Even a Scoundrel Gets Tired

137 – Before His Awakening (2)

“In any case, now is a period where

absolute rest is required.”

“….”

“If possible, avoid foods such as these…”

“….”

“Also, refrain from actions like these…

Excuse me, are you listening?”

“Ah, yes…”

No, truthfully, she wasn’t listening at all.

Her gaze was,

at this moment,

fixated solely on the one beside her.

“Keu-heok…Keu-heop…”

“…!”

“Aigo… Just a moment, please…”

Again.

Again, blood surged forth.

From his lips, not her own.

Did anyone truly know how much that fact

pricked at her conscience,

inflaming her guilt?

“This… it can’t be like pouring water

into a bottomless jar, can it…”

“U-um… there…”

“Yes? No, no, don’t get up. Speak as you are.”

“Instead of treating me…

could you please focus more on my brother…?”

Therefore, she was now yearning with such desperation.

No matter what happens to her,

it didn’t matter, just please

save him, make him whole again.

Even as she heard the priest’s

face tighten ever so slightly,

her heart remained unchanged.

When he struggled the most,

she couldn’t help him,

but when she was in the deepest trouble,

he came to save her.

And, in the end, he ended up injured like this.

Wasn’t it obvious what went wrong?

“It cannot be done.”

“B-but…!”

But what returned was,

again, only a chilling refusal.

A refusal that was utterly resolute.

“I… I understand your sentiment well, but

I’ve already exhausted every method I know.”

“….”

“Even if I do more here,

nothing will truly change…”

“I… is that so…”

In truth, it was an obvious, and perhaps

even a rude, thing to say.

Serving the divine, and bestowing that grace upon the people…

There’s simply no reason why a priest like that wouldn’t fully heal the sick, is there?

Well, if it were just any ordinary priest,

there might be such instances, on occasion.

Deliberately delaying treatment,

and extracting a cure fee

disguised as a donation.

I invested this much effort

into your healing, so you too

must pay a corresponding price –

a truly vile, classic trick.

But now.

The one healing her and Jenison

is a high-ranking priest,

a rarity even within the Order.

Which is to say, his devotion

to faith and goodness is on

an entirely different level than other priests.

The reason Aria’s words

were considered impolite

was precisely that.

Depending on who hears it,

it could sound as if

a high priest stood before a patient

and neglected to do his utmost,

abandoning them.

“I… I apologize, I didn’t mean…”

She, too, apologized instantly,

realizing the gravity of her words.

No matter what, to speak

so rudely to someone who was

virtually a savior, having healed

her and her brother.

“No, no, it’s alright… Well.

I can understand why you might think so.”

“Even so…”

“I have been feeling such things recently.”

“Because the number of parishioners

indulging in such deeds

is steadily growing, you see.”

“….”

“What good does it do for one who’s become

a servant of God to

sate their worldly desires…”

“….”

“Though, come to think of it, even among my peers,

there’s a fellow who is

remarkably fond of money,

so it’s not entirely incomprehensible.”

Heh heh─

In his laughter,

a certain longing seemed so utterly

embedded,

but perhaps that was merely a trick of the mind?

“Ah, come to think of it…”

“Yes…?”

“You two are not kin of

Duchess Charlotte, are you?”

“Pardon? No…”

“Then, where are

your protectors

presently residing?”

Clack.

The words literally caught in my throat.

A feeling like my

throat itself was rejecting

the very letters.

What is it? Why is it?

Once, I was so

proud of my father’s name,

so why is it now

so difficult to even utter?

“…Protectors…?”

“Yes, judging by your attire,

you appear to be young nobles.”

“….”

“Your guardians must

be worried about you young sirs, so I was thinking of contacting them separately─”

“..Heh heh.”

Worried, you say.

Is that truly the case?

Even if needles were to pierce my eyes,

The Duke Reinhardt, he who seemed incapable

of shedding a single tear?

“There’s no need for you to contact him.”

“Pardon? Still, even so—”

“Before coming here, I

contacted him separately.”

“..Ah, if that’s the case then.”

Yes, there’s no need to say any more.

After all, by now he must be thoroughly

enjoying the imperial banquet.

Without so much as a thought

for his daughter locked away at home.

*

Hahaha.

The laughter of the people,

ripening the atmosphere of the banquet.

As the festivities drew near

their end, in that hall,

there was but one soul who refused

to be swept away by the tide.

“Haha… Duke, these are items I’ve been seeking of late.”

“….”

“If, by chance, there’s something

among them that catches your eye,

I would gladly prepare it specially for you, Duke—”

“Unnecessary.”

Still, with unwavering resolve,

he maintained his impassive facade.

It was Duke Reinhardt.

*…Not a single one is to my liking.*

In truth, the reason the Duke had

been holding steadfast to his blank expression

was not solely because

his face was not prone

to displaying much emotion,

but also because he loathed

this entire affair.

“Duke, you seem to be in poor spirits today…?”

*…Are you truly so unaware that

you are the cause of it?*

He disliked gatherings of nobles,

and not just these grand banquets.

Why, you ask?

Just look around you.

Dames plastered with powder,

flaunting faces made fresh from

some newly discovered merchant.

Doddering old men, itching

to boast the worth of every

precious thing upon their person.

And those youngsters, scrambling

to forge connections early,

all for the sake of their future selves.

He’d always frowned upon their ilk.

Dignity and honor, tossed

somewhere far aside, they’d lavish

every ounce of effort on

outward adornment, until

vanity swelled and consumed them whole.

He’d never, not once,

thought himself akin to them,

but he loathed the way they

tarred all nobles with

a single, sullied brush.

He simply wouldn’t deign to

show his face at these events,

not unless duty truly called.

And tonight’s soiree, too,

he’d intended to avoid it,

but how could one refuse

an invitation from the Crown?

The Ducal House already

walked on thin ice with the Emperor,

and to sidestep certain

scandals, to avoid displeasing

His Imperial Majesty,

he had no choice but to attend.

“Tch, expected as much,

yet still, it boils my blood.”

As if I didn’t have enough

work piled up like a mountain.

The levy of taxes from

the estate’s people drawing near…

And that wretch Aria’s rumors to quell as well…

“L-Lord Duke!!”

“…Hmm?”

Lost in thought, his brow

furrowed in vexation,

a voice intruded.

“L-Lord Duke…!”

Just a moment before, he’d

seen the guard, startled,

bowing low in greeting.

And now, the man dared

to address him directly.

“…What is it?”

“W-Well, you see…”

“If it’s trifling nonsense,

you’d best prepare yourself.”

The third time it was.

That his disposition had been

so thoroughly disrupted in this place.

As if the multitude of troubles

weren’t already a torment.

If he were to waste his time on some insignificant matter in this state…

Even if the offender were a Marquis,

he felt he could not forgive it.

Truly, in this moment, no less.

“J-Just a little while ago,

a servant from your mansion arrived…”

“…My mansion, you say?”

“Yes, certainly…!”

The mansion… the mansion.

He hadn’t given any of

the staff specific instructions to contact him at this hour.

Furthermore, they, too, were aware

of the banquet scheduled

He must know, surely,

that his return being

delayed a touch wouldn’t

stir such worry or

concern in anyone.

Just what matter could

drive him all the way here?

And to seek him out amidst

the Imperial soirée, no less.

“…I’m listening, continue.”

“It’s…according to the

servant’s account, your Grace’s manor…”

The guard abruptly cut himself

off, unable to continue.

A slow burn of irritation,

not just impatience, began to rise.

What made a single sentence

so difficult, so burdened?

“What of my manor?”

One step.

With that short, weighty

step forward, he exuded

a faint but distinct killing intent.

Directed solely at the guard.

“Hiek…!”

“Speak, with utmost speed and brevity.”

“Ye…yes, sir…!!”

“So, what has

befallen my manor?”

No sooner had the Duke finished

than the guard began to swivel

his head, darting his gaze about.

Like a wary

cat,

he scanned the crowd,

and as the Duke’s icy glare drove

those nearby away, the guard’s

lips finally parted with trepidation.

“Th-the Duke’s manor is said to be half-destroyed.”

“..What?!”

And just like that, he drops

the most absurd statement.

“..So, what I’m saying is, you see.

Wouldn’t you agree all of this is thanks to His Imperial Majesty’s grace…hahaha.”

“Hmm, you think kindly of me,

and I’m thankful for that, Count Mondley.”

“Oh, no, not at all!

How could one diminish His Majesty’s virtuous greatness..!!”

‘..This one seems unlikely as well.’

Meanwhile, the Emperor was still

engaged in his hidden network search.

However, even now,

he hadn’t found a suitable candidate.

‘Tch…most of these nobles

are simply lacking the requisite caliber.

Perhaps arranging a separate

introduction later wouldn’t be a bad idea..’

“Your Majesty.”

“Hmm?”

And just then,

someone addressed him.

Still clad in his clanking armor.

“Reindel? What brings you to me?”

“….”

“Ahem, gentlemen. Perhaps you could

excuse us for a moment?

I wish to speak privately with

Lord Reindel for a short while.”

“O-Of course, as you wish, haha…”

Though their eyes still leaked

with a palpable sense of regret,

dripping like sweet honey,

a mere Count was in no position

to refuse his request.

And so, the two were left alone.

“Now, speak. What troubles you?”

“..Duke Reinhardt

just now, abruptly left the banquet hall.”

“…he stormed out.”

“…?”

“And with a rather distorted expression, I’m told.”

“…Hmm, Ryndel?

You of all people, you must know

what I’m about to say, don’t you?”

“…As you command.”

“Pursue him, as we always have. Discreetly.”