The Crown Prince Who Raises a Side Character-Chapter 37: Servant Cedric (3). Power Reversal

Claudia’s mornings start late.

But the mornings of the servants who assist her start early.

While she remains half-asleep and dazed in a dreamy stupor, the maids of the estate enter at a set time to wash her, fix her hair, and help her get dressed.

With her half-lidded eyes and hazy expression, Claudia looked like a masterpiece painted with a master’s full devotion. But the maids’ expressions were tense and stiff.

Because in this state, Claudia was a walking time-bomb—one small mistake away from exploding.

If her hair snagged during brushing, or her skin got scratched while changing clothes, and she opened her eyes in that moment—

That angelic face would twist into the visage of a demon, and the maid responsible would be punished instantly.

The most common punishment was a slap to the face. In more severe cases, hair might be torn out in clumps, or they’d be beaten until bruises bloomed.

But they couldn’t just leave Claudia alone or slack off in her morning prep either. If she fully regained her senses and found anything about her appearance unsatisfactory, that too could become grounds for punishment.

In the end, the only thing the maids could do was perform their tasks with razor-sharp focus, ensuring not even the smallest mistake occurred.

“Mm...”

Claudia’s consciousness truly began to stir only as the final touches were being completed.

She stared blankly at her reflection in the mirror—until her brows suddenly furrowed.

She had the strange feeling she’d forgotten something important.

Following that hunch, her mind began retracing her memories.

‘When did I fall asleep? My last memory is a bit hazy...’

“A trick, you say? Hahaha. I’m honored that the young lady would praise me so highly.”

“There’s no need to feel so embarrassed! I, Cedric, am well known for keeping my mouth shut! I shall carry the fact that you were utterly engrossed in the meal to the grave!”

“Then, I shall take my leave! Please call on me again should you need anything!”

The newly hired servant. The food. The clear eyes. That chipper tone.

Claudia remembered everything from last night—including the fact that the shock had been so great she’d practically passed out.

Unconsciously, her mouth opened and let out a sound.

“—Ah.”

“My lady?”

“Aaah. AAAAAAAAH!?”

“My lady!? Wh-what’s wrong!? Lady Claudia!?”

***

The kitchen, more than one might think, was a place of strict hierarchy.

That might be because it involved fire, knives, and other dangerous tools, or because any problem with the food meant the entire kitchen staff shared the blame.

Especially for someone like Cedric—a new hire who had suddenly taken over the kitchen and served a dish directly to a noble, skipping over the usual chain of command. And then to receive direct praise from the head chef?

That would naturally cause resentment among those caught in the middle.

If that were the case.

“Hey, Cedric! Are all the potatoes peeled!?”

“Yes, right here!”

“The onions—?”

“All julienned and ready!”

“The salad greens—?”

“Washed and prepped to perfection!”

“Nice, excellent!”

After all, most complaints vanish when someone produces overwhelming results.

Especially when those results directly make your life easier.

Of course, if Cedric had acted like a smug show-off—“Look at me, I’m amazing”—then there would’ve still been some quiet resentment, even if no one said anything to his face.

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But—

“Damn, you’ve got talent. How do you move that fast?”

“Ah, but how could it be just my own skill? It’s all thanks to your kind instruction, senior!”

“Ahem, well... yeah. I am a pretty good teacher.”

“Oh, and I already fetched the water, so feel free to take a short break. Please think of it as a token of my gratitude.”

“Huh? No, that’s really not necessary—”

“Still, isn’t it nice to get lucky once in a while? Makes the work more worthwhile, don’t you think?”

“...You know, you’re not wrong. Haha! I like you!”

His finely tuned sycophantic skills—sharpened even more than the original canary model—melted away any remaining complaints.

With Cedric around, work became easier. And he showed full respect for their seniority. No need to stir up trouble.

However, the peaceful camaraderie of the kitchen didn’t last long.

“—New guy!! Where are you!? Get out here, now!!”

A sharp, shrill voice rang out from the center of the estate.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

The moment the terrifying “young lady” shouted—a name that inspired dread in every servant—every relaxed face in the kitchen went stiff with fear.

They exchanged uneasy glances.

And then—

“...Cedric. Come with me. Right now.”

Bestian, the head butler.

The man effectively second in command within the estate called for Cedric, wearing a heavy expression.

“Yes, sir.”

Without asking a single question, Cedric followed behind the head butler as they made their way toward the center of the mansion.

There, a little over a dozen servants stood frozen in nervous tension, their faces full of both pity for Cedric and fear that they might become collateral damage.

At the center of it all—

Claudia stood, eyes flashing with venom, glaring directly at Cedric.

“─So, you’ve come.”

Her voice, sharp as an ice pick, felt less like speech and more like a beast’s growl.

And it wasn’t just a metaphor.

Surrounding Claudia were five grotesque wolves, as if made from blood, bone, and flesh itself—waiting silently for their master’s command, their fangs glinting in the light.

Bestian’s face darkened even further.

At this rate, he really might have to clean up a corpse. He shot a quick glance at Cedric’s face—then sighed.

Even in this situation, where groveling and begging on his knees might not even be enough, Cedric was just... blinking blankly.

Sure enough, Claudia’s expression twisted.

“Hey.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Don’t you have something to say to me?”

Everyone held their breath, waiting for Cedric’s response.

In the silence, so tense you could hear a pin drop—or someone swallowing nervously—he opened his mouth.

“Good morning, my lady! The weather’s lovely today. Might I suggest a walk to start the day off right?”

That’s not it at all!!

Every servant in the room shared the exact same thought in unison.

—Grrrrrr...

Four of the five blood demon beasts growled menacingly.

Then, sensing something odd, they turned to stare at the fifth.

That gaze, if put into words, might’ve said something like: “Why the hell aren’t you growling?”

—Whine...

But the last one averted its gaze from them, making no move to lunge at Cedric, as if it were frightened.

At the sight of its trembling, Claudia’s eye twitched.

The blood demon beasts of House Redvell were creatures created through ancient rituals passed down through the family. A single one of them had power rivaling a third-tier martial artist and served as the personal familiars of the Redvell line.

As long as they weren’t fatally wounded, they could retreat into Claudia’s body to regenerate, so they usually charged in without hesitation, even in dangerous situations.

For such a beast to refuse to fight—even while sensing its master’s displeasure—meant it had instinctively judged the human before it as a being who could obliterate it in an instant.

If—just if—this servant really was a monster powerful enough to destroy all five blood beasts...

And if every other servant here saw it happen in real time...

And if they started thinking, “Huh. Maybe the young lady isn’t as scary as we thought?”

Of course, that scenario was highly unlikely.

The blood beasts were just one of many ways she asserted her authority. Her true power came from her noble lineage—House Redvell.

But even the possibility of such humiliation was intolerable to Claudia.

As she wrestled with her options, a flash of inspiration struck her.

With a wicked smile, she spoke.

“So you really don’t understand what you did wrong?”

“A mistake, my lady? If I’ve done anything improper, please do let me know.”

“Hah! Making your master say it out loud already makes you unfit to be a servant. Trash like you isn’t worth hiring. Get out!!”

Claudia’s mind was spinning rapidly.

For some reason, this man had entered the estate as a servant.

If someone powerful enough to frighten a blood beast had chosen to come in as a mere servant, then he must have a reason—something he’s aiming for.

If she fired him before he achieved that goal, he’d be forced to beg to stay—

“I understand.”

“...Huh?”

A dumbfounded noise escaped Claudia’s lips.

But Cedric, shoulders drooping and expression filled with sorrow, continued.

“If that is your wish, then there’s nothing I can do. It was an honor to serve you, even if briefly.”

He gave his farewell and immediately began offering respectful bows and goodbyes to the other servants, one by one.

Claudia’s pupils trembled violently.

“W-Wait a minute! That’s it? You’re seriously okay with being fired!?”

“Well, my employment contract didn’t include a clause preventing you from terminating me at will. Sigh... I’ll be more cautious next time. Oh, Head Butler—what happens to my final paycheck in this case?”

“Ah. Er, well, that’s...”

Even Bestian was at a loss now, casting furtive glances at Claudia’s expression.

Normally, he’d have scolded Cedric for disrespect and reaffirmed Claudia’s authority, but this situation was far from normal. Both Claudia and Cedric were acting far from expected, and he didn’t know how to handle it.

Meanwhile, Claudia was deep in thought.

If this guy really leaves now... what happens to my revenge?

To let a mere servant humiliate her so thoroughly—and then just walk away without a scratch?

Whether as a noble lady or just as Claudia herself, she absolutely couldn’t tolerate that.

But trying to retaliate physically was tricky. Cedric could scare off even her blood beasts with ease.

She could contact the Redvell family’s main house and ask for backup, but how would she phrase that?

“My servant embarrassed me, but I can’t punish him myself, so could you send the knights?”

Her father, the Marquess, would start worrying about her mental health.

Her hateful siblings would laugh themselves sick.

No—she couldn’t let him go.

Fine. As long as he’s still employed, he’s mine. And that means there ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ are plenty of ways I can make him suffer.

With that thought, Claudia cleared her throat and said,

“Well... if you really regret it, I could cancel the dismissal.”

Cedric turned his gloomy eyes toward her.

“No, thank you.”

“...Excuse me?”

“If there’s a chance I might be suddenly fired like this again, I don’t think I could continue working with full dedication. Going to work with that kind of anxiety would only trouble my coworkers as well. I think it’s best I step away.”

“......”

Claudia’s cheek twitched.

Snap!

She unfurled a fan wide and raised it to cover her mouth, speaking again.

“Fine. I promise there won’t be any sudden firings like this again. You can relax.”

Only then did Cedric’s eyes clear once more.

Looking at her with what almost resembled gratitude, Cedric’s sparkling expression gave Claudia an odd sense of satisfaction.

Yes, this is how it should be.

A servant overwhelmed with gratitude at the master’s smallest mercy. That’s what a proper servant should look like.

“My lady.”

“Hmph. Forget the thanks. Spare me the flattery.”

“No, that’s not it. I just want to make sure that’s included in the contract going forward.”

“......”