Fragments of the document fluttered over Gwyn’s head like snowflakes.

“Is your ambition so light? To think that, with your abilities, you would only run a store for empty-headed women.”

Cedric, tearing the business plan into shreds, thoroughly emptied his hand. Then, lowering his posture, he locked eyes with Gwyn.

“I won’t waste many words. Return as Viscount Wence.”

Cedric, with a stern gaze, quietly uttered while not even considering helping the fallen Gwyn to his feet.

“…How can I, who has already been abandoned by my master, return as Viscount Wence? Besides, I have already rejected Sir Cedric’s proposal once, haven’t I?”

Gwyn responded to Cedric’s words with a wry smile. Somehow, a sense of bitterness could be seen on his face.

It must have been because the past 30 years of loyalty to Viscount Wence made him reminisce about the time he spent.

Cedric’s eyebrows twitched at Gwyn’s words. He thought of Eric, who had cut down Gwyn at his own discretion, and let out a deep sigh.

“Well, I admit that you might be hurt.”

Cedric, pressing his throbbing forehead with a firm touch, continued speaking.

“But, it’s probably the work of someone who still doesn’t know anything. I’ll overlook the betrayal and misconduct you’ve committed so far. Come back now. I want to spend my remaining years comfortably. I never imagined that you, who refused my proposal, would be doing such things behind my back.”

This was a clear order.

Cedric stared coldly at Gwyn with frozen eyes.

Gwyn, who seemed to see through everything about Viscount Wence, the madness felt from his previous master, and even the smell of blood permeating his entire body.

He couldn’t help but notice that Cedric was plotting something unusual.

Yet, Gwyn considered it the duty of an employee to pretend not to see or hear what wasn’t explicitly stated.

Swallowing a dry saliva, Gwyn, with red eyes lined with veins, looked at Cedric.

‘If I refuse here… I might be killed.’

Even without saying it, he understood. Cedric’s mad gaze was sending a stern warning to Gwyn.

Gwyn, in the current situation, rolled his eyes anxiously.

He gritted his teeth as if crunching dry spit, then closed both eyes tightly.

“……I cannot do that.”

“What?”

Cedric felt as if he had been hit on the back of the head with a hammer at Gwyn’s words.

Refusing my proposal to be with someone like Rose and the like?
It was utterly absurd. Gwyn had not doubted that he would firmly grasp my hand.

“Now, I am a body serving a new master. It’s not Viscount Wence but Lady Rose de Cerviat.”

“Ha… Hahaha! Gwyn, you’ve truly gone mad?”

Cedric burst into laughter at Gwyn’s words.

Rather than feeling betrayed by Gwyn, he found it amusing that he was surpassed by Rose.

“Your words now… Do they sound like you’re declaring me as an enemy?”

Cedric’s chilling voice became like a blade, penetrating Gwyn’s ears.

If you’re not afraid of death, it’s a lie. Gwyn’s body trembled so uncontrollably that it seemed comical.

Gwyn was afraid.

He wanted to run away right now if he could.

However, his loyalty was now directed towards Rose.

Even if he had to die, he couldn’t stand by Cedric’s side with Rose.

Cedric silently looked at Gwyn, who was trembling all over.

They had been together for over 30 long years.

If it hadn’t been for Gwyn, it would have been impossible to revive the falling family.

Cedric turned his gaze away from Gwyn and approached the knight standing by his side. Then, he pulled out a long sword from his scabbard.

With a sharp sound, the sword’s blade revealed itself.

‘…Is this the end?’

The moment Gwyn saw the flashing blade, he sensed his own end. He closed his eyes as if accepting his death humbly.

Ki-eeek.

Cedric, dragging the sword on the ground, approached Gwyn. Then, he stopped abruptly in front of him.

Cedric looked at Gwyn, who was bowing deeply, and raised the hand holding the sword. Then, he boldly swung the sword towards Gwyn.

The blade flew towards Gwyn with the sound of the wind.

Gwyn, with closed eyes, waited for his death without feeling any pain.

However, something felt strange.

‘…Why don’t I feel any pain?’

Although he clearly heard the sound of the blade cutting through the wind, why couldn’t he feel any pain in his body?

Gwyn slowly lifted his eyelids. In his opened eyes, the cut ropes were visible.

Staring blankly at the cut ropes, Gwyn realized belatedly. Unlike before, he could move his body freely.

“Ugh…….”

Due to being bound in a specific posture for a long time, pain accompanied his movements. Gwyn struggled to stand up and stared at Cedric.

“Why… Why did you spare me?”

He initially thought he would be killed… Did Cedric, who had accumulated 30 years of affection, simply let him go? He looked at Cedric with a bewildered expression. Cedric, taking a step towards Gwyn, slowly reached out his hand.
Gwyn involuntarily flinched at Cedric’s touch. Cedric looked at Gwyn like that and grinned, then briskly brushed off the dust from his shoulders.

Cedric’s smiling eyes towards Gwyn were so chilling that it sent shivers down the spine.

“You… should have time to bid farewell to your wife.”

Gwyn stiffened on the spot at Cedric’s voice.

He realized that although he thought he had survived, Cedric would never let him live.

“For the past 30 years, there has been some affection. I can’t treat you without any affection. Say hello to Jecu for me.”

Cedric’s lively gaze pressured Gwyn all over. Cedric gestured to the knight behind Gwyn and gave an order.

“Take Gwyn home. Don’t forget to give him a bouquet of flowers on the way. I was bothered by the abandoned bouquet of flowers on the roadside.”

With a sneering smile towards Gwyn, Cedric continued speaking.

“It’s the last gift for your wife, so choose the biggest and most beautiful one.”

“Yes, understood.”

As soon as Cedric’s command was given, he began to drag Gwyn out.

“Oh, and it’s better not to think about running away. There’s nowhere my power can’t reach in the capital.”

Cedric threw a warning at Gwyn until the end and gestured towards the knight.

After Gwyn and the knight disappeared, Cedric, who was left alone, blinked his eyes with a cold gaze.

“This is my last courtesy, Gwyn.”

There was no need to keep a traitor alive. However, Cedric, who had aged and softened, wanted to show Gwyn the last mercy.

For him, Gwyn was one of the very fragile people whom he could kill anytime if he decided.

Cedric could kill him ten times, a hundred times.

However, this was nothing more than Cedric’s arrogance.

‘Life’ always tends to take unexpected turns.

Cedric had underestimated Gwyn too much.

It was not only Cedric who had courtesy.

Gwyn still couldn’t let go of his loyalty to his former master.

Did Cedric know? How foolish it was to turn the closest ally into an enemy.

With today’s events, Gwyn had finally let go of all his lingering affection for Cedric.

The shield that protected Cedric has turned into a blade that will now aim at his throat.