I Was Hired by the Dark Prince for My Life's Worth - Chapter 30

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 30. The True Master of Brennon
Even after returning to the manor, my thoughts remained scattered elsewhere.
“And how did you find today’s inspection?”
“Nothing of particular note. The town was bustling as always.”
“Splendid! I’m delighted to hear it. Now, regarding the funds to develop our town….”
Baron Brennon maintained a genial smile throughout the evening meal.
He spoke of how smoothly the Festival preparations were progressing, how suitable his daughter Olivia would be as a bride, how profitable the development of Valenta Island would prove, how bright Ruen’s future appeared….
Yet only one word kept ringing through my mind.
‘Fake.’
The current baron is a fake.
That’s what the Brennon Young Lady had said.
…But was that really true?
I stood obediently behind Yurian, stealing glances at the baron’s face.
Short stature, rounded frame.
Hearty laughter, affable manner of speech.
To all appearances, just another provincial nobleman.
‘A fake, really…?’
I still couldn’t quite believe it.
Oblivious to my doubts, the baron continued smiling and promoting Ruen to Yurian with relentless enthusiasm.
And then—
“Say, maid in the back. You accompanied His Highness the Prince today as well, yes?”
“Ah, yes, sir….”
“Ruen must have impressed you—your expression is positively radiant! Ha ha!”
He’d dragged me into the conversation without warning.
Heat crept up my neck, and my lips began to tremble.
‘…My apologies, Baron. I’m currently entertaining rather irreverent thoughts.’
I haven’t even properly seen Ruen yet.
I was just catching myself when my lips started quivering again.
Tap.
Something brushed lightly against the back of my hand beneath the table.
“……?”
Good heavens, what a fright.
I jerked my gaze downward to find Yurian’s hand.
He was delicately sipping his soup as though nothing had happened.
…What was that?
As I stared at him in bewilderment, Yurian’s eyes crinkled with amusement.
[Composure, Vanillin. Where has it gone?]
Oh, he was scolding me.
‘But I’m standing behind you—how did you even see that? Do you have eyes in the back of your head?’
[Vanillin.]
‘…Forgive me.’
Would you mind not reading my thoughts?
A chill ran down my spine, and I carefully took a small step backward.
I straightened the trembling corners of my mouth and composed my expression.
[Good. Just like that. Well done.]
‘I shall do better….’
This is terrifying.
The meal stretched on far longer than I would have liked.
Brennon Young Lady joined us partway through, but neither she nor Yurian breathed a word about what had transpired in town.
The restraint with which they maintained their silence was decidedly aristocratic.
Nothing like my own clumsy transparency.
‘…I need to do better.’
If I’m to survive much longer, I can’t afford to be a liability to His Highness.
I managed to make it through the rest of the meal by carefully controlling my expression and avoided any further reproach.
And when I finally reached my room—
“Sigh….”
I collapsed face-first onto the bed.
Why had today felt so impossibly long?
A suspicious warehouse, a secret note, a counterfeit baron… and then the Defunct Mailbox.
My head felt as though it might split open.
“Vanillin.”
“Yes…”
“You weren’t planning to sleep like that, were you?”
Oh.
I stirred and lifted my head.
Now that I thought about it, I hadn’t changed clothes. Honestly.
The sky-blue one-piece dress, marred with pinkish stains, looked even worse than before.
As I rose sluggishly, looking dejected, Yurian let out a low chuckle.
“Still upset about it, I see.”
“Of course I am…”
I gently touched the stains on the fabric.
“It was the first thing I ever owned for myself.”
“Hmm.”
Yurian’s gaze slowly traced the hem of my skirt.
“You seemed to like it quite a bit.”
“I loved it.”
“You spun around in it all day long.”
“That…”
I’d appreciate it if you’d forget about that…
What was I to do, getting so excited?
Yurian chuckled softly.
“I’ll buy you a new one tomorrow.”
“…Really?”
“There’s a festival coming up, after all.”
“You… you really mean it?”
My heart began to pound.
A new dress… and a gift-given one at that.
I’d never had anything like that before.
I hugged the pillow tightly for no particular reason.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“Yes, do thank me. It’s not every day I show such kindness to Vanillin.”
…The first time.
I quietly drew the edge of the blanket up to cover my mouth.
My heart tingled.
Then Yurian stirred.
“Shall we get moving?”
“Yes.”
I turned my gaze out the window without thinking.
The night had settled in, dark and complete.
At last, it was time to visit the defunct mailbox.
* * *
Ruen at night was nothing like it was by day.
The laughter of drunk sailors, the sharp brine of the sea, the distant crash of waves.
The Third Harbor was especially quiet.
Unlike the main docks used during the day, this abandoned place held not even a shadow of a soul.
Splash—
The waves beat harshly against the gray wharf below.
I reflexively caught at Yurian’s sleeve.
…I’m frightened.
“Shall we turn back if you’re afraid?”
“No, I’m not. Not afraid.”
“Your grip may stretch the fabric.”
“…Ah.”
I quietly released my hand.
No marks had actually been left, but he brushed and smoothed the fabric for me anyway.
Yurian laughed softly again.
…So he was teasing. Of course.
“The defunct mailbox, the defunct mailbox…”
As I glanced around, I spotted it in a corner of the harbor—an old mailbox covered in thick rust.
“Is that the one?”
“Indeed.”
I stepped forward carefully and lifted the lid.
Creeeeak—
And then.
“…There’s something inside.”
Inside lay a single bundle of worn cloth.
My heart began to race.
I pulled it out quickly, and dust tumbled down in a cascade.
The way it fell so readily suggested it wasn’t original accumulation but deliberately placed camouflage.
I unfolded the cloth.
“This is….”
“A ring, it appears.”
The first thing that came into view was an old ring.
Crudely wrought yet elegant—bearing the image of blue waves and a sword.
“That’s the seal of House Brennon.”
“But why would something like this be here…?”
“Why don’t you take out the paper beneath it as well.”
Underneath the ring lay a sheet of paper, charred and half-burned.
What was written there seemed to be a few lines in handwriting.
…Therefore, given the urgent circumstances, I hereby transfer the position of Family Head to Rein Brennon, the Legitimate Heir of House Brennon.
Along the edge of the paper, a faint red stain had spread.
I held my breath.
“The Legitimate Heir…?”
It was then.
“That’s correct.”
A low, measured voice came from behind me.
I spun around in alarm.
Standing beneath the moonlight was the Brennon Young Lady.
And behind her—a black-haired servant.
“The real master of House Brennon was murdered.”
Our eyes met.
There was something about his sorrowful gaze that made my chest tighten strangely.
His eyes held so many emotions.
Something like an apology, something like hesitation.
And yet… something that seemed almost like profound joy at seeing me.
The moment our gazes locked, I understood.
‘Ah, that person.’
He was apologizing. To me.
“…I’m sorry, Vanillin.”
The man’s voice broke with sorrow.
“I never wanted to drag my benefactor into something like this….”
Benefactor? I quickly shook my head in protest.
“No, no. I only picked a lock, that’s all.”
“Because of that one act, my life was saved.”
……
My words suddenly caught in my throat.
The Brennon Young Lady opened her mouth quietly.
“The current Brennon Baron was a pirate.”
Her voice was measured and calm.
“Twenty years ago, he raided a village, stole the family, and sold the young heir to slavers.”
I stared at her blankly.
Standing in the moonlight, the Brennon Young Lady emanated an entirely different presence than she did by day.
Rather than an elegant noblewoman, her face was cold and still—like the sea before a storm.
She met my gaze and spoke in a whisper.
“That heir was so young then. He thought there was no point in letting him live—that the boy would be useless anyway.”
……
A moment of silence fell.
The truth hammering into my mind left me almost dizzy.
And then.
The Young Lady’s gaze slowly turned toward the servant behind her.
“But he came back.”
“How…?”
“Because you set me free.”
Splash!
A wave crashed hard against the wharf.
I turned my head, dazed.
“Wait. Could it be…?”
“Yes, Vanillin.”
Not a servant.
Rein Brennon smiled bitterly.
“I am the true Family Head of House Brennon.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————