Surviving As An Obsessive Servant Chapter 175 - Side Story Chapter 10

Where on earth had he just come back from?

Even from afar through the window, I could tell that his outfit wasn’t from Terua, and both his collar and hair were messier than usual, unlike his normally neat appearance.

I couldn’t help but get a little flustered too.

I hastily closed the book I’d been reading and happily went out to the front entrance to greet him.

“Brother Evo!”

“There was no need for Lady Denkart to come out personally.”

I extended the back of my hand to him, as he bent one knee. Then he gently pressed his lips to the back of my hand.

It was the kind of overly formal greeting you’d only see in master-servant relationships, and even among the nobles of Terua, it had fallen out of use—but Evo liked it.

He might not seem like it, but Evo was surprisingly old-fashioned.

‘Either way… Evo turned out really well.’

I looked up at him with fond eyes as we headed to the study together.

Evo had achieved all the accomplishments I once admired in him—faster than in the original story.

While it was true that Manellano left him with many things, Evo had climbed his way up to his position through pure effort.

Not only that, he was currently holding an important post in the Forest of Dif. That was because both the crown prince and Edric considered him the most trustworthy.

Knowing the relationships between the three from reading the novel, it was a very surprising change to see.

‘And… he takes such good care of Edric too.’

He used to dislike him as a kid, but now he was stepping up and taking care of him like a grown-up.

Of course, I took care of him even more.

Helping me today to make an accessory was one of those ways.

I showed Evo the stones I’d prepared and the jewelry box that once held the Denkart curse.

He nodded without hesitation.

“Alright, let’s do it.”

“Thank you.”

Meanwhile, Evo received a box from his attendant and began pulling things out one by one.

Glass bottles, a beaker, and pieces of black paper with archaic spell formulas drawn on them—things you’d expect from an earlier era.

‘…He must’ve been busy working in a foreign country, but he still came prepared.’

Feeling a bit sorry, I looked at him. Evo smiled.

“Well then, can you step out? It might be dangerous.”

…Did he just say to leave?

I looked at him, puzzled, as he stood up the glass bottle.

No matter how I saw it, he clearly planned to do this right here… And the items were placed closer to him than to me.

“You’re going to do it yourself, brother?”

“Yup. I have to.”

I was speechless.

There’s no way Evo didn’t know that Difs were superior to humans in many ways.

But Evo just spoke in a serious tone, as if that didn’t matter.

“Lobelia. Whether you’re a Dif or not, the fact that you could get hurt using this doesn’t change.”

“Then what about you being in danger?”

“It’s a simple equation, isn’t it? There are more people who’d grieve if you died than if I did.”

“Hey… I told you not to say things like that.”

Evo said it casually, but it stung a little.

He’s a wonderful brother in every way.

It would be even better if he valued himself more and sought happiness…

Maybe he read my thoughts—he gave a long, warm smile.

“Just joking.”

“…You know those kinds of jokes aren’t funny at all, right?”

“That’s good. I didn’t mean it to be funny anyway.”

As we spoke, Evo casually reached for the jewelry box in front of me and took it.

I was about to warn him not to touch it barehanded, but I saw he was already wearing gloves. Come to think of it, he had them on earlier when he kissed my hand too.

Well, it’s Evo Martin. He’s a meticulous man… though he kind of snatched that box while we were talking, like a sneaky trick.

Compared to those noble ladies, he definitely felt like a much tougher opponent.

But I couldn’t help feeling a bit concerned.

‘Heaz Rezendar must be on his mind too.’

I recalled running into Heaz Rezendar at the palace not long ago.

With his fiancée beside him, he had stood on the opposite corridor, staring at me.

He had no fiancée in the original story, but now he was escorting her and glaring at me as if he wanted to kill me—he was the only character I hadn’t managed to change.

Still, I didn’t feel guilty.

Sure, I threatened him… but honestly, I was more worried about him trying anything foolish with Evo.

“Thanks to you, Lobelia, I’m now being protected by the Black Chain Knights.”

It was as if Evo understood how I felt and tried to ease my mind.

“Duke Denkart kindly offered his generosity. He said I could receive protection for as long as I needed.”

It was something Edric hadn’t told me at all.

Surprised, I looked at Evo, who gave me the same gentle smile he always did.

“Now, if you’d kindly step out so I can repay the favor.”

It sounded like a request, but it was definitely a command.

I quietly got up and stood outside the door with a sigh.

Still, I couldn’t just leave Evo all on his own.

 

 

 

****

 

 

Edric, with his striking appearance, looked good in equally striking clothes and accessories—and Lobel knew that well.

So it was no surprise that the earrings she prepared as a gift this time weren’t ordinary in shape or design.

She melted down the original form—the Black Chain—and fused it with stones and emeralds, creating a long, smooth pair of earrings.

When Edric received them, he was overjoyed—literally jumping with excitement.

“You really made these yourself?”

“I told you, I did.”

Without hesitation, Edric pierced his ear on the spot with a sharp needle.

Lobel, startled beside him, told him he needed to sterilize it, but he didn’t even hear her.

Even though a bit of blood came out and stained his hand, he was so happy he didn’t even feel a sting.

Wearing the earrings, Edric stood quietly in front of Lobel like someone waiting for praise.

And Lobel couldn’t help but be impressed.

The emerald earrings, softly glowing with magic, matched the color of his eyes beautifully.

“They’re beautiful.”

Lobel gave him the highest compliment, and Edric was so happy that night, he could hardly sleep.

But the next day—

At an official event for the merchant guild alliance, Edric sensed something strange.

Somewhere in this place, he felt a presence just like that of the earrings he was wearing.

So he crossed the garden, heading toward where the energy came from—and saw Evo Martin.

“…!”

Evo Martin was wearing a pendant around his neck that clearly gave off the same energy as Edric’s earrings.

…Though the shape and gemstone were different.

Unlike Edric’s slender, thread-like emeralds, Evo’s pendant looked to be adorned with a sapphire stone.

Noticing Edric’s gaze, Evo Martin smiled slowly.

“A good morning to you, Duke.”

“…Did Lobel make that for you?”

“Yes.”

He answered calmly and lit a pipe, his eyes narrowing with satisfaction.

Men and women passing by all stopped to admire him, but Edric’s insides were boiling.

‘Lobel even made something for that guy…’

It was possible that Evo had received the gift before Edric did.

No—what if she made Evo’s first and then made his as a bonus?

‘…Just while she was at it?’

The mere thought made Edric feel like losing it, so he turned away and swallowed his frustration.

No matter how he thought about it, this man was more annoying than even Manellano Stell.

In the Forest of Dif or elsewhere, Evo would smoke openly, yet in front of Lobel, he acted perfectly well-behaved.

He even carried a portable ashtray on purpose… which, frankly, only made Edric dislike him more.

And the way he hid those habits from everyone else while showing them freely to Edric? Infuriating.

Edric knew Evo genuinely cared for Lobel, which is why he let it go—but it was impossible to actually like the man.

Though Edric had started resembling Lobel in many ways, liking Evo Martin was one thing he could never manage.

“Oh, are you curious about this?”

And of course, Evo Martin was a smug bastard.

He took the pendant between his thumb and forefinger and spun it—just to show it off.

With eyesight far surpassing human limits, Edric could see… every unnecessary detail of the pendant’s curves.

Edric’s earrings were made by weaving together fine, thread-like emeralds.

So naturally, Evo Martin’s pendant, made with one solid gemstone, was bigger and more prominent.

Each broad facet reflected light and sparkled, making Edric lose control of his expression.

‘……’

Maybe it was just his imagination, but somehow, it looked even flashier than his own.

Once Evo Martin left, Edric clenched his teeth. Rimson approached him.

“My lord, it’s time to return now—”

“Rimson. What’s the difference between a necklace and an earring?”

Rimson looked flustered but nodded, understanding.

Edric, who was usually rational, had three triggers that made him act strangely.

First, and most often: something involving Lobel.

Second: the endlessly irritating Manellano.

Third: Evo Martin, the self-made man Edric couldn’t help but envy.

‘Hmm. Looks like it’s Evo Martin today.’

Well… you’d think the bickering would’ve ended in childhood, but Rimson still answered:

“If it hangs around the neck, it’s a necklace. If it hangs on the ear, it’s an earring.”

Rimson’s reply sounded indifferent, almost like he was pointing out something obvious.

But it was far from enough for Edric, who felt the sheer terror of possibly losing Lobel’s affection.

With a face filled with icy fury, Edric spoke:

“…If you don’t find out the true symbolic meaning behind gifting a necklace and earrings by the end of today, you’re fired.”