Chapter 656
Chapter 656
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 656
Chapter Title: Reborn as the Plum Blossom Swordmaster in the Count's Family
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I smiled faintly, draped my arm around her shoulder, and drew my face close to hers. I could hear her breathing.
"Yuria. Are you mad?"
"...I..."
Yuria hesitated as she opened her mouth. I could sense her reluctance. She never lied to me, not even over the smallest things.
"...Yes. I'm angry. At myself, for failing to protect my master."
It had been unavoidable. There was nothing she could have done. Words like that would only belittle her. Even without me saying anything, she was already reflecting on it herself.
I used the hand on her shoulder to cup her cheek and chin, holding her face steady.
"Show me your angry face."
"...Pardon?"
Yuria looked a little flustered. But she quickly composed herself and made an angry expression as I'd asked. Her brows furrowed, her blue eyes narrowed with intensity, and her pink lips pressed into a tight line. It was a damn sexy look.
Our faces drew closer. Just as I leaned in to kiss her, Floy stopped me.
"My lord! This is no time for that! Look at your condition! You're under a curse right now. That white leaf needs to be used on you!"
"What are you talking about, Floy? I'm not cursed."
"Nonsense. Just look at your skin—huh?!"
Floy's single eye widened in surprise. The signs of the curse had vanished from my body like a lie. I wasn't trembling anymore, and the blue spots were gone. My complexion was obviously fine—fresh and refreshed, like I'd just woken up from a good sleep.
"Y-You're fine... Did I see wrong...? No, that can't be..."
"I'll explain later. Let's head back. We know the curse is from a demon now, too..."
On the way back, I snapped at Jardin and Berol, telling them to forget everything they'd seen today. I didn't know what variables might arise if rumors about a demon spread.
Halfway back, the bastard appeared again. It hovered in the sky, its black robe flapping as it let out a sinister chuckle.
"Kuhuhuhu."
Yuria cast her magic. Four blue magic circles encircled its body. She seemed intent on binding the demon. But it passed right through them without a care and flew straight at Yuria. Or maybe it was aiming for me, right beside her.
"Foolish creature!"
Shadows erupted from the ground like a hot spring geyser, seizing the demon and slamming it down. It dissolved into smoke and vanished. Yuria glared at where it had been, clearly displeased, before speaking.
"...That wasn't the real body. It seems like a temporary manifestation of the curse."
"Can you track it?"
"Not enough information. Pursuit isn't possible right now."
"Fine, then."
It pissed me off a bit, but I didn't want to wander the Harreng Mountains chasing one demon. I wanted to get back to the inn quick and play around naked with Yuria and the maids.
But the demon's curse appeared again.
"Uhuhuhuhu."
Yuria tried to grab it but failed. Physical attacks didn't work at all, and crushing it with high-mass magic was the best she could do.
"What an annoying curse."
Yuria rarely showed irritation like this. It seemed her unresolved anger was building up inside. I gave her a light kiss to soothe her as well.
"Mm..."
Yuria's tension melted away.
After fending off a few more curse assaults like that, we finally returned to the city. There were no more attacks.
"No matter how I think about it, something's off. Why was the curse targeting me?"
"The curse wasn't targeting you, master."
"...Ah."
I glanced at Jardin. He startled at my look and jumped back in place.
"It was aiming for you, not me."
"M-Me?!"
"Your father and Viscount Nelooman were cursed. Doesn't that strike you as strange?"
"...They're all my allies."
"Just like you said before, there's a high chance your little sister put the curse on them."
"You said it was demon power... Does that mean my sister made a pact with a demon?!"
"Maybe. Or one of her subordinates did."
"That crazy bitch..."
Jardin shuddered in fear.
We arrived at Viscount Nelooman's mansion.
The head butler ground up the white leaf and fed it to Viscount Nelooman. The curse tormenting him vanished. His complexion improved. The chills stopped, and the blue spots covering his skin disappeared.
Viscount Nelooman bolted upright in bed and embraced Jardin.
"Jardin! Oh! My brother! Thank you! Jardin! If not for you, I would've...!"
"Nelooman! It was only what a brother should do!"
They put on a show of brotherly love. It nearly made me puke. And they weren't even blood brothers—just cousins.
"Nelooman! I need your help. Diona controls Hisfield Gate right now! The Hisfield retainers are under her thumb! She cursed my father and you to get rid of me and drive me out of the Hisfield family! Nelooman! If you support me, if you come with me to Hisfield, we can set everything right!"
Jardin ranted passionately. It was all rehearsed. I'd overheard him practicing those lines before coming here.
Viscount Nelooman, who had been waiting to die from the curse, ground his teeth.
"Of course I'll support you! Diona! I've always known she was a shady woman! Jardin, I'll help you!"
Jardin was his cousin and his savior. For Nelooman to gain the most, Jardin needed to become head of the Hisfield family.
Their interests aligned in an instant.
Viscount Nelooman gathered his knights and soldiers and headed to Hisfield Gate with Jardin.
They marched nonstop for four days, circling back through the Harreng Mountains, and arrived at Hisfield Gate.
At the rear of Hisfield Gate, Jardin bellowed at the gates.
"I am Jardin Hisfield! The rightful heir of the Hisfield family! I've returned to the family! Open the gates and clear the way! I will see my father first!"
I had to admire Jardin's bravado. Without the cowardice, he'd make an excellent con artist.
The soldiers and knights at the gate scrambled into action.
Jardin was the eldest son of the Hisfield family—the legitimate heir, as he claimed. They might have suspected him if he'd come alone, but he arrived with Viscount Nelooman and his troops.
The gates opened.
Jardin strode confidently toward the castle at the fortress's center.
The townsfolk came out to watch his return, but the mood was odd. Some welcomed Jardin; others eyed him warily. They whispered among themselves behind his back.
I enhanced my hearing with mana to eavesdrop on the murmurs.
"Lord Jardin's back. Was the rumor about him abandoning the soldiers and fleeing to Rapelli Kingdom false?"
"Count Hisfield is critically ill—why show up now?"
"Honestly, I'd prefer Lady Diona as head. She's wise, beautiful, and generous."
"Don't forget Lord Jardin is the eldest son. And we shouldn't speak out of turn."
Diona had clearly been working behind the scenes. Still, most of the locals were convinced Jardin would become lord. For one simple reason: he was the firstborn son.
Knights and soldiers were lined up before the castle. At their center stood a woman in a blue dress.
She had the same violet hair and red eyes as Jardin. Her skin was fair, her features sharp and striking. She was stunning. D-cup bust, slim waist without an ounce of fat. Her hips were hidden by the dress skirt, so I couldn't tell.
"You've returned, brother."
Her voice was calm and refined. The ornate blue dress, adorned with jewels, suited her perfectly.
Jardin flinched. Mindful of the retainers around, he straightened up and put on a cold expression.
"I had business. I'll explain the details later."
He couldn't reprimand Diona here. And even later, he couldn't officially oust her without evidence. To expose family crimes required proof, and there was none material to show.
"First, my father. I want to see him."
"Brother, Father's condition is grave. The healers said not to let anyone in."
"I'm his son. And are you sure he's really sick?"
"The healers and mages said it's an illness."
"Incompetent fools..."
Whether they were truly incompetent was debatable, as Jardin claimed. Diona was likely manipulating them.
"Father was cursed."
"Cursed?!"
"A curse?!"
"Lord Jardin! What do you mean?!"
The retainers panicked, and chaos ensued.
"Viscount Nelooman suffered the same symptoms, and I have a way to lift it. I'll explain later. This is urgent. Take me to Father."
"You're right, brother. Father's health comes first. If you can cure his... no, lift the curse from Father, nothing could make me happier. I'll escort you myself. Everyone else, wait here."
Jardin's face twisted in anger. Because of the retainers' attitudes. They obeyed Diona without objection. It must have grated on him.
"But brother, who are the merchants behind you?"
"Merchants from the Korea Guild. Thanks to them, Viscount Nelooman escaped the curse. They're the ones who'll save Father—and they're trustworthy."
"Hmm. I see."
Diona glanced us over once, then turned and led us to Count Hisfield's bedroom.
Count Hisfield's condition was dire. His skin had turned black, covered in large, numerous blue spots. His eyes were shut, his body shivering. His eyelids were clenched tight—he seemed to be in a coma.
A middle-aged healer sat by the bed, tending to him. She stood as soon as she saw us.
"To reduce Father to this state...!"
Jardin glared at Diona like he wanted to kill her.
"You're talking as if I cursed Father, brother."
"You vile wretch. Think I don't know it was you?!"
"Someone must have fed you strange lies. Why would I curse Father?"
"You'll pay for your crimes...!"
Jardin growled at Diona once more, then pulled a small vial from his pocket. It contained powder from the ground white leaves. He tilted it to feed it to Count Hisfield.
The count's symptoms improved. But unlike Viscount Nelooman, they didn't vanish completely. His blackened skin returned to normal human tone, but the blue spots lingered.
"Why... why this...?!"
Viscount Nelooman grabbed the panicking Jardin's shoulder and spoke calmly.
"Calm down, Jardin. It worked. With more Elstr leaves, we can fully lift the curse."
"R-Right. Father's improving, so we have time."
I clicked my tongue.
This complicated things. The original plan was to use the now-curse-free Count Hisfield to solidify Jardin's position as heir. The count's word alone would shatter Diona's schemes. She'd be executed or exiled.
'Then I'd spirit her away. Frame it as her fleeing with Jardin's help, bring her to the mansion, fuck her brains out, and train her up...'
Now I'd need another approach. Maybe use Yuria to kidnap her outright. Have Jardin handle the cleanup.
'Hm?'
My eyes met Diona's red ones. The corner of her mouth curved up slightly. As if she knew my true identity and intentions.
"So what you said was true, brother... But Father still hasn't fully recovered from the curse. He needs rest. Let's go out first, brother. Tell me what happened in the meantime."
"Grr..."
Jardin ground his teeth and stormed out of the bedroom.