Surviving As An Obsessive Servant Chapter 158

In the underground chamber of the estate, Alexis was already there.

Despite the irritation evident on his face, he remained seated, waiting.

Edric felt a strange mix of emotions as he faced his father.

Ironically enough, the Duke had been useful.

If he had been more involved, Lobel’s awakening would have happened even sooner.

“Difs, the Teruan imperial family—there’s no real difference between them.”

Alexis scoffed, his voice sharp with criticism.

It seemed he had already reviewed the interpretations before Edric had even visited Lobel’s family.

That was unexpected.

Edric wasn’t sure how much his father had predicted, but perhaps, in some ways, they had reached the same conclusions.

The Difs, a race once gifted with the power of healing, had ultimately driven themselves to extinction—devouring each other’s strength.

Perhaps even his mother had foreseen it, in some way.

“That girl should be sent away.”

“…You knew?”

“To some extent.”

Judging by the way Alexis studied his pale complexion, he must have confirmed his suspicions just now.

Edric’s thoughts raced.

He had inherited his mother’s recklessness, but not his father’s indifference.

His contract with the Crown Prince had its limits.

Now that Lobel was entangled with the great noble houses, she needed the power to protect herself.

“I won’t postpone the succession ceremony.”

That way, if something happened to him—

Lobel would inherit the full wealth and authority of the Duchy.

 

 

 

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The festival was a grand success.

Heaz Rezendar could see his family’s emblem—the scales—displayed proudly on deep crimson banners wherever he looked.

The people hailed their new lord.

He stood at the center of his devoted followers, basking in his victory.

My brother should have been the one to see this sight.

Even so, despite yesterday’s unpleasant incident, he was in high spirits.

“The harvest is particularly bountiful this year. The Duke of Rezendar must be delighted.”

“The vineyards must recognize their new master.”

Heaz swirled his wine glass, savoring the well-aged aroma.

It was a refined scent—one that suited a noble lord.

Rezendar’s red wines were so exceptional that they were supplied directly to the imperial family.

The land was sun-kissed and fertile, producing only the finest grapes.

Everyone coveted them.

Gazing at the vast vineyards, Heaz’s expression exuded satisfaction.

Now that he had become the head of the house, there was nothing he couldn’t obtain.

All that remained was putting Denkart in his place.

But one thing still bothered him.

…That attendant was a woman.

The story passed down from the Duchess had been astonishing.

Not only had he learned of Edric Denkart’s mother, the cursed short lives in his maternal bloodline—

But the greatest revelation was the truth about the attendant.

Why would the child of a prosperous merchant guild be serving as a noble’s steward?

He didn’t know.

But he liked their audacity.

…That wretch dared to deceive me. To pity me.

So, he would make sure to teach them a lesson.

That attendant would undoubtedly come looking for the wooden figurine he had left behind.

They would come in a few days.

If Evo Martin had revealed the truth, then by now, that girl must be weeping at the feet of the young Duke, apologizing profusely.

“Sir Manellano Stell has requested an audience.”

…Manellano Stell?

Heaz frowned at the unexpected name.

Manellano was a proud man.

Not someone who would ever appear at an event uninvited.

And certainly not the type to seek friendship.

…What is he after?

“What should we do?”

Manellano was not subtle.

By now, many nobles had already taken notice.

Heaz clenched his jaw, suppressing his irritation.

He loathed being maneuvered by others, but there was no helping it.

The harvest festival was Rezendar’s most important event.

And as this was his first festival as Duke, he couldn’t afford unnecessary scandal.

“Escort him in, politely.”

Soon, Manellano Stell arrived at the castle’s highest balcony—

And beside him stood Lobelia Flor.

Heaz smirked.

They were dressed the same as yesterday.

It seemed that as soon as he had left, they had rushed to retrieve the wooden figurine, desperate to win his favor.

Then I should reward their efforts.

…But not today.

He had endured countless humiliations to claim this land.

To rule these vineyards.

He wouldn’t throw it all away for a fleeting curiosity.

Today, as the Duke of Rezendar, he had to be perfect.

No distractions.

So, Heaz focused solely on Manellano Stell.

He planned to exchange pleasantries and dismiss them quickly.

But then, Lobelia spoke.

“Prepare a private room for us.”

“Oh? You must be the steward of Lord Denkart. Did the young Duke himself attend? I hadn’t expected him, as he declined my invitation.”

Heaz exaggerated his surprise, then drained the last of his wine.

Lobelia watched him in silence, her expression somber.

And he felt an odd satisfaction at the sight.

His sources had described her as lively and social.

Yet now, because of him, she was showing a side no one had ever seen before.

Edric Denkart’s cherished steward is shaken by me.

A twisted pleasure curled in his gut.

He changed his mind.

He would welcome them properly.

It would be amusing to watch them suffer.

To revel in their desperation.

As Duke of Rezendar, it was only right that he exact vengeance on those who had offended him.

Just as he was deciding how to toy with them—

Manellano’s expression hardened.

He must have sensed Heaz’s true intentions.

But so what?

What could he possibly do?

Or so Heaz thought.

CLANG!

A piercing sound shattered the air.

Heaz’s expression darkened slightly.

One of the nobles had dropped their wine glass.

They stood frozen, pale as a corpse.

When asked what was wrong, the noble trembled violently, pointing toward the vineyards.

“Th-the vineyards….”

Heaz’s eyes narrowed.

The fact that some nobody dared to point at his land was already an insult.

But when he turned to look—

He immediately shot to his feet.

So did the other nobles.

Moments ago, they had been clinking glasses in celebration.

Now, they had forgotten all sense of decorum, their voices rising in panic.

“Wh-what is that?!”

“H-how is there frost… without snow?”

A vast sheet of white frost had settled over the sprawling vineyards.

It looked almost…

Like a miniature version of the northern snowfields he had mocked for so long.

Some gasped in admiration at its beauty.

But Heaz’s veins pulsed with fury.

…The power of a Dif.

Forcing a brittle smile, he stepped toward Lobelia.

Luckily, the nobles were too preoccupied with the vineyards to notice.

“What have you done? Undo this immediately.”

“I refuse.”

“…What?”

“I refuse.”

She smirked, full of mockery.

“Why should I clean up something that was meant to torment you?”

Heaz’s jaw clenched as her golden eyes gleamed with hostility.

“I thought breaking your wooden figurine wouldn’t be enough of a blow. So I came prepared.”

She had mastered the power of a Dif.

She could split the southern farmlands.

She could sink Rezendar’s treasures into the earth, burying them in mud.

Heaz had underestimated her.

He had assumed she was weak.

And now, judging by the horrified screams behind him—this was no bluff.

This was not just about the vineyard.

Rezendar’s oldest vassals were deeply superstitious.

They would whisper among themselves—

That the moment he inherited the title, disaster had struck.

They would never trust him again.

As realization dawned, his expression tightened.

Lobelia pressed her advantage, her voice sharp.

“If you thought I would sit and cry over your schemes, then I’m afraid you’re disappointed.”

“Undo it. Now.”

“You can throw me in the dungeon, but the frost won’t disappear. Only I can remove it.”

Her confidence was unshakable.

“And why do you look so surprised? Weren’t you the one planning to blackmail me using the secrets of the Difs?”

“…”

“Did you think this was all I had prepared?”

Her voice dropped to a whisper, lethal and cold.

“When you tried to ruin my man’s life—you should have been prepared to lose yours.”

“That doesn’t mean you can touch my vineyards without permission—!”

“And yet you tried to put my man in danger without permission.”

Lobelia’s crimson-tinged eyes bore into him.

Heaz Rezendar had never seen her like this.

“You have one chance to negotiate.”

Her words carried the weight of an executioner’s final sentence.

“Shut up and hand over every hidden document on the Difs.”