4. Doing Good Deeds Brings Good Fortune, Right?
“Sob, these evil privileged classes, how can this be so enjoyable?”
While inwardly cursing the luxury and corruption of the noble class, Yino elegantly enjoyed his dinner according to the original owner’s muscle memory.
Dinner was just steak, paired with some aged red wine.
But—
It was so delicious!
Yino swore he had never eaten such delicious steak in his life.
Rich in meat aroma, full of savory fat, melting in the mouth.
That ridiculously expensive so-called top-grade steak from the fancy restaurant he splurged on once in his previous life couldn’t even compare to wipe the plate clean!
Sob, how can anything taste this good?
I’m suddenly reluctant to give up this identity. What should I do?
“What’s the matter? Our little Yino seems very happy today.”
Across the table, an elegant and dignified woman gracefully wiped her mouth with a white napkin and smiled:
“Did something good happen?”
“Haha, he must be looking forward to tomorrow’s coming-of-age ceremony banquet.”
Beside the woman, sitting at the head position, a man with a lion’s mane-like beard and a naturally imposing appearance laughed:
“After all, that’s one of the most important banquets in Yino’s life.”
“…Yes, Father, Mother, I am indeed looking forward to it.”
Yino responded with a standard sunny smile, while silently staying alert.
These two before him were Yino Campbell’s birth parents.
One of the four great dukes of the Leopold Empire, Duke Longon Campbell, and his wife, the former daughter of a marquis, Noyas Campbell.
Although the Campbell family held a noble position, the male line had always been single-child. The Duke and Duchess Campbell also had only Yino as their son.
Naturally, they doted on him excessively.
In fact, Yino Campbell’s tragic fate was partly due to his parents’ excessive love.
But for that very reason, Yino had to be careful not to let his convenient parents discover anything unusual.
After all, he still needed to rely on this couple who loved their child excessively to plead for him. If the king didn’t issue a decree forgiving him and forbidding revenge, he might be hacked to death on the street by enemies the day after becoming a commoner.
But it turned out Yino was being overly cautious. The memories he had merged with the original, combined with the instincts this body had developed over sixteen years, meant his behavior wouldn’t reveal any flaws.
“Tomorrow my son will certainly be the most eye-catching figure at the banquet. I wonder how many noble girls will fall for him.”
The gentle and virtuous Noyas clasped her hands expectantly. In her eyes, her little Yino was the most perfect being.
“Haha, that won’t do. He has a fiancée. If Princess Selicia sees it, she’ll be jealous,” the usually serious Duke Campbell joked after drinking some wine.
“Hmph, I don’t like that Princess Selicia. She’s so cold. How is she worthy of our little Yino?”
“Well, if Princess Selicia isn’t worthy, then no one is. But I agree on one point: Yino, you can bring back several young ladies to branch out our Campbell family tree. I’ll handle His Majesty. Gulp gulp, I think with my son’s abilities, that should be easy, hahaha…”
“…”
Watching his convenient parents praise him, even thick-skinned Yino felt embarrassed.
Indeed, too heavy a love blinds people’s eyes, making them see only what they want to see.
Who was Princess Selicia? The Empire’s Third Princess, blessed by the gods as the Child of Pure White, also known as the Ice Witch, one of the candidates for the most beautiful woman in Ireland.
In the original story, Selicia had won a large following with her perfect appearance, cold demeanor, and warm heart beneath the ice—a gap moe. She was Yino’s favorite character. How could a stinking fish like him be worthy of her?
“If you can’t have it, don’t force it.”
“I’ll let everything follow its original course.”
“Selicia will fall in love with the protagonist and find true happiness.”
“Even as a humble blonde villain, I must survive!”
Yino once again firmly resolved.
…
After dinner, having said goodbye to the duke and duchess, Yino prepared to go out.
Just then, he bumped into a maid coming around the corner.
“Ah, I’m sorry, Young Master Yino… it was my carelessness…”
Tea spilled on Yino’s luxurious clothes, leaving large red stains. Seeing this, the maid immediately looked terrified. She panicked and took out a handkerchief to help Yino wipe it clean, but the tea stains became even more obvious.
The maid looked even more distressed and knelt down begging for mercy.
“Please spare me, Young Master Yino. I… I… I was just careless… It won’t happen again… Please don’t beat me or strip my clothes and throw me onto the street…”
“…”
Facing the maid who trembled like a sieve, Yino was speechless.
In your eyes, am I, Yino, really such a cruel, evil, and unreasonable person?
Well, yes, I am. If it were the original Yino Campbell, he might really do those things.
“It’s just a small problem, don’t worry about it. Please get up.”
Yino bent down and helped the kneeling maid to her feet.
“I won’t punish you.”
“Eh?”
The maid stood there stunned, seemingly unable to understand how the young master who would normally beat and scold servants could be so kind and merciful today.
Yino smiled slightly. His handsome smile made the maid somewhat dazed.
Of course he would be kind and merciful! He wasn’t the evil young master Yino anymore!
Besides, he was about to become a commoner, so Yino felt it was better to avoid making enemies at this point.
Especially knowing he might be cut into pieces.
Perhaps it was because of his evil deeds that a maid who could easily approach him harbored hatred and eventually took drastic action!
“By the way, are you alright?”
Yino looked at the maid, feeling something was off.
Despite being frightened, her cheeks remained rosy.
“Could you be sick?”
Yino suddenly placed his hand on the maid’s forehead. This action was so sudden that the maid couldn’t react and could only stand frozen like a stone.
“As I thought…”
Her forehead was burning hot.
The duke’s maids were always well-trained. She must be sick to make such a basic mistake.
Yino stared at the bewildered maid and asked sternly:
“Why aren’t you resting when you’re so sick?”
“Because… because tomorrow is your coming-of-age ceremony, Young Master, and the mansion is short-staffed…”
“You still shouldn’t work while sick!”
Yino scolded her seriously. But facing Yino’s scolding, the fear on the maid’s face disappeared. Her big eyes blinked, leaving only a “am I dreaming” kind of confusion.
“An.”
“Yes.”
“Arrange for her… what’s your name?”
“I… I’m Noel.”
“Hmm, arrange for Noel to rest.”
“Yes.”
An respectfully accepted the order.
“But Young Master Yino, Noel wasn’t lying. We are severely short-staffed for your coming-of-age ceremony tomorrow. Every maid in the mansion has her duties. If she rests, it may add much more work for other maids.”
“Then recruit people from outside. Is the grand duke’s mansion unable to afford more staff?”
“…Yes, I will relay this order to the head maid.”
An turned to leave. She needed to quickly relay this order to the head maid.
The banquet arrangements were coordinated by the head maid, and with the banquet tomorrow, such personnel changes should be communicated as soon as possible.
“Ah, by the way, An.”
“Is there anything else, Young Master Yino?”
“…Nevermind, it’s nothing. Go on with your duties.”
“…”
An showed a trace of confusion but quickly concealed it.
“Yes, then I’ll take my leave.”
“Phew.”
Watching An’s retreating figure, Yino let out a soft breath.
He had just called her back, intending to have her purchase the crucial item for the upcoming event—the drug.
After all, in the original book, An was the one who did this.
But on second thought, he decided against it.
Though not mentioned in the original book, as an accomplice in framing the princess, An would certainly face consequences and punishment.
But this time, this downfall would be his alone.
There was no need to involve another unrelated life.
“Sigh.”
Thinking of this, Yino couldn’t help but laugh self-mockingly:
“Who would have thought that I, who had never even killed a chicken in my life, would commit the evil act of drugging an innocent young lady?”
“But fortunately, this is an operation destined to fail.”