Reincarnated as the Count's Plum Blossom Swordmaster
Having surrendered his virginity to a cheap prostitute, Kyle returned to the Mount Hua Sect with dejected steps.
He abandoned the training he performed every day and spent his time sitting blankly. Nothing held his attention. Yujin, Silly, the cheap prostitute—they all floated through his mind only to vanish again.
Perhaps it was because he had resolved his lust by tumbling with the prostitute. Fortunately, there were no signs of qi deviation.
He had somewhat anticipated the relationship between Yujin and Silly. On that festival day, after all, Yujin and Silly had clearly not looked like an ordinary man and woman.
After some time passed, he sensed a familiar presence.
Kyle looked out the window. He saw Silly running toward the Mount Hua Sect. From the sweat beading on her face, he could guess what she had been doing until just moments ago.
“…….”
Kyle let out a deep sigh.
He could not say anything to Silly. He and Silly were employer and employee. Nothing more, nothing less. He had no justification to interfere in her private life.
Several days passed like that.
Before he knew it, Kyle began seeing people differently whenever he looked at them, and strange thoughts often arose. Especially when looking at women, odd thoughts frequently came to mind.
When he watched Silly working, her naked body and Yujin would surface together. For example, when she bent her upper body forward to clean the stove and thrust her hips back, the image of Yujin gripping those hips and rocking his waist arose of its own accord.
Each time, Kyle felt self-loathing, yet he also felt curiosity and lust. Just how different were Silly and the prostitute, really? The question lingered.
It was the same when he looked at other women. What did their naked bodies look like? What expressions did they make during sex? The curiosity kept rising without end.
It was torment.
Whenever he felt that torment, Kyle focused on his training. The best way to shake off such afflictions was to concentrate on something else.
And then one day, Silly came to find him.
“Kyle. I’m sorry, but starting next week, it looks like it’ll be hard for me to work at the Mount Hua Sect.”
“…Why? Is the work too hard?”
“It’s not that. This time, I’ve decided to work at Count Frucus’s mansion.”
“At the Frucus mansion…? You’ve moved up in the world.”
“Yeah. I got lucky.”
Not luck—she sold her body to Yujin, no doubt.
Kyle was startled by the thought that had casually arisen. It was a thought that subtly looked down on Silly. He could not be like this.
“Congratulations.”
“Thanks, Kyle.”
Silly smiled brightly. That pure and beautiful smile made his heart flutter for a moment. Kyle forced a smile and turned his body away from her.
Returning to his room, Kyle sat cross-legged on the floor as if to soothe his complicated feelings and began to meditate.
Suddenly, Yuria and Yujin came to mind.
Yuria and Yujin were currently engaged. Once the war ended, they would officially marry. It would be a grand wedding.
…But he’s bringing Silly and Martina into the mansion?
Silly and Martina. Those two were Yujin’s mistresses. For the Count of Frucus—who could be called the master of the east—to maintain an improper relationship with a mother and daughter… If the world learned of it, they would be condemned. Above all, was Yuria, who was to marry Yujin, not far too pitiful?
At this rate, Yuria and Yujin will only face destruction…
Yujin was not pitiable. He had committed adultery. Having strayed from the proper path, he deserved to pay the price. But Yuria had no sin whatsoever. She was simply a victim.
“Hooo…”
Unable to focus on his meditation, Kyle rose to his feet.
He dressed properly and prepared to visit the Frucus main house. His resolve was firm. Of course, he had no intention of making this public. No matter that Yujin had committed infidelity, he was still his younger brother.
Tormented by complicated feelings, Kyle made his way to the Frucus County household.
Yujin was not there.
When he asked a servant, he was told that these days Yujin went out in the morning and returned only in the evening. It was obvious what Yujin was doing outside. Kyle sighed. To commit adultery so openly… Wasn’t that far too careless?
Kyle quietly waited for Yuria in the reception room.
Soon Yuria entered. She wore a blue-toned dress, adorned not excessively with accessories set with brilliant jewels. For a moment, Kyle was captivated by the calm dignity and beauty she exuded.
“Lord Kyle. It has been a while. I heard you have something to say to me.”
Kyle opened and closed his mouth several times. He wondered if he really should do this. But if he did not step forward now, Yuria the victim would face even greater destruction.
Steeling his resolve, Kyle spoke.
“Yuria. It may be hard to believe, but… Yujin is committing adultery.”
“Adultery… you say?”
“Yujin has a commoner mistress. Honestly, I agonized a great deal over whether to tell you or not… but I’m telling you because I don’t want you to suffer.”
Kyle was flustered by Yuria’s composure. Even after hearing of her fiancé’s adultery, she showed no agitation at all. She looked at Kyle with her piercingly blue eyes and asked,
“Lord Kyle, what do you wish for me to do?”
“What do I wish…”
Kyle frowned without realizing it. What had he wanted when he sought out Yuria? Was it truly for her sake?
He felt the filthy emotions within himself—anger, jealousy, hatred toward Yujin. And he realized that he still had not given up on Yuria. Kyle let out a deep sigh, closed his eyes, then opened them again.
“I’ll be honest. I want you to break off the engagement with Yujin. Yujin is a man who doesn’t suit you.”
“If Yujin is a man who doesn’t suit me… then who is the man who does suit me?”
Yuria’s question made his breath catch in his throat.
Kyle looked at his empty left sleeve, then managed to squeeze out the words.
“I… I can make you happy! Far more than Yujin…! I won’t cheat or anything!”
The corner of Yuria’s mouth lifted slightly. She let out a hollow laugh close to a sneer.
“…Pardon me. I was so dumbfounded for a moment that I failed to control my expression. Lord Kyle, I will tell you my true feelings about you.”
Yuria’s atmosphere changed. Contempt shone in her eyes as she looked at him. Kyle felt his heart sink with a thud. He barely held onto his fading consciousness. He wanted to escape from this place right away.
“At first, I thought nothing of you, Lord Kyle. But little by little you approached me and started becoming a nuisance. Now it has gone beyond nuisance and become irritating. Honestly speaking, I wish you would just quietly die somewhere out of sight—but since you are Yujin’s brother, that will not do.”
Yuria’s aura pressed down on Kyle. He repeatedly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. Facing her gaze full of contempt and disgust, he felt as if he had become a cockroach.
“Let us assume a hypothetical. If only you and I, Lord Kyle, were left in this world… I would commit suicide without hesitation.”
“Yuria… I…”
“Please, do not call my name. It is so disgusting I feel as though I will break out in hives.”
“…….”
Kyle’s head hung low. His eyes lost focus and wavered.
“The only woman in this world who suits you is a prostitute wandering the streets.”
Kyle jerked his head up. His heart felt as if it were being torn by that contemptuous and disgusted gaze.
“…How…. How do you know that…?”
“Not long ago, a prostitute came to the mansion to sell a ring. The merchants were lowballing the price, so she came here to receive a fair value. The ring she possessed was excellent in quality and design. It was not something a mere prostitute—especially an old one infected with venereal disease—would own. After interrogation, we learned the source of the ring.”
“…What happened to that prostitute?”
“Yujin gave her money to seal her mouth. Of course, we did not buy the ring. There is no reason to purchase such a disgusting object.”
“Yujin… sealed the prostitute’s mouth for my sake…?”
“Even a mere beast is said to know gratitude. If you possess a head a bit better than a beast’s… treat Yujin well. The only reason you are alive right now is thanks to Yujin’s mercy.”
“…….”
Kyle closed his eyes, feeling guilt rising from deep within. Everything Yuria said was right. He had received far too much from Yujin. Yujin had bestowed far too much upon this pathetic older brother.
“You said Yujin is committing adultery. You are wrong. That is not adultery.”
“…Not adultery?”
He looked at Yuria as if surprised.
“It is merely play. That mother and daughter are nothing more than Yujin’s toys. Yujin is the master of Frucus, and they are the people of Frucus’s territory. They are Yujin’s possessions.”
“…You knew everything. You knew it all…”
“I do not care how many women Yujin embraces. The woman who will be closest to Yujin will be me, after all.”
Yuria smiled. Kyle knew that smile was not directed at him. How could she smile like that knowing of her fiancé’s affairs? He felt the question but could not ask her.
Yuria rose from her seat.
“Lord Kyle. From now on, I would prefer you not appear before my eyes. For official events it cannot be helped… but at least, please do not come seeking me out like this.”
Without waiting for Kyle’s reply, Yuria left the reception room.
Kyle sat quietly in the reception room for a long while before returning to the Mount Hua Sect.