A Devil's Bargain

I woke up when the first light of sun touched the earth. My body ached from exhaustion, but my habit of rising early hadn't changed—even in this world. By my guess, I had barely gotten four hours of sleep.

Sitting up on the cold floor, I turned my gaze toward my bed. Clara was still asleep, her breathing soft and steady. A small frown creased her delicate features, and her eyelids twitched—she was dreaming.

The memory of carrying her frail, cold body surfaced in my mind, making me sigh. Shaking off the lingering thoughts, I headed to the bathroom. The water was refreshingly cold as I washed away the sweat and dirt from the previous day. Wrapping a towel around my waist, I stepped out.

Clara was awake. She laid on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, lost in thought.

The moment I moved toward the wardrobe, she flinched and snapped her eyes shut—pretending to be asleep. I sighed inwardly but chose to ignore it.

"Go to your room and get some rest," I told her flatly." And don't bother with that stripping 'duty' anymore."

Her face twisted between surprise, doubt and hesitation before she reluctantly stood up and walked toward the door. Before she left, I added, "Have a good breakfast and meet me this afternoon for training mana."

She nodded stiffly. "Yes, Master."

Once she was gone, I dressed in dark coat with silver embroidery with white undershirt from the wardrobe and laid back on the bed, mentally sorting my plans for the day.

Just as I exhaled, preparing for what lay ahead, a firm knock echoed from the door.

Clara, again? I had told her to leave, so who—?

"Come in," I called.

The door creaked open, and an unfamiliar presence filled the room—a heavy, authoritative weight. My gaze lifted, and I found myself staring at two figures.

The first was a man of broad stature, clad in a formal yet practical uniform. His sharp eyes carried the weight of discipline and command. The Marshal of Stormbane Estate.

Beside him stood another familiar face, one that made my body tense instinctively. Evan.

The training knight who had mercilessly beaten me yesterday.

But today, he looked far from the arrogant bastard who had smirked while landing blows on me. His posture was stiff, his head slightly lowered. His face—battered. Dark bruises marred his skin, his cheekbone swollen, his lower lip split. A bandage wrapped tightly around his right arm, and though he stood straight, the subtle stiffness in his stance betrayed his pain. Someone had returned the favor.

And from the Marshal's presence, it was clear this visit was for an apology.

The Marshal cleared his throat. "Good morning, young master. I trust you are recovering well?"

I didn't respond immediately, my gaze flickering between the two. His tone was polite, but there was an underlying urgency beneath it. I already had an idea of what they were going to say.

The Marshal continued, "We deeply regret the unfortunate incident that occurred yesterday, young master. Evan is one of the most promising knights-in-training in the Stormbane region." He paused, measuring his next words carefully. "That being said, I humbly ask for your pardon. If you are willing, I hope you will allow him to live."

I narrowed my eyes. So that's what this is about.

I leaned back slightly, crossing my arms. "What do you mean by 'allow him to live'?"

The Marshal's face remained composed, but I caught the slight tightening of his fingers behind his back. "He has been punished for his actions, but given your status, you have the right to demand further retribution. If you so wish, he can be stripped of his rank and exiled from Stormbane."

I turned my gaze to Evan. He hadn't spoken a word. His expression was unreadable—somewhere between stubbornness, regret, and something else.

I exhaled through my nose, my curiosity getting the better of me. "Why did you beat me?"

Evan's lips pressed into a thin line. His throat bobbed as he swallowed before he finally spoke. "Because you deserved it."

The words were blunt. Raw.

I raised a brow. "Elaborate."

He clenched his fists but forced himself to continue. "You…" He hesitated, but then exhaled sharply. "You violated someone important to me."

A cold weight settled in my stomach.

Then he explained.

It turned out that the maid I had seen in the dining hall yesterday morning was Evan's sister. A month ago, Nathan had r*ped her cruelly. Since then, she had been consumed by the fear, unable to bear the presence of men. She even felt fear towards Evan, her brother and her only family. At first, Evan hadn't known about her situation and reason for her behaviour. But recently, he had found out.

His words hit harder than I expected.

I recalled the maid's expression—the way she flinched, the trembling hands, the way she never met my eyes.

"She used to smile," Evan muttered, jaw clenched. "She used to be full of life. Until you—" His voice wavered, and for the first time, I saw his eyes glisten.

I leaned back, letting the revelation sink in. So, his wrath wasn't personal arrogance. It was vengeance.

Nathan had done something unforgivable.

And now, I was paying for his sins.

For a moment, silence stretched between us. Then, I let out a slow breath and turned to the Marshal.

I could let Evan go. That would be the simplest choice. But then I remembered the sheer satisfaction and twisted expression of rage on his face as he beat me down yesterday.

My fingers curled into a fist.

"Yes," I said finally. "I will forgive him—on one condition."

The Marshal nodded, understanding the weight of my words.

"I want him to take the Oath of Knighthood and serve under me."

Evan's face twisted in pure fury.

"WHAT?!!" he roared. "I would rather die than be your dog, you useless—who the hell do you think you are?! You bast—"

"Evan."

The Marshal's voice was low, but it carried enough pressure to make Evan freeze. His nose started bleeding from sheer restraint.

I understood his rage.

His sister's violator was now ordering him to kneel. If our roles were reversed, I would've killed me on sight. But I didn't care anymore. My name was already rotting in filth.

If they wanted a villain, I'd gladly play the part.

I leaned in slightly, my smirk cold.

"What? You think you can punch me and just walk away? You think I'd let you go that easily?" I paused before dropping the real poison. "And Daisy—was that her name? Do you think I'll leave her alone from now on?"

Evan's entire body snapped with tension. "You… I'll kill you!."

Even the Marshal's grip tightened, but I continued, unfazed.

"Do you think you can kill me live peacefully, do you know what happen when you kill me— heir to Stormbane family. You and your family will be beheaded including your cute sister, Daisy."

Honestly I doubt that, but this was the logic that Nathan had once used to justify while committing his atrocities.

Evan's eyes widened in horror. His rage faltered, replaced by realization.

"...You're a devil," he muttered. Even the Marshal's jaw clenched.

I chuckled. "You have no other choice. Be my knight." Then, as if offering him a lifeline, I added, "Besides, it's not a bad deal for you. You'll be close enough to watch me. To make sure I never go near Daisy again."

Evan's gaze locked onto my face, his expression shifted from Anger to Realization.

He didn't say anything, his eyes narrowed into a calculated contemplation.

The silence stretched.

Then, finally, he exhaled and spoke in a defeated voice.

"Fine. I'll do it."

I tilted my head. "Do what? I don't understand."

His fury reignited. "I'll take the oath to be your knight. But if you ever dare to even think about laying a hand on Daisy again, I'll cut off your limbs and feed them to the dogs."

"Hah! Try it," I sneered. "But don't think I will be the same as yesterday. Next time you lay a hand on me, I'll make sure to leave you begging for mercy."

Evan smirked coldly. "You think you're some novel protagonist, going around face-slapping villains? You're nothing but a cockroach hiding behind your noble title."

I grinned. "Then let's see who slaps who."

Then I looked at Marshal as if asking for his opinion. The Marshal looked into my eyes peering my intention for few seconds and nodded silently.

Condition accepted.