Chapter 142

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 142

Chapter Title: Blood Oaths and Schemes

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The next afternoon.

The Chairman who had come to the mansion frowned as he looked at me.

"You've turned into a crucian carp since I last saw you."

"Hey!"

I scowled fiercely, and he chuckled softly.

"Your eyes are all puffy like a crucian carp, but your expression is so relaxed—it looks like things worked out well."

I cleared my throat with a hem and turned my head away.

"Chairman, Dad wants you in his study. Hurry."

"...Am I finally going to die today?"

"I don't know about that, but anyway, Dad and my brothers know who I really am now. They know you're my person, too."

I'd only told Dad yesterday for sure, but when I woke up this morning, my brothers had all come rushing in, asking, "Little one, is your adult thinking working properly today?"

I'd been flustered and hemming and hawing when Henri said, "Looks like it is today. Kind of a shame," with a laugh.

Dad must have told them.

And it seemed like my brothers had forgiven me. That was a huge relief.

The Chairman let out a sigh.

"I might die today after all."

"But Dad forgave me yesterday—"

"It's different when you don't say it versus when I, your retainer, don't."

He was right. The Chairman was the head of the Elder Council, responsible for safeguarding House Duvered. Knowing information harmful to the house and not reporting it was as good as treason.

That was one of the reasons I couldn't reveal my identity.

I was mulling this over when—

"Leblain."

The voice from the top of the stairs made me snap my head up.

"Henri!"

Behind him, Yohan and Ishak were coming down together.

"Little one, heading to the study? Father called for us too."

"Yeah. And..."

I glanced at the Chairman, and quick-witted Henri smiled gently. As he reached the bottom of the stairs, he extended his hand to me.

"It's fine. If he meant to kill the Chairman, we'd have gotten the order yesterday."

"You think so...?"

Henri nodded and shot the Chairman a look.

"Logically speaking, it's a good thing the Chairman helped you. At least someone who could keep things under control was by your side."

"Right! The Chairman—"

"But emotions are another matter."

As Henri's eyes turned icy, the Chairman let out a groan. But he quickly straightened his attire and followed behind my brothers.

He'd grown much kinder after five years with me, but he was still the Chairman of the Elder Council—Father's greatest rival in the house. Though he claimed to fear death, he surely had the confidence to persuade Father or survive.

That's why I could keep him by my side.

My brothers, the Chairman, and I entered Father's study.

As we sat on the sofa, Father began.

"We're here to discuss the future."

At the word "discuss," the Chairman looked at Father in surprise. My eyes went wide too. The Duke of Duvered was a man who commanded, not consulted with others.

Henri spoke first.

"First and foremost, it's about trust. A vow never to reveal Leblain's true identity."

When I saw the magic artifact and paper he pulled from his breast pocket, I shot to my feet.

"A blood oath artifact...!"

"That's right, Leblain."

"That's a dangerous holy relic that destroys your body if you break the promise!"

"That's exactly why we need it now."

"The Chairman would never reveal my identity, no matter what."

"Do you really believe that?"

I flinched at Henri's words.

"I've looked into the people you chose. The deputy head of the Hope Merchant Guild, his aide, Zachary, and the Chairman. They're all people with something more precious than their own lives. In the worst case, they wouldn't sacrifice themselves for you."

"..."

"I respect your intentions. You can regress again, so you chose them hoping they'd survive even if you died. You didn't choose Lea, whom you love most, because she'd unconditionally sacrifice herself for you."

"..."

"There may be trust between you and your people, but we can't rest easy on that alone. We need a firm bond. We're going to turn Duvered into an independent nation."

"...For my sake?"

"For all of us."

The Chairman tugged at my sleeve.

"Master Henri is right. We're traitors. We're plotting against the empire."

"But...!"

"Let us bear the responsibility of our choices. Little One, you have no right to take that away from us."

"..."

"We live together, we die together. That's the price this old man pays for staking his life on you."

The Chairman signed the blood oath first. The artifact glowed red, and crack-like tattoos appeared on his body. They vanished quickly, but they were like a collar.

Next was Yohan. Then Henri, Ishak, and finally Father.

Watching them sign felt utterly strange. It was heartbreaking, yet some emotion welled up inside me at the same time.

After dying three times, in my fourth life, I'd met people who trusted and loved me absolutely.

How lucky am I?

It was odd to feel happy here, even while fearing someone might sacrifice for me.

I sniffled, and Ishak grinned mischievously, pinching my nose and shaking it.

"Crying again. Such a crybaby."

"..."

"You're more suited to being a little sister than a big one."

Ishak crossed his arms and nodded solemnly.

"What?"

"I don't know your past lives. All I know is the nine-year-old you. So I'm the big brother! Got it?"

What was he even saying?

I tilted my head, but Henri and Yohan chuckled.

After stifling their laughter for a while, Henri spoke again.

"Good. Then, Chairman, get blood oaths from Celia, Zachary, and Trigon too."

"Yes."

"Next is the problem of Marquis Nodelli... Father, if Duke Marsch is the ringleader, just like what Leblain heard in Ballua, this is our chance."

The Chairman asked, "A chance, you say?"

"Marsch and Nodelli have a special relationship. Marsch kept backing Nodelli's absurd ventures."

"Backing them?"

I blinked in shock, eyes wide.

Duke Marsch? No way!

Why would that wise old man?

"Leblain, Marsch runs a merchant guild called Rocones from the shadows."

"Rocones... I've heard that name somewhere..."

"Probably from investigating Nodelli. Rocones backed him every time he cooked up nonsense like umbrella businesses or dust-absorbing systems."

I nodded.

It was information neither I, the Chairman, nor the Hope Merchant Guild could obtain.

With Dad and my brothers' help, things are so much easier.

Father owned the empire's top intelligence network, Dark Sparrow, and Henri and Yohan had their own connections—their intel was far superior.

Ah, but Rocones sounds familiar from somewhere else...

Yesterday's shock and crying myself to exhaustion meant my past-life memories weren't flashing back clearly.

What was it?

"Umbrella business? The Magic Tower already sells umbrellas overflowing with functions and has cornered the market. That's insane. And dust-absorbing systems? The capital is surrounded by mountains—no need for that."

"The head of Rocones Merchant Guild is actually Jennerd, Duke Marsch's cousin."

"Empress Dowager's brother?"

"Yes, a former weather official who studies climate..."

Climate!

I gasped.

"Mina's merchant guild!"

"...What?"

"The real Child of Destiny, Mina. In my first life, to raise relief funds, she bought up several guilds, and Rocones was one of them."

"To outsiders, Rocones looked like an empty shell. Why would the true Child of Destiny, backed by the temple, buy something like that...?"

I looked at Father, and he, my brothers, and even the Chairman narrowed their eyes.

Father, eyes slitted, said,

"No way Marsch would just hand over a guild he runs in the shadows."

"Then..."

"High chance it's tangled with the real Child of Destiny."

"After Rocones became Mina's, it grew ridiculously. It later renamed to Nurs Merchant Guild—everyone forgot the old name, but Nurs is hugely famous."

"Why?"

"Incredible resourcefulness. Whenever a natural disaster hit, they'd prepare supplies faster than anyone... droughts."

Right, droughts!

The water source need was because a massive drought was coming. But Nurs—no, Rocones Merchant Guild—was already tied to disasters even before Mina.

When I explained, Henri let out a hollow laugh.

"They knew disasters were coming in advance."

"...Marsch must have tipped off Marquis Nodelli about the drought."

"Disasters can't be predicted. That means..."

Our eyes all turned cold.

"They created the disasters. To amass wealth."

Ishak scowled at my words.

"But how? If they could really predict disasters, Nodelli's ventures wouldn't have failed every time."

"They can't create perfect disasters. There's always a risk of failure. So Marsch dragged Nodelli in to shoulder some of that risk."

The Chairman nodded.

"Nodelli and Marsch are definitely in cahoots. But if they fall out..."

Henri's lip curled.

"We'll extend a hand to poor Nodelli. To loosen his tongue. After pushing him off the cliff, of course."

Father stood.

"I'll handle pushing him to the cliff."

I beamed and shot my hand up.

"The Hope Merchant Guild will extend the hand! Once Nodelli divorces Princess Ingrid, he'll desperately need money—he won't refuse our help."

Villainous smiles spread across my family and the Chairman's lips.

And several days later.

Father led the nobles to the imperial palace to petition for Marquis Nodelli's punishment.

Of course, the Marquis—known for trying to poison me using his own child—couldn't escape punishment.

The Marquis himself was flogged. Considering his founding merit house status, the sentence was lightened. His back was shredded, nearly flayed alive, and Princess Ingrid presented him with divorce papers.

One midsummer day, Marquis Nodelli finally divorced!

Princess Ingrid seized the diamond mines and entered the Empress Dowager's private quarters.

For the Empress Dowager to bestow her wealth on her daughter, Ingrid needed restoration as imperial kin—which required no heirs.

A child of Princess Ingrid—not House Nodelli's heir—would have claim to the throne.

In the end, Elizabeth had her name struck from Ingrid's lineage.

The quasi-imperial status she'd boasted so proudly was forever stripped, leaving her merely a marquis's daughter.

With the diamond mines taken, House Nodelli plunged into poverty.

Elizabeth was utterly buried in high society, unable even to throw tantrums.

As Ingrid's daughter, she'd caused quite a stir, so people even sought her out for revenge.

And I felt great.

Now it's time to extend a hand to Marquis Nodelli!

Humming as I headed to the merchant guild, I stepped out into the shopping district.

"You're in an exceptionally good mood today."

"Yeah!"

I was so elated I was practically skipping, not watching where I was going.

"Ah!"

I bumped into someone and rubbed my forehead, looking up.

"My apologies. Are you all right?"

It was a familiar voice.

Frozen stiff, I swallowed dryly and raised my head.

"Badly hurt? Let me see."

I know this man very well.

He was my father in my first life.

"Duke Amities..."