Chapter 30

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: There is No Mercy 30

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"Even after washing up, it's still hot."

Despite taking more than twice my usual time to bathe, the sweltering heat immediately made me sweat again.

I untied the towel I'd wrapped tightly around my head to dry my long hair and picked up my glass of water.

The lukewarm water sliding down my throat was so unpleasant that it furrowed my brow.

Shaking the empty pitcher produced a faint sloshing sound.

Maybe I should refill it with cool water this time.

After a moment's hesitation, I grabbed the pitcher and opened the door.

"What is it?"

Riphert, who had been standing guard at the door, asked immediately.

When I turned my head, I saw him soaked in sweat.

Wearing heavy armor without a break in this humid castle—no wonder he was exhausted.

"If it's water, I can..."

"I'll handle the water myself, so why don't you go wash up, Sir? You look beat."

Even after I spoke, Riphert hesitated to leave his post, but he finally nodded, unable to hold out any longer.

Once Riphert had gone ahead, I refilled the pitcher with fresh water and returned to my room. I picked up the contract.

I checked it meticulously two or three times, scanning for anything odd or overlooked.

Knock knock.

As I pored over the contract, someone knocked on the door.

"Who is it?"

I replied while tidying the papers, but no answer came.

Just as I started to frown, thinking it might be a prank, a voice spoke up.

"Brilloxen Lady. Do you have a moment?"

"......"

A voice I had no desire to hear.

It was Rick, the one I'd run into that morning.

Showing up right after I sent Riphert away.

I swallowed a hollow laugh and turned toward the door.

I hadn't expected Bellieta's followers to stay quiet, but this late at night?

I stared at the firmly shut door for a moment, then rolled my eyes.

"It's too late now. Talk tomorrow."

Not wanting to see his face for no reason, I responded without opening up.

A flustered cough echoed from outside.

Whatever.

Even as I sorted and stowed the messy contracts on the desk, Rick kept repeating his plea to open the door.

Persistent guy.

I shifted my gaze from the closed door and noticed the report sitting on the desk.

As I narrowed my eyes, organizing my thoughts, and lifted my head, the voice came again.

"Brilloxen Lady. I have something urgent to discuss. Please open the door."

"Then say it from there."

"There are too many eyes around. We should talk inside."

"No need. It doesn't sound that important anyway."

His utterly unyielding attitude drew a smirk from my lips.

What's got him so desperate?

He fell silent, probably angry at my response, but only briefly.

A long sigh drifted in, followed by a quieter voice.

"It's about the Bozbon Duke's Daughter. It's important, so please open the door."

Bellieta?

That was a welcome name coming from Rick's mouth.

I set down the document in my hand, glared at the door, and took a step closer.

"At the last banquet, the Bozbon Duke's Daughter mentioned something between you and the Archduke. I only overheard it in passing, so I don't know the details, but it seemed significant, so I came to tell you."

Something about me and Aden.

An intriguing topic. I pretended to mull it over, lifting my chin.

I let out a low hum, and rustling sounds came from outside.

I kept him waiting, teasing out the moment, then very slowly opened the door. There stood Rick with a serious expression.

"Speak."

"Just for a moment inside..."

"Do you have any idea what kind of misunderstandings could arise if someone sees you entering my room this late? Say it from there."

"Then how about you step out briefly? To the quiet garden..."

"Since you don't seem to get it, let me say it again: I have zero interest in getting tangled up with you and risking any misunderstandings. The ones I'm dealing with now are plenty. Plus, who knows what stunt you'd pull."

It was a venomous tone, laced with sharp words designed to provoke Rick.

He flinched and scowled.

He'd be displeased, no doubt.

For a Rick—who was little more than a corpse without his noble pride—getting angry was par for the course.

All of Bellieta's followers I knew were petty and childish to a one.

They treated her words like divine gospel and wouldn't hesitate at anything for her sake.

And the man before me, especially.

He had a track record of getting caught scheming with the marquis's daughter who'd clashed verbally with Bellieta, only to suffer total humiliation.

No need to bother conversing with a guy like that.

Arms crossed, I eyed Rick, who couldn't string words together, his face flushed red.

"So. What do you have to say? Speak quickly. Your escort knight will be back soon, and you won't even get a word in then."

I gave a slight nod of my chin, and Rick's eyes flicked sideways.

What was he looking at? I stepped forward and peered behind the door where he'd glanced.

"......"

Hautman and Altas.

Two of the three idiots were hiding behind the door.

Of course.

When I looked up, Rick—visibly shaken—trembled at the shoulders.

"What the hell is this?"

"Th-that's..."

"Coming to a lady's room late at night and forcing the door open was shocking enough, but other men hiding too? How exactly am I supposed to take this?"

Rick's lips twitched as if to offer an excuse, but I didn't give him the opening.

"I'm the idiot for opening the door. Why'd I even trust a word from a guy like you? I'll chalk today's mess up to stepping in shit and ignore it, so get lost. I have no desire to get caught in even a minor scandal with you."

"R-Rick..."

"Don't listen to that moron."

Hautman and Altas's voices blamed Rick.

As their plan unraveled, their anxious tones grew louder.

Rick stood there awkwardly, mumbling without a word.

Only their calls for Rick echoed on repeat.

I withdrew my gaze from Rick's rigid face and turned slightly aside.

"I'll wrap this up as a light warning to your families, so leave."

"Let's go, Rick."

Hautman rose from his spot and patted Rick.

Rick nodded, seemingly resigned.

Just leaving like that?

I clicked my tongue at the group slinking away so tamely.

Even villainy needs some vessel to contain it—those three were too stupid and small-time.

They weren't even cut out for real crime.

Petty theft would be the height of it.

What a pointless waste of effort.

As I sighed and moved to shut the door, commotion erupted from behind it.

"Altas!"

"What are you... ?!"

"What do you think I'm doing?!"

Altas, who'd been hiding behind, suddenly lunged out, yanked the door open roughly, and barged inside.

"You think I'll swallow that 'ignore it' bullshit? You'll blab to everyone once we're gone, and it'll reach my father's ears. You expect me to just sit back?"

"Stop! The original plan wasn't even this far..."

"Shut your trap! If I screw up now, I'm finished. Father said one more fuckup and I'm out of the family. Stop? Hell no—we're finishing this now."

Altas bared his teeth and rambled like he'd lost his mind.

"Didn't want it to come to this, but sorry—to save my own skin, I got no choice, Brilloxen Lady. If you'd just played along with our scheme, it wouldn't have escalated. Partly your fault, so don't hate us for it."

"I said stop!"

"Let go! Only way to shut you up right now is to kidnap you! Before anyone shows, qui..."

"You're the one who threatened me first, roughly. Right?"

"What?"

Altas scowled like it was nonsense.

"Thank you. I was starting to think you'd really just leave."

As confusion clouded Altas's eyes, my hand shoved his elbow upward.

I drove his body inward to shift my weight deep, then yanked the arm that swung over my shoulder.

Using leverage, I leaned forward—his body lifted off the ground for a split second before slamming down with a heavy thud.

"Ugh..."

Altas groaned, his face smashed into the floor.

Clutching his shoulder, I met his twisted expression with a sweet smile.

"Did you think I wouldn't know a single self-defense move? I've had enough training to protect myself."

"A-Altas..."

"R-Run!"

Where to, exactly?

Knights I'd positioned ahead of time emerged behind Rick and Hautman as they tried to ditch their friend and bolt.

Anticipating what those three idiots might pull, I'd assigned knights in advance.

My hunch had paid off.

By luring them out—to check if Bellieta was behind this, or if they'd let slip any hints.

That was the point of the setup.

"I was half-worried you lot wouldn't even try something this stupid, but thanks for biting, Altas."

"Damn it..."

I flashed a cold sneer at the groaning Altas, then looked up to see Richel staring at me, face frozen stiff.

Did Richel cook up this farce with them?

I raised an eyebrow, scanning the gathered crowd.

"You're awfully good at stirring up trouble. Now I'll have yet another rumor dogging me, thanks to you."

Sighing, I tightened my grip and twisted his shoulder a fraction more.

"Aaaagh!!"