TDPMVI 14

Chapter : 14

The Empress was already at the center of the aristocratic faction. Therefore, even if someone wanted to become her retainer, it wasn’t something just anyone could achieve.

Yet, someone from Stukkia had come to side with the Empress.

When Duke Agnito asked how that was possible, Count Roman replied as if it were the easiest thing in the world:

“That’s quite simple. The heir, Pater Stukkia, is using the children he brought in for his own purposes.”
“Using the children?”
“No matter how well-educated they are, they’re still just children. If you flatter them as if they were someone important, they get excited and don’t know what to do. I took advantage of that gap and poisoned the tea the Duke drank.”
“With such a poison, it wouldn’t even work, though.”
“But you can sow distrust between them so they cannot trust each other.”
“Directly prying into an already fractured relationship? Haha, Her Majesty the Empress would have had no choice but to be very pleased!”
“Not at all. Who else could handle someone with a saintly disposition like Agnito?”

—And even now, I could vividly remember how he had rubbed his hands together so eagerly in front of Duke Agnito, almost wearing out the skin of his palms.

That person was standing in front of me now.
And he was smiling so kindly and warmly.

“Right. Now that I think of it, even when he sided with the Empress, no one ever criticized Count Roman.”

To betray one’s original lord and choose another was considered treachery.
Yet no one had criticized Count Roman.
People only wondered why he had returned to the Empress’s side.
That alone was proof of how skilled he was at hiding his true self.

As if to confirm this, Anna and Hati, who served me, showed no unusual suspicion either.
So, for now, I couldn’t view Marcel Roman as suspicious.

Just as I had newly arrived in Stukkia, Count Roman had been a retainer for a long time.
It was obvious who people would trust.

‘But he must have come to drive me out.’

I couldn’t be reckless enough to guard against him, nor could I let my guard down.
I narrowed my eyes.
‘Then….’

“Hello, Count.”

The seated child immediately stood up.
“My name is Hanisha.”
She lightly bowed, clutching the hem of her dress.

Her manners weren’t terribly improper, but her posture was still poor.
‘Judging by her appearance, she must be a fallen noble.’

If that were the case, it was fortunate.
Children who live on the streets or know hunger are careful with any money or food they get—they know how painful it is to have nothing.
So they will try even harder. To return to their rightful place.

Count Roman smiled warmly.
“Just as Duke said, you are indeed adorable.”
“Did the Duke really say that?”
“Yes. He doesn’t usually say such things.”
“Oh…”

As Hanisha fiddled nervously with her fingers, Anna spoke cautiously.
“Count Roman, I’m sorry, but the young lady is still eating. We shouldn’t show her in this state—perhaps you could greet her later?”

Even the chef, holding a dessert in hand, waited quietly, as if to confirm this.

“Oh, I see. She is still eating. This old man was too curious about the child the Duke personally adopted and came here without thinking.”

Yet the Count spoke as if apologetic.
“But I have an important matter to discuss… What should I do…”

“Um, um…”

Hanisha, fidgeting nervously, shook her head vigorously.
“No! I’ve finished eating. You can speak freely.”
“Are you really sure?”
“Yes!”

Hanisha answered clearly and whispered to the chef, “I’ll eat the dessert later.”
The chef visibly relaxed his shoulders, but no one paid attention.

With everyone else gone, only Hanisha and Count Roman remained. Hanisha nervously toyed with her dress, watching the Count.

“Then…”

The Count continued.
“Have you greeted the retainers before?”
“No, but I heard a family meeting was called today.”
“That’s right. Today. But to be honest, there aren’t many people… who will welcome you. Actually, there might be none.”

Hanisha’s face stiffened noticeably at his words.

“But there’s no need to worry too much. Here, take this.”
“This is…?”
“Tea leaves from the Ramus Mountains. They are an herbal medicine good for the eyes. You’ve heard of it, haven’t you?”
“Uh… yes, I think I have.”

Count Roman snorted inwardly.
Tea leaves from the Ramus Mountains don’t exist. In fact, gathering anything there is forbidden. The mountains themselves are so polluted that every living plant has strong toxins.
At first glance, the leaves looked like ordinary tea leaves, but even a sip would poison and kill someone—a truly dangerous item.

“You see. As expected, you are no stranger to valuable things. I obtained these with great difficulty.”

The Count smiled kindly.
“How about brewing this for the Duke? Showing that you care will make the retainers view you favorably.”
“Me…?”
“Yes. If you show that you think of the Duke, the retainers will see you well.”

Hanisha smiled faintly.
“Then I’ll use it with gratitude.”
“Don’t mention it. I’ll see you later.”

Count Roman left the room after handing over the tea leaves.
‘So naive.’

Indeed, she did not belong in Stukkia.
“When this is over, I’ll have to toss her to the monsters as food.”

The Count clicked his tongue and smiled arrogantly.

The Stukkia household’s office.

The retainers watched the room intently, eyes wide open.
Although their request had been ignored yesterday, this was unacceptable.
So they had called for a family meeting early in the morning. Although fewer people had gathered due to the early hour, Count Roman was beside them.

Even if they could not assert themselves strongly, they could still voice their opinions.

The Duke, still with a faint smile on his lips, observed silently.

Count Roman, who had been quietly observing, suddenly addressed Caron.
“By the way, when is the meeting?”
“Fifteen minutes remain until it begins.”
“Ah, I see. I arrived so early I thought it was already time.”

The Count laughed awkwardly.
“To arrive first and wait for a child…!”

“Apparently, there is a complete lack of manners. Ahem,” someone muttered.
“Sorry. That was my fault.”

Caron placed a hand over his chest and bowed politely.
“Unlike the older guests, the young lady is still a child. When you arrived, she was still asleep.”
“Older… guests?!”
“Are you mocking us?”
“I only mentioned objective ages. If it was uncomfortable, I apologize.”
“This one…!”

The retainers were about to lash out at Caron, who didn’t back down, when Pater quietly raised his hand.
Immediately, everyone fell silent, as if waiting.

Lowering his hand, Pater spoke in a calm voice.
“It is true that the meeting is early. It hasn’t even started yet.”
“But the matter at hand…”
“And Caron,” he raised the corner of his mouth smoothly,
“It’s rude to speak that way to the elderly. They likely didn’t get much sleep and hurried here.”

“Ah, indeed. Compared to the elders, she is still just a babe. I hadn’t thought that far.”
Caron said, “I’ll reconsider. In ten years… no, twenty years.”

The retainers’ faces flushed.
Even Count Roman, the eldest among them, couldn’t remain unaffected.
‘What a cheeky brat. And yet, a blind man who can’t even see in front of him.’

The Count ground his teeth inwardly but composed his expression as if nothing had happened.
“Haha, indeed. There’s still time, so let’s wait a little longer.”

He knew that the smile wouldn’t last long.

Then—
Knock.
Someone entered.
“Excuse me.”

A small girl with translucent silver hair and jewel-like blue eyes stepped in.