Transmigrated as Baron, Married with my Lovely Maid-Chapter 17

"Seize that bastard Nach...!"

I heard Leysha call out to the soldiers, but I couldn’t yet fathom what was happening.

My vision was still blurry.

My breathing felt heavy.

It felt like my blood flow was slowing down.

Damn it.

The arrow that pierced my back must be poisoned.

SMASH! SMASH! SMASH!

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

"Aaghh...!"

The sounds of punches, blows, and even sword slashes rang out behind me.

It seemed like the soldiers were in a brawl, beating Nach.

I tried to get up, helped by Leysha.

But seeing Leysha’s panicked expression, something seemed wrong.

Sure enough, the soldiers who had tried to stop Nach eventually were knocked down by the arrows.

I saw Nach stand up straight, his previously panicked expression now serious and cruel.

Behind him, five soldiers in long black coats approached, readying their crossbows.

"B-Baron Atreus...this is bad..." Leysha said worriedly, holding me.

Well, betrayal again?

I was foolish to let Nach talk so much about his worries, when he was only trying to distract me.

He was my army commander, so it easy for him to let those five Thornvale black-robed spies in without suspicion.

"Let me guess...troops from Thornvale?" I asked while fighting back the sudden fever caused by this damn poison.

"Yes, Baron Atreus. I warned you kindly, but you were still stubborn. This is the consequence of your overbearing attitude," Nach replied calmly with a smile, as if he were already victory.

"Nach...! You traitor...! The citizens of Vermillion will rebel against your betrayal...!" Leysha exclaimed impatiently.

"Say what you want, bitch. I could just make up a story that Baron Atreus and you died of poison, and I’ll become the new ruler of the Vermillion Territory...!"

"Then what? You’re joining the Thornvale Territory? Are you going to lick Baroness Cecile’s feet after that?" I asked sarcastically while my breathing quickening due this damn poison.

"Bastard Baron...! What do you know about the Vermillion Territory?! I was born here, and I know Lord Vermillion’s leadership is dangerous and brings us suffering! I thought you, as his son, could think calmly and logically, but it turns out you’re just like your father, thirsting for the ambition of that mythical pure wizard!"

"Heh... I knew it. It turns out Baroness Cecile isn’t as brave as I imagined, to the point where she had to order her secret forces to poison me."

"Shut up, you bastard! You—"

Suddenly, Nach drew his magic sword, a flame sword, causing flames to form on the blade.

He immediately parried the blade that was hurtling towards his neck, but...

CLANG!

SLASH!

"Aggh...!"

The knife managed to cut her cheek, but missed her neck.

It seemed the bastard had forgotten that the knife was an anti-magic dagger.

I just realized it was Leysha who threw the anti-magic dagger.

"Damn bitch...! Your stupid loyalty is making you unable to think clearly! You’re beautiful and sexy, but why did you choose that idiotic Baron to serve...?! There’s still me, who’s far better than that Baron who’s already dying from poison...!" Nach snapped in annoyance, holding back the stinging pain in his cheek.

"I’d rather die than live in the land of Vermillion where you rule, Nach!" Leysha exclaimed firmly.

"Enough playing around...! Archers...! Shoot them all with those poisoned arrows...! You won’t be able to dodge them anymore with the anti-magic arrows...!"

A split second before the archers pulled their crossbow triggers, my electric magic activated.

BZZT! BZZT! BZZT! BZZT! BZZT!

Five electric bullets shot out, shocking the five archers, causing them to fall, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.

"W-what...?! What kind of fast electric magic is that...?! There’s no casting time...?!" Nach exclaimed in shock.

"Well, it seems you haven’t realized my power yet, Nach..." I replied calmly.

My magic robe lit up, indicating that its energy-boosting magic was active.

Even in my poisoned state, I could cast five electric bullets simultaneously, quickly, without any casting time.

I understood the damage wasn’t as powerful due to the poison, but at least I didn’t want to add another one of those damn poisoned arrows to my body.

"B-Baron Atreus...!"

"Calm down, Leysha," I said, feigning strength.

As the supreme ruler of Vermillion, I couldn’t possibly appear weak in front of my enemy.

I stood my ground, glaring at Nach, who was suddenly terrified.

"Bastard Baron...! Why didn’t that poison kill you...?! That’s Thornvale’s strongest poison...!" Nach exclaimed in disapproval, brandishing his magic sword.

"A weak poison that means nothing to me, Nach. You still doubt the power of a pure wizard? How about you duel me now, Nach...?"

I slowly walked over to Nach.

Leysha was about to approach, but I asked her to stop.

She stayed behind and entrusted it to me. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Leysha still looked worried because she knew my pale, sweat-covered face was a sign that I was desperately resisting the poison’s effects.

But in the end, she trusted me.

I walked forward firmly, steadily, and without the slightest hesitation.

"Damn it...! You could have attacked me from afar...! Are you underestimating me, you bastard...?!" Nach shouted loudly.

Ah, that scream of anger, hidden in anxiety, was like beautiful music to my ears.

I love seeing an arrogant enemy cornered.

I kept walking, until finally—

COUGH...! COUGH...!

Damn it.

Coughing up blood.

The poison’s effects were getting stronger, forcing me to kneel.

"Baron Atreus...!"

Leysha’s screams came from behind, accompanied by the sound of her rapidly approaching footsteps.

But at the same time, Nach rushed towards me.

He raised his flaming sword high, intending to cleave and burn me alive with his slash.

From a distance, I knew Leysha would be too late because Nach was closer to me.

But I wasn’t that stupid.

CLANG!

Rhaevor appeared, blocking Nach’s vertical slash with both hands.

"S-Spirit...?! Y-You can even use spirits even with this poison...?! How is that possible...?!" Nach shouted in shock.

It seemed Nach had miscalculated.

I had used the Vermillion’s Wand, which was actually the Vermillion’s Robe, which had increased my magical power tenfold.

Although the effects of this damn poison had seriously weakened me, I was still able to counter it enough to perform basic magic.

SMACK!

"OAAGGHH...!"

Rhaevor’s powerful fist slammed into Nach’s stomach, causing him to vomit blood.

Even his protective armor cracked instantly.

Rhaevor continued to grab Nach’s hair, then continued to stab him repeatedly in the stomach.

SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!

"AHHKK...!"

"OAAHHK...!

"AHH...!"

Nach’s screams of pain rang sweetly in my ears.

I saw that his eyes were already white, perhaps he was almost unconscious.

He even dropped his flaming sword, no longer able to fight as Rhaevor’s punches had completely crushed him.

"Oh, Baron Atreus...! "Thank God..." Leysha immediately approached and held my body.

She used her healing magic, but I felt its healing power wasn’t as strong as usual.

She also seemed to be in pain using it.

Perhaps it was the effects of Baroness Cecile’s curse.

"Leysha...don’t push yourself..." I said.

"It’s okay, Baron Atreus...I can endure this pain...I’m getting used to this curse..." she replied with a forced smile.

I just smiled at her.

Although slowly, her healing magic managed to ease the pain.

"This poison...it still needs time. But I think I can cure it," Leysha said confidently.

"You can cure this poison...?" I asked confidently.

"Yes...I will mobilize the best healers to create an antidote, Baron. Trust me."

"Hah! You want to believe a bitch who can’t even make a poison...?!" Nach suddenly interrupted, his voice hoarse and his face deathly still.

"You can’t even cure Baroness Cecile’s magic curse, Leysha!" he continued mockingly.

Leysha glared at Nach until he stopped mocking her.

"Baron Atreus...if you allow it, I want to kill him," Leysha said angrily.

"No. Not yet, Leysha," I said quickly, grabbing her shoulder.

"Heal those fallen soldiers. There’s something I want to do," I asked Leysha.

Without further questioning, Leysha immediately agreed.

I tried to stand as my body recovered, then walked over to Nach, who was still curled up in pain.

"D-damn it... you may have defeated me... but that poison will also kill you in the duel, Baron Atreus...!" Nach exclaimed, still unwilling to accept defeat.

"Poisoned or not, I’m still going to Thornvale to duel, Nach," I replied calmly, observing the five Thornvale archers who were still struggling to get up due to the effects of my stun.

From my left, the sound of armored footsteps approached, along with Leysha’s voice.

Leysha managed to revive the fallen soldiers.

"B-Baron... forgive us for-"

I raised a finger, signaling the soldiers not to feel guilty for failing to stop Nach.

"Nach... killing you was easy. But I have other plans," I said, preparing my fire magic.

WOOSSHHH!!

"AAAGHHH....!"

With just a snap of my fingers, my fire magic spread and blazed fiercely across the bodies of the intruding archers.

The sharp, stinging flames even burned through their protective armor.

Nach was left speechless, watching the five archers incinerated so easily by my fire magic.

Even Leysha and my soldiers were stunned, shocked at my fire magic, which was far more powerful than before.

"Thornvale spies have no place here. Neither do traitors like you, Nach. But I must assure my citizens that I won’t let the Vermillion territory disappear just because I lost a duel. You are that assurance, Nach."

"W-what...?!" Nach paused in disbelief.

"Take him and tie him up in the middle of the plaza. Announce that Nach is a traitor who wants to sell Vermillion to Thornvale. Also, announce that Baron Atreus Vermillion will win this duel, and the apprehension of Nach will be evidence that he is truly capable of standing against Thornvale! Do it now!"

"Yes, Baron Atreus...!" the soldiers shouted loudly.

"N-no...! Please...! Don’t take me to the plaza...! I’ll be punished and mocked in there...! Baron Atreus...! Please...!"

Nach was speechless as my soldiers carried and dragged him out of the throne room.

Ah, it felt so reassuring to see that noisy traitor leave.

Unfortunately, the effects of this poison were still bothering me.

If I duel while under the effects of the poison like this, I fear I’ll lose the duel against Baroness Cecile.

"Leysha... do you have any ideas for a cure yet...?" I asked.

Leysha wanted to answer immediately, but for some reason, her face suddenly turned red with embarrassment and she looked away.

She’d occasionally peek up when she saw me, but then turned her face away again, blushing in embarrassment.

"Why?" I asked, puzzled.

"The cure I’m referring to seems to require support from the Baron... and it requires Baron Atreus’ physical assistance... I hope the Baron is ready..." Leysha said, somewhat shyly.

"There are still three days left... is that enough...?"

"With that much time... then it needs to be more intense..."

I paused for a moment.

For some reason, Leysha seemed less than specific in her answer.

"Let me guess...it’s a ritual, right?" I asked.

Leysha’s face immediately turned red with embarrassment.

She just nodded, no words coming out.

Well, when it comes to rituals, I’d definitely be happy to do it with you, Leysha!