Third-Rate Villain Of Fantasy Novel-Chapter 35: Kraus Family Outing [1]

The people of Kraus’s castle were unusually lively that day. Spring had arrived in full bloom, and while the season often brought a certain lightness to people’s steps, that alone could not explain the bustling atmosphere that filled the halls and courtyards.

The true reason for the excitement was simple, yet extraordinary.

Count Kraus was going out for a walk.

And more than that—he was taking both of his sons with him.

To an outsider, a family outing might have seemed trivial, hardly worth the whispers and hurried movements spreading through the castle like wildfire. But the servants of Kraus’s castle knew better. They knew how rare this moment was, and why it mattered.

Since the death of the Count’s wife, the castle had changed in ways that were subtle yet unmistakable.

Count Kraus had grown distant, burying himself in duties and silence. His youngest son, Alphonse, had never once been allowed beyond the safety of the castle walls. The outside world, once a place of shared memories, had become something the Count seemed unwilling to face.

Damian, the eldest, had been different.

At sixteen, he carried himself with an air of confidence that bordered on arrogance.

Even as a child, he had walked with his head held high, unshaken by the weight of expectations placed upon him as the heir.

The servants respected him, though few felt close to him. Damian did not seek warmth, nor did he seem to need it.

Alphonse, on the other hand, was impossible not to adore.

Only seven years old, he possessed the soft features and bright expressions typical of a young boy his age.

He greeted the servants with shy smiles, clung to familiar hands, and asked endless questions about things he had never seen. In the quiet years following his mother’s death, it was the servants who had filled the gaps—offering gentle affection, indulgent treats, and unspoken comfort.

The loss of his mother at such a tender age made Alphonse an object of sympathy. He had always been protected, sheltered not only by the castle walls but by the collective concern of those who worked within them. For a long time, it seemed as though that would never change.

But that was no longer the case.

No one knew what had stirred Count Kraus’s change of heart. Some whispered that it was the season itself, urging him forward.

Others believed it was Alphonse’s growing curiosity, or perhaps Damian’s insistence that his younger brother should not be kept hidden forever. Whatever the reason, the decision had been made, and it sent ripples through the entire castle.

This outing would be Alphonse’s first true step into the world beyond the iron gates. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

That alone was enough to make the servants overly excited.

From early morning, preparations were underway. The maids fussed over Alphonse’s clothing, smoothing wrinkles that did not exist and adjusting his collar repeatedly, just to give their hands something to do.

His shoes were polished until they shone, and his small coat was brushed with meticulous care.

Alphonse himself seemed torn between excitement and nervousness. He sat still when told, though his legs swung back and forth beneath the chair, betraying his restless energy.

His eyes sparkled whenever someone mentioned the garden beyond the gates, or the town road he had only ever heard about in stories.

"Why do you keep staring at the wheels? Can’t you see we’re busy?"

"But seriously, I’m worried. What if this breaks while we’re on the road?"

"That’s exactly why we replaced all the wheels entirely."

"And what if the ones in storage were already rotten? Come to think of it, isn’t this the young lord’s first time riding in a carriage? What if he gets motion sickness?"

"...Just go and buy new wheels. I’ll handle the carriage seat."

The argument went in circles, growing louder with every passing minute. In the end, worry won out over reason.

The servants inspected the carriage again and again, tapping the wooden panels, tightening bolts that were already secure, and polishing metal parts until they shone.

Even that wasn’t enough.

To be absolutely safe, they went so far as to tear out the existing seat and replace it entirely, padding it thickly in case Alphonse felt even the slightest discomfort during the ride.

News of the outing spread through the estate the moment the decision was made the day before.

The chef, upon hearing it, rose before dawn and began preparing dishes that Alphonse was known to enjoy, carefully avoiding anything too heavy or strongly flavored.

The kitchen was filled with warm aromas and quiet urgency, as if a festival were about to begin rather than a simple family outing.

The knights assigned to escort the carriage were no less serious. Armor was checked, straps adjusted, and weapons inspected with an attention that bordered on excessive.

Even the most seasoned among them wore tense expressions, fully aware that this was no ordinary task. Protecting the Kraus family was always their duty, but today felt different.

Today, there was no room for mistakes.

All of this effort, all of this anxious preparation, revolved around a single purpose.

Thus, the long-awaited outing of the Kraus family finally took shape, with Damian standing firmly at its center, overseeing every detail as the estate stirred to life around him.

The argument around the carriage only quieted when a shadow fell across the courtyard.

Damian had arrived without announcement, as he often did.

He stood a short distance away, arms crossed, sharp eyes taking in the half-dismantled carriage, the discarded seat leaning against a wall, and the cluster of servants hovering like anxious birds.

"...Explain," he said calmly.

The single word was enough.

The servants froze, then scrambled into stiff bows.

"Young Master Damian!"

"W-We were just ensuring the carriage’s safety," one of them blurted out. "For Lord Alphonse, of course."

Damian’s gaze slid to the new seat being dragged into place, thickly padded to the point of absurdity.

"...You replaced it," he said.

"Yes!"

"Entirely?"

"Y-Yes!"

There was a pause.

Damian exhaled through his nose, slow and controlled.

"If you keep dismantling it," he said, "we’ll still be here by sunset."

The servants exchanged uneasy glances.

"But what if—"

"What if the road is uneven?"

"What if the young lord feels ill?"

"What if—"

Damian raised a hand.

The courtyard fell silent immediately.

"I understand," he said, his tone measured rather than harsh. "You’re worried."

The servants blinked, surprised.

"But Alphonse is not made of glass," Damian continued. "He will ride in a carriage, not be launched into a battlefield."

"...Still," one maid muttered, clutching her hands together, "it’s his first time."

Damian’s expression softened—just slightly.

"That’s exactly why," he said, "he should enjoy it."

At that, everyone agreed.

The most important thing is enjoyment of Alphonse.