At first I thought you were joking. But no matter how you look at it, the elixir in the glass bottle was real.
Dark blue with a subtle glow, plus a glass bottle. Everything was the same as we saw yesterday.
“why… … ?”
What followed the astonishment was a flood of questions. why this to me How do you know I want this.
And why now for nothing in return. To the question that contained all the meaning, Luke answered with a slight smile.
“The question of why you wanted that is simple. Look at the state of the mansion now.”
“… … ?”
“No one comes to see me. The same goes for Yulihi. No wonder. There was such an uproar, but who would want to come to the parties?”
The heir of the family poisoned the beloved bastard. Even that is not simple poison, but a notorious poison that enslaves people.
It’s not just an internal problem. A shame that the prestige of the entire family would fall if it was known outside. Naturally, everyone is on edge.
Do you contact the parties to the case in this situation?
“Whether the victim or the perpetrator, the moment they meet, they may be misunderstood and get caught up in it. So everyone is saving themselves. But you came looking for me.”
If so, it means that the current situation is so desperate that it is not noticeable, or that there is something to be endured enough.
“But what can you take from me? All that is known to the outside world is this sword and Bruno’s saber. But you’re not the kind of person to covet either of them.”
“… … .”
“Then he must have come because he wanted something that was unknown to the outside world. isn’t it?”
Ray didn’t say anything. right. To tell the truth, that’s when I saw Max slipping the glass bottle up his sleeve.
Because it was a skillful hand movement, it was a movement that quite a few people would not have known even if they saw it in front of their eyes. However, Ray, who has superhuman eyesight, could tell them apart.
So I went to find Luke. To ask you to share the elixir please.
‘But I couldn’t bear to say it.’
To ask, he had to admit that Luke stole the elixir. That alone could be an insult to Luke.
Even if he kindly acknowledged it, it was an elixir that was unlikely to be given, so he couldn’t mention it. But Luke gave it as a gift.
“I-I am.”
“You don’t have to tell me.”
Luke stopped Ray who was about to open his mouth.
“To be honest, my older brother and I don’t have a very friendly relationship. Not now, but from a long time ago. Did you know too?”
“… yes.”
Ray nodded slightly. He was often excluded from dirty work due to personality problems, but that didn’t mean he didn’t know anything.
For example, in the case of the magic sword incident. Just by tricking people into burning demonic swords as holy swords and giving them to Luke, one can roughly grasp the circumstances behind them.
“My older brother often played tricks, but I used to give back the same. I didn’t steal the elixir because I needed it. I just wanted to f*ck my brother. So take it.”
“Why are you not getting paid?”
“It seemed desperate. it seemed necessary Isn’t it to save someone’s life? I can’t think of any other reason.”
right. I came to ask for help because I needed it to treat my mother. But that couldn’t be the answer.
It’s none other than Elixir. An elixir that is equivalent to adding one life just by holding it.
If I could just pay the emperor as a bribe, I could get the title of count and land. Why?
“Are you still not convinced?”
“To be honest, yes.”
“Then say this. I wanted this treasure to be used to save someone’s life right now, rather than rotting away in a warehouse under the excuse of ‘just in case’. All the more so if an honorable knight is saved because of it.”
“… … !”
Ray’s eyes blurred. Something pounded in my chest. The words of the person who appointed her as a knight came to mind.
– A knight must always be confident, do not make people anxious, and sing hope even in despair.
After following that word and becoming a knight, he never showed a weak expression. But now I couldn’t hold back my tears.
Shrugging his trembling shoulders, Ray opened his mouth.
“A lowly person who is useless for anything other than swinging a sword to slash and kill is reporting.”
Ray got down on one knee and lowered his head until his long hair touched the floor. The greatest courtesy a knight can show.
This was the attitude taken when a knight who had committed a major sin begged for forgiveness or offered his all beyond the contractual relationship.
“Because I met the person I want to follow for the first time, I want to die in his hand.”
An oath of allegiance like never before. Ray’s oath, which had not learned rhetoric, was crude.
But that’s why there was no embellishment or pretentiousness. All that was there was pure sincerity.
“I want to stay by your side for the rest of my life, so please allow me.”
Luke looked at Ray quietly. It was the first knight’s oath ever received before and after returning.
After closing his eyes for a moment and thinking, Luke opened his mouth.
“Stand up.”
“If you accept, I will stand up.”
“Save people first.”
“… … !”
Rey raised her head and looked at Luke. A drop of tear flowed down his cheek. Looking at her like that, Luke laughed.
“Before you stand by my side, shake off your last worries. That is the first order.”
* * *
Ray immediately got on his horse and left the Bernstein family castle. No one stopped.
The fact that there was no lifelong contract relationship with Jullich had been known everywhere since that day.
A knight who was greatly disappointed when he saw the bare face of the one he served as his lord. That was how the Bernstein family viewed Ray.
‘Good thing. It would have been a headache if I had been criticized for wholesale prices because of Julihi.’
Thanks to their usual exemplary behavior, they didn’t seem to get involved. It was a good thing for Luke who would use Ray.
It would have been difficult for him as a lord if he was later given an epithet such as ‘Knight of Betrayal’. Bruno, who was watching Ray from afar, murmured.
“Anyway, that precious elixir is gone.”
“Such a waste?”
“It wasn’t mine from the beginning, so there’s nothing to be sorry about. Isn’t it a waste, my lord?”
“Not worth it at all.”
If you can earn the loyalty of a knight like Ray, an elixir is no big deal. On the contrary, Julihi, who had saved the elixir until now, was laughing.
Even if the oath from earlier had been made by an ordinary knight, his heart would have been shaken. But to kick an opportunity like that just to save an elixir?
‘Anyway, he’s a guy who only knows efficiency.’
There are times to consider efficiency and times to ignore it. Luke clicked his tongue and turned to Max.
“Come to think of it, how is Julihi these days? Are you still stuck?”
“The situation is serious. It far exceeded my expectations.”
“How long?”
“This is speculation, but if the situation arises, the successor will be replaced.”
“what? really?”
The unexpected sound startled Luke. No matter how competent he was, Julich was incomparable to Michael.
But will Count Leonard even consider replacing his heir with just that one incident?
“If it were a normal poison, it would be so, but isn’t it a transparent elixir? Thanks to that, I blew away all the popularity I had until now.”
“I expected that.”
A drug that kills finely would have been better. However, he wrote a drug that turned the other person into a slave.
This was close to what a witch or demon would do before disgrace.
“I don’t know if it’s an aristocratic family full of trickery, but isn’t this the Bernstein family? There are overflowing knights in the family who were influenced by the Count.”
“… I forgot that.”
Luke slapped his forehead. Unless the ego is as strong as Bruno’s or his ears are completely blocked, all knights are influenced by their master.
The same goes for the Bernstein family. Due to Count Leonard, who valued chivalry and honor, a tendency to care about honor, whether big or small, arose.
Of course, the knights’ antipathy to Julich’s actions inevitably multiplied.
“At least Master Michael has no right or wrong. It was said that it was better.”
“It’s a problem because there aren’t too many.”
Actually, that’s just a downside. However, as it gets to this point, there are people who feel it as an advantage. It was so outrageous.
“Anyway, this is a headache.”
“yes? Isn’t that a good thing?”
“No, no matter how much, it’s not Michael.”
Although Luke hated Julihi, still, considering the future, it was better for Julihi to be the head of the household than for Michael.
The East is especially peaceful compared to other provinces. Thanks to this, many lords were able to conserve their strength, and their pride grew proportionally.
‘In a situation like this, if the world is chaotic, nine out of ten people will fight each other.’
If that happens, the Bernstein family will also be affected. In the worst case, Michael, who became the family head, could ruin everything just like before returning.
A foolish prince would weave the entire family together without considering the aftermath. It was not acceptable to be branded a traitor before he could properly develop his strength.
At least before that, Julich had to step up to the position of head of household and hold the reins of the east.
“Cheop, I wanted to see you suffer a little more, but I couldn’t help it. I need to hold out the rope.”
“yes? No, I dropped it while struggling, but you want to save it without paying?”
“Who said there is no price?”
Luke grinned at Bruno grumbling.
“Even if I need it, it is a specification to work for free. In exchange, you have to peel off all the leftovers and eat them.”
* * *
“I’m crazy. How did I end up like this… … !”
In her own room, Julihi covered her face. Even so, I hadn’t even thought about going down like this.
To have your seat threatened by Michael and not by anyone else!
‘If the opponent was Luke, I wouldn’t have felt embarrassed.’
After experiencing it a few times, I knew for sure. His half-brother was definitely a step above Jullich himself.
It was a realization gained by losing most of what he had, but there was comfort in knowing that he was beaten by an opponent better than himself.
‘But not Michael, Michael!’
Although he is his younger brother, Michael is a hot-tempered, violent, and thoughtless fool. Will the head of household be taken away by such Michael?
It was a shame that would have been better than hanging himself. At that time, a servant cautiously shouted outside.
“Do, Bocchan. Max wants to see the young master.”
“what? Max?”
“Yes, I have something to tell you… … .”
If it’s Max, isn’t it Luke’s henchman? The idiot Michael handed over to Luke after fooling around.
But did he come to you? It was Luke’s messenger.
“Come on, let them in!”
Permission was given, and Max strode inside. Seeing such a relaxed expression made Julich’s stomach ache.
“See you in a few days after that day, Master Jullich.”
“noisy. Are you sure you came to mock me?”
“Oh, how dare I. I have only come to deliver my master’s proposal.”
“proposal? What suggestions?”
“It’s a proposal to return Master Julihi’s honor.”
Julich’s eyes wavered. That bastard’s honor got stuck in the sh*thole and he’s screwed up. But the person who stole all the honor said to return it?
“say it.”
“Before that, I hope Master Julihi makes a promise.”
“I thought so. you’ll need a price What? tell me.”
Being driven to this point, I was able to give away pretty much everything. Thinking so, Yulihi’s eyes widened at the next words.
“He asked for more elixirs than he used in the banquet hall that day.”
“what!?”
At least, Julich almost slapped Max on the cheek. It was almost half of the amount of the elixir she had used that day.
But do you want me to give it back? Then there is really only one amount left.
‘Damn it, the amount of leftovers is not well known to the subject.’
Julich let go of the hour hand and crossed his arms.
“The elixir went into his mouth that day! But where do you get it from?”
“I see. Then I’m fine.”
“Now, wait. We need to talk more. Why are you leaving right away?”
“Mister Luke told me to just come if you don’t have an elixir. He said he couldn’t get anything other than the elixir.”
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“Because there is none!”
“So let’s go. Oh, Master Michael has been quiet these days. He also studied hard. As expected, people recognize the opportunity as soon as it comes to them.”
“… … !”
Julich grinded his teeth softly. It was not empty words, but it was clear that he had no real intention of trading unless it was an elixir.
In the end, it was Julich who raised the white flag.
“weekend.”
“yes?”
“I’ll give it to you! So hurry up and tell me his proposal!”
That’s right. Max laughed and pulled out Luke’s letter. Quickly snatching it up, Yulihi quickly read the letter.
At first, Julich was very annoyed, but by the time he finished reading the letter, his face had changed to a blank expression.
“Gee, do you really have to do this?”
“yes.”
“Are you kidding me right now?”
“The effect is straight-forward. Give it a try.”
Yulihi touched his head at the pure words without a single lie. It will definitely have an effect. Many lost honors can be regained.
But I couldn’t help the feeling of skepticism that came over me.
‘Do I really have to live a miserable life doing things like this?’
But until now, I’ve been living with minimal face. For some reason, instead of getting my honor back, I felt like I was losing my dignity as a human being.
“Burn the letter, and if you have any ideas, take the elixir and come out to the meeting place.”
“… I get it.”
Hearing Julich’s answer, Max left the room. After thinking for a while, Julihi burned the letter with a candle.
The letter, which was burning brightly, somehow seemed to be his own. If you don’t pass now, you can turn to ashes as it is.
‘Yes, dignity is a big deal. It’s a rope that barely came down.’
The important thing now was not face. The priority was to overcome this situation somehow.
Julich sighed and laid down on the chair. The preparations written in the letter came to mind.
“… I should get some wasabi from the kitchen.”
Tears were needed. so many tears