-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Avid Reader's Redemption Life
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Should I just play it off like nothing happened?
If I put on a good act with my expression and lower my voice a bit, even the Margrave might see my sincerity and let it slide...
'No way.
Right now, my brain's fried like the frontal lobe just exploded.'
More than anything, he's a man who values honor above all.
That's why he ultimately chose Kim Yu-hyun over his own son, and why he hadn't met his end at his son's hands.
On top of that, he might already have a rough idea of what Sion Claussen had been up to.
Even if he didn't know about today's incident, he could've had someone tailing Sion discreetly at other times. If so, the Margrave likely knew full well that his son had tried to forcibly drag women in and pull off something scandalous.
Any half-baked excuse wouldn't fly.
Just like how he'd convinced Kim Yu-hyun and Lucia, he'd have to lay out the bald truth this time too and come up with the best possible solution to satisfy and make him understand.
'I'm really gonna bluescreen trying to escape this world for real.'
It felt like sitting through back-to-back one-on-one interviews, two or three in a row.
The difference was that this wasn't an interview for a job—it was one where his life hung in the balance.
"Father."
The moment that word slipped from Sion's mouth, Margrave Lichten's eyes flickered ever so slightly.
Unaware of the change, Sion pressed on.
"I trust you already know everything, so I'll be straightforward.
The truth is, to personally select my direct maids with my own hands, I resorted to excessive methods."
"Direct maids?"
"Yes."
For reference, in this novel's world, maids weren't just slaves to be bossed around.
They were 'professionals' who served nobles up close, handling all sorts of tasks—something not just anyone could do, and nobles didn't entrust it to anyone.
Some wondered if they had to attend to bedroom duties too, but if a child resulted, it could spell disaster for the noble, becoming a major weakness in noble society. So to most nobles, maids were like pros working a specialized profession.
"I suppose you need a bit more explanation."
"I wanted to offer the position to women who wouldn't bend their principles no matter the situation, who carried themselves with true dignity.
Not just lip service—I wanted to confirm their inherent nature through their actions."
"..."
Lichten pressed his temples, pondering how to respond to his son's somewhat absurd explanation.
Normally, selecting maids was the head maid's job, with final approval from the family head.
Direct maids, however, served only one person exclusively. They proved their skills and character personally, bypassing the head maid's recommendation to serve directly.
But direct maids weren't for just anyone—only family heads or key heirs like the successor could have them.
"You're saying you staged a scene where you forcibly dragged women in to intimidate them into submission with force?
Those words rub me the wrong way, and they don't sit right at all."
He knew after all.
Dodging it would've been a disaster.
Sion let out a silent sigh of relief inside and opened his mouth to sway Lichten's heart.
"I fully acknowledge my mistake and reflect on it.
After this, I'll go to them, explain the truth, and if they wish, appoint them as my direct maids. If not, I'll offer ample compensation.
Along with my personal apology, of course.
'As the heir to the Claussen Margrave Territory.'"
Appointing them as direct maids, going to them personally to apologize.
Every word emphasized his position as the heir to this margrave territory.
Thanks to that, Lichten had to suppress a sigh inwardly.
Until now, Sion had never once emphasized his status as heir in front of him.
It wasn't humility—it stemmed from entitlement, like it was only natural that it was his.
Lichten had often gotten headaches from Sion's gaze, which assumed he'd eventually hand it over and was already gearing up to take it.
His son wasn't alone; there was a half-brother, a clear rival, yet he acted so carelessly—it wasn't a pleasant sight.
'But now he's suddenly talking about the heir position, its privileges and duties.'
This wasn't just idling like a fool waiting for the count's seat—it was a declaration that he was entering the successor race in earnest!
'Sudden... but fortunate too.'
Sion, at 20, had never once shown himself worthy of the margrave territory's heir.
Though the start was grating and distasteful, he hadn't actually assaulted the women, planned to appoint them as direct maids, and offered fitting compensation and apology if refused. So Margrave Lichten decided to let it slide this once with a stern warning.
"Sion Claussen."
"Yes, Father."
"Never pull something like that again.
This is a warning as your father and as the lord of this territory.
Do it once more to tarnish the family's honor, and I'll punish you severely myself.
Do you understand?"
"I'll keep it in mind."
By modern standards, casually laying hands on women warranted more than a warning, so Sion readily accepted Margrave Lichten's words.
Of course, Lichten was inwardly startled that his son agreed without complaint.
With a clearing cough, he decided to ask something else.
"So, you're planning to take on four direct maids in total?"
"No.
Three."
"And you went out today to pull that nonsense again?"
"Well..."
He was about to say it was to meet Lucia, Raido's daughter, and talk briefly.
But something flashed through Sion's mind, and he clamped his mouth shut.
'Wait a sec.
Did Sion at this point even know Lucia was Raido's daughter?'
Earlier, consoling Lucia, he'd been too frantic to think, but now calm, it sent chills down his spine.
At this time, Raido living in the margrave territory was known only to Margrave Lichten.
The former court mage had suddenly left the capital and slipped away secretly to the outskirts, hidden by Lichten himself.
Naturally, Lichten wasn't the type to blab secrets lightly or have a hollow head.
Others didn't even know Raido's name or identity—just called him an eccentric mage or the wise man from wild rumors.
'But if this son of a bitch, who gave zero shits about territory matters or the world, suddenly names Raido, knows his identity, and even his daughter?'
It wouldn't lead to dissection while screaming "Who are you?", but it'd definitely raise suspicions.
Anyone would eye suspiciously if a dimwit kid knew a secret only he should.
'No, wait.
Fuck, hold on?
I definitely...'
He'd mentioned Raido's name to Lucia.
He'd casually dropped the identity of the former court mage—the man only the margrave knew— like he knew it inside out.
Sion blinked blankly, feeling his hair stand on end.
His spine chilled, lyrics popping up unbidden: something bad's afoot.
Like another monster was glaring hungrily from somewhere, charging straight at him.
―――――――――
"Something like that happened?"
"Yes, Father."
Lucia answered in a soft, measured tone.
The man in his late middle years—verging on elderly—stroked his goatee, deep in thought at her words.
Watching, Kim Yu-hyun stepped in to join the father-daughter talk.
"Master.
Have you ever told anyone besides the Margrave about your identity or whereabouts?"
"What do you take me for.
Some senile geezer who can't handle his own affairs?"
"That's not it."
"Even most at the palace don't know I came here.
At best, the king, that worthless prince, and a few dimwit ministers."
"Then if Margrave Lichten slipped to his son..."
Kim Yu-hyun's suspicion was reasonable, but the man shook his head.
"The Lichten I know wouldn't do that.
He even swore on his honor to keep the secret.
Even with a blade to his throat, he'd bite his tongue off before spilling on my identity.
Sure, he's doting, but he's not one of those parents with a hyperactive, brain-damaged kid who can't tell up from down."
The man chuckled, lifting his teacup.
But a bolt from the blue hit his ear, startling him.
"Father!"
"Pfft!
W-what, Lucia?"
"Can't you please fix that mouth of yours?"
"Mouth?"
"A former court mage, and you plan to keep spewing filth forever?"
"No, it's just an incurable habit..."
It fell on deaf ears.
As Lucia glared with fierce eyes, the former court mage Raido caved, tail between his legs. "Understood."
Sighing at his response, Lucia unleashed a storm of nagging—please act your age!—before storming off into the room.
Bang!
"..."
"..."
Silence fell, leaving the two men mum as clams, like a jungler who'd just been ganked.
After a few minutes.
"Anyway, the guy who mentioned my name and the bastard who messed with our Lucia have the same owner?
And that owner's Margrave Lichten's son?"
"Yes."
"Hmm."
Raido crossed his arms, lost in thought.
He itched to bolt up, rip the limbs off the knight who'd wronged his daughter, and give his master a piece of his mind.
But Lucia had already warned him sternly.
If you mess with Young Lord Sion, I won't say a word to you ever again!
A terrifying threat.
He'd sworn never to, and she'd backed off, but Raido couldn't just gloss over it.
'Trouble enough touching Lucia, but casually dropping my name to her like he knows my identity, which only Lichten should...'
Lichten Claussen, the margrave family head.
Raido knew better than anyone he was a close brother-in-arms from way back, a stubborn bastard who kept his word come hell or high water.
So the odds he'd broken it and blabbed were zero—not near zero, just zero.
'That leaves one possibility: that Sion Claussen figured out my identity himself.'
He claimed disinterest in the world, but Raido had dipped into central politics himself.
Rumors pegged the margrave family's eldest, Sion, as a top heir prospect, yet hopeless in deeds and words.
Enough that nonsense floated about his 5-year-old half-brother threatening his spot.
At 20, Sion should've been named heir ages ago, but Lichten's reluctance spoke volumes—talking to him was exhausting.
'Such a guy uncovered this great one's identity?'
Raido's lip curled upward.
He'd thought Lichten failed at parenting, too dutiful as margrave, ruining his kids forever. But no—this one had burrowed secretly, taken root, sprouted, and grown tall.
"Guess I gotta pay a visit."
"Master.
If Lucia finds out..."
"Don't worry.
Not to do anything weird—just to sightsee.
See what kind of punk pulls off such fresh, cheeky stunts behind his old man's back."
He'd fooled the retainers, even Lichten himself, hiding his true colors.
With such a prodigy nearby, Raido itched to check him out or risk boils on his manhood.
'And.'
He wanted to see with his own eyes what kind of guy had stolen his daughter's heart wholesale.