Chapter 1:
An Unjustified Grudge
“FINALLY, MY TIME has come.”
Back home, Theodore was enjoying some expensive wine in his luxuriously furnished dwelling. The housing complex he lived in was specifically for hereditary knights, although on the outside it just appeared to be a worn-down high-rise. The complex was old and not without problems, but because it was cheap, knights who weren’t currently employed preferred it for their families. Theodore’s vanity had led him to fill the cheap apartment with expensive furnishings.
“That rural lord made a mistake thinking that he could serve at Prince Cleo’s side for so long. It should be a talented person like myself serving the prince. I was right all along.” Theodore’s disparaging remarks toward House Banfield stemmed, of course, from jealousy, though he also clearly had an extremely inflated sense of self-worth. “Prince Cleo’s lucky to have recruited a talented man like me. From now on, I’ll be supporting him instead of Liam.”
Theodore kept chuckling to himself until he received a call on his tablet.
“What is it?” he snapped as the image of one of his men was projected before him.
The man saluted, looking nervous. “Sir! We’re ready to head for House Banfield’s home planet. We’ve assembled the force according to your orders.”
“Good, good. Only those of considerable skill, I hope?” Theodore asked as he sipped his wine.
“Of course, sir. It’s just…”
“Just what?” Theodore urged the faltering man on.
“House Banfield is bound to have incredibly skilled guards and considerable security!” his subordinate hurriedly continued. “Even if we put together a skilled force, I’m not sure we’ll succeed in our mission…”
“You don’t think my plan’s good enough, then?!” Theodore roared.
“I-I’m sorry, sir,” the man said, his shoulders slumping.
“All you need to do is keep quiet and follow my orders. People are so convinced that House Banfield is invincible,” Theodore muttered to himself.
Meanwhile, the Guide stood behind Theodore, a disgusted look on his face. “Not this again. When will these idiots learn not to underestimate Liam? If you could get the drop on him that easily, I wouldn’t be having this much trouble!”
The Guide was so irritated that he almost killed Theodore in anger on the spot, but he desperately fought back the urge and instead focused on planning ahead.
“I’ll have to help even lumbering idiots like this if I want any chance of killing Liam,” he told himself. “I suppose I’ll lend him my assistance.”
The Guide would normally have enjoyed watching a person like Theodore fall flat on his face, but he couldn’t allow any more failures. Even if Theodore was an overly confident fool, the Guide had no choice but to help him.
“It’s all for the sake of killing Liam. I have to be patient for now.”
As the Guide endured Theodore, the man continued to posture in front of his lackey. “You never take things seriously enough. You know, if you people mess up, I’ll be the one in trouble with Prince Cleo.” He sighed. “Why am I always saddled with incompetents like you?”
“…I have no excuses, sir.”
Theodore went on, now evidently enjoying the lecture.
All the Guide could do was watch, stewing in irritation. “You’re the reason I have to go through all this, you incompetent idiot!”
Although he knew that Theodore couldn’t hear him, he couldn’t help but vent his frustration.
✦ ✦ ✦
Back on House Banfield’s home planet, I—Liam Sera Banfield—was relieved to have my master’s wedding taken care of. I hoped I’d managed to repay him even a little. It wasn’t a very evil lord-like concern, but I wanted my master to be happy, since I owed him so much.
However, that wasn’t the only thing I had on my mind at the moment. I’d called a certain girl to my office.
“How dare you snitch to Master Yasushi like that? This is what you get for your treachery!”
“Ow! Stop it! That really hurts!”
I had my fists to both sides of Ciel Sera Exner’s head and was grinding them into her skull.
There was a good reason I’d summoned her for this little scolding. Ciel’s sin was this: She had told my master Yasushi—the Sword God—that I was reluctant to marry Rosetta.
Up until then, I’d been fleeing my marriage to my fiancée, Rosetta Sereh Claudia. Now that Ciel had spilled the beans to my master, though, there was no longer anywhere for me to run. Ciel had used my master to cut off my escape route. I normally enjoyed seeing Ciel try to defy me, but this time, I couldn’t just let her get away with it.