Chapter 95

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 95

Chapter Title: Family Above All

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"Unless it has nothing to do with the Duvereds."

Yohan replied in a flat voice, and the corner of Dowager Duchess Camilla's mouth slowly curved upward.

"I've always believed that the most important thing in an engagement is the opinion of the parties involved."

That was true enough.

That was why he hadn't taken Leticia as a daughter-in-law—a girl from a family far humbler than a grand duke's, with parents and siblings bound to stir up all sorts of trouble.

Dowager Duchess Camilla's bold attitude prompted Yohan to pull my hand closer as he spoke.

"We'll be sure to convey Your Grace's intentions. Though I can't say what Father will think."

"Is that a threat?"

"Perish the thought."

He replied smoothly, opened the door, and glanced back at the dowager.

"Father did say that anyone with impure motives who wants to cross the Duvered threshold had better be prepared to kill him... or at least be ready to die."

Yohan gently nudged my back, ushering me out of the room, then added,

"Of course, whether you'll even be able to stand before him in one piece is another matter entirely."

Dowager Duchess Camilla flinched.

***

Back from the dowager's estate, I sat on the sofa and stole glances at my family.

"Has that old hag lost her mind?!"

The family had heard the story from Yohan and was seething with excitement.

Their fury the moment daughter-in-law talk came up meant they'd already gotten wind that she had a granddaughter my age.

'Terrifying... the Duvereds.'

It had only been a few days since the dowager started hunting for a daughter-in-law and granddaughter.

And it had all been done so discreetly that even Viscount Bartu, Leticia's father, was clueless about his daughter's connection to the duke.

If he knew, they wouldn't still be groveling as the Marquis house's lapdogs.

'But for them to already know... just how far does their intelligence network stretch?'

The thought chilled me, and I swallowed dryly.

Henri, fiddling with his teacup handle with a icy expression, spoke to Father, who looked equally menacing.

"Assign the raven contacts and Eugene Nos to me. We'll drive them out within four days."

Ishak, grinding his teeth, glared at Father too.

"Give me a thousand imperial troops. I'll bring back all their heads."

There was no "they" specified, but it was clear he meant Dowager Duchess Camilla and her ducal house.

Father's hand, tapping the sofa armrest—tap, tap—stopped abruptly, as if a decision had been made. I nearly screamed.

'This is bad!'

The grandmother I'd barely secured was about to vanish.

I could already picture the dowager's mansion crumbling under Duvered boots, and a shiver ran down my spine.

'No helping it, then.'

I cupped my cheeks with both hands and let out a deep, theatrical sigh—"Ahhh..."

All eyes turned to me at once.

"What's wrong?"

Auntie asked, so I drooped my brows on purpose and declared,

"I don't need a fiancé or anything!"

The Duvered men, their faces twisted in murderous rage, flinched.

I widened my eyes even more teary-like and cried out to Auntie. Inside, I felt like a warrior charging into a blazing inferno with a bucket of water on my back.

"I just wanna live with my family forever!"

Ishak cleared his throat awkwardly.

"...Really?"

"Yeah! 'Cause Dad and my brothers are the coolest in the world!"

"Right!"

He grinned, so I widened my eyes rounder and continued.

"Dad and my brothers are all knights. Knights who protect the weak and don't kill indiscriminately! Right?"

"Uh? Y-Yeah... s-sure."

Ishak stammered in confusion, so I turned to Henri.

"You said bad nobles abuse their power, but our family doesn't. Right?"

"...Y-Yeah."

Then I looked at Father.

"Nos said it's way, waaay harder to be a good ruler than a good administrator. Making the right decisions is the hardest part. So Dad's the coolest 'cause he's a good ruler! Right?"

"...Yeah."

I beamed and clapped my hands.

"See? My family's the coolest, so I wanna live with them forever!"

—I said.

Father and my brothers flinched.

"We'll think it over again. It might be a rash decision."

"Yes."

"Yeah, 'cause I'm a righteous knight."

Hearing them, I nodded inwardly.

Phew. Good thing.

No need to find a new grandma.

With that relief washing over me, I finally escaped the thornbush thicket of a room—after repeating "Dad and brothers are the coolest!" about a hundred times.

As I started up the stairs, Yohan appeared out of nowhere.

"What about me?"

"Huh?"

"..."

"...?"

"...Never mind."

He muttered, walked off in the opposite direction, and I tilted my head.

***

A few days later, the day of my first lesson with the dowager arrived.

Upon reaching Dowager Duchess Camilla's estate and stepping out of the carriage, I greeted her as she came to meet me.

"Greetings, Dowager Duchess."

"...Yes."

She acknowledged me curtly, her expression sour, then eyed the three companies of knights who'd arrived with my carriage.

"I don't have tea sets enough to entertain all of you in my mansion."

The knights boomed back at the polite dismissal common in high society.

"Even washbasins would do!"

"There aren't enough chairs for you all to wait outside either."

Even at the blunt "get lost," they shouted,

"The doghouse roof is fine by us!"

"...Do as you please."

The dowager sighed in exasperation, turned on her heel, and I trotted after her. At the entrance steps, I grabbed her arm.

"What are you doing?"

"Once we go in, I gotta act all ladylike like a noble miss, so I wanted to hug you now!"

'Truth is, I know your knees aren't great, so arm it is.'

The dowager, being elderly, couldn't avoid aches and pains everywhere—especially her knees.

But she hated showing her age. She acted so perfectly fine in public that no one knew about her joint troubles.

'But I know.'

She was on the Luminus potion buyer list.

I'd wondered why she, who ignored rumors, bought it. Then I noticed, watching her closely.

All parties she attended had no stairs.

And she'd subtly furrow her brow every time she sat.

'Knees hurt.'

I grinned innocently like a child. But the dowager seemed to guess my intent and chuckled softly.

"No wonder she can't resist you."

I smiled brightly and helped her into the mansion.

The dowager led me to a grand room with one entire wall of windows.

Beyond them stretched lush green lawns and a grove of beautiful deciduous trees.

"This is your training room from now on. Garden out front, glass greenhouse further in. Remember that."

"Yes, Dowager Duchess."

I answered obediently, and she stepped aside to let me look around.

Opening the glass door, a fresh grassy scent filled my nose. Sunlight poured everywhere, the breeze was cool—perfect for walking.

Strolling about, I stopped dead at the greenhouse.

'Adrian's familiar?'

Even after the smaller fish from that pair five years ago vanished, this one lingered.

I felt a bit intimidated.

'Just how strong is Adrian's divine power?'

It had maintained the familiar for two years back then—nearly seven now.

The fish approached, tickling my cheek with its tail.

This puppy-like, affectionate familiar was so cute I giggled.

I extended my hand; it swam into my palm, circling playfully.

"Good, good boy."

That was when it happened.

"Come here, Armand."

No sooner had the familiar voice sounded than Armand slipped from my palm.

"Adrian."

"..."

"Been well?"

His vivid crimson eyes fixed on me steadily.

"Lady Duvered."

'He figured it out.'

Not surprising if he hadn't.

His eyes were deeply sunken. I'd suggested friendship then lied about my name—he must feel betrayed.

'In times like this...'

As I pondered, Adrian asked flatly,

"Was it fun deceiving me—"

"I'm sorry!!"

Better to strike first!

Apologize like mad.

"I panicked and used my brother's name when I stumbled into the barrier! I didn't think I'd see you again!"

"Then why when I asked about Ami—"

"Sorry!! I should've said then, but I forgot 'cause I was flustered!"

"What did it feel like receiving my letter—"

"I'll reflect on it!! I did it on purpose to deceive you! ...Yeah. Sorry. You're right to be mad! My fault. I'm truly sorry. I'm really reflecting. No excuses. You're totally justified!"

Before I could finish, my frantic groveling left Adrian flustered.

***

A while later.

Adrian gazed at the thoroughly cowed little girl with his usual expression.

Staring at the child—like a frightened squirrel or a bird about to take flight—he slowly spoke.

"You weren't trying to trick me because you hate me, right?"

"No!"

"Then we're good."

At Adrian's words, Leblain blinked. Her bright eyes practically screamed, That's it?

"You're forgiving me?"

"Yeah."

"Just like that?"

"Yeah."

"...Adrian, you're an idiot?"

The girl scrunched her face. Despite her apology, she looked more frustrated than I did.

"I tricked you! You should be mad!"

"I tried, but seeing you made it all okay."

"Idiot. I apologized 'cause I was scared you'd get mad. You should be indignant."

Frustrated, she thumped her chest. Urging me that she was sly and bad, so I ought to be angry.

"Got it? I'm the bad one. Okay?"

"Weak people don't call themselves weak."

"How are you gonna survive being this nice?"

As she thumped her chest, Adrian smiled faintly.

"Then will you tell me? Your real name."

She wouldn't know. Truth was, the truly weak one was me.

If my guilt made her think of me once more, that was enough.

Even if not as desperately as I, who lit my pitch-black nights with your memory alone.