Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Servant Cedric (13) - Redbell's Invitation
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Though he'd called them idiots to their father, objectively speaking, the second son Erwin and third daughter Mira weren't quite that incompetent.
Compared to the vast majority of nobles scattered across the Birka Kingdom—who truly had nothing to boast about beyond their bloodlines—these two could at least manage their own territories competently. Erwin had even made a name for himself in swordsmanship, while Mira had gained some recognition in high society.
Yes, they'd committed several blunders out of complacency and impatience. But at least they weren't fools who failed to realize that if they didn't finish off Claudia right here and now, they'd be the ones finished instead.
Thus, they had made thorough preparations.
Four Rank 4 experts—individuals who could serve as a territory's representative knight in other lands. And nearly thirty Rank 3 subordinates to support them.
They'd supplied a multitude of highly useful scrolls for night vision, target detection, noise suppression, and more.
They'd even poured gold into a trading company deeply tied to Eched territory, practically dragging it into their camp by force.
It was a drop in the bucket for the whole of Redbell, but for these siblings who hadn't yet fully inherited that power, it was an enormous investment—like severing an entire arm.
That's right.
They had done their absolute best, within the limits of what they could manage.
But.
The world sometimes unleashes irrational disasters that no amount of manpower can overcome.
"Welcome! Everyone. We've prepared spots for you in the underground prison—just head right in!"
The assassins encountered a madman with clear eyes!
The assassins' vision went dark!
Eisen Empire capital. Calastia. Golden Cloud Palace.
"Oh ho, they've got quite a haul of decent-quality scrolls. Add in what we squeezed out of that colluding merchant guild, and Eched's finances should be solid for a while."
Lucidra watched the crown prince review the spoils with a beaming smile, her gaze tinged with an indescribably subtle emotion.
"Mind if I ask you something?"
"Hm? What is it?"
"Didn't you say you were going all-in on this acting gig? Completely immersed?"
The crown prince looked puzzled.
"I am immersed. I haven't slipped into my natural speech once, and I haven't shown any abilities unfit for the role."
"No, no, no."
Lucidra shook her head vigorously.
"Your speech is on point, sure. But your abilities? They're a total mess no matter how you slice it."
What servant in the world single-handedly takes down a pack of sword-aura-wielding assassins, rolls out territory development policies, and meddles in administrative efficiency?
Wasn't this a serious violation of the whole "servant" identity?
In response to Lucidra's utterly justified protest, the crown prince replied with the utmost seriousness.
"That's precisely because he's a servant."
A brief silence fell.
Lucidra blinked a couple of times before asking again.
"What?"
"Haha, it seems you don't know much about the ways of the world. I understand—it's only natural after being sealed away for so long."
The crown prince spoke in the calm tone of a teacher instructing ignorant children.
"If there's any being in the world closest to the word 'omnipotent,' it's a 'butler' or a 'maid.' Perfectly handling household chores is the baseline. They must excel at cooking and tea ceremonies, drive impeccably, wield sword and magic, slice buildings with wires, and occasionally even stop time. Cedric may not have earned the honorable title of butler, but in the broader sense, a butler is just a type of servant. So Cedric showing off a variety of skills doesn't clash with the concept at all."
"……?"
Lucidra tilted her head to the side.
She pondered if there was some profound, philosophical meaning behind what she'd just heard, then quickly reached a conclusion.
"That's just nonsense."
"Heh heh, covering up your own lack of understanding with strong words isn't a very good habit."
"No, it is nonsense!! You think everything sounds true just because you say it with that pretty face and voice!?"
"No need to raise your voice. We've got basic soundproofing, but if word gets out even by some fluke, your head's coming off—have you forgotten that?"
"Aaaargh!"
Lucidra tore at her hair in a frenzy of screams.
It was utterly agonizing that she couldn't share this suffocating frustration with anyone.
Those women fawning over this man needed to see him like this!
After fuming for a good while, Lucidra glared at the crown prince through narrowed eyes and spoke.
"Fine, I'll yield a hundred—no, ten thousand steps and say you're right. But you do know that omnipotence doesn't come free, right?"
The crown prince was a superhuman.
One who could make even his absurd nonsense a reality.
But his clone, Cedric, was different.
Unlike the previous clone, the adventurer Bern, who had specialized in limited abilities, Cedric's powers were spread thin across too many areas. Each one couldn't possibly reach peak heights.
Yet the current Cedric was clearly exceeding those limits.
"That clone won't last long. Sure, it's collapsing gradually rather than shattering suddenly like last time, so the backlash will be milder... but 'Cedric' is still going to vanish all the same."
"Doesn't matter."
The crown prince declared without hesitation.
"Cedric's already fulfilled most of the role we planned for him. Lady Claudia's greatest weapon as 'lord' is improved public safety and the resulting support from her people. The more she expands her influence, the wider it spreads, and bit by bit, Birka Kingdom's disastrous state will improve. The 'gift' for that purpose is nearly complete too."
Of course, even with that 'gift's' power, Claudia alone couldn't overhaul the entire Birka Kingdom.
Even if she rose to the pinnacle of Redbell and seized all its territories, there were regions in the kingdom beyond Redbell's reach.
Places so wretched that even a cursory investigation made Redbell look positively decent by comparison.
The crown prince planned to uproot those as well, but that fell outside 'servant Cedric's' role.
"Besides, Cedric had to go eventually. Talented people grow organizations, but they also define their limits. To keep Eched—and Claudia—from becoming people who can't function without me, Cedric needs to leave."
Though Cedric seemed involved in every major and minor affair at first glance, the time he spent taking center stage was steadily decreasing.
Even in the territory reforms, he'd created environments and systems that let people work efficiently, while minimizing any direct takeover of others' duties. That way, the territory could keep running smoothly after he left.
"Hmph."
Lucidra snorted disinterestedly.
She got the crown prince's big picture. But would that spoiled lady, so obsessed with her servant, keep playing lord as he wanted after Cedric was gone?
"How about a little bet, then?"
"A bet?"
"When 'servant Cedric' ends his contract and leaves, whether that spoiled miss can keep ruling the territory smoothly or not. I'll bet she can't."
"Then I'll take the 'she can' side. Excellent. I accept."
"Loser grants the winner one wish?"
"We'll need a contract to clarify win conditions and wish limits. Shall I prepare about thirty pages?"
"You devil worse than any demon... No, just a crown prince bastard...."
Claudia Redbell had been in an exceptionally good mood lately.
"Their ace in the hole to take me out failed, so their hands must be shaking right now. Serves them right."
These were the people who'd eyed her warily from afar while her mother lived, then openly harassed her after her death.
When the assassins' lips spilled those two names, she hadn't even been shocked—just thought, As expected. Family affection was near zero.
So what to do next?
The old Claudia might have plotted to send assassins right back. But after learning so much from Cedric, she was different now.
"Going public would hit them hardest, but if it tarnishes the Redbell name, that man might step in. Hmm, threaten publicity to extort them... No, better—demand ransom and release them? If they pay, I snag funds and interests; if they refuse, I can poach their discarded hounds. Yeah, that's the play."
Her pleasant scheming was interrupted by a knock at the office door. Claudia called out, and head butler Bestian entered with a grave expression.
"My lady. The marquis has invited you to the main estate. He says it's been too long since the family gathered for a meal—sent word via messenger. Here's the invitation."
"What?"
Claudia's beaming face shifted to bewilderment.
A family dinner? Since when was Redbell that touchy-feely?
Claudia hastily broke the seal and scanned the letter.
[Claudia. Seeing you return from your wayward path to glory fills this father with joy beyond measure. Come, let the family gather and talk after so long. Attend even if you're busy.]
The noble floridness restrained to a minimum—it truly read like a father delighted by his daughter's change of heart.
Realizing the handwriting was the Redbell Marquis's own, Claudia felt chills race down her spine and goosebumps prickle her skin.
A murder threat from an assassin might have felt less creepy.
"This... I can't just skip it, can I?"
Bestian replied to her pleading tone with a reluctant look.
"You already know the answer, my lady."
"Yeah... you're right."
Claudia sighed deeply.
She was doing well lately, but only because she held the 'Lord of Eched' position.
Marquis Redbell still effectively controlled Eched and all other Redbell lands.
If he stripped her title, everything she'd built would crash back to the mud.
Of course, feudal governance rights weren't handed out or revoked lightly—but with enough power, even the impossible became possible.
Claudia forced herself to think positively.
Right. I need to settle things with him anyway, to prove my worth and avoid being sold off cheap.
Calling her like this could even be proof the marquis was intrigued by her accomplishments.
She reflexively moved to summon Cedric, then paused, glancing at Bestian's face right beside her.
Cedric's advice came to mind.
'Consider your other retainers' and servants' feelings too.'
It was what he'd said when she kept ignoring the head chef to make Cedric cook.
He'd scolded her seriously—unlike his usual self—so she'd spent the whole day deflated.
"Ahem. Bestian?"
"Yes, my lady?"
"I want you to handle selecting the entourage for the main estate. Can you?"
Bestian's eyes widened briefly in surprise.
Then a faint smile curved his lips.
"Leave it to me, my lady. I'll assemble the finest lineup that ensures both your safety and the territory's management in your absence."
"G-Good."
Seeing his obvious enthusiasm made Claudia feel a pang of guilt; she turned her gaze to the window.
Cedric's advice is never wrong, she thought.
"—Claudia. The royals want to arrange a marriage for you. What do you think?"