IWMHWD 20

<Chapter 20> Master and Disciple
November 20, 2023

Of course, there had been a disclaimer that being able to see mana didn’t mean much if you didn’t know how to use it—but Cordelia had conveniently left that part out.

Beluce let out a snort of laughter.

“Big deal. So you can see a bit of mana—what’s so amazing about that?”

“My master said it’s really incredible. Ah, but I guess you wouldn’t understand, Beluce, since you don’t even know what magic is.”

His lips twitched, as if he wanted to retort with something nasty. It looked like he was itching to say something sharp, but unlike yesterday, he didn’t raise a hand—probably because Leonard had warned him firmly.

After finally regaining his composure, Beluce spoke.

“Master has always been fickle. He’ll use something—or someone—until he gets bored. Then it’s all over. He just throws them out.”

“Is that so?”

“When the time comes, I’ll chop you into pieces and scatter you across the field. Look forward to it.”

He sneered mockingly as he said it, but Cordelia merely clasped her hands together and responded sweetly.

“Well, Beluce might get discarded first. If that happens, I’ll make sure to chop you up and scatter you across the field myself. Oh, and don’t worry—I’ll call the dogs, too. I saw yesterday how much you liked feeding them.”

At her thoughtful response, the door gave a strange creaking noise as part of it cracked—perhaps touched by her consideration. Cordelia didn’t even turn her head.

“You never let anything go, do you?”

“Not at all. I’ve just learned diligently under my master.”

Beluce glared at her with murderous eyes, then vanished without another word.

“Oh my, wasn’t that Lord Ingrion just now?”

Emily, who had come in to serve, recognized Beluce’s back and widened her eyes.

“You two must be really close. He came by first thing in the morning.”

“Right? I wasn’t expecting a morning visit either.”

Cordelia shrugged, glancing in the direction he disappeared.

“Oh, by the way—the madam has invited you to a formal dinner tomorrow.”

“A formal dinner? All of a sudden?”

“Yes. I heard it’s to celebrate the master’s recovery.”

How bold. Jared was still watching with those icy eyes, and Helena was hosting this dinner right in front of him. Cordelia couldn’t help but wonder if this was all on purpose.

“She also said she wants to make sure the master attends.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“Not like he’s going to listen to me.”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing. Never mind.”

Cordelia shook her head. She had doubts whether Leonard would go along with Helena’s plans at all.

So, without much hope, she told Leonard about Helena’s formal dinner—and to her surprise, he agreed.

“You’re going? Why?”

“To clean.”

“Clean?”

“I told you—I need to clean up the filth. I can’t leave things a mess forever. Oh, and while I’m at it, invite that Jared fellow too.”

“Jared Abrams too?”

“Yeah. Call in everyone who has a problem with me. Saves me the trouble of visiting them one by one.”

Cordelia didn’t fully understand what he meant, but it was clear he had a plan.

So she sent word through a maid to Helena that she and Craig would be attending the dinner.

It had been a long time since such a formal dinner was held.

With Darren Abrams, the former Count, having passed away not long ago, and Craig bedridden after a fall from his horse, there had been neither host nor occasion for one.

Cordelia was the first to arrive at the dining hall. Soon, the others began to trickle in.

Helena arrived with Lily and Arnold. When Lily spotted Cordelia already seated, she looked like she wanted to say something, but Helena quickly cut her off with a sharp, “Quiet.”

What was that about?

Before she could think further, Baron Lancaster and Jared Abrams also arrived and took their seats.

Now, only one seat remained.

Soon, the doors opened, and the long-awaited guest entered.

“Looks like everyone’s here.”

Leonard glanced around at the gathered guests. Then, unexpectedly, an uninvited guest walked in.

“Oh my, Lord Ingrion.”

“Good evening.”

“…I don’t recall inviting you tonight.”

“Exactly why I came on my own. I waited, but no invitation ever came. Lady Abrams must prefer bold guests.”

Beluce replied smoothly with a smile. Helena’s face twitched at the surprise appearance.

Arnold leaned in to whisper something into her ear, and her expression quickly relaxed into a composed smile.

“…How rude of me not to greet a guest properly. Please, have a seat.”

“Thank you, Lady Abrams.”

A servant brought a chair and place setting for Beluce.

Soon, food was served, and everyone ate in silence. When the main course was nearly finished, Helena spoke first.

“Tonight’s gathering is not only to celebrate my son Craig’s recovery—but also to discuss something important.”

“What might that be?” asked Baron Lancaster.

Helena offered a meaningful smile.

“You’ll find out at the end of the meal. But first, we have a distinguished guest at the table, and I haven’t even had a proper introduction.”

“Ah, that’s true. Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Dean Lancaster. May I ask your name, sir?”

With Helena’s cue, Dean turned to Beluce.

“I am Beluce Ingrion.”

“I’ve heard much about you. You won the jousting tournament last year, didn’t you? I heard His Majesty praised you as the finest knight.”

“His Majesty tends to be overly generous with praise.”

Surprisingly, Beluce was speaking quite normally. Knowing his true nature, Cordelia snorted internally.

“By the way, I’m curious—how did you come to be at the Abrams estate? Who do you know here?”

“Well,” Beluce said as he set down his utensils, still pretending to be dignified, “it’s thanks to Lady Cordelia, sitting right there.”

“Oh?”

All eyes turned to Cordelia. She froze, her food forgotten, at the sudden mention of her name.

“I’ve had a long-standing connection with the Vasquez family. Vasquez is known as the ‘cleanest sword’ of Ersche, after all.”

“I see.”

Beluce lied so smoothly it was almost believable. Helena didn’t doubt it—after all, it wasn’t strange for a member of the sacred Eight Houses like Ingrion to have ties to Vasquez.

“And by great fortune, I came here and met the lord I would swear my life to.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean Count Abrams, right here. I’ve pledged my sword to him.”

A knight’s oath was something out of old legends, but still held weight. Gasps rippled through the room. Helena’s eyes, especially, trembled at his declaration.

“Lord Ingrion, you must be mistaken.”

“Mistaken about what?”

“That boy isn’t the Count yet.”

She raised her hand to point at Leonard, who didn’t even glance her way. Instead, Jared, who had been silently eating, spoke up.

“She’s right. He hasn’t officially inherited the title yet.”

“Jared makes a good point. We need to clarify such an important matter.”

Even Arnold sided with Jared. The atmosphere turned tense. Cordelia set her fork down and glanced around.

Helena had once treated Jared like a devil, terrified he would steal the title. Now she was clearly aligning herself with him. It wasn’t a surprise—Helena must have realized Leonard wasn’t on her side.

“But what do you mean he isn’t the Count? As far as I know, Craig is the rightful heir to the Abrams title,” said Beluce calmly.

“That was before he lost his mind. You can’t make a fool the Count, can you?”

Jared looked around smugly, expecting agreement. Only Helena and Arnold nodded. Baron Lancaster remained silent.

Jared turned to Leonard arrogantly.

“No one here sees you as the Count. Even if you claim you’re the rightful heir, Lady Helena and Viscount Arnold will testify to the Assembly that your mind isn’t sound.”

“You done talking?”

“What?”

“Anyone else here who won’t acknowledge me as Count? So far, it’s the three of you. Since married women’s opinions don’t count, that leaves one.”

All eyes turned to Baron Lancaster, the last undecided vote. Looking uncomfortable, he hesitated.

“I…”

“Speak. Do you also refuse to acknowledge me as Count?”

“Baron Lancaster. Remember what I promised you.”

Helena shot him a piercing glare. Dean Lancaster was silent for a long time before finally responding.

“I believe Lord Craig is the rightful heir.”

Clever choice.

Cordelia silently applauded his instincts, then calmly resumed eating. The outcome was already obvious.

“Hmph. So not you, then.”

“Baron! How could you change your mind now?”

“Let him be. No point having a fool who can’t read the situation on our side. Bring them in!”

Jared shouted toward the door. A dozen armed knights burst in, swords drawn. Now it was clear why he was so confident.

“Haha. If you don’t want to die, sign this. Cooperate, and I’ll exile you instead of killing you.”

He threw a document in front of Leonard—no need to read it to know what it said.

Leonard leaned back and stretched, then turned to Beluce with a bored expression.

“Take it easy.”

“Why?”

“It’s going to be a pain to clean up.”

“Yes, sir.”

A lot was left unsaid, and only Cordelia seemed to understand the full meaning.

Even amid the tense atmosphere, she kept calmly eating her food. It was so out of place that the servant standing behind her looked at her like she was crazy.