When the Mid-Boss Villainous Noble Recalls Memories of a Past Life and Gains Game Knowledge. I Will Never Accept a Future Where I'm Called the Jealous Earl - Chapter 25

“………..”

The discomfort I felt now was worse than when I treated Namis and sensed Noll’s unease.

As odd as it might sound coming from me, I trusted the Dikaman family’s servants.

Even when my own mistakes caused a reduction in their wages, these loyal individuals remained by my side, supporting me despite my inexperience. To think that a traitor could be among them…

In the past, any infiltrators were dealt with alongside Bosco.

That time marked my first experience taking a life—ending the lives of those I had once trusted with my own hands.

Now, I might have to kill another I trust. That was likely the source of this discomfort.

“Bosco.”
“Yes.”

After seeing off the Duke’s carriage and returning to the estate, I called out to Bosco, who was already waiting for me.

It seemed he understood what needed to be done, his expression resigned and determined.

“We’ll root out the traitor.

Do not let this leave the estate. We don’t have time—prepare the plan and execute it by nightfall.”
“Understood, Lord Dikaman.”

Bosco only addressed me as “Lord Dikaman” when he had set aside personal feelings, fully focused on his role.

“Activate the anti-surveillance magic tools and make it harder for the traitor to contact the Duke. Also, conduct a sweep during the usual patrol to see if anyone’s acting suspiciously.”
“Understood. I’ll begin immediately.”

As Bosco left, I made my way to the study.

To think I’d have to suspect the very people who serve me…

If someone in the estate is leaking information to the Duke, it wouldn’t be an obvious culprit, and there’s a chance they’ve already fled.

If I include the magical apothecaries in the investigation, this will take even more time.

“Kakurekumanomi.”

Using the power of jealousy, I summoned a creature adept at stealth.

While they could patrol the estate, my experiments had shown they couldn’t follow highly detailed instructions.

“Command: Render anyone attempting to leave the Dikaman estate unconscious.”

When I had last used them to deal with one of the Duke’s spies, the command was: “Knock them unconscious without injury and bring them to me.”

The command was “bring them to me,” while “without injury” and “knock unconscious” were conditions.

I had learned that while the primary command was always fulfilled, adding too many conditions caused problems.

When issuing over five conditions, the success rate plummeted, especially if I deployed multiple creatures.

Even with just one creature, too many conditions often resulted in failure.

This time, the command was simple: “Render anyone attempting to leave the estate unconscious.” The condition is “attempting to leave the estate,” while the command is “render unconscious.”

There are about 20 creatures patrolling the estate and its surroundings. With only one condition, there should be no failures. Hopefully…

“But what’s the best approach?”

I briefly considered commanding all the creatures to bring the traitor directly to me. However, the lack of clarity around the conditions and the risk of being seen by the servants made this plan unviable.

Given the uncertainties, using jealousy’s power alone to uncover the traitor was impossible.

That leaves Bosco. I’ll have him focus on suspicious individuals while I conduct interviews with every servant in the estate…

No, if the traitor could be exposed that easily, they would have been eliminated during the last purge.

“Will I have to rely on Bosco again…?”

Even as the head of the household, depending entirely on a single servant—even one as loyal as Bosco—is not ideal.

At the very least, I need to devise one viable strategy before he returns.

As the Duke’s carriage rocked gently on its journey back to his estate, I reflected on my conversation with Lord Dikaman.

At a young age, he had taken on the responsibilities of the Dikaman family head, working hard to support his household.

Though earnest in his efforts, his inexperience left gaps that I, driven by my daughter’s infatuation, had shamelessly exploited.

But that transformation…

My thoughts were interrupted when a message arrived from the steward entrusted with overseeing the Duke’s estate.

“A report, I presume?

I’d forgotten all about it.”
‘Apologies for disturbing you when you’re likely tired.’
“No need to apologize.”
‘Then—’
“The Count was… terrifying.”

I cut him off, speaking my impression plainly.

Up until the meeting, I’d intended to negotiate for the resumption of his support. Not only to alleviate the burden on the Duke’s lands but also to improve the Count’s reputation in our territory for my daughter’s sake.

I had also planned to pressure him into agreeing to my daughter’s wish to annul the engagement, leveraging the weakness of his decision to harbor members of the Beltona family.

“…But Caril Dikaman feels like a king in the making. He possesses the same unidentifiable something as the ruler of this nation, the imperial emperor of a rival state, and the kingdom’s prime minister.”

Though I can’t explain it, every one of these individuals gives the distinct impression that something unknowable and incomprehensible is watching me.

I still don’t understand what it is, but I do know that they are all exceptional people.

‘That is…’
“After one glance, I changed my entire plan.

I intended to remain somewhat conciliatory while asserting my dominance by exploiting his weakness, but…”

Every aspect of my strategy crumbled. I resolved instead to aim for a better relationship with the Dikaman family, albeit with subtle intimidation.

“However, the Count knew that the Duke’s household was sheltering the descendant of the hero. He delivered a painful blow.”
‘How could he have known that?!’
“I don’t know how the information leaked.”
‘I will begin an immediate investigation into the Duke’s household. It’s possible a spy has infiltrated us.’

Though the steward spoke of spies, I doubted any existed within the Duke’s estate.

Even if there were, it’s impossible they would know the descendant’s lineage. Not even the individual in question is aware, and only I, the steward, and my daughter know the truth.

Investigating further, given the Count’s newfound acuity, would likely be too late.

“My apologies, but I need to think. I’ll contact you later.”
‘Understood.’

I was exhausted. Though I wanted nothing more than to rest, there were too many problems to address.

The Duke’s estate needed funds, the Count’s reputation needed repair, and I needed to persuade my daughter…

“Perhaps I’ve been too lenient.”

As others often remarked, I doted on my daughter.

Still, I had taught her the responsibilities of a noble, particularly the importance of marriage alliances. Even if she didn’t fully understand it yet, I had spoken to her about it multiple times.

I had hoped she would eventually come to understand. Yet, instead of reconciling with the Count, she had fallen for the young man spending time with her.

I should have discussed this with her more seriously. Thinking of the Dikaman family as “just a Count’s household,” I had prioritized my daughter’s feelings.

In hindsight, that was a mistake.

“Now I’m left with regret…

I’m sorry, Karna. It seems I’ve made another mistake.”

A vision of my late wife’s smiling face came to mind—a smile lost because of me.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was about to lose someone important again.