The Terminally Ill Prince is the Mad Dog of the Underworld (Novel) - Chapter 46

Chapter 46. Where Have You Been?

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Somerset, seemingly realizing his mistake, quickly changed his expression and said:

“What’s the big deal? I have ears, so of course I heard such reports.”

“Ah, is that so?”

I said with a smirk.

“So it turns out my dear brother has been quite interested in his sibling. Were you watching out of concern?”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

“Then were you perhaps keeping surveillance?”

“Why would I do that?”

“Or maybe you were checking if your ordered tasks were being carried out properly.”

Somerset turned serious at my sarcasm.

“Are you interrogating me right now?”

“Me? What do you mean?”

“Who ordered what to whom?”

“Well, I wouldn’t know that.”

I found it ridiculous how Somerset was trying to be intimidating like a superior.

‘Looks like he’s acting tough because there’s no physical evidence.’

That’s no problem for me at all. If there was evidence, would it even be blackmail? That would be real threats.

“About those prisoners,” I said with a smirk.

“They were terrified when they realized they had messed with the young lord of Grünewald. I bet with a little coaxing and a few punches, they’ll spill everything, true or not.”

“…You wouldn’t.”

Somerset’s expression distorted.

“Are you saying you’ll force false testimonies?”

“Come on, how could I?”

Despite my playful tone, Somerset’s face was filled with anger.

“Go ahead and try if you can. If you can handle the consequences.”

“Whoa, whoa, why so excited? If you’re innocent, it shouldn’t matter, right?”

I kept scratching at Somerset’s nerves with a smiling face.

“You dare call that talking? You’re threatening to slander me with nonexistent accusations!”

Somerset, unable to contain himself anymore, rose from his seat with a reddened face. Can’t control your emotions, can you, Somerset?

“Please sit down, brother.”

I said with a smile.

“Are you ordering me now? You’ve been pushing it since earlier…”

Though his words were rough, his eyes and actions lacked confidence. I know exactly what this means.

‘It’s all bluff.’

It means he’s scared of something. My conclusion is that Somerset isn’t cunning enough to hide it.

‘He must be the culprit, no doubt about it.’

I was uncertain before, but now I’m almost sure.

“Brother, let me give you some advice. Getting involved with the underworld carelessly, using them like tools – neither is a good idea.”

“…!”

“When a child swings a knife recklessly, adults should stop them. Why? Because they’re bound to get hurt. You should be more careful from now on.”

“What, what nonsense are you spouting?”

Somerset’s voice trembled slightly. His face showed concern that I might know something, given how confident I was. I could see right through Somerset’s mind at this moment.

“If you want to dip your feet in darkness, be more discreet. Otherwise, you’ll end up on a leash like this. If you don’t like that, then just become a coward.”

“Shut up. What on earth are you talking about?”

“Brother.”

I got up from my seat. Although I hadn’t presented any physical evidence, Somerset was already intimidated just by my attitude. Regardless of physical superiority, I now had the upper hand over Somerset.

That’s what you get for doing something so stupid. Thank you for that.

“I’ll let this slide for today.”

“?!”

“Honestly, I understand how you feel, brother. You were probably just trying to play a nasty prank. Surely you didn’t believe those pathetic guys could get through a Royal Guard.”

Somerset offered no rebuttal to my words. Maybe I hit the nail on the head, or perhaps he was worried that denying it might make me take back my offer to overlook the matter.

But he must know that his silence itself is an admission of my words.

‘My, what a pathetic fellow.’

Just look at him squirming and being led around by a younger brother with inferior martial arts and practically no backing.

This man was inferior to Verdzig in every way. I heard even his maternal family’s influence had slightly waned.

“But brother, you know how these things work, don’t you? If you want to keep people quiet or make something disappear, it comes with a cost.”

Somerset’s face displayed a thousand emotions. His expression was exactly what you’d expect from someone desperate to grab the lifeline I’d thrown while simultaneously despising a younger brother trying to extort him.

“Please answer me. My mouth is getting tired of talking alone.”

“…Allenbert.”

Somerset’s voice lacked strength.

“What exactly are you trying to say?”

“I’m saying show me your sincerity, brother.”

I made a small circle with my thumb and index finger. It was fascinating how this hand gesture universally meant money, regardless of country or culture.

“Money is fine, or you can pay in elixirs.”

“…”

I gently coaxed Somerset, who had fallen into deep thought.

“Brother, I believe trust is the most important thing between people. Besides, I don’t want to cause too much friction between siblings. Wouldn’t you feel more at ease if I kept quiet for a price rather than just staying silent?”

Somerset’s ears perked up. I decided to drive the nail in.

“If that small amount of money or those elixirs are so precious to you, let’s forget it. This is getting offensive. Peter, let’s go.”

“Wait!”

Got him.

“What is it?”

“…I’ll give it to you, just take it and get lost.”

“Of course, I’ll leave you alone.”

I grinned and offered Somerset a handshake.

“Deal’s done, brother.”

“Get that away from me.”

Somerset’s hand sliced through empty air as he tried to brush mine away. I had already withdrawn my hand, having read his intention.

“Then please prepare the goods quietly by tomorrow.”

“…”

Somerset sighed, looking years older.

“And be more careful next time you plan something.”

“Please, just go.”

“Excuse me then.”

I bowed like a fine gentleman and left the reception room.

‘I got a mask from Verdzich and elixirs from Somerset.’

This makes me look like a delinquent younger brother going around extorting his brothers.

“Hehe.”

Who else could extort both Second Young Master Verdzich Grünewald and Third Young Master Somerset Grünewald? It was truly a remarkable achievement.

“Um, young master,” Peter whispered.

“Is it really okay to go around doing this?”

“What’s wrong with it?”

“No, but still…”

“It’s good for both of us, isn’t it? Thanks to this, Somerset hyung cleaned up his mess, and I got fair compensation. Where else can you find such a good deal?”

“No… you just extorted him.”

I corrected him.

“Let’s use the nicer term ‘transaction.'”

* * *

“Aaaaaargh!”

Crash!

Somerset only managed to calm down after destroying all the tools in the reception room.

“That b*st*rd.”

He felt pathetic about himself. To think he’d end up getting extorted by someone like that without being able to say anything.

‘How did he find out? Does he really have evidence?’

Thinking about it rationally, it didn’t make sense. Hadn’t mother already cut off the tail beforehand?

But seeing Allenbert’s confident attitude made it too unsettling to just ignore.

As a result, pathetically, Somerset fell for Allenbert’s blackmail and got extorted. Where in the world was there such humiliation?

“Damn it.”

What made him even angrier was that Somerset felt relief deep inside. His instinct was warning him that ‘if you bite back wrong now, things will get more troublesome.’

“…What kind of person is that b*st*rd?”

He had worried about things going wrong and being discovered, but he never thought someone would come to extort him. Who does such a thing?

In many ways, Allenbert was an incomprehensible existence to Somerset.

‘I should avoid getting involved with that b*st*rd for a while.’

When faced with true madness, people become speechless without realizing it. For the first time, Somerset became afraid of Allenbert…

* * *

“Young master, where have you been?”

Olivier was dumbfounded to hear that while he was working hard to clean up today’s aftermath, I had gone to extort Somerset.

“Just went to see Brother Somerset.”

“But really…”

Olivier grabbed the back of his neck.

“Be careful. Too high blood pressure isn’t good for your health.”

“…”

Did he just curse at me with his eyes?

“Young master.”

Olivier spoke in a serious tone.

“When taking action, if you don’t explain your intentions, it’s difficult for subordinates to understand their superior’s will.”

That’s true. But Olivier must know. That I don’t yet consider him completely on my side.

“…I will never do anything to harm you, young master. I didn’t choose the path of a butler with such a light heart.”

Olivier said this while knowing my thoughts.

“So couldn’t you share with me the picture you’re drawing, young master?”

Right now, Olivier is asking for my trust. Just as Peter shows his loyalty through my small acts of faith.

“I see.”

Then it would be right to respond to that meaning. Perhaps the comfort that young Alembert offered meant more to Olivier than anyone could imagine.

“Like I said, I threw bait to those watching me. Creating confusion so they couldn’t grasp my true intentions.”

Olivier nodded.

“That intention seems to have been successful. Everyone seemed perplexed, unable to read Young Master’s thoughts.”

“That’s good.”

“I’m curious about the underlying purpose. The real goal you’re trying to achieve amid this confusion.”

“……”

I smirked.

“You noticed?”

That even the purpose I told Olivier wasn’t my true objective.

“Yes.”

“I apologize for that.”

I asked.

“Then what do you think my real purpose is, Olivier?”

“……I’m not sure. Wasn’t contacting the survivors of House Eisenach Young Master’s true intention?”

“That’s also correct.”

Avenging my maternal family was an essential task to gain legitimacy befitting an heir.

“But remember this. I rarely move with just one goal in mind.”

“……”

“And I’m sorry, but you’ll naturally learn my true purpose when the time comes.”

That is, after neutralizing Verdzich’s trap embedded in the Aminicrus mask.

“I see.”

Disappointment appeared on Olivier’s face.

But I had no intention of revealing my plans simply because Olivier wanted to know.

‘Besides, if I were to reveal my true plans at this stage, he would certainly try to stop me.’

Just as I hadn’t completely trusted Olivier yet-

Like how Olivier might try to stop me or report to superiors if he judged my plans reckless, rather than supporting them unconditionally.

“What do you think? Would Brother Verdzich be able to figure out my intentions?”

When I changed the subject, Olivier pondered before answering.

“It would be difficult for now. Without Josef’s information, we wouldn’t have known about the Eisenach survivors either.”

“For now, it’s important that the clue about the mountain tribe’s medicine doesn’t reach brother’s ears.”

If that snake-like man were to obtain information about the Eisenach survivors, surely nothing good would come of it.

‘How tight-lipped Josef is will also be crucial.’

Then I should avoid calling Josef unless absolutely necessary. A man like Verdzig could become suspicious from even the smallest piece of information.

‘The best way to disrupt information is to flood it with mountains of more information.’

Then I’ll need to cause one more incident. If only to divert Verdzig’s attention elsewhere.

“……You’re not planning to cause another incident, are you?”

Sharp-witted fellow.