Chapter 11

Knight Wilhelm. A knight who took immense pride in being part of the Andersen family.

The loyalty stemming from that pride led him, like other knights, to view Jeremiah with disdain.

She was considered a stain on the Andersen name.

Even the family head and his successors despised and exiled her, so he believed it was only natural for him, as their representative, to look down on her as well.

Moreover, he thought that maintaining such a firm attitude would only solidify his loyalty to the family.

“…That’s why you were spouting such nonsense. You.”

But at this moment, as if to deny that fact, Wilhelm’s body was thrown to the ground over and over again.

No matter how many times he charged, it was futile.

The aura, proof of his mastery, and the secret techniques of the Andersen family, hailed as the pinnacle of swordsmanship… The man before him effortlessly brushed them aside, overwhelming him as if he were a child.

“Get up.”

Dirty tricks. Cunning schemes. Disgusting foul play…

There was no room for such excuses. The man, displaying his overwhelming strength without hesitation, quietly urged Wilhelm to charge again.

“You’re not planning to end it here, are you? If you, who claim to be the family head’s representative, admit defeat, it would be no different from smearing mud on the family head’s face.”

“Yes, you scum!!!”

Wilhelm, his reason shattered by the provocation, swung his sword with all his might.

When his blade clashed with the man’s knife, Wilhelm unleashed his mana in a desperate attempt to push him back.

“How dare you speak of the family head with that mouth!? You’ll be punished for this, you vile and disgusting creature…!”

-*Ssshhhk!!!*

The sound of metal being cut.

Along with it, the weight of Wilhelm’s sword lightened, and his gaze shifted to the tip of his blade.

A sharp piece of metal, tracing a parabola in front of him, fell to the ground.

‘He… cut my aura blade…?’

Something that should never happen.

Something that must never happen.

-*Crash!!!*

But the demon didn’t give him time to process it.

Wilhelm, kicked out of the room, slammed into the wall and began to groan in pain.

“Ugh, ah… Ugh…”

No, he couldn’t even scream, his breath completely knocked out of him.

A strike so brutal it defied comparison to anything before.

As all the anger he had directed at the man began to crumble and be suppressed, the demon approached Wilhelm, who was now on the ground, and stepped on his back.

“…Mr. Wilhelm. Just now, you said this: ‘I am the family head’s representative. I am Andersen itself.’”

A cold voice pierced his ears.

Just hearing it made his spine stiffen, the effect spreading throughout his body, freezing his nerves.

“And in asserting that, you said something to a member of the family you, as a knight, should have served.”

As if to emphasize the weight of his sin, the demon’s foot pressed harder on Wilhelm’s back.

“Because you stood behind the family, you projected your authority onto them and displayed an attitude that was utterly disrespectful… Do you think there’s any reason I should show you mercy?”

Yes, at this moment, he had become a sinner.

A sinner who had committed an unforgivable crime.

The forced guilt, which would not be out of place even if he were executed on the spot, mercilessly tore through his chest with the demon’s whisper.

“Shut… up, you…! You don’t know your place!!”

But shaking off that guilt took only a moment.

Wilhelm, resisting the force pressing down on him, shouted at the demon with all his might.

“Do you even know what you’ve just done!? You’ve pinned the representative of Andersen to the ground! If this news reaches the main family, your future is as good as ruined!!!”

There’s no way he could be overwhelmed.

Actions have consequences, and behind him stood the strongest noble family in the empire.

So, this man who couldn’t control his anger and acted out would only face ruin in his future.

“…You still think you’re Andersen itself, don’t you?”

To Wilhelm, who was filled with confidence and arrogance, the demon spoke in a dry voice as he raised the blade of his knife.

And in a stance as if he were cutting the tendons of a steak, he pointed the tip at Wilhelm’s outstretched hand…

“The foundation of your pride must be the sword you held in this hand, right?”

“Y-you, what are you trying to do…!?”

-*Ssshhhk!!!*

“AAAAAAAHHHHH!!!”

“My, my, you’re screaming too loudly for just having your hand’s tendons cut.”

Blood flowed.

The nerves buried deep beneath the skin and muscles were severed, sensation disappeared, and the loss turned into even greater pain, pulling him out of his sweet dream.

“Ah, ah… my, my hand…”

Losing his hand meant he could no longer call himself a knight.

If that happened, his pride would shatter into pieces, and the life that followed would be more miserable than death.

Realizing this, Wilhelm gasped for breath as if he were standing on the edge of a cliff.

“Do you finally feel the reality of the situation?”

It was enough to understand.

He had been defeated by this man, and the family he stood behind had no influence over this moment of violence.

Furthermore, if things continued like this, it wasn’t the man who would face ruin in the future—it was him.

“If you, who have only received the family’s benefits because of your skill with a sword, can no longer wield a sword… And if the news that you were defeated in swordsmanship by someone reaches the family, how do you think you’ll be treated?”

“Ah, ah…!”

“Now, Mr. Wilhelm.”

His name was called.

As if his name were being written in the book of life and death, deciding his fate.

“Do you still think you’re in a position of superiority?”

One step.

As if to show that taking just one more step would end everything.

“St-stop… I was wrong.”

Realizing this, Wilhelm began to cry out pathetically, losing all reason.

“I’ll apologize for being rude to the lady, so please…!! Don’t take my sword away. Please!!!”

His life, his pride… All of it could be torn away with a single gesture.

Terrified by this, Wilhelm’s ugly cries filled the air as the demon pulled the knife from his hand and quietly stepped on his neck.

And in that position, he turned his head and spoke.

“Lady Jeremiah.”

From the beginning to the end of this commotion.

Calling the name of the mistress who had been watching, holding her breath.

“What will you do?”

“What… should I do?”

“You’ve received a letter, so you should reply.”

“…A reply?”

“It’s an important matter. Replying to the contents of the letter.”

A serious voice.

Thus, the voice carried strong persuasiveness.

“Don’t just blindly follow the notice because it came. You are not Andersen’s puppet—you are Jeremiah Andersen, a human being.”

What does it matter if the main family ordered her to attend a ball?

They had already abandoned her once, and in such a situation, blindly following their orders would be foolish.

No matter the outcome, the decision should be made by her own will.

‘I am… a human.’

The moment she realized this, a sense of calm settled in Jeremiah’s heart.

In her heart, which she thought had been shattered into pieces, something that could be called a self began to emerge.

‘A human with her own will.’

Of course, walking a different path from before was terrifying.

But Jeremiah decided to muster her courage.

Because she wasn’t alone now.

Unlike before, she now had someone who supported her.

“…I’ll accept.”

Yes, this answer was given after considering that.

Seemingly surprised by her answer, the demon began to show concern in his voice.

“Accept? Are you sure?”

“If I refuse here, they won’t stop at just sending one knight.”

Offering a chance to a discarded child meant they saw some value in her.

Refusing that would surely invite retaliation from the family, and coincidentally, she had no power to resist at the moment.

Having just gained an ally, letting emotions dictate her actions and creating future troubles was not the right choice.

“I think following their orders for now is the right answer.”

After such contemplation, Jeremiah faced the butler.

But her body was trembling.

Though she had just mustered her will, she still lacked confidence in herself.

So, she worried whether this decision was the wrong one…

Seeing the worry in her eyes, the butler chuckled and removed his foot from Wilhelm’s neck.

“Well, did you hear that, Mr. Wilhelm?”

Then, forcing him to stand, he said:

“From now on, you’ll return to the main family and deliver the lady’s intentions directly.”

“W-what…?”

“It’s not just delivering a notice. You’ll clearly convey that the lady herself has expressed her acceptance to your master.”

Wilhelm, still dazed, looked at the butler’s sly smile.

Still not fully understanding the situation, the butler pointed the tip of his knife at him and urged an answer.

“If you understand, nod your head.”

“Y-yes, I understand.”

“Good. Then I’ll escort you to the entrance.”

Patting his back, the butler led him to the mansion’s entrance.

During the process, Wilhelm stiffened, fearing another outburst of violence, but the butler whispered quietly in his ear.

“Ah, and one more thing. A piece of advice.”

“W-what…?”

“From now on, try not to show your face to the lady.”

Pushed out the open entrance door.

As Wilhelm reflexively turned back, the demon delivered a chilling warning in a soft voice.

“If I see you again, it won’t end with just making you crippled.”

“Eek…!”

Wilhelm, terrified, clutched his injured hand and fled.

As his figure disappeared into the distance, the demon closed the entrance door and quietly turned around.

“…Sebastian.”

A mix of relief, gratitude, and anxiety…

Meeting her gaze, filled with conflicting emotions, the butler placed a hand on his chest and bowed his head.

“I apologize, my lady. I couldn’t hold back and resorted to violence without your command.”

Though he had taught Wilhelm a lesson and instilled fear, he had pushed a knight of the family to the brink of death.

If news of this spread, the family would undoubtedly hold him accountable.

Objectively speaking, it might have been better to silently endure, even if it meant the lady would be hurt.

“My impulsive actions today may bring great harm to you in the future.”

Jeremiah silently faced Sebastian, who was filled with concern.

Yes, he too was deeply aware of the responsibility for this incident.

And he had expressed the anger she couldn’t, on her behalf.

“Raise your head, Sebastian.”

How could she blame such a person?

A servant who had done what she couldn’t.

Someone who, in her place, had voiced her will.

“…My lady.”

“Do you remember what you said last night, Sebastian?”

Jeremiah recalled.

The figure of the demon, who had declared his support for her as she struggled with thoughts of revenge.

“That you would always stand by my side… You proved today that those words were not empty. You vented the anger I should have, and with your own hands, you blocked the threats aimed at me.”

“…”

“…If something like this happens again, you’ll act the same way, won’t you?”

The trembling hand on his chest.

After a moment of silence, the butler answered in a quiet voice.

“Yes.”

A sincere answer, without a hint of falsehood.

Feeling the blossoming of trust, Jeremiah smiled softly and replied.

“Then don’t apologize anymore.”

Because her body was still unskilled in expressing her own will.

“If your heart is truly for me, then I will support you too.”

Because she still needed someone to express her will for her.

“If you stay by my side as you are now, I’ll strive not to lose myself.”

So, Jeremiah decided to trust him.

To believe that his feelings for her were genuine, and to take even small steps forward.

She didn’t know if what awaited her was revenge or her own ruin.

But no matter what outcome awaited, she desperately hoped that the path to that result would be guided by her own will.

“…If that is your wish.”

Facing her resolve, the demon bowed respectfully, a small smile forming on his lips.

A smile born from genuine joy at her growth.

“I will do my utmost to serve you, so that I may live up to that trust. My mistress.”

For now, that was enough.

As the servant pledged his loyalty, the one who had become his mistress smiled softly in return.

“Yes, I too…”

“I will do my best alongside you. My butler.”

A scene unimaginable as that of a wicked woman being played by a demon.

Revealing a feeling of immense relief.

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