Arne Holiman, the deputy head butler of the Schrantz Count’s household, was sipping wine on the terrace of his mansion.
‘Those guys… I wonder if they’re doing well.’
Arne had sent the two men as soon as he heard that Ian was going out for a drink today.
Since he spent most of his time holed up in the lord’s estate, there were too many ears around, so he had been waiting for Ian to be alone. Today was the perfect opportunity.
‘It’s a waste of money to spend on that troublemaker, but it’ll be worth it if we can put him on the lord’s seat.’
And after that?
Ian, who owed his position to Arne, would surely value him highly, and Arne could take over Jurdan’s position.
Then, instead of the incompetent Ian, Arne would secretly manage the territory, skimming profits here and there while filling his own pockets.
Thinking of the money spent on Ian as an investment made him feel a little better.
The money spent on him would come back tenfold… no, a hundredfold.
‘It’ll be a tough process, given all the trouble that troublemaker has caused.’
Hubert’s position was solid, and Ian would have to start from scratch.
But Ian’s recent achievements during the monster uprising had clearly highlighted his presence and provided a legitimate reason to claim the heir’s position.
And this was an opportunity that wouldn’t come again.
‘Being just the deputy head butler has its limits. I need to become the lord’s closest confidant to extend my influence throughout Schrantz.’
He had already been gathering like-minded individuals, and many had agreed to join him in seizing this opportunity.
‘That troublemaker will definitely take my hand.’
Who else but Ian would want to rise above everyone else?
Ian, who had thrown tantrums and refused to eat or drink, blaming his younger brother for taking the heir’s position, was still vivid in Arne’s memory.
‘You take the high seat. I’ll stay right below you, fulfill your desires, and do what I need to do.’
His eyes gleamed with ambition.
The only thing left was to figure out how to put Ian back on the heir’s seat and secure it firmly.
That was where his real work would begin.
“M-Master!”
It was then that a maid he had hired came running in a panic.
“What is it?”
“Y-Young Master Ian is here!”
“Which young master?”
“I-Ian! Young Master Ian has come to see you in person!”
“Young Master Ian?”
A smile spread across Arne’s face.
‘He took the bait, as expected.’
He had anticipated this, so he wasn’t particularly surprised.
“But there’s something strange…”
Something strange?
“He seems completely drunk, reeking of alcohol…”
“That’s fine.”
It wasn’t the first time Ian had caused trouble while drunk.
He probably came here after pulling some bizarre stunt that no one else would think of.
“I should go meet him.”
He hadn’t expected Ian to come to him directly, but it made sense if Ian recognized his value.
‘I thought he was just a beast, but at least he knows how to show gratitude.’
He stood up from his seat.
“Where is the young master?”
“He’s at the back gate.”
“…The back gate?”
Not the front gate, but the back gate?
It was a bit odd, but considering the route from the high-end tavern to here, the back gate would be the first to appear.
Knowing Ian’s personality, he probably came through the back gate because he was too lazy to go around.
He hurried toward the mansion’s back gate.
With that temperamental young master, who knew what he might do if kept waiting?
As he approached the back gate, he saw Ian standing there, just as the maid had said.
“Young Master Ian. What brings you here at this hour…?”
His cheerful greeting was cut short.
Lying on either side of Ian were two men, beaten so badly that their faces were almost unrecognizable.
Judging by the dirt marks on the ground, they had been dragged here.
‘A troublemaker is still a troublemaker.’
He had thought Ian had changed a bit recently, but it seemed people don’t change overnight.
That temper of his hadn’t gone anywhere.
Getting drunk and beating people up—typical Ian.
‘It’s better than him suddenly becoming competent.’
In fact, Arne felt more at ease this way.
It meant he could carry out his plans without worry once he became the closest confidant.
If Ian suddenly became competent, Arne wouldn’t be able to do what he wanted.
Of course, cleaning up Ian’s messes would likely fall on Arne, but it was a price worth paying.
“Artn? Arne? Whatever, you’re the deputy head butler or something, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct, Young Master Ian. I’m Arne Holiman.”
Ian didn’t even recognize him.
Well, it wasn’t surprising.
Ian was the type to not even remember the faces or names of people he wasn’t interested in, regardless of his intelligence.
Arne was probably just one of those people Ian deemed unworthy of remembering.
He had no idea that Ian genuinely didn’t know him.
‘What’s going on? Why are they in that state?’
At first, he didn’t recognize them, but upon closer inspection, they were the men he had sent to win Ian over.
Why were they lying next to Ian in such a state?
‘Did they do something to upset that troublemaker?’
Ian was the type to laugh and joke one moment, then throw a punch the next if someone rubbed him the wrong way.
Surely, these two must have unintentionally provoked Ian in some way.
“I didn’t know such a small territory had such a big mansion.”
Ian muttered to himself as he looked around the mansion.
It was a grand mansion—though calling it that would be an understatement. It was larger and more luxurious than the mansions of most noble families.
And the precious metals adorning the deputy butler’s attire were clearly worth a fortune.
“Thank you. I’ve managed to build it up over the years through successful investments.”
Arne’s response to Ian’s muttering went in one ear and out the other.
“But, Young Master, what brings you here?”
“Oh, right. You said you’d put me on the lord’s seat, didn’t you?”
‘This clueless idiot!’
“Y-Young Master, why don’t we go inside first?”
Arne quickly glanced around, startled.
This wasn’t a conversation to have out in the open.
Thankfully, there was no one around.
“No need for that.”
Ian hadn’t come here to chat.
“No long explanations needed.”
Just as he had done with the two bloodied men lying next to him, Ian raised his fist.
“You’re going to take a beating first.”
“Huh?”
“I came through the back gate for your family’s sake, so be grateful. Today, you’re going to take a good beating from me, then come with me to the lord’s estate to apologize, and start anew. Got it?”
And with that, there was no more talking.
Only the sounds of Ian’s fists and Arne’s screams echoed through the back gate of the mansion.
Hubert was walking down the street.
His face was filled with concern, and someone approached him.
“You’ve been looking troubled lately. What is weighing on your mind?”
“Father.”
The one who had approached him was Hugo.
“What brings you here?”
“I came because it seemed like something has been bothering you a lot lately. So, tell me, what is it that troubles you?”
Hubert hesitated for a long time before finally speaking his concerns.
“To be honest, I’m afraid. My brother has changed completely, as if he’s a different person, and he’s steadily achieving accomplishments I never expected.”
It was something he had never felt while watching his brother before.
The monster subjugation could be considered an exception, but the suppression of the monster rampage was an unimaginable achievement.
Saying that he had saved Schrantz was by no means an exaggeration.
“You have received proper education as the successor and built a solid foundation. Your position will not be shaken.”
“But others, including my brother, may think differently, right?”
“…….”
Hugo fell silent.
He couldn’t say that his son was wrong.
Moreover, he had received reports that certain people had begun harbouring different intentions.
Hugo was secretly investigating whether those rumours were true and, if so, who was involved.
He did not wish for any strife to arise between his sons.
He could only hope that these were mere rumours and that nothing serious would come of it.
However.
‘If Ian really sides with those harbouring different intentions…’
As a father, he did not even want to imagine what he might have to do.
He might have to revoke the family status he had worked so hard to grant Ian and exile him from the territory.
The family’s honour and prestige would take a severe blow, but there would be no other option.
Both as a lord and as a father.
It would be a nightmare that Hugo wished never to come true.
Just then.
“Lo-Lord!”
Jurdan, who had not yet finished his duties and was still at work, came rushing toward him.
“What is it, aide?”
Jurdan’s face was pale.
“Young Master Ian, Young Master Ian…!”
“What about Ian?”
A thought flashed through Hugo’s mind.
“…Has he caused trouble?”
He had been quiet for a while, but now it seemed he had finally made a mess.
“So, what kind of trouble has he caused this time?”
“He went to the deputy butler’s house and…”
“The deputy butler? You mean Arne’s house? Why there?”
It was an oddly random place for Ian to visit, which made Hugo suspicious.
Ian might have caused trouble among the commoners, but he had never done anything against a noble before.
He hoped it was nothing more than a minor disturbance.
“But he beat the deputy butler to a pulp and is now dragging him to the lord’s castle!”
Hugo and Hubert were utterly shocked by the report of Ian’s unimaginable actions.
“You were here, Lord.”
At that moment, Ian’s voice rang out.
Hugo desperately hoped that Jurdan had misunderstood the situation.
But in Ian’s grasp, a man was being dragged along by the scruff of his neck.
His body hung limp as he was pulled, making Hugo briefly fear that the man was dead.
Fortunately, the rise and fall of his stomach indicated he had only fainted.
Following behind Ian, looking terrified, were two others—Klins and Luther.
They had regained consciousness while Arne was being beaten, and after it was over, they were half-forced to come along.
Although they were at least walking on their own two feet, their appearances were no better.
Bruises and blood covered their faces, making it hard to imagine how much of a beating they had taken.
This was no ordinary trouble.
This was a disaster.
To make matters worse, Ian had done this not long after being officially recognized as a member of the family.
Just when Hugo had started to see hope in his son’s change, this happened, leaving him feeling deeply betrayed.
By tomorrow, once the news spread, officials would undoubtedly demand that Ian’s status as a family member be revoked.
A formally recognized member of the family had caused a massive scandal?
This would severely damage the family’s prestige and his own reputation as the lord.
“Ian, what on earth have you done…!”
Just as Hugo was about to raise his voice in rare anger—
“Lord, we momentarily lost our senses and had foolish thoughts!”
“We accept any punishment! We will cooperate in any way, so please show mercy!”
Klins and Luther suddenly fell to their knees before him, begging for forgiveness.
Hugo, about to scold Ian, was momentarily puzzled by the unexpected turn of events.
“Aren’t you both officials working at the lord’s castle?”
The two flinched.
“Y-Yes. We made a terrible mistake.”
“We are deeply sorry! Truly sorry!”
Normally, it would be an honour for the lord to remember their faces, but in this situation, it was far from welcome.
They desperately pressed their heads to the ground, pleading for forgiveness.
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