Chapter 137: Tug of War
I told Sigren about the recent events, but I received some unexpected news. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“Lady Eunice was attacked?”
Why?
“Was the culprit caught?”
“Yeah, they were caught on the spot.”
I grew tense.
“What’s their identity? Who hired them?”
Eunice was definitely not the type to have enemies or hold grudges.
Sigren shook his head. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“They weren’t mercenaries hired by someone. They were just ordinary men. But there’s something unusual about it.”
“And that is…?”
“They’re strong believers in Bill Curtis’ ideas.”
“What does that have to do with Lady Eunice?” I asked, then quickly closed my mouth as I realized. Bill Curtis had been preaching that the darkness was a ‘god’ sent to punish wrongdoing. But Eunice possessed the power to stand against the darkness. To those who followed Bill’s beliefs, Eunice was the enemy.
I sighed. “I never thought it would come to this…”
“Neither did I.”
“Did you increase Lady Eunice’s security? How are her injuries?”
“I did, and I’ve heard her injuries aren’t serious. But it must’ve been quite a shock for her.”
“Right…”
Now I had one more reason to go after Bill Curtis. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
Sigren looked at me curiously. “Aren’t you going to visit her? I thought you’d rush over.”
I grinned. “I think I should bring a gift before I go.”
The neck of the person who gave her a shock should be an appropriate gift… right? Ah, let’s not, I didn’t think Eunice would be very happy about that.
“Sigren, I have a favor to ask you.”
“Tell me anything.”
Ugh, he shouldn’t say things like that so carelessly.
“It could be a bit annoying.”
“It’s fine.”
That was a quick response.
I looked into his eyes. “Can you go to your father and talk to him about Bill Curtis? If possible, try to butter him up a bit.”
Of course, Sigren’s expression became perplexed. “Why?”
“His Majesty is a man of great pride.”
That was putting it lightly. To be more precise, he had a strong desire to show off. In his mind, the imperial family’s bloodline always had to stand out.
“I’m sure he would be very upset to hear about Bill Curtis, especially since Curtis is now talking about being special or the chosen one.”
“Aha.”
“It would be great if you could make him think about treason. Well, that might be difficult. You just need to make him want Bill Curtis out of his sight.”
I blinked.
“Just enough so that even if I touch the Curtis family, His Majesty would ignore it.” Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“I see what you mean. I’ll give it a try.”
Sigren smiled and continued, “Anyway, once you make up your mind and take action, it’s scary.”
Hey, come on, really? That’s too much!
***
I have finished gathering information on Bill Curtis. The standard tactics were roughly outlined, and preparations were nearly complete.
It turned out that Bill also ran a secret club attended by nobles, where he periodically delivered sermons in a dilapidated but spacious building with an attached hall. The nobles who gathered at this secret club came half out of fear of the darkness and half to indulge in entertainment. However, the people who came to hear his preachings were different; they were more desperate. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“Lady Fiona, you must have finally made up your mind.”
Oh, of course I did. To get rid of you. Currently, I was employing the usual method.
I visited Bill’s house in person.
“Of course, I’ve decided,” I replied with a grin.
“What you said is true.”
At least his claim that we survived the darkness was. Everything else seemed false.
“Of course, I didn’t lie,” Bill said, a faint desire blooming on his face. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“As expected, Lady Fiona must have heard it too. That voice.”
Voice? I recalled the noise from the hallucination. Oh, it wasn’t hallucinations.
“Yes, I’ve heard it,” I confirmed.
Bill raised the corners of his mouth in a smile.
“Actually, there is something I want to ask you. I think that voice—”
“How the hell did you get in here? You can’t go in there!” At that moment, a commotion erupted outside the drawing room. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
Bill opened the door with an annoyed expression on his face.
“It’s very noisy! What’s going on?”
Outside, a soldier and a middle-aged woman stood.
“I apologize, my lord. This woman sneaked into the mansion….”
“How the hell do you handle things?!”
Despite the harsh situation, the woman looked at Bill with eagerness in her eyes.
“Cou—Count… The last time you said….”
“Noisy! Kick her out right now!”
I got up and walked toward the door. Meanwhile, the woman staggered closer to Bill.
“Count… please… I beg you… my son….”
“This woman has been a bother since last time!” Bill exclaimed in annoyance, raising his hand toward her.
“Stop.” I grasped Bill’s almost swinging hand and pulled it down quickly. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“What are you doing?”
Bill responded as if it were natural. “I’m trying to bring this stupid woman to her senses.”
“Just send a soldier to escort her out.” I frowned. “Isn’t this because of what the Count said in the first place? You need to keep your word.”
“Why should I?” Bill replied, tapping the woman lightly with the tip of his shoe. “These foolish people should be grateful that I’m trying to bring them to their senses.”
He was crazier than I expected. I recalled the information I had gathered about Bill: the fourth son of a noble family, burdened with an inferiority complex in comparison to his older brothers.
I glared at him. “Do you think you’re better than this woman?”
“Isn’t it obvious? Even the comparison itself is nonsense.”
It was funny how Bill seemed to genuinely believe that.
I smirked. “You treat others like bugs, yet you think you’re wise.”
He was a person who had long been plagued by feelings of inadequacy and inferiority. He inflicted violence only on those he deemed weaker than himself. He truly lived under the illusion that he was different from others. When he perceived his opponents as beneath him, he felt superior. He was someone who believed he was ‘special’ and that it was acceptable to do anything to those weaker than himself. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“How stupid.”
This was the type of person who truly had no redeeming qualities and was devoid of any charm. He thought he was superior to others simply because he survived the darkness?
I turned my shoulder coldly. “It seems there are many people in the world living in the same illusion as you.”
Bill burst out, “WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!”
People with this kind of personality were bound to overreact. “After all, you’re just like everyone else.”
I raised the corners of my lips in a smirk. “Don’t be mistaken, Bill Curtis. You were just a little lucky to survive.”
Such mere luck, yet he twisted it to suit his own narrative. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“But that doesn’t excuse your actions.”
Frantic, Bill raised his hand as if to strike me but hesitated. It seemed he had finally realized I was the heir of the Heilon family. As expected, he was weak in the presence of strength.
I continued, “You’re nothing. You’re not different from the others you’ve been ignoring. No, you’re much more foolish.”
Bill heard the commotion outside and shouted to the gathered soldiers, “Get this woman out of here!”
“Ah, I don’t think you can.”
I lifted my chin and smiled languidly. “I’ve already taken control of this mansion.”
“What…?”
Bill looked at the soldiers in front of him, stunned. It was only then that he realized their faces were unfamiliar. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
Right, sorry, but these guys were on my side.
Ah, this straightforward approach was the best.
“Oh, and by the way, your security system is terrible. They have no loyalty to you. It was easy, thanks to you.”
By the way, the woman was also on my side. I had anticipated this possibility, so I couldn’t pass it up, even though there was only a slim chance this trick would work. It turned out he was even more pathetic than I expected. Thanks to that, any lingering hesitation vanished.
I suppressed the anger bubbling within me and smiled calmly. The time had finally come to settle the debt with interest. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
***
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