Never Mind the Heir, I’ll Focus on Healing - Chapter 80

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

Succession? I Have No Idea. Let’s Just Heal — Chapter 80

Lion felt a rare jolt of surprise.
Was this not how it was supposed to go?
Wasn’t this the usual way?

“In any case, I’m truly grateful! I’m certain Mudu will be delighted to hear such vivid news of his family’s well-being! Oh my, how inconsiderate of me to keep you so long. I shall organize my things at once!”
“Take your time. No rush. You’ve had quite the ordeal.”

Lion regained his composure instantly at Andrea’s words.

‘Well… she was happy, so that’s what matters, isn’t it?’

Even from Lion’s perspective, it was his first time seeing so many dwarves gathered in one place.
And since these were Mudu’s family, he could hardly send word by messenger with only a ring to show for it.
At minimum, he ought to know how they were faring, whether anyone was ill, what had transpired in his absence.
There had indeed been matters of consequence.
Beyond that, though—

‘I’ll admit, I wanted to indulge in a bit of romance myself.’

Stopping at an old tavern in the snow-blanketed Bydentis Territory, visiting a village where dwarves dwelt—that sort of thing.
To be honest, it was an experience he’d have undertaken even without the request.
It was something impossible during his time at the Asteri Family Estate.
Lion was satisfied.
That was enough.

“Shall we set out as soon as your preparations are complete?”
“…Yes. I’ll be ready shortly.”

Elvia, watching Lion deliberate with her fist clenched and shoulders trembling with suppressed laughter, left the room to make arrangements.
Soon afterward, Lion’s party was en route to where Clarentia resided—Bydentis Marquess Castle.

“Young Master. You ought to change into these clothes now.”

Lion changed into the garments Elvia provided.
After all, since he was entering House Bydentis as the eldest son of House Asteri, he had to observe proper decorum.
Yet…

“Isn’t this overdressed?”
“All the other young masters dress to this standard.”

Elvia promptly refuted his concern.
Was that… so?
Lion examined his own attire.
It was formal enough—no, actually more elaborate than what he wore at home.

“Really?”
“Yes.”

Slightly uncomfortable as it was, he had to endure it for propriety’s sake. It wouldn’t do to present a poor impression.
It would be brief, and after meeting the Marquess of Bydentis, he could change back into something more comfortable anyway.

“Chirp.”

Lion wasn’t the only one feeling uncomfortable.
Nature, accustomed to nesting in the pocket of Lion’s old clothes, seemed displeased that her new attire came without such a haven.

“Bear with it a little longer.”
“Hmph.”
“…….”

Didn’t you just make that sound with your beak a moment ago?
……Let’s just move past it.
It’s cute anyway.

‘Can this really be called growth?’

Nature had not grown in size at all since the moment Lion first summoned her.
Despite all the Spirit Water and Spirit Stones he’d been lavishing on her.
So the only way to recognize any development was through interactions like this.

“Chirp.”

Nature seemed displeased with her new nest, pecking at the thread several times as if to tear it loose before finally giving up and flopping down in a heap.

“Just be patient a little longer.”

After changing out of his armor, Lion spent some time relaxing with Nature, and then the carriage came to a stop.
A moment passed.

“Young master. We’ve arrived.”

Lion heard Elvia’s voice and descended from the carriage.
Then.

Thud!

The knight order stationed at the Marquess’s estate stamped their feet with crisp precision and lined up in formation, forming an honor guard along Lion’s path.
It was quite an exceptional courtesy to show to a mere knight, and not a nobleman at that.

“……Hm.”

Lion accepted the welcome gracefully and continued forward.
At the end of the path stood a frail-faced butler wearing thin-rimmed spectacles, who greeted Lion with proper courtesy.

“We warmly welcome you to House Bydentis, Lion of House Asteri. I am Jesper, the head butler. The weather grows cold—please allow me to show you inside.”

The butler, introducing himself as Jesper, gazed at Lion with eyes shining brightly.
His favor was unmistakable and open.

“Have I met this man before?”

He didn’t seem to recall doing anything noteworthy.

“No. This is our first meeting.”

Then why does he seem so pleased? Lion pondered this……

‘Come to think of it.’

Lion surveyed his surroundings.
There was one peculiar aspect to House Bydentis.
It was quiet.
No footsteps or rustling of clothing—sounds that would inevitably echo wherever many people gathered—could be heard at all.
As if Nature had muffled his ears when she was summoned.
In fact, no servants were visibly present either.

“…….”

The head butler noticed Lion’s confusion and dabbed his brow with a handkerchief.
If this had been any other house, perhaps—but for a fellow marquess like Lion, the sight was deeply unsettling.
Especially since this was none other than House Asteri, the renowned magical family!
They’d stationed servants in abundance, and the caliber of those servants was said to be exceptional.

‘What should I do…… Young Master mustn’t be put off.’

Jesper wiped cold sweat from his palms, his eyes darting anxiously.
His worry was considerable.
It wasn’t every day a peer his own age came to visit the castle.
And this was someone the Marquess himself had personally invited.
Lion Asteri!
The last thing he needed was for the young man to be frightened by the eerie atmosphere and leave early.

“I, well, we don’t currently have many servants managing the estate. Of course, we have more than enough to attend to our guests properly, so please don’t worry.”

That’s why Jesper offered his explanation with an air of apologetic deflection.

“Hmm? I see. Understood.”
…….

Jesper found himself disconcerted by Lion’s serene response—but in a different way.
It was because Lion Asteri’s reaction carried the unmistakable tone of someone unconcerned.
Could it be that he hadn’t heard the rumors circulating through the city at all? Jesper fixed his gaze on Lion’s violet eyes to assess him—
—and caught himself.
Realizing his rudeness, he hurriedly looked away, fixing his attention straight ahead.
The House Asteri’s distinctive violet eyes, which seemed to pierce through all things, remained perfectly composed.

‘So this is the bearing one must possess…’

…to be worthy of standing beside the young lady, or rather, the Marquess.

‘If this visit could deepen the bonds between him and the Marquess…’

Thinking that the Marquess himself wouldn’t bother with such details, it fell to Jesper as head butler to make the effort. He pushed open the doors to the Reception Hall.

“This is the Reception Hall.”
“Ah.”
“Please enjoy some refreshments while I bring the Marquess.”

Lion nodded and took his seat.

Click.

The moment the door closed.

“The young butler works hard, doesn’t he.”

Elvia murmured approvingly to herself.

“Hm?”
“He’s hardly skilled enough to have risen to head butler. He seems timid, too. But his loyalty to the Family Head appears to be remarkable.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. At least he won’t do anything reckless.”

In any case, it meant they could trust him to some degree.
Lion rose from his seat and surveyed his surroundings.
The few elite servants who remained had evidently made an effort—the estate itself was maintained in meticulous order.
Yet that seemed to be the extent of what they could manage.
Lion examined the curtains and carpet that seemed to have hung there for quite some time, then returned to his seat.

“The shortage of servants must be due to the succession issue?”
“The fact that the stench of blood has yet to fully leave the estate suggests as much.”
…Hic!”

Andrea startled and hiccupped.
She’d been trying her best not to hear talk like this, but the word “blood” had caught her off guard.
Lion soothed Andrea while sipping the tea placed before him.

“It’s all right. You’ll be safe now.”

Though the castle had a barren, cold atmosphere, the tea was warm and gentle.
It seemed the few remaining servants, despite their small number, held Clarentia in considerable regard and concern.

“Is, is that so?”
“Yes. So make yourself comfortable.”
“If you say so, sir, then I understand.”

Just as Andrea, having let out a quiet sigh, was about to bite into a dainty sword-shaped cookie following Lion’s lead—

…

Clarentia appeared right in front of them.

“What?”

Startled by the sudden arrival, Andrea glanced toward the entrance.
The door was still closed.
Instead—

The window flew open.

It stood wide.

‘How on earth…did she manage that?’

It was well known that the Marquess of Bydentis’s swordsmanship was exceptional, but to an ordinary person’s eye, the situation defied comprehension.
After all, this reception hall was positioned quite high up.
Even without considering the height, she had never imagined the Swordmaster would make her entrance through a window.
Yet the Marquess looked about with an impassive expression.
She appeared to be searching for something.

‘Oh! This is no time for that!’

Andrea snapped to attention and rose to offer a proper noble’s bow.

“Marquess Bydentis, I am honored to receive you!”

The Marquess nodded and strode forward, then asked without preamble.

“Where are the clothes?”
“Yes, yes. Please, just a moment.”

Andrea scrambled to her feet and fetched the garments.
For an ordinary person, this would be normal.
Andrea’s heightened tension was not unwarranted.
Clarentia Bydentis carried numerous titles.
The most exalted of all who bore that name.
The one who had ended the Purge of Blood.
Of course, if it were just these flattering epithets, Andrea wouldn’t have been so afraid.
A slaughterer drunk on blood, one who gained power through a pact with Demons and lost the capacity to feel.
Beyond that, there were countless other crude insults and nicknames.
By reputation alone, the assessment came perilously close to entirely unfavorable.
And yet House Bydentis endured, unshaken.
The reason was simple: Clarentia’s ability.
After ending the Purge of Blood, she’d restored the tottering family to its feet in a matter of months.
And that wasn’t all—though it had never been officially confirmed, rumors abounded that she had approached the rank of Swordmaster.
No matter how young she was, no matter that she was a marquess who’d butchered her own kin, she had ascended to a transcendent station beyond anyone’s reach.
Which meant Andrea had no choice but to tread with such care.

“You’ve arrived, Marquess.”

Lion rose from his seat without concern and offered a light greeting.
The Marquess of Bydentis regarded him intently before asking.

“You haven’t disguised yourself today?”
“There’s no need for disguise anymore, is there? I’ve come to the safest place there is.”
“I see.”

Clarentia nodded in understanding and came to sit.
And in that moment.

“My apologies, Marquess. You weren’t quite ready yet—ah, Marquess—!”

Jesper hurried back in with quick steps and came to stand before the Marquess.
He began making excuses at once.

“I’m afraid I was slow, and you came straight away without even time to change your clothes. I’m terribly sorry, but might you have a moment to put on fresh attire?”

Lion found nothing amiss, but the butler seemed acutely aware of something.

‘Now that I think about it, the clothes…’

She’d come straight from training—not in a dress or formal coat, but in her practice robes.

‘They’re rather stained.’

The servants had clearly done their best to clean them, but those were unmistakably bloodstains.
Perhaps she’d worn these robes on that day of the Purge of Blood.

“M-Marquess? Allow me to attend you.”

Knowing all this, it was natural the butler would be nervous.
Still, it was rather pitiful to see him sweating so profusely.
Lion set down the cookie he’d been eating and offered a word to help.

“It seems the Marquess came just as she was, without waiting for fresh clothes. Well, since we’re at it, why not try on something new?”
“Very well, I shall.”

Before the butler could protest, Clarentia accepted Lion’s suggestion.
But then…
Wasn’t the butler’s face growing even paler?

‘Is this not it?’

In an instant.
The Marquess Clarentia casually stripped off her training robe.

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