Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Servant Cedric (20) - Farewell, My Servant.
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Great Demon Lucidra had been in a good mood lately.
If asked just how good, it was the kind where she would suddenly leak a smile or her lips would twitch upward even when simply standing or sitting still by herself.
It wasn't behavior befitting the dignity of a great demon who had once swayed countless people with a mere gesture or smile in the distant past. Lucidra was aware of this, but she still couldn't hold back her laughter.
'This time, victory is mine!'
It had been several months since she awoke from her long seal and formed a contract with Crown Prince Alondre.
At first, she had thought fooling a pampered young master who knew nothing of the world would be no great challenge. But Crown Prince Alondre was extraordinary in every way.
Or, to put it bluntly and honestly, he simply wasn't human.
His abilities were cheat-like, and his personality was even stranger. How much grief and torment had she endured because of this prince?
However, that humiliating time ended here.
To Lucidra's eyes, that noblewoman named Claudia had no intention of letting go of Cedric—that is, the prince's clone.
The prince himself might think he'd done everything he could, the contract term was over, and now he could just walk away. But were human hearts really so cleanly severed?
'A girl in love is the most reckless creature of all, charging ahead without thought. No matter how capable you are, you have no counter this time, do you?'
Whether she wielded the power she'd gained as a noble to forcibly hold him, or threw a tantrum claiming she'd revert to her old ways without him, either path deviated from the prince's intention for Claudia to stand independently as a lord after his departure.
And that meant Lucidra's victory in their bet.
'...Hoo, hehe. Hehehehe! What should I demand? What could I ask for to repay that brazen human for the humiliations I've suffered?'
Because of the meticulously drafted contract by the prince's thorough nature, she couldn't make the outrageous demands demons typically tricked their contractors into.
Turning the prince into a puppet and shaking the empire? Impossible.
But it was more than enough to vent her personal grudges and anger.
As she endlessly mulled over these delightful dilemmas, Lucidra shifted her consciousness from the prince's shadow to Cedric's.
Now, let's see what adorable mess the noble lady—who would hand her this victory—was making of Cedric, or rather the prince—
"...Alright. I'll let you go."
—Huh?
Having finished her conversation with the marquis, Claudia returned to the mansion.
Coiled around her shoulder was a snake made entirely of blood, one of the marquis's blood beasts that he had lent her, saying he couldn't go himself.
Even though she had achieved her goal, her expression was dark.
'Cedric is an agent of the empire?'
The marquis himself had drawn a line, saying it was merely a 'guess,' but Claudia sensed a strange certainty in his tone.
Moreover, if his guess was correct, it perfectly explained Cedric's freakishly competent abilities.
She wanted to deny it, but she couldn't.
That fact burned at her heart.
"Milady?"
The moment she saw Cedric gazing at her with his round eyes, Claudia's words caught in her throat.
There had been so much she wanted to say upon seeing him, yet face-to-face, her mind went blank, leaving her speechless.
-Hiss.
But the blood snake she had brought was different.
Eager to return to its master as soon as possible, it flicked its tongue and scrutinized Cedric, heedless of Claudia's daze.
-Hiss?
A question mark seemed to float above its head.
The snake's senses as a great predator told it that the creature before it was undoubtedly on the verge of death.
And at the same time, that it was in an overwhelmingly powerful and vibrant state.
Faced with these contradictory sensations, the snake tilted its head repeatedly like a puzzled human before conveying its raw impression to Claudia as felt by its true self—or rather, its main body.
One crucial point here: blood beasts didn't fully comprehend human language or respond accordingly.
They merely exchanged 'will' with their parent and master connected by blood.
Thus, communication with their original master, the marquis, was fairly smooth. But with Claudia—another person despite inheriting his blood—there were slight issues in transmission.
Specifically, a subtle distortion, like an inept interpreter mangling the message midway.
The marquis knew this and had explained it to Claudia, but she, half out of it, let it go in one ear and out the other.
He noticed but didn't bother holding her back to make her listen properly.
After all, for simple expressions like 'body is bad' or 'it's fine,' a little distortion wouldn't hinder understanding much.
The result?
-This one's definitely dying. But it seems connected to something huge, so maybe it's okay?
Became:
-This one's already a dead body. But something huge is holding it together, forcibly keeping it in an okay state?
Naturally, Claudia was horrified.
With a trembling voice, she unwittingly asked Cedric,
"Cedric, you... are you connected to someone by some kind of magic?"
Cedric's expression stiffened for an instant.
It was the most shocked reaction she'd ever seen from him.
His gaze darted between Claudia and the blood snake on her shoulder before a bitter smile spread across his face, as if he'd realized everything.
"I was worried when you suddenly left the mansion without a word, but you'd gone to seek the marquis's help."
"Th-that's not important right now! So? Is that why you said you're fine? Because of that magic?"
Some powerful magic holding Cedric, sustaining his life.
This wasn't an entirely foreign concept to Claudia.
Her own blood beasts could recover from any injury as long as they returned to her alive.
Cedric let out a short sigh.
If he could have kept hiding it to the end, fine—but dodging now, when the truth had been(?) seen through, would just look ugly.
"Yes. As long as this magic—my clone—exists, true death will not come to me."
"To think you were ensnared by such subservient magic...!"
Claudia couldn't contain her shock.
Not content with merely dispatching an agent, to dominate even his life itself.
How mighty and cruel was the empire?
Toward Claudia, who gaped wordlessly, Cedric continued his confession.
"Not everything I did here was purely selfless. In a way, you could call it evil deeds. I deceived and used you, milady."
"That's not your fault..."
To Claudia, Cedric had simply been compelled to obey orders, his life held hostage.
How could that be counted as his sin?
"No, it is my fault. Because they were acts of my own will."
But Cedric firmly denied it.
He had spoken nothing but the pure truth without a shred of falsehood, yet to Claudia, even that seemed noble resolve, refusing to shirk responsibility.
"To cause my lord such great worry—perhaps I am unfit as a servant."
"R-right now, I'm not the important one."
"No, you are the important one, milady."
Cedric stared straight into Claudia's teary eyes.
"Do you know this, milady? In the coldest view, a servant is merely someone paid to work under their master. No warmth, no recognition there."
"But when the master they serve seems worthy of true loyalty, servants take pride in their hearts. They rejoice when their master is recognized, and feel a sense of honor in following the righteous path."
"When we first met, you were someone who confined yourself in a narrow cage, endlessly hurting yourself and those around you. Not even empty words could call you a respectable master."
"But you have changed. You no longer treat people carelessly, you use your power to help them, and if your abilities fall short, you strive to learn. The servants who once trembled at the sight of your face now take pride in serving under you."
Cedric paused, as if catching his breath.
Then he declared boldly, without the slightest hesitation.
"I am the same."
Claudia's eyes widened.
"Name, status—all falsehoods. But the joy I felt in your growth? That much, I can swear is true. I am but a fleeting mirage here, but if you remain an excellent ruler, then 'Servant Cedric' will live eternally in that shadow. Thus, you are more important than anyone."
Claudia gave no reply.
For a long while, she simply bowed her head in silence.
Cedric did not urge her on.
And finally, Claudia spoke.
"...Alright. I'll let you go."
Cedric bowed deeply, though she couldn't see it.
"Thank you for your consideration to the end, milady."
"Consideration? Don't make me laugh."
Claudia finally raised her head.
Tears still lingered at her eyes, but that gaze no longer wavered.
The fierce certainty of one who knew her path blazed in her pink irises like jewels.
"This is only temporary. Right now, I lack the ability and influence... but just watch. Someday, I'll march right up to whoever's behind you and demand my servant back."
Cedric's face went blank for a moment before twisting into a wry smile.
'Demanding her servant (me) back from the one behind him (me). Quite the poetic expression.'
Even he, who could scoff at honey traps, couldn't help but be intrigued by such resolve.
But admiration was one thing; he still had to say what needed saying.
"That is a path of thorns beyond measure, milady."
"Won't stop me. I'll do it no matter what."
"You really should reconsider."
"I'm doing it because I want to! You have no right to stop me!"
"Heh."
Cedric sighed.
Feeling something in that sigh, Claudia forced her lips upward into a spirited smile.
"So, stay healthy and wait. Someday, I'll definitely come for you."
"...I won't affirm that. I still think you should give up."
"Hmph! Good! Time you got a taste of trouble yourself!"
"Well, now."
After that, it was their usual boisterous chatter.
Sometimes Claudia sniffled as if choking up, but she never shed a tear.
As if insisting, despite the sorrow and pain of parting, this wasn't the end.
Thus, the final day of lord and servant passed.
And the great demon wept from within the shadow.