Inside the Redburn estate.

With the appearance of an uninvited intruder, the servants and knights each drew their weapons, aiming at Enver.

Half were faces Enver knew, and half were strangers to him. It seemed they had replenished their ranks with new personnel over time.

In the silence, the servants exchanged hand signals. Who is that person, a b*stard who has been discarded by the family, trash that has been thrown away because the magic mechanism is broken.

Then, why was the main gate breached?

Enver kindly explained the reason.

“I’ll say it just once. I have reached the realm of metaphor.”

“……..”

“I have acquired the ability to dedicate myself to the family, so I have returned to work for the lord. Make way, as I need to meet the lord.”

At Enver’s declaration, one of the murmuring servants, who had watched him since he was a child, stepped forward. He was someone who had spat sharp disdain at Enver and his mother.

It’s rare to look down on someone once and see them again. He remembered young Enver, who suffered from a malfunctioning magic mechanism, and that perception still lingered on his tongue.

That scrawny brat couldn’t have ascended to metaphor. It must be a bluff.

“If you’re going to bluff, do it more convincingly. How could a scrawny born of lowly blood ascend to metaphor—”

Enver straightened his index finger.

Click.

And then, he froze, just as he was about to spit out an insult.

It felt as if a sharp blue blade was wrapped around his neck. As if he had fallen into a room filled with sharp spikes on all sides.

The extreme sense of crisis, that moving even slightly would slice his entire body to death, paralyzed the servant. Even as his energy drained and cold sweat poured like a waterfall, he dared not move.

The sky is heavy.

It’s only natural. How could the lowly move without the Emperor’s permission?

“Emperor’s Sword Form: Sword Gesture.”

It was the Emperor’s Sword Form, used with reduced power and range.

The tension escalated.

The servant’s face turned red and purple, nearly at death’s door. Whatever technique was used, it was certainly different from before. Enverus Redburn had undoubtedly become stronger.

Then, should the returned b*stard be accepted?

There might be ulterior motives. It’s uncertain whether a person who has been so harshly dismissed and chased away could maintain loyalty to the Duke. There was a risk of betrayal.

Moreover, the Redburn Ducal House was on the verge of an important undertaking. It was a time when the Duke himself had cautioned everyone in the family against rash actions.

With no way to discern whether the oath of loyalty was true or false, external variables must be eliminated. The servants slowly formed a cordon.

Enverus too lightly placed his hand on the hilt of his longsword. If a fight broke out, he intended to sweep them away with the full power of the Emperor’s Sword Form.

“……..”

“……..”

The thread of patience between them was stretched taut, about to snap.

A sharp, clear, yet nobly dignified voice echoed through the mansion.

“You’re out of sync, commoner. Duke Redburn is currently away. There’s no one here to receive your oath of loyalty.”

“…Brother Roderus.”

Thud. Thud. Bang.

Roderus threw the gatekeeper he had dragged by the neck to one side and commanded,

“Since you were bested by a master of deception, there’s no need for severe punishment. Treat his wounds and confine him to the punishment room for three days.”

“…Yes!”

“And… accept that man. I permit it under my authority.”

“But, Lord Roderus. The head of the family said not to make any changes for the time being—”

Shhhk.

The back-talking servant’s tie was sliced in half and fell. It was a cut made by merely looking, using the materialization of magic.

“Do I need to repeat myself?”

“…My apologies, Lord Roderus.”

The servant turned pale and bowed his head.

After revealing himself, Roderus swiftly finished directing traffic and looked at Enverus. Enverus also looked at his brother. It was a face he hadn’t seen in a long time.

The tone, the natural arrogance that seeped out, was the same as before.

But Envers saw stars in the depths of Roderus’ eyes. They were not the eyes of someone trapped by the name of their lineage.

Had Envers changed as much as Roderus had?

“It would be a waste to chase away a talent that rolled in on its own feet. I’ll take care of Envers Redburn, so don’t worry about it.”

“Yes, Lord Roderus!”

“Follow me.”

“……..”

Roderus dismissed his servant and strode down the corridor without hesitation. Envers swallowed dryly and followed him, filled with a strange tension.

Wondering endlessly how to phrase their reunion.

—

What’s his angle?

As Roderus walked down the corridor, he pondered. Why had Envers returned to the family? Was it truly to pledge loyalty to the head of the family? If so, he needed to be driven away.

There was no reason to pledge loyalty to such a wretched family. If Envers hadn’t realized that yet, he needed to be enlightened.

The same went if it was a scheme for revenge against the head of the family. He needed to put a stop to it. Any rash actions could expose everything before it even began.

Either way, he had to intervene. Fortunately, Roderus now held considerable power.

After successfully busting Baron Dompel’s drug operation, Roderus gradually regained trust by actively following the commands of Duke Redburn.

And now, he had secured a certain standing. Enough to issue orders to the servants within the mansion.

“Hmm…”

Meanwhile, Envers was also deep in thought. It seemed that Brother Roderus was trusted by Duke Redburn. Hadn’t he effortlessly controlled those insolent servants with just a word?

Brother Roderus had always said he’d become ‘the right hand of Duke Redburn,’ and it seemed he had finally achieved that dream. If so… if that loyalty was directed towards the Duke. Then a confrontation was inevitable.

There was no reason to pledge loyalty to such a wretched family. If Brother Roderus hadn’t realized that yet, he needed to be enlightened.

The brothers dreamed the same dream in the same corridor. And they thought at the same time. They had to ask each other what they were thinking, indirectly.

But they had to hide the fact that they intended to change the Redburn family.

That created a miraculous synergy.

“Envers, why have you returned to the mansion? I thought you were doing well at the academy.”

“Because I’ve blossomed a fable. Fortunately, I’ve gained strength, so now I must serve the family, right? It seems you’ve been doing well too, Brother. Seeing how you command the servants with a mere gesture.”

“Whether it’s servants or knights, they’re all worthless trash, so it’s only natural that I stand above them. Duke Redburn must have recognized that.”

“I’m glad. That your loyalty hasn’t wavered. I too pledge my loyalty to the Duke.”

Silence.

“What have you been up to lately? The servants seem fierce, as if there’s been some big event in the family.”

“It’s not that there’s been a big event, but one is coming. A grand plan is being drawn under the Duke’s command. Only the Duke grasps the entire context…”

“I heard you were away. So… I suppose you’ll tell me what I should do for the Duke in his absence? Is that okay to assume?”

“Yes, you will be assigned under me. When the Duke returns, we’ll arrange a formal position for you. With your exceptional talent, the Duke will surely welcome you with open arms.”

Silence.

“…”

“…”

Trying to conceal their true feelings, the conversation kept circling back to the Duke.

Frustrating.

The two brothers floundered in a suffocating discomfort, as if they had just eaten five dry potatoes in a row. Could it be true that my brother still pledges loyalty to the Redburn Ducal House? Why?

Is it the remnants of the brainwashing we endured as children?

Certainly, if Envers / Roderus himself hadn’t experienced the transition to another world, he would still be trapped in that shadow. It’s not incomprehensible.

Brother / Younger brother needed an experience that could completely overturn his values. And he needed to be taught what emotions flow between a normal family.

And the only one who could teach him that was himself, in this mansion.

While feigning loyalty to the Duke of Redburn, he must also enlighten his brother. He must help him see the faults of their house and stand against them.

Then, let’s use a proven method.

If he recalls how he freed himself from the Duke of Redburn’s brainwashing, the course of action becomes clear. Drawing from his own experience, Envers / Roderus spoke up.

“Would you like to have a meal? There’s a pastry shop ahead with an excellent chef…”

“Or shall we spar? There’s a technique with a solid foundational theory worth practicing…”

“…”

“…”

They agreed to do both.

—

After a prolonged bout of shadowboxing, where neither could land an effective hit, the conversation took a productive turn.

“Brother, what will I end up doing?”

“Again, we are currently in a phase of lying low for the grand plan. Only the Duke knows the big picture, and we must follow his orders. Wait for his command.”

“And in the meantime?”

“Yes, you have free time. But first, you must dress appropriately. Take off that academy uniform. Wear something befitting the bloodline of the Redburn Ducal House. I’ll give you some clothes I wore a few years ago.”

Roderus led Envers to his room. If he remembered correctly, they should be well-preserved in the corner of the wardrobe.

Creak.

Opening the door revealed a modest room. Envers scanned the interior, taking in the various weapons and neatly organized tools, the furniture that had everything one might need.

The room reflected Roderus’s meticulous nature. Envers could recall the past from that interior. Even in the house of a b*stard, Roderus would receive weapons and arrange them in perfect order.

But why is there a dressing table…?

“Where are you looking?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Your room is the one next door. Take the clothes when given, change into them, and either have the servant clean or do it yourself.”

Roderus opened the wardrobe. Inside, women’s clothing occupied about half the space.

“……”

Thud.

Roderus hurriedly closed the wardrobe door. It was prepared for outings in grand style, but since no one had been brought into the room, he had grown too accustomed and forgotten about it.

Enbus blinked.

Before the wardrobe closed, he saw a very familiar design of clothing. The woman with scarlet hair who had asked for directions to the bakery on the way. It was the same dress she had been wearing.

Moreover, upon looking at Roderus’s nape, there was a clearly imprinted kiss mark. All this information meant only one thing. Enbus lowered his voice.

“Brother…”

“It’s a misunderstanding.”

“I have no intention to comment on your indulgence, but from what I saw on my way here… She seemed to have another partner. Were you aware?”

“……??”

Roderus, taken aback, wore a shocked expression, which Enbus took as heartache. With this, all mysteries were resolved.

Brother… It seems he has become a fearsome womanizer over time.

Bringing a woman with another partner into his room? From the dressing table and clothes, it didn’t seem like a one-off affair.

It was enough to drive one mad and jump for joy.

No matter which way he turned, Roderus’s dignity melted away like ice cream in the sunlight. Was this the retribution for the terrible things he had done to Envers in the past?

He was prepared to be resented. He could have endured it if they had asked why he made such a choice, even if they said they hated him. But the accusation of being an ‘NTR freak’…!!

Alone in the room, he staggered with a dizzying emotional wound. It was a day he longed to see Kim Lulu and Oh Hye-in…