I Became the Narrow-Eyed Villain in a Dropped Novel

“They’re saying the ones who attacked us were knights under the Third Duke?”

“Pretty sure. There’s no direct evidence, but just from their thrust-focused dueling technique, it’s obvious. At the very least, they were trained under Stetten.”

Inside the carriage headed for Headquarters.

While Blaiher, suffering from motion sickness, had dozed off, I listened to Til’s report.

“What do you think? Was this a solo move by the Third Duke?”

“Timershi, that moron? Not a chance. He probably got a bit too eager following orders from above.”

I agreed.

Timershi Stetten was the textbook example of an incompetent, arrogant thug.

The type who ran his mouth, got in trouble for it, stirred things up on his own, and couldn’t even clean up after. No way he was the mastermind.

“The order likely came from the First Duke.”

“That crusty old geezer? Why do you think that?”

“Well, he’s a contracting party.”

Valheit had made a contract with three Dukes—including First Duke Johann Geller—regarding Blaiher.

The lore crafted by the author was annoyingly complex, but to simplify: when the time came, they would support Blaiher as the next Emperor.

In the original story, a coup led by Chartra’s personal guard rushed the plan and triggered civil war.

So for now, the goal was to prevent that civil war from erupting.

“You made a deal with that sly old snake?”

“Yes. It benefited both of us.”

Johann’s motives were quite transparent.

Get rid of the incompetent but power-hungry Emperor and protect the Dukes’ authority.

A stance fitting of a staunch, tradition-loving reactionary.

“Tch. The Empire’s your turf, so you handle it. Just try to kill fewer people this time.”

“Any particular reason?”

“…Stupid of me to bring it up.”

Til shook her head.

She spoke coldly, like Valheit, but I also wanted to avoid unnecessary bloodshed.

There was the discomfort of having people drop dead at a single word from me… and I didn’t want to increase my own death probability by making more enemies.

The carriage gradually slowed.

A lake glittering under the sunset came into view.

As if on cue, Blaiher rubbed his eyes and sat up.

“Wow, is this the lake you mentioned?”

“Yes, it’s the lake where Headquarters is. You’ll be staying here for the time being.”

He nodded half-heartedly and immediately became absorbed in the scenery.

Can’t blame him—he’s just a high schooler at most.

Ten minutes later, the carriage came to a full stop.

Ron and Strategy Chief Doruga had come to greet us.

Ron looked fine, but Doruga… seemed like he hadn’t slept for days.

“It’s been a while, everyone. But Strategy Chief, what brings you here?”

“You told me to give you all the piled-up reports as soon as you returned.”

“Ah. Right, I did say that.”

It was just something I said to keep him from slacking—but I guess he took it to heart.

I felt a little guilty.

Ron showing up wasn’t surprising—he was basically a butler.

But the letter in his hand caught my attention.

“Welcome back, Lord Valheit. There’s an urgent letter, so I came out in person, forgive my rudeness.”

“Urgent letter?”

“It’s from the First Duke.”

Already? Even considering we took a detour for safety, the response was fast.

It meant he was taking things seriously.

“Understood. I’ll read it in the study. Oh, and Strategy Chief.”

“Yes.”

“Please educate this young man on the global situation, capital flows, internal and external affairs of the Empire—everything your department handles.”

“…Sorry? That doesn’t sound like a task for Strategy…”

“I’ll give you a month’s vacation afterward.”

“Leave it to me.”

Eyes sparkling at the mention of vacation, the Strategy Chief whisked away the still-clueless Blaiher.

Alright, time to really relax—

“Count Valheit!”

The Finance Chief came running in, completely out of breath.

“What on earth did you spend money on?! 120,000 ducats?! You said you were going to the capital—did you buy real estate or something?!”

“Hahaha, Finance Chief, I’m a little busy now, so let’s talk later. Excuse me!”

“Count!”

Shaking off the Finance Chief who clung to me, I dashed into the study.

Sorry, Finance!

***

The Headquarters reception room was as gloomy as ever.

The cloudy weather made it feel worse.

Why Valheit chose a place like this for a reception room, Til couldn’t understand.

As she chewed on that unanswered question, she sat in a chair.

In front of her, Valheit—rarely showing signs of fatigue—was visibly stressed, flipping through documents.

“Sorry to summon you when you’re still tired from travel.”

“You’re the one who looks worse.”

She flinched after speaking.

…Was I just worried about Valheit?

Maybe I’d gotten too soft after receiving one gift.

“I’m fine. Let’s skip the pleasantries and get to the point.”

“The First Duke invited you, right? Probably another escort job.”

“Half right, half wrong. It’s an escort job, but not for me.”

Who else could be important enough to warrant an escort?

As if reading Til’s mind, Valheit continued.

“This mission is to escort Blaiher Kruber.”

“Where to?”

“I’m sending him to Werner Chartra.”

“…The hell? Are you insane?”

The curse slipped out reflexively.

Valheit, as usual, only gave that irritating smile.

“The details will be explained to His Highness, but in short, it’s to make a good friend.”

“You’re sending a potential threat to the throne straight to the Empire’s top one-way loyalist and hoping they become friends?”

“That’s why I’m sending you. No matter how dangerous it gets, you’ll be able to protect Blaiher.”

Honestly, I didn’t get it.

So he wanted to use Blaiher like a chess piece—fine.

But why send him to that stubborn old man?

“You look like you don’t understand.”

“Of course I don’t. This is basically a declaration of war.”

“Not at all. Sure, he won’t welcome him, but he won’t go straight for his neck either. Don’t you think Lord Chartra is curious about who the next Emperor might be?”

Still didn’t sit right.

Would that man really leave a seed of rebellion alone?

He seemed like the type to execute anyone who posed a threat to the throne on the spot.

“I know you don’t trust me, but for this one thing, please do. I wasn’t named Imperial Advisor for nothing.”

“If you say so… but if my father starts foaming at the mouth—”

“You’re to escape with His Highness immediately. His safety is the top priority.”

He never used to be this earnest about others.

Or maybe the Valheit I knew up to now had been a mask?

“As soon as Strategy finishes his education, take this letter to Lord Chartra.”

“And what about you?”

“I’ll be settling things with the First Duke.”

“Alone? You sure you’ll be okay?”

Til’s question made Valheit curl his lip into that twisted grin.

The expression ruined her mood instantly.

“Oh? The Weapon Demon of Chartra is worried about me?”

“…A little. You’re the brains until the Commander arrives.”

“Wow. I’m tearing up. Til Chartra finally understands my heart.”

“Screw off.”

I must be insane… worrying about a bastard like that.

Til cursed silently and rose to her feet.

“Oh, one more thing. Since you’ll have time before Strategy’s done, could you deliver this to Mr. Strauss in the capital?”

“Yeah, yeah, got it.”

Til snatched the letter and stepped out of the reception room, walking more slowly than usual.

She had things to think about.

Valheit had changed.

Of course, his twisted, filthy personality and aggravating tone remained exactly the same.

But how should she put it?

Livelier? No, it was more than just becoming energetic.

‘He changed after that day. After he asked about the Northern Federation.’

The first time Valheit ever asked a question during a Regular report, it had been about the Northern Federation.

He’d never even glanced at them before—why then?

‘Did the Northern Federation cause the change?’

There was no doubt that Valheit’s behavior changed after that question.

Whether the change would help the Eight Council was still uncertain—but at the very least, he’d started working more energetically.

‘I should investigate this separately.’

Anyway, just as Valheit had said, there was time until the education was completed.

What she did in the meantime was up to her.

Normally, she might have taken a trip or gone hunting—but not this time.

She was determined to find out what impact Valheit’s change would have on the Eight Council the Commander belonged to.

***

A week after bringing Blaiher to Headquarters—

Having finally finished dealing with all the accumulated work, I arrived at the location designated by First Duke Johann Geller.

‘An art exhibition, huh… Haven’t been to one since I got dragged along back in middle school.’

Valheit probably had a decent eye for aesthetics, but I had absolutely no sense for art.

If Johann tried to make small talk about it, I’d be in trouble.

‘I crammed a few artist names, but… hope that’s enough.’

No choice.

I took a deep breath and entered the exhibition.

Though called an exhibition, it resembled a salon more than anything.

People dressed to the nines gathered in groups, chatting. A band played soft music in the background.

I’d never been to a place like this in my life.

As I looked around, slightly overwhelmed by the atmosphere, a neatly dressed noble approached me with a friendly face.

“Ah, Count Valheit. Thank you for accepting the invitation. His Grace the First Duke is waiting. Would you like to view the exhibition first, or…?”

“Let’s go directly.”

“Very well, this way please.”

Thank god.

Otherwise, I would’ve been stuck awkwardly standing there.

Once we went upstairs, I found the second floor much calmer than the noisy first floor. I liked it better this way.

It wasn’t hard to spot Johann Geller in the spacious hall.

An elderly man with a thick beard sat alone at the end of the balcony.

Then again, he was the only one there who could be called an “elderly man.”

“Have you been well, Your Grace?”

“Count Valheit. Thank you for coming.”

As I sat down, I opened the Status Window beside me.

I behaved as naturally as possible while searching for Johann Geller’s name.

[Relationships]

▶ First Duke Johann Geller (-76 / Deteriorating)

(-) Broke the contract.

…Simple enough.

By Valheit’s standards, this was a normal relationship.

Though it was currently worsening...

“What do you think of this painting?”

Johann spoke first after a moment of silence.

Following his gaze, I saw a landscape painting hanging on the wall.

“It’s vibrant.”

“It’s the work of the featured artist of this exhibition. He’s someone who’s quite skilled at using warm, bright light.”

“Is that so.”

“Some folks don’t like it since the technique strays from tradition, but it has an undeniable pull. I don’t see this kind of change as a bad thing.”

I didn’t get it. To me, it was just a pretty picture—nothing more, nothing less.

“Any other thoughts?”

“…Doesn’t seem like a particularly exciting piece to me.”

“Exciting, huh. That’s such a Valheit-like answer.”

Johann smiled kindly.

A thoroughly artificial smile that gave away nothing of his true thoughts.

“This old man doesn’t have the stamina to keep up with the kind of dynamic excitement you enjoy, Count. At my age, slow and steady is the way to go.”

He muttered something vague and then turned his head to look at me directly.

There was steel in his gaze.

“I trust you didn’t invite me here just to admire fine art, Your Grace.”

“I heard you had quite the scuffle with Stetten’s knights.”

“Yes, somehow.”

I admitted it.

There was no point dragging out something so obvious.

Besides, the important part wasn’t that there had been a fight.

“I also heard you were injured. Is your body alright?”

“Of course. Lost some blood, but I’m perfectly fine.”

I emphasized the blood.

Even though the Vestol Assembly’s statutory laws were becoming standard in the Empire, contracts between nobles were still governed by implicit customary law.

Sure, I’d dug deep into the setting, but I didn’t know every legal detail.

The author wrote The Path of the Demon King, not a civil code.

But at least the fundamental principles had been described.

Contracts meant that neither party bled.

That much was certain.

“A shame, Count. I doubt Timmy intended to break the contract. He was simply overzealous.”

Johann always called the much younger Third Duke Timershi Stetten “Timmy.”

Whether it was a sign of affection or condescension was unclear—but either way, Timershi was being treated like a child.

“Can I assume that Your Grace had no knowledge of this incident?”

“I did issue the order to monitor the illegitimate son. However, I never said to attack those who tried to take him.”

Passing the buck, huh.

I nodded as if I understood, but inwardly I was cursing.

There’s no way that fool gave such an order on his own.

But without evidence, I couldn’t press further.

If Johann insisted it was all Timershi’s doing, I had no way to counter it.

It was fine. I hadn’t come to assign blame anyway.

The old man across from me knew that too—hence this act.

“By the old customary law, the contract has been voided, Count.”

“But neither of us intends to leave things like this. That’s why we’re here, isn’t it?”

As I retorted, Johann gently raised a hand.

The noble standing behind him carefully placed a sheet of paper on the table.

“I’ll take it, then, that you’re willing to renew the contract, Count.”

“The document you’ve given me is practically blank.”

“There are bound to be parts we both want to revise. Isn’t starting fresh better?”

The paper that appeared to be a contract had only one sentence above the signature line:

Blaiher shall be established as Emperor.

The core of the contract hadn’t changed much from before.

They were probably planning to renegotiate the specifics.

At this rate, they’d gloss over the mess caused by Timershi and harp only on the fact that I tried to smuggle Blaiher out.

“Would you mind if I made the first proposal?”

“By all means, Count.”

“Let’s move the date of execution to the month after next.”

For the first time, Johann’s expression twisted slightly.

He clearly hadn’t expected that.

“That’s too soon. We’re not ready, and neither is the illegitimate child.”

“Preparation is just a matter of doing it. I’ll have everything ready in time.”

Even with my firm declaration, the First Duke shook his head in disbelief.

“Our original plan was long-term, was it not? What’s the rush?”

“There’s a reason, of course.”

I paused for a moment to gauge Johann’s reaction—but then gave up.

I had no idea what he was thinking.

If I wanted to learn anything, I’d have to toss a stone and stir the waters.