Volume 1 - CH 5

This happened a few days before I was banished to the lower world through the magic circle.

April the 9th. A few days after my birthday I was in a detached building of the duke’s manor. It was cleaned every day, but by no means was it a place for the son of a duke to live.

It was a small room. A table and a chair were placed inside. There were no windows, and I knew nothing of the situation outside. The only person who came here was the servant who brought my food. Additionally, there were knights standing guard outside.

I was being treated like a prisoner. Judging by my father, that probably was the case.

I was being punished for the crime of lying about my skill to better my standing.

I knew I would likely be sent to the lower world. It hadn’t been decided yet, but that was often used as punishment. I was lying down with my back against the bed.

Then there was a knock at the door and a maid came in. “Pardon me…”

I looked towards them and found it was the maid employed by my attendant. She closed the door behind her and placed some food on the table. As I got up and faced towards her, she glanced at me. “Lord Crest. I’ve prepared to let you free at any time. Just say the word and I’ll-”

“Don’t worry about it. Aren’t I just a liar who cried for attention?”

“I know you wouldn’t do such a thing, Lord Crest! All us servants believe you!!”

“Don’t say another word. Thank you for the food.”

“Lord Crest… Please excuse me.” The maid bit her lip in frustration before leaving the room.

Even I don’t want to die. Getting sent to the lower world is unmistakably a death sentence. But even with that being said…

If I just cooperate with someone in the manor, I would probably be able to run away. But even if I did escape, then what?

I can’t use my skill. It’s questionable whether or not I could live by myself. And then what would happen to the girls who helped me?

I didn’t want someone to be sent down to the lower world to die in my place. That’s why I was going to take the punishment upon myself.

After I ate my food, I threw myself on the bed and closed my eyes. Then after several hours had passed, there was another knock on the door.

Who is it? It’s too early for it to be food. I sat up in the bed and looked towards it. Standing there was Ellis “It’s been a while, Crest.”

“Oh, yeah… It’s been a while Ellis.” Ellis promptly gave a polite bow, which I returned. I had been unable to take a bath, so I was quite filthy. Leaving a knight waiting outside, Ellis came towards me and sat down in the chair.

“This room is rather dreadful.”

“…well of course it is. I’m basically a criminal right now. Anyway, why are you here?”

“You’re truly an idiot.” Ellis slipped a hand over her mouth to hide her smile.

“So, you came to mock me?”

“Yes, that’s right. I never would have thought you would lie about your dream from god to raise your position in your family. Oh, I wonder why you would tell a lie that would be so easily seen though. Since forever ago you’ve really been a stupid, useless dunce… Guess it couldn’t be helped.”

Even I’ll get angry if she says that much. But Ellis and I are both from the houses of dukes. Since Ellis had me become her fiancé, I was able to hold my place in my house. Why would she want me as her fiancé?

The answer is simple. By asking for a pitiful person like myself to be her fiancé, her own value would rise. This is what she told me back then, with a smile as if she was having fun: ‘If you ever displease me, I will tell everyone that you assaulted me. That’s why you will forever stay with me as my dog, capeesh?’  

“My bad.” Normally I would say something like ‘Oh I’m terribly sorry’ and that would be the end of it. But this time I responded firmly.

Ellis’ eyebrow twitched when I said that. She probably didn’t think I would talk to her like that. “Did you think I only came here to scorn you?”

“What, do you have some other business to take care of?”

“That’s right, of course I do. I came here to help you.”

You came to help me? My eyes went wide when Ellis said something which I would never expect from her. “What do you mean?”

“I mean what I’ve said. You are my fiancé. That means you are like my dog, or perhaps my toy, a slave like existence. That’s why I can’t have you leave me on your own accord.”

Out came Ellis’ usual broken thinking. For someone who thinks I’m completely worthless she’s bizarrely possessive of me. “Oh, is that right. So how will you help me?”

“Before that-” Saying so, Ellis took off her black stocking. What is she trying to pull? She presented her leg towards me before a smile of ecstasy rose to her face. “You will lick my foot. Swear your absolute allegiance to me. You will have no one but myself. There’s no one else on the planet but me who would come to save and absolutely worthless piece of garbage like you. Therefore, prove yourself to me now.”

She wiggled her pretty foot.

“…” She wore a victorious smile. But I stared at that foot.

I just have to lick it. I’ll live as Ellis’ toy from now on, worked like a slave but, I can avoid being banished to the lower world?

I stared at Ellis’ foot. If I just lick it… I looked at Ellis’ face. She was smiling to me like an angel. Then she extended her foot in front of my eyes. I reached my arm out to the foot she was waving as if to entice me- and hit it away.

“What is the meaning of this?” Ellis looked at me with an expression of disappointment and shock. I would not be throwing my pride away like this! “What’s wrong? If you just swear yourself to me, I will rescue you from this prison.”

I threw the resentment I’d held in up to this point back at Ellis’ words. “Shut up! Whether I’m banished to the lower world or whatever else, I’m ready for that! I’m not your tool or your toy!”

“…”

“If that’s all you have to say here than get out of my sight!” Ellis can say whatever she will about me. I don’t care. I raised my voice as if to say goodbye to all the bowing and scraping I’d been doing to her all this time. “Bye, Ellis. I won’t play along with your selfishness anymore!”

“…You’ll regret this. Don’t come crying to me later.” Ellis shot me a harsh glare before leaving the room. I returned to my bed in the now quiet room. I didn’t care if I will be sent to the lower world or whatever else. I will live freely now!