CH 15

Rustling ……

I crept into a plant in the garden, stuck my head out and scurried around to look around. There are no balconies or verandas like in Japanese houses, so if they go upstairs, there is nothing I can do.

“Which room is Nina in ……? Oh?”

“–“

Hiding in the plants along the wall, I glanced at the window and luckily spotted Nina. Nina was still standing and talking to the pig …… or rather, was it Brao, who was slumped on the couch? She was having a conversation with Nina. I couldn’t see Nina’s face, but I could tell by the tone of her voice that she was anxious. I kept my ears open and focused on the conversation.

“Roen and the others are having a hard time, aren’t they?”

“That, too, yes, they are ……”

“Kukukku …… That’s a good sign. Will the day come when we have to run them out of town like this?”

“……”

Is this guy trying to get rid of us?　I’m not sure what kind of grudge he has against us. …… My question was clarified by Nina’s next words.

“…… Why don’t you stop being involved with the Irving family? Isn’t Brao-sama satisfied now that he has become a lord? Roen-sama and the others are also desperate. It’s not fair to buy vegetables and medicines that they come to sell at a discount, or to shut them out of the market …… Ah?”

“Shut up! Who are do you think you’re talking to! I am the lord of Istria, appointed by the king!”

“(Nina ……!　(Damn him ……!)”

I got up in a rage and saw Brao slapping Nina and I bit my teeth as I struggled to keep from jumping out of my skin. At any rate, was it worth it to come here just to find out that this guy was harassing her?

“…… Even though you took that position from Roen-sama, too ……!”

“I’m telling you to shut up! Nina, who paid for your mother’s treatment? It was me, wasn’t it?　I’m the one who saved the old lady from dying. Hmm?”

”That must have been your doing too! I learned later that your skill is [Knowledge of Medicinal Herbs]. And I also learned that my mother was suffering from poisonous plant poisoning ……”

Heh~, I find it surprising that he have a skill as sensitive as Mom’s, in my opinion. I thought it was something like [Arrogant Attitude].”

Putting that aside, I’m starting to see it. Nina told Brao that he took the “Lord’s position” from Dad. If she said he was a former lord, it would not be strange to be poor but had a great house and a maid named Nina.

In addition, this also explains why Nina said that she was willing to have less payment.

…… She is a spy for Brao.

“What proof do you have? You are the one who said that you would do anything in exchange for a large sum of money, Nina. That’s why I’m making you find out what is Roen and Marianne’s movements, aren’t I? If he grows a bumper crop of vegetables and prepares a large amount of them for the market first, the price will plummet and he will have very little profit. It’s the same with medicine. I’ve heard that he’s been making some strange and expensive drugs lately, though.”

“…… You coward ……! The same way you dragged Roen-sama down from his position as Lord is the same way you dragged my mother down, by poisoning the two-year-old Delaide-sama!”

“…… Hmmm, smart women die young, right? I was a servant at that time, and I concocted a poisonous herb that Marianne’s skills could not save, and gave it to the child to drink. I was trustworthy, so they didn’t suspect me. I knew I had to do my job seriously. And then I called in a fake doctor, who said he needed a lot of money to save the child, so they piled up the money and got off the lord’s position, and the child didn’t survive, but –“

……! I heard the most ridiculous words, and my head snapped up. This guy was trying to …… kill my brother ……!?

“– There was a miscalculation. The child did not die.”

“Of course not! There is no reason why the madam who worked tirelessly day in and day out, mixing various ingredients and making herbs, cannot save the child! Perhaps even Lars-sama, who was in her belly, would have been miscarried! So it was you, the servant, who did this –“

“Do you want to tell Roen? You can try it. But then your mother might get caught for a crime she didn’t commit, right?”

“……!?”

Nina’s face was turning pale …… and from the way she was talking she didn’t want to be a spy. Nina was just doing what she had to do for her family. Brao covered Nina’s face with a sly smile.

“I want you to be mine. We’ve known each other since he was a lord, haven’t we?”

“No! If the madam finds out –“

“Well, whatever happens, happens. I’m the lord, remember?”

“Did you know that people say you’re a shitty lord who can’t even do politics? Fufu, the word “unworthy” is there for you! …… Ah!?”

“I listened silently, and you just keep talking! I’ve put up with you all this time, but no more! I’ll let your body teach you!”

“Ahhhh!? S-Someone — Mgh!?”

“Kukku, no one’s coming? This is my house!”

Oh no, at this rate, Nina will be assaulted!

“Reach it …… !”

I whisper and shoot fire into the pig’s hair. A fire the size of the palm of my hand ignited Brao.

Hiss ……

(T/N: The sound of Brao’s hair burning.)

“Hm? Something smells burnt …… Uoohhhhhh!? H-Hot!? What? Nina, extinguish it!”

“……! No! I won’t listen to you anymore. If you do anything to my mother, I will tell the Guild and Roen-sama about you ……!”

“Uoohhhh, w-wait, Nina!”

I was relieved when I saw Nina leave the room and leave the house, and I left the place.

…… At the rate she’s going, Nina won’t say anything out of respect for her mother. I don’t think Brao will do anything to Nina either, because he knows that it’s a double-edged sword.

Now, the story of how Brao had trapped Dad and dragged him away from the lord’s position and replaced him was a big one. I also found out everything that Dad and the others were trying to hide.

I swallowed, thinking that it was over and muttered to myself as I followed Nina.

“Trying to kill my brother and framing my Dad and Mom …… is unforgivable, isn’t it?”

I’m five years old now. It’s a shame, but there’s nothing I can do about it, as I have no power or money. If I were to carelessly tell this to my Dad and the others, I would not know what they would do under the authority of the lord, so I could not be careless.

In light of the current situation, I grit my teeth.

“…… I’ll leave you with that position for now. Brao, I’ll make sure I knock you down to hell.”

This was the moment when I had one more goal to live for.

Lars-kun is now determined to take revenge ……!

Thank you for reading!

[Afterword Theater]

“It’s getting interesting, isn’t it?”

I wonder if this is where Lars’ life really begins?

“It’s good that he loves his family so much, but I hope it doesn’t get out of control.”