Marked as the Tyrant's Daughter-in-Law - Chapter 27

☁⊹₊┈ㆍ┈ ▫ ┈ㆍ🌱ㆍ┈ ▫ ┈ㆍ┈₊⊹☁

“I didn’t know the beet sherbet was so delicious. As expected, Lady Alens’s desserts are always ahead of the trends.”

“I thought it was an awfully tasteless ingredient, but I couldn’t have imagined this. It will probably become a new trend, right?”

The ladies leaving the ballroom were chattering about the beet sherbet they had eaten today.

“But about Lady Matzert…”

One lady lowered her voice.

They exchanged uneasy glances with each other.

“It seems she’s completely fallen out of His Majesty’s favor, doesn’t it? She was even a strong candidate for the future Crown Princess, but to think His Majesty would give such an order…”

“To speak and act that way towards His Majesty. Actually, I knew it would happen someday. She’s been bullying other children, relying on her family’s influence.”

“Shh. If someone from the Matzert family hears us, they might hold a grudge.”

“Oh, come on. Everyone who was there already knows…”

“Oh my…!”

Their conversation was cut short by another lady’s surprised exclamation.

Just as they stepped outside the ballroom, they shrank their shoulders at the grim scene outside, their eyes wide with shock.

“What is that?!”

Men, battered and bruised all over, were being dragged away with their hands tied in a row.

“Th-th-that person is…”

A man was commanding the soldiers dragging the criminals away. His height, over 2 meters tall, and the enormous iron rod at his waist clearly revealed who he was.

Grand Duke Famel Guermont, Minister of Military Affairs.

He’s a figure of terror, said to freeze anyone who meets his ferocious yellow eyes.

Many soldiers were standing by near the ballroom, sharp as knives, and the nobles’ feet froze in tension at the ominous atmosphere, even though they had committed no crime.

“…Ah.”

One of the ladies who came out felt dizzy at the sight of Grand Duke Guermont’s massive iron rod and collapsed, holding her forehead. Other ladies hurried to support her.

Thud- Thud– The giant figure of Famel Guermont approached the ballroom.

He was the man least suited for this masquerade ball.

After all, no one would fail to recognize him as Famel Guermont, even if he tried to cover his face with a mask.

A voice mixed with chillingly heavy metallic sounds was heard.

“Listen, all of you. I have merely caught the necks of the vermin who dared to threaten the great Aslet Imperial Family by sneaking into the palace.”

“Eek…”

Just hearing that voice, a frail nobleman staggered with a terrified face.

“If anyone has witnessed more subversive elements, report to me immediately.”

Six men were being dragged away, battered and bruised. They had been beaten so badly that their faces were swollen with bruises, making their features unrecognizable.

The nobles hurriedly turned their heads away and quickened their steps.

“L-let’s go. I-I don’t want to be caught…”

“Q-quickly, move…”

“My legs have gone weak…”

People longed to escape from Famel’s line of sight, shrinking their bodies.

Famel stood still, scanning the faces of the people moving in front of him with his vivid yellow eyes.

Even those who had their heads bowed flinched when Famel’s terrifying gaze fell upon them.

And in an instant.

“Hmm.”

Famel’s eyebrow twitched.

People who realized where his gaze had focused involuntarily took a step back from that area.

Thud- Thud-

As Famel approached that direction, the crowd parted like the Red Sea.

Only one person remained standing still in that place.

The presence of Arinel, with her small stature, was revealed only after the people parted.

“That child…”

“Isn’t that the daughter of Marquis Mylar?”

“Yes. The one His Majesty has designated as the future Crown Princess…”

“The child who made the beet sherbet today!”

The ladies stomped their feet with worried expressions.

Although they had never seen Famel harm a child, children would often burst into tears or even faint at the sight of Famel, whose very existence was threatening.

Just as such worrying thoughts arose, Arinel looked up at Famel with fearless, clear eyes.

Everyone held their breath, watching the confrontation between the enormous Minister of Military Affairs and the small, young child.

As Famel reached out his hand towards Arinel’s head, one weak-hearted lady staggered again with dizziness.

“Oh my…”

But the next scene made people gasp in surprise.

“…!”

Famel Guermont, the terrifying Minister of Military Affairs.

The man is known far and wide for his merciless and cruel methods, the Bloodstained One.

With a hand as large as a decent knight’s shield, he very gently patted Arinel’s small head.

“Ho ho, little one. Are you leaving?”

Arinel’s reaction was even more surprising.

Far from turning pale at the terrifying metallic voice, she looked into Famel’s yellow eyes with a bright smile.

As if looking at a friendly neighbor.

“Yes! It’s getting late now.”

Most kids would wet themselves just meeting those eyes.

Even that Matzert lady, who didn’t know her place, never dared to approach Famel’s vicinity.

Wink-

“Yes, replenishing one’s strength through rest is very important on the battlefield. Let’s meet again soon, little one.”

The next scene was even more surprising.

“I-it must be a warning that he’ll k-kill her next time they meet…”

“He winked. So he means he’ll fold her spine…”

“No, he means he’ll dispose of her right before his eyes.”

Famel winked at the child.

Famel… A wink from that terrifying Famel Guermont. It’s unthinkable.

People blurted out anything in their cognitive dissonance, voicing their fear of Famel Guermont.

However, despite Famel’s terrifying threat, the child maintained her clear gaze and smiled brightly.

“I see. There was a reason His Majesty designated her as the future Crown Princess… A heart of steel, indeed.”

“It seems Lady Alens had her reasons for choosing her. Look at that straight posture even under such immense pressure.”

People’s whispers could be heard.

A child who could stand so calmly and look up at Famel, who could be called half-human, half-monster without exaggeration.

Anyone could see this was no ordinary child.

Arinel even waved her hand to Famel before scurrying off to get into the carriage.

Famel’s ferocious yellow eyes watched that spot until the carriage started moving.

☁⊹₊┈ㆍ┈ ▫ ┈ㆍ🌱ㆍ┈ ▫ ┈ㆍ┈₊⊹☁

“Phew…”

Clatter- Clatter-

Inside the carriage, I leaned my small body against the backrest, completely exhausted.

“Oh my! To think such a dangerous thing happened. Are you alright?”

“As you can see, I’m fine.”

Adam, sitting across from me, examined me and then looked relieved after confirming I was okay. Then he continued to ask.

“But was Grand Duke Famel Guermont really in Galnem?”

“Yes. I was surprised to meet him here again.”

“Goodness. To think that two such enormous figures of the Empire, aside from His Majesty, were in Galnem… I can’t believe it.”

It seems the captured men were planning to attack people coming out after the masquerade ball ended today.

However, they happened to catch the eye of Uncle Fanel… no, Grand Duke Guermont, and ended up being dragged away.

“Whew. Anyway, I’m glad nothing happened to you. But… I heard there was another big incident besides that one.”

Adam asked, watching my reaction.

He must have heard the whispers of people around the carriage.

“Yes, there was. Lady Matzert received an order banning her from entering the Imperial Palace events.”

Adam’s eyes filled with surprise at my words.

Duke Matzert, one of the four ministers. Although his influence wasn’t as great as the other three ministers, he still held power incomparable to ordinary nobles.

For his daughter to receive an entry ban to the Imperial Palace from the Emperor was an enormous event.

“Is… is that true?”

“Yes, she can’t enter the Imperial Palace until His Majesty permits it.”

This was a warning that she had severely fallen out of the Emperor’s favor, tantamount to expulsion from social circles, and one of the worst punishments a girl of her age could receive.

Upon hearing the Emperor’s order, Lariel collapsed, sobbing, and her mother, face turned pale, took her daughter away.

Duke Matzert thanked the Emperor for mercifully punishing the crime of insulting the royal family with just this level of punishment.

‘What should I do with him?’

Parmes’s playful expression was still vivid in my mind.

At that moment, many thoughts flashed through my head.

And I came up with a way to make Matzert, one of the four ministers, listen to my request.