quiet, to rise up.
"I've made preparations with the court mages for that part, so you don't need to worry."
It is a task prepared for dozens of years. There's no way preparations weren't made.
No matter what scenario occurs, the readiness to respond is perfect.
Not even a single mistake will be tolerated. For the future of the Empire, the witch must be executed.
Even if things go wrong, there is an alternative plan.
All we have to do is prove that a witch has devoured Edelheid. No matter who that witch might be.
'If it comes to that, I won't be able to keep my promise to him....'
It's just a pity.
Because the sacrifice of the few for the many is something that always follows.