I'm the Only One With a Different Genre - Chapter 146

Chapter 146
Plan to Make Them a Couple

***

‘Are you sleeping well?’

Iris was fast asleep, her expression so peaceful that she probably wouldn’t have noticed even if someone carried her off. Lian gently brushed the hair covering her face, revealing her lips pressed together in a cute little “S” shape. Looking at her adorable face, he couldn’t help but smile.

‘…Should I stay here until the Duke returns?’

Since he hadn’t committed any crime, even if he met the Duke, things would likely go smoothly. As the butler had said, he might even end up receiving a significant reward. Yet, there was a simple reason why he was so eager to leave the Duke’s estate as soon as possible.

‘It’s because everyone’s eyes are shining more and more these days…’

The more Lian demonstrated his extraordinary abilities, the more the people of the Duke’s household began to look at him like hyenas eyeing prey. To put it nicely, their eyes sparkled; but to put it bluntly, their gazes were filled with greed.

In a world where simply being able to read and do arithmetic could make someone a decent administrator, even Lian making minor contributions to administrative tasks was seen as groundbreaking.

And that wasn’t all.

His swordsmanship was enough to shock even the knight captain, and his household skills were so remarkable that even the head maid struggled to keep her composure.

Although everyone kept quiet because they believed Lian to be a member of the Duke’s bloodline, if it turned out he wasn’t… a fierce recruitment war would break out.

Lian instinctively understood that if he stayed any longer until the Duke returned, he would end up tied down here.

‘But…’

Despite knowing that, he couldn’t easily leave. Lian’s gaze fell on Iris, who was sleeping peacefully.

Having been with her since they were young, he had become more attached than he had expected. Because of that, he couldn’t bring himself to push away the hands that clung to him so desperately.

‘Urgh… Let’s try to slowly persuade her once Iris wakes up. The Duke isn’t coming back immediately, anyway.’

As Lian was organizing his complicated thoughts, the butler, with a dazed expression, returned to his office and collapsed onto the sofa.

‘I always thought there was something extraordinary about him, but… to think he was a Saint.’

Various emotions flickered across his face. At first, he had been shocked, but soon, his eyes were filled with deep understanding.

‘Even the Holy Power of the Pope wasn’t as pure and awe-inspiring as his. He must really be a Saint.’

Before he knew it, his eyes were brimming with joy.

‘…This time, it might truly be real. No, it has to be real. That kind of divine energy can’t be a lie.’

The butler pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, wiping away the tears streaming down his face.

“Oh, young lady… You’ve truly returned.”

His tears, filled with both guilt and overwhelming emotion, flowed endlessly. The handkerchief became soaked, and his eyes grew red before the tears finally stopped. After quickly pulling himself together from the emotional mess, the butler’s gaze turned thoughtful.

‘The Saint said he would leave… but that won’t do.’

He couldn’t simply let the benefactor of the Duke’s household go.

‘Even if that weren’t the case, the young lady absolutely needs the Saint right now.’

Recalling the image of the young lady sobbing in sorrow, his expression darkened.

‘I need to make sure the Saint feels at home here, like it’s his own domain. That way, even if he leaves to follow the will of the gods, he can always return to the Duke’s household. He should also be able to accept any help the Duke’s household offers without hesitation. Only then can we properly repay our debt to him.’

The butler’s eyes sparkled just like the rest of the Duke’s staff when they looked at Lian.

‘To make that happen… Yes, adopting him into the family would be the best course of action. From what I’ve investigated, it doesn’t seem like he has any family. Plus, the young lady already sees him as her real brother, and with his white hair and golden eyes, which signify the Duke’s bloodline, it shouldn’t be difficult to officially adopt him.’

His rusty mind began whirling at full speed, and soon, an even better idea popped up.

‘Or—… Yes, having the two of them marry would be an excellent solution. With his impeccable character, dignity, and ability, the Saint would be a perfect match for the young lady.’

The butler, eyes half-closed, started imagining Lian♥Iris holding a grand wedding under the sound of jubilant bells.

‘The most important thing, of course, is the young lady’s feelings… but I already know the answer without even asking.’

In the harsh world of noble society, one had to be perceptive. That’s why the butler had long since noticed the feelings Iris harbored for Lian.

‘Still, just in case, I’ll ask the young lady for confirmation.’

The butler grinned inwardly as he eagerly began crafting his plan to turn Lian and Iris into a married couple.

***

At that moment, deep within a distant forest far from the Duke’s estate…

A woman with a face as pale and cold as a carved piece of a snowy mountain gazed blankly at the dense trees. Her thin voice, so fragile that it seemed it could be swept away by the wind, trembled as she spoke.

“Child…?”

Her gaze was fixed on a girl quietly standing there, dressed in a pure white dress. The girl’s long white hair cascaded down to her waist, and her slightly curved eyes revealed a hint of gold between their lashes, giving off a mysterious and enchanting aura.

The girl, who looked like a mirror image of Iris, smiled softly as she looked up at the Duke.

Her smile was blinding, but there was something strangely unsettling hidden behind it that subtly spread through the air. Standing in the shadow of the trees, the girl stretched out her arms toward the Duke as if begging to be embraced, like a child pleading with her parent.

The girl’s actions were completely out of place in the dangerous forest, where monsters roamed, adding to the unsettling atmosphere.

“Child…”

However, the Duke didn’t notice this. Or even if she did, she wouldn’t have been able to stop herself. A parent who has lost their child will instinctively reach out upon seeing a child, whether it’s their real one or not.

As the Duke took a step toward the ominous-looking girl—

Flap!

The messenger bird perched on the Duke’s arm suddenly startled, sensing the ominous energy, and took flight. The letter neatly tied to its ankle was soaked with the blood of monsters that had splattered onto the Duke’s arm. The bird was supposed to fly back to the Duke’s household.

Rumble!

Right after the bird flew up into the sky, the entire forest began to shake violently, as if caught in an earthquake. The branches collided with each other in a fierce uproar, and the trees, both large and small, trembled as if their roots themselves were quaking. Even the monsters in the forest seemed momentarily startled and fell silent.

Where the Duke had been standing, there was now nothing but a massive, deep pit that seemed to have no bottom. It was clear that the tremors shaking the forest were caused by this enormous hole.

The ground, like a living creature, slowly closed its gaping mouth. The pit disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, leaving no trace. The entire event had only lasted a few seconds, and soon, as if nothing had happened, the place where the Duke had stood returned to its flat, undisturbed state.

***

“What is… this…”

The butler, with trembling hands, unfolded the bloodstained letter. It was the very letter he had sent. His face turned paler than it had ever been.

The fact that the messenger bird had returned unscathed meant that the blood wasn’t from an attack. In other words…

The butler muttered with a voice that sounded like he was on the verge of collapsing.

“Something has happened… to Her Grace.”

The butler, who seemed ready to crumble into pieces, slapped his cheeks hard, forcing himself to regain his composure.

‘Now more than ever, I need to keep my wits about me.’

With a resolute expression, he gathered the head maid and the captains. He quickly relayed the news. Even for those who had endured countless experiences, hearing that something had happened to the Duke was deeply shocking. The Duke had been their spiritual anchor.

Despite the shock, their loyalty was strong, and they didn’t falter. Instead, they began moving swiftly. The atmosphere in the Duke’s estate turned tense and urgent, and the guests staying there even started helping out, albeit somewhat confused by the situation.

“Thank you so much for your help.”

“No, it’s nothing. I’ve already received so much assistance up until now.”

“Even so, we’re still grateful.”

Since time was of the essence, the people of the Duke’s household did not refuse the help of the guests. As preparations moved rapidly along, there was one person who was beyond shocked, utterly dumbfounded.

‘Something happened to the Duke? Is that even possible?’

Lian’s mind had stopped functioning the moment he heard that the Empire’s greatest sword (at least by the Duke’s standards) had gone missing in what was essentially a beginner’s hunting ground.

End of Chapter.