This Bastard is Too Competent

Chapter 154: Death is Coming

The situation unfolded just as Ian had planned.

“The Marquis deliberately chose to stay at his mansion instead of the palace! It’s evident that he had planned this from the start!”

“Nonsense! You were the ones who requested introductions to other nobles first! And who offered to go to the Marquis’s mansion initially? It was the Cardinal!”

The nobles began to create factions supporting Adelas and Cesare, some even engaging in physical fights.

“Who do you think you are?”

“Don’t you dare conspire against the esteemed Cardinal!”

They were clearly trying to shift the blame onto each other as the perpetrator of the saint’s murder. 

Observing their behavior, Ian couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

‘What a mess.’

Everything was proceeding according to his plan. 

Simply by listening to their words, he could discern their weaknesses.

“The purpose of becoming the First Princess’ spouse was never to become the King of Kaistein! I heard that once he became the First Princess’ spouse, he planned to confine her within a monastery!”

“When did he ever say that? That’s what you claimed, and he never requested a ducal title in return!”

As the fight escalated, more and more heated words were exchanged, reminiscent of a squabble between children.

But it was at that moment.

[What is this? Another enjoyable verbal battle? Whom did you provoke this time?]

Jealousy was slowly creeping out of his arms. The guy stretched as if he was in a good mood.

[Oh, what an exhilarating verbal battle! It’s the best!]

[By the way, is it those guys again this time?]

But Ian’s gaze was strange. 

He had noticed the change in Jealousy.

‘Does this guy have arms?’

Stretching like that. 

Clearly, all he had were a few teeth and his mouth. 

But Jealousy doesn’t notice Ian’ gaze. 

He was busy looking around. 

This guy has no eyes.

Then he tilted his head as if he realized something.

[What is this? This is the royal palace, right? Can they fight like this here?]

Of course, the reason they could behave in such a manner was the absence of the First Princess and King Eloin. 

If they were present, matters wouldn’t have escalated to this extent. 

Ian casually replied.

‘That’s because there’s no one here of higher rank than them.’

[Huh? Really?]

No duke was present, and although Fionia was there, she held no significant status despite being the daughter of a duke. 

With no one surpassing the Marquis in rank, Cesare felt belittled and acted foolishly. 

Jealousy looked at Ian.

[But isn’t there a king or the royal family? Wait, aren’t you royalty?]

‘I am both royalty and a king.’

[But why?] 

‘Because to them, I’m not the one who stands above them, I’m the one they want to kill.’

[Oh?]

The nobles continued their grandstanding, unaware that Cesare and Marquis Adelas observed with cold eyes.

Ian shrugged.

‘It’s not like I’m going to run up to the king and tell him.’ 

[Ah. There won’t be any evidence. Looks like you’re planning to turn the tables and launch a counterattack later.]

‘From the beginning, I am still young, you see.’

[They’re dismissing you as a child?] 

‘And besides, I don’t need to step forward.’

[Are you giving up already?]

Jealousy laughed, but instead of answering, Ian looked somewhere.

They were royal attendants quietly sitting in the corner.

‘As long as they’re here, it doesn’t matter.’

[What? Why are the royal attendants here?]

‘They are the king’s eyes and ears.’

[Oh? Really? I thought they were just ornaments.]

Jealousy looked at the royal attendants curiously.

He’d realized the last time he’d seen them, that royal attendants didn’t have much emotion. 

‘Of course. The first education they receive from the royal family is to kill their emotions.’

That’s why the second prince also raised assassins and spies in the palace.

Those people would now be the ones to reveal everything to the king. 

Even though he might already know, hearing it directly would be completely different.

‘Perhaps we will soon see the king’s wrath.’

And it wasn’t just him.

Her sister would be no pushover either.

[That strong-looking woman? She was a strangely unpleasant woman, wasn’t she?]

Jealousy likes negative emotions.

However, the First Princess was noble, driven solely by her pride rather than negative emotions. But Ian knew. 

He didn’t know in his past life, but he found out for sure last time. 

There was no one in this palace, except for the king, who could avoid her eyes and ears. 

Surely he remembered the knights and attendants all moving at the same time. 

How could such a person not be aware of such a conversation? 

Even the First Princess and Adelas ended up at odds over the issue of the engagement with the cardinal.

[So, that fierce princess is going to deal with those guys?]

‘Of course, but they will probably stab each other first.’

[And you’ll handle the finishing touch?]

Ian didn’t answer and shrugged his shoulders. 

Jealousy trembled with excitement. 

It was as if it found it exhilarating, as if it already sensed that feeling.

[But that woman… Didn’t she like your subordinate?]

‘Perhaps she did.’

[But isn’t that guy your subordinate’s father?]

Ian chuckled at Jealousy’s words. 

The relationship between the First Princess and Marquis Adelas had been strained for a long time. 

Would she be lenient just because of Nathan’s family ties?

[Wouldn’t it be hard to destroy the family of someone you love no matter what?] 

‘No, she’s not a pushover for that reason.’

At that moment, the situation was becoming increasingly interesting.

“Cardinal, is this really how it’s going to unfold?”

“Marquis, pull yourself together. Have you forgotten that I have the Holy Empire behind me?” 

In the end, even Cesare and the Marquis Adelas came forward.

Jealousy laughed at the sight.

[If I had a weapon, I would have drawn my sword right now.]

‘Then it would be fortunate for the Cardinal. Because it’s a royal palace, you can’t carry a weapon.’

[Huh? What does that mean?]

‘The Marquis has been trained in swordsmanship as a noble. In his youth, he even fought alongside the king on the battlefield.’

It was just a priest, nothing more. 

But Jealousy tilted its head.

[You mean that unpleasant guy? I think he’ll fight really well, right?]

‘What do you mean?’

[I can roughly gauge an opponent’s strength, but even the most advanced knights would lose against him.] 

‘What?’

For a moment, Ian’s face hardened.

*** 

Meanwhile, Nathan successfully escorted Saintess Elaira to the residence of the Duke of Lavaltor. 

However, instead of meeting the Duke himself, they were greeted by the Duke’s butler.

“I’m sorry, but the Duke will not come out.”

The Duke’s butler bowed his head with a calm expression.

Nathan looked slightly displeased.

It was obviously because he heard that Prince Ian had made a special request to the Duke.

‘It’s not as if you’re disrespecting the prince. Why…’ 

However, the reason the duke did not appear was not because he ignored the prince or the saintess.

“He said he would grant Prince Ian’s request, but that he could not be disloyal.” 

“How is it disloyal to see a saintess?” 

“Isn’t the saintess currently missing? When the duke met His Majesty, he said he could not tell a lie.”

To begin with, the duke had never seen the saintess.

So he would pretend he hadn’t seen her at all. 

Nathan shook his head. 

‘He really is as stubborn as a Fiosen.’

No matter what, Elaira was still a saint. 

It felt disrespectful to treat someone so precious, who was one of a kind on the continent, like this. 

But that’s how it felt, in line with the characteristics of Duke Lavaltor.

“For now, let me guide you to the room.”

Nathan and Elaira followed the butler to the room. 

It has the best view among the duke’s mansions.

And yet, it was a room just below the duke’s.

“The Duke has only one rule for you to follow.” 

“What is it?” 

“Do not leave the mansion.” 

“Why? Are you concerned about others seeing us?” Nathan asked, expressing his frustration. However, the butler maintained a stoic expression, seemingly anticipating Nathan’s reaction.

“The Duke can perfectly sense everything within the mansion.”

“What?”

“He said there is no one who can evade his gaze within this mansion, no matter who they are.”

Nathan was momentarily speechless. 

No matter how amazing the Duke Lavaltor was, this was incredible.

‘To have the power to envelop this entire mansion with his aura?’

That was the knight’s perception.

Emitting their own power, they could sense the people within.

With a radius of this magnitude, it is a power that even the average knight’s perception would find difficult to imitate.

It was natural for Nathan to be surprised.

“He has gained several insights from his experiences in the North. As a result, he has become much stronger than before.”

“Not just one, but several insights? Truly an extraordinary man… No, ahem. I mean the Duke,” Nathan corrected himself.

“The Duke is indeed an exceptional individual,” the butler affirmed proudly. 

It was only natural for him to hold such pride. 

Duke Lavaltor was known as the greatest knight on the continent, surpassing the kingdom. 

With his newfound strength, he had truly lived up to his reputation as the strongest.

“This is something the saintess would wear comfortably.”

The butler handed the clothes to Elaira.

But the fingers that were flipping through the clothes accidentally touched hers.

That moment.

‘!’

Elaira’s body trembled slightly. 

Nathan also couldn’t help but be surprised by that sight.

It was undoubtedly because of the stories he had heard while carrying her on his back.

“Sir Knight, you must never touch my body from now on.”

“Oh, don’t worry. I’m Knight Nathan and I am not a reckless man who lays hands on a lady’s body without permission. Well, the saintess would have to be more mature for my taste…” 

“I’m not referring to that kind of concern.”

“Yes?”

Nathan was then firmly cautioned by the saintess. 

“I can read the fate of those who touch my body.” 

“!!”

Of course, to some extent, it was a probabilistic event. 

It couldn’t be considered a definite prophecy. 

The problem was that fate was fixed.

“Um… So, if hypothetically speaking, in the future, I were to marry the princess, there would be no way to avoid it…”

“Yes.”

“Oh. Don’t come any closer.”

“Yes? Weren’t you just telling me to carry me on your back…”

“Forget it. Don’t come.”

Because of that, even Nathan refrained from touching the saintess’s body all the way to this place.

‘But the prophecy is being activated now?’

In a panic, Nathan hastily sent the butler out. 

If what Elaira had said was true, then the prophecy would soon be revealed.

And it happened.

“Brother… is in danger.”

“What…?”

“Death is coming for my brother.”

“What?”

Nathan’s face hardened at the saintess’s prophecy.

But the prophecy is not over yet.

“This place… is also dangerous. We must leave quickly.”

Nathan was left speechless. 

They were currently in the mansion guarded by Duke Lavaltor, the strongest knight on the continent. 

It was difficult to believe that a place protected by such a powerful knight could be considered dangerous. 

This uncertainty left Nathan questioning whether he should trust the prophecy. 

However, there was another startling revelation to come.

“That person. That person is bringing death.”

“No way…”

And it made sense. 

What Elaira’s finger was pointing at was none other than the butler of this mansion. 

It was the direction he had gone. 

Nathan couldn’t help but be shocked.

‘This place is dangerous?’

Surely, Prince Ian had told him to hide here. 

But his younger sister, the saintess, was now saying that this place was in danger. 

Of course, as a knight, he should follow Ian’s instructions.

‘Why do I suddenly have this ominous feeling?’

He simply couldn’t ignore the saintess’s prophecy. 

But at that moment, something came to Nathan’s mind and he stood up.

“Just a moment… please wait.”

It was the item Ian had entrusted to him in the past. 

He needed to use it.