Volume 1 Chapter 10: Are Your Eyes Off Your Roster?

It was Marcel Apophis, the lord’s son, who saved Ashvin.

With a gentle smile on his face—even though he was still only a child—his words carried great weight; just a few words from him made the man, who had been about to kill Ashvin with violence, back off.

From that point on, a series of astonishing events unfolded for her.

Afterward, Marcel brought her—and even her younger brother—into the lord’s mansion.

She wasn’t one of the lord’s own children, and on top of that, she was of a different ethnicity.

Even so, with just a little pleading from Marcel, she was allowed to stay in the mansion with surprising ease.

From then on, it was truly like a dream.

She could sleep in a soft bed.

There was no need to fear for her life.

She could enjoy three delicious meals every day.

Could such ordinary things be so blissful?

Ashvin once again savored her happiness, and her gratitude toward Marcel deepened immensely.

Indeed, he was the savior who had rescued her from hell.

“Here, I don’t have to keep trying so hard…”

She had struggled to survive.

She had struggled to protect her younger brother.

Literally, while spitting blood and covered in mud, she kept on struggling.

But now, she no longer had to struggle.

She could live without pushing herself so hard.

Someone would protect her… her brother.

Ashvin was immersed in that sweet thought.

She had absolutely no intention of clawing her way back up.

She was simply exhausted by it all.

“Ah, don’t worry. I’ll protect you. I’m the lord’s son, you know. In this domain, I’m practically a king. No one will dare harm you—as long as you’re under me.”

See? Marcel—the one who rescued you—said the same.

You just have to trust him.

That way, you won’t have to struggle to live anymore.

There will be no need to bear such burdens.

“But if you’re under me, you need to be careful. Consider this both advice and a warning.”

Leaning close to her ear, Marcel whispered,

“Be careful of my brother… Balor Apophis.”

Ashvin’s eyes widened.

The fact that Marcel referred to him as “my brother” meant that Balor, too, was a lord’s son.

Moreover, since the family inheritance is typically passed down based on seniority, it was far more likely that Balor would become the lord rather than Marcel.

Marcel warned her to be wary of such a man—his real brother.

“Balor Apophis…”

“Yes. Brother… no, that guy is…”

Ashvin would never forget the expression on Marcel’s face at that moment.

It was a smile that made even Ashvin—who had felt nothing but gratitude and trusted him completely—feel sheer terror.

“He’s a cursed monster.”

◆

A cursed monster.

Marcel, referring to his own brother in such a way—

Ashvin could never possibly understand it.

Though her younger brother, whom she secretly considered a burden, would never be thought of as a monster by her.

That Balor Apophis, who could make kind Marcel—the one who had rescued her—speak so harshly… what on earth…

Yet, why did Marcel utter that warning with such a sadistic smile?

She didn’t understand… there were just too many things beyond her grasp.

As Ashvin walked down the corridor with her brother, she froze at the sight of a figure approaching from ahead.

It was Balor—the very person Marcel had cautioned her about.

“Hmm? Are you… the kid Marcel brought along?”

“…Let’s go.”

Wearing a warm, approachable smile, Balor addressed them.

However, Ashvin didn’t respond; she simply tugged her brother’s hand and walked past.

This was clearly disrespectful.

To behave in this manner toward the lord’s son, it wouldn’t be surprising if she were banished from the mansion.

After all, it’s strange to act like that on a first encounter.

Even though she knew it was improper—with Marcel’s warning echoing in her mind—Ashvin felt compelled to act that way.

Moreover, her younger brother, whom she had to protect, was behind her.

Then, it couldn’t be helped.

It’s fine.

Even if she were on the verge of being banished, Marcel would help her.

With that in mind, Ashvin didn’t slow her pace.

“Huh? After I speak to you, you just high-tail it out of here? Are your eyes rotten?”

“It’s your innate, animal-like sense for danger. Impressive, isn’t it?”

“You…”

Ashvin didn’t catch the conversation coming from behind.

Having fled from Balor—the so-called monster—she peered at her brother’s face.

He was clearly wearing a forced smile as he looked at her.
…Now that she thought of it, had he ever been the type to show such an expression?

Her little brother, always so weak and completely dependent on her, was being unusually clingy.
Why was he giving her that forced smile… that look?

It was as if he had something he wanted to say but just couldn’t.

“Why are you wearing such a gloomy face?”

Even when Ashvin asked, her brother only offered a wry smile.
It irritated her all the more.

How could he—who could do nothing without relying on her—keep secrets from her?
That was absolutely unforgivable.

Ashvin was about to press him further when…

“Oh? Is something the matter?”

Marcel arrived.
Seeing her brother’s stiff expression, Ashvin finally couldn’t hold back.

“Marcel-sama saved us, you know. Even now, we’re living a normal life thanks to him. That’s downright disrespectful!”

Not only was he keeping secrets from her, but he was also being rude to the one who rescued them.
Ashvin couldn’t tolerate it.

Yet Marcel wore a calm, gentle smile.

“It’s alright, Ashvin. It’s just that he and I aren’t that close yet. Right?”

With that, Marcel placed his hand on his brother’s shoulder.

“Come on, let’s have a little chat.”

◆

It was because her brother hadn’t returned to their room for a long time that she went looking for him out of concern.
And so, she was confronted with the truth.

The last time she had seen him was just before Marcel took him away.
He might know where her brother had gone.

With that thought, she visited Marcel’s room, and what met her eyes was…

“What… is this…?”

Marcel now wore a sadistic, wicked smile unlike any she had ever seen before.
And there lay her brother, collapsed, battered, and covered in blood.