"Well, well! Look at you, surrounded by all these beauties. Living the high life, aren't we, Master Nard?"
- Good grief, I'm going to die. I'm going to die of laughter at this perfectly stereotypical display of thuggery. Lol.
I mean, they looked like they'd stepped straight out of a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Fortunately, there weren't any mohawks in sight, though they certainly seemed the type to declare that filth needed disinfecting.
"I do not know who you are, but I must ask you to leave. My master is far too busy to waste his time speaking with the likes of you," Heliotrope said.
She stepped forward, positioning herself in front of the largest man in the group of thugs, and bowed with a chillingly polite insolence.
I could only see her back from where I sat, but I was certain her eyes were like shards of ice. I should know, considering she directed that look at me often enough.
The thugs, however, didn't seem bothered by her gaze at all. Instead, they burst into raucous, delighted laughter. For a moment, I wondered if they had some very specific, questionable tastes, but I was quickly proven wrong.
"Whoa, I've never seen a babe like this! This is gonna be fun!" one shouted.
"Haha, she's got some spirit, hasn't she? I wonder if she's just as feisty under the sheets?" another jeered.
"Look at that figure! She's got curves in all the right places!" a third added.
Stop it! Sexually harassing Heliotrope is like diving headfirst into a frozen wasteland!
It was a terrifying thought; at this rate, a gruesome crime scene was about to unfold right in the middle of the street. Just as I was shuddering at the thought of the impending carnage...
"Cease this at once. You are frightening the beautiful lady," a voice commanded.
An elderly, gaunt man dressed in excessively expensive clothing stepped forward. Well, the 'lady' isn't the one who's frightened; it's the gentleman inside the carriage you should be worried about.
The man walked up to Heliotrope and peered over her shoulder toward the carriage.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Master Nard. I am Delheide, a loyal vassal of His Excellency, ¹Duke Weltheim," he said.
He gave a theatrical, exaggerated bow. It was painfully obvious that he held nothing but contempt for us.
"And what business does a 'loyal vassal' of the Duke's house have here?" Heliotrope asked.
Her voice was sharp as a needle. She was clearly still incensed, and I found myself wishing she would calm her raging temper just a little.
Come to think of it, did he not realize she was my personal maid? I recalled that Delheide was of noble birth. Perhaps he simply didn't deign to look at the faces of other people's servants.
Delheide, utterly unbothered by the prickly atmosphere, began to speak with a greasy, self-satisfied smirk.
"I was entrusted by the great Duke Weltheim with the management of the budget for charitable works. And yet... I have discovered that the manager of this orphanage and the 'Master Nard' over there have conspired to embezzle operating funds and donations!" he declared.
"Wha--" Kizaris gasped.
Kizaris was utterly speechless. It was a natural reaction to being framed by a suspicious-looking old man who had appeared out of nowhere.
At the same time, I could feel a stir in the air. A crowd of townspeople, drawn by the commotion, had gathered in significant numbers. At this rate, the orphanage would fall into the hands of this corrupt official (though he wasn't technically an official).
Just as planned. (Smirk).
Unaware that I was wearing the sort of villainous grin one might find on a genius student in a thriller, Delheide continued his oration.
"The young master Kraut, the legitimate son of the Duke's house, had high expectations for this charity. In the name of the next head of the family, ²Kraut von Weltheim, I cannot allow your outrageous behavior to go unpunished!" he shouted.
Oh, I had reached my limit. My stomach was doing flips from suppressed laughter, and my ears felt like they were rotting from his lies. The stage was set, and the actors were all in place.
Clap, clap, clap, clap... The sound of my applause echoed inside the carriage and rang out across the square.
Taking that as their cue, Heliotrope and Laps approached the carriage and stood on either side of the door, bowing deeply and respectfully. Goodness, I felt like some incredibly grand background music should start playing right about now.
Suppressing my internal excitement, I stepped out of the carriage. I walked with a flourish, passing between my two beautiful maids. It's time for the climax!
Delheide, Kizaris, the thugs, and even the crowd of onlookers all fell into a stunned silence. Why the sudden quiet? I understood Delheide's shock, but why was everyone else so hushed?
Well, whatever. I had business with this man first.
"What's the matter, Delheide? Have you forgotten my face?" I asked.
I had intended to play the role of a humble merchant's son, but here I was, role-playing a grand general! I never thought the day would come when I'd get to say that line... I felt like I could burst into a celebratory dance.
The old man in front of me turned a pitiful shade of pale. Not that I actually felt sorry for him.
"M-Master Kraut... Why... why are you here?" Delheide stammered.
He stared at me, looking as though he couldn't—or rather, didn't want to—believe the reality before his eyes.
I opened my mouth to speak again with a smile--
WHAAAAT?!
"Urgh?!" I grunted.
I was forced to shut my mouth by the sheer volume of the overwhelming collective scream from the crowd.
Summary:
A group of thugs and a corrupt noble named Delheide confront Kraut's carriage outside an orphanage. Delheide attempts to frame the orphanage manager and 'Master Nard' (Kraut in disguise) for embezzlement. Kraut reveals his true identity as the heir to the Weltheim household. The revelation leaves Delheide horrified and the crowd in absolute shock. The chapter ends with the townspeople's explosive reaction to Kraut's true status.
Character Insight:
Kraut shows a distinct flair for the dramatic, leaning into the 'noble hero' trope with an internal monologue that borders on meta-commentary. He clearly enjoys the power dynamic shift, relishing the moment of revelation. Meanwhile, Delheide's arrogance is shown to be his undoing, as his dismissive attitude toward servants prevented him from recognizing the very master he claimed to serve.
Behind the Scene:
The scene where Kraut reveals his identity is a classic 'Mito Komon' trope in Japanese media, where a high-ranking official in disguise reveals their true identity to punish corrupt local officials. Kraut even references this by mentioning the 'general roleplay'.
T/L:
1 ↩ Duke Weltheim: The head of the high-ranking noble household and Kraut's father.
2 ↩ Kraut von Weltheim: The full noble name of the protagonist, indicating his high-born status which he had been hiding.
Notes:
• Heliotrope - Kraut's exclusive maid, fifteen years old (six years older than Kraut). She has long black hair reaching her waist and a cool, beautiful face. She is a 'slave battle maid' who was formerly a noble lady from a fallen northern country. She wears a Victorian-style long-dress maid outfit.
• Delheide - A gaunt, elderly man of noble birth who claims to be a loyal vassal of Duke Weltheim. He is dressed in expensive clothing.
• Kizaris - The manager of the orphanage who is falsely accused by Delheide.
• Kraut - The eldest son of a Duke's family (9 years old). He has blue eyes, a straight nose, and short silver hair. Handsome and now he is slender.
• Laps - A petite maid serving the Duke's house and an alumna of the orphanage Kraut is sponsoring. She has a cute, protective charm with short brown bob hair.