Edmond
The lord of the empire turned out to be a black mage, and it seemed there was someone pulling the strings behind him. Tiny's vivid testimony had drastically altered Cloi's schedule.
Rumors about the black mage incident in Philes had already spread as far as Lucentia, and now word had come that the lord's body had vanished. Amid all that, Tiny's additional testimony was an undeniable clue that couldn't be ignored.
"I need to head back to the main estate right away."
"Yes, that would be best, Lady Cloi... but."
"What is it?"
"...How long do you plan to keep that spirit with you?"
"Eek?"
Cloi flinched at Vivian's words, and Wolrang, nestled in her arms, let out a weak whimper.
Vivian realized now, watching Wolrang, that spirits could tire too.
"...If that kid's going to stick with Tiny anyway, isn't it fine to carry him?"
"If there's even a chance that thing might harm you, Lady Cloi, a spirit could be a major risk..."
"This little cute thing?"
Cloi cupped the tiny Wolrang in her palm and lifted him up. The silver pup, eyes narrowed, glared at Vivian.
"Woof!"
Vivian blushed faintly at the adorable expression that seemed to say, Me? As if!
"See? He's mad too."
C-Cute... Vivian shook her head sharply, banishing the thought.
B-But it was definitely a massive wolf before.
Has hanging around Lady Cloi too long infected me with her 'cute obsession' too? Ugh.
"Ahem. No, I mean, it could happen..."
"Him?"
The pup—no, the spirit—was thrust before her eyes again.
"...No, never mind. I'll keep a closer eye on it."
Vivian sighed and gave up trying to convince her.
"By the way, where's Tiny?"
"Well, one of Young Master Edmond's men took him earlier, saying he had business."
"Business? What kind?"
"No idea."
"Hmm..."
Cloi couldn't guess why Edmond had taken Tiny, but a bad feeling stirred nonetheless. The impressions and rumors about Edmond from the past few days hadn't been good.
As Cloi's face clouded over, Vivian quickly added,
"Don't worry too much. No matter how much of a wastrel he is, he wouldn't dare harm someone you personally welcomed into your group."
It sounded reasonable at first glance.
"I'm not so sure..."
Cloi tilted her head. In her eyes, Edmond was... well, utterly lacking in common sense. The type who couldn't distinguish between what he could do and what he shouldn't.
He'd shown that side multiple times even before her, someone of higher status. How would he treat a lowborn?
Wasn't that exactly why the wastrel rumors had started?
Just then, as she fretted—
"Kyun?"
Wolrang's ears perked up, and almost simultaneously, his body vanished.
"Huh?!"
Cloi's brief panic shifted to realization, and she barked an order.
"Find Tiny!"
"Pardon? Is that really necessary...?"
Vivian still looked skeptical. Spirits usually vanished when separated too far from their master.
But.
"Yes, Vivian. Go yourself!"
Cloi shouted urgently, urging her on.
Whether it was because Wolrang had disappeared or because she sensed the boy—his master—might be in danger, even she couldn't say.
But an order was an order, so Vivian moved to obey, though her steps were reluctant.
* * *
"What?"
"I told him I'd refuse, young master."
Edmond could scarcely believe Knight Lambert's response. A mere knight defying his command?
"You bastard! Are you in your right mind?! How dare you..."
But his rage couldn't fully erupt. He couldn't let it.
"His Excellency warned that any more incidents would mean expulsion from the family—and this time, it won't be an empty threat. Shall I report exactly what you just told me to do?"
"...Tch. You, you dare."
"Young master, please restrain yourself."
Lambert, one of the senior knights of the Lucent Knights, offered a cold smile, nodded curtly, and walked past him.
A family knight—a commoner-born one at that—daring to act like that toward the family's firstborn son.
"Y-You...!"
Knowing why Lambert acted that way only fueled his anger more. It poked at the deep-seated inferiority complex buried in Edmond's heart once again.
The moment Lambert rounded the corner and vanished, that rage poured out onto his surroundings.
"The nerve! That lowly shit!!!"
Crash!
His foot, driven by fury, shattered a large porcelain vase displayed in the hallway.
The loud crash made the maid standing nearby jump and scream.
"Kyaaah!"
"Hah? Even the servants are pissing me off today. Hey, you. Come here."
"I-I'm sorry, young master."
The maid bowed frantically, face pale.
"Why the hell are you sorry for something you didn't do?!"
Slap!
Edmond, eyes rolled back in rage, backhanded her across the face. Then he kicked the fallen maid, who couldn't even scream.
Thud! Wham!
"You think I won't be heir too, so you're laughing at me!? Huh!? You fucking bitch!"
Thwack!
"I'm the eldest son! You think that lowborn bastard in the capital can inherit this house!? Don't make me laugh! That'll never happen!!"
Thump. Smack.
Even after the maid lost consciousness, the indiscriminate violence continued.
"I'm... I'm the rightful... huff. Heir... huff. Of Lucent... huuuuh."
Only after unleashing all that pent-up rage did Edmond wipe the sweat from his brow, panting heavily.
He jerked his chin at the other servants staring in terror.
"...Clean this up. Now!"
"Y-Yes, young master."
As they scrambled, Edmond calmly turned his mind back to the problem.
He needed to harshly discipline that insolent commoner knight who'd dared ignore him—but the knights wouldn't obey.
If even a commoner knight acted like that, the others were hopeless.
And that guy's a spirit mage, they say.
Sending dozens of soldiers wouldn't teach him a lesson.
Then...
"Right. Time to use those guys for this. Heh heh..."
A faint smile crept onto Edmond's lips as he recalled the 'guys' who'd been cozying up to him steadily for years.
One slight snag, though—not conscience, of course...
Win Cloi Lady's heart somehow. The duke dotes on his youngest daughter, so if you steal her affection and form a connection, you might still inherit the house.
His mother's advice to him.
But recalling Cloi's contemptuous gaze made the thought vanish.
He had at least that much perception.
Her look was just like the one she gave lowly commoners.
No chance of a match there—the past three days proved it.
Can't even threaten the lady. It's all over.
With everything already ruined, what did it matter to ruin one more annoying black-haired commoner?
"...Fuck it."
Right now, his mind was filled only with venting his immediate fury.
And the moment he decided that—
"Y-Young master. We've brought the commoner you requested."
A servant who'd faithfully obeyed led in the arrogant punk.
"...Oh ho."
Edmond slowly looked the sacrificial lamb up and down, the timing perfect.
"Finally, we can have a proper talk. Spirit mage, what was your name again?"
He smirked smugly, but the punk just stared at the carried-off maid and the bloodstains.
Too scared to even meet his eyes? Good, good.
"Hey, I asked your name."
He chuckled to assert his dignity.
"Uh... Tiny."
The reply was too curt.
"...'Uh, Tiny'?"
Did this punk just speak casually to me?
The barely suppressed emotions flared again.
"Hah, as expected of an uneducated commoner. You don't even know basic etiquette before nobility."
"I know."
"You 'know'? That's it? Ha, hahaha! This crazy bastard, glaring at me like..."
He raised his hand to slap some noble authority into him—
Chin.
"Huh? You blocked it? You just..."
The rage boiling on his tongue halted at those blazing black eyes.
A gaze familiar from the mirror.
This is... anger?
How dare he—who the hell does he think he is?
Fury surged again, but the punk's voice continued.
"...I know full well. You get kicked out of the family if you cause one more incident."
Edmond flinched.
"What'll it be? Wanna go at it right here? Me, who's with Valentia Lady Cloi?"
His chest went cold at those words.
This bastard...
Not your average guy.
But realizing that only intensified his rage—he had to kill this arrogant shit.
Just... the situation was a bit unfavorable now.
"Hmph. I was a bit worked up over some bad business. I'll overlook your rudeness."
He forcibly calmed himself and tried to yank his hand free.
Or tried to.
No matter how hard he pulled, it wouldn't budge—like gripped in steel tongs.
"T-Tch. W-What the hell are you doing!?"
"What else? Gonna scrap with a great noble like you. Why pretend you didn't see it when you did? Sell your guts and eyes somewhere? You're about to get booted anyway?"
"H-How dare you...!"
"Yeah, get madder. 'How dare'... nice line. What's next?"
He wanted to explode, crush the punk with noble authority—but he had no minions to enforce it now.
And he couldn't stoop to brawling with a commoner himself.
His body trembled.
"...I'll overlook this insolence."
"You're staring right at it—why keep saying you didn't see?"
Grind.
This filthy commoner...
"Any more insolence, and I'll take it up with Valentia Lady Cloi!"
"Go ahead, complain all you want. But first, throw a punch. I said come at me? Oh, arm's caught?"
Thud.
His arm was suddenly free.
But the kid closed in, black eyes staring up.
Edmond froze solid.
"There, let go. Let's throw down?"
"Hmph."
...How could a noble lower himself to a commoner's level physically?
To properly teach this fool, he needed to retreat for now.
Edmond admired his own supreme patience, forcing his trembling limbs to move despite the rage.
"F-Follow me. I'll personally show you the... dignity... of nobility."
"N-No-noble...? What kinda freak title is that?"
He nearly snapped but recalled noble dignity and swallowed the fury.
Huuu. You can do it, Edmond. Deep breath. One, two...
...Okay.
"I have educators prepared for the growth of scum like you. Scared? Don't follow."
"You got nothing but your status, huh?"
"You bastard!!!!"
"Whoa! Yeah, that's it. No-noble sir, come at me!"
His face burned red—he could feel it—but noble patience held him back.
"...For the sake of setting an example with my noble body, I'll overlook the rudeness once more."
"Jeez, just close your eyes when you say it."
"...Do you even have the guts to follow me?"
"What the fuck."
"Y-You...!"
Rage flipped his insides; his mind went white, words failing.
His hand twitched reflexively, met by those expectant black eyes.
A chill doused his heated head.
Ugh, annoying bastard.
Huu, huuup. Endure. You must endure, Edmond.
Another deep breath to steady himself. He lifted his chin high, exuding noble dignity, and spoke firmly.
"If you're not scared, follow me, insolent commoner."
"Hah, can't do shit alone?"
"Th-This...!"
"Whatever, you got something prepared, huh? Fine, lead on."
"Nngh."
Praising his extreme patience again, Edmond dragged his reluctant feet forward.
Thankfully, the cocky punk followed innocently, unaware of the ordeal ahead.
Just you wait!
Those guys would 'educate' him far better than any half-assed commoner knight.
A cruel smile formed on Edmond's lips as he strode ahead.