Chapter 40

Chapter 40: The Servant Cedric (6) – The Direction of Effort

Cedric looked at Claudia.

Her face, full of boundless malice yet tinged with a faint smirk, seemed provocatively challenging, as if daring him to solve it if he could.

However, on the other hand, it was also pitiful, as if silently pleading for help in some way.

It was a contradictory expression, but not all that strange. After all, emotions are inherently complex.

‘Hmm.’

And the same could be said for Cedric as well.

His feelings were quite complex too.

Judged from the perspective of a nobleman, Claudia’s words bordered on childish whining.

After all, the very reason she had enjoyed so many privileges as a noble lady was because of her family name—Redbel.

Luxurious food, opulent clothes that commoners could never touch, and a cozy, comfortable bed—all were gifts from her family.

To now enjoy all these benefits yet shirk the “duties” that came with being a noble lady of the Redbel family—was there any sillier demand imaginable?

Nevertheless, viewed from the perspective of a fellow human being, her words were understandable.

Was it right for a parent to pour enormous amounts of money into private education for their child and then declare, “Since you enjoyed good education because of my money, you must take the job I want”?

Without ever considering the child’s own wishes, handing them multiple things on a whim, and then demanding repayment as if it were a debt—was that a fair attitude?

Cedric’s origin was the Crown Prince.

Though he was a figure of ‘high standing’, his memories as the Crown Prince were distant, like a faint dream.

Therefore, Cedric replied this way.

“Hmm, that is quite something. The Marquis might be pushing it a bit too far.”

“…!”

Claudia’s eyes went wide.

It was impossible for her to have anticipated that someone would openly criticize the Marquis of Redbel right under his own roof.

She instinctively turned her head left and right, peeking around nervously, which only made Cedric smile.

“What’s that look of fear about? You’ve complained about everything under the sun already.”

“But mine and yours are totally different!”

“It doesn’t matter. After all, your real master is you, not the Marquis—so why the concern?”

“…”

At Cedric’s words, delivered as if he genuinely didn’t understand, Claudia unconsciously swallowed hard.

Before Claudia started acting up, there had been many servants around her.

They would offer their help with her worries, encouraging her to confide in them. But when she eventually revealed her true feelings, every single one of them would immediately look perplexed.

“The Marquis didn’t mean what you’re thinking, Miss.”

“Marriage isn’t necessarily a bad thing; perhaps you should try to look at it positively.”

“Miss, it’s not appropriate to speak so immaturely. As a daughter, it’s natural to follow your father’s will.”

They would either try to calm her down, offer hollow words of comfort, or, in some cases, suddenly straighten up and change their tone.

Only then did Claudia realize the truth.

The servants who seemed to care for her so much were, in fact, merely serving her father, not her.

In a way, it made perfect sense.

The owner of the mighty Redbel estate and a mere girl living under his shadow—it was all too clear which should take precedence.

Still, the servant in front of her now said something else.

That to him, Claudia was more important than the Marquis.

Claudia, unsure of what to say, fidgeted anxiously.

Ignoring her unease, Cedric shrugged nonchalantly.

“I understand why you’ve become so bitter, Miss Claudia. But I must say, this is not a smart choice.”

“…Are you saying I should just obediently follow my father’s wishes?”

“The problem isn’t the goal; it’s the means. To put it plainly, what you’re doing now won’t have any impact on the Marquis’s plans.”

“What?”

Claudia blinked, surprised.

This wasn’t something she had considered.

“What do you mean?”

“Let’s assume the Marquis is considering taking a new wife. If it became known that he has a habit of beating up commoners for fun, do you think there would be no families rushing to marry him?”

“That…”

Claudia hesitated to reply, not because she didn’t know the answer, but because she dimly realized what the answer meant.

“Regardless of whether there are such bad rumors, there would still be plenty of families lining up to form alliances with the Marquis. Commoners getting beaten up? Servants being mistreated? Does it matter? He represents the most pivotal of all noble families in the kingdom, after all.”

Cedric’s face and tone were calmer than usual, and there was no trace of a smile.

“The party that would have to marry the Marquis might not like it, but does that really matter? If the head of the other family decides ‘this marriage would benefit my house’, it will happen, even if forced. This is the same for you.”

Families eager to form alliances with the Redbel house wouldn’t care about minor flaws in Claudia. To them, what mattered was the fact that they would be allied with the Redbel family.

“If your goal is to make the Marquis regret not selling you at a higher price, what you’re doing now is sufficient. But if you’re trying to avoid marriage altogether, what you’re doing has no meaning—at least not enough to deter him from using you.”

Claudia’s fingertips trembled.

Though Cedric had dressed it up a bit, Claudia’s tantrums were not carefully planned actions against the Marquis.

Instead, they were closer to protests, a way of shouting ‘I’m really angry’ or ‘I don’t like this’ to the Marquis.

It might not mean anything in the grand scheme of things.

Knowing this but still ignoring it, when faced with Cedric’s direct confrontation, Claudia reacted with sudden frustration.

“Then, what do you expect me to do? If it doesn’t matter whether I do well or not, what exactly are you suggesting!!”

Cedric replied,

“That’s simple. If neither good nor bad actions have any meaning, then one option is to go ‘extremely good’ or ‘extremely bad’.”

At first glance, it sounded like a play on words.

But having heard what preceded this, Claudia looked at Cedric with her moist eyes.

“Go on.”

“Being extremely bad is simple. Just cause trouble that even the Redbel family name can’t cover up.”

“And how would I do that?”

“Ah, if you scrape your face with a grater, wouldn’t that effectively block all marital prospects?”

“Huh!”

Claudia reflexively took a step back, hiccuping in surprise.

If Cedric had said it in an ominous tone designed to scare her, it might have been less chilling. But he delivered it casually, as though discussing the evening menu, making it twice as nerve-wracking.

“Give me something else! Another way!”

“Another option would be to shave your head and use some drugs to ensure it doesn’t grow back! I’ll look for something painless, of course.”

“Don’t talk such horror! No, something more about harming others instead?”

“Hmm… But let me remind you, nobles of the kingdom—let’s be frank—have poor moral compasses. If you were to run into the street tomorrow and start decapitating commoners for fun, they’d probably just say, ‘Wow, that’s a bit primitive.'”

Claudia remained silent.

She knew he was right.

Cedric continued.

“Anyway, while ‘going extremely bad’ might be easy, the side effects wouldn’t be trivial. Either you’d bear permanent physical scars, or your reputation would plummet from ‘wild child’ or ‘tough woman’ to ‘uncouth trash’, which would be worse.”

“You didn’t just subtly call me a ‘wild child’ and ‘tough woman’, did you?”

“I did say that—so what?”

“…”

Claudia opened her mouth to retort but closed it again and sighed.

“So what? You’ve been treating me like a dog for long enough.”

Cedric frowned.

“I have never treated you like a dog, Miss.”

“Hah, saying that won’t change anything. Your actions reveal the truth.”

“To insult someone by comparing them to a dog? That would offend even the dogs.”

“Hey, you brat!!”

Despite being a noble lady, Claudia let out an exclamation worthy of a tavern adventurer, as Cedric deftly caught the teacup and cake plate she hurled at him. Then he continued,

“You’re right, your situation does indeed warrant some sympathy. And yes, the Marquis has overstepped boundaries. However, it cannot be denied that your actions have caused far too much trouble for those around you.”

Claudia narrowed her eyes but did not interrupt him.

“Therefore, pursuing the ‘extremely good’ route will be an arduous path, as you would have to rebuild from scratch the reputation and accomplishments you’ve willingly squandered until now.”

“If I do that, will my situation improve? Won’t I still be sold off anyway?”

“That’s what would happen if you only managed to do well moderately. Once your accomplishments and reputation exceed a certain threshold, the Marquis would have his doubts.”

“Doubts about what?”

“Whether selling you off would bring profits, or whether keeping you might be more beneficial.”

The Marquis of Redbel was a ruthless man.

He didn’t care about his daughter’s happiness; his only concern was whether she would be useful to him.

Nevertheless, it would be easier to persuade such a Marquis with results rather than emotions.

“Win the support of the servants. Gain the trust of the common people. Make it so everyone acknowledges your abilities. To the point where giving you away to another family would make him feel he’s losing something precious.”

“Is that even realistic?”

“It’s possible.”

Cedric’s tone was firm.

While Claudia herself doubted her own potential, Cedric believed in her with unwavering conviction.

“Extraordinary looks, abundant assets, unique followers, and a promising estate. Miss, you already possess every necessary advantage. The only things you lack are two.”

“What am I missing?”

“The will to succeed. And trust in me.”

As if waiting for an answer, Cedric gazed steadily at her.

Claudia hesitated.

No matter how she thought about it, the story seemed far-fetched.

But…

“Anyway, doesn’t that matter? You’re mine to serve, not the Marquis—so what does it matter?”

That offhand, almost indifferent statement, which seemed to suggest no grand declaration, resonated deeply with her.

“Alright, I’ll try it. If you say it’s possible, then I’ll do it.”

At her response, a smile bloomed on Cedric’s lips.

“Very well, Miss. Henceforth, I, Cedric, shall serve you with all my heart to nurture you into a competent ruler worthy of your heritage.”

Claudia unconsciously gulped.

The man who usually seemed unpredictable and strange suddenly felt like a knight from a story.

His eccentric tone and seemingly disrespectful attitude towards his mistress had always overshadowed his consistently dignified movements.

Until now, she had probably been a deficient mistress, prompting him to maintain a rough demeanor. Conversely, if she became a proper lady, he would undoubtedly reciprocate with equal respect.

Claudia’s expression softened, picturing herself enjoying tea elegantly under the warm sunshine, with Cedric standing faithfully at her side.

It’s not bad.

Not bad at all, she thought, nodding unintentionally.

“Then, what should I do first?”

In response to Claudia’s cautious question, Cedric replied,

“Begin by bowing and apologizing to every servant in the mansion. And let me make clear—excuses like ‘I had no choice’ or ‘I’ve said sorry, so let it be’ are strictly forbidden.”

“…”

“Claudia?”

“Oh, alright.”