Whispers of a Scheming Demon - Chapter 113

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Whispers of a Scheming Demon ◈

Chapter 113: Haman

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As soon as her conversation with Johan ended, Serena headed straight to Horentz.

She sat across from him in his office.

Horentz spoke to his daughter.

“Yes, what about the Covenant Document?”

Serena placed a sheet of parchment on the table.

“I got his signature.”

A bloodstain marked the bottom of the parchment.

It was a signature made with Johan's blood.

Horentz narrowed his eyes in satisfaction.

“Well done. Just what I would expect from my daughter. What did he demand in return for his signature?”

Serena pursed her lips before answering with a puzzled expression.

“Well... actually, the Watcher of Narak didn't want anything.”

Confusion crossed Horentz's face as well.

“He made no demands?”

Serena nodded.

“Yes, Father. He signed the Covenant Document without any conditions.”

Now that he had entered into a contract through the Covenant Document, Johan could not reveal information about the Mind-Piercing Eye to a third party.

Even merely threatening to expose the Mind-Piercing Eye to the public would put House Marcano at a disadvantage, yet Johan had closed off that possibility himself.

He had casually discarded a political card.

Horentz let out a low hum.

“No matter how I think about it, I don't understand. The Watcher of Narak may be young, but he was never the sort to let himself be played for a fool.”

Horentz did not see Johan as an ordinary boy.

Johan was a skilled politician.

He had pressured Horentz with the information about the Mind-Piercing Eye, and Horentz had certainly felt that pressure.

Johan knew how to gain the upper hand in his relationships.

Someone like that would not carelessly throw away a card they possessed.

At least, that was what Horentz thought.

After a moment's consideration, Serena spoke.

“May I share my thoughts?”

She was young, but clever.

Serena's opinions had always been a great help to Horentz.

Horentz brightened.

“Speak freely.”

Serena answered calmly.

“To the Watcher of Narak, simply knowing about the Mind-Piercing Eye probably isn't such an important card. Sir Johan must have better means of winning over or pressuring our Marcano family. His confidence and composure are proof of that.”

Horentz considered her words before speaking.

“As you say, his eyes were full of certainty. Certainty that he could become engaged to you.”

Serena nodded.

“I felt it too. Sir Johan may already consider the Mind-Piercing Eye his own. From his perspective, he should not let information about it become public.”

Given the nature of the Authority known as the Mind-Piercing Eye, once its ability became known to the world, its effectiveness would naturally be greatly reduced.

If Johan was certain he would marry Serena, then there was no reason for him to weaken the Mind-Piercing Eye's power.

His spouse's Authority would become his own power.

Horentz gave a dry laugh.

“...If your guess is correct, then the Watcher of Narak is far bolder than I thought.”

“He is unusual in many ways. It's a little disappointing that I cannot use the Mind-Piercing Eye on him.”

An odd frustration filled Serena's chest.

She wanted to peer into Johan's true nature, but she could not bring herself to use the Mind-Piercing Eye.

Because of Johan's warning.

The moment she looked into his heart, he would consider it an act of hostility.

Horentz said, “For now, let us simply watch how things unfold. At tonight's meal, fulfill as many of his requests as possible. We must show some sincerity as well.”

Serena rose from her seat.

“Understood. I should be going. I need to get ready to leave.”

Horentz nodded, and Serena left the office.

Left alone, Horentz rummaged across the table.

A sheet of paper was in his hand.

It was a report he had received from a subordinate earlier.

As Horentz read its contents, he suddenly crumpled the paper.

“...What a truly audacious little brat, this Watcher of Narak.”

The report contained information about Ilea.

A commoner woman Johan had brought to the Royal Capital had become the adopted daughter of Count Staviana.

What could that mean?

Horentz readily guessed the answer.

Johan intended to become the Count's son-in-law.

On top of that, Johan had even set his sights on the Marcano young lady.

He was trying to swallow up two women and two houses at once.

Horentz looked down at the report with an oily smile in his eyes.

“He may not know it yet because he is young, but excessive greed invites disaster.”

He had no intention of doing as Johan wished.

At least, not yet.

* * *

The Myatro estate. The servants moved about busily.

A few of them began to grumble.

“The Baron really is something else. Why would he have dinner at this hour?”

“The time is one thing, but it would've been nice if he had told us in advance. I'm busy enough as it is.”

The sun was high overhead, yet preparations for dinner were in full swing.

Not much time had passed since lunch.

It was far too early to eat another meal.

The servants could not understand Johan at all.

They whispered quietly among themselves.

“Haman, do you think that butler messed up again?”

“What mistake?”

“Isn't this strange? The Marcano young lady is joining the meal, yet nothing has been prepared. Haman must have forgotten the Baron's instructions, then passed them on to us at the last minute.”

Haman was quite slow-witted. He made mistakes far too often.

He must have forgotten to prepare the meal.

Every servant listening nodded.

“This is going to be a disaster. Look at this pitiful table. What will the Marcano young lady think?”

Nobles cared deeply about appearances.

If the meal prepared for an invited guest was shabby, the guest could not help but feel insulted.

She might even push back her chair and leave.

The moment she did, Johan's reputation would plummet.

Someone let out a long sigh.

“It looks like that fool's mistake will come back to bite us too.”

Everyone had decided it was Haman's fault.

He had become the common enemy.

“Let's make the most of whatever time remains. We have to make it look presentable somehow.”

Less than ten minutes remained until the meal.

The servants prepared the food as quickly as they could.

* * *

An uncomfortable silence settled over the Myatro estate.

The dining room was deathly quiet.

Butler Haman stood before Johan like a criminal, unable even to sit down.

He lowered his head deeply.

“...I am sorry, Baron. I forgot the meal time.”

The dining table was far too bare.

There was hardly any food laid out.

Its enormous size made the whole arrangement look even more meager.

Johan stared at Haman with an incredulous expression.

“This is rather bewildering. Why on earth are you doing this to me?”

He was asking sincerely.

Johan could not understand Haman's intentions at all.

Serena, seated beside Johan at the head of the table, spoke up.

“Sir Johan, has our house's hospitality been this lacking?”

She gave him a playful smile.

Serena was not offended by the table at all.

She roughly knew Johan's circumstances, and she had not come here merely for a meal.

Johan looked embarrassed.

“I apologize. I have committed a grave discourtesy toward you, my lady. I sincerely beg your forgiveness.”

He bowed his head deeply.

Haman cried out with an expression that looked ready to burst into tears.

“N-No! This is entirely my fault! Punish me! I will gladly accept any punishment!”

Serena studied Haman with a thoughtful look.

“This is somewhat unusual. Sir Johan, shall I begin now?”

She intended to use the Mind-Piercing Eye on Haman.

Johan nodded.

“Please.”

At once, an unusual gleam entered Serena's golden pupils.

Her expression grew calm and still.

“There is something I want to ask you. Your name is Haman, correct?”

Haman looked stunned.

“...Pardon?”

Serena immediately raised a handkerchief to her nose.

She was probably bleeding from the nose.

It was a side effect of using the Mind-Piercing Eye.

Serena spoke again.

“I'll ask again. You are Haman, correct?”

Extreme tension crossed Haman's face. He swallowed hard.

“M-My lady, I am truly sorry. The Baron has done nothing wrong.”

He was not properly answering her question.

Both Serena and Johan frowned at once.

A crushing frustration washed over them.

Still wiping her nose, Serena said, “...This is the last time, so answer properly. What is your name?”

Haman glanced back and forth between Johan and Serena.

Johan silently motioned toward Haman with his chin.

He could not speak.

Once the Mind-Piercing Eye was activated, the inner thoughts of anyone who spoke within its range flowed into Serena.

For the time being, Johan would be unable to speak.

Haman's voice trembled.

“H-Haman, my lady.”

At the same time, Serena formed an odd smile.

“Good, Haman. I have a few more questions. Is that all right?”

Haman cast a nervous glance at Johan.

Johan still said nothing.

He merely shrugged.

Haman answered, “A-All right, my lady. I will answer faithfully.”

Serena nodded.

“Good. First question. Do you know about the incident that took place in this estate last night?”

Haman answered immediately.

“A-An incident? Nothing like that happened. The Baron clearly said it was a peaceful night.”

Serena smiled gently.

“Hmm, I see. So that's what happened. Interesting. Let's move on to the next question.”

She could hear all of Haman's inner thoughts.

Haman, however, looked confused.

“My lady, what exactly are you...”

“Haman. No, Verdan. This is my second question. Where is the real Haman right now?”

The moment her words ended, Haman froze where he stood.

He forced a smile.

“Haha, my lady. The real Haman? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

Serena spoke calmly.

“Hmm, you've kept him alive for now?”

“Pardon?”

“You can stop acting, Verdan. I heard everything.”

“...Haha.”

The unusual gleam vanished from Serena's pupils.

She looked at Johan.

“This is a more interesting situation than I expected.”

Johan could not follow their conversation at all.

Frustration made his expression tighten slightly.

“Verdan? The real Haman? What is all this supposed to mean?”

Serena smiled as she looked at Haman.

“The person standing before us is not Haman. He is an entirely different person wearing the mask of ‘Haman.’ His name is Verdan. He seems to be quite famous in the underworld of the Royal Capital.”

A shadow fell over Haman's face.

His smile was fading.

The once-dull expression on his face hardened.

In an unfamiliar voice, he muttered, “...Can you read my mind?”

Serena smiled brightly.

“Verdan the Mimic. Correct?”

At the same time, Verdan moved.

He took something from his clothes and threw it at his feet.

White smoke burst out and filled the dining room.

When the smoke cleared, Verdan was gone.

Johan frowned in annoyance.

“He vanished.”