LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 6 - Siegfried
Chapter 6 – Siegfried
***
“Come in.”
An old man with neatly combed white hair opened the door and stepped inside.
Sebastian.
A loyal butler who had served the Dmitri family since the previous generation.
He was the only person Maurice could really rely on in this world.
“Have you been well in my absence?”
“No.”
Sebastian’s gaze shifted to the CCTV-like magic I had set up.
“It seems your tastes have changed in my absence, Master.”
“It’s a gift from the Emperor.”
“Ah.”
Sebastian glanced at the image on the CCTV-like magic where Seria was panting.
“So the rumours were true.”
“They’ve already reached your hometown?”
“I heard about it on my way to the capital – rumours that His Majesty has given you a remarkable gift, Count.”
“It is indeed remarkable. And a ticking bomb.”
“Then it must be handled carefully.”
He continued silently to watch the closed-circuit television.
“Torture, is it?”
“If you want to be precise, it’s more like sexual torture.”
“While it’s true that you should start thinking about an heir, don’t get too carried away. Even the previous head of the family…”
“I know. Let’s leave this conversation at that.”
He nodded silently in agreement.
“By the way, you arrived sooner than expected.”
“My recovery was faster than expected.”
Sebastian raised his arms, flexing his muscles proudly.
“You’re in good health, I see.”
I snapped my fingers, turning off the CCTV-like magic.
“Make sure to train her well from now on.”
“Should I start with maid training?”
“Yes.”
“Understood. Then please leave tomorrow’s arrangements to me.”
“Very well.”
“And one more thing,” Sebastian said, raising a finger.
“Don’t handle her too harshly. We’ve seen how those you’ve truly devoted yourself to have ended up…”
“Enough with the lectures. I’m well aware.”
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
Sebastian bowed his head and left the room.
It seemed I could finally relax a little.
He would take care of the household and keep things moving forward.
***
The next morning.
“I’m sorry, Master. It looks like you’re going to have to take care of bathing her.”
Sebastian said, a bright red scratch running the length of his face.
“I tried, but she refuses to let anyone else wash her.”
“Sigh.”
Her stubbornness was almost on a par with iron tendons.
“I’ll take care of it,” I said as I entered the room.
Seria looked away, avoiding eye contact.
“W-why are you here?”
Looks like Sebastian’s efforts weren’t in vain after all.
“You caused trouble for Sebastian, didn’t you?”
“T-That’s because…”
“In this house, Sebastian is above you. You should know by now that defiance doesn’t work here.”
She couldn’t think of an answer.
“I hope you understand my words.”
I picked her up, her lips pressed tight in silence.
Her soft skin brushed against mine as I lifted her.
“Let’s start the bath, shall we?”
“W-what did you say?”
“You know what I mean. Just like the first day.”
“T-that, anything but that…”
Seria’s eyes shook violently.
“Sorry, but that’s not enough.”
It was essential for a proper training.
A blue light flickered in my hand.
***
Arriving at the Ministry of Magic, I immediately sought out Cedric.
“What brings you here?”
“Summon the Duke Siegfried for me.”
“The Duke, you say? May I ask what this is about?”
His eyes glowed sharply, as if questioning my intentions.
Since the Prince’s rebellion, Siegfried had become the undisputed leader of the noble faction.
In other words, he was now the Emperor’s most formidable opponent.
Meeting such a figure naturally made him nervous.
‘A servant of the Emperor,’ he must have thought.
What a tiresome perspective.
“It’s simple,” I replied. “It’s about the reparations from the recent civil war.”
“Isn’t that the responsibility of the Minister of Finance?”
“Many of the reparations involve magical items, so it’s my duty as Minister of Magic to oversee them.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
How annoying.
I didn’t like the way he kept nitpicking my words.
“Cedric.”
“Yes, Minister.”
“Are you questioning me?”
Our eyes met and Cedric quickly looked away.
“My apologies.”
“Enough apologies. Just summon him.”
“Yes, understood.”
Cedric bowed slightly and left the office.
As soon as he was gone, Jane, who had been watching nearby, hurried over with quick, light steps.
“Why Cedric? There are plenty of others. Like the Deputy Minister, the Chief Wizard or, if it comes to that, even me!”
She looked at me, her face full of curiosity.
“Why did you choose him?”
She nodded eagerly, waiting for an answer, and I replied with a single, blunt remark.
“For the Emperor to hear.”
At my words, Jane’s eyes lit up, as if she were a soap opera viewer who had just discovered a dramatic birth secret.
***
Duke Siegfried entered the office.
“Good to see you, Minister Dmitri.”
“It’s been a while, Your Grace.”
I greeted him with an easy smile.
He had the same platinum blonde hair as Seria, slicked back neatly.
His clean-shaven face bore deep wrinkles, a testament to his age and experience.
“And what is the reason for my summons, Minister?”
Before answering, I glanced at the knights who had accompanied him and remarked,
“You have brought more guards than I expected.”
“When you meet the greatest magician in the realm, you have to be well prepared, don’t you think?”
“This is unnecessary,” I said, looking away from them.
“The reason I called you is simple: it’s about the reparations from the civil war.”
“I was under the impression that this had already been settled.”
“A third of Siegfried’s territory and almost half of the lands of your subordinate nobles have been returned to the Imperial family.”
“There is more than that, Minister.”
“Of course I’m aware of how diligently the Noble Faction has fulfilled its obligations.”
Lowering my voice, I asked,
“Are you trying to save your daughter?”
“I no longer have a daughter.”
He tried to keep his composure as he spoke, but I caught the slight twitch of his eyebrow.
He must feel utterly humiliated.
His precious daughter had already fallen into my hands.
He probably wanted nothing more than to kill me and get her back immediately.
But a defeated man has no voice.
All he could do was bide his time, waiting for another opportunity.
“Ah, my apologies. I completely forgot,” I said, feigning innocence. “In any case, I have something in my possession – an item you once held in high regard.”
Once again I brought up his daughter, but this time he managed to keep his expression under control.
No doubt his mind was racing.
Why would I bring up Seria, a woman whose status had been effectively executed?
‘Is he testing my loyalty?’
‘Does he already know?’
Keep thinking.
The more he thought, the more it worked to my advantage.
“I’m trying to help her adapt as best as I can, but she’s incredibly stubborn.”
“…….”
“Could I ask for your help?”
I asked, leaning back in my chair,
“Don’t you want to save your noble house?”
Snap!
At the same time, I snapped my fingers.
One of the knights, enraged by my audacious behaviour in front of a duke, had drawn his sword from its sheath.
“What…?”
The knight stared in disbelief as his sword slipped helplessly from his hand.
“To dare draw a sword in the Ministry of Magic—you seem in need of some education, Duke.”
Even when I addressed him condescendingly, the Duke did not rebuke me. He just gritted his teeth and looked at me.
“It would be wise not to make any foolish moves.”
I said with a casual wave of my hand.
In an instant, all the knights’ weapons – long swords, concealed daggers and even concealed throwing knives – flew into the air.
“Unless you really want to die.”
One of the knights met my gaze and collapsed to the ground, trembling.
The Duke clucked his tongue as he looked at the pitiful knight.
“What is it you want?”
“A complete separation between Seria and Siegfried.”
“Is that all?”
“Of course. Send someone Seria trusts most to the estate.”
“Will that be enough?”
“If you send the person, I’ll take care of the rest.”
“…….”
He remained silent.
I sent a telepathic message to help him make up his mind.
‘The Emperor desires Seria’s suffering. If you fail to ensure this, be prepared for the downfall of House Siegfried.’
‘If you wish to save both your house and Seria, follow my instructions.’
‘I hope you make the right choice.’
No one in the Mage Tower can penetrate my telepathy.
After a moment’s hesitation, Duke Siegfried nodded.
“Understood. I will follow your advice, Minister.”
Without further ado, he rose from his seat.
The knights followed him out in a hasty line.
When I was sure the door had closed behind them, I let out a long sigh.
“Tiring”
Living as Maurice Dmitri is unbearably exhausting.
It drains me completely.
If I continue to live with this personality, I won’t last long.
I wiped my face with my hand and met Jane’s eyes, who had been watching me intently from the side.
She was in full goggle-eyed mode, her gaze practically glued to me.
If the Duke hadn’t listened, would the Emperor really have destroyed his entire house?
She heard everything.
Let me say it again.
There isn’t a single person in the Wizards’ Tower who can penetrate my telepathy.
‘Mind your own business.’
As soon as Siegfried left, I could feel the watchful gazes fading away.
To them, it would seem like a simple discussion between the Minister of Magic and the Minister of Finance.
‘Still as suspicious as ever.’
Even in the Mage Tower, the Emperor’s eyes were everywhere.
They must be curious.
Why had I summoned Siegfried?
‘Let them wonder all they want.’
The reason I called Siegfried was simple:
I refused to be just another pawn obediently following the Emperor’s commands.
It was because of Maurice’s cursed personality.
This personality that refuses to bow or listen to anyone else.
Even if that person was the Emperor himself.
‘Not that I particularly liked the Emperor to begin with.’
There was another character in the novel that had captured my favor.
Knock, knock.
“Come in.”
“You called for me, Minister?”
The door opened, revealing a woman with striking blue hair.
She was once the second male lead of “Finding a Happy Ending in Evil”—or “Evil Happy” as fans called it.
A character who had despaired over unrequited love and gone so far as to change their gender.
She had once been known as Ymir, the great merchant.
Now, she was Emily.
“I have a request for you regarding a certain item.”