Surviving As An Obsessive Servant Chapter 152

Edric said he hadn’t used his ability.

“Then… are you saying I did this?”

It was hard to believe. No matter how much effort I had put in before, I hadn’t even been able to stir a single petal, let alone summon the wind.

As I looked at him doubtfully, Edric nodded. His expression said, Why would I lie?

My heart pounded. If I really had an ability, I could help Edric even more—that thought had always left me feeling regretful.

“Am I really the one who did it?”

Even as I asked with anticipation, I still wasn’t fully convinced.

Edric, perhaps intentionally, placed a loud kiss on my lips.

Then, as if he never got tired, he spoke with enthusiasm.

“Then let’s confirm it again under the same conditions.”

I let out a small, disbelieving laugh.

If we were really going to verify this, there were other ways—like trying to light a fire in the fireplace. This was an absurd excuse.

But before I could voice my protest, it was already too late.

Edric had fished an herb pouch from his coat and tossed the entire contents into his mouth before lunging toward me.

A deep, overwhelming kiss began. Soon, the bitter taste of the herbs filled my mouth.

The herbs Edric had just swallowed were a kind of contraceptive. They had been in his desk drawer.

His attendant had procured them, or so he claimed, but I’d always found it suspicious—we even fought about it once.

No matter what, he had never wanted me to take them.

He said they tasted terrible and that consuming too much might not be good for my body.

Edric often treated me like I was made of sugar, fragile and delicate.

Yet, at the same time, he acted unpredictably rough.

…Ugh.

And, of course, the so-called “verification” he spoke of wasn’t just a one-time thing.

Groaning, I rubbed my forehead against the damp pillowcase and glared at him.

“I’m exhausted. Y-You said it was just to check once.”

“Bear with it.”

His response was deliberately firm as he pressed another kiss to the back of my neck.

His heated breath trailed down my spine without missing a spot.

I was utterly defeated.

Edric, the heir to a ducal family, never cared for his clothes, his sword, or even his reputation. He was indifferent to nearly everything.

But when it came to me, he was never satisfied. He was greedy. Even after indulging all night, it was never enough—he came at me like a starving man.

By morning, there was not a single part of my body that had escaped his lips.

Even when I struggled, kicking my legs over his shoulders, or tried crawling away, I was easily caught.

If it hadn’t been for the scent of bread baking downstairs…

It really might never have ended.

“…Were you actually trying to kill me?”

I slumped into the armchair, grumbling at his back as he neatly arranged the blankets.

Of course, it wasn’t all meaningless.

To be honest, it had felt good… and somehow, both our bodies and the sheets ended up feeling fresh and dry, as if they had just been washed.

That was entirely my doing.

I had simply wished for Edric’s body to be clean, and it had happened effortlessly.

Just as he had once taught me, all it took was a thought, and my will became reality.

I stared at my still-ordinary-looking palms.

…This is incredible.

I could hardly believe that these hands could now summon small flames.

They say people resemble those they love—but I never expected it to extend to something like this.

Even Edric seemed surprised. His expression was different from before, as if he were lost in thought.

…Or is he just uncomfortable being in my house?

If that were the case, I could understand.

I, too, had spent my entire time in this mansion feeling the silent weight of the duke’s presence.

Even though the duke seemed likely to disappear after the succession ceremony, he was still Edric’s only family.

It was impossible to ignore him completely.

I glanced at Edric as he dressed himself, lost in thought.

Investigating Dif… I suppose that can wait until after the succession ceremony.

There was already too much on his plate—I didn’t want to burden him further.

As expected, Edric said he would be leaving today.

“Aren’t you tired?” I asked.

“I’m fine.”

He stroked my hair reassuringly.

“I’ll greet your parents and stay for breakfast, at least.”

Even as he said that, I could see the reluctance in his eyes.

He then picked up my neatly folded clothes, intending to dress me himself.

I shook my head and pointed to the wardrobe.

He looked puzzled but walked over to it.

The moment he opened the door, his back stiffened.

“…”

Inside were rows of dresses I had ordered just before he arrived.

Feeling both embarrassed and shy, I gazed at him and whispered,

“Pick one you like and dress me in it.”

It had been years since I last wore a dress.

I wanted to share this experience with him, just as he had once dressed me in the clothes he preferred when I was a servant.

If I wore something of his choosing, it would bring him an undeniable joy—I knew that from experience.

For the succession ceremony, I should wear something similar to what he picks today. But even more extravagant…

While I was making up my mind, Edric finally chose a dress and approached me.

It was an elegant, pale green gown that revealed my shoulders.

His hands, though not particularly skilled at dressing me, were reverent and careful. So different from his rough touch this morning.

The contrast sent a giddy warmth fluttering in my chest.

I laughed softly and tilted my chin toward the jewelry box.

“That too.”

His long, pale fingers reached for the box but hesitated again.

Inside was a sapphire necklace—one of the gifts he had given me long ago.

It was something I had learned about from the butler on the day I became a servant. It had once belonged to the first Duchess of Dencart, and she had cherished it dearly.

“…”

Once I was dressed in his chosen gown, wearing the necklace he had gifted me, I looked into the mirror. The result was breathtaking.

Behind me, Edric stood frozen, watching in a daze. Then, as if he couldn’t help himself, he pulled me into a tight embrace—almost painfully so.

His lips trailed slowly down my exposed shoulder.

His voice, low and aching, murmured against my skin.

“What should I do…? You’re too beautiful. I don’t want to leave you behind.”

“…I feel the same.”

When I turned just enough to kiss him, he fell silent for a long moment. Then, in a serious tone, he asked,

“Lobelia. When I become duke… should I just move my residence to Velican altogether?”

It sounded like a joke, but there was too much sincerity in it.

I playfully nipped the tip of his nose, knowing he only became childish in front of me.

Seeing my firm rejection, he made a wounded expression—only to suddenly retaliate with an unexpected kiss.

If this was how he planned to take revenge, I welcomed it.

Smiling, I wrapped my arms around his neck, drawing him closer.

The corners of his lips, pressed against mine, curled upward.

It was the happiest morning I had ever woken up to—across all my lifetimes.

 

 

 

****

 

 

 

When Evo Martin arrived at the merchant guild, Heaz Rezendar was already there.

Seated in the drawing room, he sipped tea with elegant movements, but his face was pale.

It hadn’t been long since his brother’s funeral. He was dressed in mourning black, and his neatly trimmed hair suggested he had tidied himself for the occasion.

To Evo, the sight felt deeply out of place.

He had thought about it on the way here—this man simply did not belong in this setting.

If anything, his connection to the late Lothar Rezendar was weak at best.

“I deeply regret that I was unable to accompany Lord Lothar Rezendar on his final journey.”

As if Evo’s mind wasn’t already tangled enough, this man’s presence only made it worse. He felt no pleasure in seeing him.

Still, Evo concealed his true feelings and offered a polite greeting.

Heaz Rezendar responded in his usual quiet tone.

“It’s all right. The wreath you sent for the funeral was more than enough comfort.”

…Then why is he here?

Evo Martin let out a short laugh, his mind racing. The man’s intentions were suspicious.

No matter how much Hornet’s influence had grown, it was still nothing compared to the long-established Rezendar family.

Moreover, even if he had begun making preparations before his brother’s death, there would still be an overwhelming number of matters to handle within his own family.

Evo was certain—there had to be a reason why Heaz had come here despite being stretched so thin.

“And yet, I have one more request. I came to ask if you would fulfill my brother’s dying wish.”

“A wish, you say?”

“Recently, His Highness the Crown Prince made an announcement regarding the Free Trade City. I was wondering if the Rezendar Merchant Guild and the Hornet Merchant Guild might join forces to pursue this vision together.”

…What nonsense.

Evo scoffed inwardly.

Lothar Rezendar had always found managing his own guild to be a nuisance.

He often complained that, as a noble, it was beneath him to sell goods to commoners.

…Besides, there’s no way Lothar would have said such a thing to Heaz Rezendar.

Even putting it mildly, the relationship between the Rezendar brothers was anything but good.

Every merchant knew that Lothar Rezendar treated his younger brother like a bug on the street.

At social gatherings, he never missed an opportunity to criticize Heaz—his face would turn red with rage as he ranted about his brother’s flaws. People simply pretended not to hear.

And yet, knowing all this, Heaz Rezendar shamelessly continued.

“My brother dearly wished for this.”

“Thank you for your proposal. I will consider it carefully.”

“May I count on you to look upon it favorably?”

“Yes.”

Heaz Rezendar gave a small smile. There was no trace of mockery or contempt in it.

Compared to his notorious older brother, Heaz Rezendar was certainly the more polite one.

But that didn’t make him any less unsettling.

Having run a merchant guild for years, Evo sometimes wondered—perhaps this one was even more dangerous than his brother.

“You seem to have strong ties to Dencart.”

…So this is what he’s really after.

Evo silently muttered to himself under Heaz’s snake-like gaze.

But there was no need to react.

That much information about him wasn’t difficult to uncover.

He had never hidden the fact that he had once relied on Dencart after leaving his family.

If anything, Heaz might be planning to use him to strike at Dencart.

But Heaz’s words took an unexpected turn.

“I’ve been curious about the duke. It was odd to see the two of you purchasing a magical stone tablet together. Might it have a specific use?”

Heaz Rezendar watched Evo as he sipped his tea.

More precisely, he was watching Evo’s gloved hand as it held the teacup.

His gaze, as if he already knew everything, sent a sense of foreboding through Evo.

“The Rezendar family possesses magical stone tablets as well. It piqued my curiosity, so I attempted to decipher one using the hidden powder passed down in our family.”

“…”

“Ah, but—I’ve heard that you have a sibling as well. Did you fight often?”

The abrupt change in topic was unpredictable.

But Evo had sat at tables with far worse monsters than this. He neither flinched nor allowed himself to be swayed.

He had already expected that, from the moment this man set foot in Hornet, there would be tricks and traps at play.

This, too, was likely an attempt to throw him off.

Keeping that in mind, Evo slowly shook his head.

“No.”

It was a lie.

More than just arguments, Evo Martin had suffered beatings severe enough to threaten his life.

He had been strangled so many times that he could no longer bear wearing anything too tight around his neck.

But there was no reason to explain such details to Heaz Rezendar.

Yet the man before him seemed intent on crossing a line.

“I used to fight with my brother,” Heaz admitted. “He wanted to keep the Rezendar name all to himself. He despised my very existence.”

“…”

“He treated me like a disposable replacement. He caused trouble on purpose, made mistakes intentionally, and ensured that I was punished in his place. Thanks to him, I was beaten more often than the servants.”

“That must have been difficult for you.”

Evo offered a vague expression of sympathy, narrowing his brows slightly.

It wasn’t sincere.

He simply couldn’t understand why Heaz was bringing up such an unnecessary topic.

Still, Heaz Rezendar continued speaking with an unsettling smile.

“I’m not saying this to blame my brother. I finally understand his feelings now. Once you have something, the thought of sharing it is worse than death.”

His crimson eyes gleamed dangerously.

“Perhaps Dif felt the same way, don’t you think?”