When I Finished Playing the Terminally-Ill Villainous Omega C17

Chapter 17

Having memories of my previous life was remarkably convenient in moments like this.

“I can roughly guess what my brother told you. He must’ve promised you a fine position once everything was over.”

“How could a knight possibly be blinded by greed and power? I act solely for the sake of House Hestian…”

“That Hestian name was granted to me as well, you know.”

When the Count and his wife were absent, the responsibility of managing the estate passed to the eldest son. But what happened when even the eldest left the house? In that case, I too had the authority to punish the household staff as circumstances demanded.

“I apologize, young master. This is also meant to protect you. No matter what you say, I cannot step aside.”

“I never ordered you to protect me. So move.”

“My apologies.”

When I tried to force my way through, he didn’t respond with words this time—only raised his blade more firmly.

In my past life, I had been relieved that I wasn’t the family head. Navigating the unfamiliar world of nobility was burdensome enough; I had never wished to shoulder a heavy lineage atop that. Besides, someone else was so desperate to claim the title—why bother?

But just now, I realized something: in a feudal society, a noble who failed to seize the heirship was treated as nothing. That cold societal truth lodged itself quietly into my mind.

“You call this protection? I happen to see it rather differently.”

“……”

“What you’re really thinking is that I’m destined to disappear from this house sooner or later, right?”

The knight said nothing, but silence was an answer of its own.

I stared him down and declared in a steady voice,

“You’re wrong. I’m not disappearing.”

Then I grabbed the blade barring my path. The sharp metal split my skin, and crimson drops fell one by one to the floor.

“Young master Cedric!”

“Now—are you feeling a little more inclined to step aside? Or shall we stay like this until my father returns?”

The knight trembled, too terrified to withdraw his blade. If he pulled it back carelessly, he might injure my hand even more.

Even if I possessed no real power yet, I was still the son of the Hestian count.

“I—I never intended to harm you! I drew my sword because you—!”

“If you hadn’t drawn your sword against me in the first place, I wouldn’t have had anything to grab. So? Have you changed your mind? You don’t want a fuss either. You’ve got a family to feed, don’t you?”

“If I step aside, that family may starve. I would be punished for disobeying an order.”

“You really don’t see the whole picture, do you?”

“…Pardon?”

“If the man inside is proven not to be a dangerous criminal, then my dear brother—the one who ordered his confinement—will face severe punishment from Father. As you know, Father and Mother despise when innocent servants are mistreated.”

“T-that is true, but…”

“But there is one way for my brother to avoid punishment. Exactly one. And the brother I know would immediately put that method into action.”

“…What method, young master?”

“To kill everyone who knows whom he imprisoned.”

The knight’s face drained of all color. Anyone who had served Cedric long enough would know—Cassian was perfectly capable of such cruelty.

I promised the knight that if he stepped aside now, I would not hold him accountable. And should trouble arise, I would do everything in my power to shield him from Cassian’s retaliation.

In the end, the knight had no choice but to hand me the key to the cell and step out of the way.

Creak—

As I pushed open the old iron door, a musty smell filled the air. My worry for Locke overwhelmed any hesitation; I rushed inside the solitary cell.

“Locke!”

He lifted his head—bound hand and foot, soaked cloak clinging to him. The torchlight spilling through the open door flickered in his eyes.

“Let me see!”

Before my regression, the back of his neck had borne the burn of the family’s seal—another atrocity committed by Cassian. The memory struck me the moment I saw him locked up, and without hesitation I hurried over, pushing aside his hood and brushing his hair away.

“Have you lost your mind? What are you doing—?!”

Locke flailed his arms as if swatting away an insect, making it difficult to see his nape clearly. Without thinking, I smacked his forearm like one scolding a younger brother.

“Hold still, will you?”

His neck was pale—clean. No injuries, no brand. Since it was daytime, perhaps they had not begun torture yet; if he screamed, servants might hear. It was fortunate, but once night fell, they might move him somewhere more secret to harm him. Which meant I needed to hide him as soon as possible.

“…Thank goodness.”

Relief washed over me so intensely my knees gave way. I collapsed onto the filthy prison floor—noble or not, I didn’t care.

A strong hand clamped around my wrist, twisting as if to break it.

“Ow—ow! It hurts!”

Only then did I recall the audacity of what my hands had just done. I gasped and pulled my hand back, lowering my gaze under his cold stare.

“I—I only checked because I thought Cassian might’ve hurt you. I didn’t mean anything bad.”

“I thought something was actually on my neck, you know.”

“There—there’s nothing there! Anyway… this is my fault, right? I’m sorry. You could’ve just left me. People would’ve found me the next morning once they realized I was missing…”

“Hah.”

Locke stared at me, eyes narrowing into thin slits before he let out a soft, incredulous laugh.

“You asked me for a chance, and you’ve already forgotten? I was curious, you see. How the young master who tormented me for over a year planned to treat me ‘well.’”

Of course I hadn’t forgotten what I said. I just hadn’t expected him to actually listen—much less act on it. If he had truly come back to the mansion because of that, then everything I had done so far hadn’t been in vain.

“Really? You really came because of what I said? You actually came to give me a chance?”

Overwhelmed, eyes stinging with emotion, I grabbed both his hands tightly.

“Thank you. I swear I’ll keep my promise. I’ll do my best—really, truly!”

Locke, visibly uncomfortable, tried to pull his hands away. I clung on harder and beamed; he finally sighed and relaxed his arms.

Overjoyed, I immediately launched into all the ways I planned to treat him better.

“So first, I thought about it carefully… I think the difference in our status makes you uncomfortable around me.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. That’s why you didn’t accept the oranges I gave you, or why asking you to take my side probably felt burdensome. So from now on, how about treating me like a normal peer? We should break down the wall between us. We can be true supporters of each other—or better yet, let’s be friends. I think that’s even nicer.”

“Isn’t the difference in our status a bit too large to break? How am I supposed to treat a noble young master as a friend?”

I glanced around, then leaned a little closer to him. Lowering my voice, I whispered into his ear,

“You know I experienced awakening fever, right? Meaning—I am someone who will awaken.”

“I’m listening.”

Somehow, it felt like I was pitching a proposal to a superior.

“W-well… as long as I survive until my awakening, I’ll definitely become the family head. And once I do, I’ll have the authority to appoint key positions. I was planning to give you a high-ranking post. No one will dare complain if we’re close then.”

“And when might this awakening be? You’re asking me to stick my neck out and wait indefinitely?”

“No, no! That’s why I’m saying this—at least when it’s just the two of us, how about we act comfortably with each other?”

“Only when it’s the two of us…”

Hmm. Locke stroked his sharp jawline, thinking.

“Why? You don’t like it? Is it a bad idea?”

“It’s that phrase—‘just the two of us.’”

“Yeah?”

“Does it include… situations like this one?”

The door was slightly ajar, but the staircase where the knight stood guard was a good distance away.

“I think it counts?”

At my reply, Locke gave a faint smile.

“Treating each other comfortably as peers, huh…”

He leaned in with a subtle push of his body and gently grasped my chin. I froze, breath caught, glancing away because his gaze felt overwhelming.

“Is worrying about injuries something friends do?”

“…Huh?”

“I’ve never had a friend. Never treated anyone comfortably either.”

“Oh—!”

My breath escaped in a sympathetic gasp. His past suddenly felt unbearably heavy.

“I see… but that’s okay. You can learn step by step. Friends can do anything for each other—because they’re people who understand one another.”

The moment I finished speaking, Locke brushed my swollen lower lip with his thumb.

“It’s quite swollen.”

No one had ever touched my face so gently before. I felt stunned—awkward, even. I had suggested we become friends, but given all my years living as a noble and dealing with servants, I thought it would take time to adjust.

But he’s just diving right in like this?

I was bewildered.

He tilted his head slightly as he observed my lip.

“Do you have sensitive skin?”

“I don’t think so? I mean, I’m weak overall, but my lips have never really cracked—”

“Or maybe I was too rough.”

Locke smiled quietly, eyes narrowing. My tongue had been twisted and blocking my airway earlier; Locke had no choice but to apply force with his fingers. I was actually grateful.

Wait—no, no, no. That wasn’t a simple illness. That was a heat from awakening fever. And for it to subside completely in just one day meant—

Oh.

I slapped both hands over my mouth, eyes widening to the size of fists.

“So you finally remembered.”

Locke’s lips stretched into a soft curve.