Chapter 8 (Part 4)

Maxwell visited Anthus in Ludmilans Territory with the territorial agreement in hand.

“The potion you gave was well used.”

“How was it?”

“It was excellent. The only downside was that after the effect of the potion ended, I was worried his heart would stop as he felt all the pain he hadn’t experienced at once. So I sprinkled some holy water.”

“I should try it sometime. Young Lord Maxwell… or should I call you Marquis now?”

“My father is still alive.”

“But he’s a man who will pass soon.”

“I seem to have many regrets about my father’s death.”

“Regrets?”

“Because he seemed to meet such a comfortable end.”

“People always have regrets, no matter what they do. Still, congratulations. Your long journey has come to an end.”

At Anthus’ words, Maxwell looked at the teacup on the table with a bitter gaze.

“Why are you making that face?”

“My mother once told me… there’s no perfect revenge in this world…”

“I agree with the saying that there is no perfect revenge. But trying to receive less of the sweet reward for all the endurance and efforts because of the guilt of revenge is the most foolish thing.”

Maxwell was stunned by Anthus’ consolation. It was rare to hear comforting words from Anthus, who usually only spewed venom.

“The efforts you have made were not for revenge, Marquis Maxwell.”

At Anthus’ words, Maxwell felt his heart drop with a thud. He had thought all his efforts were for revenge.

“Do you not know what it means for a bastard to take that position?”

Enduring the gazes, verbal abuse, and violence of others, he studied more than anyone else and learned the sword to protect himself. Maxwell securing that position was not a coincidence or simply good luck from meeting Anthus. He forged his own destiny.

“Thoughts can change with just a slight difference. I think I was too entangled in the idea of revenge.”

“Don’t forget. It wasn’t for revenge; it was simply to become Marquis Fedeurus.”

“Thank you.”

Anthus had watched Maxwell for a long time. Maxwell seemed precarious, as if he might be swept away by revenge at any moment. He wanted to erase the thought that he succeeded because of revenge.

“I look forward to working with you, Marquis Fedeurus.”

“I look forward to working with you, Duke Rockbellion.”

“What will you do next?”

“I plan to propose at the place Princess Seria wants.”

“The place the Princess wants…”

“Yes, it’s also the place I most want to propose.”

<Did Sarah die because of me?>

<No.>

<I wanted to stay with Sarah and you, Maxwell, forever… Maxwell, you won’t leave, right? You’ll stay by my side?>

<Of course.>

<Then promise me. That you’ll marry me! Propose in front of Sarah’s grave.>

<Why in front of my mother’s grave?>

<I wanted to live with Sarah, you, and me, the three of us. But Sarah left. So, we’re telling her that we two got married and live together.>

<But I’m a bastard.>

<Even a bastard can become a Marquis!>

“Come to think of it… I don’t think I was working to become a Marquis.”

Anthus smiled as if curious about Maxwell’s next words.

“I think I was working to make Princess Seria the happiest woman in the world by becoming Marquis Fedeurus. Without her, I wouldn’t be who I am today.”

Maxwell said with a relieved face.

The result of the territorial war of the Fedeurus Marquisate quickly swept through the social circles.

“My goodness… They surrendered without even fighting?”

“Yes. They say they hired almost all the wizards from the Mage Tower.”

As Anthus predicted, the bad rumors surrounding Yuliana vanished in an instant due to the territorial war story.

“Young Lord Beonar is really something. Causing trouble and disappearing like that… so irresponsible.”

People criticized Beonar upon hearing the news of his escape.

“They say Marquis Fedeurus has collapsed and can’t get up.”

“I heard that too.”

“It seems the shock was great.”

“It’s only a matter of time before Young Lord Maxwell becomes the head of the Fedeurus family. Will he marry Princess Seria?”

“They’ve been dating for quite a while, haven’t they?”

“Yes.”

Not long after the territorial war ended, Marquis Fedeurus closed his eyes. The funeral was held quietly.

With the approval of the retainers, Maxwell officially became Marquis Fedeurus. And on a fine day, he visited Sarah’s grave with Seria. Revenge was over, but life was just beginning.

* * *

Clip-clop. Clip-clop.

A carriage loaded with luggage quietly left the Fedeurus estate while everyone was asleep. In the silent night, only the sound of the horses pulling the carriage was heard.

When the carriage stopped in a dark alley, Iudi and his subordinates appeared and surrounded it. Iudi approached the coachman.

“Are you Parker?”

“I am Parker.”

“I am Iudi. Is the item in the luggage compartment?”

“Yes, it’s in the luggage compartment.”

At Iudi’s signal, his subordinates opened the carriage door. They pulled out a large sack reeking of blood.

“It’s just a sack of meat.”

Parker, who got off the coachman’s seat, took out a pouch from his bosom and handed it to Iudi.

“A gift from the Marquis.”

“Oh, thank you very much.”

Parker untied the string at the end of the sack and opened it. Inside the sack was Beonar.

“Why are you opening the sack? Do you have anything left to check?”

“I have something to say.”

At Parker’s words, Iudi nodded and stepped back.

“I’m glad I could see this before I die.”

Parker grabbed Beonar by the hair and lifted his head, meeting his gaze.

“It’s a pity I couldn’t kill the beasts with my own hands…”

Parker gritted his teeth.

His sister Sarah, who was about to marry his childhood friend Sven, was forcibly taken by Hoden. Because of that incident, she became pregnant with Maxwell, and Sven ended his life alone in depression.

After Sarah died, Parker tried to leave the Fedeurus family but endured for a long time, thinking of Sarah, who had asked him to take care of young Maxwell.

“You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this moment since that day.”

“Mm-mm!”

“I hope you feel even a fraction of the pain my precious people went through.”

Parker, who had been holding Beonar’s hair, stood up and turned around.

“You can take him now.”

“Yes.”

Parker climbed onto the coachman’s seat. He tilted his head back to look at the moon in the dark night sky.

“Sarah really liked the moon…”

<I like the moon because it reminds me of Sven.>

“Sven said he wanted to become the moon…”

<I want to become the moon… Then I can see Sarah. And I can shine on her too…>

Tears welled up in Parker’s eyes and flowed down his cheeks.

Without wiping away the flowing tears, Parker kept his eyes fixed on the moon in the night sky until it disappeared.

“Sven, you worked hard illuminating the night streets today too.”

The carriage, which had been stationary, began to move only at the bright dawn.

* * *

Iudi dragged the sack containing Beonar to the back gate of Duke Rockbellion’s residence.

“You found the back gate well.”

“Yes.”

When Iudi handed over the sack containing Beonar to Ferrell, Ferrell handed a heavy pouch of money to Iudi.

“You gave enough money, and you’re giving more. Thank you. If there’s anything else you need, please call me.”

“Even though you could live as a noble in another empire, you refused and showed loyalty to Rockbellion, which pleased the master.”

Through this incident, Iudi realized how ruthless and thorough Anthus was. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he would be eliminated if he took the money and left. So, Iudi swore loyalty to the Rockbellion family.

“I’ll contact you again later. Farewell…”

Ferrell said as he slung the sack containing Beonar over his shoulder. He then quietly descended into the deep underground torture chamber of the Ducal residence, untied the sack, and seated Beonar in a chair. He removed the thick cloth from Beonar’s mouth and freed his lips.

“Where is this? What are you planning to do to me? Let me go!”

“This is the underground torture chamber of the Ducal residence. Oh, by the way, this place is enchanted with soundproof magic, so even if you scream, no one will come. Of course, there are no servants who would come even if they heard.”

Ferrell began putting on white gloves. A surgical knife, which appeared sharp, was visible on the table.

“It was destined for you to end up like this since nine years ago, Young Lord Beonar.”

“What was destined! What are you planning to do to me!”

Beonar shouted loudly.

“If you had broken off the engagement with Lady Loengrin when His Majesty Emperor Cloud ascended the throne, our master wouldn’t have ruined the Fedeurus Marquisate to this extent…”

“So, it’s because I didn’t break off the engagement with Yuliana that I’m in this situation?”

“Yes, that’s correct. Young Lord Beonar, you knew, didn’t you? Marquis Hoden was planning to offer Lady Loengrin to Emperor Rezeph as prey.”

“That was…”

“Even after Emperor Rezeph died, the reason the engagement wasn’t broken was because you planned to extract Lady Loengrin’s blood at an opportune time and sell it to someone who desired the blood of a spiritist.”

“No, that wasn’t my plan! My father ordered it!”

“Regardless, the fact that you knew is important.”

Beonar began to tremble.

“Haha. I seem to talk a lot as I get older.”

“If you’re going to kill me, just do it quickly.”

Beonar lowered his head and abandoned the will to live. However, Ferrell lifted Beonar’s lowered head and showed a warm smile.

“I won’t kill you. Did you forget? You have a lot of debt. You must repay it before you die. Fortunately, someone who saw your portrait and quite liked it has agreed to pay off all your debts. You’ll live comfortably there, but at night, you’ll have to serve that person diligently.”

“What… What do you mean? Are you going to sell me? This is human trafficking!”

“That person is simply taking you as a servant after paying off your many debts. If you show gratitude and charm to that person, you’ll be loved and live happily. By the way, that person is a man, and in the empire where he lives, having a same-s*x partner is common.”

Shocked by Ferrell’s words, Beonar lowered his head, shed tears, and struggled. He thought it would be better to die than to endure such humiliation.

“And even if you bite your tongue, I’ll immediately sprinkle holy water to revive you, so please don’t attempt self-harm.”

Ferrell sliced Beonar’s pants with the knife, removing them.

Beonar screamed in shame. When he saw the sharp knife in Ferrell’s hand, he stopped screaming and began to tremble in fear, clenching his teeth.

“It can’t be… No! The reason for removing my pants isn’t… No, right?”

“Since cutting it can cause heart paralysis, I’ll lightly anesthetize you before starting.”

“If the person taking me has a preference for men…”

“This is to match the preferences of the person who paid off your debts.”

“Just kill me instead.”

“It’s been a while since I last cut, so if you keep moving, I might cut wrongly. Once you recover, I’ll dress you in a pretty dress and send you to them…”

“No, this is a dream!”

“It’s not a dream. Open your eyes and see. It’s reality.”