Belzer.
This territory lies along the lower reaches of the Rond River, which cuts across the continent's midsection. It boasts vast, fertile plains and a water source derived from the mountains within the territory. Its proximity to a port city also offers a strategic advantage.
Of course, it was a place where people lived.
No, it would be a shame to just say that.
It must have been a pretty nice place to live.
'Until a cursed land appeared just beyond the forest...'
“Isn’t that a monster popping out?”
Revan shuddered as he looked at the remains of the ruined village.
Broken windows, a collapsed roof, a damaged fence... Now, only ominous traces of human life remained.
Dead land.
But for Ryan, the man who now walks confidently ahead, it is the perfect place to live.
No people.
Beasts are expected to overflow.
Demons, popping out periodically.
'It's perfect for training your abilities in hiding.'
I bet Ryan received this land as soon as he got out of prison, and he grumbled on the outside but cheered on the inside.
“Found it! Our sweet home!”
At that moment, Ryan, who was walking silently along the old village road, where not a single rat was present, discovered a three-story mansion and cheered.
“...A ghost will appear.”
A simple appreciation of Revan.
I agree too.
It must have been a very long time ago, but it must have been the home of a resident of a certain age. It was certainly better than the broken and collapsed single-story houses of the residents, though...
Caw- caw-
With the ominous sound of a crow, which came at just the right time, I looked up at the mansion again.
'Haunted mansion...?'
The door was open. The attic window visible at the top was gone, and the stone wall, in dire need of repair, was broken in places and covered with ivy.
“How is it? Is it good?”
But Ryan seemed quite satisfied.
Upon entering, the interior wasn't too bad. The old furniture and dishes were left to collect dust, giving it a slightly dreary feel.
“Let’s start by cleaning first.”
Revan said solemnly, taking out his cleaning tools.
Both men specialized in labor.
Tap, tap, tap!
This territory lies along the lower reaches of the Rond River, which cuts across the continent's midsection. It boasts vast, fertile plains and a water source derived from the mountains within the territory. Its proximity to a port city also offers a strategic advantage.
Of course, it was a place where people lived.
No, it would be a shame to just say that.
It must have been a pretty nice place to live.
'Until a cursed land appeared just beyond the forest...'
“Isn’t that a monster popping out?”
Revan shuddered as he looked at the remains of the ruined village.
Broken windows, a collapsed roof, a damaged fence... Now, only ominous traces of human life remained.
Dead land.
But for Ryan, the man who now walks confidently ahead, it is the perfect place to live.
No people.
Beasts are expected to overflow.
Demons, popping out periodically.
'It's perfect for training your abilities in hiding.'
I bet Ryan received this land as soon as he got out of prison, and he grumbled on the outside but cheered on the inside.
“Found it! Our sweet home!”
At that moment, Ryan, who was walking silently along the old village road, where not a single rat was present, discovered a three-story mansion and cheered.
“...A ghost will appear.”
A simple appreciation of Revan.
I agree too.
It must have been a very long time ago, but it must have been the home of a resident of a certain age. It was certainly better than the broken and collapsed single-story houses of the residents, though...
Caw- caw-
With the ominous sound of a crow, which came at just the right time, I looked up at the mansion again.
'Haunted mansion...?'
The door was open. The attic window visible at the top was gone, and the stone wall, in dire need of repair, was broken in places and covered with ivy.
“How is it? Is it good?”
But Ryan seemed quite satisfied.
Upon entering, the interior wasn't too bad. The old furniture and dishes were left to collect dust, giving it a slightly dreary feel.
“Let’s start by cleaning first.”
Revan said solemnly, taking out his cleaning tools.
***
Both men specialized in labor.
Tap, tap, tap!
Open the windows first! As Ryan brought in two buckets filled with water, Revan gathered up everything to be thrown away and put it out. After dividing the cleaning areas, each person was given a duster, mop, and broom. There was no gap between their actions.
‘I knew it from the moment I started adjusting the comforter in the guest room...’
They were men who had eaten an unspeakable amount of prison food.
As I watched the mansion gradually becoming cleaner, I finally realized how much I had enjoyed without effort, born into a good family.
What is the reality?
If I don't clean my house myself, it will remain dirty. There will be no maid to wash me, no cook to prepare my meals. If I don't earn money, I will starve.
It's so obvious, but I didn't realize it.
“How does it feel to go from being a Princess to a maid overnight?”
Ryan, who was mopping, grumbled.
“It’s not bad. It’s satisfying to see how much I clean and how much cleaner it gets.”
I spoke plainly about my feelings as I held up a low ladder and dusted the window.
“Once you’re done there, take a rest. I’ll take care of the rest.”
Swish.
Ryan said, squeezing the mop water into a bucket.
'Hmm.'
Even though he may have fallen into the abyss overnight, Ryan must have had a princely period.
Didn't you want to go back again?
With that great ability...
He must have known that he could live comfortably if he closed his eyes and ears, but he is a man who sacrifices his own safety for a greater cause.
'It's amazing that such a son came from such a father.'
Anyway, I decided to live like that in the second round.
And I don't want to give up my father's nice house, my father's large amount of money, and my daily routine of leading my father's servants. This time, I will be a Princess again.
Just by my own strength.
Through success without any regrets.
But before that...
“Dad, is there anything you wanted to do outside?”
"What?"
Ryan, who was wiping the windowsill, looked back at me.
"No need for revenge. Now you're free. Go wherever you want, eat whatever you want."
In the first episode, Ryan clearly couldn't rest even after serving 12 years in prison, as he was still preparing for revenge.
Even now, he must be thinking only of devoting his youth to revenge.
“Or is there something you want? Tell me anything you want!”
I wanted to give Ryan some breathing room. So he wouldn't live a life consumed by revenge.
"Hmm."
Ryan frowned at my sudden question and thought for a while.
And then he said.
"...romantic relationship?"
“?”
Sprained.
"Hey!"
I almost slipped for a moment, but Ryan quickly caught me.
"Look at your athletic ability. Can't you even keep your balance on this short ladder?"
“No, that’s not it. I was surprised.”
“What’s surprising? Because I said I wanted to date?”
“...Yes. That was such an unexpected answer.”
Isn't that surprising?
Ryan is human after all.
He is also a man in his prime...
'Did you have a lover in the first round too?'
Now it's impossible to know the truth, but at the time, it didn't really matter whether it was there or not.
Because the Wassenberg family had even forgotten Ryan's existence.
'Ha, but this time...'
Romantic relationship?
You want to be in a relationship?
***
It is inevitable for people to love.
But of course, all members of the family had to marry someone chosen by the head of the family, the Duke of Wassenberg.
But love was free.
Why was the Duke so lenient on his children's love affairs?
This was because he knew very well that love makes people weak, and that it becomes a weakness that the other person can easily exploit.
Since it is a corrupt family, it is natural that there will be children who rebel.
The Duke used a much more effective method than directly beating and torturing his disobedient children.
It was to take their 'precious people' hostage.
The lover of the ninth prince of the family, Richard, suddenly disappeared, and the lover of the tenth princess, Christa, suddenly drank poison and was on the verge of death.
Even without proof, Vania knew it was the Duke's doing.
In the end, both of them ended up giving in to the Duke's will to save their lover.
“Daughter.”
“Yes, Father.”
That day, there was a call from the Duke.
“I heard that the military police stormed into the second auction house.”
The Duke spoke without even looking at her, his pen playing with the papers.
“Elliot, is this the Auction House?”
Elliot, the second son of the family, was involved in numerous illegal businesses.
The most vicious of these was the secret auction business. His auction house traded all sorts of illegal goods.
"How did the royal family know in advance? My brother needs to be more thorough in his security."
Vania was smirking.
The location, time, and items for sale of the auction house are kept top secret until it opens.
Even though the culprit who stole that information and passed it on to her lover was none other than Vania herself.
“Vania.”
The Duke put down his pen and stood up.
As the Duke, as large as a house, approached and stood right in front of her, Vania instinctively cringed.
“Stop seeing that guy.”
“...!”
...the Duke knew everything.
The fact that it was Vania who leaked information to her lover and sabotaged the illegal auction.
“The reason I didn’t kill that guy until now and just watched you go astray is.”
“...”
"I didn't want you to feel resentful toward me, your father. You are far more precious and valuable than any of my other children."
Vania slowly raised her head.
“But how far should I go in looking after you?”
The Duke's expression was indifferent.
"He's ruining you. Seriously, must I kill him with my own hands? Will that bring you back to your senses?"
“...”
"Choose for yourself. Should I burn that half-and-half face and melt it? Or should I throw him to the beasts and have them tear him to pieces? Or..."
“Ah, Father! Stop...”
Vania couldn't hear any more and cut the Duke off.
“Yes, wrong... I was wrong.”
“mm.”
“I won’t do that anymore.”
She had no choice but to submit with a pale face.
“I won’t do it again...”
"Yes."
The Duke smiled and affectionately wiped the sweat from his daughter's forehead.
“That’s how you become a good daughter.”
***
“Brother... No, Father, you can’t.”
I said politely.
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