Saving a Simple and Kind Viscountess Whose Engagement Was Broken and Sentenced to the Labyrinth Pris

Chapter 32: Non-Negotiable Desire

“Sergio… what’s the meaning of this?”

“What exactly do you mean?”

Sergio only smiled faintly and didn’t respond when I glared at him and asked him questions.

But… I pretty sure he was the one who fed Emilio to the slime.

“…I should not have asked you that question. Sergio, what motivated you to do this?”

“Oh, it’s self-evident, isn’t it? I don’t want to be friends with someone who is less capable than me.”

Sergio puts it bluntly.

But was that the reason?

I only got the impression that he was only the lousy woman’s puppet with no free will.

But Sergio, in front of me, was clearly acting on his own volition.

You can tell that by looking at his eyes.

“Hm… Ivan, right? Isn’t that the same with you?”

“…What?”

“I’ve found someone who understands, accepts, and supports me. I would go to any length for her. When I met Aria, I realized what she meant. No one has ever looked after me until now.”

Sergio gives me a cheerful smile.

I see…

Sergio, what Nadia was to me, Aria was to you. So that’s what this is all about.

“I was tired of being the son of the Knight Commander, of unwanted engagements, of being made servant to the incompetent crown prince there, of a child who was only good at magic, of a man who didn’t know his place as the eldest son of a frontier count, and of a colleague who pretended to be cool and thought he was brilliant.”

“…”

“…so I decided to call it quits. I encouraged that inept person.”

Huh?

What exactly did he just say?

“Then, predictably, he got carried away. Not only is he inept, but so are his followers. Aria now only sees me.

“Wait. So you’re saying that you encouraged Emilio to break off the engagement… Is that what you mean?”

“That’s correct! Of course, I also planned for the old man (emperor) to sentence us to the Labyrinth Prison!”

Sergio gleefully laughs as he explains, in high spirits.

He’s like an innocent child who has pulled off a successful prank.

“…But you ended up in the labyrinth, didn’t you? Not only that, but the woman you care so deeply about.”

“That I am aware of—but aren’t you forgetting something?”

“Forget what?”

“My name is Sergio Diaz!”

Sergio was praising himself with his hands in the air.

I suppose it’s the man’s self-esteem and ability, backed up by the exceptional talent he’s developed over the years, that have shaped him into this person.

He truly is unredeemable.

“So, now that I’ve addressed your questions, it’s your turn. Are you going to join us in conquering the labyrinth, or are you going to part way here?”

Sergio asked me again, and I caught myself looking at Nadia next to me.

She smiled and nodded as she looked at me.

Apparently, it seems that she shares a common feeling with me.

“I’ve made my decision, Sergio.”

“I knew you’d make the right choice! After all, you’re the only guy I’ve ever approved of !”

Sergio approached me with a smile on his face.

But

“You’ve got everything wrong. We do not accept you.”

I stop him with my right hand and tell him quietly.

“Hm?! Why?”

Sergio unexpectedly widened his eyes and asked in hushed tones.

Why? It’s obvious.

“You encouraged Emilio to make a fool of himself by breaking off the engagement for selfish reasons—and thus bringing Nadia into the picture, who had nothing to do with it.”

“What are you on about? It was Donato’s nonsense, not mine, that got her involved. You know that, right?”

“Yes, it was that idiot who got her into trouble—but if it hadn’t happened, Donato wouldn’t have gone to the trouble of breaking off the engagement in the first place.”

“That’s just a consequence.”

Sergio said, dismissively, in response to my words.

You’re right, it could just be a consequence.

But it’s the consequences that have gotten Nadia into this situation.

Then I will never forgive you.

“Sigh… It seems you haven’t changed your mind.”

“…”

“Then we have no choice—Let us settle this by offering whatever food you have on hand.

“What are you on about?”

“The food is necessary for Aria and me to successfully navigate the labyrinth—Then it is your responsibility to give it to us.”

Sergio says this without batting an eyelid.

The lousy woman nodded as if it were natural.

“I see—but this is something that Nadia and I need to survive—I’m not going to let you.”

“Well, then… I’ll take it by force!”

Sergio draws the sword from his waist with these words.