Chapter 3
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: The Naggy Geezer
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Wendy!
Y-Yes?!
Wendy, who had been crouching in the corner, lifted her head to find Julie standing there with her arms crossed.
Ugh. I called you so many times, but no answer. Theres a huge commotion downstairs right now
J-Julie sis
Hm? Whats wrong? You look like youve seen a ghost.
A ghost!
Yes, she had definitely seen a ghost.
Wendy threw herself into Julies arms.
Sis!
Eek! Whats with you all of a sudden?
It was so scary
And that ghost had worn her masters face.
But who was her master?
The Ruelverta Count family, infamous even across the empire.
And among all past heads, the absolute worstTristan.
His greed was utterly unbefitting a noble.
His personality was insidious beyond measure.
A noble who wielded his vast wealth like a weapon, looking down on everyone in the world.
Tristan was the tyrannical ruler of this mansion.
All the servants lived in constant fear, watching his every mood.
Wendy, as a newbie, was especially clumsy at her duties, so she often caught his scoldings.
Wendy came from poor farming stock.
She knew fieldwork, but serving nobles? She was all thumbs.
Still, Wendy always worked hard.
A scolding here and there? She could take it.
What terrified her most was getting kicked out of the mansion.
As the eldest daughter, she sent her wages back to her family in the countryside.
It was a lifeline for her impoverished kin.
So she absolutely couldnt go back.
She'd braced herself for another tongue-lashing today.
But something was off today.
No barrage of abuse like usual.
Instead, hed spoken to her with a gentleness she'd never heard before.
Recalling that chilling tone made Wendys heart pound.
Sis, d-did I make some huge mistake?
Mistake? Hmm. Too many suspects to count.
Youre so mean
Wendys eyes welled up with tears.
Julie gently pushed her away.
Come on, no time for this. Lets head down.
Huh?
You deaf or something? Didnt you hear me earlier? The masters Never mind. Just follow. Hurry.
E-Eh
Wendy followed Julie down to the first floor in a daze.
What she found were maids clustered tight against the door.
Huh? S-Senior maids, what are you doing here?
Shh!
Mmph.
Quiet. Hell hear us because of you.
?
The seniors clamped a hand over Wendys mouth and pointed to a crack in the door.
A faint gap, barely visible unless you stared.
Through it, Tristan was visible, talking to someone.
Wh-Whats he Pfft! Whats going on?
See? Uncle Arthurs here.
Uncle Arthur?
Oh right First time for you, Wendy. Hes the family elder of the count household.
So, like the counts grandfather?
Wendy nodded, and Julie continued.
I overheard earlierhe was yelling about kicking him out of the head seat.
Eek! T-Tristan, sir?
Yeah. Seems the uncles and family elders are furious over last time.
A week ago, hed been rejected by Lady Bella Izarkhel of the dukes house.
Tristan had holed up in his study ever since.
Lady Bella, hailed as the empires most beautiful.
Everyone knew Tristan had his eyes on her.
Even he mustve been hurt.
Julie and the senior maids gossiped, trash-talking the head.
Honestly, Lady Bellas the one who got the short end, no matter how you slice it.
Hmph. Uncle Arthur said it right. Time to swap out the master of this house.
Whoever takes over, theyll be way more human and kind than that guy.
Wendy flinched at that.
Hm? Whats with you?
N-Nothing
Kindness.
That word triggered the memory of Tristans words from moments ago.
-Are you okay? Youre not hurt?
Had Wendy really heard that right?
After agonizing, she steeled herself.
I-Ill check with my own eyes
Whether it was really her wicked master.
Or a ghost wearing his skin.
She squeezed in among the senior maids to peek inside.
Tristan! Youve gone and done it now.
Before me sat a white-haired old nobleman.
Arthur Ruelverta.
At present, the pillar of the Ruelverta Count family, respected by all.
And to Tristan none other than
Uncle
Thats right, you rascal. I cant live with you around. Do you know what theyre calling you out there?
Uh
Id heard the gist.
The count familys mad pig, genius of evil!
Pfft!
The contemptuous nicknames were so childish, I burst out laughing.
Arthur bellowed at my reaction.
You think this is funny?!
Ah, sorry. I didnt realize everyone saw me that way.
Tsk tsk You fool. You need to realize youre the head of the Ruelverta Count family.
Arthur shook his head in disapproval.
Such was Arthur Ruelvertas character.
The pillar upholding a storied count family, genuinely fretting over his worthless nephew and scolding him.
To Tristan, he probably just looked like a naggy geezer.
So, Uncle and guardian, what brings you here?
You really dont know? Its all over high society! You said awful things to the lady!
Ah, yeah
A cheap fan of a tawdry woman.
I didnt say that. And it was just a regular fan from the market? 500 kael.
Is there any other lunatic like you in this world?
Man, this is unfair.
Rumors get twisted passing through people, sure
But even more unfair? Tristan was exactly the type whod say it.
His reputation was already in the gutter, but I hadnt expected this in society circles.
No more words! Go apologize right now.
Arthur glared at me.
His eyes held a sharpness unfitting his age.
Its not too late. Head to the dukes house and beg Lady Bellas forgiveness. Shell overlook it once.
A week ago, the Izarkhel dukes lady had delivered the engagement cancellation.
Even without my weird remarks, the outcome wouldve been the same.
She came that day specifically to ask to cancel the engagement
An engagement decided without the ladys say.
Against the empires most notorious villain, Tristan, no less.
And one hed extorted from the dukes house.
Arthur mustve vaguely suspected that.
I wont ask what means you used to wring that engagement from Duke Izarkhel. But insulting the lady is unforgivable. No matter how vast our familys power, a count is a count. Were below a dukethats plain as day.
Fair point.
Arthur drove it home.
Its decided at the kin council. Fail to fix this, and we wont recognize you as head.
Thats the real reason.
In short, theyd oust me from the seat.
Even in the Ruelverta family, Tristan was a headache, so natural.
And in the original story, he solves this crisis simply.
By killing all the relatives
A bloody purge.
This psycho wipes out every opposing kin in a single night.
The event later called the Ruelverta tragedy.
Even Uncle Arthur couldnt escape it.
Classic villain Tristan move.
Maybe the easy way out.
Crushing them with force to secure family supportthat was canon.
I looked at Arthur.
An old geezer so ancient I could call him grandpa instead of uncle.
Nagging nonstop with that displeased look.
To Tristan, naturally a thorn in the side.
But this mans no obstacle to Tristan.
This old man wasnt his enemy.
He was the one in the family who worried most about Tristan.
If he truly hated him, he wouldnt come nagging like this.
Im no unfilial punk like Tristan.
Ill change the storys course.
Its prep for whats coming.
Are you listening, Tristan! No matter how much of a wastrel you are, ignoring the elders decision is no way to act. If you keep being stubborn like this
Ill go.
What?
Ill apologize to Lady Bella, as you say, Uncle.
Id planned to anyway.
But Arthur looked utterly shocked.
He asked in a trembling voice.
Wh-What did you just say?
I said Ill go. To apologize to Lady Bella.
Is that true?
Yes.
Then swear it on the Ruelverta name?
On the family?
Yes. Swear those words arent lies.
Whys this geezer being so childish?
As I stared in disbelief, Arthur clicked his tongue.
Tch. See? When have you ever kept a promise?
Fine.
No harm in swearing.
I stood.
I swear on this damned familys name. So dont worry, Uncle.
Wh-What? Watch your mouth!
I need to hurry and get ready. Excuse me.
Wait!
Take care.
I said wait! You wastrel! Im not done! Stand still!
Ignoring him, I opened the parlor door.
At the same time, odd noises.
Run, quick!
W-Wait, dont push! Eep!
Thud.
Like a tiny puppy blocking the patha slight resistance.
And there, on her butt before me, a pint-sized maid.
Her fluffy red curls bobbed.
Saved me the search.
I called her name.
Wendy.
Y-Yes?!
Prepare the carriage. Were going to the Izarkhel dukes house.
Y-Yes!
And
?
I looked down at Wendy.
You prepare too. I need an attendant.
A brief silence.
Good, she didnt freeze this time.
Instead, she blurted in shock.
Y-Yes Eek?! M-Me?!
Who else is here but you?