“Ngh…”
When I opened my eyes, I was staring up at a familiar ceiling.
…Somehow, I had returned once again to the day before that fateful match.
“Well then…,” I muttered to myself as I got up from my hard bed. “I suppose it’s time to—”
Bang!
“Master Hugo! How long are you planning to stay in bed?! If you don’t hurry…” The door was thrown wide open, and in strode Molly, my former nanny and now my chamberlain. She fixed me with a frown and began nagging me in a loud voice. “What? You’re already awake? Then come down to the dining room! Quickly!”
She was an irreverent woman who monitored my every move at my stepmother’s behest. She didn’t have even an ounce of respect for the man she ostensibly served.
“…I don’t want breakfast in the dining hall today,” I said. “Bring it here.”
“What? It’s too early for such nonsense! You’re in no position to be making selfish demands!”
“You’re the one who should watch your tongue. A mere servant like you ought to be more careful about how you address your master.”
“…?!”
Molly flinched at this cold warning, but it wasn’t long before her surprise gave way to anger.
“…Enough of this, Master Hugo. Or do you want me to tell the madam about your behavior?”
Ha-ha… Up until the end of my sixth life, that threat might have actually scared me…
I had always tried to stay on Molly’s good side because I didn’t want to be despised by the people I looked up to as my parents, regardless of whether we were related by blood.
But there were things Molly didn’t know: I had already walked this earth six times before, and I had now given up on ever becoming a part of this family.
“Then perhaps I’ll tell Father how you and the head cook have been embezzling the money he set aside for bringing me up. Oh, right… I’ll probably see him tomorrow before the match. Maybe I can tell him then?”
“…?!”
Ha-ha, that has her spooked.
Yes… From the moment she took over as my nanny, Molly had been misappropriating the funds set aside for my living expenses.
Because my maternal grandfather was Margrave Norfolk, my father couldn’t afford to be seen neglecting my upbringing—outwardly, at least. As such, a certain amount of money had been dedicated to my needs—and yet everything in my life, from my food to my clothing and furniture, was cheap and low quality. This was the reason why.
…In any case, Molly and the head cook’s wanton theft was usually brought to light about three years from now without my having to lift a finger.
“…You can’t be serious, Master Hugo. What evidence do you have for that accusation…?”
“Evidence? What does that matter? The minute I tell Father, he’ll investigate and find all the evidence he needs.”
At this, Molly’s face turned stark white.
Honestly… She should have realized the second I raised the matter who had the upper hand here. You’re going to do as I say now. That’s your reality.
“So…I’ll be eating breakfast in my room.”
“U-understood…,” she said with a bow before slipping out the door.
“Phew…”
Ha-ha… I could hardly believe what a relief it was not having to tiptoe around all the time worrying about everyone’s reactions… But what should I do now…?
I could use the assassination skills I’d picked up in my first life to slaughter my entire family, but that would just leave me a fugitive throughout the empire. What would be the point in that? Besides…
“…I won’t be satisfied unless I’ve brought them to the brink of despair. I can’t choke the life out of them until then.”
I mean, they had already caused my death six times over. I wanted them to pay for what they’d done, to suffer as they had made me suffer.
“…I guess I should start by leaving this house.”
So long as I stayed here, I had no future.
Was there anyone in this world who might accept me, who might assist me in my quest for revenge…?
I rested a hand under my chin and sank deep into thought.
I couldn’t expect much from my maternal grandfather, Margrave Norfolk. He had casually married my mother, his only daughter, into this family for political gain. And on top of that…he only ever spared me a glance once a year. And even then, I could see the contempt in his cold eyes.
In that case…
Knock-knock.
“E-excuse me. I’ve brought your breakfast…”
Molly, looking visibly apprehensive, stepped into the room with a group of maids and began setting up my meal.
She now understood that I could report her crimes at the slightest provocation. That would ensure her good behavior, at least until she could get rid of any incriminating evidence.
“I-if there’s anything else you need, please feel free to call…”
“Call you? How?” I asked in a low voice, glancing about my room.
My servants had never so much as given me the time of day, much less furnished my living quarters with a bell. How was I supposed to call them?
“I-in that case, I’ll attend to you here, in person!” offered one of the maids.
Her name was Ellen, and throughout all six of my past lives, she was the only one who had ever treated me with kindness.
“I see… Then can I ask a favor of you?” I said with a soft smile.
“O-of course!” she responded brightly.
“I-in that case…”
Acting like their work was done, Molly and the other maids filed out of my room.
“I guess I’ll dig in, then,” I said, picking up my knife and fork at the small table in my room.
“Please eat at your leisure!” Ellen called out.
Ha-ha… I guess it was too much to expect any improvements in the food.
“U-um, if you don’t mind my asking…,” Ellen began as she timidly poured me a glass of water. “Why did Miss Molly have such a sudden change of heart…?”
“Who knows? I’m just grateful she did,” I answered with a shrug and a wry smile.
“I—I see. Apologies for asking…” Ellen withdrew to the back of the room.
“More importantly…I’m hoping to do something to serve my father…,” I muttered insincerely, my gaze locked on the table in front of me.
“For His Lordship, you mean…?”
“Yes… I’d like to dedicate myself to serving the family in some way…for my father’s heir, Louis, and for my sister, Anna…”
“Master Hugo…” Ellen’s eyes softened and filled with emotion. She was deeply moved, it seemed, by this show of dedication to House Grenville.
“Hmm… What if I were to be adopted into another family of similar or greater standing—one that could benefit House Grenville in some way…? Like a ducal house or a foreign noble family?”
“Th-that sounds like a wonderful idea!” Ellen leaned in closer, a smile spreading across her face. My suggestion, it seemed, had met with her approval.
“Mm… Maybe if I win the match tomorrow, I’ll suggest as much to my father. Ha-ha… Thanks for your support, Ellen.”
“N-not at all! I’ll be here for you whenever you need me!”
“Yes… You’re the only one in this house I can trust… Well, I’d better finish eating, or I’ll wind up causing you trouble.” I chuckled softly.
After that, I hastily finished my breakfast and let Ellen gather the dishes and leave the room. Once she was gone, my lips curled up in a mischievous smirk.
“Ha-ha…”
I was well aware, of course, that Ellen—the only maid who ever treated me with compassion—was actually one of my father’s spies, sent here to keep an eye on me. I had known this ever since my third life.
I still remembered the view from my cottage’s window as it went up in flames around me, leaving me no means of escape—how I had seen Ellen there, standing outside in my stepmother’s shadow.
In other words—she had been one of them from the very beginning.
And yet…when I saw her through the window, it was the oddest thing. She seemed to be laughing and bawling her eyes out at the same time. I still couldn’t make heads or tails of her expression… But this was hardly the time to worry about such things.
At any rate, I had no doubt she would run off to report our conversation to my father at the first opportunity. Very soon, I suspected, I would be offered up as a prize—to the one and only archducal family in the whole empire, House Woodstock.
The noble House Woodstock had been founded by Cyril, the first Archduke Woodstock and uncle to the current emperor, His Majesty Edward von Southenklein. To this day, the archduke continued to reign over the northernmost part of the empire.
What’s more, Archduke Woodstock had lost his son and heir during the war, leaving his granddaughter as his only possible successor. However…
“…There are all sorts of rumors about his granddaughter.”
It was said she wielded absolute authority throughout her family’s holdings and that she was wont to kidnap innocent people from among their subjects to indulge in her favorite pastime—torturing her victims, bathing in their blood, and delighting in their frantic screams.
People claimed that she was actually a demon and that everyone who knew the truth of her identity had been permanently erased.
They had even given her a nickname behind her back:
“The archduke’s pet monster.”