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“What? Who is coming?”
The neck of the monster held in Stefan’s hand broke with a crackling sound. As the protruding neck bone tore the skin of the monster, green blood flowed down Stefan’s hand.
“Sir Rodrigo Erhardt is here.”
Cartina’s butler, Lance, fixed his gaze on his owner’s shoes, which had been splattered with monster blood, and waited for Stefan’s next words. Stefan pushed the monster corpse to the side and sprinkled food that the monsters would like in the air. A monster that smelled the blood of animals appeared, walking through the trees on all fours. Stefan relentlessly drew his sword and cut it apart.
Splat.
Like the rainy season on a summer day, the blood of monsters poured down to the floor and formed a puddle. Stefan’s moves were uncontrollable. Lance noticed right away, but he only shook his head further as there was nothing he could do about it.
“Let’s go see that bloody face.”
“Would you like to go this way?”
Thinking that the newcomers who had just arrived in Cartina should be evacuated, Lance asked Stefan’s intentions.
This was the back of the mansion, which was owned by Cartina. After making the whole high mountain like a maze, it became a monster hunting ground where monsters were released, a place where Stefan relieved stress, and a place where Cartina’s young children and Cartina’s enlisted soldiers trained. Living here was essential. Of course, clothes and swords were provided.
Stefan had a dirty temper, but his appearance was neat. He was a handsome man, unlike the other Cartina brothers who were downcast. There were more than one or two people who had been deceived by that face. He also knew that his face could be beneficial, so whenever he met someone, he always cleaned and decorated his body, even if he didn’t dress up too much.
Right now, he was dressed simply since he was hunting. This also meant that he wouldn’t even treat Rodrigo as a human being. Exhausted, Lance felt a headache coming. Lance knew well why the mansion had been gloomy the past few days. There was a riot among the servants.
The fateful love of the youngest Cartina.
Various nonsensical rumors abounded, such as that the devil’s trick was passed on by the youngest girl of Cartina, and that the resentment between Cartina and Erhardt was resolved through their tragic love. The interest of the servants was proportional to their loyalty to the owner.
Lance understood but did not participate in the nonsense derived from their loyalty. Rather, he stopped the talking by cracking down on the mouths of his subordinates. In fact, he was not interested in the love of the youngest lady.
May the mansion be quiet. May all evil deeds take place outside, and may there only be peace here.
That was Lance the Butler’s small wish to serve the Cartinas for the third generation.
Rodrigo went through a lot before he stepped into Cartina’s parlor.
Why are there so many traps in the nobleman’s mansion?
He avoided the trap of a small spear soaring from the floor twice, the 10 flying arrows, and found 20 traps. The whole house was like a trap.
Even if there is a war, this place would be safe.
Rodrigo looked at the decent traps and thought of applying them to Erhardt’s mansion.
“Lady Estiya is coming.”
Finally, there was someone he needed to seduce. Rodrigo got up from his seat while dressed neatly.
I was notified by the sound of a bomb that Rodrigo had arrived.
“Sir Rodrigo has arrived.”
Jane came looking outside and I said,
“Yeah, he came early.”
“Did you know he would come?”
Jane asked. Instead of answering, I chuckled.
“How long do you think it will take coming all the way here?”
“Well, won’t it take an hour?”
I have enough time to change clothes.
Jane, who noticed my intention, hurriedly gave me a dress.
“I guess you like Rodrigo, Miss? You’re done changing.”
“If I didn’t like him, would I meet him?”
It broke my heart that I had to deceive even my best friend, Jane, but I couldn’t help it. In order to deceive the enemy, you must deceive the allies first.
(PR/N: Only one you’re deceiving is yourself hon (¬‿¬))
“I’m ready.”
Jane had her hands working fast. We were able to finish the preparations much sooner than expected. I looked in the mirror. A beautiful face was looking at me.
Ha, pretty.
I stood up again admiring my face.
“Let’s go.”
I was looking forward to how he’d come up with the list and how he’d ask for it. I walked down to the drawing room with light footsteps.
“Rodrigo, are you here early?”
Rodrigo stood up dressed in a black suit. He was neat but glamorous. He is a person who will look flashy because of his handsome face, even if he is dressed in bulky clothes.
“You’re beautiful.”
He praised me without any unnecessary words.
“Show more sincerity in the compliment.”
He smirked at what I said.
“The green of the blue summer comes to mind. A rose brooch would be perfect
”
I told him to compliment me, but he wrote a poem.
“Devlan.”
Rodrigo called the person standing next to him.
Did he say it was his butler?
“Yes sir. Please speak.”
“The Ruby Mine in the western province of Rubiste.”
“Yes.”
“Please transfer the name by tomorrow.”
“The paperwork is complicated. You have to wait a week.”
“Hmm.”
Rodrigo groaned disapprovingly. I was talking to the servants standing next to me for a while. I could feel his gaze looking at my side face. There was a tapping sound on the desk. I looked back and saw Devlan’s embarrassed face.
“I’ll push the administrators and reduce it.” Devlan said.
“Three days. There is no more compromise.”
“Yes, three days. But who will name the ruby mine?”
“Estiya.”
“Yes?”
It was me, not Devlan, who answered this time. Devlan was calmly writing down what he had to do in his notebook.
“What do you mean, Rodrigo?”
“I said I would name the ruby mine in your name.”
Rodrigo spoke comfortably, conscious of the servants of Cartina’s mansion.
“Why?” I asked and quickly reached out to Rodrigo’s mouth.
“Oh, don’t say it. I’ll think about it.”
He suddenly presented me with a ruby mine. What’s the reason?
Rodrigo was looking at me with his arms folded in front of his chest.
“I found the answer!”
The answer came out quickly. I turned around the long desk and stood next to Rodrigo. I then bent down so other people couldn’t hear.
Gold hair poured out and touched Rodrigo’s cheek. He flinched, perhaps feeling itchy.
“You’re trying not to let Cartina interfere with your business, right? If it’s under my name, I won’t be able to disturb you. Yeah, feel free to use me. That’s fine with me. I’ll give it back to you later, so don’t worry.”
Rodrigo let out a short sigh.
Oh, I solved this difficult problem. I sat face to face in front of him with a triumphant look. Is it because I found the answer too easily? Rodrigo’s expression was not good.
“Estiya, you seem to be misunderstanding something, but my gift is pure
”
Bam!
Rodrigo said something and the door flew. The door, which had lost its position, circled and flew toward Rodrigo’s neck. Rodrigo stood up with a big frown.
Crash.
The door smashed the window.
“I came to slash the demons by their throats, but I guess I couldn’t control my power. Are you okay, Sir Rodrigo?”
It was Stefen. Green blood dripped down from his hands. Stefan appeared in a bizarre way and stared at Rodrigo as if to kill him. He blocked the spot where the door to the drawing room was, like a dog guarding hell.
“Dad!”
I quickly took out my handkerchief and ran to him. When I wiped off his messed up face, Stefan’s atmosphere eased. I was actually surprised by the tremendous change. It felt like it suddenly turned into a pink romance fantasy parenting a 19-year-old novel.
“Dad, have you been to the monster hunting ground? You went to bed late last night and woke up early this morning.”
I nagged more with the way I worried about him. He liked my nagging. Cartina people were not interested in each other except me. The relationship between my mother Hela and Stefan is not bad, but Hela did not nag Stefan.
There’s no conversation at all.
Perhaps that’s why Stefen thought I was nagging because I loved him. He laughed and wiped his hands on the cleanest part of his clothes and stroked my head.
“My pretty daughter, you have a pretty heart.”
I sighed inside as I watched Lance wipe his tears with a handkerchief behind Stefan. Lance felt sad. Is it normal for a butler to be deeply moved by such a small peace?
I heard Rodrigo approaching from behind. At the same time, Lance’s face turned contemplative. He seems to have an idea of what will happen when Rodrigo and Stefan meet. I felt sorry for Lance.
But what can we do? This is the way we all live.
“It’s been a while, Sir Stefan. I’m here for something to be paid for, but if you need to prepare, I’ll wait with Estiya for tea.”
Stefan stepped back because he didn’t want to look up at Rodrigo, who is half a span bigger than him. And I found  myself stuck between Stefan and Rodrigo.
“You’re uselessly tall, Sir Rodrigo.”
It’s a tone that said he didn’t like anything from one to ten about him.
“Will you drink tea with Estiya? Just the two of you?”
The terrifying voice was full of will to stick a funnel in his mouth and pour down poison.
“Say whatever you want while your tongue is still intact.”
Stefan threatens to paralyze tongues when people speak outright nonsense.
Oh, my head.