Chapter 561: Either…Or

Endure? Endure my ass! I don't even want the title of Duke, so why the hell should I care about your family's ridiculous traditions?

After casting a glance at the mirror with utter disdain and seeing his face smeared deathly pale, Hearing Li Ang, who had always prided himself on his manners, finally couldn't help rolling his eyes at the old steward.

He'd originally thought that by simplifying everything and compressing the lengthy succession ceremony into a single day, he'd save himself a lot of trouble. Who could have known that even the most "simplified" version of the ceremony was absurdly elaborate—his clothing and makeup alone had taken over two hours.

Not only did he have to change into an extremely cumbersome set of aristocratic attire, but he even had a special padding stuffed between his legs to puff out his crotch, supposedly to look more masculine.

On top of that, he needed false hairpieces clipped to his head, lip balm smeared on his mouth, eye makeup and face wax on his eyes and face, and even the exposed skin on his forehead and neck had to be coated with a thick layer of lead powder—he'd only managed to swap it for a harmless cream-based powder after refusing repeatedly.

And after finally enduring all that fuss, he still had to ride in this carriage supposedly laden with deep symbolism, driving down the main road of Redwood Avenue, leaving "the lion's footprints" with the wheel's imprint, signifying the new Lionheart Duke's arrival at his domain…

After all this ridiculous rigmarole, he was already thoroughly irritated—and the succession ceremony hadn't even officially begun yet!

What a load of horseshit!

After dabbing some water with his sleeve and roughly wiping off the mess on his face, Hearing Li Ang twisted open the carriage door handle and leaped straight out.

Absolutely no more following their script—if this keeps up, who knows how many more absurdly torturous procedures are waiting for him!

"Your Grace! Your makeup! Your makeup!"

"What makeup? I'm done pretending!"

After tearing off the false hairpiece and roughly wiping the traces from his face, Hearing Li Ang looked at the old steward who had chased after him in exasperation and threatened darkly:

"Either I go like this, or you find someone else to be Duke! You choose!"

I…do I even have a choice?

Looking at the new Duke, who had lost all patience and was now throwing a tantrum, the old steward knew he wasn't joking. He could only stamp his foot hard twice, then clutch his chest and beg pitifully:

"I…I'll do whatever you say, alright? But please, just get back in the carriage…"

"I'm not getting back in!"

Having completely exhausted his patience, Hearing Li Ang looked at the carriage behind him, dripping with jewels and looking every inch the nouveau riche, and said irritably:

"This carriage is ridiculous, and it can't possibly pass through. Either get me a different one, or find yourselves a different Duke!"

The old steward shook his head repeatedly at this, his face crumbling:

"Your Grace! This one truly cannot be changed! Every Duke must leave 'the lion's footprints' on Redwood Avenue during the succession—that is tradition! If you change the carriage, what will become of the lion's footprints…"

"What damn lion footprints? Aren't they just marks left by the wheels? Let the wheels roll over them on their own—stop using this to torment me!"

"Th-this…this truly won't do! There's never been such a precedent…"

After finally wiping off the pearl-powder cream from his face, Hearing Li Ang, who refused to compromise any further, threatened viciously:

"Either no precedent, or no Duke—which do you want!"

I…I want to die!

Watching the new Duke shake off the maids and guards and stride on foot toward the estate, the old steward felt the world spinning. If he weren't so concerned about maintaining his composure, he would have probably beaten his chest and wept on the spot.

Old Duke! You picked this weirdo and then conveniently died, but he's going to torment the rest of us! Why…why didn't you take me with you back then?

Just as the old steward was leaning against the carriage, beating his chest in utter agony, a Duke's voice rang out from up ahead.

"You! Come here!"

Having just gotten out of the carriage and taken a few steps, Hearing Li Ang spotted a pile of overturned carriages on both sides of the road.

He turned and beckoned the old steward over. Once the man had caught his breath and caught up, Hearing Li Ang, his brows tightly furrowed, pointed at several large crates of shattered porcelain by the roadside and demanded indignantly:

"Look at what your family has done—not only did you force people off the road, you broke their goods too? Who pushed these off? Hurry up and pay them compensation!"

"Your Grace…this…this wasn't our doing."

Upon hearing that he'd have to pay, a dark-complexioned guard stole a glance at Hearing Li Ang's expression and couldn't help but protest: "Before your carriage arrived, these carriages were already overturned on the roadside. They must have been knocked over when a group ahead forced them off the road."

A group ahead?

"Y-Your Grace."

After finally catching his breath, the old steward first inquired of an attendant, then explained with a pale face:

"Up ahead should be Prince Joshua's carriage—the one that passed by us at the intersection while we were waiting for you to board."

Oh, so that's the bastard who nearly splashed mud all over me.

After hearing the old steward's words and recalling that eye-catching carriage also drawn by eight horses, Hearing Li Ang couldn't help but click his tongue in disgust.

Nobles, royalty…tsk…not a single decent one among them!

He glanced at the merchants weeping bitterly by the roadside. On the principle that it wasn't his money anyway, so he might as well be generous, Hearing Li Ang demanded directly:

"Then pay them anyway! After all, if they hadn't been delivering goods to your family, they wouldn't have run into him. It's only reasonable that the Bobby Laien family shoulder some compensation."

"But…"

"But what?"

Having slept poorly and been thoroughly tormented, Hearing Li Ang was in an exceptionally foul mood. He turned back, squinted at the old steward, and said imperiously:

"Either you pay up, or find someone else to be…"

"We'll pay! We'll pay for everything!"

Having been threatened with resignation several times by Hearing Li Ang, the old steward now only had to hear the word "either" for his already overtaxed heart to start pounding uncontrollably.

After pressing a hand hard against his wildly beating heart, feeling that he'd lose at least ten years of his life today, the old steward reached out and grabbed Hearing Li Ang's arm. His legs trembled involuntarily as he begged with a grief-stricken face:

"Your Grace! I'll agree to anything you want to do! I only beg you—please stop saying 'either,' alright? The Bobby Laien family cannot do without you! This old man…this old man is advanced in years, and his heart isn't what it used to be. He truly cannot bear this…"

Ah, this…

Looking at the old steward, whose face was faintly turning purple as he clutched Hearing Li Ang's arm with both hands, looking as though he'd kneel right there if Hearing Li Ang dared refuse, Hearing Li Ang couldn't help but hesitate.

To be fair, although in the soul-vision this old steward wasn't exactly a good man either, it was mainly scheming and political infighting—nothing that had directly earned the wrath of heaven and man. And the man was already so old. Was it perhaps a bit unkind to keep tormenting an old fellow like this?

But…he truly had no intention of being this Duke. Once the succession ceremony began and everyone was gathered, he'd have to find a way to turn it down. Looking at the old steward's face turning purple with stress, could the man actually handle it once he learned what Hearing Li Ang was planning?

"Um…I have something I think I should give you a heads-up about first. Whatever you do, don't get too worked up, okay…"

After a slight hesitation, Hearing Li Ang reached back to support the old steward's back, then leaned in cautiously and whispered to the somewhat "overwhelmed" old steward:

"Once everyone's gathered, I'm planning to propose to the Princess in front of everyone, using the entire Bobby Laien family as the betrothal gift. That way, they'll either have to find someone else to be Duke, or get nothing at all! What do you think?"

"..."

"Holy crap! Don't fall over! Stand up straight! Oh no! Why is it foaming at the mouth now?"

(End of chapter)