Returning to the mansion from the forest after our training, I found the entrance cluttered with large wooden crates, just as it had been every day lately.
"Did more arrive?"
"Yes. Four more arrived this morning."
Ever since I had taken up residence in this palatial mansion, gifts had been arriving from someone nearly every week. I had initially suspected some form of harassment, but the contents were always top-tier ingredients and daily necessities. The sheer meticulousness of the supply was actually becoming quite unsettling.
"Master, do you have any idea who the sender might be...?"
"Of course not... However, I have a hunch."
Chesa's eyes widened at my confident tone.
My mind had been sharp lately. It was time for her to hear the brilliant deductions of Detective Claude.
"Gifts of this caliber... the sender must be someone of immense wealth. Most likely, it’s the work of some noble who fell in love with you at first sight. To think there are still aristocrats earnest enough to try and win a heart by burying their target in gifts."
A love across social classes. Hmph. How bittersweet.
The noble in question was likely in a position where they couldn't easily reveal their identity. No doubt they were growing fretful, unable to do anything but resort to this indirect approach for the time being.
『Did it never occur to you that these gifts might be intended for you?』
Not a chance.
Everyone hates me, after all. I had briefly entertained the thought that my parents were behind it, but setting aside my mother, the contents were far too excessive for my sensible father to have sent.
There was no doubt that Chesa was the prize. That said, there were items among the gifts clearly meant for me—men's clothing, wooden swords for training, and the like. They were likely trying to buy my favor, seeing as I was Chesa's master. I wondered if the day would come when a suitor begged, "Please, let me marry your maid!" Well, I wouldn't give my blessing unless he was a man who could stand on equal footing with Reiji.
However, Chesa’s face twisted into an expression of pure disgust—the look of someone who had just found a maggot writhing under a rock.
"I’ll burn them."
Why?!
"W-Why on earth would you jump to that conclusion?"
"Because it is revolting. The items are already too extravagant to be used comfortably, but if they are tainted by ulterior motives, the lack of character is simply too blatant to ignore."
Chesa...
You could be a little more... well, how should I put it... lenient...
"...Some of these gifts include delicacies that even satisfy my palate. Are you going to burn those as well?"
"...My apologies. I was being reckless."
I felt for her, truly. I’m sure it was skin-crawling from her perspective, but since I’d been disinherited, our standard of living would plummet without these relief supplies.
But in truth, who was the sender?
Actually, I hadn't mentioned it earlier because it complicated the explanation, but if my instincts were correct, I believed there were actually two senders.
『What makes you think that?』
The number of crates is always even. Two arrived last time, and six the time before that.
Furthermore, there were two distinct patterns to the gifts. One set consisted of life essentials like food and household goods, while the other was a hodgepodge of luxury items like tea leaves and paintings. Every time, they were sent in a perfect fifty-fifty ratio.
Above all, I felt a strange intensity radiating from these crates. It was as if... "If the other person sends two, I’ll lose if I don't send two as well!" A sense of rivalry was clearly flickering behind the scenes.
Two nobles fighting over Chesa. If that was the dynamic, then every piece of the puzzle fell into place.
『Based on looks alone, it's understandable she'd be in high demand... but Chesa rarely appears in public. Where would they have found the opportunity to develop such strong feelings?』
That was the sticking point.
If it were just one person, I could write it off as a fluke. But two... Hmm...
『Changing the subject, I haven't heard any talk of Reiji lately, even when walking through the city.』
Now that Zest mentioned it, he was right.
Even after my disinheritance and move to this mansion, Chesa often headed into the Royal Capital to buy supplies, and I frequently wandered about for a change of pace. Until recently, you couldn't go a block without hearing rumors like "Reiji saved the city!" or "Reiji defeated a monster!" Now, there was nothing.
It didn't feel like the rumors had simply grown stale; it felt as though no new stories were being generated to keep them alive. Normally, people would be clamoring to know what the hero who saved the capital was doing now.
...Time for a little scouting.
After making myself presentable, I headed to the Royal Academy for the first time in a month.
◆
"—Reiji isn't here!?"
I blurted out the words in shock. The receptionist flinched at my volume, nodding with a terrified expression.
"H-He’s been studying abroad in the Ultima Empire since a month ago..."
"Studying abroad!?"
"Eek!"
I shouted again in surprise, and the receptionist practically shriveled into her desk. It seemed that even though I was no longer a noble, the name Claude still carried a heavy weight of infamy.
To be honest, this was unexpected. My status had dropped from a Duke’s son to a commoner. Given that I was being watched with hostility by royalty and the high nobility, I was effectively lower than a commoner.
It was a refreshingly complete downfall. I had half-expected to be mocked by those I’d previously looked down upon, but...
『If anything, you used to intimidate those around you with your talent rather than your authority. They probably still haven't figured out how they are supposed to treat you.』
Hmph... then that worked out perfectly. I might as well drive the point home while I was here.
Glancing at the students watching me from a safe distance, I spoke aloud, pretending to talk to myself.
"Heh... I really must thank His Highness. A ducal title was nothing more than a shackle to me. Now that it’s gone, I can run wild to my heart’s content."
The students' faces drained of color. Their expressions seemed to scream, "You weren't already doing as you pleased?" or "There's still a level above this?" I found their terror quite satisfying.
Good, good. Now everyone knows that the villain Claude is alive and well.
Inevitably, they would seek salvation from Reiji. They would beg him to return and defeat the monster, Claude.
『Are you going to meet with the Princess and the Duke's daughter as well?』
Hmm... I probably should give those two a warning too, but Reiji’s situation took priority.
Leaving the Academy behind, I headed straight back to the mansion on the outskirts.
The Ultima Empire, where Reiji had gone, was a nation that worshipped the Second Mythos Eternity. I didn't know his specific goal, but considering he left right after losing to me, it was undoubtedly a journey for martial training. He wouldn't leave just to clear his head.
To think I hadn't noticed Reiji’s absence for an entire month. Even though I had been preoccupied with the move, it was a massive blunder on my part.
『Are you going?』
Of course.
If Reiji is in the Empire, then I, as his stepping stone, must be there as well!
And so—!
"Chesa!"
The moment I stepped through the door, I called out to her.
"We’re going to the Empire!"
"Wherever you go, Master, I shall follow."