CH 221

Duke, Please Repent! chapter 221

42. The Duke's Year-end Settlement (1)

It's already the end of the year.

This means that Serpense's birthday is approaching.

Last year, my heart was always heavy because the day of choice was just around the corner, but I think I will be able to enjoy this birthday with complete peace of mind.

'The handling of the disappearance case that happened last time was also well resolved!'

A lot of people were kidnapped.

It was only a matter of time before it became known that they had in common that they had worked for the Duke of Prasidus.

Now that time has passed, of course, it became known as soon as it became known. Even the Lux Smea Church cannot stop it.

So, the denomination officially revealed that the incident was the work of a demon.

On the church side, this and that is tedious

They talked about it, but the conclusion was that the evil victors tried to spread rumors by borrowing the mouths of those who had kidnapped them.

That's what the bastards always do. There is nothing new.

'It was just an evil demon, what.,

Those who heard the news accepted it, saying, 'To the demons, the Duke of Prasidus is quite a threat even if he is not the master of the Holy Sword.

It was also nothing special, and instead, people

The story about the ripple hit the cubicle.

Eirich had said on his last visit that he was going to leave the church after taking turns confirming that the abductees were being disposed of.

'Are you going to come to the heretic interrogator who will inherit your spear to take over training as an excuse?'

And today is Serpence's birthday.

Eilerich, who had regained the castle of Prasidus, returned home instead of visiting the mansion.

Serpens greets Eilic

This year's birthday was also spent at the duke's residence under the pretext of

Although the rolling papers and the banquet were ripped off that Serpence was shy.

'Well, last year, everyone was a little overdone.

Would it have been normal to hear the comment about the milk-colored peacock?

Still, he did not refuse a birthday party with his acquaintances.

Serpence's birthday party and Eilich's reception were held like that, the two protagonists, Prasidus, and I and Eugene. that

Winston, who holds the title of personal escort for Rigo Serpens, was with him.

Eilic lit a candle on the white cake that Eilic bought to celebrate Serpens's birthday, Serpense made a wish, and blown it out with a breeze.

Now that the simple gift giving ceremony is over, it's time to talk.

"Hey, that's, uh what should I call you? Serpens' eldest father?"

At my call, Eileen Hee looked at Winston carefully to gauge his ability, and his gaze turned to me.

As soon as that gaze fell, I noticed that Winston's muscles, which had swelled up under his uniform, softened.

I guess I was incredibly nervous.

Just call me like before.

Ah, yes. Then Eirich-sama. There is one thing you should know about Serpens.

As I was afraid to let go of my luck, Eirich stared intently at the corners of my lips, with a serious face, pricked ears.

Going beyond desirability to burden

It's a trend of close listening.

'Is it time for my muscles to swell?'

I consciously gave him strength, but I wasn't Winston.

There was no dramatic effect.

Let's pretend nothing happened.

"It's true that Serpens likes chocolate, but in general, she likes all kinds of sweets. Nutritional aside, eating the same thing every day is boring. We need to pursue a variety of snacks!

To be honest, the white chocolate cake was an unexpected turnaround for me.

However, chocolate is chocolate.

I'm sorry to say this about the food I've bought so far, but when the opportunity arises, don't miss it.

"Is that is it?"

Yes, it is!

Eilich's gaze turned to Serpens, who gave an unsettling smile.

His interest seems uncomfortable.

Then let's get a new cake...

As if he was about to run to the nearby cake shop right away, Eirich jumped to his feet.

No, no! It's okay! I know you'll get chocolate cake, and I've been avoiding chocolate desserts lately.

I spoke as a rapid-fire prisoner to tear him apart.

Serpens and Eilic were side by side, and they had a questioning expression on how they knew.

Ah, so...!

People who should be aware of it are not, and Euges alone achieved enlightenment.

"Well by the way. Eirich-sama, are you okay?"

"What do you mean?"

Ailee Hee, who did not understand my question, sat down and asked what it meant in the first place.

Shion, you missed the object again.

Ouch! I forgot!

Yeah?! A sophisticated way to get the other person to focus on what you're saying.

Wasn't it?

Serpens pointed out my mistake, I realized it, and Eugess heard it .

Let's pretend we didn't hear anything.

That rumor. It's a bit ugly, isn't it?

I've heard rumors about me, but I'm not sure what's so bad about it.

I questioned Eilic once more, but he still had a puzzled expression on his face.

This time it was my turn to not understand

all.

"From the beginning to the end! Not because Eirich-sama was angry but because he was so angry that he intervened with his personal feelings even though it wasn't his job, and he was expelled from the church because of the death of him while using meaningless violence under the guise of interrogation. Everything that happened! Overall everything!

I wouldn't have made the stupid mistake of an easy kill, but something similar would have happened if the other Inquisitors hadn't stopped me.

He underestimated the special list of tortures that the Holy See was proud of.

By his standards, it was not that he was ugly, but that he was cute.

After all, there is nothing to believe in the rumors that are going up and down in people's mouths.

Rather than that, the treatment of those involved in the kidnapping has been decided.

Eirich broke his luck by referring to them as those involved in the case, not the victims of the kidnapping.

They tried to sympathize with the demon worshipers, but they were told that their right to live was threatened by kidnapping and confinement.

Given the circumstances, the denomination has decided to help them cleanse their hearts tainted by demon worshipers and live a new and rewarding life.

What does that mean?

It's all about community service.

When I questioned the expression of a religious person whom I couldn't understand at all, Serpens kindly translated Eilich's words and listened to them.

They will spend the rest of their lives with the denomination.

It means that it will be used as a lifelong worker and will be kept under the supervision of the denomination.

Ah, I got this too.

I really like how smart Mea's subordinates can get things done.

However, those who became irreversibly corrupted by the ideas of the demon worshipers were compelled to be put to death.

"You don't have to interpret this."

I thought so.

After Eirich finished his words, Serpense and I had a conversation.

He smiled happily when he received it.

Eugene had a serious expression on his face, as if he was concentrating on the content, not paying attention to Eirich's smiling expression as he put the sentence in his mouth.

And Winston... .

Sir Winston? Why are you so dumbfounded?

Something like this happened... Ah! It's nothing.

The words, which could never be said to be nothing, poked their heads out and hid themselves.

When I'm thinking deep inside

It seems that the inside of the ice flowed out of the wind as he spoke.

That's it, there's something I can't say here...

It's okay if you don't care. Isn't it strange for subordinates to stand up and interfere with the master's affairs?

I'm glad you think so.

As a human being, I can't help but feel sad, but it seems that I have decided to understand and move on in my own way.

thank you and sorry

"Actually, there are other things that bother me."

What is it?

This time, it should answer any question with certainty.

That's probably not going to happen, but if you're curious about the number of Serpense's eyelashes, I'm willing to count them one by one right now.

With such determination, I looked straight at Winston, and he leaned back as if it was too much of a burden.

"Why is the master doing something to his senior?"

Ah .

From what I heard, it was the first time Winston saw a great fence today.

Glancing at Serpence, he hinted at Eirich.

Eirich must have heard from the people involved in the kidnapping case that Serpens spoke rudely to me, so it means that he said it because he thought it would look strange if he spoke respectfully.

'I thought it was a mistake because I got used to half-talking... .'

I guess it wasn't

Anyway, what Winston asked is why Serpence is using non-verbal language now] , which was the reason why she was speaking nonsense to me.

Then you should give him an appropriate answer.

It's not a big deal, but my friend ate and asked me to let her go.

"Didn't you force me to be more comfortable with you before that?"

Serpens spit on my words in reply to Winston.

The result is the same anyway, isn't it okay to just skip it?

And I decided to put an iron plate on my face.

Whether my strategy worked or not, he burst out a small laugh as if he had no idea.

The way he smiles, lifts a fork and cuts the cake placed on the plate in front of him, is so elegant.

Somehow it feels good

It seems like it would be now

Even if you talk so softly, it'll pass

It seems to be giving, but isn't it a good angle to just let it go?

It's not.

I guess it wasn't

He erased the smile from his lips and answered with a smile.

Oh, why!

If it's Shion, I'm sure I'll make a speech mistake at an official event.

"Wow, really. Can't you believe me? Isn't that the only trust between us?"

Why can't I trust you?

would you? I have no doubt that I will make a mistake.

It would be nice if you were a little suspicious of that.

It's like such a shrewd bastard.

Still, I never made a mistake with the name problem!

Shion, I don't think that's it.

In place of Serpence, who was speechless at my cry, Euges stubbornly denied it.

I did my best just not to mention my baptismal name.

" Serpens, why did you allow Shion to call you by name?"

I didn't know you were such a careless person.

Eugene and Serpence chatted amicably.

It's very nice to look friendly, but it's hard to be genuinely happy because it's a conversation topic.

'I hoped that the two of you would get to know each other and how hard I suffered!'

A classmate next to me came to my class to play with me, and from one day on, I became closer with my partner, not me.

I feel like I'm watching him flirt and flirt.

" Are you sprained?"

Serpens noticed my feelings like a ghost and asked me.

From now on, I'll have to call it a ghost fence, I can't.

"Aren't you crazy?"

No matter what anyone says, my best friend is 'you.'

"Oh, do you know?"

You should know.''

The guy smiles contentedly,

I put a piece of cake I hadn't eaten before putting it in my mouth.