The Unfilial Heir Who Tries to Kill Me Tempts Me - Chapter 9

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 9.

Munch, munch.
“Hmm.”
The basket that had been full of oranges was beginning to show its bottom.
“…I probably should have offered to help, shouldn’t I?”
Once my belly was reasonably full, doubt crept in.
The face of the farmer I’d encountered in the Orchard kept drifting through my mind—the one with dark circles down to his jaw, coughing relentlessly.
That was undoubtedly the work of Black Magic.
Some Black Magic caused damage merely by manifesting. For example, the sort of Corrupted Aura spreading beyond the Orchard that I’d seen earlier.
Working all day with only a fence between me and land where the corruption seeped up like fog—I’d absorbed no small amount of influence. I’d wager there were quite a few Domain folk in similar condition to that farmer. Some likely far worse off.
“That’s troublesome, though….”
I’d regenerated the land, but I couldn’t spend every moment wielding magic to grow trees and coax them into fruiting.
That was all Mana expenditure. Grueling Mana expenditure.
Which meant people like that farmer had to work themselves to the bone farming so I could freeload on fruit to my heart’s content.
“Yeah, I should do something about this.”
I finished the last orange and got to my feet.
Charlotte’s other specialty was Potion Crafting. The potions she created boasted unparalleled efficacy. No commercial potion in circulation could match Charlotte’s handiwork.
“Where was the alchemy lab again…”
If I remembered correctly, the alchemy lab in the Grand Duke’s Castle lay somewhere in the basement of the main keep.
I was retracing my steps down the basement corridor when I stopped short. A familiar silhouette appeared in the distance.
“Oh, come on.”
I hurriedly ducked behind a pillar. I peeked my head out to confirm the figure again. I wasn’t mistaken. Kaius, dressed in shirtsleeves, was walking toward me from the end of the corridor.
What’s he doing down here now?
The timing is absolutely rotten.
I squeezed myself back behind the pillar. There was nothing to gain from running into Kaius.
I’d just hide until he passed and then head out.
“And what exactly is this display? Playing at mice and men?”
“Eek!”
What?
When did he get here?
He was just over there a moment ago.
Kaius was leaning against the pillar, laughing—though I hadn’t seen him approach. His red lips curved upward in an amused smirk.
“…Good day to you?”
“Oh, so the little mouse can talk after all.”
Without thinking, I hunched my shoulders and shuffled sideways out of his way.
“What brings you this far into the lower levels, if I may ask?”
“That’s what I should be asking you.”
His gaze swept methodically over me, from the crown of my head to the tips of my toes.
“If you’re not a mouse, what in the world brings you to the basement of the main keep?”
My hair stood on end.
I know that look.
That’s his “calculating my threat level” look again.
“I’m really not here to do anything suspicious, I swear….”
“Then explain your purpose.”
He’s genuinely unsettling when he does that.
I hesitated for a moment.
My intentions were genuinely constructive, but I couldn’t tell Kaius my actual destination.
He’d definitely grow suspicious.
I forced the corners of my rigid mouth upward into an awkward smile.
“Just…a hobby, you know?”
“I see.”
Kaius nodded slowly.
“Barely a week since your exile from the Capital, and already you’ve found a new hobby in your Territory. Remarkable. I’m quite curious what this hobby of yours might be.”
He took a step closer.
“Shall we go together?”
“N-no?”
Have I lost my mind?
“Ah, did that sound like an invitation?”
Kaius drew closer with unmistakable intent, his long eyes curving into a pleasant smile. It was quite a feat, managing to radiate such a cheerful expression while simultaneously creating an unsettling atmosphere.
As I inched backward, I realized there was nowhere left to retreat, so I turned my head away.
“Um… aren’t you busy?”
“I’m free at the moment. I just apprehended a Black Mage I’d been pursuing. I came straight from locking him in the dungeons.”
Ah, I see.
“Lead the way.”
It was an ultimatum masquerading as a request.
Resigned to my fate, I began walking slowly forward. Kaius followed a few paces behind, his grin never wavering.
“To be honest, I do enjoy exploring. I don’t have any particular destination—I was simply sightseeing around the castle.”
“I see.”
“Mages tend to be naturally curious.”
“Mmm.”
He wasn’t even listening.
In a panic, I hurried up to the first floor and began wandering through various sections of the main building.
I opened and closed about twenty doors before circling through the corridors three times, but Kaius relentlessly pursued me throughout.
Once my excuses began to run dry, I turned back to face him.
“That really is all there is…”
“So your new hobby is poking around the estate?”
“More or less, yes?”
“And when exactly were you planning to visit the Potion Chamber?”
“Pardon?”
What?
“…You knew?”
Instead of answering my question, Kaius studied me carefully before responding.
“Well, the basement of the main building only has two passages—one to the dungeons and one to the Potion Chamber. Or were you headed to the dungeons instead? If so, I could arrange that right now…”
“No!”
The denial came out urgent.
At that, Kaius laughed with genuine amusement.
He’d known all along and had been toying with me. For the first time, I thought him utterly insufferable.
“Then lead on for real this time.”
He gestured with his chin.
Unable to help myself, I asked, “But aren’t you going to stop me?”
“Why would I?”
“…I’m going to make Magic Potions.”
“I know.”
Kaius smiled thinly.
“There’s no reason to stop you. If you’re caught doing something suspicious, that would be an excellent pretext for your execution.”
Of course. That made sense.
He’d anticipated my intentions all along.
How predictable.
“I won’t stop you. I already told you—if you wish, use Black Magic to your heart’s content.”
Kaius was practically encouraging me now.
My body trembled involuntarily.
I really needed to draft a contract soon—something magically notarized so he couldn’t back out of it.
But there was nothing I could do about it now. Even if I made excuses and left, Kaius would undoubtedly find a way to keep watch over me.
In the end, I headed to the Potion Chamber with Kaius clinging to me like a wart.
It wasn’t as though I was doing anything nefarious. Making some Magic Potions for the farmers’ health—there was no reason to feel self-conscious about that. I was confident.
As luck would have it, the Potion Chamber was empty. The servant in charge seemed to have stepped away.
“I’ll just borrow the space for a moment.”
The farmer’s condition was a form of Addiction Symptoms. So all I needed to do was mix an Antidote with a Mana-resistance tonic. Fortunately, while this Magic Potion required careful technique to craft, the ingredients themselves were common.
I gathered the necessary herbs while keeping an eye on Kaius.
Contrary to his aggressive entrance, he now seemed barely interested in me at all. He sat perched on the edge of a desk, arms crossed, quietly surveying the Potion Chamber.
Was he merely waiting for an opportunity to cut my throat? The man was absolutely insufferable.
“I’ve gathered everything.”
“Quick work.”
Kaius glanced at the basket of herbs in my arms.
“So what are you making?”
“You certainly ask fast.”
Since I had no desire to have my life threatened again, I answered straightforwardly.

“It’s something like an antidote. I noticed earlier that the people working in the Orchard have been exposed to Black Magic for quite a long time. I’m making this for them.”
“…You are?”
For the first time, doubt flickered across Kaius’s face. This time, I simply shrugged instead of readily confessing that it was all for the sake of my stable meals.
We fell silent for a moment, exchanging only glances.
Kaius stared at me intently, and I stared back at him just as intently.
When there was no hostility like this, he was truly striking and handsome—that hair black as ebony, those eyes gleaming like gold. He had a sharper impression than Fabian, which is probably why my gaze kept drifting to him.
My eyes lingered for a while on Kaius’s pallid complexion.
“What, suddenly finding me handsome?”
The man was uncanny.
“…Just wait a moment, please.”
I set down the basket and walked back into the center of the workshop.
I took the herbs I’d just gathered and pulled out several additional materials.
Kaius’s persistent gaze jabbed at my back.
This was unbearably awkward.
I had to hurry.
I combined the ingredients and ground them together, then brought them to a boil in a pot. When the mixture’s color began to shift, I poured Mana into it. A blue aura rippled outward, and the distilled liquid settled into a small vial.
The finished Magic Potion glowed a clear, pale violet.
I held it out to Kaius.
“Here, drink this.”

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