Volume 1 Chapter 1 – The Kind-Hearted Lord(Vol 1 – The Civil War Between Brothers Arc)

“Really, aristocrats are so infuriating, aren’t they?”

One of us couldn’t help but offer a wry smile at his companion’s words.

We’d been friends long enough to know that every now and then he’d say something that sent a chill down my spine.

“Hey, don’t say it so loudly. I’ve heard some aristocrats will have you reported and then executed.”

“Exactly. We’re all human, right? Why should we be terrified just because of our birth?”

“At that point, you’d have to start thinking about the entire structure of the country. Just drop it.”

He cut his companion off.

In this country, the aristocrats wield tremendous power.

When they call something black, even white things turn black.

Intervening in judicial matters is commonplace, and if you fall out of favor, you’re often falsely accused and executed.

“And the taxes, too. We’re the ones who work our fingers to the bone growing crops, yet those aristocrats—who do nothing for us—casually take about 70%. No wonder so many didn’t make it through the winter.”

Even though he’d been told to drop it, his mood was especially sour.

That said, he wasn’t completely satisfied with the system.

Even he was fed up with how the aristocrats strutted around, and he hated that they’d just take more than half of what he’d worked so hard to create.

“…Hearing about other territories like that really makes you realize how fortunate we are.”

“Yeah, exactly. But the Apophis territory is an exception. This place is a heaven for us common folk.”

The man who’d been badmouthing aristocrats couldn’t help but smile when it came to talking about our own land.

Of course, this land is also ruled by an aristocrat.

Yet, we smile.

The reason is simple: the aristocrat in charge here is entirely different from the rest.

“All of this is thanks to the wise Balor-sama. Just think how blessed we are to be living our lives normally…”

“As long as we’ve got Balor-sama looking after us, we can live happily.”

The one in charge of the Apophis territory is Balor.

A young prodigy.

His almost ethereal beauty and serene demeanor have won him the admiration of many of his subjects.

You can tell by the way these two—who harbor deep resentment toward the aristocracy—praise him unconditionally.

“The public order’s great. He treats us like equals, doesn’t bully the people without reason, taxes are low, and petitions get approved in no time… Honestly, if all aristocrats were like him…”

“And on top of that, his maids—they’re all stunning beauties, you know? I wouldn’t mind being taken in by them, too.”

It’s not just Balor; his maids come up in conversation as well.

The maids who serve the Apophis household are renowned not only within the territory but far beyond.

After all, each one is incredibly beautiful—a veritable gathering of unrivaled beauties.

There’s even talk that they’re remarkably competent.

Some say that most of the territory’s management is actually handled by these maids.

“Don’t be an idiot. It’s precisely because Balor-sama is such an exceptional man that such gorgeous ladies serve as his maids. If you were in charge, they’d all vanish within a week.”

“That’s harsh. But yeah, I know Balor-sama is something else.”

Despite their striking beauty and impressive skills, they continue to uphold this far-flung Apophis territory.

If they wanted to, any one of them could easily end up being married off to one of the kingdom’s high-ranking nobles.

I’ve even heard that, though at the lower rungs, one was once invited to become a concubine by a member of the royal family.

Yet not a single one has ever left this territory or strayed from Balor’s side.

That’s undoubtedly because Balor has an irresistible charm that keeps them around.

“It’s just that… I find those maids kind of creepy.”

One of them muttered softly.

The other tilted his head in confusion.

“They’re gorgeous, and they even care about us. What’s so frightening about that?”

We’ve even heard rumors from other territories about servants who put on airs by leveraging aristocratic authority.

But since none of that happens here, the maids—coupled with their beauty—are deeply cherished.

They’re even more popular than Balor himself.

So, what exactly is scary about them?

“Ah…”

He hesitated a bit before slowly speaking up.

“It’s that look—like they’re watching us but not really seeing us at all.”

In my mind, I pictured a beautiful, doll-like maid who, despite smiling at me, fixed me with a cold, blank stare.

◆

“…Master. Master, please wake up. It’s morning.”

She gently rocked my body.

Her cold, mechanical tone made my face twist into a grimace.

I’d been enjoying my deep sleep, and now being disturbed, I was thoroughly pissed off.

And to make matters worse, it was 【that woman】 we all knew.

“Shut up. Let me sleep a bit longer…”

I buried my face in the pillow, rolling around.

I’m the one with the highest status in this estate.

Naturally, she had no choice but to comply…

“You may sleep if you wish—forever.”

“I’m up now.”

Not many can get up that fast.

I sprang to my feet in a flash—so swift you could almost hear a “shuba!” as I moved.

What met my eyes was a maid-clad girl glaring down at me with a scowling, disdainful expression.

“Good morning, Master.”

“Morning. …Yeah, I’m up, but what on earth are you spouting off this early?”

“It’s just a witty greeting.”

“Didn’t I tell you to tell the Master to drop dead?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Cut that dumb look off your face.”

For a moment, I almost believed her.

I wondered, “Wait, was I mistaken?”

“Besides, it’d be a disaster if you just dropped dead out of nowhere. You need to have properly signed over all your assets to me, Nanashi, first…”

“Even if I were tortured, I’d refuse.”

That’s Nanashi—the maid who spouts such outrageous things that it wouldn’t be surprising if she were executed.

She’s a petite girl with her hair curled atop her head under a white cap, and she’s wearing an apron dress with a long, flowing skirt.

Except for the moment when I woke up and my face twisted in obvious disgust, I remained expressionless. Combined with my refined beauty, I looked just like a doll.

Her features, however, extend beyond that blatant, disdainful attitude—as if she didn’t even consider her master to be her master. They include her pitch-black eyes.

They have no highlights, no light at all. They are the darkness of an abyss.

Those eyes, which instill terror in anyone who gazes into them, in a way make her refined features all the more frightening.

“Come on, hurry to the office. The subjects waiting for Master’s help have delivered a lot of petitions.”

“Seriously, what a hassle… Do it yourself. Handle your own matters.”

I said that while picking my nose. Really… why does she always have to rely on me for everything…?

Don’t mess around. Why should I have to do things for others? For the sake of the subjects?

That kind of self-sacrificing thought never occurred to me. After all, I’m an aristocrat, right?

Huh? I’m an aristocrat, huh? Aristocrats are allowed to live as they please, indulging their desires.

“Master, why do you make us do all the housework…”

“It’s fine. I’m an aristocrat.”

“You damn aristocrat…”

“Hey.”

Nanashi openly hurled insults at me. Who does she think she is? Is she really a maid?

I began to walk toward the office reluctantly, thoroughly confused.

Nanashi trailed just behind me. …Honestly, I didn’t want her standing right behind me. It felt like she might jab me in the back at any moment. I just couldn’t trust Nanashi at all.

Well, there was no one I could truly trust anyway.

As I was thinking that, we arrived in front of the office.

“Alright then, time to switch to performance mode.”

“………”

Nanashi shot me an exasperated look. Should I have said “super handsome mode” instead? Well, I’m handsome any time.

I opened the door.

Inside, a maid was bowing her head in a composed manner—one who did her job properly, unlike Nanashi.

“Good morning, Balor-sama.”

“Ah, good morning, Ashvin. Let’s do our best for the people today as well.”

“Yes!”

Ashvin beamed with a bright smile. I returned her smile with my dazzling grin.

“………”