Chapter 353
Chapter 353
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 353
Chapter Title: Reborn as the Plum Blossom Sword Master in a Count's Family
-----------------------------------------------------------------
In the Lafeli Kingdom, Prime Minister Makellos stormed into a mansion on the outskirts of the capital with his knights in tow, dragging the great sinner Baziv Maykeld along.
"Search every inch!"
Makellos barked the order, then turned his gaze aside. His face was expressionless, but his mood was foul. The king's birthday celebration was still in full swing.
He should have been at the banquet hall, but at the king's command, he was investigating and digging into Baziv Maykeld's affairs. It had been easy. The con man had spilled everything within an hour of torture.
Baziv Maykeld.
No, his real name was Rohad, a commoner mercenary. While passing by, he had stumbled upon the corpse of a real noble—the genuine Baziv Maykeld. He stole the Maykeld family crest ring and documents from the body and impersonated the noble.
During the scuffle with Baron Eugene Prukus at the banquet, Makellos had considered helping Rohad. But the scam was too flimsy to bother defending. Stepping in would only tarnish his own reputation, so he stayed out of it.
'What an idiot.'
According to him, he planned to make a quick fortune, flee across the border, and live leisurely in hiding. But Makellos didn't buy it. He'd seen con artists like this before—ones who didn't fear nobles. They kept scamming like it was a habit. Over 90% of what came out of their mouths was lies. The worst ones even believed their own fabrications.
"M-my lord! Wh-what is the meaning of this?!"
An old man rushed out from the murmuring crowd, prostrating himself on the ground. His left arm was missing.
"You dare ask what you've done? We are carrying out His Majesty's orders. Do you think you can ignore the royal family just because your days are numbered and disrespect His Majesty?"
"N-no, absolutely not! I am Marco, who served in the Third Royal Knight Order twenty years ago! I know it's presumptuous, but this is my mansion, lent to Baron Maykeld."
"......"
A former royal knight couldn't be treated lightly. Makellos was flanked by knights from the royal guard.
"Baron Baziv Maykeld is no noble. He's a noble impersonator. Real name's Rohad. Mercenary scum."
"...Pardon?"
The old man stared at Rohad, bound head to toe in chains. Rohad averted his eyes.
"Baron Maykeld...! No, Rohad! You promised me 5 million ner for lending you this place! When are you paying my 5 million ner?!"
"Shut it, Marco. Don't cause a scene. You're lucky we don't chop your head off for obstructing His Majesty's orders. Considering your past service and loyalty to the crown, I'll let it slide once. Stay out of it."
Marco backed away, sweating profusely at Makellos's sharp warning. Even he, who no longer cared about life or death in his old age, feared the prime minister.
"Your Excellency, there's nothing inside. Not a single ner."
"......"
Makellos eyed Rohad.
"N-no, Your Excellency! I told the truth! This mansion holds all the investment funds I've gathered! My two comrades are guarding the money, I swear!"
"......"
Makellos pondered.
It was unlikely Rohad was lying. The old commoner recognized him, and Rohad had cracked easily under torture.
More likely, his comrades had fled with the cash, or someone else had swooped in and taken it.
Makellos leaned toward the latter.
"Back to the palace. Rohad, you lied, so you'll be tortured until you die."
"Y-Your Excellency! No! I told the truth! Please, no more torture... mercy, Your Excellency!"
"......"
???
Through this incident, I firmly imprinted my presence on the nobles.
I caused a commotion at the banquet, but none criticized me. They praised me instead. Because the con man was a noble impersonator. Nobles were extremely wary of challenges to their authority.
Vivi Heolis deliberately avoided me. She had taken 500 million ner from me and invested it with the scammer. Prime Minister Makellos had just announced to the nobles that the money was unrecoverable.
Truth be told, I had it. Today, I'd sent Yuria to retrieve it. A whopping 1.73 billion ner. The sudden windfall thrilled me.
10 PM. The banquet's fervor hadn't died down.
I had Yuria invite Vivi Heolis to the room the royals provided me. Soon, Yuria and Vivi entered. With Yuria handling it personally, no one would know Vivi had come to my room.
I spoke expressionlessly to the fidgeting Vivi.
"Have a seat, sister-in-law."
"...Yes, Baron Prukus."
Vivi sat. I scanned her from head to toe. Rare light mint-green hair, emerald eyes, porcelain skin. Stunning beauty. Unfortunately, A-cup breasts.
Sensing danger in my gaze, she shuddered.
"Sister-in-law, you've heard about Baron Baziv Maykeld... or rather, Rohad."
"He's a con artist... and the prime minister said the money's gone."
"It's late, so I'll be direct. 820 million ner. How do you plan to repay it?"
"P-please wait. I can pay it back. I'm a daughter of House Heolis."
"Planning to ask Marquis Heolis for the money?"
The marquis could cover it in an instant.
"No! I can repay it without Father's help."
"How exactly?"
"I'll move up the wedding with Young Master Jent. In three months, once I'm married, I can siphon off some assets..."
"Sorry, sister-in-law, but my brother doesn't have much wealth."
"...What? You said last time we could get money this way."
"I didn't know much about Jent back then. But after investigating recently, turns out he has little to his name."
"Young Master Jent is the heir to Count Prukus!"
"Just a leading candidate. I'm vying for the position too. It won't be decided for at least three years."
"B-but if you wait, Baron, I can pay. ...It might take a while, but the contract doesn't specify a deadline anyway."
"True. But it also says I can demand repayment if I deem you unwilling or unable to pay. And in the worst case, go to Marquis Heolis."
"No! I can pay!"
Vivi snapped indignantly. I stared at her silently. Overwhelmed, she looked away.
"You don't seem willing. When His Highness called forward those scammed by the con, why didn't you step up?"
"...How could I? With Father and all the nobles watching...! My life's just beginning. I can't have this black mark. If word gets out, society will gossip endlessly..."
I understood Vivi's point. Unlike heirs securing territories and houses, noble ladies' value lay mostly in high society.
"Did you approach the prime minister privately to recover the money from the scammer?"
"Too many eyes. I couldn't. And if Marquis Heolis let a rumor slip in society..."
Vivi squeezed her eyes shut. I felt no sympathy.
"Sigh. Sister-in-law, you seem neither willing nor able to repay. Sorry, but I'll have to tell the marquis."
"Wait, Baron! You're jumping to conclusions! I can pay, I swear...!"
"Over 820 million ner. How much have you saved?"
"Well..."
"None, right? If you had, you wouldn't have borrowed from me."
Vivi was vain. Any allowance from the marquis would be spent immediately.
As I stood, the startled Vivi grabbed my arm.
"Baron! Give me time! Time...! With time, I can pay!"
"......Really?"
"Yes! I can! Believe me!"
"...Hard to trust, but I'll give you a chance."
Vivi's face lit up.
"Thank you, Baron!"
"One condition."
"C-condition?"
I reached for Vivi's face. Caressing her pale cheek slowly, her eyes trembled. She realized what I wanted.
"I want your body. Refuse, and I'll go straight to the marquis."
"Th-this is blackmail! Is this who you are, Baron?!"
"Yes. Who I am. And this wouldn't have happened if you could actually repay."
"I'll tell Father! He won't forgive you—not you, not all of House Prukus!"
"Think he'll believe you? No proof."
"Father will believe me!"
"I have the contract proving you owe 820 million ner. I'll say you're lying because you can't pay."
"N-no...!"
Vivi was the marquis's daughter. She knew he was ruthless with money matters. That he'd trust the contract over her word.
Tears welled in Vivi's eyes. My hand trailed from her cheek to her neck.
"No! I must stay pure!"
"Sister-in-law, purity means the hymen, right?"
"Y-yes. I'll spend my first night with Jent right after marriage. No hymen, and it'll be a problem."
"Don't worry. There's a way."
"...A way?"
"Magic to create an artificial hymen. Jent knows nothing about magic, so it'll pass. Just act natural on your wedding night. I'll help ensure it goes smoothly. Or we can go to the marquis now. Your choice?"
My hand reached her shoulder. Vivi's green eyes darted, weighing pros and cons.
"...If there's really a spell for an artificial hymen, will I pass the first night undetected?"
No need for magic, even. Real-world products and surgeries existed.
"I guarantee it."
"...Fine. I'll give you my body, Baron. You must keep your promise."
"Of course. I won't hound you for the money anymore. Though if it takes too long, you might have to indulge me a few more times."
"......"
I undressed the resigned Vivi. Yuria took the fallen dress and stepped back.
"...That maid heard everything since earlier."
"She's trustworthy. No need to worry."
"......"
I eyed her upper body. A-cup breasts, barely a handful. I reached for the perky mounds. The pink nipples at their tips hardened slowly.
"Sister-in-law, you smell nice. Perfume on your breasts?"
"...What nonsense. Who puts perfume on their breasts? And stop touching just them. These tiny things... not attractive at all."
"Nonsense. You're so alluring—how could your breasts not be?"
My head moved toward Vivi's small breasts.