Marked as the Tyrant's Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 24

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I talked with Uncle Fanel, no, Duke Famel Guermont for a while.

We sat on a small rock, and he took off his helmet and placed it on the rock.

His characteristic mohawk hairstyle was revealed in the moonlight.

His dark skin and the scars on his face were still the same.

Seeing his familiar face, memories of Galnem village came flooding back.

Uncle Fanel was most impressed with me when we played chess.

With a rickety wooden chessboard with names barely carved on it, I often played chess with uncle under the shade of a tree.

And out of five games, I would win three.

Chess was one of the games I was best at.

“To use such tactics… A method that strikes at unexpected vulnerabilities. If we had used this method in the war with Zilles, we might have taken the city without bloodshed. Hmm.”

Uncle would review our chess moves, muttering to himself, and then praise me with his iron-like voice.

“Arinel. You must surely come under my command.”

Because everyone in Galnem village had their quirks, I thought Uncle Fanel calling himself ‘this one’ was just part of his unique personality.

When the big-bodied uncle plowed the field a couple of times with his large iron rake, it would do the work that would take me half a day, and each time, I would express my gratitude by bringing him sliced red beetroot.

“It’s easy to preserve, so it would be suitable as military rations. Truly an excellent idea.”

Now that I think about it, uncle seemed to have quite different thoughts when looking at the sliced beetroot I gifted him.

“To sit with you again like this, it truly brings back memories.”

“I… never imagined it. That you were the Military Minister, uncle.”

Certainly, for farm work in a small place like Galnem village, his build and aura exuded an overwhelming presence.

“Hoho, were you surprised?”

Standing over 2 meters tall, with an intense aura that made you shrink just by making eye contact.

Seeing uncle wearing a helmet and holding an iron whip, I could immediately understand that he had a different main occupation.

“This one’s family, the Guermonts, has been a prestigious military family moving the armies of the Aslet Imperial family for generations, and I went to Galnem together to guard His Majesty.”

“I see… So that’s how it was.”

Aunt Piolet… no, Lady Alens, and now him. This is the second time.

A neighbor who was hiding their power in Galnem along with Parmes Aslet.

“Then beside you and Aunt Piolet… are there others?”

There were seven households in Galnem, one of which was my house, and one was Uncle Zimmer’s… Parmes’ house.

Then, surely the others too.

Thud-

Even though he just put his hand down on the rock, I could feel the vibration.

A vibration that felt like it would make a little kid like me bounce up and down.

“Even if there are, it’s as if there aren’t. They will lose in the succession war against me, so it will be said that only this Famel Guermont existed. Fame that doesn’t continue is like a blank paper!”

“Ah…”

He seemed to get excited thinking about someone in response to my question.

And I couldn’t understand what he was saying. In fact, even in Galnem, conversations with Uncle Fanel weren’t very smooth.

“Arinel.”

He called my name in a deep, metallic voice.

“The reason this one came to this masquerade ball today was all to meet you. And in Galnem, it was only this Famel Guermont who most clearly recognized your qualities.”

“Um… Your Grace.”

“There is no talent like you in the Guermont family, so for the eternal peace and prosperity of the empire, this one…”

“I’m sorry, but I think I need to go now.”

I stood up abruptly, seeing Briton approaching from afar.

The reunion with Uncle Fanel, no, Duke Famel Guermont, was very welcome and I was grateful, but today wasn’t an appropriate day for a long conversation.

“The ballroom is the safest place for Arinel. Only those whose identities have been verified can enter the ballroom. I would appreciate it if you, Master, could quietly search for any impure groups lying in the ambush outside the ballroom. I will recheck the identities of the nobles in the ballroom and come back to fetch Arinel.”

That’s what Briton had said before leaving me with Famel and going inside.

And now, it seemed Briton had finished verifying the identities of those inside the ballroom.

“…It can’t be helped. For the safety of my successor and to purge the impure ones.”

Famel let out a sigh that would be ‘small’ from his perspective, but felt as big as a dragon’s roar to someone as small as me, and stood up.

The giant figure standing over 2 meters tall spoke to me.

“Go in safely, Arinel. Let’s meet again soon, shall we?”

The dark iron whip that would crush the bones of enemies stood slanted by his side.

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“What did Duke Famel Guermont say to you?”

In response to Briton’s question, I puffed my cheeks slightly and answered.

“He keeps calling me the successor of the military department.”

It was the same reaction as when I reunited with Lady Alens.

He seemed to have evaluated me as a very talented child since our time in Galnem village.

“That’s ridiculous. I’ve never even swung a sword once.”

I shook my head.

But Briton, who was wearing a faint smile, said to me.

“While he does teach swordsmanship as my master, the most important virtue of the Military Minister is not physical strength. It’s rare for them to go out and directly strike down enemies even if a war breaks out.”

“……”

“Well, that’s historically speaking. It seems the current Military Minister, Duke Guermont, is a different type.”

Then, the most important virtue of the military department is……

“The brain to move troops. It requires meticulous calculation of how to make the best moves in battle, how to attack the enemy’s weaknesses with the least sacrifice.”

“Then I’m even less suited. I’m far from such things.”

“……”

“Actually, Lady Alens, the Minister of Internal Affairs, also offered me to become her successor. She said I have talent in etiquette and social affairs.”

I continued, recalling what had happened to me.

“But that can’t be. I’ve already fallen out with the Matzert Duchess’s side. Those women look at me like I’m a misplaced stake.”

But to say I seem talented in social affairs, she must have misjudged.

“Well… Regarding Matzert, you did well. An important quality in social circles is the ‘sense’ to distinguish between enemies and allies, so Lady Alens probably became even more certain seeing your resolute attitude.”

Briton looked at me with a somewhat meaningful gaze.

With his serious look, I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but he seemed to trust me greatly.

Briton smiled gently and continued.

“In my view… You have abundant qualities, my lady.”

“……”

“That’s why everyone is coveting you. Hoping that you’ll choose their field.”

It was somewhat embarrassing to hear such words from the genius Crown Prince born with a silver spoon.

And about qualities……

‘In modern times, I was just an ordinary company employee who grew up normally…’

How could someone like me have such great qualities?

Just as I was about to refute slightly,

“So I feel a bit anxious too. I need to become a husband who’s not lacking for you.”

Even though I wasn’t drinking water, I suddenly coughed roughly upon hearing those words.

I choked on dry air.

Cough- Cough-

Husband… Such a sudden attack is unfair.

Yet Briton, who had said such words, looked at me with kind eyes as if nothing was wrong, patting my small back.

“Seeing smoke from the back, it seems they’ve burned something while cooking.”

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It was when we re-entered the ballroom wearing our masks.

“Oh no, the Cramul sherbet needs to go out, but all the Cramul is ruined……”

“Young Viscount Jile and Lady Matten were playing with fire in the storehouse. The fire’s out, but we can’t restore the burned food.”

“What should we do? We’re short on fruits for the sherbet.”

Suddenly, I heard the voices of servants and maids.

Hearing their urgent and bewildered voices, it seemed quite a big problem had occurred.

‘Young Viscount Jile and Lady Matten… I think they were part of Lariel’s group.’

“Isn’t there anything in reserve?”

“No, there isn’t. This is troublesome.”

Because Emperor Albreon ate Cramul sherbet after the first ball ended, nobles traditionally looked for this sherbet at the end of Albreon’s ball.

Seeing their confusion, it seemed an accident had occurred and they couldn’t get more Cramul.

“……Excuse me for a moment, Your Highness.”

“My lady……?”

I briefly excused myself to Briton and trotted into the kitchen.

As expected, chaos had broken out here too.

“Damn it, we need to find Cramul somehow.”

“If we ruin the masquerade ball, all our heads will roll!”

Some of the cooks were even terrified.

‘To think lives are at stake in the Imperial Palace just because they can’t eat some Cramul sherbet……’

I had no obligation to help them, but I couldn’t just stand by when they said their lives were hanging by a thread.

And I realized this was a perfect opportunity to reveal the identity of the dessert that had become the talk of the social world, centered around Lady Alens!