11 – Episode 2. How to Regain the Favor of the Wicked Girl (1)
“Abel. Abel.”
A voice rang in my ears.
It felt like being whispered to by subordinates when going on night duty in the military. I reluctantly opened my eyes, fearing that I might develop military PTSD for no reason.
“Oh, you’re awake.”
“Clara…?”
“It’s time to get up now.”
“Could you not lean in so close when you speak…?”
Someone might think she’s trying to kiss me.
“Oops! Was I too close?!”
Realizing her actions belatedly, she hastily straightened up. Blushing, she rolled her blue eyes from side to side, fidgeting nervously.
I watched the shy Clara and rose from the soft bed.
“Yawn…!”
I stretched while yawning.
“Did you sleep well, Clara?”
“Hey there! I had a pleasant night’s sleep under the warm blanket again today,” Clara says with a bright smile.
It’s been about three days since Clara started living in the duke’s mansion. Fortunately, thanks to Houston allowing Clara to reside in the mansion, he was able to keep the promise he made to her.
At first, he considered treating her as a hostage, but ever since Houston received a barrage of curses for considering a saint as a hostage, he treated her as a guest.
“Yeah, I’m glad. But you don’t have to come to my room and wake me up like this. There are other people around.”
“I want to do it. It’s the only thing I can do for Abel….”
“Just trusting me is enough for you, isn’t it?”
“…I’m not enough.”
Is she unexpectedly stubborn?
Considering this, he decided not to insist on refusing her persistence.
“What do you think about having breakfast this morning?”
“I should eat with my family. Did Clara eat?”
“Yes! I ate until I was full before Abel woke up! hehehe.”
“Yeah, that’s good.”
Looking at Clara speaking with an excited voice, he feels a bit proud.
In the original work, her becoming a witch was one of the regrettable parts that stayed in my memory while reading the novel.
“Shall we go then?”
I put on some appropriate clothes and headed out of the room. It was around the time I came out of the spacious bathroom after washing up, right before going to the dining room.
I ran into Abel’s sister, Lati Sirius, in the hallway. When Lati saw me, her expression turned sour.
“You managed to show your trashy self since morning. Disgusting.”
Latte glanced at Clara, scanning her entire body as she spoke. Even though she stood somewhat awkwardly beside me, it seemed as if she didn’t like her.
“…Are you already on your way back from finishing your meal?” I pretended not to hear Latte’s words and asked.
From Noble mtl dot com
“Don’t ask. I don’t want to mix words with you. You’re just a trash who brings another woman into our house while having a fiancée.” After throwing blame at me, Latte walked away casually, causing me to sigh.
I wondered if I could have a happy married life with such a personality.
Perhaps it was because I simply didn’t like it that I let Houston know everything about Clara and then treated her like this.
Well, the fact that Abel had lived with multiple women was mentioned so many times in the novel that it became a well-known fact, and if it was disgusting because of that, I could understand.
So if I were to curse someone, it should be Abel. But now, Abel is me.
Sigh. How did I end up in this body?
“Abel, do you have a fiancée?”
“…Um. It seems like it.”
“It seems like it…?”
“…It’s my problem. Clara doesn’t have to worry about it.”
“I see…”
Clara muttered as if she was disappointed.
Come to think of it, I can’t just leave the issue with the fiancée alone.
I’ll have to fix the things Abel has done, one by one.
Of course, before that, I plan to enjoy a laid-back unemployed life.
For the past three days, there hasn’t been a quest, so I was enjoying a pleasant unemployed life. I didn’t want anyone to disturb this lifestyle for a while.
However, my plan fell apart as soon as I entered the restaurant.
“They say your fiancé is coming this afternoon. Get ready.”
“Uh… Why are you telling me all of a sudden?”
“It’s not unusual for a fiancé to visit suddenly, is it?”
“Well, that may be true, but…”
Getting married in the current situation would mean no love whatsoever, just using separate rooms. Surely having a relationship would be uninteresting and formal.
I didn’t want such a dreadful married life. However, if I were to break off the engagement, I would undoubtedly face criticism for tarnishing the duke’s reputation.
The carefully crafted image was crumbling back into the abyss. Damn it.
“Alright, I understand for now.”
I replied, holding back a sigh.
Anyway, since I didn’t know the details of the situation, I had no choice but to confront Reina Spon.
“Dress properly. Refrain from impolite behavior. When you meet Reina, don’t forget the duke’s dignity is at stake.”
“Yes. I understand.”
I didn’t like the idea of going through everything from one to ten, but as Abel, I had to run the image washing machine first to live.
“…I believe you.”
Houston spoke to me in a voice that seemed to be heard and not heard.
I blinked, forgetting to respond. I didn’t expect him to say such a thing to Abel.
Perhaps Houston was waiting for Abel to change?
Maybe Houston cared about Abel as much as Carmen did.
This guy, Abel, despite being a scoundrel, was blessed with his parents’ fortune.
“Sure.”
Upon hearing my response, Houston wiped his mouth with a napkin and stood up from his seat. Carry, who had finished her meal earlier, followed Houston. She didn’t forget to give me a playful smile.
The only thing left on the table was a Genie meal.
I sat down on the chair, two spaces away from Genie, and rested my butt. Then the chef came over and placed the food on the table.
“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it today as well, Chef.”
“Yes, please enjoy.”
Chef said with a smile.
Since I’ve been praising the food every time I eat, the chef’s face seems to light up with laughter.
I know that each and every word like this boosts the motivation of the staff. I used to willingly work overtime just to hear a single small word of praise at work.
So, I was truly enjoying Chef’s cooking, and it was during this pleasant breakfast that Genie, who was eating beside me, made a clattering sound and put down the utensils.
“…Abel.”
“Yes?”
I answered with my mouth full of meat.
“Eat your food before you speak. It’s basic etiquette.”
I swallowed the meat and replied swiftly. Genie seemed slightly annoyed and let out a sigh.
“Lately, it seems like you’re trying to impress Father. Why are you doing that?”
“There’s no particular reason. Just trying to turn over a new leaf.”
“What?”
I nonchalantly replied as I spread cheese on my bread.
I don’t need to impress Genie, even if I don’t know anything else.
When Geonil takes the lead, he’ll probably try to kick out even those like me, who are thorns in his side.
From the start, Geonil isn’t just someone who dislikes Abel; he loathes him. Now, if he tries to make himself more visible, he’ll likely perceive me as a threat to his successor position.
If that were the case, it would have been better to just act without caring about appearances. At least behaving that way would result in less stress.
“Abel, you… You’ve been acting all high and mighty lately, boasting about solving recent serial murder cases—”
“I haven’t boasted about anything.”
“You’re not understanding what I’m saying. Don’t clumsily pretend to be tough now. People don’t change anyway. Before long, you’ll probably do something foolish again and disappoint Father.”
I wholeheartedly agree that people don’t change.
However, becoming a completely different person on the inside is a separate issue.
“I know the reason why my brother dislikes you, but the nuance that suggests my brother wants you to remain trash forever is a bit much, don’t you think?”
“What…?”
If it were Abel, he might have been too intimidated to say a word, but I am different. I can engage in a fight if necessary.
“Is someone with no abilities confronting me right now?”
Geonil scowls fiercely. His grip tightens, and his forearm swells.
Just because I graduated from the Academy’s Knight Department doesn’t mean I can’t handle myself with strength.
“There are many onlookers. Let’s stop this.”
I say, still looking at the servants waiting in the restaurant.
“What did you say? You piece of trash!”
“Don’t worry; I have no intention of coveting the successor position.”
Even without coveting the successor position, the beanstalk is already falling. Then I can enjoy a happy life as an unemployed person after picking up that fallen beanstalk.
He can keep that uncomfortable Duke’s seat to himself.
“Do you know that I am talking about the successor position?”
“If not, then forget it.”
“You…!”
“I’ll get up first.”
I shrugged my shoulders and finished my meal by taking a bite of the bread with cheese spread on it, then stood up from my seat. I thanked Chef and left the restaurant.
* * *
“You can leave this kind of thing to the seamstress.”
I said to Clara, who was buttoning up my shirt. She seemed to be focused on dressing me, her eyebrows slightly furrowed.
“I-I’m not very experienced, but please allow me to do it.”
“I understand that you’re grateful to me… but you should also consider your own position. It’s not right for a saint to serve as a seamstress for a nobleman, as your father also mentioned.”
“I’m not doing this as a seamstress. It’s just… um…”
Clara seemed to realize that our relationship was unclear, as she couldn’t clearly define what kind of relationship it was.
“As friends?”
“You?”
Her innocent eyes, previously focused on the button, turned towards me. They widened, revealing a hint of white sclera.
“No?”
“Oh, right. As friends!”
Clara’s face lit up with joy.
Actually, even friends don’t do this kind of thing for each other, but who knows, it might work.
Beep beep.
When Clara buttoned up all the buttons and put on the jacket for me, a knock was heard. In response to my invitation to enter, a maid entered.
“Abel-nim, Lady Lina has arrived. Another servant has guided her to the reception room, so you can go there.”
“Got it. I’ll go right away.”
I replied and tapped Clara’s shoulder.
“Thank you, Clara.”
“Yes. I hope you have a good time.”
With that, I left Clara in the room and headed to the reception room.
* * *
“Sorry for keeping you waiting, Lady.”
As soon as I entered the reception room, I saw a woman in a dress sitting on the stone sofa.
Wearing a blue dress adorned with numerous frills and decorations, she was the Lina Spon I had seen in the illustration.
Her distinct features were so prominent that it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she radiated beauty. The deep blue eyes, sparkling like jewels, left a strong impression. Moreover, her chest was quite prominent, emphasizing her feminine charm.
However, apart from her beauty, her sharp gaze made it oddly difficult to approach her.
By the way, does Abel really notice other women when he has someone like her?
“Lady Lina, it’s been a while.”
I greeted her politely and nobly. In response, she folded the fan she was holding and glared at me.
“…Crazy bastard.”
There couldn’t be a better greeting than this; why is she cursing at me? Isn’t this too much?