Chapter 550
Chapter 550
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 550
Chapter Title: Reborn as the Plum Blossom Sword Master in a Count's Family
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“His Grace the Duke has ordered me to dispose of you.”
The housekeeper, blindly loyal to the Filtania family, approached me.
“...Are keysets the latest trend in assassinations these days?”
Kopan inserted the key into my handcuffs. The cuffs around my wrists fell away. Just that brought a sense of relief.
“I'm no fool. If I kill you, the Young Lady will torture me to death. His Grace surely knows that too. He gave the order anyway. To make me pay for raising you.”
Kopan then inserted the key into my shackles.
“So in the end, you're saying you'll die because of me. I'm sorry about that. But is it really okay to defy the family's orders like this? Didn't you always tell me that the family's commands come before our lives?”
“That applies to the likes of you, not me. I don't want to die. My loyalty to the Filtania family is because of the money and status.”
“How pragmatic.”
“Everyone's like that deep down.”
The shackles fell away. I stood up and shook my wrists and ankles. For someone who'd been locked up for a month, my body felt surprisingly light. It wasn't the body of an ordinary person.
“What do you plan to do now?”
“Run away, of course. I've been preparing since a month ago when you were dragged to the underground dungeon. His Grace is a cold man. I figured he'd hold me accountable for raising you.”
“I don't get why you came to rescue me. You could've just left me and fled on your own.”
“You're the finest butler I ever trained. Better than any other. If you die here, all the time I invested in you goes to waste. Such a shame.”
Kopan made a proposal next.
“Come run away with me. You could do anything better than being a butler.”
“Thank you for saving me, but I have a master I must serve.”
Kopan chuckled as if he'd expected that.
“You really are the perfect butler. Guess this is where we part ways. I went through the trouble of rescuing you, so don't go dying.”
“Yes. Take care of yourself, Master Kopan.”
“......That's definitely a well-wish. So why does it sound so ominous?”
Kopan left. Annoying guy, but competent—he'd thrive anywhere. Well, he wouldn't have become the Filtania family's head butler without talent in the first place.
Free from the underground dungeon, I headed to Yuria's room. I knew Filtania Castle like the back of my hand, so avoiding the patrolling knights was child's play.
I entered through the balcony and tapped on the window.
She, dressed in nightclothes, parted the curtains slightly. Upon seeing me, she looked mildly surprised and opened the window.
“Eugene. How did you escape?”
“With Kopan's help.”
I briefly explained what had happened in the dungeon.
She frowned and nodded.
“Mother was determined to have you disposed of after all...”
And from now on, the Duchess would openly try to kill me.
“Eugene. Why did you come to me? You could've run away with Kopan and lived without danger.”
“My Lady. Didn't I tell you? That I love you.”
I almost reflexively pulled Yuria into an embrace but stopped myself. My current state wasn't exactly pristine. I hadn't been tortured, but I'd spent a month shut in that dungeon. Even with the torture uncle's help for a few baths, there were limits.
But Yuria embraced me first and kissed me.
“My Lady. Let's run away.”
This world's goal wasn't war. Nor politics. It was love.
The title of this world was The Young Lady of Filtania and Her Butler. A title reeking of romance. In other words, what I needed to do was fulfill that love in true romantic fashion.
“I will make you happy, no matter what. Let's leave together.”
“......”
Yuria stared at me intently. Her eyes wavered.
I knew.
That our positions were worlds apart. All I had was this one life. Yuria, on the other hand, had everything.
The position of Young Lady.
Too grand to throw away for a single love.
“......All right. Let's go together. Anywhere with you will be happiness, Eugene.”
She began preparing to leave. She changed into easy-to-move clothes and packed money and essentials. I quickly helped her while formulating a plan in my head.
The Duchy of Filtania was as vast as its prestige. Even riding nonstop in a carriage, it would take at least five days to exit the territory.
'Head west. The roads are rough, making pursuit difficult, and it's close to the border. Once we cross, we can catch our breath.'
I was regretting that we couldn't use a spatial transfer scroll when—
Knock knock knock.
A knock came from the door. Yuria grabbed my shoulder and pointed under the bed. I crawled beneath it immediately.
Yuria opened the door. From the bed, I couldn't see who it was.
“My Lady. Are you asleep?”
It was a woman's voice.
“...I was just getting ready for bed. Even if I were asleep, you would've come in anyway.”
“It was an order from His Grace the Duke. I had no choice. Please forgive me.”
She left.
I emerged from under the bed.
“A maid?”
“Yes. My exclusive maid assigned after you were imprisoned. Originally Mother's maid. She's here more to monitor me than attend to me. She'll probably come back around 3 a.m. to check if I'm asleep.”
“You've been living uncomfortably too, my Lady.”
“Not as much as you, Eugene.”
With all the luggage packed, she hugged me. I carefully held her and stepped out onto the balcony.
“Eugene. You'll have it rough for a while.”
“This is nothing.”
Yuria and I fled the castle.
Pursuers caught our trail within hours. They were more tenacious and skilled than expected. Shaking them completely was tough.
The Advice that hadn't shown a single message during my time in the dungeon now guided me. Thanks to it, we escaped steadily.
On the third day.
We slipped into a city. We'd ridden without rest, so we needed a break. I was fine, but Yuria couldn't use her original power, so rest was essential.
Our destination was the Temple of Love. Staying at another temple or inn risked betrayal. But the Temple of Love was famous for fully supporting loving couples.
Even if they didn't help us, they'd at least let us rest for half a day.
And the priest at the Temple of Love smiled upon seeing us.
“I won't ask who you are. Rest as long as you need. May the blessings of love be upon you.”
They saw through us but allowed us to stay.
In the assigned room, Yuria dozed off and soon fell asleep. She must have been exhausted, even if she didn't say it.
'Maybe I should nap too.'
'Do I have to go right now?'
'...Sigh. Fine.'
I followed the Advice's lead. It took me to a crowded area, of all places. Surely it wasn't sending me to the pursuers? Maybe I was supposed to get caught here to advance to the next chapter.
'This story could end in a happy ending. Or maybe with my death. Realistically, the latter's more likely.'
I entered the alley.
I spotted an old woman draped in a drab black robe like mine. She sat on a mat in the deserted alley, not begging at all—hardly a beggar.
“Hee hee... What an interesting guest.”
“I'm no guest, Granny. You're not selling anything anyway.”
“Does it have to be goods? I have the ability to help you.”
“Impressive ability you've got there.”
I squatted before the old woman. She didn't inspire trust, but the Advice had led me here. She likely had some special power.
“Granny, help me out. I'd borrow a cat's paw if I could.”
“Heh heh. I'm not cheap.”
“I've got plenty of money. Can't give it all, but... if you help properly, half is yours.”
I held out the money pouch. Rewards from the academy and all I'd saved. My entire fortune. Even half would suffice to settle in a decent city.
“Hee hee. Generous hand. Guess I have to help properly now. Payment in advance—half first.”
The old woman pulled out a bowl from her bosom as if waiting. A cracked, worn bowl. Perfect for begging.
“Ah. This really feels like a scam.”
I poured half my fortune into the battered bowl. It filled with gleaming gold coins.
“Hee hee hee. At last, its owner has appeared. You know how to use it without me saying, right?”
“...What, no magic to help me?”
“I may be a mage, but magic's not what you need.”
“......Does it have omnipotent power? Turn imagination into reality or something?”
“If it did, would I give it to you? It's just an ordinary item.”
“Feels fishy. Was it yours, Granny?”
“Heavens, no! Fresh off the forge! You don't know how valuable this is. With it, you can skip three whole stages!”
“For half my fortune, it's disappointingly underwhelming... Well, thanks anyway.”
“Hee hee. If you hadn't given half your fortune, I wouldn't have given this. Your selfless heart brought luck.”
“What if I had given my entire fortune?”
“I'd have given it anyway.”
“Definitely scammed... Tch. She's gone.”
I stood up as well.
“......If you were going to give me this, why bother with the old woman act?”
I grumbled softly at the item in my palm.
???
I forcibly woke the sleeping Yuria. Better not to put this off. Do it when you can. Dawdling and messing up would leave me too regretful to sleep.
I led Yuria to the temple's chapel.
The chapel of the Temple of Love wasn't just for prayers to the Goddess of Love. It was frequently used as a wedding venue for commoners.
“Eugene. What’s this important matter? Something about the pursuers?”
“No. Something I absolutely had to give you, Yuria.”
I took her left hand and pulled out the item I'd bought from the old woman for half my fortune.
It was a ring.
“That’s...”
Yuria's eyes widened in shock. I tried to slip it onto her ring finger myself, but she clenched her left hand. I could feel her body trembling.
“I... I can't accept it.”
Tears welled in Yuria's eyes. She looked anxious, as if afraid of something. It was a face and reaction I'd never seen before.
“Why? Was your love a lie?”
“Not a word of it! I... I deceived you, Master. The moment I first saw you, I recognized you. I had all your memories. I knew that if you failed, if you died, it would reset to the beginning! And most of all... You got caught up in this world because of me! Because I wanted love with you...!”
“I knew. I figured it out midway and tested it. You suffered through my food and tea experiments.”
I'd realized she hadn't lost her memories and was acting during our academy days.
I'd served Yuria cookies from Mary without telling her during tea time. By the setting, cookies I made should be the best tasting. But since I hadn't made them, they weren't—and Yuria had praised them as delicious as always. If she'd been consumed by the setting like others, she would've noticed something off.
From then, I'd suspected Yuria and run secret tests, confirming she was just pretending.
“Being played by you wasn't so bad. I'd used you too much before anyway.”
“Master...”
I gently pried open each of her left fingers one by one. Then I slipped the elegant little ring—silver band with a small blue gem—onto her ring finger.
“I love you, Yuria.”
“Eut...”
Clear, transparent tears streamed down her cheeks.