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Chapter 149
It had already been ten days since Arellin had woken up.
When the unconscious Arellin was brought in, the Halbern mansion had seemed precarious, like it was carrying a ticking magical bomb that could explode at any moment. But now, peace had returned.
Of course, this was only on the surface; inside, things were still complicated.
“Anyway, it’s done now.”
After her private meeting with the Regent Duke, Arellin didn’t speak much.
“Have you forgiven him?”
“No? I just told him to settle his karma since he wanted to.”
“…!”
The decision of Arellin to accept the kneeling Regent Duke instead of rejecting him moved the people of the Halbern mansion.
“Our lady, how can she be so kind?”
Conversely, public opinion toward the Regent Duke worsened.
He was already an unwelcome guest, and on top of that, he had a poor relationship with the head of the mansion, Duke Halbern. Everyone was puzzled why the Regent Duke, who had kidnapped Arellin and was at odds with Duke Halbern, remained in the mansion. The brief information provided painted him as a sworn enemy.
Among the Halbern retainers, Ludwig’s reputation fell from “a fleeting nuisance” to “a squatter in the house.”
“Haha. Daughter, you’re joking, right?”
“I’m not joking.”
“…You’re lying, right?”
“I’m not lying.”
No one was surprised as they watched Baller, who smiled with his mouth but never with his eyes.
“Wait, does this mean I’ve gained a new rival?”
“Even though no one can share your favor for even a second, damn it.”
The self-interested childcare group muttered, while Mehen, perhaps influenced by something, cheered enthusiastically, amazed at Arellin’s ability to learn forgiveness and tolerance without even being taught.
Thus, the Regent Duke Ludwig took a separate annex as his residence and settled in the Halbern mansion.
“Darling, are you cheating? Do you like another man more while I’m right here with my eyes wide open?”
“Do you really want to die? Want to settle this today?”
“You made me upset first, darling. I’m upset.”
“Ahhh!”
Mehen, displeased that the Regent Duke’s presence was tolerated, mentally attacked Baller but the fact remained unchanged.
“My lord, you should learn forgiveness and tolerance too, yes?”
“Forgiveness and tolerance? I never learned that. Give up.”
“So I’m saying, try learning it now. What have you been learning all this time?”
“Well… unfortunately, my parents existed but were worse than nonexistent, so I self-taught my upbringing. I did have a sister like a mother….”
“….”
“Because of someone, I lost her.”
Mehen scored one loss.
“I hate that guy, darling.”
“I hate you more!”
“You hate me? Embarrassed? Don’t worry, I know your heart, darling.”
“…? What? I said I hate you.”
“Yes, yes. I love you too, darling.”
“Ahhh! Get away now! Stop talking nonsense before I kill you!”
“You love me so much you’d want to kill me? This is my first time hearing such a passionate confession, and I’m embarrassed too.”
“Ahhh! I really will kill you! I mean it!”
Mehen knew that throwing a fit would only amuse Baller further, but he simply could not tolerate Baller calling him “darling.” He was barely used to Arellin calling him “mom” and would still jump in surprise occasionally!
“Come here, you brat!”
Thanks to Mehen truly wielding a sword in a fit, the partially unemployed Saren knights even clapped in amusement.
“Go, Mehen! Show the lord the taste of the blade!”
“Mehen, if you defeat the lord, you might become our lord! Go for it!”
Despite the knights’ enthusiastic support and subtle assistance, Mehen couldn’t even touch Baller’s toes.
“So, it seems Halbern’s lady-in-waiting is officially Mehen.”
“I agree.”
“Me too.”
“I absolutely agree!”
Thus, the new ranking among the Saren knights was established, with Jaren congratulating Mehen on behalf of all.
“Congratulations on your marriage, Mehen.”
“If you want to die, shut your mouth, Jaren.”
“What? I didn’t do anything! Why are you suddenly like this?”
Jaren felt wronged, but as always, no Saren knight came to his defense.
“Jaren’s bullying Mehen!”
“What? Jaren is bullying Mehen?!”
“He must have done something wrong again.”
“Poor Mehen.”
“It’s definitely Jaren’s fault.”
“What’s Jaren’s character?”
Jaren gritted his teeth at the familiar pattern of being the only one blamed.
“Hey, knights. Why are your eyes so wide open? Why are you talking like that?”
“Angry Jaren is coming to oppress us!”
“Run!”
The Halbern mansion became even more chaotic.
By now, one truth had settled in everyone’s minds: the current top-ranked in Halbern’s hierarchy was Arellin, followed by Mehen, then Duke Baller, then the childcare group, then the Saren knights. The Regent Duke Ludwig ranked a mere sixth.
“The top-ranked Regent Duke of the Southern Empire, and I’m last in this world?!”
“Uh… Lady, what are you saying all of a sudden…?”
“Ah? Nothing. Just talking to myself.”
Arellin muttered an industry-specific term, breaking into a cold sweat and laughing nervously.
In the western annex of Halbern, Regent Duke Ludwig lived quietly despite his notorious reputation.
Perhaps it was because the main building’s retainers and servants avoided him so thoroughly, but given his arrogant personality, one might have expected an outburst, yet it was calm.
“My lord, are you alright?”
Even when the usually silent shadow guard spoke audaciously to Ludwig, no proper response came.
“What kind of change in heart did he undergo…?”
While the shadows worried over Ludwig’s unusual behavior, he was reflecting on many things.
“What went wrong?”
The beginning of this tangled relationship:
Meeting Sione Gracia Halbern.
Falling for Sione.
Ignoring Sione’s wishes and making deals with the previous Duke Halbern.
Now facing the dizzying reality of choices that could not be undone, Ludwig closed his eyes.
The days wasted being trapped by the hell and wounds Sione gave him.
Only when he was at risk of losing not just Sione but Arellin as well did he regain his senses, giving himself a wry smile.
“I thought I would never be forgiven in my life.”
Because Arellin was Sione’s daughter, he assumed she would never forgive him, just like Sione. He never expected forgiveness.
Yet perhaps there was a slight hope: the possibility of forgiveness and starting anew from the first step, unlike with Sione, became the final light in Ludwig’s hellish life.
“Settling karma…”
Even if Arellin demanded all his wealth, he would have handed it over. Even if she asked for his position as Regent Duke or the Southern Empire itself, he would have given it. And yet “settling karma” felt almost merciful.
Now, Ludwig also understood why everyone in Halbern was crazy about Arellin. And he joined them.
He first assessed Halbern’s power structure and approached Mehen. Mehen was puzzled by the high-quality information suddenly provided.
“Why are you giving me such premium information…?”
“I promised Arellin. I’ll diligently settle the karma I’ve accumulated.”
“?”
“If you wish, I’ll give you the authority to use my information network.”
“…!”
Halbern had its own intelligence units, but the Regent Duke of the Southern Empire’s network?
Mehen could not resist the temptation.
“Thank you very much.”
“The pleasure is mine.”
By forming a cooperative relationship with Mehen, Ludwig significantly reduced the risk of being expelled. Yet he had no rush for anything. Just seeing Arellin’s face was enough.
Even watching from afar was satisfying, but being able to speak to her was even better.
It was while he was walking toward the main building to try talking to her today that he noticed something odd.
“?”
“My lord, what is it?”
A suspicious scene appeared: three little kids cautiously sneaking around as if imitating assassins.
Even the Saren knights, who were responsible for security, were grinning and desperately pretending not to notice the kids.
A truly bizarre sight.
“What are these kids up to?”
Thus, Ludwig succeeded in apprehending the three wild little brats.
