Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Servant Cedric (19) - Rational Inference
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Claudia had almost no experience running as hard as she could on her two legs.
She wasn't the type to enjoy moving her body in the first place, and as a noble lady whose every step fell under the category of "etiquette," it was even more so.
But at this moment, defying all that history, she was sprinting with everything she had.
The mansion's servants stared at her in shock, trying to say something, but she ignored them. Even her labored breathing, rising to her chin, was secondary.
"About Mr. Cedric... Lately, his health seems really off."
"Compared to before, the amount he works has dropped a lot, and his pace is slower too. He's still doing more than his fair share, but... how to put it? He used to be on a level where you couldn't even dream of keeping up, but now he feels like just 'one of the more capable ones'."
"I thought maybe he was taking it easy now that the mansion and territory are stable, but the other day... I saw him... vomiting blood."
"And he did it without any panic or surprise, just naturally wiping away the traces. It seemed like he knew exactly what was wrong with him."
"It's personal business for someone else, so I hesitated to say anything, but I thought you should know, miss."
Replaying the maid's testimony over and over in her mind, Claudia ran on with her clumsy strides.
And finally, she reached Cedric's room and flung the door open.
Or at least, she tried to.
Clunk! Clunk!
"Cedric! Open the door! Cedric!!"
She pounded and yanked at the locked door repeatedly until, moments later, it opened from inside, revealing Cedric.
With his usual puppy-like face and wide startled eyes, Cedric looked puzzled at the sight of Claudia gasping for breath.
"Miss, what's wrong?"
"You, you...! Huff, I mean, huff!"
"Please calm down first and catch your breath. Here, slowly, slowly."
With Cedric's help, Claudia finally steadied her breathing and grilled him accusingly.
"Cedric, are you sick or something? Huh? No lies—tell me the truth!!"
At Claudia's prodding, Cedric narrowed his eyes for a moment before giving a wry smile, as if he'd pieced it together.
"It's nothing for you to worry about, miss."
"How can I not worry!! Where? What's hurting? Have you seen a doctor? Should I call one? Huh?"
"Miss."
"Why didn't you say anything if you're sick! Is that why you're quitting? Afraid you'll get fired if you can't work?"
"Miss."
"There's no way I'd throw you out over something like that! You don't even have to work. Omelets, tea—it's all fine. Just stay by my side..."
"Miss Claudia!"
Unlike his usual playful tone, this was a genuine reprimand, making Claudia's body jolt and tremble violently.
"I'm sorry for cutting you off. But it seems you're misunderstanding something, so I wanted to correct that much at least."
To his master, who looked up at him with trembling, anxious eyes, the servant spoke calmly.
"First, it's true that I'm not feeling well, but it's not so serious that you need to worry like this."
It was the truth.
"And my reason for quitting is simply that I've finished everything I needed to do here. I'm only leaving to start new work in a new place. Not for any of the negative reasons you're imagining."
This was also the truth.
"Finally, someone who does nothing and just stays by their master's side on charity alone cannot be called a 'servant.' Becoming that kind of being would go against my pride."
Cedric hadn't lied about a single thing.
He had reported only the facts to Claudia, without fail.
His attitude was so firm and resolute that even Claudia, who had been convinced he had a terminal illness, felt a moment of confusion.
In the end, she had no choice but to back off for now.
"A-alright. If you're fine, then okay. We'll talk about rehiring tomorrow."
"I don't think my answer will change, but understood."
Leaving Cedric—who bowed his head in greeting—behind, Claudia reluctantly walked away from his room.
It was a reluctant act, knowing that if she stayed, he wouldn't rest properly with his unwell body.
Ignoring the odd stares from those around her, Claudia sank into deep thought.
'Is Cedric's condition really not serious? But she said he vomited blood...'
Claudia had no insight to gauge someone's level or health just by looking.
The blood demon hounds might sense an opponent with their beastly instincts and relay it to her, but even that wasn't entirely reliable.
They hadn't properly assessed Cedric even when gathered as a powerful elite force; how much less now that they were scattered in small groups?
Calling a doctor for an examination was an option, but she had a feeling Cedric could fool even that with ease. And even if the doctor said he was fine, this anxiety wouldn't fade.
Then, suddenly, a certain face flashed in Claudia's mind.
The old Claudia would have bitten her tongue off before asking that person for help, but when it came to Cedric, things were different.
Claudia steeled herself.
"Hah, so you're asking me to check that servant's condition? That's what you're saying right now?"
A look of utter disbelief crossed Marquis Redbell's face.
It was hardly surprising.
His youngest daughter—who lately drew all the political spotlight and had to move with utmost caution—was barging in without warning, and her request was to use the head of House Redbell as a health diagnostic tool for some random servant. How absurd was that?
"If it's a joke, I'd rate it decent. Sometimes the sheer ridiculousness makes you chuckle anyway."
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
Despite the marquis's quip, Claudia's eyes were deadly serious.
Thus, the marquis responded with a touch of sincerity.
"It had better be a joke. Otherwise, it means my daughter—supposedly—is acting so rashly over some servant."
It was a warning of sorts.
If any of the marquis's other children were here, they'd pale, bow their heads, or swallow their feelings and step back.
But Claudia's response was neither.
"To me, Cedric matters more than your approval."
"Do you think everything you have would hold without my approval?"
"Don't strut around like the forest that grew from a single seed you planted is all yours. How long are you going to milk that?"
In Virka Kingdom, where the family head's authority was absolute and children were seen as parental property, this was the kind of statement—barring rare exceptions—that would provoke shock or fury.
And Marquis Redbell was no one who transcended power and authority.
Not at all.
"Hmm."
But he was competent enough that, for greater power and authority, he could suppress momentary anger or displeasure.
Weighing whether rebuking Claudia here or compromising would benefit him more, he soon reached a conclusion and spoke.
"I could check his condition. But it won't mean much in the end."
"What do you mean?"
"Didn't he say it himself? He has new work in a new place. That's decided, so whatever you do won't change it. He'll leave."
"What?"
To Claudia, who asked back in confusion, the marquis spoke plainly.
"If he were just chasing wealth and glory, that servant Cedric would have no reason to leave. Staying by your side would let him live a life most commoners couldn't dream of for the rest of his days. At least as long as you don't change your mind."
Cedric had racked up immense contributions by Claudia's side.
Contributions so overwhelming that no one could complain if she favored him afterward.
Yet why was Cedric ending the contract and leaving?
"You've probably guessed it yourself. That Cedric is no ordinary commoner. No, even most nobles couldn't perform at that level. He's talent deliberately cultivated by a nation—or some equivalent massive faction."
Claudia couldn't argue.
It was perfectly logical, even to her.
"And the faction that raised him sent this high-caliber talent abroad as a mere servant. And worked him to the point of vomiting blood. In other words, to whatever's behind him, Cedric is just a pawn. Not cheap enough to waste lightly, but replaceable. That's about the level of regard."
In truth, it matched exactly how the crown prince treated his clones, so it wasn't wrong.
The marquis's insight—having dragged his near-ruined house back to the kingdom's pinnacle—was exceptional.
With a trembling voice, Claudia asked,
"Who... who the hell are they? What kind of bastards are using Cedric so harshly at their whim?!"
"Who knows. I'm no fortune-teller, so I can't say for sure. But if his claim of being from the Empire isn't a simple ruse but a show of confidence that 'even if it's discovered, it doesn't matter,' then his backers are the imperial family. Other groups in the Empire wouldn't casually hint at it, even if capable."
It was deduction sharp enough for the archdemon to affirm, "Yep, you're a fortune-teller."
"No way..."
Claudia covered her mouth with both hands.
The Virka Kingdom at the southwestern edge of the continent shared no border with the Empire in the northwest, so to Virkans, the Empire was a vaguely known distant superpower.
But as someone lately studying to fulfill her lordly duties, she knew.
No single nation on the continent could defeat the Empire alone; even second- and third-place powers combined barely had a chance.
Much less Virka, which might not even crack the top ten—even at full strength, it could only manage feeble resistance.
"Get it now? If you really want to keep that servant Cedric in your grasp, you need power and influence enough to negotiate face-to-face with the Empire's crown prince. For someone like you? It's a realm where even discussing it is forbidden."
In Virka, where even the king tread carefully, Marquis Redbell was untouchable—but in the Empire, just another rural power broker.
No need to mention Claudia, just spreading her wings.
To his despairing daughter, overwhelmed by the towering wall ahead, the marquis offered a sliver of kindness.
Cedric's advice about not being lonely in old age came to mind.
"Don't cling desperately to what you can't hold. At least cherish the time you have left."
As if denying those words, Claudia's lips quivered repeatedly before she hung her head low.
Before the marquis's utterly rational reasoning, that was all she could do.