I Became The Villain’s Master - Chapter 3.5

***

The next morning.

“Now, please explain. What on earth happened?”

While eating breakfast brought by the innkeeper in our room, Ann asked me as if she had been waiting for this moment.

Rory raised his head and asked in return.

“What about Ann? Did you know beforehand that the young lady and I were going to the train station?”

“Hah. Should I say I knew this in advance…? Young lady, please explain.”

Ann’s reproachful gaze fixed on my profile.

Rory’s puzzled gaze also turned to me.

I took a big bite of a large sausage and calmly resolved their curiosity.

***

A while ago, on the day Rory collapsed from the heat.

“Write me a written pledge.”

“Huh? Write what?”

“A. Pledge.”

In Count Hauser’s office, I told him to promise not to use violence against anyone and not to harm others from now on, and the Count agreed.

Not trusting just words, I demanded a written pledge, and the assistant brought a typewriter to transcribe what I said.

<Except for heinous criminals, all people within the territory must be cherished and loved without harming a single hair, treating them as if they were Merchen Hauser. All physical and verbal violence, including threats and psychological pressure, as well as unjust punishments, are prohibited.>

Although it was a simple sentence, it would be extremely difficult for the ill-mannered Count Hauser to put into practice.

However, the Count, who considered himself a very merciful and benevolent lord, nodded boldly and dug his own grave.

“Our little darling is so kind. That’s not difficult at all! While we’re at it, tell me anything you want! What wouldn’t I do for you?”

“Good. Assistant. Write down every single word without missing anything.”

<Increase the wages of miners, farmers, and jewelers threefold within this month and provide generous incentives based on performance.

Implement an unconditional work system of no more than 8 hours a day, 5.5 days a week.

Provide doctors to treat the injured and reduce their taxes by 50% until they recover.

Establish separate facilities for orphans and the homeless, caring for them, and spare no expense in sponsoring those with talent.>

If they continue to overwork people like now, most of the territory’s residents will get injured, fall ill, and starve to death.

Without residents, there is no lord.

Excessive greed brings disaster. I added such comments as nagging remarks.

As my words grew longer, Count Hauser’s face turned red, then blue.

“Wait! Merchen! Have you perhaps read a management textbook?”

My daughter is a genius…

Count Hauser, muttering this, was confused about whether he should be happy or upset that his daughter was too smart.

“I suppose she takes after me indeed.”

It seemed he had decided to think positively, but he couldn’t hide the expression of dissatisfaction plastered all over his face.

I added clauses for a harmonious family as well.

Count Hauser’s severe favoritism was an issue that could not be overlooked.

<Hug Sugar and Cream once a day and tell them you love them. Fire all teachers who habitually use corporal punishment, and invite Viscountess Dodercheky from the capital as a tutor. Treat her with respect and never be rude. Follow her teaching methods completely.>

In most noble families of the empire, corporal punishment by tutors was considered normal under the name of discipline.

The Hauser family was no exception.

I could infer this from seeing Cream wincing as if in pain whenever he sat down after playing with Rory.

Perhaps Sugar and Cream’s tendency to drive away teachers and show violent tendencies was influenced not only by their father but also by their tutors.

Viscountess Dodercheky was famous in the original work for being a kind and gentle tutor.

Although I feel sorry for giving her an unexpected ordeal, she might be able to change Sugar and Cream.

With the intention of making the most of this opportunity, I listed the clauses densely, then put on a lovely smile and responded, driving the final nail:

“The duration is 10 years for now. If this is violated within that time, I will run away from home.”

“Run away? I think I must have misheard… Could you repeat that?”

“You heard correctly.”

I added the last clause, making sure the assistant was writing it down well.

<If I run away, and rumors of Count Hauser’s good deeds spread throughout the empire, and praises abound about how the Hauser territory is a good place to live, I will return before coming of age.

Conversely, if bad rumors circulate and the territory becomes desolate because all the residents die or leave, I will appear in the year I come of age, and then Count Hauser must pass the title to Merchen Hauser.>

“If you follow it well without breaking it, I’ll give you a reward. That’s only fair.”

“Hmm. Then allow me to paint your portrait every month.”

“Is that all you want?”

“What do you mean, ‘all’? Don’t you extremely dislike having your portrait painted because you can’t stay still for even a moment? Moreover, when we dress you in pretty clothes, you often run away and take them off because they’re uncomfortable.”

Well, that’s true.

It is cruel to make a 3-year-old child sit still for hours wearing uncomfortable clothes.

“Alright.”

Thus, two copies of the pledge with the same content were created.

After writing the date, the Count stamped it with the family seal, and I put my handprint.

Afterwards, when I returned to my room, I somehow didn’t trust the Count’s compliant attitude, so after a few days of contemplation, I gave Ann a hint.

In the novel, Ann is a character who has a deep affection for Merchen, to the extent that she tries to confront Rory, who had become a devil while holding the dead Merchen.

Having at least one person I could trust gave me great reassurance.

“Ann. If I suddenly disappear, don’t tell anyone and go alone to the nearest station and wait there.”

“What? Why so suddenly?”

“If I disappear, it means someone in this house is after me.”

“Gasp! Who would do such a thing! Is there a spy? Should we tell the Count?”

“No. I don’t know who it is yet. If we say something unnecessarily and get caught, it could become more dangerous.”

“Then what should we do?”

“Do as I say. Where’s the nearest station?”

“There’s no train station in this county. The closest one is Raphasli Station in Marquis Crumble’s territory.”

“I see. If I disappear, take this money, and pack some comfortable clothes for Rory and me, then go to Raphasli Station.”

I showed her the money pouch I had placed under the bed while speaking.

It was money I had collected by extorting from Cream over the past few days.

I also selected valuable necklaces and brooches I had received as gifts and put them in the pouch.

“Wait there for exactly 20 hours.”

“20 hours?”

“Yes. I will definitely get there within that time.”

“And then? What are you planning to do at Raphasli Station…?”

“We’ll take a train to Seasoning Station.”

“Seasoning Station? Are we going that far?”

“Yes. To hide in a safe place. I’ll send a letter to Father and come back when it’s safe.”

Of course, that’s a lie.

I had no intention of coming back.

Ann nodded at my request for now, but her expression showed she couldn’t easily accept it.