Chapter 41
Chapter 41
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Servant Cedric (6) - Direction of Effort
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Cedric gazed at Claudia.
Her face was endlessly venomous, tinged with a faint sneer, as if daring him to solve it if he thought he could.
Yet on the other hand, it seemed desperately pleading for help in some way.
Contradictory as it was, it wasn't all that strange. Emotions were complex by nature, after all.
'Hmm.'
And Cedric was no different.
The feelings he harbored were quite complex as well.
From a noble's perspective, Claudia's words came across as mere whining.
What had allowed her to enjoy so many privileges as a noble lady in the first place? The fact that her family name was Redbell.
Luxurious foods, exquisite garments that commoners could never dream of touching in a lifetime, cozy and comfortable beds—all gifts from her house.
She had reveled in all those benefits, yet now she refused the 'duty' she ought to bear as a lady of House Redbell. Where else would such childish nonsense come from?
But viewed as one human to another, it was perfectly understandable.
Was it right for parents to pour fortunes into private tutoring for their child, then demand, 'You got that education thanks to my money, so you have to take the career I want'?
Was it proper to impose their will on the child without ever asking their opinion, then demand repayment as if it were a debt?
Cedric's origins lay with the crown prince.
In other words, he was from an extraordinarily 'exalted' background, but his memories as crown prince felt as distant as a dream.
Thus, Cedric replied:
"Hmm, indeed. The marquis is going too far."
"...!"
Claudia's eyes widened round.
It was inevitable.
She could never have imagined a servant openly criticizing the Marquis Redbell right there in Redbell territory.
Cedric actually smiled at Claudia, who furtively glanced left and right to check her surroundings.
"Why so scared? You've complained about everything under the sun up till now."
"Th-that's different from you saying it!"
"My master is you, miss, not the marquis. What does it matter?"
"... ."
Claudia swallowed unwittingly at Cedric's utterly sincere bafflement.
Before Claudia had begun her full-blown rampages, she had been surrounded by many servants.
They had fussed over her worries, promising to help however they could and urging her to open up. But when she finally revealed her true feelings, not one hid their awkwardness.
—The marquis surely didn't mean it that way, miss.
—Marriage isn't always a bad thing. Try to think positively.
—Miss, you mustn't say such immature things. It's only natural for a daughter to obey her father.
They tried to soothe her, offered hollow comforts, or even suddenly turned stern and changed their attitudes.
Only then did Claudia realize.
The servants who had always seemed so caring were, in truth, the marquis's people—not hers.
In a way, it was only natural.
The marquis, master of the mighty Redbell faction, versus a mere girl living in his shadow. Who to prioritize was obvious.
Yet the servant before her now said this:
That to him, Claudia mattered more than the marquis.
Claudia fidgeted, at a loss for words.
Cedric shrugged, leaving her be.
"I understand why you've turned out so twisted, miss. But I can't call it a good choice."
"...What, so you're telling me to just meekly obey my father too?"
"It's not about the goal—it's the method. To be blunt, what you're doing now has zero impact on the marquis's plans."
"What?"
Claudia blinked.
It was something she had never even considered.
"What do you mean?"
"Suppose the marquis decides to remarry. Even if word got out that he beats commoners for fun, do you think families would stop lining up to marry into his house?"
"That's..."
Claudia hesitated.
Not because she didn't know the answer, but because she dimly grasped what it implied.
"Whether he has that bad reputation or not, families eager to ally with him would be a dime a dozen. Beating commoners? Mistreating servants? Who cares? He's the kingdom's number two, head of a core noble house."
Cedric's face and tone were calmer than usual, devoid of any smile.
"Of course, the bride herself might hate it. But so what? If the other family's head deems the marriage beneficial, it'll happen by force if need be. And it's the same for you."
Families eager to wed into Redbell wouldn't care about Claudia's petty flaws.
What mattered to them was the connection to Redbell itself—not Claudia.
"If your goal is to make the marquis click his tongue and think, 'Tch, what a waste of her higher value,' then you're doing fine. But if you want to avoid marriage altogether, this changes nothing. He won't just discard you over it."
Claudia's fingertips trembled.
Cedric had phrased it somewhat politely, but her antics hadn't stemmed from such calculated thought in the first place.
They were more like protests to show the Marquis Redbell: 'I'm furious' or 'I'm dissatisfied.'
It might all be meaningless.
Nothing would change, no matter what.
Faced head-on with the truth she'd dimly sensed but ignored, Claudia snapped in frustration.
"Then what am I supposed to do? Whether I do well or poorly, it's pointless—so what the hell should I do?!"
Cedric answered.
"Simple. If doing well or poorly is meaningless, then do extremely well... or extremely poorly."
It sounded like wordplay at first.
But after what she'd heard, Claudia fixed her teary eyes on him.
"Go on."
"Extremely poorly is easy. Cause an incident so scandalous even the Redbell name can't cover it up."
"Like what?"
"Hmm. Grinding your face off with a grater ought to block any marriage prospects, no matter what."
"Hic!"
Claudia reflexively hiccuped and backed away from Cedric.
If he'd said it in a creepy tone to scare her, it might've been less chilling—but delivered like casual dinner talk, it was twice as horrifying.
"S-something else! Other scandals!"
"Shaving your head and using some potion to prevent regrowth works too! I'll look for a painless one."
"Don't say creepy shit! Aren't there ways that involve other people?"
"Well... To be frank, the kingdom's nobles are trash, aren't they? Even if you ran into the street and hosted a commoner beheading festival, the nobles here would just say, 'Ew, a bit barbaric.'"
Claudia fell silent.
She had to admit it rang true.
Cedric continued.
"So 'extremely poorly' is easy, but the side effects are brutal. Permanent scars on your body, or your reputation plummeting from 'spoiled brat' or 'vicious girl' straight to 'untouchable trash.'"
"You just subtly called me a 'spoiled brat' or 'vicious girl' now, didn't you?"
"I did. Problem?"
"... ."
Claudia opened and closed her mouth, then sighed.
"Fine, it's not like you've treated me like a dog for just one or two days. Whatever."
Cedric furrowed his brow.
He spoke in a deeply serious tone.
"Miss, I've never treated you like a dog."
"Ha, what's the point of saying that? It shows in your everyday words and actions."
"It'd be an insult to the dog."
"You bastard!!"
Cedric, who had finally drawn tavern adventurer-level profanity from a noble lady's lips, casually caught the teacup and cake plate she hurled, then continued.
"Your situation does warrant some sympathy— the marquis is too harsh. But that doesn't excuse how excessively you've troubled those around you. You have to acknowledge that."
Claudia narrowed her eyes but didn't interrupt.
"That's why 'extremely well' is a much harder path. You'll have to rebuild your record and reputation from the negative you've dug yourself."
"And if I do? I'll still get sold off, right?"
"That's for moderately well. If your achievements and reputation exceed a certain level, the marquis will hesitate."
"Hesitate how?"
"Whether selling you off truly benefits him... or if keeping you does."
The Marquis Redbell was a callous man.
His daughter's personal happiness meant nothing; he judged solely by utility.
But precisely because of that, he could be swayed by results, not emotions.
"Win the servants' support. Win the territory's people's support. Make everyone acknowledge your abilities—so much so that the marquis regrets handing you over."
"That... possible?"
"It is."
Cedric's demeanor was resolute.
He asserted her potential with utter conviction—even when she herself couldn't believe it.
"Exceptional looks, abundant assets, a unique servant, a territory brimming with potential. You already have everything needed. Just two things missing."
"What's missing?"
"The will to see it through. And faith in me."
Cedric stared at her, awaiting her answer.
Claudia hesitated.
No matter how she turned it over, it felt utterly implausible.
But...
"My master is you, miss, not the marquis. What does it matter?"
That casual indifference, as if there was nothing grandiose about it, struck deep into her heart.
"—Fine. I'll do it. Happy?"
A smile curved Cedric's lips at her response.
"Excellent, miss. This Cedric shall serve you with utmost devotion until you blossom into a fine ruler."
Claudia swallowed unwittingly.
He usually seemed like an unpredictable weirdo, but in this moment, he evoked a knight from a story.
Come to think of it, his quirky, bouncy speech and irreverence toward his master were the issues—his movements were always elegance incarnate.
Until now, she'd been a lacking master, so he'd matched her roughness. Conversely, if she stepped up, he'd respond in kind.
Claudia's eyes grew dreamy.
She pictured herself basking in warm sunlight, elegantly sipping tea, with Cedric steadfast at her side.
Not bad.
Truly not bad, she nodded to herself.
"Th-then... what first?"
To her tentative question, Cedric replied.
"Start by bowing your head and apologizing to every servant in the manor. But heads up—no 'I had no choice' or 'I said sorry, that's enough' attitudes."
"... ."
"Miss?"
"O-okay."