I Reincarnated As the Third Son of a Count’s Family, Only To Find a Series of Funerals

32 – Gift

“Huk, h-heuck. I, I thought Your Grace was really going to k-kill me…”

“I’m sorry…”

“Huuaaah…”

I consoled Lina, who cried and sniffled, patting her back as tears and snot flowed out.

From Noble mtl dot com

This is how the incident unfolded.

Lina came to inform me that it was time for my evening bath and entered my room. However, despite knocking on the door, there was no response from inside, so she opened it only to find no one there.

At that time, I was with the princes, so it was natural that no one would be inside the room. So, she thought I had gone somewhere and sat in the chair of the room, waiting for me. (It would be a perfect opportunity for a mishap to happen while wandering around looking for me in this vast palace.)

However, suddenly I was attracted by a sweet and fragrant smell, and indeed there was bread with plenty of sugar and cinnamon powder at the source of the scent.

As I mentioned before, sugar-coated bread is a food that even I cannot afford to eat unless it’s the Duke’s birthday party or a special occasion. But what about Lina, the maid? It would be fortunate if she could eat it once or twice in her lifetime.

Lina tried to resist the temptation of the sweet and fragrant scent of sugar-coated bread, but when I didn’t come back even after 30 minutes, she couldn’t resist her instincts and secretly grabbed the bread with both hands and gobbled it up.

She claims that she initially tried to cut it into small pieces with a fork, but looking at the traces of sugar-coated bread around the plate, it was clear that she didn’t eat it with a fork.

Honestly, I felt somewhat annoyed, but I could understand Lina to some extent. Back in my past life, sugar was almost always present in every food, to the point where zero-sugar drinks and snacks were unheard of. While I didn’t truly understand the rarity of sugar, it is far more precious than salt in this era.

Haven’t you heard stories from ancient times where a sick old man would eat one candy and instantly regain his strength and recover from his illness? This is true here.

Sugar in this era is like a drug. Once consumed, it cannot be stopped. The sweetness that melts on the tongue and infiltrates the body through the throat mercilessly strikes the brain with “happiness.”

From the moment Lina cut a piece of sugar-coated bread and put it in her mouth, it was already too late. After that, without saying anything, she must have greedily indulged in the sugar on the bread.

I, with my past experiences and having eaten it a few times in this world, can resist the power of sugar to some extent. But for Lina, it must have been much more difficult.

Even if she knew that stealing someone else’s food was forbidden, she risked her life and succumbed to the temptation, showing how powerful sugar’s destructive force is in this era.

When I really aimed the knife at her, I made a fuss and threw a tantrum, but in that moment when I was eating the bread, did I not think “I’m okay with dying now”?

“Especially for commoners who spend most of their lives in pain, it might be better to eat sugar once without any regrets and die.”

Well, honestly, I didn’t get particularly angry at Lina because, honestly, if I really wanted sugar, I could easily eat it anytime. Plus, seeing a girl who looks younger than me crying and sobbing makes me feel sorry for her.

I gently stroked Lina’s back, meaning for her to calm down, and spoke to her.

“I won’t say anything about you eating sugar-coated bread, so please calm down, okay?”

“Sob, r-really?”

“Why would I lie?”

As I said that, Lina grabbed my hand with both hands and said, “Thank you so much, and I’m sorry.” Ew, it’s sticky.

“The Viscount is truly a kind person…”

“Well, yeah. Can you let go of my hand first and not talk like this?”

“Thank you so much, I’m very sorry… Uwah!”

“Ah, come on!”

This guy, isn’t she a bit slow-witted…?

I had a feeling ever since the incident at my great-grandfather’s birthday party…

Anyway, it would be a while before Lina calmed down.

**

“Ah, that felt refreshing…”

I finished my bath and came out of the tub. Just as I suspected, immersing my body in hot water relieved the stress accumulated from Godmilla, the princes, and Lina.

“But now, what should I do?”

For now, whether I choose to be on the princes’ side or not, I will have to decide.

In fact, it’s more comfortable to side with the princes without even thinking about it. It’s not a wise way to annoy the next Supreme Leader and make him feel uncomfortable.

Especially when I see how skilled these guys are in palace politics, wouldn’t they just avoid me like picking snot if I don’t participate in their plans? Although I say this, palace politics is mostly something nobles engage in. Even if they don’t hold any substantial titles themselves, it’s common for their fathers to be earls or dukes. In the first place, in this era, if you don’t have money, you can’t become an educated person.

“But is it really right to unleash those cunning monsters who have turned their fears inside out from their leash called Godmilla?”

The princes are currently restrained by Godmilla because of their wayward temperament, not because their nature has fundamentally changed. If punishment could change a person, then at the school of previous lives, corporal punishment would not have been prohibited.

If Godmilla disappears from these princes, will they really live like good children? I don’t think so.

Instead, they will unleash all sorts of nonsense like unruly little colts. And Your Majesty might even stumble and fall due to them holding the back of your neck. As a result, Urmagna will falter… families will crumble, societies will collapse, and even the earldom will be in jeopardy…

“Oh, no matter how much I think about it, Godmilla shouldn’t disappear…”

It felt like the stress that went away during the bath was rising again.

So, while wandering aimlessly around the palace, wondering what to do, suddenly I heard the voice of a young girl.

“Kn-Knight!”

“…Princess?”

The owner of that voice was Princess Selenor.

Selenor blushed and approached me, her face reminding me of that fact.

“I wished for a chance to meet you separately someday, but I didn’t expect it to be now! If I had known, I should have dressed up a bit more…”

“hahahaha, Your Highness doesn’t need to dress up, as you are already beautiful enough.”

“Gosh, is that, is that really true?!”

“Of course.”

“I’m really glad…”

Selenor was delighted as if she had heard her favorite idol compliment her.

I found her appearance cute and watched with a warm heart, but then our eyes met with the maid standing behind Selenor.

Whether she noticed that gaze or not, Selenor introduced her to me.

“Oh, this friend is my personal maid, Miss Doris Yang. Doris, this is, as you know, Viscount Edric.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Viscount.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Miss Doris.”

Doris and I faced each other and exchanged greetings.

‘Her emotions are not easily visible on her face.’

Although her master openly displayed such happiness that her emotions were clearly visible, her servant seems to be an icy beauty. It’s an unusual combination.

“Well, since we’ve met, how about having a drink in my room before you leave?”

“Well, that’s a good suggestion.”

Even if we’ve just met less than a day ago, I don’t think it’s appropriate for an unmarried man and woman to savor tea together in a room on such a ambitious night…

I was about to refuse Selene’s proposal with that thought in mind when suddenly Doris Yang’s face twisted grotesquely behind Selene!

Gogogogogogogogo

“What’s wrong with that woman? Why is she making such an expression?”

“Pardon? Are you finding it difficult?”

“No, no. It would be an honor if you invite me.”

Startled by Doris Yang’s shocked face, I accepted Selene’s proposal without thinking.

Only then did Doris Yang’s face relax and return to its previous state.

“Wow! I’m really grateful for accepting my invitation! Doris, can you prepare the finest tea and some snacks to enjoy?”

“Yes, Your Highness. I will prepare them as instructed.”

Doris Yang listened to the princess’s command and left to do her work.

As the tense atmosphere heightened and the excited princess spoke, I thought to myself.

“No way, did I make that sinister expression to make Princess Selene accept her proposal…?”

Doris. This woman is definitely not ordinary.

“Are most of the people in this palace just lunatics, except for a few?”

I’m afraid of what the future holds for Urmarnia.

Seriously.

**

“…How my heart pounded as I listened to the Count’s story! Especially the part where he courageously charged at the savages with the people in the end—it made my heart pound so much that I almost fainted!”

“hahahaha… It’s truly an honor that you were deeply moved by my story.”

Being held captive by Princess Selene for over an hour, listening to her speech about my tale as a postscript, was more exhausting than I thought.

Of course, Princess Selene herself is a stunning beauty, and it was gratifying to see her passionate fangirling, but only to a certain extent…

Especially the fact that those homicidal princes showed interest in my story kept bothering me. Are they lunatics like my elder brothers?

While having such an ungrateful thought, Selene suddenly applauded as if she had just remembered something, then spoke to me.

“Oh! I completely forgot. I actually prepared a gift for the Count! I intended to give it to you when we met in the reception room with Avamama, but the atmosphere wasn’t right then…”

“Oh… It’s understandable.”

Hmm, it must have been when Kordmilla came in and ruined the atmosphere. It certainly wouldn’t be easy to give a gift in that kind of ambiance.

By the way, a gift from the princess, huh? I wonder what kind of gift it could be. Is it a box filled with gold coins? Or maybe silk imported from the Far East? hehehe. I’m really looking forward to it.

“But speaking of a gift…”

“Just a moment…”

As I watched Selene approach with the gift from a distance, my heart raced…

“This is it!”

“Ugh…”

He felt his body chill upon discovering the true identity of the “gift”.

“What is this? A wooden carving made from a carved wood?”

“The, this is a wooden carving doll that I personally crafted while thinking of Sir Edric. Originally, I planned to wrap it in a box adorned with beautiful decorations, along with a silk handkerchief woven with gold coins inside, as a gift for someone like Sir Edric who cherishes people. But, surely a noble knight like Sir Edric, who despises greedy and pompous nobles’ gifts, would not like it…”

“No, Your Highness. I like money… And if you want to save the people, you need money right away..!”

He wanted to say those words desperately, but with Doris glaring fiercely at him from behind and seeing the wooden doll carefully carved by the princess herself, he couldn’t bring himself to curse.

From Noble mtl dot com

“Do you happen to dislike it?”

“No, no, not at all. I really, truly like it. Wow, the armor, the sword, even the horse, they are carved with such attention to detail. I’ve never seen anything like this before. Really.”

“R, really? hehehe… Luckily, there are many people in the royal palace who wear armor, so it was easy to refer to them.”

Phew. Seeing Doris’ expression soften, it seems she passed the test. They had overcome a big hurdle.

Oh, but there’s a big scar on the helmet part.

“Your Highness. By the way, how did this scar on this part come to be… Oh!”

Suddenly, Doris’ face transformed into an expression of horror!

Edric, are you insane? It is possible to leave scratches on the wooden carving doll that you painstakingly carved with your own hands, but why did you make such thoughtless remarks…

Even the princess was suddenly becoming gloomy at my words!

‘Oh no, I messed up..!’

Teacher, I’m sorry.

I should have studied harder when you taught me about etiquette between men and women.

As a wretched disciple, I’ll take my leave…

“This scar is because, well, you see…”

“hahahahaha Princess, it seems like I’ve asked an unnecessary question. In fact, just looking at it now, it seems like you got the scars while fighting fiercely on the battlefield. It feels even more real… Your artistic talent is truly overflowing.”

“Tsk. Your Highness, the witch has arrived.”

“What?” “What did you say?”

Bang!

“Damn it, Godmilla! You startled me!”

Just as Doris said, Godmilla suddenly opened the door and barged into the princess’s room!

“Mrs. Godmilla, how dare you come into the princess’s dwelling without so much as knocking…”

Crash!

“…!”

Gode Miller slapped Miss Doris, who tried to stop her.

‘What the… what in the world is going on…’

I was starting to feel so nervous that my balls were shriveling up at the unexpected and bizarre situation.

Damn it, whatever expression Miss Doris made, I should have refused the princess’s proposal!

Gode Miller slowly looked back and forth between the princess and me before speaking.

“Your Highness. It’s not proper to bring an outsider man into the house. Did I teach you to do so?”

“But, Lord Viscount is our guest…what’s the problem…”

Smack!

‘???’

I was taken aback for a moment. Did she just slap the princess right in front of me?

Celenor was trembling all over without even daring to lift her head.

“Your Highness, you should receive ‘education’ again about the relationship between men and women.”

“…”

“Viscount, I apologize for showing such an unsightly sight, but have you not learned the common sense that you should not have such a ‘tryst’ with Miss Niercera?”

“A tryst? It was clearly a gathering with Miss Doris.”

“Ah, is that so.”

Gode Miller chuckled and picked up the wooden doll on the desk.

“Your Highness, Your Highness…how many times do I have to tell you to get out of this delusional ‘knight in shining armor’ story? It’s time to graduate.”

“Give it back..!”

Swish!

“..? Viscount, what are you doing?”

I can’t take it anymore. Damn!

I stood up and approached Gode Miller, snatching the wooden doll from her hand.

Then I turned around and said to Princess Celenor.

“Your Highness. Thank you for the tea and the gift. I will take good care of it.”

“Yes, yes. Thank you…”

“Then, if there is a chance, I will visit again.”

I bowed to Celenor and left the room.

Gode Miller looked at me as if to say something, but she can go to hell.

As I was heading back to my room, someone grabbed my arm.

“Lord Viscount, do you have a moment?”

“Doris Yang?”

She was the maid in charge of Princess Selenor. It was Doris Yang.