Chapter 72: Why Does Everyone Think I’m Stabbing People? (Review Bonus)

Chapter 72. Why Does Everyone Think I’m Stabbing People? (Review Bonus)

Morning came.

I opened my eyes and, once again...

Empty.

Yup.

Lily was already gone.

I remained on my back for several seconds, staring at the ceiling while my brain slowly crawled back into consciousness. Then I stretched one arm toward the other side of the mattress.

Nothing.

My palm landed on cold sheets.

Cold.

Meaning she’d probably left quite some time ago.

There was, however, one rather embarrassing trace left from last night. A small dried bloodstain on the bedsheet from Lily’s first time.

I remembered what happened after Ariel and I spent our first night together. Somehow, several servants had concluded that the terrifying cursed Royal Magus had done something horrible to his own wife.

Admittedly, finding blood on someone’s bed when the owner already had a reputation involving madness and occasional forbidden magic probably didn’t encourage charitable interpretations.

Now there was blood again.

Different wife.

Same bed.

Maybe this would finally kill that ridiculous misunderstanding.

Two wives leaving my room perfectly healthy should establish a pattern, right?

Surely.

I sat up and stretched.

My shoulders rolled smoothly. No sharp pain.

I twisted my torso slightly. Nothing.

I actually felt good.

The aches from yesterday were gone.

Garr’s fortress-breaking nonsense had rattled practically every bone in my body, and even after using Abyssal Reinforcement, I’d expected at least another day of soreness.

Lily’s medicine worked remarkably well.

I’d have to ask what she put in it.

Preferably before my researcher brain decided to steal the recipe and improve it without permission.

I glanced toward the window.

Bright sunlight poured through the curtains.

I frowned.

Was the sun particularly harsh today?

I climbed from bed, walked toward the window, pulled the curtain aside and stared...

The sun was already high.

Very high.

"...Oh."

That wasn’t morning sunlight.

That was noon.

I’d slept like a corpse.

That explained why my stomach felt like it was preparing a rebellion.

I washed up quickly, cleaned away the lingering sleepiness, fixed my hair, and put on something simple. Dark trousers, a loose shirt, nothing ceremonial.

Today I refused to look like a Royal Magus, I wanted to look like a man whose biggest responsibility was finding lunch.

I stepped into the corridor.

Two passing servants immediately noticed me.

They bowed. "Lord Rey."

"After—"

They hurried away.

I stopped.

My eye twitched.

Another maid appeared from a side corridor carrying folded towels.

She saw me.

Paused.

Bowed.

Then suddenly remembered somewhere else she desperately needed to exist.

She disappeared.

I stared after her.

Oh, come on. I didn’t bite.

And Lily hadn’t even been particularly loud last night compared to Ariel.

More importantly, I hadn’t shown any sign of madness for an entire week.

That had to count for something.

Apparently the household remained unconvinced.

"Whatever."

Food remained my first priority.

My researcher brain required calories.

I headed downstairs and entered the dining room, expecting it to be empty.

Instead, something was waiting at my usual seat.

A covered plate.

I approached suspiciously.

Considering my recent history, finding unexplained food waiting for me had become considerably less comforting than it should have been.

I lifted the cloth.

Fruit slices.

Pastries.

Some bread.

Nothing elaborate.

Apparently someone had anticipated that the sleeping corpse upstairs would eventually resurrect.

I sat down.

Pastries immediately after waking probably weren’t the greatest nutritional decision.

But my counterargument, I was hungry.

Also, Lily’s pastries were sitting right there.

I picked one up.

Research required sacrifices. Sometimes those sacrifices involved responsible breakfast choices.

I had barely taken my second bite when I noticed movement behind me.

A head peeked around the doorway.

Two fox ears appeared first.

Then eyes.

Then a familiar fluffy tail twitched behind the doorframe.

I chewed slowly. "Nia."

She stepped fully into the room. "You woke up at last."

"Apparently."

She walked toward me while I reached for a piece of fruit to create the illusion of nutritional responsibility.

"I slept like a dead man last night."

Nia’s tail swayed lazily. "You looked like one too when we checked."

I stopped chewing. "You checked?"

"Only through the door."

I narrowed my eyes.

She smiled innocently.

Suspicious fox.

"You guys already ate?"

Nia nodded and sat beside me. "Hours ago."

"What time is it?"

"It’s afternoon already."

I sighed and grabbed another pastry. "So everyone’s working already?"

"Mm-hm." She started counting on her fingers. "Liora went to check the mine this morning. She wants to know exactly how much crystal production we can safely redirect toward the accessories. Seris is checking the perimeter again," Nia continued. "After what happened yesterday, she’s restless."

That didn’t surprise me.

Seris’s response to attempted assassination appeared to be making absolutely certain assassination became physically impossible within several kilometers of our home.

I approved.

"Ariel is managing the estate expansion."

I paused halfway through another bite. "Already?"

Nia nodded. "We’ll need more workspace if we’re making accessories and perfume seriously. She also said we’ll need storage, another workshop, and somewhere for new soldiers to stay."

Right.

The king had given me permission to build my own force.

Which meant barracks. Training grounds. Storage. Security. Supplies. Salaries.

"And Lily?"

Nia’s mouth curved upward. "She’s making perfume samples."

I nearly choked.

Already?

The woman had spent last night...

Never mind.

I looked at Nia. "And you?"

She tilted her head. "My job was done yesterday."

Ah, right. Nia had already generated customer interest, tested demand, promoted the concept directly to nobles, and somehow used the queen’s flower-viewing invitation as an unofficial market survey.

The fox had performed an entire product launch before we technically had a product.

Respect.

"So," she continued brightly, scooting slightly closer, "I’m waiting here and accompanying you while you eat."

I nodded solemnly. "Important responsibility."

"Extremely."

I reached for another pastry.

That was when I noticed a servant standing near the entrance.

He took one step toward us.

Stopped.

Another.

Stopped again.

What was this?

A boss battle?

He looked like every meter closer to me required a successful courage check.

I swallowed. "Speak."

The servant straightened immediately. "My lord." He hesitated.

Nia’s ears perked up. Bad sign. Whenever those ears moved like that, entertainment was approaching.

The servant cleared his throat. "May I ask where the dagger you used last night is?"

My hand froze over the plate. "...What dagger?"

The servant looked confused. "The dagger, my lord."

"Why do you think I used a dagger last night?"

His expression became increasingly uncomfortable. "The servants changing your bedsheets found some dried blood. So we thought perhaps you had used a dagger to... calm yourself again."

I held my cringe. "What?!"

The poor man visibly regretted being born.

He rushed onward. "We only wished to clean it for you, my lord. If there is blood remaining on the blade, it could rust depending on the metal, and—"

"Stop."

He stopped.

I stared at him. My eye twitched.

Wait... They thought the blood was mine? Because they thought I’d hurt myself.

Okay, Rey had done that before. Several times, actually.

So it made sense.

Still...

My brain took several seconds to process this magnificent stupidity.

Somehow, despite an entire week of behaving reasonably, my reputation had found a new route downhill.

At this rate, I didn’t need enemies to ruin my reputation.

Rey Valen had already done such an excellent job that even reincarnation couldn’t fix it.

Wonderful.

I inherited his body, his curse, his wives... and apparently his collection of questionable rumours.

Before I could mourn my social standing any further, footsteps approached from the corridor.

Mira entered the dining room.

Unlike the servant who was still standing there looking like he’d accidentally questioned a serial killer about his private life, Mira walked straight toward the table without hesitation. She stopped a few steps away and bowed deeply.

"My Lord."

I lowered the pastry in my hand.

Mira raised her eyes. "I have news from the Light Temple, My Lord."