Chapter 133

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 133

Chapter Title: Baiting the Trap

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The maids exchanged baffled glances, blinking at each other a few times. Finally, the eldest among them, Dalia, bowed her head.

"Anything Little One desires."

"Just give the order."

Linda, Uni, and Laura chimed in after Dalia.

"Good. Then go cause some terror for me, will you?"

"Lady Elizabeth Nodelli?"

Laura blurted out in surprise, and I shook my head gently.

"No. The great nobles."

"Pardon?"

"If we go after Elizabeth outright, Nodelli will obviously know it was us. I want to avoid all-out war if possible. That's why we're using Elizabeth to bring down Marquis Nodelli."

The emperor wouldn't be thrilled about infighting among the great nobles, and if Duke Marshu was the ringleader, we'd have to fight two wars.

Once we took down Marquis Nodelli and then Duke Marshu, win or lose, the nobles would tremble in fear. 'Who's next? Me?'

I didn't want the nobles banding together against Duvered. So the Nodelli matter had to be handled as discreetly as possible.

'But that doesn't mean I'll leave Marquis Nodelli alone in the meantime!'

"So, what should we do?"

"We need to blow up Dad's ambush incident."

Linda, the wisest of the maids, narrowed her eyes.

"......Not the 'Duke Duvered Assassination Attempt,' but an 'Assassination Targeting the Great Nobles,' right?"

"Exactly."

I stood up and faced the maids.

"Go smash every carriage belonging to the great nobles. Make it so the emperor has no choice but to suspect someone targeting Dad."

"As you command."

The maids gathered their skirts and curtsied lightly.

Suicide bombers? Give me a break.

I've got a wanted poster squad!

A few weeks later.

"Marquis Shuheil was attacked today, right?"

"Last time it was Count Wiltro they targeted. What's the world coming to......"

As I walked down the corridor, I overheard the servants whispering and smirked, curling my lip upward.

I kept a straight face, but inside, I wanted to roll on the floor laughing my head off.

'Good job, good job!'

The maids were incredibly competent.

Linda, the former con artist, had devised the plan's framework. Uni, the ex-loan shark, had recruited the soldiers. And Dalia, the serial killer who'd never been caught even after slaughtering over a hundred rapists, handled the execution.

The capital was in an uproar, naturally. The great nobles avoided going out for fear of attacks, and the imperial palace came to Dad—the first victim—to hunt for the terrorists.

With things like this, I didn't even need to see Marquis Nodelli's face to know.

'His legs must be shaking!'

I hugged my book and skipped along, humming a tune.

I peeked into Dad's room, craning my neck.

"Um, can I come in?"

Dad nodded, and Nos grinned as he opened the door.

I pulled up a chair familiarly and sat beside Dad. Then I spread out various herbs and ointments and opened my book.

Lately, my hobby had been slathering Dad's wounds with beneficial salves and herbs to overflowing.

I focused intently, gently applying ointment to Dad's arm. Nos chuckled.

"With Little One tending to him so diligently, it's weirder that it's not healing faster."

"Right? Dad's arm has improved a lot, hasn't it?"

I cleared my throat with an ahem and lifted my chin proudly.

Dad let out a soft chuckle and ruffled my hair lightly. My aunt, who was there with him, gave a thin smile.

"She cried so much the first time she offered to apply the medicine."

'Forget that!'

Last week's dark history flashed back.

I'd heard Dad had dismissed the doctor to focus on work and rushed over, only to panic because the wound was deeper than expected.

'That day, I even used alchemy......'

My divine power was low, so adult-level healing hadn't worked well.

'Yeah, that's it. It wasn't like I cried like a real baby over the wound.'

[Dad, lemme put on medicine...... Waaahhhh...... Sir David (head physician) said it's good stuff...... Waaahhh!!]

Seeing me bawl, the family turned away, their shoulders shaking faintly.

[What's so funny! Bad! Dad's hurt...... Waaahhhh!!]

Recalling the embarrassing memory, I flushed and shook my head vigorously.

"I thought you were all grown up, but you're still a child."

Teased by my aunt, I coughed awkwardly and changed the subject.

"Auntie."

"Yes."

"Can we have a party at the mansion?"

"At a time like this?"

"The etiquette officer said it's necessary in times like these. It shows Duvered isn't fazed even after the attack."

Auntie hummed thoughtfully, stroking her chin.

"The nobles might hesitate to let their children go out."

"I have an idea for that. If the party is a huge success, it could reaffirm Duvered's security."

"Well...... Do as you wish. In a house without a lady, it's the lord's daughter who oversees such matters. You don't need to ask me."

I replied cheerfully, "Yes!"

'Alright, now I need some help......'

I glanced at Henri and Ishak lounging on the sofa in Dad's study. They looked puzzled at my subtle gaze.

"Busy?"

"Busy enough to curse."

"A party? What a pain...... Oof!"

Ishak, muttering, suddenly clutched his foot and glared at Henri.

"Why'd you step—"

Henri clamped Ishak's mouth shut and smiled softly.

"We have time to help with the party, Leblain."

Ishak rolled his eyes dramatically, then said, "Ah."

"Yeah, we've got time for that. Big bro's not here, but we are."

I had no idea why he'd changed his mind so suddenly, but it was good for me.

I beamed and grabbed my brothers' hands, shaking them vigorously. "Thanks!"

Elizabeth pouted as she watched the young ladies hugging their invitations and smiling brightly.

"Lady Duvered is so thoughtless."

"Pardon? Why do you say that?"

"A party at a time like this. Mother says it's disrespectful to guardians. Invitations from a ducal house are hard to decline, but sending children out in dangerous times is troubling for parents."

The young ladies smiled awkwardly as Elizabeth grumbled.

Such an interpretation was possible, but it wasn't something for Elizabeth—who summoned them to the mansion daily—to say.

The freckled, cheerful young lady grinned widely.

"But they said they'd send an escort from the mansion! With Duvered's guards, doesn't that put your mind at ease?"

"Hmph. Even Duke Duvered was attacked—what good are escorts?"

"But the three young masters are coming as escorts......"

The young ladies blushed and pursed their lips.

Family members escorting guests to their estates happened for VIPs, but escorts from the Duvered young masters was unprecedented.

It showed Duvered's sincerity for the party, so few parents objected.

The three Duvered sons weren't betrothed yet, drawing parents hoping for marriage alliances.

"I hope Henri comes."

"I'd like Ishak......"

"Will Yohan come too?"

Elizabeth's hand twitched.

'Yohan escorting other ladies?'

Her face twisted instantly.

'Those wicked girls!'

Yohan must be swamped handling affairs in place of the attacked duke—how could they burden him like that? Truly thoughtless girls.

'She must have begged and cried. Kind Yohan had no choice but to accept.'

Otherwise, refined Yohan would never escort anyone but her.

Elizabeth bit her lip hard.

'She didn't even send me an invitation!'

Imagining Yohan holding another lady's hand made her blood boil.

"......That party sounds boring. Instead, let's play in my greenhouse. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager gifted me a flower deer. I'll show you—it's so cute!"

The young ladies, who usually gave in to Elizabeth's whims, looked troubled and didn't respond.

How lavish had the mock battle victory party at Duvered been.

'Plus, Duvered's lady has three handsome princes more beautiful than any flower deer!'

Handsome men were a joy to behold—how could the party be dull?

"Shall we go to the palace together? The palace is truly safe! Come with me, and you can see His Majesty the Emperor. He's so affectionate with me, always calling me his dear Elizabeth."

"......"

"What? Everyone!"

But the young ladies left without answering.

Elizabeth pulled a sad face. No one had ever refused her beloved self before. Not until that girl arrived in the capital!

'She's awful. A naughty girl, that Duvered lady.'

"Elizabeth?"

"Mother......"

Seeing her mother enter the greenhouse, Elizabeth seized the moment and burst into tears.

"What's wrong?"

"The Duvered lady is mean!"

Princess Ingrid panicked at her daughter wailing upon seeing her.

"What happened?"

"She's holding a party at a time like this! No consideration. Right? She's bad, isn't she? Putting my friends in danger. And to me...... she didn't even send an invitation!"

Shouldn't invitations come to her first? Both the emperor and Empress Dowager adored her so. She was the empire's most precious child.

"I see. That must hurt."

How pained her proud daughter must feel.

Stroking her daughter's back, Princess Ingrid sighed.

After putting the exhausted, crying Elizabeth to bed, she headed to her husband's study.

Marquis Nodelli, irritably tossing documents, scowled at his wife entering without knocking.

"What is it?"

"Elizabeth's upset she didn't get an invitation from Duvered."

"And?"

"I want you to get her one."

Marquis Nodelli's face contorted.

"Is that something to ask?! My head's already pounding from the great nobles' attacks!"

The ambush on Duke Duvered had morphed into serial attacks on great nobles due to the unclear culprits.

With nobles' outrage piercing the heavens, the palace desperately sought suspects.

'At this rate, I'll take the fall.'

Princess Ingrid's eyes narrowed.

"Fine! I'm the fool for asking you. I'll ask Mother instead."

"Don't even think of sending our daughter to Duvered! I'd sooner tear them apart—their house, where they'd love to kill us!"

Princess Ingrid huffed and stormed out without replying.

'This marriage was a mistake.'

She still couldn't forget Duke Duvered even after marrying. Knowing he had a wife, but unable to suppress her longing, she'd sought him out.

Begging him to choose her properly.

But rejected coldly, she'd settled for Marquis Nodelli in despair.

'Ah, Theodor......'

Clutching a hidden photo of Duke Duvered, Princess Ingrid let out a hot sigh.

I smirked at the letter from the Empress Dowager.

[......Send an invitation to my granddaughter for your party. Such a lovely child—she'd make a fine friend for you Duvered folk.]

Zachari frowned.

"The Empress Dowager, always...... She must know about Little One and Lady Nodelli, yet she makes such a request."

"So what. The important thing is—"

I smiled slyly and eyed the pre-written invitation.

[To Lady Ingrid Nodelli, Marchioness, and Lady Elizabeth Nodelli.]

"—that Elizabeth took the bait."

[Yes, Lady Duvered! I mentioned Yohan's name in front of Lady Nodelli. She got so worked up?]

I twisted my lips at the portraits of Princess Ingrid and Elizabeth.

"They attacked my family, so their house crumbling to pieces is the least to make it even, right?"