Chapter 25: The Marquis wields his blade in retaliation ③

Translator: Soafp

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“Honestly, I was thinking things had gotten a little better earlier, but how can you let your intelligence degenerate to such an extent in such a short time?”

“Eh? Eh?”

“Leon ……why should I be lectured by you on the treatment for those two?”

　My words seemed to make Leon finally realize that he had made a mistake. Rather, he had already failed in the prison, so it was too late.

“Leon, you’ve got it all wrong, so let me tell you. I’m not just going to kill those two people for the sake of my men.”

“Eh?”

“I’m displeased with those two, that’s why I’m going to kill them. That’s all I’m saying. It’s unpleasant to see their excrement on the street, isn’t it? It’s filthy and it’s stressful to see. Therefore, I clean it up. Nothing more. Do I need to go through all the complicated logic to clean up the excrement?”

　Hearing my words, Leon had no answer. He knew without reason that my intention to declare Ghazel and Armada as excrement was true.

“And now, Leon, I have one question for you.”

“……”

　Leon did not respond to my question. No, I don’t think he can answer. I could feel the trembling of fear in Leon’s hands as I held his head down, and I knew he was too afraid to answer.

“Why should I be called out by you?”

“Eh …….”

“What’s wrong?”

“H-How did you know?”

“How did I know? Why wouldn’t I have any surveillance on my visits with the executed prisoners?”

“Eh”

“You might be helping them to escape. If there’s such a possibility, why didn’t you assume you’re being watched?”

　Leon’s complexion suddenly turned pale at my words.

“You can get your sentence reduced if you behave in an honorable manner…..huh. When did I ever mention a reduced sentence? Show me on what grounds your will takes precedence over mine…….hmm”

“Y-You got it wrong!!”

“Hoo …… I’ve got it wrong? Tell me.”

“T-that’s …… To encourage your reflection.”

“In other words, you want me to believe that you can deceive me as long as you keep up appearances. You can’t be that naive.”

“Y-You got it wrong!”

“Shut up…… it doesn’t make any sense.”

　Kokin……!

“AAAAAAHHHHHH”

　The scream emanated from Leon’s mouth as I dislocated Leon’s left elbow. I ignored Leon’s scream and continued talking.

“Leon, what’s going on in your head? I really wonder how you can have such sweet delusion that I care about your family.”

“HIIII!!”

“You’re as disgusting as excrement.”

“HII! Please forgive me! Please forgive me! Please forgive me!”

　Cokin……

“AHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

　The scream came from Leon’s mouth again as I dislocated his right elbow this time.

“Walter.”

　I called out his name, ignoring Leon’s scream, and a butler appeared noiselessly in the office.

“How are those two idiots doing?”

“Yes, they seem to have taken Leon’s words to heart and are behaving in an exceptional manner.”

“Hoo……So they’ ve fallen for this idiot’s tricks?”

“Yes. I took his word for it when Yakata-sama was in doubt.”

　I couldn’t stop the laughter that was naturally building up in me. I sent Leon to mislead them into thinking that there was a chance that they would survive until the execution, and to increase their desperation just before the execution. It’s to Leon’s credit that he managed to do so effortlessly.

“Leon, you’re a very lucky man, you know that?”

“Eh?”

“You manipulated those two just the way I wanted them to. That’s what you did.”

“Manipulated?”

“I’m saying I used you to guide their thoughts.”

“Eh? Eh?”

　Leon looked dumbfounded, as if he couldn’t figure out what I was trying to say.

“The two of them need to die in despair as much as possible.”

“Eh?”

“Don’t you see? They need to be crying out in misery on the executioner’s table.”

“W-Why?”

“For two reasons I’m not going to tell you. You will be useful to me as a pawn until the end.”

　Walter grabbed Leon by the shoulders and forced him to stand up and placed both of his elbows on him.

“Ugh ……!!!”

　Leon looked in pain, but the pain must have subsided quickly. He looks at me with fear in his eyes.

“Walter, take him away. If he misbehaves, he will be dealt with at your discretion.”

“As you wish”

“Hii……”

“Go.”

“H-Hold on.……”

　Walter whispered something to Leon, and Leon’s face suddenly turned pale. Leon followed Walter out of the room with a dizzy, ghostly gait.

　Those two people don’t know that the hope of Leon was completely useless. That’s why on the day of their execution, they will despair at the difference.

“Please be useful at least in the end, …… Father, Stepmother.”

　I muttered with a wicked smile on my face.

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