Chapter 548
Chapter 548
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 548
Chapter Title: Reincarnated as the Plum Blossom Sword Master in the Count's Family
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Prince Parein came looking for Yuria again.
His face had grown even more pallid since the last time she saw him. His golden hair had lost its luster, and his eyes gleamed with a dangerous mix of obsession and madness.
"Help me."
"What exactly are you asking for?"
"Help me be with Mary."
"Didn't Lady Komotops get engaged to Lord Yorsen? I was there yesterday myself. It was quite the spectacle."
"...I never thought that brute would move this fast."
"Do you think the royal family will just sit idly by?"
"I'll handle the royal family myself. And this concerns you too. If... if you and I end up married, I swear your life will become hell. I'll make it that way!"
Even as his voice dripped with murderous intent, Yuria didn't so much as twitch an eyebrow.
"Threatening me won't get you much."
"...So you won't help me?"
"I will help you. I have no intention of marrying you either, Your Highness. How would you like me to assist?"
Prince Parein let out a sigh of relief.
"Yorsen. Seduce Yorsen. He liked you before he met Mary, so there's a chance."
"That's impossible. Lord Yorsen proposed to Miss Komotops in front of everyone. No matter what I say, he won't waver."
"Damn it! Am I supposed to just sit back and watch?!"
"I've never suggested that, Your Highness. Find an ally."
"An ally?"
"Isn't there someone else who harbors the same anger and hatred toward Lord Yorsen as you do?"
"...Matis. But will that guy cooperate with me? He's a potential rival too."
"If things stay like this, there won't even be a competition. Matis, the prime minister candidate, is smart—he'll ally with you temporarily."
"Ally with him. Then what?"
"We drive a wedge between Lord Yorsen and the lady. Tarnish his reputation and sow misunderstandings between them."
"...Just as I thought, you're a ruthless woman. How will you sow those misunderstandings?"
"I hear the lady likes black tea."
???
Yorsen dueled with Matis.
I hadn't been allowed into the academy, so I didn't see it with my own eyes, but I'd heard the rumors. Matis had provoked Yorsen, and Yorsen, who valued his honor highly, couldn't let it slide.
The duel broke out, and Matis was badly injured.
Even if it was a duel in the academy, word spread that Matis had been utterly crushed. Rumors flew that Yorsen had deliberately inflicted severe wounds even after he could have subdued him.
The rumors, fueled by malice from someone, ballooned. The nobles began treating Yorsen like a barbarian who swung his power around recklessly.
And on Yuria's orders, I approached Mary.
"Miss Mary. You left your handkerchief behind last time."
"Oh, did I?"
Of course not. I'd stolen it from her. She hadn't noticed a thing.
"Yes. And this is a gift. You gave me cookies last time, remember? They reminded me, so I prepared some."
"Cookies from Eugene! I can't wait!"
Mary beamed with delight. My cooking skills were already the talk of the kingdom as the best around. As she happily took the cookies, her foot slipped, and she tumbled into my arms. I caught her waist on reflex.
"Miss Mary. Are you all right?"
"Ah... S-sorry."
She pulled away in a fluster. But someone would have seen the scene.
"Did you twist your ankle? Just in case, let me help you."
"No, I'm fine. Really, I'm okay!"
Starting with me, misunderstandings would form, and suspicions would deepen. And she was the enchanting woman who had captivated the academy's top three hunks at once. Yorsen, going through a rough patch, would feel uneasy.
Yuria didn't stop there. She stirred up Yorsen's home, the Selbriz Count family, by letting academy rumors leak outside.
As a result, Yorsen was summoned back home, and Mary received a one-sided notice from the Selbriz Count family to break it off. If Yorsen had pushed harder, they might have gotten approval, but he grew suspicious of me and Mary.
Mary had cried all day, they said.
And Prince Parein was overjoyed.
"It worked out perfectly! Better than I could have hoped! Yorsen's under family pressure, forced to drop out of the academy and dragged into the military. He won't get near Mary again!"
"It went well. But why come here? Shouldn't you be comforting the heartbroken Miss Mary first?"
"Of course I want to. Hearing she was crying tore my heart apart. But... there's one more guy to deal with. Turns out someone got to Mary before me. Matis. I need to pry him away from her like I did Yorsen. Then Mary will be mine completely."
Prince Parein had grown ruthless. Too ruthless—nothing like the original prince.
"...Matis, the prime minister candidate, will be even easier. He has a weakness."
"A weakness?! What is it?!"
"Being a prime minister candidate. He's the closest, but still just one of many."
"You mean disqualify him as a candidate. How?"
"The candidates each run small merchant guilds. Their performance heavily influences their candidacy. Bribe his subordinates to commit corruption. He'll take the blame for the guild's crimes."
"Got it! I'm on it right now!"
He jumped up and left.
Matis, who had become Mary's new lover, was officially executed a month later. And the next day, Prince Parein visited.
"Thank you, Yuria. Thanks to you, I finally understand politics."
The prince's speech had changed after so long.
"...His execution was unexpected. Did you make him commit something that serious?"
Yuria frowned briefly.
"Not quite. When I moved to bribe Matis's subordinates as you said, I got some interesting info. The royal family's monster control project—taming beasts to command them. Matis was in charge."
"...He was more capable than I thought."
"Yeah. The prime minister adopted him after seeing through his magical talent. He was genuinely talented. But the prime minister had enemies. I leaked it to one, and Matis was executed. Secret monster experiments are a huge crime—no way out."
"...Why? His project could have greatly helped the royal family."
"How could I trust a guy eyeing my woman as kin? And the royals are fine without it."
"You could have just used him."
"What if her purity went to him in that time? I can't stay sane just thinking about it."
"No rivals left now. You've achieved your goal, Your Highness."
"One thing remains. Our broken engagement."
"I'll think of a way."
"I've only received help so far—I won't just keep taking. I'll handle the breakup. Found a perfect method."
Parein grinned chillingly.
And not long after.
The crown prince died of illness, and Prince Parein was newly named crown prince.
It was suspicious. But Yuria and I stayed silent. It had worked out well, after all.
As crown prince, breaking the engagement was natural.
Yuria was the heir to the Filtania Ducal House. She had to lead the family—she couldn't become queen.
"Milady. I have a bad feeling. Is it really okay to leave Prince Parein alone?"
"It's fine. Our connection ends here. We won't cross paths for years."
Time skipped ahead, and the masquerade ball drew near.
No one is required to attend the masquerade. But most nobles do. Such unique parties are rare. It'll make for a great story to reminisce about later.
"Eugene, attend the masquerade too."
"I'm just a servant, though..."
"No one will discover your identity anyway. And it's an open secret that some servants participate."
"Understood. I'll prepare."
If told to go, I go. What choice do I have?
Around then, news spread of Crown Prince Parein and Mary's engagement. He'd finally convinced his father, the king. No idea how.
'On the surface, it's a happy ending.'
???
Day of the masquerade.
I donned a black cloak to hide my identity until just before entering the hall, then stepped inside.
Even with masks, the difference between nobles and servants was immediately apparent. Their auras and confidence differed. But I acted the perfect noble.
In the White Return world, I had been a noble originally.
Besides.
With the advice nagging me, I looked like nothing but a perfect noble.
For the record, I wore a steel mask and formal attire. Yuria had a ornate mask embedded with jewels and a blue dress.
Masked nobles approached us one by one.
Men lined up to ask Yuria to dance. Even masked, her beauty and grace couldn't be hidden. Her silver-blue hair was exposed, so the nobles might have guessed her identity.
I extended my hand to her politely.
"Miss. Would you dance with me?"
"Gladly."
We ascended the stage prepared for dancing. We stepped in time with the gentle music.
I'd long mastered social dancing. Dancing at parties was practically mandatory, so Yuria and I had practiced together since way back. She was my social dance teacher.
I felt eyes on us. It seemed ordinary, yet gazes gathered. Because of me? Yuria? Or this world's setup? Personally, I figured it was the setup.
"Eugene. Are you enjoying the ball?"
Yuria whispered amid the dance.
"Less than I thought. And you, milady?"
"Usually no, but with you, it's better."
Our eyes met. Heat in her gaze. I instinctively knew what she wanted.
"Milady. You look exhausted. You need a rest."
"Yes. Feeling tired today."
The grand hall had separate rest rooms. For weary dancers, but also for secret trysts between compatible pairs. Getting caught would be trouble, though.
I locked the door and entered. Yuria sat naturally in a plush chair, and I knelt before her. She extended her leg. I massaged it slowly from the calf up.
"Eugene. Stand."
She removed her mask, then mine. Her hand caressed my face.
"That's an order. Eugene. Kiss me."
"Yes. Gladly."
Our lips met. The kiss didn't end there. It deepened over time. My hands encircled her lower back, hers gripped my shoulders.
Wet sounds of tongues intertwining filled the air. We kissed without closing our eyes, instead capturing each other's gazes in our own.
Click.
The door, which I'd clearly locked, opened. Someone entered.
It was Mary, in a blood-red dress.