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Translator: uly
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Standing Firm Against the Beast
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—After that incident, Sion Klauzen had holed up in his room for nearly a month, living like a shut-in.
Especially whenever he made eye contact with anyone else, he'd break out in a panic—because the monster's gaze that had stared him down was seared into his mind, leaving him trapped wandering through those horrific memories from that day.
—
A passage from the novel came to mind.
Kim Yu-hyeon, who had performed Sion's arm-severing ritual not with a sword or any blade, but with a hand chop.
Thanks to that, Sion ended up holed up in his room like a shut-in for over a month, eventually hardening into the story's worst villain, consumed by hatred and curses toward Kim Yu-hyeon.
The description even noted how terrifying Kim Yu-hyeon's gaze had been—Sion would tremble in fear at the mere sight of anyone looking at him, reminded of that moment...
'I just thought Sion Klauzen was a pathetic loser from the start, spooked by a mere glare.'
But that wasn't the case.
Even he, someone who could confidently call himself perfectly normal, was shaking like a wild animal before that monster.
'Fuck!
What the hell am I supposed to do!'
Given Kim Yu-hyeon's character traits, even if he'd handed over Trey, he'd still have gotten that same look.
He despised anyone who buckled under pressure and betrayed their comrades or those around them.
Sion gritted his teeth.
It was too late to take back his words now, and way too late to grovel with something like, "On second thought, it might be best to take him. Do as you please," plastered with a servile smile.
There was no way out now.
Whether his head got smashed or his arm got chopped off, he had to grit his teeth and push through.
"I'll say it once more, Sir Trey cannot be handed over."
"...So you want to die instead?"
Shing!
Finally, the sword at Kim Yu-hyeon's waist spat out a flash of light.
Half-drawn, it looked ready to slice Sion's neck off at any moment.
Part of him wanted to turn tail and run without looking back, but Sion endured the temptation with superhuman patience.
Instead, he opened his mouth as confidently as possible, like he was making a principled stand.
"I know better than anyone what Sir Trey has done wrong.
Of course he should be punished.
But I can't claim I bear no fault for failing to properly guide him, so we'll return to the castle, confess our sins to the lord, and await punishment.
No matter the wrongdoing, a leader can't just casually hand over their subordinate to another.
I believe that's the bare minimum duty of one in command."
"..."
The moment he heard Sion's words, one corner of Kim Yu-hyeon's eye twitched upward fiercely.
Anyone unaware of the context would've been terrified and fallen backward at the sight, but Sion was different.
He knew that Kim Yu-hyeon's habit of raising an eyebrow like that meant "Well, well?"—a sign of admiration unique to him.
'Yes!
He's looking at me with that raised eyebrow.
He's acknowledging me!'
Of course, letting his guard down would be a mistake.
He'd succeeded in raising his favorability, but Kim Yu-hyeon wasn't the type to back off easily.
Having laid the groundwork, Sion was racking his brain for a way to send this terrifying man packing when—
"Hey, Yuhyeon."
Lucia, who had been quietly observing the situation while draped in Kim Yu-hyeon's outer coat, spoke up.
Sion immediately went on high alert, wondering if she was about to ruin his perfectly cooked meal.
But Lucia spoke in her usual soft, measured tone, as if to say, "Don't you trust the Lucia coin anymore?"
"That man is the young lord of the Klauzen Margrave Territory.
He's already apologized sincerely, and I've accepted it.
Don't you think it's rude to keep pressuring him?"
Ooh, oooh!
Sion inwardly let out a stream of exclamations.
Raido, Kim Yu-hyeon's mentor—and Raido's one and only daughter, Lucia.
Naturally, Kim Yu-hyeon had no choice but to listen to her.
A sincere apology had been made, and she'd accepted it.
Plus, even if the subordinate was at fault, demanding a noble house's knight like this was a grave discourtesy.
Sure, he could take him by force, but the noble named Sion who was standing by his man didn't seem all that bad to Kim Yu-hyeon.
"Hmph."
In the end, Kim Yu-hyeon stepped back slightly, signaling he wouldn't press further.
With his menacing glare gone, Sion could finally sink into relief.
'Shit, I survived!'
He felt like dropping to his knees and thanking God, Buddha, Allah, or whoever.
But he wasn't Lee Ji-hoon—he was Sion Klauzen.
Eldest son of the Klauzen Margrave Territory, and officially the count's heir.
On instinct, he judged that maintaining some dignity would be best, so with superhuman restraint, he swallowed his cheer.
"Young Lord Sion, right?"
Lucia coin to the moon!
Sion flashed a beaming smile, ready to hand over his liver and gallbladder if asked.
Thanks to that, Lucia smiled faintly and spoke.
"If it's not too rude, there's something I'd like to ask.
Earlier, you said you wanted to seek my advice?
I'd love to hear more details about that."
"...Huh?"
Sion could only let out a dumb exhale instead of the response he was supposed to give.
And understandably so—originally, this Sion guy had kidnapped her to rape her, not to seek any real advice.
But the situation had flipped unexpectedly, and right now, Sion had only bluffed that to escape the clutches of the inhuman monster Kim Yu-hyeon.
'No, Lady Lucia!
You can't just spring this on me now!'
Tearin' it down sharp?
'It's not a total crash, but it's definitely dipping.
Ah, that's not the point!'
Advice or whatever—if he misspoke now, his head would roll on the spot.
Given Kim Yu-hyeon's personality, which utterly despised being deceived, the moment he sensed a trick, he'd yank that sword back out and radiate killing intent like there was no tomorrow.
'Think, think.
Fuck, full brainpower activate!'
What could he discuss with Lucia?
As the eldest son of the Klauzen count family, a secret talk he'd want with an ordinary woman.
It had to be official, not personal...
'Nothing?
Nothing?
Really nothing?
Mom, Dad, God, Buddha, Author.
Give me strength.'
As he wracked every single neuron, one idea flashed through Sion's mind.
"Um..."
Instead of speaking right away, Sion glanced at Kim Yu-hyeon.
Hesitant lips, anxious flickering eyes.
It screamed, "I could tell you, but there are too many ears here—it's nothing good. Tell the third wheel to scram so we can talk privately."
"..."
Fortunately, Kim Yu-hyeon wasn't oblivious.
He stepped back casually, folding his arms and leaning against the wall.
But right after, the already crumbling wall—shattered by his terrifying strength earlier—gave way the moment his weight hit it, collapsing with a crash!
Thanks to that, the awkward Kim Yu-hyeon cleared his throat with a "Ahem!" and stared off elsewhere, pretending he'd done nothing.
"Don't worry too much about him.
He's like my father's disciple, you could say."
As if I could not worry.
If he wanted, he could kill someone like me with his pinky.
"More importantly, it must be quite the secret."
"I have no choice.
This concerns the Klauzen Margrave Territory, after all."
"The Margrave Territory?"
At Lucia's question, Sion nodded.
The novel's plot as he remembered it.
War breaks out with the neighboring kingdom, plunging the Margrave Territory into peril in an instant.
Enter Kim Yu-hyeon, who slaughters the enemy forces.
Thanks to him, the Margrave averts disaster and meets him face-to-face.
He's the enemy who cut off his son's arm, but also the benefactor who saved the territory.
By then, Sion Klauzen's dishonorable deeds as the heir—things he absolutely shouldn't have done—were public knowledge, and the honor-bound Margrave couldn't overlook it.
In the end, he accepts Kim Yu-hyeon and helps him head to the capital.
A natural duty for a Margrave, but it shocks and betrays Sion.
Eventually, Sion Klauzen commits patricide, killing his own father.
Screaming how his father could treat his son's enemy—the one who severed his arm and humiliated him—so kindly.
'Commits patricide and then blames Kim Yu-hyeon for it, the bastard.
Readers ripped him to shreds for that.'
In Korea, anything could be forgiven except filial impiety against parents.
And Lee Ji-hoon was one of those readers.
'In the novel, the Margrave dies miserably by his son's hand... but this time, I'll make sure he gets the filial piety he deserves.
That way, I can push Kim Yu-hyeon harder, and he'll leave this territory sooner.'
Reaching that thought, Sion muttered inwardly, "Now that's a true fan's idea," before answering Lucia.
"Lately, the land's suddenly drying up, and strange rumors are spreading.
I wanted to consult Raido about it without causing public panic..."
"And since you saw me instead, you wanted to ask me in his place."
As she said that, Lucia toyed with her lips.
The Margrave Territory had exactly two water sources.
One from mountain streams, the other a tributary from the neighboring kingdom.
No word of drought, so the mountain source was fine.
That left one answer: the tributary from the neighbor...
"...Young Lord, you say you came seeking my advice, but it seems you already know the answer."
"Do you think so too, Lady Lucia?"
"A sudden hostile cutoff of our water source can only mean one thing."
War.
Even Lucia couldn't bring herself to utter the word.
The shock and terror it brought were beyond imagination.
"So it's come to that."
Sion rose from his seat with a bitter smile.
Lucia let out an involuntary "Ah," of pity at the sight.
"My foolish subordinate ruined what should've been a brief meeting.
I apologize once more."
"No, Young Lord.
More importantly, things could take a dire turn—please prepare accordingly."
"Thank you."
A demeanor casual yet polite, unbefitting the Margrave's heir.
Coupled with the wisdom to read the surrounding situation from mere clues.
So different from the rumors—Lucia was reminded once again not to trust hearsay until meeting someone firsthand.
'And he's so handsome... Ahem!'
Pushing down her inner thoughts, Lucia suddenly reached out toward something that caught her eye.
Meanwhile, Sion felt like dancing—he'd escaped the crisis masterfully, even by his own standards.
But then, out of nowhere, a pair of pale, delicate hands cupped his face, and began stroking his cheek.
"Huh...?"
"You're injured.
It mustn't scar... Hold on."
The woman's hand gently brushed his cheek.
And just like that, the wound on Sion's face vanished in an instant.
As Sion blinked in stunned silence, Lucia flushed red and fidgeted.
"I-it's just basic healing magic.
Nothing major, so please don't worry, Young Lord."
She must've thought he was startled by her sudden magic.
But the reason Sion stared at her with dazed eyes was something else.
'What's this?'
In the very chapter where Kim Yu-hyeon and Lucia's casual relationship blossomed into romance.
Lucia had stroked a wound on Kim Yu-hyeon's face with that exact expression, that exact tone.
Saying it mustn't scar, that he didn't need to worry anymore.
'...This feels ominous all of a sudden?'
No way, he thought—but the deep blush on Lucia's cheeks said otherwise.
As a pink atmosphere suddenly bloomed, Sion instinctively glanced at the novel's protagonist pretending not to notice from afar.
'Yuhyeon, sorry.
This wasn't on purpose.
But damn... he won't come at me with a knife later thinking I stole his girl, right?'
Worried about a future that felt all too plausible, Sion could only let out a sigh.