Top Tier Perversion: Dual Cultivate Secretly

Vincent woke up comfortably.

For a few seconds, he did not move, and kept his eyes shut.

The room was warm, the blanket was soft, and he was well rested.

He did not wish to get out of bed.

A few moments later, he remembered where he was and the memories of the time before he fell asleep returned.

His eyes opened abruptly and he looked to the side.

There was no one.

He was alone in his mother’s bedroom.

’Was I just imagining things?’

Vincent fell back and stared at the ceiling.

He remembered barging into his mother’s bedroom, then accidentally watching her change, then being asked to knock, followed by...

Heat gradually spread across his face and his ears turned red.

’...it really happened.’

Vincent couldn’t understand how the situation could escalate so much, and then his mother’s reaction to treating these matters so easily.

She did not feel disgusted, just surprised.

’I got swept by her pace and I’m not sure how I should even react when I see her...’

Vincent remained still for another few seconds before carefully moving away.

’Fuck it. The court session is due and there’s so much more I have to do throughout the day. I’ll try not to react strangely and avoid mentioning last night’s events when I see her.’

He got out of bed.

’What’s more important is surviving the coming few days. Let’s focus on that first.’

Vincent left Vivienne’s bedroom and went to his own.

...

The morning proceeded almost exactly as Vincent remembered.

Anastasia and Leona met him after he washed up and changed for the Royal Court.

They discussed what could be said in the court and a few important arguments, the same as the previous iteration.

Vincent acted his part and finished the discussion, then went to the court with his mother.

He thought meeting her might be awkward but eventually realized that she was much different in public.

She was cold, reserved, and an absolute authority that everyone revered. There wasn’t any motherly charm Vincent could see.

While conversing with her in the carriage, he also got to know why she wasn’t in the room when he woke up.

Apparently, dressing up and putting on make-up takes time, so a noble lady usually had to wake up early. It was almost a duty to look pretty and to tend to herself.

By noon, House D’Arc entered the Royal Palace.

The accusations came.

The grain prices were questioned.

Trading with Aldorp was called treasonous.

The nobles demanded punishments, railway confiscation, arrests, and every other thing Vincent remembered.

Vincent did not have to think of his answers while standing in the middle of the court.

He had already lived through them once and confidently acted as before.

The Jester’s inheritance still helped him handle the attention of the room, but there was less hesitation behind his words.

Agnes eventually stepped forward and asked whether House D’Arc intended to sever ties with Falkner Kingdom, Vincent responded the same as before.

The discussion continued until Agnes demanded House D’Arc suspend its Aldorp trade.

Vincent refused.

He named the houses D’Arc would continue trading with and left everyone else out.

Eventually, he offered the same compromise and got a familiar system notification.

+

[Ding!]

[Entanglement increased.]

[Subject: Agnes Falkner]

[Entanglement: Friction Link(unstable) → Friction Link(stable)]

+

Vincent barely reacted this time.

Agnes’s eyes contained the same relieved glimmer he remembered.

The court session concluded.

Vivienne stood before the King could formally dismiss anyone, walked toward Vincent, and interlocked her fingers with his.

"It’s time for lunch, my dear."

Vincent left the court.

...

By the time Vincent returned home, another notification was waiting for him.

+

[Event #002 Anchor Destabilized!]

[Anchor: Monster Rat Infestation]

[Progress: 1/5]

[Reward already generated within erased Fate Trajectory.]

[Duplicate reward unavailable.]

+

’Vanessa finished already.’

Vincent felt relieved.

He ate lunch with his mother, then spent some time with Anastasia and Leona in his bedroom.

Their discussion regarding the Royal Court followed the same general direction as before.

Leona analyzed the political consequences.

Anastasia discussed what the noble houses might do next.

Vincent listened while comparing everything to Fate Archive.

Nothing important had changed yet.

That realization bothered him more than he expected.

...

A few hours before dinner.

Vincent’s bedroom.

Vincent sat behind the study desk, surrounded by reports.

A few blank papers rested before him.

Anastasia stood beside his chair with a porcelain pot in one hand.

"Redthorn tea, young master."

Vincent turned to Anastasia and took the tea cup and saucer.

"This is less herbal and more earthy and fruity. It’ll help you reduce drowsiness."

Vincent looked at the tea.

The tea had a deep amber color. A faint aroma of roasted leaves and dried citrus rose from the cup while steam curled around Vincent’s face.

He added two sugars, lifted the cup and took a sip.

The first taste was slightly bitter and woody, almost like licking a wet tree bark. It was then followed by a mild citrus sharpness. The sugar softened it afterward and left a warm peppery sensation along the back of his throat.

Vincent held the cup there for another moment.

’It’s pleasant and refreshing, unlike the what I had before dying.’

Near the end of the previous iteration, his tea tasted like warm water.

He did not think much about it back then, but now; knowing he died only a short while afterward, no taste in tea felt like a sign of bad omen.

Vincent took another sip and enjoyed it properly.

"Quite good," he commented.

Anastasia nodded lightly.

"I can prepare it again tomorrow."

"Yes, please do."

Anastasia put the pot on the wooden cart nearby, and stood beside Vincent, awaiting further instructions.

As Vincent thought about tomorrow, the scenes of the past iteration surfaced.

Tonight, during the post dinner stroll, there was supposed to be a major development between him and his maid which would then lead to...

Clink.

Vincent glanced at her and smiled.

"Are you prepared for the post-dinner stroll?"

Anastasia stared at him without responding.

Vincent’s smile grew slightly.

"I know a maple tree with a rather nice bench."

Anastasia moved behind his chair.

Vincent thought she was about to hug him, their relationship was at such a point after all.

However, her fingers settled upon his shoulders and began pressing into his shoulder muscles.

It was a firm and comforting grip.

"Oh..."

Vincent’s eyes narrowed comfortably.

"Hey... if you..."

Anastasia added her thumbs to give a gentle pinch.

"Mm... if you wish to distract me so you can have an easier time rejecting, then..."

Anastasia lightly shook her head.

"I’m not rejecting you, young master."

"Oh?" Vincent leaned back and looked up. "Then are we—"

Anastasia shook her head again.

"We have no time today."

Vincent’s narrowed eyes returned to being focused.

Anastasia continued massaging his shoulders.

"I belong to you, young master. The garden, the maple tree, and I will still be here later."

Her thumbs pressed against another stiff area.

"But if you don’t work now, and make the same decisions as before, then..."

Vincent’s smile faded slightly.

Anastasia did not sound harsh, but she was being really practical.

Since regressing, Vincent had barely done anything different.

If he remembered right, then the day after tomorrow, close to midnight, he would die again from the Northern Commander’s blade.

Time was ticking and every moment he relaxed would lead to the death of many including his own.

Vincent sighed. "You’re right. But there are some things I can’t change."

Yesterday was important due to various reasons.

Today was important too due to the court, Agnes, and anchor notification.

Tomorrow would once again be important for further development with Agnes and Leona’s breakthrough.

Changing these series of events wasn’t right. But, if he did not make a move now and relaxed, everything would end up repeating.

Vincent leaned forward and took hold of his teacup, taking a sip and feeling awake.

"Thank you for the reminder," he said and stared at the papers before him.

Anastasia smiled faintly, noticing his resolve.

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him in her embrace, planting a soft kiss on top of his head.

"I’m your personal attendant now, it’s my duty to look after you."

Vincent glanced up.

’Right... she got promoted again last night...’

Vincent chuckled softly and went back to work while continuing to sip tea.

His attention moved toward Copper Town.

Its walls, the burrows, the villagers, Vanessa covered in blood, Anastasia trapped between monsters, the Northern Commander rushing toward him, and every other unfortunate event.

Vincent put his teacup down and picked up the pen.

He did not sigh helplessly again, but began writing orders upon the blank piece of paper.

The first order went toward the northern border where the former Knight Order Captains and Commanders were guarding against the bandits.

They were to move to the border between Copper Town and the highlands, surveying the small hamlets, farms, and isolated settlements near the mountain boundaries.

Residents were to be moved toward larger towns under the excuse of increased monster sightings.

Livestock could be moved where practical.

People came first.

Vincent stared at the word ’excuse’ he wrote, then crossed it out.

’Why do I, their lord, need to make an excuse? If I want them moved, I’ll have them moved.’

Just as Vincent thought of this, he had another thought surface.

’Wait, if I make them move like this, won’t it be suspicious? Like, I don’t know, but what if someone investigates and finds out that I moved them in advance? Won’t they find me suspicious and question me on how I knew of the beast tide?’

Vincent crossed the entire line in the order and instead wrote that due to the rumors regarding increased monster appearances, the villagers are to be moved.

Rumors had no basis, and he could just make an excuse of paranoia if someone questioned him later.

Not to mention...

"Here, issue this stating it’s the Countess’s order," Vincent handed the paper to Anastasia.

This was the second layer of protection.

He had quite a close bond with his mother now. She wouldn’t mind taking responsibility if push came to serve.

Anastasia took the paper and asked, "Are there any more orders, young master?"

"Yes. Don’t go, I’ll hand you a few more."

Vincent began writing another order.

This one was more specific.

The Northern Commander was to take a reconnaissance group into the inner Highlands.

The outer highlands were in D’Arc County where the hamlets and farms were present.

The inner Highlands is what D’Arc County actually bordered, so it wouldn’t take much effort for this small team to venture there.

The recon team was to investigate abnormal monster movement, damaged terrain, strange sounds, missing wildlife, or anything else suggesting a large threat.

They were to remain in the region overnight but if the conditions did not allow or they encountered anything beyond their ability, they were to retreat and report immediately.

Whatever was up with the Northern Commander or his identity, Vincent wasn’t in a hurry to expose it.

’If he dies during the recon mission, it’s good. If he doesn’t, even better.’

Vincent continued writing.

The third message was a letter to Vanessa.

Vincent spent longer on this one.

"Hello Vanessa,

I hope you’re doing good. I am doing good too. Mom is also well.

I’m sure you’ve dealt with the rats by the time you receive this.

Good job, I’m proud of you.

Now let me get to the point.

Can you do a few things—

No, I need you to do a few things for me.

First, please have several of the monster rats packed properly and sent to the Capital on the first available train. Don’t send rotten ones. I need intact bodies for examination.

Second, please be careful around the former Knight Order.

I don’t have evidence, so don’t accuse anyone or start arresting people.

I simply have reason to believe there may be spies among the Captains, Commanders, or their men.

Please keep your eyes open.

Also..."

Vincent stopped.

He tapped the pen against the paper.

Then continued.

"...could I borrow Felicia for a few days?

I need someone competent who can investigate things quietly.

If you need her with you, ignore this part.

Your safety comes first.

Love you.

Your big brother,

Vincent."

Vincent read the letter again.

Good enough.

He handed it to Anastasia and moved onto matters related to Copper Town’s administration.

Orders were sent to map the old monster-rat burrows and every drainage route connected to the grain district.

The Railguards were instructed to inspect the maintenance of train engines, external steam valves, reinforced pressure hoses, and the railway station overall.

Then he asked them to inspect weak foundations around the western slums, particularly abandoned tunnels and smuggling passages near the walls.

One railway warehouse was to be cleared and stocked with blankets, preserved food, clean water, and basic medicine.

Vincent paused.

He was issuing too many strangely specific orders.

To not appear suspicious again, he added mundane explanations.

Plague containment.

Fire prevention.

Structural inspections.

Emergency refugee preparation due to increased monster sightings.

All of them were believable.

More importantly, all of them would become useful too.

By the time Vincent put his pen down, several pages rested before him.

Anastasia quietly read through them.

"This will change things."

"I hope so."

Vincent leaned back.

He looked toward the window.

The afternoon light had already weakened.

A maid knocked and informed them dinner would be served shortly.

Vincent glanced at the stack of orders.

He had not stopped the monster tide yet or discovered why the Northern Commander killed him, and hadn’t found the reason for the increase in number of monsters as well.

However, with these orders, at least he was taking a step in the right direction and changing things that actually matter.

Many lives would be saved due to him, and the villagers wouldn’t be in as much panic.

’Wait... won’t this lead to them owing me their lives?’

Vincent frowned.

He looked at the orders for a brief second, then handed it to Anastasia anyway.

’I’ll have to talk to mom about this karma thing. Maybe she knows how I can resolve it.’

He stood up.

"You can send the reports now, but make sure to be on time for dinner."

Holding the papers, Anastasia nodded her head.

"I’ll keep that in mind, young master."

Vincent stretched his stiff shoulders and followed her toward the door.

’Time to bother mom again...’

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