Chapter 59: The Devil’s Contract (4)

How he shows up in the most timely manner is beyond me, but seriously, kudos to this guy. He never fails to impress me.

Lloyd smiled in satisfaction. Sir Curno had just barged into the reception room on time and stopped the viscount from signing the contract. Thanks to his interruption, Lloyd was able to recall one fact he had been forgetting all along.

Ah, that prick has been getting under my skin for a while now.

It probably started when they first met, when the construction for the Maritz Wetland was in full swing. Lloyd recalled the knight’s impertinent attitude as he came escorting his viscount. That was just the beginning. He later relayed the viscount’s threat to dump toxic wastewater and his rude attitude that showed zero respect for the neighboring lord. Lloyd did not forget a single act of his. He had buried these feelings deep in his heart.

It’s only natural. Why would I forget about a grudge?

Lloyd lived by a simple yet powerful principle: to cherish and remember every grand gesture of kindness, yet always stand ready to counter even the smallest acts of misfortune with resilience. Just in time, Sir Curno, the thorn in Lloyd’s eyes, appeared in front of him. The knight even managed to bring back all the unpleasant memories of the past. As such, Lloyd had no reason not to welcome him.

“Hey,” Lloyd said. He flashed a smile at Sir Curno and even waved his hand.

“What brings you here? Are you here to witness the contract?”

“Ridiculous,” Sir Curno retorted, and his gaze toward Lloyd grew solemn.

“I heard everything from outside the door. How you mocked and held my viscount in contempt, Lloyd Frontera.”

“You eavesdropped?”

“I heard you,” Sir Curno corrected.

“That’s the same as eavesdropping.”

“Anyway, did you just say that I held your viscount in contempt by coming here? Do you really think that way?”

“Certainly.”

A deep set of wrinkles formed on Sir Curno’s nose.

“You used the Laconata cloth, our fiefdom’s specialty product and biggest source of income, to threaten my lord. Moreover, in order to satisfy your desire, you shoved the unfair contract onto him. If this is not contempt, what else would be?”

“If this is not contempt,” Lloyd mulled, “ Maybe I should call it a threat, just like the thing you all did to us the last time.”

Lloyd’s gaze quickly traveled to the viscount, who flinched. A sneer appeared on Lloyd’s face.

“I’m holding the viscount in contempt? I had no idea. I was just doing the exact thing you people did to our baron the last time. Are we not allowed to act this way?”

“What are you saying…”

“You used the river, the biggest lifeline and most important source of water to my fiefdom, to threaten the baron in this same manner. You demanded that he give you half of the Maritz Wetland. That was the deal, you said.”

Sir Curno didn’t say anything.

“You know, I was impressed. I thought, wow, that’s how you strike a deal! That’s the way to succeed in life! Right, this is the generous and heartwarming trade you should make with your neighbors! That’s what I learned.”

“So I am doing exactly the same thing.”

“Why? Am I not allowed to?” Lloyd tilted his head sideways.

Sir Curno, who was dumbstruck, gritted his teeth.

How can he respond back so quickly…?

Sir Curno found himself without an answer. Of course, he knew very well that what the viscount did to the barony was an obvious act of blackmail. It was truly over the line.

The viscount is my lord, the person to whom I swore my allegiance for life. So I don’t make moral judgments and consider if his actions are right. I simply act as a trustworthy sword and protect him!

It was the same right now. Lloyd Frontera was threatening his viscount, forcing him to enter a deal that was disadvantageous on their part. It didn’t matter in the slightest that he had blackmailed the barony. The only justice for Sir Curno lay in the viscount’s power and fortune.

So I must stop him. I must ensure that the lord does not enter this wrongful contract.

Sir Curno had heard the entire conversation just outside the reception room. He had heard the tricks Lloyd pulled to mock the viscount, the way he pushed forward the wrongful contract in the end, and how viciously high the water bill was. He had heard and understood everything that was said. He became keenly aware of one thing: I must block the contract come hell or high water. That contract was a sharp and massive straw the Frontera barony was sticking into the viscounty to slurp all its resources. Once it got stuck, it would be impossible to remove. Thus, the viscounty would economically be shackled to the barony well in the future. A large portion of the profit the viscounty earned from the Laconata fabric would be continuously taken away.

Moreover, that’s not the end of it.

The viscounty would be incapable of producing the Laconata fabric without the water provided by the barony’s water supply system. That meant even if the barony unilaterally raised the water bill in the future, the viscount wouldn’t be left with any other choice but to agree. The Laconata cloth would be held hostage. Realizing the viscount was on the brink of signing the papers, Sir Curno, driven by urgency, forcefully pushed the door open to make his entrance into the room. He could get reprimanded by the lord later or receive harsher punishments for his interference. However, he had to stop the signing, even if it required him to behave impudently. It was this eagerness that put him into deep thought at the moment.

I can never win against him in an argument.

Sir Curno was not an eloquent speaker who was good at arguing. He was a man of action. However, he wanted to win this dispute. He wanted to use every means possible to drive Lloyd Frontera away. Thinking that it was the only way to serve the lord, Sir Curno sought ways to fight Lloyd.

And just then, an idea popped into his head.

I’m going with the method that suits me best.

He was a fighter. A fighter used swords, not words. That was an unchanging truth even at this very moment.

“Lloyd Frontera.”

Sir Curno lifted his head and glared at the young master.

“I, Lugno Curno, the son of Vargo Curno, formally request a duel with Lloyd Frontera, the successor to the Frontera family.”

He spoke with confidence. The room instantly became hushed. The viscount was struggling to figure out a way to stop his knight. Javier was watching the scene beside Lloyd, and Lloyd was standing opposite Sir Curno. They all clamped their mouths shut. The viscount looked terrified, Javier looked intrigued, and Lloyd furrowed his one eyebrow. Everyone stared at Sir Curno.

It worked.

Sir Curno smiled faintly. The request for a duel. This was the most powerful move he could make at the moment. It was also the most surefire plan.

Of course. That prick is a noble, after all.

Sir Curno was confident that Lloyd would not be able to turn it down. One of the greatest shame for a nobleman was avoiding a duel. Saying no was the same as announcing to the world that he was an unworthy coward. Sir Curno thought that Lloyd would be the same.

He’ll have his pride as a noble, so he’s going to accept it. He has no choice. Plus, I heard that he had already won against Sir Neumann before in a duel.

Just then, Sir Curno remembered the rumor. At first, he was shocked to hear it.

Though he wasn’t as good as me, Sir Neumann wasn’t an easy opponent. This brat had to have gotten confident after winning against him. There’s no chance that he will reject a request for a duel.

No, even if he was not confident, he would say yes nonetheless. Instead, he would send that youthful silver-haired knight to fight for him. Sir Curno expected that to happen. Thus. he planned on his next move. He would demand that vicious bastard nullify the contract if he won.

So take my request for the duel now…

“Hm. No thanks.”

Lloyd’s casual response rang aloud, tapping Sir Curno’s eardrums. Dumbfounded, Sir Curno blankly let out a noise.“Huh?”

“Didn’t you hear me? I said no,” repeated Lloyd.

“What…”

Sir Curno’s eyes enlarged. Lloyd looked at the knight with a sneer on his face. “Let me ask you one thing. Why should I take up your request for a duel?”

“Well, of course…”

“Because that’s the way to protect a noble’s honor? Are you a fool?”

Sir Curno didn’t answer.

“Why would I duel you right now?”

“But if you don’t accept it, you are…”

“An unworthy coward? Well, fine. I’ll be an unworthy coward then,” said Lloyd with nonchalance.

“What?”

“Didn’t you hear me? I said I would be an unworthy coward.”

“Goodness, you scare me. What’s wrong with this neighborhood? I try to strike a mutually constructive deal, and a knight barges into the room and challenges me to a sword fight?”

“Hey! Lloyd Frontera!”

“Eh? Why?”

“Accept my request for a duel!” bawled Sir Curno.

“I said no!” said Lloyd defiantly.

“But!”

“But what?”

Sir Curno couldn’t come up with anything to say.

“Is that how much you want to fight with me?” demanded Lloyd.

“Why are you acting so clingy? Do you have anxiety issues?”

“That’s because…”

“Stop being so dependent on others, okay? Buddha said it, too. Be your own lamp, seek no other refuge but yourself. So, mind your own business.”

“Never did I hear…”

“Just listen, man. This is the reason why you study when you are young. Haven’t you ever heard that the knowledge you acquire from books in your teenage years lasts a lifetime?”

“I knew the only thing you’d be good at is wielding some swords and nothing else. Tsk.”

“Wait, I…”

“So will you piss off now? I don’t think you’re understanding the current situation, so let me just spell it out. Your lord and I are having an important business meeting, and look how you put him in a difficult place. How so? It’s because if your lord doesn’t seal the deal now, he has to shut down his beloved Laconata dye workshop forever.”

“So, do know that your master will be more miserable the more you act like this. I don’t know if you know, but Bobby McFerrin once told us to not worry, to be happy. Know what that means?”

“I don’t know…”

“It means concerns about your money will make you unhappy,” interrupted Lloyd again.

“I’m telling you, the more you act like this, the unhappier your lord will become. Do you still not get what’s going on?”

Sir Curno was at an absolute loss of words. Lloyd’s sneer deepened. Once he had Sir Curno under control, he turned to the viscount. Cocking his head to the side, Lloyd asked, “Tell me you didn’t feel a slight ray of hope or anything like that in what your knight just did.”

“If you expected me to take the offer for the duel, then I am telling you to throw that thought away. It’s better for your mental health to let go of useless hope as soon as possible. So, let’s get back to business, shall we?”

Lloyd sat down and held out his hand. Lloyd tapped the contract paper on the table with his index finger. The place he had tapped was the last signature block. That was where the viscount stopped because of Sir Curno’s interference.

“Now, please sign it.”

As though he was a war victor forcing the losing country to sign a treaty, Lloyd patronizingly spoke with a smile on his face. The viscount, looking sour, grabbed his pen. His pen trembled as it moved toward the signature block. Perhaps, that was the reason why Sir Curno, who was treated like he wasn’t there, made up his mind to cross the line and take drastic action to prevent his lord from signing the contract.

How dare you! Anyone who holds my lord in contempt will never be left alone. Even if it means my knightley status is stripped off!

He clenched his teeth and glared at Lloyd, the foolish young master from the neighboring fiefdom, the man who sat with his back exposed as he forced a wrongful contract to the lord.

Now is the time!

Sir Curno was sure Lloyd would be caught off-guard. Sir Curno’s eyes flashed with ferocious animosity. His right hand moved and clutched the hilt of his long sword tucked into his waist. He then subtly lowered his body, shifting the center of his weight to the ground.

At the same time, he twisted his waist. All of the muscles on his upper body, abs, chest, shoulders, and arms, jerked to the right. A large sword was drawn out from its sheath on his left waist. He didn’t merely use his arm strength to pull the sword out, the sword was pulled by planting his muscular upper and lower torso against the ground. He demonstrated as much speed as he did strength.

The sword was stretched out the moment it drew from its sheath. The blade glinted sharply against the light, making a beeline toward Lloyd’s back.

Deep, but not enough to kill him! I shall slay just right!

He wanted to injure him just enough to keep him unconscious for days or keep him bedridden for months. He would shed blood to buy some time in order to stop the contract from being signed. Guided by such determination, Sir Curno’s sword violently swooshed against the air. However, just before it slayed Lloyd in the back, his blade was slashed in half.

Sir Curno snapped open his eyes. It happened in a matter of seconds, so he didn’t have any time to respond. Before he knew it, a sword blade flashed beside him. It slashed through his own sword in one stroke. The sliced blade twisted and flew in the air, brushing against his cheek before it plunged into the wall behind him. At the same time, Sir Curno heard someone put their sword down along with an icy warning.

“Next time, it will be your neck.”

Javier confidently put his sword back as if he did nothing. Though hazy, it just dawned on Sir Curno what just happened. His snapped sword, the wound on his cheek, and the sword shard stuck to the wall were all caused by Javier. Terror instinctively swept over his whole being, and just like that, Sir Curno wet his pants.