Even a Scoundrel Gets Tired – Chapter 5

—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
—————————————————————–

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

The day after Mother’s death, her funeral was held.

It was far more extravagant than I’d expected, grander than most noble funerals.

If not for the black attire of the mourners, it could have been mistaken for a small banquet.

It seemed they’d put on a good show, befitting a Duke’s wife.

Even though Mother was a commoner, a modest funeral would have invited gossip.

And the Duke, obsessed with his family’s reputation, wouldn’t allow that.

I didn’t cry much. I’d already shed all my tears the day before, soaking Mother’s clothes and causing the servants quite a bit of trouble.

“Hic… Madam…”

Ella, who had arrived too late yesterday, was an exception. She wept inconsolably, lamenting that she hadn’t been able to say goodbye. Her grief was contagious, and I found myself crying alongside her.

Mother had been particularly fond of Ella, treating her almost like a daughter because of our similar age.

After comforting Ella, I composed myself and straightened my clothes. I had to greet the guests.

“Such an elaborate funeral for a mere commoner…”

“The Duke must have cherished his wife dearly, haha…”

‘Bullshit.’

To others, the Duke’s actions might seem like those of a devoted husband, but knowing the truth, it was all a façade.

‘If they knew how few times the Duke visited Mother, they’d faint from shock.’

The Duke had barely stepped foot in Mother’s chambers since my birth. I didn’t know why. Mother’s beauty hadn’t faded.

Perhaps he felt she was no longer needed after producing a male heir. That thought infuriated me.

Mother yearned for him every day, yet he seemed to harbor no affection for her. She was merely a tool to produce an heir.

‘…’

I decided to remain silent for now. I didn’t know if the Duke had orchestrated this elaborate funeral for the sake of appearances, but a grand funeral for Mother wasn’t a bad thing.

“Oh, how heartbroken you must be.”

“Lady Sariel was such a good friend and a wonderful woman…”

“I agree… She was always so willing to listen to my troubles… sniffle!”

I was the chief mourner, her only son. Which meant I had to deal with the endless stream of people offering their condolences.

‘If she was your friend, you’d know my name.’

‘Why didn’t you ever visit such a dear friend?’

‘You say she listened to your troubles, but you clearly never listened to hers.’

Most of the attendees claimed to have known Mother, yet I’d never seen her with anyone other than the servants. She was too frail to leave her chambers, so no one, friend or otherwise, ever visited her, let alone offered comfort.

They were all lying. They were probably here to curry favor with the Duke. After all, he was Mother’s husband, at least in name. They probably thought a few crocodile tears would be enough.

‘Too bad for them. It’s about to rain, and they’ll all get soaked.’

I sneered inwardly.

The Duke wouldn’t show up. He’d been indifferent when informed of Mother’s death; why would he bother attending the funeral? There was nothing to gain from it.

As if proving my thoughts correct, the Duke didn’t appear during the first two days of the funeral. Even though it would be over tomorrow.

The guests were starting to look bewildered by his absence, and Ella was fuming, though she kept her criticisms quiet. I didn’t blame her. I wasn’t fond of him either. I resented him for neglecting Mother.

Finally, on the third day, the Duke and his family arrived. They all wore appropriately somber expressions.

“…”

I remained silent, not because I had nothing to say, but because I didn’t want to deal with them.

They hadn’t visited Mother once since she fell ill, only appearing now, three days after her death, to pay their respects to her cold body.

What could I possibly say to them? I was barely restraining myself from drawing my sword.

“…”

“…Jenison, I understand you’re grieving the loss of your mother, but you should at least greet your father—”

“…Your mother.”

Shouldn’t he call her his stepmother? At least if he acknowledged her as family.

“…Why that look? Did I say something wrong?”

“…No, Brother. Greetings, everyone.”

I gritted my teeth, suppressing my anger, and bowed to the Duke, then to his first wife, my brother, and finally, my sister, Aria.

I greeted them all as the chief mourner, then refused to engage in any further conversation.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

After the funeral, I made a decision.

It was time to leave this damned family.

I’d obeyed the Duke’s orders to protect Mother.

If I’d been strong enough to challenge him, things might have been different. But this young body was no match for the Duke, who was at the peak of his power. I’d endured everything for Mother’s sake.

And now, she was gone.

‘There’s no reason, no affection, no justification for me to stay here any longer.’

As I packed my belongings, a problem I hadn’t considered surfaced.

‘What will I do once I leave?’

There were plenty of options. I could use my past life experiences to become a mercenary, or I could embrace the talents marked on my hand and become an alchemist.

‘But…’

I had no real goal. In all my lives, I’d never truly been free.

And now, my tarnished reputation would hinder me. I was treated like a plague at the academy.

Thanks to the Duke’s orders, I was seen as a weak, talentless fool who relied solely on his family name.

If I left the family, the other students wouldn’t leave me alone.

‘But I can’t stay here and continue to be treated like this…’

I couldn’t bear it. It was humiliating to share a name with the Duke, the man who’d neglected Mother. The man who’d sent a single physician when she was ill, then acted as if he’d fulfilled his duty.

‘And everyone in this family reveres him.’

If you don’t like the temple, leave the monkhood, as the saying goes.

Yes, I would leave.

‘No matter what you do… I hope you reach the zenith.’

I finally had a purpose.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

The next morning, I woke up early and headed to the main house. It was just before breakfast, so the family would be gathering soon.

I hadn’t joined them for meals in years, so the servants flinched as I passed. I ignored them and continued on to the dining hall.

Clank, clank—

The heavy thud of my boots echoed through the opulent mansion. Only two people in this house wore boots: the Duke, and…

“…Jenison? What are you doing here so early?”

My brother, Allen Reinhardt. The prodigy who’d surpassed all his peers and joined the Knight Order at a young age, far exceeding the rank of near-knight. Considering that others his age were still struggling to reach that level, his talent was truly monstrous.

“…I’ve come for breakfast.”

“…Jenison, must we start our day with an argument?”

“…”

“…Ha, do as you please. I don’t care about you anymore.”

Click, clack—

The sound of heels followed Allen’s departure. Only a select few wore heels in this mansion. The servants certainly wouldn’t dare.

‘The first wife, or…’

“…”

My younger sister, Aria Reinhardt.

She descended the stairs, smoothing her black hair, glanced at me, then looked away.

She used to be close to me, but ever since the Duke’s order, she’d kept her distance. She didn’t despise or mistreat me like Allen; she simply ignored me.

‘Well, I’m used to it now.’

Thud, thud—

‘He’s here.’

The familiar sound of boots.

Kyle Reinhardt, my father, the head of this family.

He descended the stairs, his eyes briefly meeting mine. His head tilted slightly, as if he’d seen something out of place.

“Why are you here?”

“…I’ve come for breakfast.”

“…”

He must have been surprised. I hadn’t joined them for a meal in years, and now, after Mother’s death, I was suddenly changing my behavior.

It was bound to seem strange.

“…Very well. I trust you won’t cause any trouble on a day like this.”

‘He really sees me as a scoundrel, doesn’t he?’

It didn’t matter. I wouldn’t be a member of this family much longer.

The first wife arrived, and everyone took their seats at the table. As the servants began setting out the food…

“Duke.”

“…Yes?”

“I’m leaving the family.”

I dropped the bomb.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

Less than an hour after Jenison’s declaration, two uninvited guests arrived at his room.

“He’s already gone?!”

“Yes.”

Unaware that they were too late.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇