Chapter 52

"W-what should we do with all this money?"

"What else can we do? We spend it."

On the way back after making a killing at the prayer hall.

They were able to easily rent a carriage and coachman for a comfortable return journey.

While the journey there had been full of hardship, the return was like paradise.

Arndt sat across from him, frequently glancing at the chest at his feet.

He seemed to be trying not to show how pleased he was.

In contrast, Leandros's expression was quite sour.

In the previous iteration, he had gambled out of necessity, but now he had been purely dragged along by him.

He probably wasn't without complaints.

"I'd like to stop by a village on the way back and buy some food for you two."

"I'll do as ordered."

"The castle will need some renovation too. Find people to do the work as well. Since the castle is in such a mess, it might be good to hire people just for cleaning."

"The castle? Is it alright to start managing the castle already?"

"Yes. Make sure to get spare clothes for you two to wear. And if we can get a separate carriage, that would be good."

"A carriage... you say?"

"I'll need to write letters too. Letters to Baron Arnold's family."

There was much to do going forward.

Sleigh, Amelia, Rotaer, Yurik, the east and south, the protagonist Leandros.

Trying to handle everything he had learned over two iterations at once was no small task.

He needed to end all of this and achieve a proper ending.

Thinking of the yellow cloak sitting atop the mountain of corpses, he couldn't possibly remain leisurely.

He was only on his third iteration, but countless iterations had already occurred before.

How many "experimental" regressions had his younger brother gone through?

How long had he been there?

Lost in thought, he looked up to find Arndt staring at him with a blank expression.

Why was he looking at him like that? Had he broken down?

"Why that expression?"

As Arndt hesitated, Leandros intervened.

"Forgive me for speaking so boldly. However, Your Grace has not fully recovered since rising from your sickbed. Did you not collapse several times on the way to the west?"

"Ah."

There were facts that had become clear in the third iteration.

First, this body did not die.

However, it seemed he could not avoid death that somehow triggered regression.

Second, this body did not eat meals.

If he met an unexpected death, he would wake up again.

Though he didn't know what process it went through, it seemed that upon waking, it would ruthlessly devour whatever was nearby.

Meat, bread, vegetables, alive, or dead.

Third. With each regression, his body worsened.

It seemed that fatigue, stress, or damage accumulated from the previous iteration hit all at once, worsening his condition.

And it seemed it would never recover.

As if the baseline for this body's health had been lowered.

Because of that, he had collapsed several times during the trip to and from the west, relying on Leandros's back.

Now it would be a bit awkward to claim there was no problem.

He fidgeted with his thumb and asked.

"You want to ask why I'm in such a hurry?"

"That's right. When you return to the castle, perhaps you could rest a bit more while planning for the future."

"If we stay like this, someday we'll be completely devoured by Yurik. That's why I'm hurrying."

The expressions of the two hardened.

At the very beginning of the story, Yurik's name was somewhat of a taboo among them.

The culprit who had brought down the family.

The instigator who had framed Hartmann.

The tyrant who had promoted a reinstatement that was only a shell.

"I know what Yurik wants from Hartmann. Just by looking at the eastern wasteland project that the royal palace is currently promoting with merchant groups, I can guess to some extent."

"Does Your Grace believe that the rumors circulating have credibility?"

The rumor that Yurik and the royal palace were showing great interest in breeding demonic beasts.

That must be it.

"Whether it's credible or not, if it hadn't been the case to begin with, he wouldn't have wanted my mother's revelation. It's the only method so far to handle and control demonic beasts, isn't it?"

The method to massively obtain and increase the numbers of demonic beasts that no one could tame.

Yurik would not have abandoned that greed in this world either.

Until the previous iteration, he had only thought about how to survive.

Not wanting to die, he had decided not to set any flags.

That he could change the fate known as the story.

Therefore, he had thought they should hide as much as possible.

So that neither Yurik nor the world could find the three of them.

But Leandros was the protagonist.

Yurik was the villain, and he was a sacrificial offering that could be easily eliminated in some way.

Then they had to go out.

If he was killed because he hid in the shadows, then he had no choice but to go into the sunlight.

Only his voice was heard in the carriage.

"I need your help."

"Your Grace."

"We can't end it like this."

The world of madness created by someone deserved to end more beautifully.

Arndt and Leandros bowed their heads in distress.

Even though what he was saying was different from what they were thinking.

After arriving at Hartmann's territory, there was nothing but busy work.

Arndt, who had opened the chest, brought people from the village.

He heard that the pay was much more generous than usual, but he wasn't sure about that.

While he waited after sending several letters here and there, the castle became unrecognizably clean with each passing day.

The dining table became visibly more abundant, and Arndt's complexion gradually improved.

As Leandros no longer needed to help with chores, he focused on strengthening the castle's security.

Unlike the castle which was becoming lively, he spent most of his days lying down.

As a result, the workers visiting the castle seemed to be spreading the rumor that "the new Duke of Hartmann is sickly."

Yes, that was fine, whatever.

Let him be talked about a lot.

And a few days later.

He left the castle at an opportune time.

Arndt remained at the castle for internal management and labor supervision, while only he and Leandros headed toward Baron Arnold's residence.

The Baron Arnold's residence, which they reached pulling two ordinary horses with a small carriage, was just as beautiful as he had seen in his past life.

Only the flowers and fresh plants he had seen during that season were missing.

That was the only difference.

No, there was one more difference.

Beyond the gate guarded by private soldiers, over the beautiful winding walkway, there stood a person.

A staggering shadow unable to steady a body that seemed about to collapse at any moment.

A person standing as supported by a maid beside her, blankly looking this way.

The only troublemaker of the Baron Arnold's family,

And the former personal maid of Hartmann's former Duchess, Amelia Arnold.

It seemed the symptoms of poisoning that had afflicted her still hadn't disappeared.

When she saw him, she began to tremble.

As he arrived in front of her, he could see a familiar string hanging around her bony neck.

With the best smile he could manage, and in the kindest voice possible.

"I've come to retrieve what my mother entrusted to you."

* * *

She gave him the necklace more willingly than expected.

Although the maid refused, saying the Baron's daughter was not in a condition to do so, he insisted so stubbornly that he eventually even got to drink tea in the reception room.

A private meeting between the Baron's daughter and the young Duke.

The tea brought by the maid was moderately delicious and bitter.

While he enjoyed the aroma, Amelia was continuously muttering something and biting her nails.

Her hollow eyes glanced at him, but he deliberately ignored it.

"...Y-Your Grace... I don't think you need to stay here any longer."

A trembling voice.

He deliberately answered leisurely.

"No, I visited to pay my respects to the Baron's daughter, who once took care of my family's matters."

"Th-then."

"I would be disappointed if you said pleasantries were enough. I came all the way to visit since I couldn't see you in the capital. But."

Beads of sweat formed on Amelia's forehead.

After looking at her white, pale skin, he put down his teacup.

Even at the clinking sound, Amelia startled and flinched.

"Do you perhaps consider it a burden?"

"I, I'm not feeling well. Since you've come, please look around at your leisure."

Amelia hastily stood up.

With her shawl twisted and draped messily, just before she left the reception room.

"Aren't you curious about news of others? Angelika, Rotaer, or Dederik?"

Amelia's footsteps stopped abruptly.

He filled his cup with tea himself.

Once again, a warm and fragrant scent wafted.

"Rotaer, well. It seems he doesn't want to see you much, so it's difficult to say anything. I thought you would have been close since you were the head butler and assistant head butler."

"N-no."

"Then how about the head servant? Aren't you curious if Dederik is well?"

Dederik.

At that name, Amelia finally turned her head.

Down her cheek, where the cheekbone protruded sharply due to her thinness, a thin droplet flowed.

Indeed, Dederik was Amelia's Achilles' heel.

Amelia opened her mouth haltingly.

"D-Dederik. Did you, meet him? D-did he, perhaps, talk about me?"

"Unfortunately, I didn't hear."

"...Oh."

Deep sorrow and depression settled on her white face.

Amelia and Dederik's relationship seemed more than ordinary.

After all, one wouldn't visibly despair and rejoice over news about a former workplace colleague.

He tilted his head.

"But I could pass on a message."

"D-does he meet with Y-Your Grace? I heard he was, living a life of faith in a, harsh monastery."

"It wasn't easy, but yes."

In fact, he had never met Dederik.

He had just made it up, but Amelia was noticeably agitated.

She brushed back her messily disheveled hair, took a few steps back and forth, then approached again and slumped onto the sofa.

"I-is he doing well? A-any other stories besides me? P-perhaps, if by any chance."

"You seem particularly concerned about Dederik, my lady. If you wish, couldn't you visit the monastery? Though the procedures would be strict."

"That's, because I think Dederik w-wouldn't want it."

"Why is that?"

Amelia couldn't answer immediately.

Those dry lips moved only after a long while.

"Because I, be-betrayed him."

Oh.

"By betrayal, you mean."

"I, I don't think Y-Your Grace needs to pretend. R-Rotaer must have already, t-told you. I was, almost like Rotaer's h-hand and foot."

Rotaer's hand and foot.

This meant that just as Rotaer's weakness was exploited by Yurik, Rotaer had similarly exploited Amelia's weakness.

Amelia continued, tugging at her shawl.

"When I saw the letter saying you were, coming to the mansion, I thought, finally the time has come, that's what I thought."

One of the letters he had sent was directed to Baron Arnold's residence.

Strictly speaking, it wasn't sent to the Baron's family.

He didn't know what kind of commotion would occur if he wrote an open letter to the Baron's family.

Besides, there was already a spy planted by Yurik here.

"Of course, I don't forgive you or Rotaer. But there's nothing for me to gain by demanding retribution now."

"D-Dederik is innocent! If you've told him the same, s-story..."

"I haven't. I just thought it would be better to hear the story from you first."

The picture was roughly forming.

If Rotaer and Amelia had colluded, then Dederik, who was close to Amelia, must have cooperated, whether intentionally or not.

In other words, 75% of the inner circle within the castle had sold the family's secrets.

With this, the downfall had been a predetermined course.

Amelia had buried her face in her hands.

Whether due to guilt from the past, or merely out of shame.

Watching her made him feel peculiar.

Her basic character seemed to be upright and steadfast.

But she probably didn't know how to counter the weakness that Rotaer had exploited.

Moreover, Hartmann's story of downfall was only complete if Amelia was manipulated in such a way.

Like him, she was an extra who had merely followed fate.

Then shouldn't she have at least one chance too?

"As it happens, I have some information on my end."

"W-what?"

"There's a high probability that you will die a day or two after I leave this mansion."

Amelia, who had been sniffling, was momentarily stunned.

"D-die..."

"So be careful about the meals you eat or the things you drink. Always have soldiers stationed in front of your door and under your windows, and only allow maids you can trust. By the way, throw out things like the incense burner in your bedroom. And stop taking those drugs for now! It's because of those that you can't come to your senses. Mental wounds can't be treated with harsh drugs, you know."

"W-what?"

"And lastly."

As he stood up, she looked up at him as if seeing a madman.

It didn't feel good to be perceived as strange by a drug addict.

"Expel all the handsome male servants."

He had done all he could.

Leaving only those words, he left the reception room, clutching the necklace.

Leandros, who had been waiting outside, immediately followed.

"Shall we return right away?"

"We should. Were there any visitors in the meantime?"

"Nothing special."

Despite Leandros saying so, he couldn't be at ease.

Although he had told Amelia "you will soon die," the same applied to him.

It was good that he had raided the Baron's residence without warning, but now that they knew he had made contact with Amelia, he too had to be especially cautious.

On the way back in the same carriage as when they came.

Leandros was pulling the horse himself, both to act as the coachman and to maintain vigilance of the surroundings.

Being alone in the rattling carriage, fatigue overwhelmed him.

As he rested his head against the wall and closed his eyes, drowsiness already began to pour in.

It seemed he would need to rest when they reached the castle.

Otherwise, he would either come down with a cold or have a nosebleed.

How should he cover up this physical condition-

"Your Grace!"

-CRASH!!

The next moment, simultaneously with the shout from outside, the entire carriage overturned.