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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Pot]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
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Chapter 136: That Night, You Are the Protagonist
I held up two fingers to answer Evan’s question.
“The first reason is retaliation. Yesterday, my brother attempted to assassinate one of my retainers, though he failed.”
“What?!”
Evan was visibly shocked.
“An assassination attempt? But even so…”
“It’s a warning that he won’t hold back anymore. That’s why I plan to strike at his weakness and assert my dominance.”
Evan seemed to understand, but I had one more thing to say.
“And the second reason, Evan, I’ll be honest with you.”
I looked directly at him.
“From the moment I heard your story, I had a rough idea that something like this might happen. However, I chose to overlook it to appease my brother, who was trying to uncover my secrets and attack me.”
“...”
Evan spoke in a trembling voice.
“Yes, I had a feeling something like that might have happened.”
“Did you resent me for it?”
“There was no reason for you, my lord, to help someone like me who has no connection to you.”
He was right.
“But it didn’t sit well with me. That’s why I’ve been thinking of reaching out to you someday.”
I wasn’t sure if Evan would believe me. Would it sound like I was just sweet-talking him to manipulate him?
‘But Evan will understand.’
From my perspective, there was no need to reveal the second reason.
‘It would have been enough if he simply appreciated the favor I did for him.’
“Let me ask you one thing, Evan.”
I spoke up.
“What is the most important thing to you?”
“Of course, it’s my mother’s life.”
“If your mother can be saved, does your own life not matter?”
“That’s correct.”
“Good.”
If Evan had that level of resolve, things might actually go smoothly.
“Evan. I swear on my name that I will ensure your mother’s safety.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Today, I’ll extract your mother and establish a secret code known only to the two of you as proof.”
“...!”
“Then you’ll be able to trust me, right?”
“Is that really possible?”
“Don’t worry. I have a reliable ally.”
I thought of Rudgarda. For someone as powerful as the 6th Commander of the Special Operations Division, quietly extracting a distant relative of a count’s family wouldn’t be too difficult.
‘She did say to call her whenever I needed help, didn’t she?’
Now was the time when her assistance was most crucial, and I intended to rely on her as much as possible.
Of course, the debt I’d owe her would grow, but that was a price I was willing to pay.
‘If the investment she’s making in me now leads to the downfall of the Angantyr, it will ultimately be a great benefit to Rudgarda.’
I felt a bit guilty asking for her help two days in a row, but there was no one else I could turn to.
“Once your mother is extracted, my brother’s side might notice something is amiss and try something. So, I’ll assign some of Jeffrey’s subordinates to guard you.”
It would be quite a burden for Verdzig to kill Evan while under the protection of the Royal Guards.
Moreover, if he tried to cover up the incident of killing a prisoner in the prison by doing the same thing again, wouldn’t that be putting the cart before the horse?
“Understand, Evan? I’ll do everything in my power to keep you alive.”
But, I added.
“Even if you die, I’ll make sure your life is paid for dearly.”
“……My lord.”
A look of determination crossed Evan’s face.
“Whatever your intentions may be, to me, you are nothing short of a beacon of salvation.”
I chuckled lightly.
“What do you think, Evan? Are you willing to cooperate with my plans?”
“I will.”
“Good. Of course, the best outcome would be for both you and your mother to survive.”
At that, Evan burst into tears.
“Sniff… If I can just see my mother again, I’ll have no regrets.”
“I, too, hope things turn out well.”
I shook Evan’s hand. His grip was weak, as if he hadn’t eaten properly in days.
“You don’t need to do anything right now. Just steel your heart and wait.”
If there’s a principle in negotiations, it’s that a sword is most threatening when it’s still in its sheath.
I planned to use Evan as a card to draw Verdzig to the negotiating table and make him pay for what he did to Peter.
‘Let’s see how you handle this, you bastard.’
* * *
After my private meeting with Evan, I returned to the annex to find a guest waiting for me.
“My lord, it’s been a while.”
Count Aiden, the head butler, was waiting for me in the reception room.
“Head Butler, what brings you all the way here?”
“I came to deliver something to you personally.”
The elderly gentleman, as composed as ever, pulled something out from his pocket.
“This is an invitation from the Clan Head to you.”
“An invitation? For what?”
I asked.
“The Clan Head has formally invited you to a dinner banquet tomorrow evening.”
“Father did?”
This was unexpected news.
“It’s different from the previous dinner you attended with your brothers. This one will require a more formal presence.”
Understanding the implication, I asked, “So, you’re saying I shouldn’t act like a mad dog this time, belching and picking fights with my brothers?”
The head butler let out an uncharacteristically light sigh and replied, “I beg of you, please.”
“Don’t worry. There’s no need for me to act like a rabid dog this time.”
“That’s a relief.”
I quietly examined the invitation handed to me by the head butler. It bore the seal of Grunewald.
‘Well, isn’t this fancy.’
In any case, a banquet attended by Father would have a very different atmosphere compared to last time.
“Head Butler, I recall the previous banquet was hosted by the Second Mother.”
“That’s correct.”
“But this time, Father is hosting the banquet himself and has sent you to deliver the invitation. Does this mean it’s a gesture of considerable respect?”
“Of course. In other words, it signifies that your standing has risen significantly.”
“Indeed, that’s something to be happy about.”
“You’ve earned it through your abilities and achievements, so it’s only right to be pleased.”
However, this wasn’t something to celebrate without caution.
At that event, I could face heightened scrutiny and attacks, or even find myself in unexpected trouble. It was clear that Verdzig, Somerset, the Second Lady, and the Third Lady wouldn’t look kindly upon me.
‘The only ones I can rely on are Ulbhild, Karl, and the support of the First Mother’s faction.’
But even the First Lady doesn’t view me favorably. What she wants is to see Karl on the throne, not to push someone like me, the illegitimate son of the Fourth Lady, into prominence.
‘If I assume that Karl’s intentions to support me align perfectly with the First Mother’s, I might pay the price for that miscalculation in the future.’
However, what’s important to me right now is something else entirely.
‘To see my mother, I need Father’s approval.’
During our last meeting, Father had thrown a trap at me, asking if I wanted to see my mother.
‘Back then, it was a trap, but now it’s not.’
Now, it’s a situation where I need to make the request to Father. Getting that approval won’t be easy, though.
‘And one more thing.’
How much should I reveal to Father, and how much should I keep hidden?
‘The fact that I’ve joined hands with Rudgarda, made contact with the survivors of Eisenach, and already established influence in the underworld.’
I know Father holds some favor and guilt toward me.
However, his priority will always be his position as the Duke of Grunewald.
‘I need to accurately gauge how he will assess my actions.’
This is still a matter that requires careful consideration.
I trust Ulbhild, but I can’t extend that trust to Father just yet. I can’t let naive emotions—like wanting to confess everything and be acknowledged or praised—cloud my judgment.
‘Don’t ever assume he’ll always be on my side.’
……Georg Grunewald is a man who once abandoned and neglected me and my mother.
Understanding his feelings and erasing the past grievances are entirely different matters. Above all, my mother might not even want that.
‘Whether to untie, sever, or cut away the knots of the past.’
None of it would be easy. Ignoring and leaving it be might not be the best solution either.
“Young Master.”
The head butler, who had been quietly waiting for me to finish my thoughts, spoke up.
“Go ahead.”
“Come to think of it, I’m late in offering my congratulations. Your subjugation of Nepherus was truly a remarkable feat.”
“Oh, it’s nothing that grand.”
“Not at all. To defeat a fifth-tier colossal monster while still at the fourth-tier—such a skilled swordsman is truly rare. A person’s strength isn’t solely determined by their martial prowess.”
“Well, I suppose.”
I gave up on modesty and shamelessly replied.
“Now that I think about it, you’re right. It might be an achievement worth being a little proud of.”
Especially when viewed through the lens of a 17-year-old boy like Allenvert, rather than the legendary swordsman Karzan who roamed the underworld.
“The byproducts of Nepherus’ remains will soon be put up for auction. They’re in excellent condition, so we expect to fetch a higher profit than anticipated.”
“That’s good to hear. Thank you for handling it.”
“There’s no need for you to thank me.”
The head butler smiled lightly.
“The brokerage fees alone that will go to Grunewald are quite substantial.”
If the head butler is saying this, that snake must have been quite the formidable opponent.
“To be honest, I thought I was going to die once or twice.”
“Even from my perspective, Venion went too far this time.”
“That’s exactly what I mean.”
I seized the opportunity to vent about Venion.
“I can’t figure out what kind of person he is. It’s hard to read his intentions, and he has this knack for irritating people. He said he was ready to step in if things went south, but I’m not even sure if he meant it…”
“Haha.”
The head butler chuckled lightly at my grumbling.
“From a teacher’s perspective, when a student shows exceptional talent, there’s a natural urge to push them to their limits.”
“Did you raise Olivier like that too?”
“Hmm, well…”
He glanced at Olivier, whose expression had noticeably darkened.
“……So, you’re the same, huh.”
The head butler cleared his throat and changed the subject.
“In any case, don’t view it too negatively. In hindsight, Venion’s harsh test led to unexpectedly positive outcomes.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“To be honest, the Clan Head doesn’t particularly enjoy gatherings like these. Yet, he personally arranged this event for you.”
Hearing this, I asked the first of two questions that came to mind.
“Father dislikes banquet gatherings? Why is that?”
The head butler responded with a serious expression, as if revealing a great secret.
“Every time, the duchesses exchange subtle glances, and the children are at each other’s throats…”
“Ah.”
I immediately understood Father’s feelings.
“Now that you mention it, it does sound exhausting.”
“Exactly.”
“But the fact that he still arranged such an event—”
I posed my second question.
“Does that mean he has something to say to me in front of everyone at this gathering?”
The head butler smiled faintly.
“That night, you are the protagonist.”
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Pot]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
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