MFWSP 54

Chapter 54

“I’ve found you a new marriage match.”

The Marquess’s voice rang out sharply.

“She’s the daughter of Marquess Rudess, and this will be her second marriage. After seeing you, she said she’d offer a dowry large enough to buy three baronies and still have money left over.”

“……”

“She said she didn’t want a child, so go to the woman who’s over forty.”

“…You damn old man.”

After a brief silence, David spat out a curse.

“Just die already.”

His voice was beginning to crack, likely from strain on his throat.

“My brothers, and I too, we’re all just waiting for you to die so the Adelon title can pass on.”

Perhaps provoked by this, the Marquess seemed to retaliate — a few seconds later, David let out a sharp scream.

“So, you brought the Duke of Apellemeon hoping to shake my resolve, huh? Did you think I wouldn’t know the rumors about the Duke and the First Prince being lovers?”

The Marquess growled.

“Even if it’s not true, nothing changes. That woman never saw you as a man. You’ll be sold off to the Rudess family. If you refuse, you’ll suffer pain worse than death.”

“Just give me time… if I have a little time, I can come up with that kind of money…”

“You’re still plotting to run away.”

The Marquess sneered at David’s pleading.

“With your gambling and gossip from social circles? Do you think you can actually accomplish anything? If all you have is your pretty face, then your role is to use it to enrich the family.”

“I said I can… I’ll bring the money… kuh!”

“So noisy. Do you even understand how much that money is?”

A cracking sound rang out, followed by David groaning deeply.

His groans and cries of pain mixed together and filled the air.

“……”

“What are you hesitating about?”
Karciel asked me, noticing the complicated look on my face.

“Don’t tell me you’re thinking of going in there to save him?”

“I’m considering it.”

I answered, lost in thought.

The situation had turned out so differently from what I expected that my mind was in disarray. If my memory served me right, David Adelon never married in either of my previous lives.

He was constantly active in the shadows as a gambler and an informant.

Those who met him said he was like a madman obsessed with money, always collecting and selling information.

Because of that, it was never proven, but the Adelon family steadily grew richer, eventually boasting wealth that rivaled the Duke of Servais.

Was he enslaved by his father all his life as punishment for refusing marriage?

“I understand how you feel,” Karciel murmured, “but there’s not much we can do to interfere in the affairs of the Marquess and his son.”

“Isn’t it possible to prosecute unauthorized use of torture magic under imperial law?”

I looked up at him and asked.

“In theory. But like I said, even the imperial family isn’t free from the influence of sorcery. Even if we report this to the palace, it’ll likely be buried.”

He gave a bitter smile.

It was common knowledge that the current Empress kept a sorcerer close. And the maids who had handled communication with that sorcerer had recently been dying of unexplained illnesses.

“Marquess Adelon holds considerable influence in high society through his children’s marriage ties. Unless we have clear evidence, it’s dangerous to pursue this — we could be killed before anything comes of it.”

His analysis was frustratingly accurate. We were in Adelon territory with no guards or backup.

If we acted recklessly, the Marquess might kill a prince and a duke to protect his house.

Even so, I couldn’t ignore the sounds coming from the communication stone.

“Admit it, David. You are my son — my possession. The most precious gift your mother left me before she died.”

“Guh…”

“Whether you sell your face or your talents, the result is the same. You’ll never escape this family.”

“Kuh!”

You’ll never escape the family.
You’ll never find freedom.

Those words strangely echoed in my mind.

David Adelon?

The genius who gathered information that couldn’t be found even by searching the whole continent?

…Wouldn’t it be a waste?

Step.

I took a deep breath and began walking toward the door David and the Marquess had passed through.

“Duke?”

“Your Highness, would you mind breaking that door with your sword?”

I turned to Karciel, who looked surprised, and asked calmly.

“…Do you have a plan?”

“Yes. If Your Highness will help me.”

I gave a firm answer.

“We won’t be in danger. We won’t die. I promise you.”

I already knew what had to be done — all that remained was to act.

“…I owe you too much not to help.”

Karciel sighed, then drew his sword.

“If it gets dangerous, stay behind me.”

As he gripped his weapon, a bright white aura gleamed around the blade.

Bang—

The sword slammed into the doorknob, and with a heavy sound, the handle broke off and the door swung open. Inside, we saw the Marquess holding a black staff and David collapsed, gasping for breath.

“What are you doing?!”

The Marquess bellowed when he saw me.

“You dare break into my manor? Should I take this as a challenge from House Apellemeon—”

“Well, the door was locked. What choice did we have?”

“Your Highness, may I take it that you share the Duke’s intent?”

“Seems that way.”

Karciel shrugged.

“Why on earth…”

“Because I trust the Duke of Apellemeon.”

Gone was the man who had just tried to stop me — he now smiled as if nothing concerned him.

“And honestly, it was hard to listen to. How could you treat your own son like that?”

“Your Highness.”

“I understand your grievances, but maybe you should hide that torture artifact first? I may be royalty, after all.”

“You will regret this, First Prince. This is Adelon territory.”

The Marquess still held onto his staff, glaring at Karciel.

I ignored him and walked over to David, kneeling beside him.

“Can you hear me?”

“…Yes.”

David, sweating all over, glanced at me and answered.

“Run… quickly, use the portal…”

“There’s no time for that. And no need. I’m here to make you a proposal. I’ll be blunt since we’re short on time.”

David nodded, still confused.

“First off, you’re not my type.”

“…What?”

He was so shocked he seemed to forget his pain.

“I don’t see you as a man, and I never will. We’re never going to be lovers. Got that?”

“……”

“If you take my hand, I’ll only be interested in your skills. Your pretty face means nothing to me. Even if a curse melts it off, or you get a skin disease and your features change, your value won’t change in my eyes.”

His sky-blue eyes trembled.

“…What value? My skills, aside from my looks?”

He asked, testing me.

“Good at gambling? Gathering noble gossip? A network made mostly of women? Do you really think that’s valuable?”

“Drop the fake humility. We don’t have time for that.”

I whispered, and David flinched.

“You possess more information than anyone else in the Empire. You can tell truth from lies, so your intel is accurate. If used properly, it’s invaluable. You know that — that’s why you tried to negotiate with the Marquess, right?”

“…No one ever believed in me. I had nowhere to go, even if I left the family.”

David answered quietly.

“And now?”

“Now… I think I do.”

His voice was small but carried a hint of hope.

“Someone who sees me.”

“Then don’t ever try to flatter me again. No pointless compliments, no flirtatious smiles, no touching my hair. I’m not interested.”

I continued. David looked slightly hurt by my words.

“…You didn’t have to be that harsh…”

“Just as your looks mean nothing to me, mine should mean nothing to you. Otherwise, this deal is off.”

I cut him off and pressed again.

“Say you understand.”

Our eyes met again.

“If you agree, I’ll help you escape. I’ll make sure the Marquess can’t touch you again. You won’t be the third son of House Adelon — you’ll live as just David.”

David stared at me, unblinking.