“I’m such a busy man! How dare you waste my time!”
Leon Harrington was furious. Two or three months ago, he had sold Judith off to a lawyer looking for a naive noblewoman.
Now, out of nowhere, that same man had sent people to drag Leon to an isolated place, threatening him to return the money he’d received.
The reason? Judith wasn’t as innocent and obedient as Leon had described. But where would Leon have that money now?
Leon had to grovel at Cliff’s feet, begging and promising to ‘re-educate’ his sister, before he was finally released.
“People are so annoying, aren’t they?”
That’s why, as soon as Leon woke up, he stormed off to the Rainland mansion.
“Enough! Stop it! What are you doing, barging in like this?”
Seeing Judith glaring daggers at him after so long, Leon snapped.
“So this is what happens when you’re left unchecked, huh?”
As soon as he entered the mansion, Leon began wreaking havoc, throwing whatever he could get his hands on.
Judith watched in horror as the candles she had painstakingly made were destroyed before they even had a chance to set. She couldn’t stand it any longer and grabbed Leon around the waist.
“Ahh!”
But soon, Leon grabbed her by the hair.
“You’ve gotten spoiled living away from me. Since your husband’s dead, maybe I should move in here.”
“Who said you could do that? Let go of this, now!”
Even with her hair being yanked, Judith fought back fiercely, clawing and flailing. Leon hesitated for a moment—this wasn’t like her at all.
Judith used to tremble whenever he raised his hand. But now, she was resisting? Had becoming a Countess given her courage?
Deciding to teach her a lesson, Leon flung Judith aside and began undoing his belt. He’d been planning to use his bare hands out of consideration for her being married, but it seemed that wouldn’t suffice.
“You’re making me use tools, you little—urk!”
Just as he was about to swing his belt like a whip, the scene changed, and Leon found himself sprawled on the floor.
In a daze, Leon looked up at the man who had suddenly appeared and attacked him.
“What the hell is this?”
The man muttered, but that was exactly what Leon wanted to ask.
A man? Judith Harrington, that sly woman, had brought another man into the house?
And why was he so handsome?
Leon awkwardly got to his feet, staring at the man who was helping Judith up.
If there was a god of war, he’d probably look like this—icy eyes that sent shivers down his spine. Leon was almost mesmerized, but his gaze drifted to the man’s broad shoulders, visible even through his loose shirt, and he nearly gasped.
But before Leon could say anything, the man drew his sword.
“Who are you?”
“Ah, I’m…”
Leon pretended to answer but suddenly bolted out the window.
***
“He’s gone.”
Worried that Leon might linger and try to approach Judith again once she was alone, Erne patrolled the area around the mansion before returning.
If Judith, lying on the floor, hadn’t tried to salvage the ruined candles by reaching for a broken glass bottle, Erne would have chased Leon down.
“Next time you see him, give him a beating so bad he won’t get up for days.”
Judith fumed, her anger barely contained.
Her poor nutrition left her unable to stop Leon when he stomped on the candles and the pots she used for making them.
“Why should I? I’m not someone who goes around hitting people for no reason.”
The mad dog, who should have his nickname changed to the Empire’s sycophant, shrugged his shoulders, causing Judith’s fist to tremble with anger
Erne smirked openly at her fists, which didn’t look like they could hurt him even if they tried.
“Honey, is this how you’re going to act?”
“Stop calling me honey.”
Erne grimaced as if the term gave him chills and rubbed his arm. It was almost as if he had an allergy to being called that. Judith found his reaction amusingly satisfying.
“How do you say that so naturally? Is this your second marriage?”
“It’s my first, and I’m flexible about terms of address.”
“What’s next, claiming you’re flexible about killing someone?”
It was a flippant remark, but Judith’s lips tightened, and she avoided his gaze as if she were caught off guard.
“Have you killed someone?”
“No, it’s not that.”
“Then what?”
“…I guess my conscience is kind of flexible, too.”
“………..”
Wait, is she admitting to something? Does she even have a conscience or not?
Erne sighed deeply, caught between disbelief and exasperation, while Judith, feeling awkward, began gathering the scattered candle wicks from the floor.
Without a word, Erne handed her a glass of water.
“At least drink some water while you’re at it.”
“Why are you being nice, Sir Erne?”
“Yeah, no need for thanks.”
Maybe he had a soft spot? Without suspicion, Judith took the glass he offered and drank it in one gulp.
“Thanks, Sir Erne. That was refreshing.”
The cold water felt unusually strange as it slid down her throat. Judith blinked a few times and began tidying the room.
After about a minute, Judith’s mechanically moving hands started to falter.
“Judith Harrington.”
“Yes?”
What’s happening to me? Still kneeling, Judith suddenly collapsed sideways. Erne crouched in front of her and tilted her chin up.
Her sharp black eyes, usually full of alertness, had become hazy. The effects of the truth serum he had spiked in the water were taking hold.
“What was your first thought when I came back to life?”
“It was really annoying. Oh my.”
Startled by the involuntary words that escaped her lips, Judith clamped her mouth shut with her hands.
“Annoying?”
Erne grabbed her wrist and pulled her hand away from her mouth, repeating his question.
“Seriously. What was I supposed to do? I had everything planned out—living well off the mansion and the Countship! That damn shaman! If I find him, I won’t let him go. Wait, no, that’s not what I meant.”
Judith muttered furiously before realizing what she was saying. Her eyes darted around nervously.
Erne nodded in satisfaction as he observed her reaction.
The potion works perfectly. So Henry didn’t get scammed.
“What’s this about a shaman? Are you talking about a medium?”
When Erne asked, Judith, entranced, nodded and mumbled.
“I paid him two gold.”
“Henry said he paid for that.”
“He should’ve just given the money to me.”
“………..”
The serum worked almost too well. Before the conversation could derail further, Erne brought her back to the main topic.
“What’s your relationship with Cliff?”
“I met him for the first time at the wedding. He’s a lawyer. We’re not close. Oh, that lawyer tried to swindle me!”
Judith babbled on.
“He wasn’t even lending the full 200 million gold, just a measly 3,000 gold, and yet he tried to take the title of Count? What a bad guy, a really bad guy.”
“The title of Count is mine.”
“Why would it be yours? It’s mine.”
“………”
“Ugh, it’s so frustrating.”
Her eyes glinted with rage. She really did seem to hate the fact that Erne was alive. Not that he blamed her—there weren’t many who were glad to see him alive, himself included.
“What if I said I’d give you everything and leave?”
“Really? Are you serious?”
Her previously furrowed face brightened instantly. Even imagining it seemed to thrill her.
Though Erne had no desire for the Count’s title, something about her joyful expression irritated him.
“No, I was just joking.”
“Watch your back at night, seriously.”
Judith’s voice suddenly took on a menacing tone. For some reason, that made Erne feel oddly comforted, his irritation fading away.
“And if I don’t, what will you do?”
“Nothing, it’s just a bluff. Wait, what am I even saying?”
Laughing softly at Judith’s confusion, Erne stood and told her to get back to work. The potion’s effects would wear off soon, and Judith would be left feeling embarrassed on her own. That wasn’t his concern.
At least now he was sure: Judith had nothing to do with his death. That was enough.
“By the way, are you okay from what that scumbag did earlier?”
Just as he was about to leave, Erne turned back to ask. Though he hadn’t seen much, it seemed Leon had dragged her around by her hair.
Still looking dazed, Judith answered honestly.
“I’m not someone who would get scared over something like that.”
I’ve been through hell and back—war, turmoil, even possession.*
Judith mumbled something incomprehensible before clamping her hand over her mouth again.
“…I see, you seem perfectly fine.”
Though he didn’t understand the last part, Erne was sure of one thing, Judith Harrington was not normal. That much was clear.
***
Meanwhile, Leon, who had fled the Rainland mansion, went straight to Cliff to report everything.
“My sister has a man now. He carries a sword and looks really intimidating. But he’s good-looking—tall, blonde, you know…”
After pausing to think, Leon clapped his hands together as a realization struck.
“Now that I think about it, he looks like Sir Erne! But honestly, you don’t need to worry. There’s no way a guy like that would stay with Judith for long.”
As Leon continued rambling excuses, Cliff’s frown deepened.
“She brought in a man, did she? One who looks like Erne, is that it?”
So that’s why she seemed so carefree and confident lately—she had a lover to rely on.
A flashy-looking swordsman, huh? Guys like that were predictable. He probably approached Judith knowing she was a Countess and a widow.
“Men like that are actually easier to handle.”
This could work in his favor. Cliff figured he could bribe the man to convince Judith to sign the documents. A thousand gold, or even five hundred, would likely do the trick.
“Maybe I should sneak over to check him out.”
Since the man supposedly resembled Erne, Cliff was curious. It would be a good opportunity to get a read on him and investigate his background.
Setting off for the Rainland mansion alone, without any servants, Cliff wandered near the property.
‘This mansion never fails to irritate me.’
The Rainland family had only invited close acquaintances to their funerals. As their legal counsel, Cliff had attended out of obligation.
At the funeral of Erne’s father, the late Count, Cliff had barely suppressed his nausea.
‘I’ve never seen a corpse like that before.’
🍓; *Implies having gone through many difficult or extraordinary experiences.
thank you for the translations!!