Chapter 179
The timeline shifts back slightly, to before the engagement was called off.
"I'm bored."
That was the honest sentiment of the jester of madness known as Ares.
He had been diligently playing the role of the righteous ally to obstruct the Western Hero, but even that playstyle was beginning to feel hollow.
---
"Why?! Why won’t Father acknowledge me?! Hey! Shin! You did deliver my letter, didn’t you?!"
"Yes, I indeed delivered the letter to the lord."
"Then why did I get this kind of response?!"
Right now, he was dealing with the tantrum of a spoiled young master. At first, Ares had inwardly mocked the spectacle, laughing at how pitiful it was. But now, the amusement had faded—the young man’s fate was already sealed, destined to spiral into ruin with no hope of resistance.
Even now, the young lord was lashing out at his subordinates, screaming like a child.
The fact that this man, rumored to be taciturn and earnest, was now making a fool of himself no longer stirred any excitement in the jester of madness. It was time to move on.
---
"Young Master, you cannot annul the engagement decided by the lord. This marriage is for the sake of the family. There is no room for personal feelings."
"That’s not true!! Lily told me—people should live freely!!"
"That is the logic of commoners. We, as nobles, have a duty to uphold the status we were born into."
What’s so great about that dim-witted woman anyway? Ares thought to himself, already considering how to wrap this up.
It had all started when he saved a woman from bystanders and made contact with her. But honestly, it had become so dull that he was beginning to regret getting involved.
Nobles were the same everywhere, not just on this continent. Living carefree lives built on the foundations laid by their ancestors, looking down on commoners, never doubting the unshakable stability of their status.
Kicking them down and watching them fall could be amusing—but when the opponent offered no resistance, the thrill quickly faded.
If things continued like this, this man would either be condemned by his own family and imprisoned for life, or worse, executed. Based on the jester’s experience in the Western continent—where he had sowed distrust among nobles—this outcome was inevitable.
Right now, he was playing the role of a "friend" to this man, whose only redeeming quality was his earnestness. But that very earnestness made him stubbornly single-minded, making him easy to manipulate—yet utterly uninteresting.
Knowledge and training mean nothing without real combat experience.
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"Why don’t you calm down, Lord Guns? Your father hasn’t even met her yet. A letter can’t possibly convey her true worth, can it?"
"Lord Ares! It’s not that simple!!"
With a feigned smile, Ares fed the fool the words he wanted to hear. Guns’ eyes lit up as if he had just realized something profound.
Too easy. Pathetically easy.
Sweet words, convenient logic—even if it made no sense, these kinds of people would cling to anything that validated their beliefs. Normally, such empty flattery would disgust Ares, making his skin crawl. But after dealing with this idiot for so long, even his contempt had dulled into indifference.
"Yes! You’re right! Ah, as expected of Lord Ares! If Father meets Lily, he’ll surely understand how wonderful she is!!"
Guns only listened to what pleased him now—a convenient tendency for the jester of madness.
But in terms of entertainment value? There was none.
If this continued, it would create trouble for the Edelgard Ducal House. A conflict between a ducal family and a prominent house from another continent would be extremely advantageous.
But where was the fun in that?
Scattering embers wasn’t enough to start a fire. To make it truly blaze, one needed preparation—oil, kindling. But Ares lacked the motivation to go that far.
He was truly growing bored.
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"Doing this will only worsen relations with the Edelgard Ducal House!! Please reconsider!! The lord would never approve!!"
"Shut up!! What do you know?!"
This man was in the way of spreading the flames. He assessed the situation and offered loyal advice—a retainer wasted on such a dull master.
Nobles like this never prospered. To the self-indulgent aristocracy, anyone who tried to rein in their excesses was nothing but a nuisance.
Normally, Ares would have schemed to plunge even this loyal retainer into despair. But right now, he couldn’t muster the motivation. It all felt like too much effort.
"Exactly, Lord Shin! If they see two people truly in love, surely the lord will understand!"
But giving up now would render all his efforts meaningless. Suppressing his annoyance and nausea, the jester of madness played the role of the supportive friend, helping to remove the obstacles to "love."
Every expression, every glance, every movement—all carefully calculated.
Not a single word was sincere, but to someone like Guns, drowning in desperation, they were like a lifeline. Watching him nod fervently only made Ares’ heart grow colder.
What a hollow man.
If it were her in the West, she would have cut through this nonsense and fought back fiercely.
Boring. Ah, how utterly tedious.
Despair was an art form.
It wasn’t just about making someone despair—it was about utterly negating their entire existence. But if the subject lacked substance, even that despair turned stale.
"Lord Guns."
Just as Ares was considering abandoning this worthless man, a woman’s voice interrupted.
"Oh! Lily! What’s wrong? Are you in trouble?"
"Lord Guns!! We still haven’t talked—"
"Whatever you have to say can wait!!"
How easily you dismiss your own life as trivial.
Ares watched with cold amusement as the fool turned his back on reality to approach the woman.
"Um… are you sure it’s alright for me to be here?"
"Of course it is! Did something happen? Were the maids bullying you again? Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it!"
A man who refused to see reality could become this repulsive.
Lily’s face was clouded with unease—she could see the truth, but Guns refused to let her go.
Ah, at least she’s somewhat interesting.
She understood the reality of her situation, desperately trying to find a way out—but she had already stepped into the quagmire, unable to turn back.
"N-no, the maids have been kind to me."
She couldn’t escape.
Strangled not by enemies, but by allies, inching closer to ruin with each passing moment.
And she knew it.
The love that had once clouded her eyes had been cleared when the jester of madness dragged her into this mansion and showed her the man’s desperate, grinning face.
He had manipulated the maids, the butler, even turned Shin against her—making sure she knew she had no place here.
This woman’s instincts weren’t bad.
Neither was her intellect.
But she was shackled by her dependence on love.
And that very emotion was dragging her down.
"Good, good! If anything happens, tell me right away! I’ll handle it immediately!"
Even the words of love from someone she had once cared for now felt one-sided.
Now, Lily was all this man had left.
And conversely, by taking her away, he could lose everything.
With a little manipulation, he could twist this man into a vengeful wreck, chasing after the woman who fled from him.
Ah, love—what a sinful thing.
The absurd back-and-forth between these two was barely enough to stave off the jester’s boredom.
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"Um, Lord Guns, I have a request…"
"Oh? Anything!"
"I’d like to go shopping outside. But… I’m afraid those people might attack me again. Could Lord Ares accompany me as a guard?"
The sudden shift in focus toward the jester of madness made Ares feign surprise.
"Oh? You’re requesting me?"
"Yes."
"No! The outside is dangerous! If you want something, I’ll summon merchants here! Whatever you desire, I’ll have it prepared!"
"No, I’ve been cooped up in the mansion for so long… I’d like to go outside. Is that… not okay?"
Ares already knew what Lily was planning—an escape, fleeing the capital. She was searching for any way out, aware that staying here meant ruin.
Her pleading voice, her upturned eyes—Guns, utterly smitten, stood no chance.
"It’s not that it’s not okay…"
Guns glanced at Ares, but the fact that he had once protected her from assailants made it impossible to refuse.
Yet, his pride as a man made him hesitate—a weakness the jester of madness inwardly mocked.
"A maiden’s request. I have no objections, but what do you say, Lord Guns?"
Ares smiled, giving his approval.
"U-uh, right. Ares, I’m counting on you."
The conflicted look in Guns’ eyes—Find some excuse to refuse—went unacknowledged.
"Thank you, Lord Guns!"
Her radiant smile melted his jealousy away, leaving only a foolish grin.
And just like that, the two were set to go out alone—effectively a date.
---
"So? Is the shop you’re looking for around here?"
"……"
After deftly manipulating Guns into letting them leave, Lily led Ares to a deserted alley—no fashionable clothes, no dazzling accessories, no sweets. Just an empty, lifeless path.
Ares shrugged.
"Please, Lord Ares!! Help me escape!! Please, come with me!!"
She clung to him desperately.
Ah, so that’s how it is.
Hiding his disdain behind a mask of concern, Ares played his part.
"Escape? That’s a strong word."
"I—I have no place there anymore!"
"But you have Lord Guns, don’t you?"
If this were an ordinary man, he might have fallen for her act, swept up in a dramatic love-fueled escape.
But Lily was unlucky.
Her opponent was the jester of madness—a man whose love was twisted, yet unwavering.
Gently but firmly, he pushed her away.
Her sad eyes, her vulnerable demeanor—none of it worked on him.
He felt no attraction to her.
She was nothing more than a toy.
"If you truly wish to run away, you should do so with Lord Guns. I’d be happy to help then. Don’t worry, I won’t charge you—I wouldn’t spoil your new beginning."
"Lord Guns… would never choose me."
No sane man would accept a confession from a mere plaything.
"I don’t think so. Didn’t you see how he doted on you earlier? He even got jealous over me just escorting you."
"It’s Lord Shin. He would never allow me into the family. He’s already spoken to the lord. Once Lord Guns calms down, he’ll choose his family over me."
"That’s possible. But I don’t think Lord Guns would do that."
And the mastermind who had orchestrated this very outcome would never let his toy leave the stage so easily.
"He’s a devoted man. There’s no doubt he wants to be with you. Why give up now?"
"But—"
"Don’t worry. Lord Guns isn’t completely thoughtless. If you’re uneasy, there’s a way to erase those doubts."
The real chaos had only just begun.
He needed to spread discord across the Southern Continent, ensuring the West’s reputation remained tarnished.
Killing Jackaran would have been ideal, but since that failed, turning the Edelgard Ducal House into an enemy and souring relations with the East would suffice.
"What… kind of method?"
Trampling on her feelings while pretending to offer salvation, Ares smiled.
"A duel. Win it, and everything will work out. Don’t worry—I’ll be the one fighting."
And so, he guided her steadily toward ruin.