My Glitched World Throne System Came Ten Years Too Early!
Chapter 27: Taunting Margaret

Chapter 27: 27: Taunting Margaret

Roderic let out a satisfied sigh as he adjusted his shirt.

After nearly two weeks in the forest, clean clothes and a hot bath felt like heaven.

’Who would’ve thought I’d miss warm water this much?’

Two weeks of sleeping on cold leaves had left his body stiff and filthy, yet a single bath had washed almost all of that away.

With one final glance around his bedroom, Roderic stepped outside once more.

’’Hello, Edmund,’’ he greeted, smiling. ’’You mind guiding me to the baron?’’

’’Of course not, young master,’’ the chubby attendant said, bowing slightly.

As the two began walking, servants hurried about their daily tasks. Only now, each respectfully lowered their heads as he walked past.

Roderic’s smile couldn’t help but grow wider.

’The rumors seem to have spread nicely,’ he thought. ’And I have no doubt Captain Harris has also finished reporting everything to my father by now.’

His father was undoubtedly already waiting impatiently for him.

Oddly enough, that wasn’t what occupied Roderic’s thoughts.

Instead, his mind was focused on something far more important.

’How much personal funding can I realistically ask for?’ he thought, narrowing his eyes.

The Whitemane Barony certainly wasn’t poor.

As the kingdom’s largest supplier of warhorses, countless nobles relied on them every single year. The contracts alone generated an enormous amount of wealth.

Even so, a barony was still only a barony.

Maintaining thousands of horses, equipping knights, and keeping villages running consumed an astonishing amount of gold.

’I can’t ask for too much all at once,’ he thought, shaking his head lightly. ’That would only raise suspicions.’

But, at the very least, he needed enough gold to begin preparing for the future.

Nearly a month had already passed since he got here, meaning the territorial war was at most five months away.

If he wanted to change the outcome of that conflict, he simply couldn’t wait any longer.

’An elite force that belongs only to me,’ he thought solemnly. ’It’s bound to take a long time to set up.’

Not to mention funding, training, or even earning their loyalty, just finding talented people would cost him an insane amount of time and money.

Just then, soft footsteps accompanied by many voices echoed out from around the corner.

Roderic’s thoughts came to a halt, instantly recognizing the loudest voice.

’Ah, for fuck’s sake,’ he thought, rolling his eyes. ’This woman has to show up now?’

A moment later, an elegant woman dressed in an expensive emerald gown stepped into the corridor.

Behind her followed nearly a dozen attendants and maids.

’’Have you written that dow—’’ the woman froze mid-sentence, her eyes locking onto Roderic.

For a split second, utter surprise and shock flashed across her face.

Then, a cold and disgusting smile instantly replaced them.

’There it is,’ Roderic thought, almost bursting out laughing.

Unfortunately for Margaret, he knew exactly why she’d been so surprised.

’Mhm,’ he thought, tilting his head faintly. ’Maybe meeting her now is better... I can plant some rumors that way.’

Without missing a beat, Roderic stepped forward before offering a respectful bow.

’’Good afternoon, Baroness,’’ he greeted politely. ’’A true pleasure to meet you here.’’

Margaret blinked once before gracefully inclining her head.

’’Roderic,’’ she said flatly. ’’I see the forest has been much... kinder to you than many others.’’

Roderic scoffed as a wide, almost ridiculing grin spread across his face.

’’No thanks to you,’’ he said, shaking his head. ’’Must’ve been really disappointing to see me here, huh?’’

Margaret’s smile disappeared for a split second.

For a moment, she couldn’t believe what Roderic had said right off the bat.

Before anyone noticed, though, it had long returned to a forced smile.

’’What do you mean by that?’’ she asked, tilting her head with narrowed eyes.

’’I’ll leave that to your imagination,’’ Roderic replied calmly. ’’I’m sure you have plenty of it.’’

Silence fell between them right away.

Edmund and the surrounding attendants stood frozen in place, their faces stricken by fear.

Margaret’s face flushed red from the humiliation almost immediately.

’’Insolent brat,’’ she hissed through gritted teeth. ’’It seems the forest has made you rather bold.’’

Shrugging lightly, Roderic knew he needed to taunt her just a bit more.

Then he’d finally get the reaction he wanted.

"I’d rather be bold than rely on others to solve my problems," he said, shrugging once more.

Margaret’s eyes narrowed, her fingers clenched tightly around her fan.

If glances could kill, Roderic would’ve been dead well over a hundred times already.

’’Do be careful, Roderic,’’ she said through gritted teeth. ’’It would be unfortunate if an accident happened because of your confidence.’’

Roderic’s grin only widened.

That was exactly what he wanted the attendants around him to hear.

’’I’ll keep that in mind, Baroness,’’ he said as he pointed towards the corridor. ’’Now, if you’ll excuse me, I wouldn’t want to keep Father waiting.’’

Without waiting for a reply, he walked straight past her while pulling Edmund along.

Behind him, Margaret remained standing perfectly still.

Only after Roderic had disappeared around the corner did her pleasant expression finally fade.

’’Dismissed,’’ she said quietly to the attendants behind her.

’’Madam—’’ one of the attendants spoke up.

Margaret instantly snapped toward her.

’’Leave me,’’ she repeated, staring murderously at her. ’’Right this instant.’’

The attendants instantly turned pale. They bowed lightly before quickly hurrying out of the corridor.

Margaret remained behind alone, her chest rising and falling heavily.

CRASH!

Her fan slammed into the porcelain vase beside her, shattering it into dozens of pieces.

She stared at the fragments on the floor, her breathing uneven.

"Fucking mercenaries," she spat. ’’Can’t trust them to take care of a literal child!’’

"If I find out where he ran to, I’ll have him hanged together with his entire family."

After a moment, Margaret slowly turned toward the corridor Roderic had disappeared into.

A murderous look instantly flashed through her eyes once again.

’’And you...’’ she said, her voice barely above a whisper. ’’Don’t think this is over.’’

"There are plenty of people willing to kill a worthless brat for the right price."