Chapter Nineteen
BAM!
The heavy oak doors of the Halcrest castle groaned under the weight of my boots as they opened. I was expecting a quiet homecoming since it was midnight, hoping to take a stiff drink and a long nap before I went to see Lily's situation.
But, looks like fate always has a new kind of circus planned for me.
"THROW THAT SLOB'S STUFF OUT!" An unfamiliar voice brushed on my eardrums like sandpaper on glass.
Who is causing a ruckus so late at night in my estate?
I looked down as my gaze was graced with the vision of Butler Vizen sprawled on the cold stone floor. Blood was trickling down his temple, staining the pristine marble.
For a moment, the blood in my veins froze as his voice from earlier rang in my ears. 'Don't get sick, Your Grace.'
"Butler Vizen!" Kaelen bolted from my side, pulling me out of my thoughts. He didn't wait for an order, dropping to his knees to support the old man. "You're bleeding! What happened!?"
"K... Kaelen..." Vizen coughed, his voice so soft it could barely be called a whisper. "You have to protect the Duke... I tried my best. I didn't let them into the private study."
Ah... What's wrong with people in this castle? Protecting the lord that is the cause of their misery?
"Don't say stuff like that, Butler Vizen. Just stay still. Let me stop the blood flow."
"Hahaha!" A mocking laugh echoed in the hall as it my head snap in its to acknowledge the source of this circus. But, only found a man who looked like a bloated toad in silk breeches. "Oh, look who's here! The foolish dog of that slob. Tsk tsk. I don't see your master with you. Did he finally drown in a wine barrel?"
Wow... Who is this new fatty?
First, Veryon. Now, this circus master. Are all fatties in this world so troublesome?
Kaelen's head snapped up, his eyes burning with a killing intent I hadn't seen before. "You! How dare you hurt the duchy's servants! You're growing unruly by the day, Baron Vische."
Ah. Ah. Ah. Now it all makes sense.
"Hahaha! So what!? Your master finally abandoned you and ran away, didn't he? Come to my side, Kaelen. I'll treat you better than that drunkard ever did." Baron Vische's eyes shimmered with a lecherous glint.
Ew... Ugly, fat and gay??? Is there a worse combination? No wonder whatever I said when I possessed this body Kaelen's brain decided I was going to make him a gigolo.
It's all because of this fatty and that dead fatty. No wonder they were friends. Birds of a feather fly together.
"Fuck off!"
Vische's face turned a delightful shade of purple. "Haah... Just a commoner and you dare to run your mouth. Guards! Beat him and that old man to a pulp!"
Before I could step between the guards racing towards Kaelen and Vizen, a transparent blue window flickered in my vision.
[Ding!]
[Daily Task Assigned!]
[Completion Bar: 0%]
What is the task?
[Ping!]
[Host needs to figure that out himself.]
[The Task is due before midnight. All the best.]
Why does this System never makes my life easier? I was already feeling guilty for snapping. Now, it's given me cold shoulder. It's not like it was all my fault!
If this is how girlfriends behave. I'm definitely better without one
"Enough," I said, my voice cutting through the noise like a cold blade, making time come to a stop in the hall. "Stop the melodrama. It's giving me a headache."
I shook my head as I glanced in Kaelen's direction. "Kaelen, help Butler Vizen to his room. He's bleeding on the marble floor. We don't have maids to clean the floor."
"But, Your Grace—"
"Your Grace?" Vische let out a wheezing laugh, making me suck in a huge breath of air to calm my nerves. "Kaelen, have your eyes gone bad? I know your fatty master abandoned you, but you can't just accept any random person with golden hair and blue eyes as the Duke."
Hahaha... He's dead now.
Vizen, on the other hand, let his gaze dance between me and Kaelen, trying to understand the situation. "Who are you? Why are you wearing the Duke's clothes? Wait... Kaelen, why are you calling this handsome gentleman 'Your Grace'? Where is Your Grace?"
Haaaaah... Great. One more thing to the schedule. Ugh! I need to go and sort out money bank's case too.
"I didn't know that my dearest vassal and academy friend, the one who lent me so much money at such 'generous' interest rates, wouldn't be able to recognize me. You are hurting my feelings, Vische."
Vische froze. He looked at my face, then my height, then my jawline. "Who are you trying to fool? You're too handsome to be Duke Halcrest. That man is a bloated carcass. Guards! Capture this impersonator! You'll be executed for impersonating Duke Veryon Halcrest!"
The knights that were earlier charging towards Kaelen and Vizen, turned on their heels. They drew their swords with a schwing, looking far too confident for men about to experience a disaster.
Is that how knights should behave? Jump at the opponent without assessing the situation? Wonderful.
"You want to execute me with these kind of knights?" I let out a dry laugh. "How amusing."
The knights lunged. The swords came down in a twin arc, aiming to pin me. I didn't move. Not until their blades was inches from my face.
"Your Grace!"
Kaelen's panicked scream, made a sigh pass my lips as with a flick of my wrists, I caught both blades between my index and middle fingers.
CRACK.
The sound of snapping steel echoed through the hall. The knights stared at their hilts, their mouths hanging open. Before they could even process the shock in their expressions, they threw the handles of their swords and tried to grab me.
I didn't give them the chance. I swung my palms outward, slapping the two men, using the physical force provided by my mana circuit.
WHAM!
The two armored men soared across the hall, hitting the marble pillars with a sickening thud before sliding down, out cold. The side of their helmets that came in contact with my palms, crushed.
Baron Vische's jaw hit the floor. He wobbled, his knees giving out until he hit the ground with a wet thud. A dark stain began to spread across the crotch of his expensive trousers.
"Hey! Hey! Hey!" I barked, pointing at the puddle. "Don't dirty my castle. Do you know how much the cleaning staff costs? I don't have money yet!"
"Monster!" Baron Vische shrieked, scuttling backward like a crab. "This monster killed the Duke and came to the castle to take over! K-Kaelen! What are you waiting for!? Execute that monster!"
"Baron Vische, you do realise that you're asking my knight to kill me?" I tilted my head, watching the man crawl with my eyebrows scrunched in confusion. "Did your brain rot because of all that fat in your body or something?"
"You!"
"What's going on here?"
A new voice entered the circus, making me roll my eyes.
I looked toward the left side of the hall. Hans stood there, looking composed and entirely too sober for this situation.
Why does this guy look so fresh during sleeping time? I'd be pissed.
"Lord Hans! Lord Hans!" Vische scurried toward him, grabbing the hem of Hans's coat. "This person is trying to impersonate Duke Veryon! He's a killer! He killed my friend! He stole the Duke's identity!"
I groaned, closing my eyes in frustration and scratching the back of my neck before sparing a glance Hans. "How are you holding up, Hans? I got back a day late due to some... business. I couldn't personally welcome my new aide to the castle. My apologies."
Hans didn't hesitate as soon as his eyes met mine. He stepped forward and bowed deeply, his forehead nearly touching his knees.
"Keiran Hans greets Your Grace, Duke Veryon."
"How... How is this possible? How can that fatty drunkard turn so... HANDSOME!? Black Ma-!"
SLAP!