The Reincarnated Villainess Seeks Revenge

Chapter 25

25. Annoying Brat (1)

Exiting the dressing room, Callion hurriedly made his way to the knight hall. A fervent heat seemed to radiate throughout his entire body.

He felt a mixture of regret for squandering the opportunity he had worked hard to seize and embarrassment at the look on Adelaide’s face.

It was impulsive, but not just impulsive.

He’d wanted to do it all along; he’d just been holding back because he wasn’t sure of her feelings.

He hadn’t been rejected. That was enough for today.

A foolish grin crept onto his lips. If the others saw, they’d surely mock him, so Callion slapped his cheeks to regain control of his expression.

‘Now, who was that lad who came to fetch me? To give him a stern talking-to, I need to know who he is…’

‘…But wait, is there even a need to give him a talking-to? We’re a married couple; why should we be ashamed? ’

Just as he was beginning to lose track of his thoughts, he saw the knight.

He entered the knight’s dormitory, vowing that he would not leave him alone if he was summoned for something insignificant.

“What is it?”

“Your Grace.”

The knights were arguing with a boy of about sixteen.

The boy struggled against the ropes. He was the only boy at the auction who hadn’t gotten a bid.

“Why do you have this boy tied up?”

“He was caught trying to escape beyond the castle walls by the guards.”

“Trying to escape?”

Callion looked down at the boy, who let out a defiant scream.

[Let go of me! Let go of me! Let go of me, you bastards! “]

The boy, whose tongue remained uncut, cursed fluently in Helenian..

It was a good thing most of the knights didn’t understand the language.

‘Annoying brat.’ Callion spoke irritably..

“Did you summon me because you couldn’t figure out what to do with this kid?”

“I apologize. We tried to resolve it quietly, but this is the third time, I feel compelled to tell you…….”

“Didn’t I tell you to treat him well until we repatriate him to his home country?”

“We’re treating him the same as everyone else.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“Every time we ask him, he just keeps on shouting to let him go, so I’m not sure what to do.”

Julian hung his head in shame.

If he was beyond Julian’s control, he wasn’t just a troublesome lad.

The options presented to those brought from the auction house were two: return to the kingdom or work at the Tifliss Castle.

Staying in the empire wasn’t permitted. Since those brought from the slave auction were likely to become slaves or die if caught again.

Everyone except this boy had chosen one of the two options.

“What a troublesome kid.”

The boy, who had been quiet for a moment, as if he had lost energy, raised his head and shouted.

[“Who says I’m a kid, you big idiot!]

[If you don’t speak carefully, your tongue may fly out.]

[Do you know how to speak our language?]

[Our language is better than your language.]

[What? You’re being an asshole!]

[If you don’t want to get hurt, you’d better learn how to speak more carefully. Kid.]

[Don’t call me a kid, and untie me!]

The boy’s voice grew louder now that he had someone to talk to.

“You’re a noisy one.”

“Do you want me to gag him?”

“That wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

Callion replied nonchalantly.

[What are you guys muttering about? I said, Let me go!]

[Shut up, or I’ll gag you.]

[Don’t you dare threaten me! I’ll kill you first if I’m released!]

[Don’t you think it would be quicker for me to kill you before you kill me?]

The boy craned his neck at the calm threat.

It was easy to deal with a kid with no connections if he wanted to, but fortunately for the boy, Callion wasn’t such a ruthless person.

“Julian, tie him to the front door.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Don’t ever release him until I tell you to.”

“Understood.”

Julian helped the boy who was tied to the rope to his feet.

[What, what, what are you going to do to me? Hey, hey, hey!”]

[Keep quiet until you’ve reflected on your actions.]

⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜

[Hey, let me go! Can’t you hear me? If I get loose, I’ll kill all of you! I know how to kill you all if I get loose!]

Adelaide frowned as she inspected the invitations. Her head was already aching from the poor quality of the invitations she’d received, and her irritation was about to explode from the nonstop yelling.

“There’s too much noise outside.”

“Yes, Your Grace, it’s been like that for hours. Is his throat still okay?”

Margaret, who had been sorting the invitations, snapped back.

“I guess he’s quite angry.”

“It’s scarier when a normally quiet person gets angry.”

“That’s true. I heard from the knights’ servants that this is already the third time a lad has tried to escape and been caught. Apparently, he wouldn’t listen to reason and kept trying to go somewhere.”

Listening to Margaret’s endless chatter as if it were amusing gossip, Adelaide chuckled.

“You seem very interested in him.”

“What? Oh, even though his personality is like that, his face is cute.”

“Cute?”

“Haven’t you seen him? He’s neat and cute.”

“Well, I don’t know.”

When she saw him at the slave auction, his face was scruffy and bruised, so he didn’t remember his face. She does recall his temperament being remarkable, though.

“The knight’s servant said he had a nice face, but they didn’t cut off his tongue, so I wonder if they will be using him as a plaything. Some high-ranking people have such preferences…”

“Margaret, watch your mouth.”

“Hehe. Just saying.”

Margaret shuddered.

Thank goodness there’s no one around to hear how fearless she is. Adelaide gave a gentle roll of her eyes.

Amidst the persistent noise from outside the window, someone knocked on the door.

“Your Grace, the people from the grocery store have arrived.”

“I see.”

Apparently, the people Sycamore had sent had arrived. Adelaide left the invitation and went outside.

The older women stood in the front yard and bowed when they saw her.

“Welcome.”

“Nice to meet you, Your Grace. I am Samantha.”

“Which household did you work for?”

“I was in the Marquisate of Alberden until I retired.”

“I see.”

If she were in the employ of the Marquise of Alberden, there could be no doubt of her skill or identity.

Adelaide welcomed the maids with a broad smile.

“Please assist me well with the preparations for the banquet.”

“Although I lack many talents, I will do my best.”

“Take the day off today and start working tomorrow. Margaret, show them to the annex.”

“Yes.”

Margaret led the maids to the annex.

As Adelaide turned to go back inside, she paused. The boy tied to a post, his limbs bound, glared at her with poisonous eyes.

Perhaps because of Margaret’s words, he seemed somewhat cute.

“What are you looking at?”

…… Not cute at all.

[Don’t just look at me like that; untie this, you ignorant woman!]

[You have a bad mouth for a kid]

[What, do you speak my language?]

The boy’s eyes widened.

Adelaide had learned the language at an early age, thanks to her father’s trade with the Kingdom of Helenia. She wasn’t as fluent as Callion, but she could communicate.

[Then tell that creepy bastard to let me go!]

[Why should I?]

[You’re his wife! They said people from this empire should listen to their wives! Go talk to him now!]

[Nope? Judging by your speaking habits, I think you’ll have to stay like this for a few more days.”]

[This…… is no way to treat a guest!]

[Guests?]

The subject who was captured was a guest.

Adelaide laughed and ruffled the boy’s hair lightly.

[Yes, little one. You’re getting a lot of good looks here.]

[Hey! Why don’t you just leave!]

[I’m sorry, but I’m too busy to play with you. Goodbye.]

[Okay, wait a minute!]

Adelaide ignored the boy and started walking.

[I’ll help you!]

Adelaide, who was passing the boy, stopped.

[Help you with what?]

[I heard an envoy from our kingdom will be visiting your empire. I’ll help you with that!]

[You’re going to help me prepare the banquet?]

[You don’t know much about the kingdom’s etiquette! If you don’t want to be embarrassed, you’d better listen to me, right?]

Hmph. She looked at the boy suspiciously, then opened her mouth.

[You know the etiquette of the kingdom?]

[Of course I do, I’m……!]

[Your?]

[Because I am a great, great man.]

[Pfft.]

Adelaide tried not to laugh, but a chuckle escaped her. Despite his rough words, he only sounded like a mischievous child, making him all the more like a little brat.

He must be from a powerful noble family, judging by the way he talks so loudly, but he doesn’t see the point in asking for help from a kid who may or may not be trustworthy.

Adelaide said it without much hope.

[Then prove it to me.]

[Prove what?]

[Prove to me that you know the ways of the kingdom before I trust you]

The boy rolled his eyes, and after a long moment, he spoke.

[Well… The people of the kingdom don’t eat chicken.]

[Why?]

[If you eat something that can fly, you can’t ascend to heaven.]

[But what about beef or pork?]

[They don’t have wings to begin with, silly.]

Despite his situation, his rude manner of speaking remained unchanged.

Adelaide raised an eyebrow.