HOFRS 21

Chapter 21

“Mmmpf! Mmmph!”

The moment the man saw Vendia, he began thrashing violently. The rocking chair he was tied to tilted back and forth from the motion.

“…”

The strange sight left her momentarily speechless.

“…Is this bastard actually enjoying it?”

Ron scowled in disgust as he watched the man flailing in the chair.

“Mmmmph! Mmm!”

The man groaned persistently, even though no one could understand a word due to the gag over his mouth.

“Ugh, hey! Quit being annoying and lie still.”

Finally fed up, Ron kicked the rocking chair mercilessly, sending it toppling backward with a loud thunk.

“Mmmpf!”

The man’s feet flailed helplessly, pitifully twitching like a fish tail.

“Who is this? What’s going on?”

“He’s an intruder!”

Sasha shouted in response to Vendia’s question.

Only then did Vendia notice: Sasha was holding a frying pan, Chris had a broom, and Ron was empty-handed.

“…It wasn’t me.”

Ron raised his voice defensively when he saw Vendia glance at him.

“I didn’t say anything.”

“No, seriously. There’s no one I know this stupid. What kind of idiot gets knocked out by a frying pan the moment they break in?”

Vendia narrowed her eyes in suspicion and looked at Sasha.

“Tch. The pan’s all dented because of that guy.”

Sasha pouted down at the frying pan. Its once-flat bottom was now bulging upward.

That’s what you’re upset about…?

She couldn’t believe that was her main concern.

But that shock didn’t last long.

What was more surprising was this: it wasn’t the guard Chris who took the intruder down, nor the strong Ron—it was Sasha?

“Mmmmnph! Mmmph!”

Just then, the man flailing on the ground made a muffled sound. It was like he was trying to say something desperately.

“…‘I’m not an idiot’?”

When Vendia muttered her guess aloud, the man responded as if to confirm it.

“…”

That’s what you’re worried about right now?

All four of them looked down at the man with a collective expression of pity and disappointment.

“Sasha, what happened?”

“Well…”

According to Sasha’s summary, someone had broken into the house at night. Sensing danger, Sasha grabbed a frying pan from the kitchen, snuck up behind the man, and hit him square on the back of the head.

The man collapsed immediately. Unable to handle the situation alone, Sasha called Chris, and the two of them tied the man up in a chair in the yard.

Just to be safe, they had also thoroughly gagged him in case he caused a scene.

“Why were you out here, anyway?” Vendia asked Ron.

“He was creeping around like he was about to bury someone. Who wouldn’t come out to check?”

Which translated to: I saw something suspicious and thought it’d be fun to watch.

“Handle it yourselves. I’m going back.”

Apparently having lost interest, Ron turned around and walked back into the mansion without a backward glance.

“M-Mistress. Shall we bury him?”

Chris poked the squirming man with her broom and asked with innocent eyes.

She really said something that scary with that sweet face.

“We’re not burying him. First, we need to figure out if he acted alone or if someone sent him.”

“Ah, as expected of Lady Dia. Unlike some barbarian…”

Sasha clapped while subtly taking a jab at someone.

Before another fight could break out between them, Vendia walked over to the man still tied and lying on the ground.

He stared at her, eyes wide and wild.

“Who are you? Why did you break in?”

She crouched down and asked as she peeled off the magic gag tape from his mouth.

“Rose Ba—mmph!”

“….”

Without hesitation, Vendia slapped the tape back on.

“Let’s interrogate him.”

Later…

“Let’s throw him in the basement!”

“We don’t have a basement.”

“….”

Sasha’s suggestion died quickly, and she looked crestfallen.

“M-Mistress. What if we really buried him? The backyard is pretty spacious…”

“Chris, when you say things like that with your sweet face, people think you’re being serious.”

“I-I am seri—”

“Rejected.”

Chris deflated under the swift dismissal.

Vendia discussed with the others how to deal with the intruder, but they couldn’t come up with any good ideas.

By now, the sun had risen, and it was bright morning.

As she had suspected, the intruder had been hired by her family.

If Sasha hadn’t noticed him, Vendia likely would’ve been kidnapped and dragged away.

“Haah…”

She furrowed her brows, her head pounding.

They couldn’t kill the guy (murder was going too far), and they couldn’t hand him over to the authorities (he’d spill everything about her). Letting him go wasn’t an option either (her family would just send someone else).

She was stuck.

The man, who had been squirming and flailing, had now gone limp and was even dozing off.

Why does it feel like I’m having more trouble than the person who got caught?

It was absurd.

Vendia yanked the tape off the dozing man’s mouth with a loud rip.

“AAAHHH!”

He let out a scream, jolting fully awake.

Satisfied that he was now conscious, she gently stuck the tape back on.

“…”

“….”

Sasha and Chris quietly covered their own mouths.

Even after another long discussion, the three still hadn’t come to a conclusion by midday.

“Unnie!”

That’s when it happened.

A cheerful voice rang across the yard—a voice as bright as citrus—completely contrasting Vendia, who looked worn out from skipping breakfast and being in endless meetings.

Vendia lifted her half-lidded eyes.

Standing at the gate, waving wildly, was Yulize, who had just stepped off a stopped carriage.

“I heard there was no carriage, so I came myself!”

“Oh, right…”

Vendia had completely forgotten.

She was supposed to present the detailed blueprint for the “Second Line Revival Plan” to Yulize this afternoon.

She had even stayed up late last night working on it—just like the old days when she used to prepare presentation materials.

But this whole mess had made her forget.

“M-Mistress. Should I send her away?”

“No, it’s fine. Can you open the gate for her?”

Vendia shook her head.

Since the Marchioness was helping her keep secrets, perhaps Yulize might have an idea on how to handle this.

“Y-Yes!”

Chris quickly ran to the gate and opened it. Yulize entered with a bright smile—and then froze in place.

“Oh my goodness.”

Her eyes sparkled like starlight as she looked at Chris.

Chris, clearly uncomfortable, avoided her gaze, gave a small bow, and rushed back to Vendia.

Yulize, seemingly enchanted, followed Chris like a moth to a flame.

“Unnie! Who’s that angel-faced person…? Huh? What’s this?”

Still beaming, she had been about to ask more about Chris, but then spotted the intruder tied to the chair.

Vendia gave her a brief but clear explanation—that he was an intruder, and they were currently figuring out what to do with him.

“Oh, if that’s the case, should I take care of it?”

“You would?”

Vendia looked slightly hopeful. Perhaps Yulize had a good idea?

With a soft smile, Yulize rummaged through her pockets and pulled something out.

No way.

As the saying goes: “Never say never.” And indeed—

Yulize slipped on her familiar electric-shock gloves.

Her cheeks were flushed with innocent shyness, but her gloved right hand was clenched into a firm fist.

“One clean hit.”

“MMMPH!!”

The intruder flailed in terror, his face going white.

“….”

Speechless, Vendia simply closed her tired eyes.

For some reason, no one around her was ever normal.