Chapter 549
Chapter 549
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 549
Chapter Title: Reborn as the Plum Blossom Sword Master in a Count's Family
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Click.
The door, which I was certain had been locked, swung open, and someone entered.
It was Mary, dressed in a blood-red gown.
My mind raced in an instant. How had she picked the lock? No, before that—why had Mary come in?
"So, you two really are in that kind of relationship. I've had a vague feeling for a while that it wasn't just a normal butler-lady dynamic."
Mary said calmly.
We're screwed.
Our relationship had been exposed. If word got out, the Filtania main family would come for my head.
...No. Even if they kill me, it doesn't matter. I'll just start over anyway.
I shook off my panic and regained my composure.
"How rude, Miss Mary Komotops. Breaking through a locked door—what do you want from us?"
"Ha. What do I want? Obviously your downfall. I can't stand seeing you two so happy."
Mary's eyes gleamed with venom. It was hard to believe this was the same girl who'd once radiated a bright, early-summer vibe.
"Do you have some grudge against us?"
"Ha, there's a limit to shamelessness. Do you think I don't know that Lord Yorsen's departure and Lord Matis's death were all your doing?!"
"Did Crown Prince Parein tell you that?"
"You knew. They say you manipulated Lord Yorsen into misunderstanding me and investigated behind Lord Matis's back—all on Lady Yuria's orders. Impressive, really. Such a brilliant mind. How do you toy with people like that? A plain girl like me could never hope to match even your toenails."
My grip tightened. If things went south, killing Mary here and making it a perfect crime was one option.
"It sounds like you heard a twisted version from Crown Prince Parein. He came to me first, begging for help."
"Crown Prince Parein changed because of you. None of this would've happened if you hadn't meddled. Lord Matis wouldn't have died..."
"Miss Mary, watch your words. The root of all this is you. If you hadn't drawn in all those men from the start... No, if you'd just chosen one, things never would've escalated that far. Crown Prince Parein changed because he loved you. This is all on you."
"Hmph. You're so absurd I can't even speak. You think I don't know you incited him for your broken engagement? I'll never let you be happily in love. At the very least, I'll tear you and Eugene apart—just like you did to me."
"Does Crown Prince Parein know about this?"
"Of course. You can tell from the fact that I have the key to this room. He was thrilled—it'd weaken the Filtania Duke's influence."
In short, Crown Prince Parein was in on it too.
I sighed.
Smash Mary's head here and rewind to the chapter's start. Now that I knew the masked ball was a trap, I wouldn't fall for it twice.
As I stepped forward, Yuria grabbed my wrist to stop me.
"Miss Komotops. What's your plan now?"
"What else? Spread the word. Let everyone know about the promising Filtania lady and her butler's forbidden love. The commoners will eat it up—scandalous gossip like this is rare."
Mary sneered at us and turned to leave. Right after, guards hidden by the wall followed her. There were over five, all impeccably dressed. They were far too skilled for baronet knights.
Crown Prince Parein's guards, no doubt.
Assassination might be possible, but a straight fight? No chance.
"...Lady Yuria. What now? If you want to escape, I'll prepare immediately. If you order me to take my own life, I will."
"Eugene. I'm not running. It was bound to come out eventually. But first... there's something I need to confirm."
"Just give the order. Whatever it is, I'll handle it."
I figured it'd be something like checking Crown Prince Parein's weakness.
Yuria stared straight at me with her deep blue eyes. No panic, no fear. Even in this blatantly disadvantageous situation, she remained calm.
"Eugene. Do you love me?"
"Yes. I love you, Lady Yuria."
Yuria reached out to me. One arm wrapped around my neck, the other pulled my back close. I embraced her slender waist in return.
"Eugene. Things might get rough. But hold on. There has to be a way. And if worst comes to worst..."
"I can endure anything. But in return, answer me one thing. Do you love me, Lady Yuria?"
"I've never once not loved you, Eugene."
We kissed.
???
The day after the masked ball, Yuria and I received an immediate recall order from the main family.
Vassals and knights from Filtania headquarters appeared in a flash, using magic. It was less a request and more being dragged back.
I was subdued by the knights, Yuria placed under vassal watch. We weren't even allowed to make eye contact.
As we were hauled to the main estate, the territory folk stared. Unable to curse Yuria, Filtania's heir, they whispered and spat at me instead.
That I'd used wicked magic to seduce the lady.
That was the gist.
Tch. If this were my territory, I'd hang the lot of them.
Yuria was summoned to the Duchess of Filtania, while I was thrown into the castle's deepest underground dungeon. No sunlight, pitch black. Damp and reeking of fish. No place to live.
Handcuffs on my wrists, shackles on my ankles, clanking with every move.
The torturer should be coming soon. Damn. Never thought I'd be on the receiving end. Hate pointless torture. Auto-play? Or bust out? I could manage it.
About two hours later.
The dungeon door opened, and a middle-aged man entered with a torch. His unkempt beard and dead eyes scanned me. He dragged in a chair from outside and a cart full of torture tools.
I recognized the face. Passed him a few times during butler duties. Name escaped me—we hadn't talked much, different roles.
"Never thought I'd see you here. World's a mad place, huh? Don't you think?"
"Yes. Agreed. What does His Grace want me to spill?"
"Not an interrogation. Just torture for pain. For forgetting a butler's place—make it hurt as much as possible."
"Scary stuff. Where do we start?"
"Scary? Your eyes say otherwise."
He sat in the chair, about three meters away. Too far for seated torture.
"...?"
"Lady Yuria said to fake it. The setting sun or the rising one—which matters more? No need to overthink."
"That okay? If the Duke finds out, you'll be in this chair."
"I'm mid-forties already. In five years, fifties—time to retire. Torturers don't get cushy golden years. But if Lady Yuria looks after me, I could live like a knight."
Yuria had bought him off. Grateful for her thoughtfulness, I relaxed a bit.
"No worries about her falling from grace over this?"
"Nah. Think I don't know the family politics just 'cause I'm a torturer? She's already got half the house under her thumb."
The academy arc was Yuria consolidating power. I was her right hand—killing who needed killing, sparing who needed sparing.
But not enough. If she'd inherited the duchy, maybe. The duchess still held sway.
"His Grace knows it too—no better heir for the seat than Lady Yuria. Her taking over is set in stone."
"After my execution, maybe."
"Ha. You think she'll just watch her lover get executed? She'll pull something. Anyway, spill the tea."
"Pardon?"
"About Lady Yuria. How'd you snag her? Lips sealed—promise. I'm Filtania's head torturer; my mouth's heavier than most."
"Curious? Fine. But blab, and you'll piss her off—your retirement'll suck."
"Whoa. Terrifying. Mouth shut tight."
"Water first?"
"Water? You'll talk plenty—gotta give it."
He rummaged in the torture cart.
"Gaaahhh!"
A scream echoed from the open door.
"Oops. Forgot to close it. Next cell over. Ignore."
He shut the door.
"Sounds like my senior. What'd he do?"
"Merchant supplying food, candles, cloth. Bribed by rivals to sabotage deliveries. Execution in two weeks."
He tossed me a canteen. I caught it, uncapped—sharp booze smell. Not water.
"This is liquor."
"Lubricant to loosen the tongue."
"Hope it doesn't slip too much."
I gulped it down. My cold body warmed.
"Met Lady Yuria long ago. Remember the poisoning attempt?"
"Oh yeah. She nearly died, vassals purged. You were that kid butler who saved her."
"Yes. That's when our bond began."
I embroidered the tale suitably. Normally, I'd skip chit-chat, but this dull dungeon loosened my lips.
When he gave me a ragged cloth blanket and left, it popped up.
"Knew it'd happen. Skip."
Roughly a month skipped.
Still in the underground dungeon. Hoped for escape, but no dice.
The torturer uncle visited, briefing the situation.
Duchess vs. Yuria—castle like thin ice. Duchess pushing new engagement; Yuria refusing flat-out, demanding my release. Duchess, prioritizing family, wouldn't budge.
Subordinates kept eyes down amid the standoff.
This dungeon's flaw: no day-night sense. Uncle left hours ago—probably night?
Stuck in the gloom, weird thoughts crept in.
Click.
Door opened; someone entered. Expected torturer, but nope—utter surprise.
Sharp-featured man. Kopan, who'd sparked my kill urges multiple times.
"His Grace orders your disposal."
The blindly loyal Filtania butler approached.
"...Lockpicks for assassinations now?"
Kopan inserted a key into my handcuffs.