Chapter 1033 – The Plum Blossom Swordsman Reincarnated Into A Noble Family
Returning to the mansion, I noticed the maids’ eyes sparkling with an almost burdensome intensity. They kept glancing between me and Yuria, smiling contentedly.
The reason was obvious. They knew what had happened in the mental world. Elena, who had already left this world, must have blabbed to the maids.
“Welcome back, Master.”
The maids curtsied, holding their skirts. The sight of them lined up on both sides of the mansion entrance, bowing in unison, was spectacular. Especially since they were all stunningly beautiful women, it felt even more impressive.
I felt a surge of pride. I could see why CEOs of large corporations enjoyed being greeted by their employees.
“Yes, was everything alright?”
“The army that went north is returning victorious. And… Lady Elena has departed.”
Nepia, the acting head maid, spoke on behalf of the others.
I wasn’t surprised by the army’s victory, as I already knew about it.
‘With this, the victory of the Rapelli Kingdom is assured. Once the war is completely over, the Rapelli Kingdom will grow to the point where it could call itself an empire.’
The Rapelli Kingdom would soon be in turmoil. The princess and prince would fight over the succession. Unlike the original story, the timing was a bit delayed, but it would eventually happen. Only one person could sit on the throne.
“Master, Lady Elena left a gift for you!”
Nepia said, sounding slightly excited.
“A gift?”
“Yes. Please, allow me to show you! You’ll be surprised when you see it, Master.”
Curious about what Elena had left, I willingly followed Nepia. She led me to the main hall on the first floor. A large frame hung on the wall in the center of the hall.
It was a picture of me in a tuxedo and Yuria in a wedding dress. A scene from the wedding in the mental world, captured in a large photograph. Of course, we hadn’t actually taken a picture, but with Elena’s abilities, nothing was impossible.
“It’s such a beautiful picture! I heard you had a wedding in the mental world? Congratulations on your marriage, you two.”
“Congratulations on your marriage!”
The maids shouted, led by Nepia. I felt a bit embarrassed and scratched my head, while Yuria’s cheeks flushed slightly. Seeing her gaze linger on the picture, it seemed she liked it quite a bit.
“Sorry, but we’re going to have another wedding. Maybe two more?”
One would be a private wedding within the mansion.
The other would be outside the mansion, inviting Count Prukerus and all sorts of nobles.
The reason for having two separate weddings was my way of showing that I wouldn’t neglect the maids within the mansion. To begin with, I didn’t care about those outside the mansion… but there was also the matter of social standing.
‘In conclusion, I’ll end up having three weddings with Yuria.’
Yuria didn’t seem to dislike it. In fact, she looked slightly pleased.
I informed Nepia of this plan. The second wedding was scheduled for two weeks later. It was a bit of a tight schedule, but my mansion’s maids were capable. With Yuria leading them, I thought they could finish the preparations within a week if they put their minds to it.
“Understood, Master! We will prepare a perfect and beautiful wedding!”
Nepia was enthusiastic, even though it wasn’t her job. I realized that Nepia liked pomp and circumstance.
“Oh, right, Lady Elena’s gift isn’t just this.”
“There’s more she left behind?”
“Yes. It’s so special that we made a separate space for it in the basement.”
A gift that required a separate space in the basement. My anticipation began to rise.
Following Nepia’s guidance to the basement, I let out a hollow laugh.
The basement space was a wine cellar. A place where a constant temperature and humidity were maintained by magic. About 10,000 bottles of wine were stored here. I picked up one of the stored wine bottles. The liquid inside the corked bottle sloshed.
“Lady Elena just waved her hand, and suddenly wines appeared out of thin air. It was truly amazing. Right after that, Lady Elena disappeared without a trace…”
I checked the label on the bottle. It was a top-grade wine even within the [God’s Atlantis] world.
“And before Lady Elena left, she specifically told us to handle these wines with extra care.”
They were in the center of the cellar.
A total of 100 bottles.
I recognized them immediately.
Dionysus’s wine.
A special wine that increased mana upon consumption. And the taste and aroma were near perfection.
I immediately understood what had happened.
‘Elena used Limit Break before she left. And she must have burned all her lifespan.’
She must have used Limit Break to use the Transfer Technique with penalty-free power, burning all her lifespan, then used Full Recovery, and then used the Transfer Technique again to create the wine.
Otherwise, this enormous amount of wine wouldn’t make sense. Especially since there were 100 bottles of Dionysus’s wine.
‘I’ll have to thank Elena later.’
I decided to use Dionysus’s wine for more constructive purposes. I would give it to hardworking or talented maids, with various reasons, and they would be happy.
“Let’s use these wines at the wedding in two weeks.”
“Yes, Master. We will do that.”
Hoarding top-grade wine would be a waste. It should be used when the time is right.
I took a bottle of Dionysus’s wine and went outside. I could drink a few bottles myself.
***
The maids were busy preparing for the wedding. I wasn’t just lazing around during that time.
There was something I had to take care of.
The captured Kyle and his group.
Over the past week, Yuria had tortured Bitsole, the demon of desire, and succeeded in restoring Kyle to his original state.
While Baron Glbett had only stimulated strong desires, the demon Bitsole could stimulate small desires or make inflated desires smaller. Bitsole had calmed Kyle’s desires, returning him to his original self.
Kyle, who had been sitting blankly in the center of the prison, raised his head as soon as I entered.
“…Eugene. I’m ashamed. I was manipulated by a demon and made a complete fool of myself… I’m a disgrace as a brother.”
Kyle mumbled in a depressed tone, sitting on the prison floor. Of course, I didn’t feel any sympathy.
“Are you really reflecting on your actions?”
“…I think it wouldn’t be strange if you killed me. I’ll accept whatever punishment you give me.”
“Even if I kill you?”
“It doesn’t matter. I tried to kill you… If you want, I’ll take my own life.”
Kyle lowered his head.
It wasn’t an act. Before coming here, I had used Bitsole to stimulate the emotions of regret and sadness that Kyle possessed. But I hadn’t stimulated him too much.
‘If you stimulate desires and emotions too much, they can become extreme. Like Yuria in the mental world. If I stimulate Kyle too much, he might commit suicide.’
However, if I used Bitsole’s power well, I could take Kyle into my grasp and use him. Just like Baron Glbett had manipulated Kyle by using his desire for Yuria.
Of course, it was quite difficult. Kyle wasn’t an ordinary person. But his weakened mental state from being imprisoned and the undeniable justification I had made it possible to manipulate him.
“That won’t do. That’s too easy of an atonement.”
“…Eugene. You want me to live and suffer.”
“Of course. Dying is too easy.”
“What do you want me to do?”
Kyle said weakly.
“First, resign from your position as heir. And support me.”
“…Alright. The tide has already turned in your favor anyway. However… Gent won’t easily accept it.”
I knew that. Given Gent’s personality, he wouldn’t acknowledge me until the very end. I expected Gent to use any underhanded tactics until the last moment.
‘I have no intention of letting him get away with it.’
I had Yuria, a Grand Master. Even if Yuria wasn’t there, I didn’t think I would be defeated by someone like Gent.
“And second. You have to become a knight. Not for the family, but for me.”
It was common for a noble who had lost in the succession battle to become a knight. However, large territories like Prukerus were a bit different. They would give a portion of the territory. Just like I had received the city of Tevra Port.
“Loyalty to you…?”
“Why? Don’t you like the idea of serving your younger brother?”
“It’s not that. Eugene, you’re my younger brother, but you’re far more amazing than me. I have no complaints about pledging loyalty and serving you. Others will acknowledge it too. However… I have a dream.”
“Yuria?”
“Ah, no!”
Kyle shook his head in panic.
“I’ve given up on my feelings for Yuria. Yuria already… loves you deeply. I have no right to come between you two.”
“You’re only realizing that now?”
“……Haa. I don’t even know why I did it.”
Kyle sighed deeply.
I stroked my chin and thought. If Kyle had a dream, it would be that.
“The Mount Hua Sect?”
“That’s right. The Mount Hua Sect. I told you about it before. You said you would help me, but… our relationship has turned out like this… But I still haven’t given up on that dream.”
“I’ll help you. But you have to pledge your loyalty to me.”
That was even better.
It would be better if the Mount Hua Sect was in my grasp.
The Mount Hua Sect was a martial arts group, so I could use them like a knight order.
“If you help me… the Mount Hua Sect will be safe. Alright. I will pledge my loyalty to you.”
Finally, Kyle was in my hands. I forced down the corners of my mouth that were trying to curl up.
I had Yuria, but Yuria’s body was one, and she had to be by my side most of the time. Besides Yuria, the more cards I had to use, the better.
“Kyle Prukerus. As proof of your loyalty, bow your head and kneel before me.”
I commanded solemnly.
Kyle obeyed without a word. He knelt and pressed his forehead to the ground.
“Kyle Prukerus. From now on, I will be my lord’s sword. My loyalty will never change.”
Kyle’s complexion brightened. The guilt he felt towards me had faded slightly.
“Kyle, brother. But this isn’t enough. You tried to kill me and take Yuria away. It’s not right to end it with just a pledge of loyalty. You were manipulated by Baron Glbett? If you had handled it properly, you wouldn’t have been manipulated.”
“…Eugene. You’re right. I harbored feelings I shouldn’t have. To not even be able to control my desires… I’m a disgrace as a martial artist and a Taoist of the Mount Hua Sect.”
Kyle blamed himself.
“Brother. If you’ve done wrong, you have to be punished. Cut off your left arm.”
“…My left arm…”
“I’ll let your right arm go since you need it to hold a sword.”
Kyle’s eyes trembled. But he soon bowed his head to me.
“I’m sorry, Eugene. I was a terrible brother. And thank you for forgiving me with just my left arm.”
I pushed a sword into the prison.
Kyle grabbed the sword and cut off his left arm.
“Kuhhh!”
Thud.
His left arm fell with a splatter of blood. Kyle, who had stopped the bleeding with acupressure, was sweating profusely and held out the sword outside the prison. His arm was blocked by the bars. I opened the bars and retrieved the arm. Kyle was docile.
“Kyle, brother. I can’t release you from here right now.”
“I understand. And I’m fine. I need to sort out my complicated thoughts here.”
“By the way, I’ve decided to have a wedding with Yuria next week.”
“…Another wedding? Oh, right. That time was in the mental world.”
I could see Kyle desperately trying to control his expression. He still had feelings for Yuria. But Yuria would never look at Kyle.
“We’ll have two more weddings. This wedding will be a simple one within the mansion, and the second wedding will be a grand official one. I’m sorry, brother, but please stay in prison during the first wedding. This wedding is more of an event for the servants within the mansion.”
“…Alright. Understood. Congratulations on your wedding, Eugene.”
I turned and left, and Kyle closed his eyes and focused on his breathing.
