Chương 57: Chapter 57
Sylas, Toby, and Max walked together through the corridors of the mansion. Servants who had just resumed their duties after the commotion threw furtive glances their way. When they reached a quiet part of the garden, Toby spoke up in a frustrated tone.
"My lord! Why? Why did you do that?" Toby asked, unable to contain his anger.
"What do you mean?" Sylas replied, pretending not to understand.
"We already know from Max that the mastermind is Young Master Dani...!" Toby blurted out, but Sylas cut him off sharply.
"Watch your words! Dani is my brother," Sylas said firmly, though his voice was low, aware that some nearby servants had already perked up their ears to listen in.
"Then at least explain why, my lord. Why did you let this happen?" Toby asked, pounding his chest in frustration. Sylas looked away, gazing at the distant clouds with a melancholy expression.
"To expose a brother's sins or to punish him would only bring more grief to my father. As a son, I cannot commit such an act of filial disrespect," Sylas said, his voice tinged with sadness.
"But if we let this go, who knows what trouble he'll cause next!" Toby protested.
"It doesn't matter!" Sylas shouted back, turning to face Toby with a determined expression.
"Better that I bear the burden of this guilt than cause our father any more suffering. That is what a son's duty is," Sylas added, his voice resolute.
"My lord…!" Toby exclaimed, his eyes brimming with emotion. Max, who had just calmed down, began sobbing again, overwhelmed by the noble sacrifice.
The servants, though pretending not to listen, couldn't help but feel moved by Sylas's words. Something stirred in their hearts as they overheard the conversation.
The trio continued walking, now passing by the flower garden. Toby, still not satisfied, repeated his earlier question.
"My lord! Why?"
Sylas responded in the same manner as before. The conversation repeated itself as they passed by the stables.
"The duty of a son is not to bring disgrace to his father."
"But what if he causes more harm?" Toby protested again.
"It doesn't matter!" Sylas insisted once more.
They repeated the conversation yet again when they reached the back of the knights' quarters, Toby still pushing for an answer, Sylas still standing firm. Eventually, they arrived at an empty clearing, a place where Sylas usually practiced his swordsmanship. However, due to the assassination incident, Sir Werner and the others were absent.
Once they were certain no one else was around, Sylas, Toby, and Max's expressions changed dramatically.
"So, what do you think? Did everyone hear us clearly?" Sylas asked.
"Judging by their reactions, I'd say they got the message," Toby replied with a grin.
"Don't worry, by tomorrow the rumors will be all over the place," Max added, still sniffling.
Sylas nodded in satisfaction. Everything had gone according to plan. He had subdued the assassin with his own strength, shielded his brother from accusations, and topped it off with a grand act of filial piety. It was, without a doubt, a perfectly executed plan.
"So, how does it feel to have come back from the brink of death?" Sylas asked, turning to Max.
"Sniff… The world is so beautiful. I never realized how wonderful it is just to be alive. Sniff, sniff!" Max wept, his eyes swollen from crying.
"Don't forget that I saved you. You know what happens if you try to run, right?" Sylas said, his tone sharp.
"Y-Yes, sir. You don't need to remind me. I'll work like a dog from now on. Sniff!" Max replied, nodding vigorously. He understood well that if he tried to escape, Count Bill would likely find him before Sylas did and tear him to shreds. Sylas had secured his loyalty, but the real threat came from the count's wrath.
"Good. There's plenty of work ahead for you, so be prepared," Sylas said with a smirk.
Though he had successfully played the role of the noble hero, Sylas knew his limits. He couldn't rely solely on improvisation forever. He needed a network of operatives to counter the schemes being played behind the scenes. Max, a former member of the Black Moon, was the perfect asset for such a task. Bound to Sylas by gratitude and fear, Max would serve without hesitation.
"Anyway, I get that you're happy, but could you stop crying already?" Sylas added.
"Sniff… It's not that. The wasabi you gave me earlier is still burning in my nose. Sniff, sniff!" Max wailed.
"..."
Dani felt like he was about to lose his mind. It had only been three days since the "assassination incident," but the entire atmosphere in the household had shifted dramatically.
The servants now looked at him with a mix of fear and disdain. The knights, though polite, carried an undercurrent of contempt in their gaze. Everywhere he went, he could hear the whispers behind his back.
"It's almost like the roles are reversed."
"Be careful what you say! If he hears, you won't die peacefully."
"Am I wrong, though? The legitimate son tries to kill his brother, while the illegitimate one is like a saint."
"Maybe it's the blood. Dani seems to have too much of his mother's side in him."
"How dare they! How dare they say such things!" Dani seethed, grinding his teeth as he stood near the hunting grounds. Not only had he been falsely accused, but now people were comparing him unfavorably to that bastard half-brother of his—calling Sylas noble while calling him unworthy. And not because of talent or skill, but because of his supposed lack of "nobility."
He wanted to kill them all on the spot. But he knew better than to act rashly, especially when his father was already on edge after the assassination incident.
"Arrrgh! I'll kill that bastard!" Dani screamed, swinging his sword wildly at a nearby tree. His form was sloppy, and it was more like he was swinging a club than a sword. He struck the tree with the side of the blade, causing the entire sword to bend and crack.
"The bastard! I'll kill them all! Those who deserve to die!" Dani shouted, tossing his broken sword to the ground and stomping on it. Just then, a voice clicked its tongue behind him.
"Tut-tut, have you gone mad? I knew you were always a fool, but it seems you've finally lost your mind entirely."
"...!"
Dani flinched and turned around, his face twisting into a scowl. The last person he wanted to see was standing before him.
"Brother!" Dani spat.
It was his older brother, Ulrich Corleone
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