Chapter 3
Ownership
The sentry belatedly recognized the emblem embroidered on the cloaks of the knights behind him.
A blue wolf clutching a sword in its jaws. It was the crest of Duke Leicester, one of the Empire's three Elector Families.
Dumbfounded, he stared blankly at the Duke's emblem, forgetting that he should run to summon his master.
Shed Lester didn't wait for the foolish sentry's permission.
He simply strode past the sentry, opened the main gate, and entered the manor.
Only then did the sentry snap out of his daze and follow him.
"W-Well…! I mean, I should call my master…"
Stuttering and hesitant, the sentry couldn't stop him and merely trailed behind, flustered.
Reaching the front door, Shed reached for the doorknob to knock.
Just then, the door creaked open.
"Goodness…!"
A middle-aged woman in an elegant feathered hat gasped and recoiled upon seeing the large man standing before her.
Shed recognized her at once as Godwin Baroness.
"Who… who are you?"
The Baroness, wary of the large intruder, was startled, then frowned as she noticed the person slung over his shoulder.
Though the face was hidden, the torn and soiled maid's uniform was undoubtedly that of the Godwin household.
That alone seemed to tell her enough, as a flicker of dismay crossed the Baroness's eyes.
"Y-You are…!"
"I happened to find a Godwin possession along the way."
Shed set Liana down in the hall of the Godwin manor.
As soon as her feet touched the ground, Liana quickly composed herself and lowered her head.
The Baroness's eye twitched minutely.
"Madam, this is Shed Lester Duke."
The sentry scurried to the Baroness's side and whispered, prompting her to scrutinize the man standing before her.
'The God of War, that Lupus…?'
She had heard countless rumors about Shed Lester, but this was the first time she had seen him in person.
No one in the Empire could be ignorant of his name.
They said he had the blood of the Lupus Clan, the Black Wolf, and indeed, his natural physique seemed different from that of ordinary Imperial citizens.
Still, he was just a Lupus, born of slaves.
"A pleasure to meet you, Duke Leicester."
The Godwin Baroness sized Shed up and offered a perfunctory greeting.
"More importantly, where did you find this child…?"
The Baroness lowered her long eyelashes and glanced at Liana.
Liana kept her head bowed, her hands clasped together, avoiding eye contact.
Shed sensed the undercurrent between the two and spoke.
"I found her in the nearby forest, but it seems she's not particularly welcome."
Shed observed the Godwin Baroness's stiff expression.
The Baroness forced an elegant smile and shook her head.
"No, it's just that I was curious. I wondered where she had gone, only to find her with you, Duke. She certainly has a knack for bewitching men…"
"A knack for bewitching men…?"
"In any case, thank you for the trouble of bringing her back. I'm sure she caused you a great deal of inconvenience, Duke. I'll be sure to punish her severely."
The Baroness seized Liana's wrist and tugged her forward.
At that moment, Shed intervened, stopping the Baroness by grasping Liana.
"The item I'm returning isn't this one, but this one."
Shed displayed the hunting dog's name tag he had been holding.
"Your dog was hunting people."
"…!"
"I killed it, thinking it was a wild beast, only to find it wearing a name tag."
"T-This is…!"
The Baroness's gaze wavered, lost, as she saw the name tag.
"We occasionally use beasts in battle, even on the battlefield, but perhaps this woman is a spy from an enemy nation…?"
Shed asked, idly toying with his wrist.
The Baroness quickly composed herself and spoke.
"That's not the case. She must have mistakenly taken the hunting dog out with her."
"Mistakenly taken it out?"
"Yes, that girl is a constant source of trouble."
"A source of trouble…"
At the Baroness's words, Shed's gaze shifted to Liana.
Liana didn't utter a single word, simply listening to the Baroness.
The sight inexplicably irritated him.
Just then.
"Duke Leicester?"
Godwin Baron, having heard of the guest's arrival, descended from the upper floor.
Godwin Baron was a well-regarded intellectual among scholars, and his appearance reflected this, with a neatly trimmed mustache and gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose.
His appearance caused the atmosphere among the Baroness and the servants to turn frigid.
A fleeting look of discomfiture crossed the Godwin Baroness's face.
"Liana, what is the meaning of this!"
The Baron was shocked to see the maid covered in blood and with torn clothes, and rushed over.
Liana dragged her feet and took a step back.
Shed's gaze fell on her shrinking shoulders.
"Who in the world committed such a barbaric act…!"
The Baron exclaimed, looking around the central hall of the manor.
The Baroness and the servants all remained silent, unable to meet his eyes.
Shed narrowed his eyes, taking in the strange atmosphere of the Baron's household.
"Oh, Liana. Come here. You must wash and receive treatment immediately."
Godwin Baron strode towards Liana and put his arm around her shoulders.
Liana squirmed, unsure of what to do.
"Master, I'm alright."
"How can you be alright when you're so injured? It breaks my heart. Hmm? Come here."
"Master, please…"
Liana squeezed her eyes shut as the Baron's hand roamed over her body.
Liana saw Shed's shadow beside her.
The pitch-black shadow dragged her into a deep abyss.
What kind of eyes was he looking at her with?
Was he sneering at the fact that she, once a noble lady, was in such a state? Or was he gloating? Or did he not even feel she was worth associating with?
Liana clutched at her soiled clothes.
It felt as if insects were crawling along her spine, following the Baron's touch.
Just then.
"Enough, Godwin Baron."
The Baron's hand, which had been reaching down to her buttocks, was knocked away.
The Baron, his hand suddenly restrained, frowned and looked up at Shed.
"What is the meaning of this rudeness, Duke Leicester?"
The Baron tried to pull his captured wrist away, but couldn't easily escape Shed's grasp.
Shed looked at the Baron's household with merciless eyes.
The Baron fondling the maid's body in front of his wife.
The Baroness unable to hide her dismay and displeasure at the returned maid.
And the maid who had been chased by a hunting dog.
'The Baron cherishes her, does he? She's certainly been treated with great care, Luise Ideana.'
To think she had become the disgustingly beautiful protagonist of a romance in this elegant and refined world.
Shed sneered and tightened his grip.
A cracking sound came from the Baron's wrist.
"Ugh! Aaaagh!"
An unrefined scream echoed through the Baron's manor.
Shed released the Baron's wrist with a touch of annoyance.
The Baron clutched his freed wrist, crouching down and groaning for a long while.
"Kkeueuk, Duke Leicester…!"
Godwin Baron, clutching his reddened wrist, glared at Shed through his glasses.
Even if there was a difference in rank, he couldn't simply stand by and take it.
He was a respected intellectual and nobleman from a noble and ancient family. Considering the history and reputation of the Godwin family, which had been with the Empire for generations, this was not a family to be treated so carelessly.
'And yet, he rudely barges into the Baron's manor and commits such atrocities. A slave by birth…!'
Godwin Baron could not forgive the impudence of Shed Lester, the upstart nobleman.
"You will apologize immediately. Otherwise…!"
"Otherwise?"
Shed, who had been lost in unpleasant thoughts for a moment, abruptly turned his gaze to the Baron.
"Otherwise, what will you do?"
"Well…!"
Godwin Baron, at Shed's brazen retort, could only gape, unable to continue.
He certainly looked intellectual.
Shed ignored the dumbfounded Baron and turned his eyes to the Baroness.
"I'll take care of this 'source of trouble' you mentioned."
"T-Take care of her?"
"I'll pay a fair price. How much will it be?"
At Shed's words, Liana looked at him in dismay.
The item he was offering to trade was none other than Liana herself.
Even so, Liana couldn't assert anything properly among them.
Liana, and Shed Lester, knew that powerless people were easily bought and sold like objects.
Liana pressed down on her throbbing heart.
"How much will it be! Liana is clearly my property!"
Godwin Baron didn't just stand by and watch. He reached out again to take his maid, Liana.
Shed stepped between the Baron and Liana.
"Do I look like I'm trying to negotiate on equal footing, Godwin Baron?"
"…!"
At the softly spoken words, the Baron felt a chill run down his spine.
"I'm giving you a chance. I'm respecting your damned Baron title."
"Respect? That's what I should be saying! I gave you the time of day because of your title, and now you act like a beastly Lupus…!"
Shed's brow furrowed instantly.
The Baron's face turned white as he realized he had unconsciously crossed a line he shouldn't have.
"…It seems there's nothing more to discuss."
He had killed the hunting dog, so he thought he would at least offer some minimal compensation, but he had changed his mind.
Shed, as if there was nothing more to say, simply scooped Liana up into his arms.
"D-Duke! What is the meaning of this outrage!"
"Outrage. That's a good word…"
One side of Shed's lips twisted upwards.
He held Liana in one arm and drew his sword.
Everyone gasped and fell silent.
In the chilling silence, Shed glanced around at the Baron's household.
"If you have any complaints about my outrage, bring your army to my Duchy. I'll gladly welcome you."
At the same time, the sword flashed and slashed at the Baron's groin.
"Heeik!"
"M-Master…!"
Thud, the Baron's legs gave way and he collapsed.
The elegant trousers were torn at the crotch, revealing the unsightly interior.
The Baron, who had almost lost his precious parts, could only open and close his mouth, unable to speak.
"The justification, is this enough?"
The man, having sheathed his sword, left the Baron's household with the woman in his arms.
