Chapter 351
Chapter 351
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 351
Chapter Title: Reborn as the Plum Blossom Sword Guard in the Count Family
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"Baron Frucker. It's too noisy here for a quiet conversation. I'll have you shown to the reception room. Follow me."
"Yes, Your Excellency the Prime Minister."
I followed behind him. I glanced back to check on Yuria, who was trailing me. Her expression and demeanor were the same as always.
But I noticed her nerves were on edge. Normally, Yuria's gaze followed me, but now it was fixed on the nape of Makellos's neck.
Yuria clearly harbored killing intent toward Makellos. Yet, I sensed no hostility from her at all. Even someone like me, who could sense and wield mana and had built up combat experience, should have picked up on it if there was any.
It wasn't perfect. Another assassin might be impressed that she could even conceal her killing intent, but I was her master. From my perspective, it wasn't entirely welcome.
The chances are slim to none, but if Yuria killed Prime Minister Helbritt right now, it wouldn't just end with trouble for her.
I extended my right arm and draped it over Yuria's shoulder. As I caressed her jaw and cheek with my hand, her demeanor and expression returned to normal. She seemed to enjoy my touch.
As expected... Training her from a young age has paid off.
Makellos, who had been walking straight ahead, seemed to notice the sudden quiet and glanced back slightly.
"...Baron Frucker. Why are you being supported by your maid?"
"I have a heart condition. My chest hurts a bit from the tension."
"Is it that hard to walk? I'll summon the physicians."
"I'm fine. It's a congenital condition I've had since birth. It passes with time. I apologize for my rudeness in Your Excellency's presence."
"I'm not so rigid as to punish the unwell. Don't worry about it."
"Thank you."
He turned his gaze forward again.
I smiled silently.
The House Helbritt's stubbornness was infamous among the nobility. They didn't mention it only because he reigned as the kingdom's second-in-command, but everyone knew the Helbritt family wouldn't hesitate to issue a massacre order for their honor.
If they had any flexibility, he might not have become Yuria's target for revenge.
I felt a certain gratitude toward Makellos. Without him, Yuria wouldn't have been born, and without that severe obsession with purity, she wouldn't have become mine.
Of course, that didn't mean I was going easy on him.
In the reception room, Makellos and I sat facing each other. Yuria stood silently behind me. A teapot steaming on the table and teacups sat untouched by anyone.
"Baron Frucker."
"Yes, Your Excellency the Prime Minister. Speak."
"Time is short. I need to oversee the banquet's progress, and His Majesty the King will arrive this afternoon. I have mountains of work. So, I'll be direct. Is your exclusive maid, Yuria Grace, from the House Helbritt?"
I was a bit surprised.
I'd heard rumors of Makellos's bluntness, but I hadn't expected it to this degree.
Knowing her full name means he's investigated Yuria.
Makellos was the Prime Minister. He wouldn't act recklessly.
He's asking me to confirm because he's not entirely sure. Or perhaps to warn me.
After a brief moment of thought, I spoke.
"Your Excellency, I know the House Helbritt's traits are silver hair and blue eyes. But not everyone in the world with silver hair and blue eyes is from the House Helbritt. My exclusive maid, Yuria, is a commoner. And..."
I reached out toward Yuria. As always, she quickly understood my intent and approached. I pulled her into an embrace and sat her on my lap.
"She's my lover."
I kissed Yuria openly, for all to see.
"Mm...!"
It was a deep, sloppy kiss with our tongues intertwining. I noticed Yuria was more aggressive than usual, feeling it more intensely. The reason was obvious: Makellos right in front of us.
"..."
Makellos narrowed his eyes and watched our display of affection. He showed no excitement, no outburst.
"...So, Baron. Is Yuria Grace of my bloodline?"
"How dull. I just committed rudeness right in front of you."
"You'll pay the price for your rudeness soon enough. Answer my question, Baron."
My hand slipped inside Yuria's top. It moved familiarly, kneading her breasts.
"Haah...!"
Yuria gripped my shoulder and let out a soft moan.
Makellos's eyebrows twitched.
"Baron. It's not too late. Show some decorum and answer my question."
I chuckled.
"No, Your Excellency."
I stared straight into Makellos's eyes. The blue irises were identical to Yuria's.
"It's too late, Your Excellency. Far too late."
"..."
Makellos seemed to decide I was beyond reasoning and turned his gaze away. He addressed Yuria, who was enjoying my touch like a puppy.
"Yuria Grace. You answer. Are you of my blood?"
"...Ah...!"
"I'll give you one more chance. Answer properly."
"Ah, Master... I can't hold back...!"
Makellos finally stood from his seat.
"Baron Frucker. You and your maid will pay for this."
I pulled my mouth from Yuria's nape.
"Ah, yes. We will pay the price."
He wouldn't kill me right away. It was the king's birthday today. I had at least three days of safety.
Makellos ignored my words and moved to leave.
"Yuria's mother was a knight."
"..."
Makellos halted and looked at Yuria and me.
"A black-haired woman. An Aura Expert of considerable skill. Well, that's just what I heard, so I don't know the details. By the time I arrived at Yuria's village, she'd been brutally murdered by bandits posing as mercenaries."
"..."
"She was extremely cautious. She pretended to be a leper even though she wasn't, and she rarely took Yuria outside the house."
"Baron. What was that woman's name?"
"Kellia."
I answered without hesitation.
"That's the name she used, apparently. One of many she went by."
"Do you know her real name?"
"Yes. Nell Rinse."
"..."
Makellos looked at Yuria.
Father and daughter stared at each other. But their eyes held no familial gaze.
"Yuria Grace. I'll give you a chance."
"...What kind of chance?"
Yuria responded to Makellos for the first time.
"A chance to return to where you belong."
"Your Excellency. I'm already where I belong."
"I see. Very well."
Makellos left without looking back.
I could say for certain: Makellos would use any means necessary to kill Yuria and me.
"Yuria. How do you feel? You don't have to say if you don't want to."
I asked as I undressed her maid uniform piece by piece.
"...This is a first for me, so I don't know how to put it into words. But one thing I can say for sure: the Helbritt Duke and his family must die. Otherwise..."
"I know. I haven't forgotten our promise. Just wait a little longer."
"...I'll wait."
"Thank you. I'm looking forward to the day you become completely mine."
I sat her naked body on the chair and thrust my hips.
"Thank you all for attending today."
The king entered the banquet hall with the prince and princess. He took his seat on the prepared throne and delivered his prepared speech. He was still pretending to retain his vigor, but everyone who mattered knew: the king was frail, lacking even the energy to command.
I half-listened to the king's speech, my eyes on the blond man and woman beside him.
Aiden Rapelli.
The typical wastrel prince who loved wine and women. And the frontrunner to become the next king. Incompetent, but backed by the House Helbritt. They planned to make him a puppet and seize real power.
As royalty, his looks were quite handsome.
In the original story, he doesn't even get to sit on the throne before dying.
My gaze shifted to the other side. There was a woman so stunning she made my mouth water.
Aileen Rapelli.
The daughter of King Rapelli. The princess.
She was as beautiful as one of the original story's heroines.
Shimmering golden hair and sapphire eyes. Snow-white skin and a body like a sculpture.
Unlike Aiden, who scowled faintly in boredom, she stood tall with a subtle smile. Far more capable than him, but her gender and enmity with House Helbritt were major obstacles.
Damn... she's hot.
Beside the royal family stood the House Helbritt.
Makellos Helbritt, the duke and prime minister.
His son and official heir, Harioss Helbritt.
And the duchess, Katrin Helbritt.
She too had silver hair and blue eyes. She looked remarkably young, no older than her early to mid-thirties.
...And Makellos's cousin.
The House Helbritt practiced incestuous marriages for generations. Mostly siblings, but since Makellos had no siblings, he married his cousin.
It was Helbritt tradition, to preserve their bloodline.
Rare in this world, but not unheard of. Plenty of noble houses did it if you looked.
Centuries of inbreeding, yet no signs of genetic defects. Must be the fantasy world.
I licked my lips looking at Katrin Helbritt. I wanted to bed her once, but she was Yuria's revenge target. Weighing her against Yuria in my mind, I cleanly gave up. Yuria was worth thousands of times more.
"...I thank all who came to celebrate. The banquet lasts three days, so enjoy yourselves."
The king's speech ended.
Next, the nobles presented birthday gifts. It was a pre-arranged show. They oohed and aahed at unusual ones.
Once the gift-giving ended, the nobles began mingling freely.
I scanned the room and spotted Vivi Heollis. She was with young nobles. Her fiancé, Gent, was off schmoozing influential nobles.
"Looks like an interesting conversation. Mind if I join?"
"Oh, Baron Frucker."
"Ooh...! It's Baron Frucker, the youngest Aura Expert! Nice to meet you! I'm from the east..."
They swarmed around me, chattering. I smiled politely and exchanged greetings.
"First time meeting you, Baron Frucker! I'm Baron Basib Makeild!"
The con artist flashed an innocent smile and offered a handshake.
"Nice to meet you, Baron Makeild. My knowledge is limited, so Basib Makeild is new to me. Care to tell me your origins?"
"From a remote mountain village in the northeast. Not to boast, but... House Johee has fallen on hard times. Barely clinging to the title. Without bloodline, we're no better than commoners. Embarrassing, really. I wasn't going to come to the capital, but... His Majesty's birthday—I couldn't dare show disloyalty."
"Such impressive loyalty."
"Haha. Fallen or not, my loyalty to His Majesty remains."
"I saw you all chatting animatedly earlier... What was the topic?"
He glanced around slyly, then smiled faintly.
"Herbs. I'm currently pursuing a herb cultivation business."