DBOFS 50

Chapter 50

“Really, he’s invisible, invisible.”

I clicked my tongue in irritation. That damned duke said he sent guests—just as I thought.

There was the Countess Artu, neutral between the old Godwin and the new Godwin factions, and Ivan Letos, the Marquis who openly offered himself as a doormat for the new Godwin faction.

“At first, they tried to get to me through Penelope, the Countess Artu, who guides Harris.”

And now it seems they intend to provoke Harris himself.

The Godwin Duke’s intentions in these two schemes were painfully obvious, making me chuckle bitterly.

“Duke Godwin wants Harris to kill those bastards.”

The Ramsus Empire is a typical hypocritical, rigid caste system country.

Thanks to that, nobles killing commoners or servants is not a major crime.

But killing another noble — especially those under the protection of a great noble — is a capital offense.

“No wonder you’re doomed!”

You deserve to fail. I saw from the start this country was a joke once slavery was allowed!

And the Godwin Duke’s goal?

“To strip Harris of his succession rights on the charge of noble murder.”

He wants to brand Harris a criminal, put restraints on him like before, and lock him back in prison.

It seemed the Godwin Duke couldn’t bear that Harris was recognized as the heir by the late duke.

“What a scumbag…”

I was truly appalled—not just because of the chilling malice that wanted to trample on his own son Harris by any means.

But this sinister plot to sacrifice innocent people just to achieve that malicious goal was even worse.

“His humanity is garbage, garbage.”

There never was any affection, but even that little bit of humanity was gone.

“What in the world was the princess thinking to marry such trash as her husband…?”

I pulled the cart, recalling that question dozens, no, hundreds of times.

Yes, I was currently inside the Western Library, where Ivan had set his trap.

“I have a rough idea what he’s planning.”

I had to stop Harris somehow. If this goes according to their plan, it will be a disaster.

I really had to disguise myself as a maid just to get into the library.

“Ugh, it’s heavy.”

The three-tiered metal cart I was pulling, under the excuse of delivering after-sun tea, was no easy thing to drag.

Besides, the servants in the library seemed only interested in profit, and even the carpets on the floor were old and slippery.

“Ah, suspicious place detected!”

I saw servants gathered in front of a door in a corner.

I carefully pulled the cart closer and slowly approached that direction. From the slightly opened door, unfamiliar voices drifted out.

“…Luni, I have come bearing Duke Godwin’s orders, so I will deliver the message on his behalf.”

“…?!”

It’s happening!

I hurriedly pushed the cart closer. The nearer I got, the clearer the voices became.

“Once you understand the topic, kindly step aside. Don’t make a scene.”

…Is he crazy?

Caught off guard by the sudden provocation, I stumbled, lost my balance, and fell toward the cart.

“…Ugh?!”

The cart’s handle pressed painfully into my stomach.

As I collapsed over the cart, I caught the silhouette of a man through the door gap.

“Don’t worry. After I become duke, I will take good care of you. With an annual budget of up to fifty marks—”

No way, is this lunatic out of his mind wanting to die? Fifty a year? Even the pension is more than that!

“Kyaa.”

Before I could even protest, my feet left the ground. My body tipped fully onto the cart.

“This isn’t the time for this!”

I needed to stop that bastard’s nonsense, but ack!

The heavy cart, weighted with me, rattled wildly against my will as it rolled—

Right toward the door where the voices came from.

“Wait, no, please don’t tell me it’s going to crash—!”

Bang!!

The sturdy three-tiered metal cart smashed against the door, nearly breaking it down and forcing open the already slightly opened door.

No way…

“…?!”

Eyes inside the room widened when they saw me hanging on the cart. Everyone seemed unable to believe what they were witnessing.

“Eeeeeek!”

And same for me. What the hell am I doing?!

My view swung wildly as I clung to the cart. All I could do was thrash about and shout.

“E-everyone, get ouuuut!”

But in any situation, there’s always that one person who’s too absorbed in themselves to notice.

“If you understand the topic, please step aside on your own—”

Thud!!

The cart slammed into something thick. My body and view shook together.

“Ughk!”

Then the cart hit the wall with a loud bang! and a sound like a pig being slaughtered followed.

“…”

Harris blinked.

The cart carrying Jade collided with a grown man—Ivan—and threw him hard against the wall.

Crash!

The man hit the wall, coughed blood, and fell to the floor.

Harris’s gaze turned to Jade, who had just barely gotten her footing after being knocked back by the cart’s recoil.

“Ugh…”

Jade slipped off the cart, groaning.

“I felt like something flew at me.”

Only then did her feet touch the ground after hanging on the cart.

“Heavy… so heavy.”

The impact of hitting him with the cart felt tremendously heavy.

She forced her eyes open and saw dust rising over the fallen man’s shadow.

“Kyaaah!!”

Suddenly, a loud scream echoed.

“How dare that maid attack Lord Ivan?!”

“Someone, call a doctor quickly!”

“Is he dead?!”

Amid the shouting and shock, Jade’s mind went blank.

“Did I… kill someone?”

No way.

Months after becoming Harris’s guide, have I really become a merciless killer with zero empathy?

Dazed, Jade crawled toward the victim with trembling limbs.

“Uh, hey…?”

While others screamed, Jade alone approached the man.

“He’s still alive!”

Hearing his groans, Jade grabbed him, rolled his eyes back, and checked for breathing.

Surprisingly, he was conscious.

Relieved, Jade slapped his cheek repeatedly to revive him.

Clap clap!

“H-hello? Stay awake! Don’t lose consciousness!”

She was only trying to save him, nothing else.

“That bastard tried to provoke Harris to go berserk, right? If Harris goes berserk, everything will be destroyed! If you wanna die, die alone!”

• No grudges whatsoever!

“Ugh… ugh…”

As Ivan finally blinked awake, Jade exclaimed in relief.

“Sorry?? Are you okay!!”

“…?”

“…??”

But everyone stared at her with looks as if seeing a ghost.

“Wait, I just sounded like total trash, didn’t I?”

Originally, she wanted to say “Are you okay? Sorry!!” but after hitting him by accident, she shamelessly demanded an apology and then pretended to be fine.

“This is so wrong. Just like that Norman trash Godwin.”

The realization hit her hard. She hadn’t lived like that.

Just then, the half-dead man Ivan opened his eyes.

“You, cough, you damn…”

He looked furious.

“No, actually, no kidding. It was me who rammed him into the wall with the three-tiered metal cart at full force.”

And considering Jade’s trashy comment, it was no wonder he was enraged.

“Ah, I lived!”

Regardless, Jade cheered. Thank goodness, she didn’t kill anyone (yet).

“You didn’t live; I survived by myself!”

Ivan shouted like he was coughing blood.

He had good stamina… Filled with relief, Jade teared up and yelled.

“Thank goodness! You survived on your own!”

“Is that what you think you can say?!”

“Huh? Ah, good to see you healthy! You sound conscious from all that shouting!”

“You—!”

Jade was simply stating facts, but Ivan’s face flushed redder with rage. His anger seemed ready to make him cough blood.

“How dare you… to me, the next heir of the Godwin Duke family…!”

“Excuse me, who said that?”

Jade scowled. You live your own life and keep your delusions to yourself.

“You crazy bastard!”

Ivan shouted angrily at Jade’s face.

“Someone kill this crazy woman right now! Kill her at once—!”

At that moment, a chilling sound came from behind Jade—the sound of a sword being drawn and a gun being cocked.

“Are they nuts?”

Instinctively, Jade tensed but wasn’t afraid.

“Graaah!”

“Ugh!”

Before the weapons could be aimed, the attackers behind Jade were instantly engulfed in dark magical tendrils and thrown against the wall.

Thud, thwack, agh! Ugh—!

“Ouch, that must hurt.”

But be grateful they didn’t die. Our Harris is more used to killing than hitting…

“…!”

My thoughts were interrupted.

Harris approached from behind and embraced me, brushing his scent from his nose past my ear to the back of my neck.

“Jade.”

He whispered close to my ear like a kiss. His large hand gently turned my small face to meet his gaze.

His eyes, red and translucent—beautiful but frightening—filled my vision.

Creepy.

His terrifyingly handsome face was expressionless.

Was he still on the verge of going berserk? I thought of berserk Harris in the dungeon, and my heart fluttered.

“You really…”

His languid voice seemed to lick my neck.

Actually, Jade had a lot to say.

I didn’t cause the accident on purpose. This was all a scheme, and I came to stop it. I was sorry for the accident, but it wasn’t intentional…

But my mouth was dry, and no words came out. I couldn’t even blink…

“Funny.”

What?

“You’re really crazy.”

Excuse me?

Don’t Obsess Over the Fake Tranquilizer, Black Curtain