Chapter 8: Just Kill Her?

It took Butler about 10 minutes to return again.

For an assassin, time is life.

In that short span, he had visited the knight order and brought back the medicine and the ring.

Taking the medicine and the ring, I carefully sat Sia down on a chair and commanded Butler.

“Whether it’s backlash from the nobles. Or pressure from the Imperial family. It doesn’t matter, just kill the mercenaries and soldiers. And correction. Don’t kill those related to the nobles for now. I detest troublesome matters.”

“Loyalty.”

Earlier, I spoke impulsively, but touching the nobles’ forces would likely cause severe backlash, so I decided to ‘postpone’ it for now.

Well, since I, who is not the heir, having already ascended to the Duke’s position, the backlash is already…

“Ah, annoying.”

Using my head really didn’t suit me.

From now on, Butler will handle the Ducal family’s finances, so I just need to worry about managing things.

“Sia. Open your mouth.”

‘Somehow many meanings got diluted, but my blockhead self wouldn’t know that.’

“Ah.”

A faint metallic scent of blood emanated from Sia’s open mouth.

I’ve seen and smelled blood many times myself, but Sia’s blood somehow felt different, making me feel ambivalent.

I opened the ointment container, dabbed the cold ointment onto my fingertip, and carefully inserted it into Sia’s weakly opened mouth.

Then I gently applied it to the bleeding left side.

“Ugh.”

“Sorry. Just bear with it a little.”

Perhaps due to the coldness.

Or maybe because the ointment touched the wound.

Sia closed her eyes and trembled.

The child who didn’t cry even after being stabbed in the abdomen (albeit slightly) was now scared by mere ointment.

The sight was amusing, and the corners of my lips kept rising uncontrollably.

If I feed her lots of delicious meals and snacks from now on, will she gain some weight?

‘Though she doesn’t seem like the type to gain weight easily.’

Definitely.

Even if she grew up in a village, she wouldn’t be this thin.

Perhaps I saved her from a trashy family?

Of course, the ones who set the fire were Majin.

For now, I felt a slight sense of gratitude towards them.

Because thanks to them, I was able to pick Sia up.

Performing such self-justification, I placed the ointment I had meticulously applied inside Sia’s mouth onto the desk.

I lifted Sia from her seat, held her, and sat back down on the chair.

A pleasant scent came from Sia after her bath.

Her stained clothes had also been changed into a pure white frilled dress.

Holding her like this was very comfortable.

It would have been nice if Sia were a little shorter, but her current height was satisfactory.

Holding her like this, I felt I could sleep soundly for the first time in a long while.

This would surely cure my insomnia.

After holding Sia like that for several tens of minutes, my gaze, which had been solely on Sia, shifted to Huster, collapsed on the floor.

Sia didn’t even glance that way, instead looking up straight at me, which felt good.

I turned my eyes back to Sia.

People don’t die from just one wrist.

Probably…

‘Among the guys I’ve dealt with so far, none died from just that.’

My objectification was flawed, but still.

If Huster died now, troublesome matters would arise, so I needed to take separate measures.

Even that insect was still the heir.

An heir existing only on paper.

Ignoring him completely, I reached out my hand.

Mana flowed from my hand, enveloping Huster, and he vanished somewhere.

I sent him to the attending physician.

I sent the severed wrist along too, so they should be able to save him.

My eyes were still on Sia, so I could see Sia’s eyes widening.

Seeing magic was a rare occurrence in remote villages, so I occasionally thought about magic I could show Sia.

‘Should I show her that one?’

I removed one arm holding Sia and placed it in front of Sia’s chest.

Then I opened my hand and drew a blue magic circle.

The name of this magic is Snow Crystal Magic.

It was practically useless magic in combat and even in daily life.

Who would want to learn magic that only creates a single snow crystal?

Such a tiny crystal.

However, magic’s size changes according to the user’s mana.

Charrrrr.

The crystals emerging from the hand held before Sia gathered one by one, tangling and colliding with each other, forming a large crystal the size of my palm.

“Woaaaaah!”

The exclamation bursting from Sia’s mouth made the corners of my lips curve even higher.

Useless magic, but if used like this, it was always welcome.

Sia tried to move her arms, wanting to touch it, but all she could manage was wriggling her shoulders.

Watching that for a moment, I raised my other hand, grabbed Sia’s arm, and lifted it for her.

Though it was a snow crystal, it was a lump of mana created by magic.
Temperature control was possible, so Sia could touch it without any harm.

I moved Sia’s arm, brought the crystal closer so she could see it better, and placed it in her hands.

“Hehe.”

Her absentminded smile was so amusing that I accidentally let out a chuckle.

She would see many things in the future, so I could make things like this anytime.

If Sia wanted, I was even thinking of teaching her magic.

Strangely, the amount of mana felt within Sia’s body was quite large.

And incredibly pure mana at that.

Purer than mine or my master’s, filled with pristine mana.

Pure and warm mana, almost comparable to holy power.

However, there was a discrepancy with holy power, so I considered it mana.

While Sia played with the snow crystal, I thought ahead about future plans.

Actually, there was no need to think.

As long as no one interfered, I would spend ordinary days with Sia.

However, if someone found fault with that and troublesome matters arose, the story changes.

I have no desire for power, and money is overflowing to the point of rotting.

If things went wrong, my plan was to threaten the Emperor and maintain my daily life.

Of course, that threat included numerous nobles as well.

What could those bastards do if they got angry?

Just crush them with force, that’s all.

Thinking that, I lowered my head and found Sia asleep.

Sia, who had been playing with the crystal just moments ago, had already fallen into a deep sleep.

“Is it natural.”

What happened to Sia today was quite unpleasant and tiring, so I understood.

Especially since she was a child with a weak body.

I felt pathetic for not realizing this child couldn’t possibly endure that fatigue.

But seeing her hand still clutching the crystal brought a smile to my face.

I converted the crystal back into mana, carefully lifted Sia, and walked out of the room.

I wouldn’t be returning to this room ever again, so I didn’t tidy up.

Carrying Sia, I went up to the 4th floor and headed to the room at the very end.

The Duke’s room.

Though called the Duke’s room, it was now the room Sia and I would use, so it didn’t matter what it was called. Opening the door and entering, I saw various pieces of furniture neatly arranged in the clean room.

I headed straight for the bed first, laid Sia down, and covered her with a blanket.

Since I had received things from Sia, I wanted to provide her with a good bed and meals.

Except for the fact that I would always be with her…

Gazing at the sleeping Sia, I became lost in thought.

She had helped me regain, albeit slightly, the human emotions I had lost, and made my dry, cracked eyes reflect her.

Could there have been a better gift for me?

What I received from my family was harsh persecution and abuse.

Even my master, who took care of me somewhat, only gave me books and swordsmanship.

That small pity was making me human again.

I stroked Sia’s head once and spoke lowly.

“I’ll be back soon.”

Because someone had come to visit the mansion.

As if on cue, a knock sounded at the door.

Knock, knock.

“Your Grace. Lady Mabel has come to visit.”

The young lady of the Mabel Count family.

Rumored to be of good character, but well…

Her relationship with me, if I had to define it, would likely be hostile.

She was a woman itching to pick fights even at the academy.

Her visit meant.

The rumor about Sia must have already spread.

‘Annoying.’

I could just ignore her, but ignoring her would inevitably lead to fault-finding and become troublesome.

‘Just kill her?’

Might not be bad.

If they come one by one like this to pick fights, maybe I can just kill them?

Butler, who was outside, opened the door and entered. His expression looked uncomfortable.

With so much to do and now a guest.

It was understandable to be annoyed.

Whatever the case, it seemed I had to go out, so I stood up and left the room. Butler followed behind and reported.

“Along with Lady Mabel, the Count has also come.”

“Doesn’t matter. Should I go to the drawing-room?”

“Yes. Both are there.”

I nodded and gestured with my hand. Meaning he could go.

I could go alone, so I didn’t want to burden Butler further. I do care about my people, after all.

Moving quietly so as not to wake Sia, I headed towards where they were.

Perhaps today.

A Count family might disappear.

At that moment. Sia, waking up in the room.

“?”

I dozed off for a moment, and the scenery had changed.

Covered with a warm blanket.

‘Did Lilac move me?’

Anyway, I couldn’t get up alone due to lack of strength in my waist, so I just rolled my head and eyes around.

An antique room filled with expensive furniture.

Lilac was nowhere to be seen.

‘Being alone is scary…’

‘I still remember what happened in the carriage.’

“Come back soon, Lilac…”

I whined pointlessly.