Chapter 23: A request

"Milady…! Why did you…?"

I finally snapped.

What the hell was she thinking going against her father?!

Duke was the second last boss who wouldn't mind freezing his men if what it took to get the job done.

"Shut up, you idiot! Just why the hell do you keep getting in trouble?!" Anastasia berated and asked with concern. As she held me in her arms, her tear fell on my cheek and I first felt how it feels to be concerned by someone.

She also used a magic stone, which she took out from a Treasure called Dimensional Ring, that healed some of my internal injuries, but I was happy to be embraced by someone who cared for me.

She was calling my name, but I couldn't help staring at her with a smile. Her pounding heartbeat that I could hear as she hugged me in her chest told her worries.

"I… do not regret… cough*" I smiled and coughed some blood. "I… apologize, Milady. My blood tainted you…."

"I-Ivan, get a hold of yourself! And stop smiling!" She said and continued to shake my body since my body kept getting paler.

It was then the ice dome around us vanished in one second, and a person came out in our sight.

"Anastasia, I never thought you would go against me for a tiny insect!" Duke said as he came closer. "Leave him and come here."

Anastasia was shaken with fear as she heard her father. She embraced me further in her chest and closed her eyes. "N-no…"

I smiled, happy that the person I worked for also cared for me. However, I couldn't let her go against the Duke. I didn't want Duke to raise his hand on his daughter. I couldn't disgrace her any further.

"M-Milady… Let me talk to him…."

"But you…"

"It's fine. I got this…."

"…un."

She nodded and helped me sit so that I could talk with Duke. Let's be real. He could have erased my existence in seconds. If he was using his hands, there must be ways to talk to him.

I looked at Duke, who was still standing with his cold eyes, and laughed, "Phahaha, man, goddess of good luck must be sticking to my butt for me to be able to survive a kick from the strongest man in the empire… hah.."

"Pff!" Shin standing behind the Duke, snickered but immediately composed her expression, but we all ignored him.

"It was just a little miscalculation on my side. Some stubborn body you have." Duke said and then raised his hand. A flow of bluish mana began to flare in his hand before forming a small ball. "I will try to find a new toy for Anastasia, so goodbye. She doesn't need a filthy commoner brat who stops her from her correct path."

Anastasia tightly held the back of my jacket. I didn't move and continued to smile, "Correct path? If I remember correctly, it is called tyranny?"

"Whatever is called, I don't care as long as it is effective."

"Effective? Really? You mean you can keep killing insects without dealing with the infestation, is that the gist?"

"Brat, you are crossing the line!"

"Ivan, stop! Or father might kill you…!"

"Milady, I don't care if I die here. Hell, I was already prepared for it when I went against Duke." I said to Anastasia and focused my attention again on Duke, "Marquess Sailcoat will keep harassing you. First, he went against Anastasia, then… Are you fine with him sending assassins for you and your family, Duke Tsar?"

"Marquess Sailcoat is just an annoying bug. I don't need anyone to tell me who my enemies are."

"Then let me guess how you would deal with him. You will launch an all-out assault on his territory and kill him in cold blood, and then you will hang his head on the city's entrance to warn your other enemies."

At this point, I saw a surprised look on Shin and Kasumi's faces. Even Duke's eyes flinched for a millisecond.

"Duke Tsar, everyone in the capital is already jealous of your grand duchy and annoyed by your tyrannical rules if you kept doing as you like. If you kill Marquess, you will be a much greater problem. No dare to go against you, but they will pressure the imperial family to take action.

However, I don't care what you adults think but think about your daughter. She still hasn't debuted in society and is about to become Prince Arthur's fiancée and might also become the empress someday. Do you think those nobles would have any respect for the daughter of a blood-thirsty tyrant? Lady Anastasia's dream of living a respectful and happy life that she longed for will be filled with tragedy and hate."

"Ivan…" Anastasia called my name, but I ignored her for now. I had to convince Grand Duke, or I would die.

Duke remained silent but then dispelled the magic spell, lowered his hand, and crossed his arms as if saying, 'let's see if you have any better options.'

It was just the chance I was looking for.

"There is a way. Give me a year and a half and some support. I promise to bring Marquess Sailcoat in front of you, and no one would come to aid him. His head and his territory will be at your disposal."

"Ho? And what gives you the impression that I will listen to your request."

I chuckled, "You are doing right now, or the Grand Duke won't be listening to a filthy commoner. Besides, we both know I don't have anything to lose here. I don't have parents and certainly not a place called home where I could return. You can have my head if I fail here."

The Duke remained silent before turning around and started walking.

"I will listen again in my study. A year and a half, eh? I guess a Whitedeer brat will play fine for my hunt." He said while walking before leaving the room with Shin following him.

Energy left my body after the storm was gone, and I fell on Anastasia's soft lap. My vision also started to worry as I saw Anastasia in tears and hiccups.

"Sniff* Ivan, you despicable idiot… Why did you go so far for me…? I was… why do you keep worrying me?"

I took a deep sigh of relief that the calamity was finally going away, albeit temporarily. Some guards also took away the coachman and his family. Before leaving, I saw a bright smile of gratitude on the face of the little girl.

I then took out a handkerchief and rubbed Anastasia's innocent eyes. My hand was still shaking with weakness, but it didn't matter as Anastasia softly held my hand, helping me to rub her eyes.

"Don't cry, Milady… Sorry for that... I just didn't want you to lose your innocence. You have so much to see and enjoy. You must not taint your hand with blood, not now, Milady."

"But why? Father and everyone kept saying that as a noble, I have to learn about cruel society and to struggle…."

"Duke is right about it since you will ultimately have to bear such responsibility as his only child. However, you need to understand the cost of lives, Milady. It takes one swing of a sword to kill someone, whereas a life takes 9 months to come in this world, followed by years of nurture and care. Sure many scums deserve to die, but you still have to be prepared, not because someone else says so but because you felt a 'need' to kill someone.

Besides, I will be by your side when you would need a hand."

Anastasia nodded and smiled, "But you have to be alive, you know~? If you kept breaking like this, how will you help me then?"

Ugg, I had no idea why her innocent comment felt like a spear shot in my heart.

Dark knight, assassins, Shin, and now Duke Tsar, I felt like fate was playing with me for kept leaving me at death's door only to rescue me at the end minute.

"I will try not to break next time."

Anastasia and I looked at each other and started chuckling. Ah, I wish I could remain in that position, but I needed to move.

And who would be better to poke her ass in Anastasia's and mine close time than Kasumi?

"Milady, Prince Arthur is watching you."

"Aaa!" Anastasia got startled, jumping from her position as my head hit the solid ground. After not finding anyone beside us, she realized her mistake, "Oh no, Ivan, are you alright?!"

"Ye…" I weakly replied.

She then glared at Kasumi and asked, "Kasumi, don't joke around here."

"Well, it was the only way to make Milady come into senses. It's not like I was jealous of lovey-dovey sight." Kasumi came forward, carrying a bottle of healing potion. "Here goes the budget of potions in his stomach."

"Don't say that. We have plenty of it." Anastasia retorted.

"Y-yeah…" I also joined, albeit feeling weak.

"1 gold coin is the average salary of an average knight who needs to fight on the borders."

Humph. It was still easier than dealing with the villainess and her papa. I shouldn't call her villainess since she became a sweet girl.

"Next time, I will be cutting the cost from your salary."

[-1 HP due to stress]

No, what about my privileges…! Even though my monthly salary is 40 Gold coins, I still didn't want to afford it.

She won't know the pain of how much I had to work overwork and butter Anastasia to increase my salary. Yes, my salary is the highest among Anastasia's servants. Now you understand why I liked this job. I earned more than some nobles.

I was being paid even more than Kasumi. That's why she was a little salty about it.

Anyway, after healing a little, I remained conscious but still couldn't move properly. I had broken several bones and had several muscle fractures, so it would take time to heal properly.

When returning to the castle, Kasumi carried me happily, although in her arms like a princess.

"Kasumi, your breast…." I called the dark-haired maid.

"Yes? Are they soft?"

"Oh, they are marvelous- wait, how can you say that?!" Thank goodness that Anastasia didn't hear, or I would have been labeled a pervert. I was embarrassed.

She had been squeezing my face in her breast. It's not that I wasn't enjoying myself. I was just an adult inside, so I shouldn't react over a minor even though Kasumi was at the age of marriage by this world's standards. Thank goodness I was restless, or I didn't know what this maid could have done.

"Your disappointment down there aside, try not to break yourself in front of Lady Anastasia and me, ototo-chan."

I was surprised to see her concern for me, seeing her monotone face, but I guess wearing a mask was also Kasumi's and Shin's weakness to express their emotions when needed.

I smiled, placed my head on her bosom, and closed my eyes.

Finally, I can leave this place and get some strength.