The Young Master's Dilemma: I ended up as the villain

Chapter 9: Domain¹

"Get out."

And so I was summoned for no reason and then thrown out for no reason.

Honestly, I’m really starting to suspect that the Duke is suffering from a split personality. fгeewebnovёl.com

I let out a soft sigh as I descended the long stone steps leading to the castle’s inner corridors.

Cold...

Given that I was still in my pyjamas, the cold seeped into my bones. I’d better go back to my room to put on something proper, and I completely ignored the Duke’s

Like a good but neglected child, I’d learnt long ago not to let the cold father’s bullying get to me, so in fact I was in a good mood now.

As I walked, unlike the huge entourage I’d had when I arrived, on my return there was anyone but Caio following me quietly.

I noticed one of the maids looking very busy atop the mobile iron ladder, cleaning above the window with intense concentration.

Is she a new maid? She looks nice... I mean, since when do maids style their hair in pigtails?

We were almost right beside her, and just before we passed her, I gave the ladder a light kick. It tipped over, and the poor maid let out a soft cry as she fell straight into the arms of my servant, who stood looking at me coldly whilst he kicked the ladder away with his foot.

"Young master, please watch your step."

I smiled at him without a word as I took two steps back towards him, then looked at the wretched maid who was trembling... Well, it’s hard to say why—is she trembling from the mere gaze of the outcast son, or because a man is holding her in his arms?

Hmm, she’s pretty: pale skin with cute freckles, big blue eyes that look like a pitiful puppy’s, and short, curly red hair styled pigtails. Judging by her small stature, slender frame and the faint dark circles under her eyes, it seems the other maids really do bully her

No matter how I look at her, is she that legendary maid from the romance novels, the one the other maids bully but who catches the eye of the Duke or future Duke, melts his cold heart, and makes him obsessed with her, so he starts bullying the servants to get justice for her?

Is this my brother’s future wife?

I raised my head and looked at my servant thoughtfully for a moment

Yes, that’s right

Judging by how he’s trying to hide his frown... yes, that’s right... I love that expression, as if he’s suffering from constipation,

Shall I try?

"You know it’s shameful for a man to toy with a beautiful lady’s heart. You’re not that sort of shameful man, are you, Caio?"

"I’m forty years old, young master. I’m not the sort to bother a girl my daughter’s age. Please stop playing games."

Amazing... a direct rejection. She really does have the aura of a main character in a romance novel.

Because I know this servant of mine is a liar; he’s thirty, not forty, even though he insists he’s forty for some reason!

Now, where were we...

I signalled to him to leave my sister-in-law... I mean the young maid who curtsied to me and then ran off

Cute...

I’m interested. Although I’m not usually one for reading romance novels, I have no problem watching one... I’ll give orders later to send her to Cassian’s servants team.

Now, perhaps it would be best to choose a new novel; The west garden would be good at this time, so

"Tell the servants to prepare some pastries and get the west garden ready for me," I ordered Caio.

"What activity do you intend to do, young master?"

"Reading."

"Right away, young master."

"Oh, and bring me all the novels I haven’t read yet so I can choose from them."

"Have you finished *Crossing the Crimson River*, young master?"

"Hm..."

I noticed him gesturing to one of the maids to come closer, then he paused to give her instructions whilst I continued on my way to the West Garden.

But I stopped when I saw one of the servants of side Character No. 1 coming towards me, clearly intending to speak to me.

As for Uncle Amyas, for those who don’t know, he is the late Duke’s illegitimate son. Well, I don’t know if this is a common trait among illegitimate children or if it’s just that the illegitimate man in our household happens to be like this, but he is a rude man—so rude that the rudeness feels ashamed it wasn’t named Amyas.

and because of his insolence, one could say he is the man no noble in the Empire would wish to see him again after the first Meeting.

He mostly plays the hidden strong and wise old man side character, Well, although he doesn’t wander about drunk because the last time he did, he received a thousand lashes from the Duke for disrupting the castle’s order, he is truly strong—so strong it’s repulsive. But the problem is that his strength is literally useless, because it’s focused on the concept of striking your allies rather than your enemies.

But even a man like him has his uses, as you can see, because even if the Duke or even the Emperor were to fight him, it would be impossible for them to defeat him; rather, they would be beaten by his hands. So, naturally, he became responsible for managing the training hall, as well as recruiting and training talented individuals.

Naturally, it falls to him to train the Duke’s children; so if Uncle Amyas’s servant is here, it means the reason has something to do with training.

I frowned deeply; if there is any scoundrel in this house who can truly corner me, it is this scoundrel.

Because, quite simply, as long as he considers you his ally, he will always and forever remain stronger than you. The problem is that his very character is a problem in itself, for he will not hesitate to raise his fist at the slightest provocation.

So I sighed and resigned myself to my fate as the servant finally arrived and bowed before me.

"Fourth Young Master, lord Amyas has ordered me to deliver his request to you. Please proceed to the private training hall."

"Why?"

"The Young Master’s training in his domain is to resume."

Bah...

This is bad...

I scratched my nose with my fingers, trying to hide my annoyance, lest I blow this place up on them right now.

But I just sighed in resignation.

Since time immemorial... since we were actually five years old, we’ve learnt an important lesson in life:

Either you go to the training hall with your dignity intact when the time comes, or you’ll be dragged like a wretched sheep in front of all the servants and guards, stripped of your dignity by the eternal enemy of his allies, the old man Amyas.

So even though I didn’t like it, I headed for the private training hall