Chapter 35

“I think I need to hear an explanation for why you used violence.”

“…….”

“There must have been a reason. I don’t believe you would resort to violence for no reason.”

“…….”

Even at Contie’s question, Louis did not answer.

Instead, it was Ethan who burst out shouting.

“He hit us for no reason! He just threw a punch out of nowhere!”

Only then did Louis’s tightly shut mouth open.

“You guys started it… you were bullying her first!”

“What are you talking about! When did I ever bully you!”

“You guys… you little shits were bullying my younger sister!”

“Why is she your younger sister! You hated her. And you don’t even have a younger sister!”

“I don’t hate her! I never hated her! And she *is* my younger sister!”

Younger sister?

What younger sister?

At the children’s back-and-forth argument, the Count blinked.

Then, suddenly, a child caught his eye.

It was a little child, frozen stiff and trembling behind the Duke.

Her hair was a complete mess, and she was wearing a grimy dress that commoners would wear-.

“It seems the Young Master is quite affectionate. Seeing as he calls such a grubby child his younger sister. Judging by her appearance, she seems to be a family member a servant brought along for a bit…”

The Count’s lips drew a crooked curve.

“Seeing that lowly thing crawl up to the Young Master without hesitation, it seems my children just tried to give her a light piece of advice.”

“Th-That’s right!”

“We were just trying to correct that cocky brat’s bad habits for the Young Master’s sake. It’s so unfair. Father, Your Grace!”

Seizing the moment, the two young masters added a word each.

As if to say ‘I told you so,’ the Count continued triumphantly.

“For noble children to get into a fight over a lowly little brat like that. Your Grace, please summon that lowly thing’s parents and punish them!”

“…….”

“Since they failed to manage their child properly and caused this mess, shouldn’t the parents be summoned and punished?! This is why family education is so important… Tsk.”

At the Count’s shout, Contie tilted his head and smiled.

“Ah, family education?”

As the chilling mutter slipped out-.

“Hup.”

“Gasp.”

Sounds of people gasping were heard from here and there.

‘He’s mad.’

‘He’s really, really mad.’

The quick-witted servants immediately sensed the dangerous atmosphere and quickly lowered their eyes.

Sure enough, a black aura was slowly rising behind the Duke.

Though it was still midday, the shadow cast behind the mansion was uniquely pitch-black.

“Bring this child’s parents?”

However, the Count was oblivious.

“Yes, Your Grace. If you find it too troublesome to punish them, I will do it myself. So please summon the child’s parents at once.”

“Hmm, I see. Very well.”

Answering with a smile, Contie strode toward the Count.

Startled by the distance closing in an instant, the Count flinched greatly.

A pitch-black shadow fell over the Duke’s face as he looked down.

Gulp.

Swallowing hard, the Count barely opened his mouth.

“W-What are you doing right now…?”

“What am I doing. I brought them for you, didn’t I.”

“…Pardon?”

“Here they are. Our little brat’s parents.”

The Count’s expression instantly turned dumb.

“…What do you mean.”

“Is your head made of stone? Can you not understand? This child is my daughter, and I am her father.”

Now then.

“How do you plan to punish us?”

At the chilling shout, the surroundings fell into silence.

* * *

“I think the adults need to have a little chat.”

Muttering with a smile, Contie grabbed the pale Count by the collar and disappeared into a subspace created by his ability.

And a moment later.

Spit!

The mouth of the rippling subspace abruptly spat the Count out.

“Huuuk!”

The Count, spat out unkindly, rolled wretchedly on the ground.

In contrast, Contie emerged from the subspace with a very relaxed demeanor.

The moment his long legs touched the ground.

“…P-P-Please… please save me. I was wrong. My children were entirely in the wrong.”

The Count, who had been rolling on the floor, flung himself down and pressed his forehead to the ground.

His trembling voice was full of terror.

“D-Dad!”

“We didn’t do anything wrong!”

“Shut up!”

At his tactless children’s words, the Count burst out shouting.

“How dare you raise your voices in front of His Grace. So disrespectful! D-Did your father teach you that?!”

Even while scolding his children, the Count was busy watching the Duke’s reaction.

The indifferent blue eyes lightly swept over the three of them.

“The Count is quite busy, isn’t he? Working, educating the children.”

“Ha, haha. Not at all.”

“Does this amuse you?”

“I-I apologize!”

At the tightly disciplined apology, Contie cracked his neck muscles.

“Thinking about it, I feel I’ve made things too troublesome for you. I find myself reflecting on it. Therefore, I’ve decided to hand over the ducal business managed by Speldia to another family.”

“Pardon? What do you mean… A-Ah, no! Please reconsider, Your Grace!”

“Haha, no.”

The Duke answered refreshingly and added in an indifferent tone.

“I cannot entrust the ducal family’s business to a foolish person. Take this opportunity to go home and spend some time being more faithful to your family. For about 100 years or so?”

“Your Grace, wait a moment! Your Grace, I was wrong! So please…!”

Despite the Count’s pleading, Contie didn’t budge and turned around.

Melony, still frozen stiff, and Louis, standing with his lips tightly shut, came into view.

“Ha.”

A thick anger leaked out with a light hollow laugh.

“If you have any embezzled money or have done anything dirty, you’d better start struggling and covering your tracks from now on.”

Because I don’t feel like showing mercy this time.

“O-Oh, no…”

In the Count’s mind, the funds and goods he had embezzled so far flashed by quickly.

He felt a chill run down his spine.

He didn’t even have the energy to beg anymore, only repeating, ‘It’s ruined. It’s over…’

Regardless.

Contie scooped both Louis and Melony into his arms.

“A-Abby…”

A trembling voice leaked from the child’s small mouth that had been shut the whole time.

“Yeah. Let’s go have some snacks.”

Answering affectionately, Contie disappeared into the mansion with the children in his arms.

* * *

‘They said it was here.’

I paced back and forth in front of the firmly closed door.

This was Louis’s room.

On the day of the commotion.

Louis, who entered the mansion in the Duke’s arms, refused the Duke’s offer for snacks and headed to his room.

The former Duke, who belatedly heard the commotion and ran over-.

“Bring those insolent things back here! I will not let them off easy! How dare they touch my grandsons… no, my grandson and the grandson candidate…!”

-Even while he was throwing a fuss, Louis never once showed his face.

Louis just holed up in his room.

At first, I planned to wait until Louis opened the door and came out himself.

‘He must need some time to sort out his feelings.’

With that thought.

But the time he spent holed up in his room grew longer than expected.

He resolved his meals only in his room, and refused the servants from entering.

Even when the Duke or the former Duke visited, he didn’t show his face.

At this point, I couldn’t help but worry.

‘What if Louis doesn’t come out of his room like this…!’

I was afraid that if I just watched like this, I’d miss the timing of Louis coming out of his room.

Timing is important in life, after all.

And above all-.

‘I haven’t even thanked him yet.’

I mean a thank you for beating up those Speldia young masters, no, those bad guys who were bullying me.

“Phew. I have to weally say thank you today.”

After steeling my resolve, I knocked on the door.

Not long after, a feeble answer was heard from inside.

“…I don’t need anything.”

“Owdeww bwothew.”

“…….”

“It’s me, Mewony.”

“…….”

“I came because I wanted to see you. Won’t you open the doow?”

An answer didn’t return easily.

Sigh.

Yeah, I didn’t think it would be easy.

I leaned my back against the door and plopped down on the floor.

“I’ll stay hewe until you open the doow.”