Chapter 87: Chapter 87: These Swine

Every pair of eyes in that room was locked on Diana. Waiting for her response.

That’s when I pushed open the door.

CREAK.

Now all those stares shifted to me.

I didn’t give a shit. Just walked straight toward Diana while scanning the room.

They were all seated around a round table. Well, they were seated until I showed up. Now every single one of them was on their feet. Standing there like I owed them an explanation.

My eyes moved across the four pieces of trash.

First scum was a man with black hair. Looked about forty. Had that slimy politician face you just wanted to punch.

Second was another man with white silver hair. Younger. Mid twenties maybe. Pretty boy type who probably never worked a day in his life.

Then the women.

One old hag with brown hair and green eyes. The fake motherly one. Her smile made my skin crawl.

And finally the loud mouth. Blonde hair. Curves that could kill a man. Age was hard to guess. Maybe same as Diana. Maybe older. Hard to tell with nobles and their fancy creams and potions.

She was the first to open her mouth. “Who the hell is this brat? Walking straight into a council meeting like he owns the place?”

I ignored her completely.

When I reached Diana’s side, she turned and looked dead into my eyes. Her stare could freeze fire.

“What are you doing here?” Her voice was ice. “Go back to your room. Right now.”

Before I could say anything, the white haired pretty boy decided to share his thoughts.

“Isn’t this that rumored boy I’ve been hearing about?” He had this annoying smirk. “Some nobody from an unknown background. She apparently took a liking to him. Went against the rules to force his way into the academy.”

His smirk grew wider.

“And in return, she took him as her little toy. Something to play with while dumping all her responsibilities on us.”

The blonde woman jumped in with a grin that made me want to vomit.

“See? This is exactly what I was saying. She’s completely lost her mind. Not only does this vermilion have permission to roam freely in this prestigious house, but he can also walk right into our private meeting.”

She threw her hands up dramatically. “The security here is a joke. Everything about this situation is absolutely bizarre.”

Diana didn’t even acknowledge them. Her eyes stayed fixed on me like she was planning my funeral.

“Stop with your games.” Her voice dropped lower. “This isn’t some playground. Leave now. And don’t think too much about their words.”

Then she shouted.

“PENNIA!”

The head maid appeared at the doorway within seconds. She looked absolutely terrified. And Diana’s next words made it worse.

“Didn’t I specifically tell you to not let anyone enter? Why is he here? Why the hell didn’t you stop him?”

The poor woman twitched. Her mouth opened to fumble out some excuse.

But I cut in first.

“She tried to stop me.” I let a grin spread across my face as I looked at the four house heads. “But when I told her I smelled some swine in here that needed to be sent back to the dirt they crawled out from… well, she was wise enough to step aside.”

Jaws dropped.

The black haired man slammed his hand on the table. “You insolent little—how dare you speak to us like that!”

The white haired man was still hissing through his teeth. “Give a beggar a taste of wealth, and he starts thinking he’s a king.”

Then the old woman raised her hands in that fake calming gesture.

“Now, now. Let’s not escalate things. We should all behave ourselves here. We are the adults after all, and we should—”

“Adult my ass, bitch.” The room went dead silent.

I didn’t stop. “Cut the act already. Diana might be fooled by your bullshit but I’m not. I know exactly what each of you is after.”

I pointed at them one by one. “Every single one of you is a piece of shit. Talking like you care about her. Like you care about Azuredel. But the truth? You all want her dead. You all want that seat for yourselves. And that’s why you’re here. Playing your little roles. Setting your little traps.”

I laughed. “It was so damn obvious that a nobody like me figured it out in one minute flat.”

The blonde’s face twisted with rage. “You bastard—”

I didn’t let her finish. “But let’s skip the drama and get straight to the point. I’m not a coward who hides behind pretty words like all of you. And I definitely don’t have the patience to stand here looking at your ugly faces any longer.”

I crossed my arms. “Every minute I spend in this room, more crude words are gonna fall out of my mouth. More bitter truths are gonna hit your ambitious little ears. And trust me, you won’t like any of it.”

Dead silence again.

They were cursing me in their heads. Every single one of them. Even that motherly act woman had murder in her eyes. But they couldn’t process it. Couldn’t understand how some random boy just walked in and tore them apart.

So I moved on.

“You want her to clear the floor, right? That’s what this whole circus is about. Doesn’t matter what your real reasons are. That’s the demand.”

I shrugged. “Fine. She’ll clear it. She’ll open the path to the next floors for all of you.”

Their eyes narrowed. “But that sounds like a pretty one-sided deal to me. What does she get out of it? Nothing?”

I let that hang in the air. “So here’s my proposal. If she clears the final floor, each of your houses compensates her. Whatever she wishes. From each of you.”

I spread my hands. “Isn’t that reasonable?”

For a moment they just stared at me.

Then they started laughing. Not out loud. But their faces said it all. Like I’d just told the funniest joke they’d heard in years. The reward I was demanding seemed absurd to them.

But I knew why they weren’t worried. In their minds, there was zero chance Diana could clear that floor. Not without her brother. Not with all that trauma.

Little did they know my ego had already decided the winner the moment I stepped into this room.

The black haired man grinned at me. “Boy, you seem quite confident. What’s making you this way? Drugs?”

“Nah.” I matched his grin with my own. “I’m confident because I’ll be right there with her. And if I’m beside her, then even her winning or losing gets decided by me.”

My voice dropped. “Even gods don’t have the right to interfere with that.”

I let that sink in. “So I’m warning you all right now. Reconsider carefully. Because I’ve already chosen victory.”

Before any of them could respond, a hand grabbed my collar and yanked me around.

Diana’s face was inches from mine. Fury burning in those green eyes.

“Who gave you the right to decide this?” She was practically growling. “You’re no one to me. No one who gets to choose what I do.”

I didn’t back down. “The same no one you gave two platinum coins to.”

Her grip loosened slightly.

“The same no one you pushed through the academy despite the rules. The same no one you let live in this fancy mansion with servants and feasts.”

I grabbed her wrist but didn’t pull it away.

“You did all that for this certain no one. And now when he’s trying to pay you back, you’re pushing away his efforts?”

Something shifted in her expression.

“That’s not what it looks like…” She swallowed the rest of her words. Then that cold mask came back. “If you’re doing this just because you feel indebted over some small things I did, then don’t. You have no idea what you’re getting into. You’re just throwing your life away over some stupid sense of obligation.”

I laughed.

“Who said anything about throwing my life away? My life is precious to me than anything. I’m not gonna waste it on something dumb.”

I let go of her wrist. “And I’m not doing this because I feel indebted either.”

She blinked. “Then why?”

“Because I like it here.”

Simple as that.

“The food is amazing. The beds are soft. The servants actually are kind and helpful. Everything about this place is too damn good.”

I scratched my head.

“Even Amelia and Anastasia have taken a liking to living here. And I don’t want to watch it all fall apart just because you couldn’t handle your shit.”

I shrugged. “So yeah. Call it greed if you want.”

Diana let go of my collar completely.

She just stood there. Frozen. Processing what I’d said.

A minute passed. Then another.

Then something happened that I almost missed.

She smiled.

Barely. Just the tiniest movement at the corner of her lips. But I caught it.

“Fine then.” Her voice was different now. Softer somehow. “I won’t lose this time. Seems like there are some people whose comfortable lifestyle depends on it.”

Wait. That was it?

I had like ten more arguments ready to convince her. Points about logic and strategy and mutual benefit. But she just… agreed?

That was way too easy. Unless she was planning something else entirely.

She turned to face the four house heads.

“I accept this deal.” Her voice was back to cold steel. “Do all of you accept as well?”

They practically tripped over each other to answer.

“Y-yes!”

“Of course!”

“Agreed!”

“Absolutely!”

The excitement on their faces was disgusting. They looked at me like I was their savior. Their secret weapon. The key to finally getting rid of Diana.

And they were glancing at each other too. Confused. Suspicious. Each one wondering which of them had planted me here to make Diana submit to their plan.

None of them had a clue.

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