The Villainous Family is Against Independence - i_

From the beginning, I didn’t expect the two of them to get along well. I already knew it was impossible even if the sky split in two.

Not only was the relationship between the Perdia family and the Severes family bad, but these two dads had a clear cause for conflict.

The two had been in competition over the same woman, after all.

‘Of course, Mom was incredibly beautiful.’

Recalling Mom’s appearance that I had glimpsed from Dad’s past, I could fully understand why two accomplished men would be so devoted to her.

I understood that they didn’t have good feelings towards each other to that extent, but I couldn’t agree with them fighting over me.

It seemed like there would be no conclusion if they kept fighting like this, so I, had no choice but to make the judgment.

“You two. Listen carefully.”

The communication magic tool was quiet, and Dad looked at me with a serious face. Probably Duke Perdia was also waiting for my next words beyond the magic tool.

I put both hands on my hips and declared.

“I’ll choose who to enter with, so keep that in mind.”

Then Dad made a face as if he had heard the shocking news.

“Wait, Elodie. You mean you’ll choose between Duke Perdia and me?”

[Choose me.]

“When will the results be announced?”

[You’ll tell us by the day before, right?]

Watching the two men pour out questions as if competing, I smiled meaningfully.

***

On the day of the Imperial-hosted banquet.

The person I chose to enter with was-.

“I’m surprised, Elodie. To think you’d ask to enter together with me first.”

It was none other than Gretel, not Duke Perdia or Duke Severes!

Having finished preparations early, I took a spare carriage and went straight to pick up Gretel. Then we immediately entered together.

‘I didn’t say anything about which family I’d enter with until the day of, I wonder if they both think the other was chosen?’

But choosing either one would have been quite troublesome…

Anyway, once we got past today’s entrance, I would officially become ‘Elodie Severes’, so there was no need to worry about this.

Gretel’s face, whom I had met after a long time, looked more gaunt than before. I knew the reason for this.

But since it might be unpleasant to know that others are aware of personal matters that haven’t been spoken about, I deliberately pretended not to know and asked.

“Gretel. Is something wrong? You don’t look well.”

“Ah, no. I just didn’t sleep well, I guess…”

Gretel awkwardly smiled while stroking her thinned cheeks.

Since she didn’t seem to want to tell me, I didn’t pry further.

“You might be tired from using your power every day. Thank you for reporting without fail every single day.”

“That’s nothing. I, I can do anything for Miss Elodie!”

As if she had never been low on energy, Gretel’s eyes sparkled brightly as she clenched her fists.

When Gretel showed such fanatic-like behavior, I couldn’t hide my embarrassment.

Still, in an overly enthusiastic state, she began her report for today.

“There was nothing special when I came to report for the last time today.”

These days, Gabe Jenade’s movements were so nonexistent that it was meaningless to monitor him. They say he’s holed up in the magic tower and doesn’t come out.

While it’s important to keep monitoring Gabe, I couldn’t shake off the feeling that we were missing something.

I organized my thoughts so far. It was time to modify the plan.

“Miss Gretel. I think I need to ask you for a different favor.”

“What kind of favor?”

“Do you remember the man with whom you made contact before in the Southern Tower last time?”

“Yes.”

“From now on, please monitor that man.”

Raeyan said that man was the coachman of the carriage that took Gabe Jenade away from the demon beast subjugation battle.

It was quite suspicious that that coachman appeared at the Southern Tower’s magic tool demonstration.

We haven’t been able to uncover his identity yet because we’ve been focused on monitoring Gabe. I felt like the strange uneasiness would go away if we knew his identity.

Gretel responded energetically to my request without a moment’s hesitation.

“Leave it to me!”

“Don’t overdo it, okay?”

“Yes!”

Gretel answered cheerfully with a face that anyone could see would likely overdo it.

Seeing her worried face even while smiling, I too became troubled in turn.

Knowing what Gretel’s recent worry was, I simply couldn’t pretend not to know.

Hmm.

‘I can’t help it. I’ll help her just this once.’

Even though I knew the future would sink into the mud, I couldn’t leave it alone.

While watching Gretel sip her drink, I casually offered advice.

“Miss Gretel. Tell Baron Sangpan to withdraw his investment funds immediately from the business he’s currently investing in because it’s risky.”

“Pardon?”

“The small loss now is nothing. You could lose all the principal if this continues.”

“…!”

The recent loss in the stock that Baron Sangpan invested in was the reason for Gretel’s gaunt appearance.

“Rather than that stock, it would be better to invest in the one that Spara Trading Company is launching this time.”

“Yes, I’ll talk to my father about it.”

“You must tell him.”

“Yes!”

I couldn’t be sure if she would take my advice, but I did what I could.

The fact that the expedition team recruited by Spara Trading Company would return with a wealth of undiscovered plants not yet reported to academia was one of the few pieces of information I knew.

If this investment succeeds, they’ll probably be able to make a fortune.

Noticing that I was worried, Gretel tried to erase her troubled expression and brightly changed the subject.

“More importantly, Miss Elodie. Did you know? ‘That person’ is also coming to today’s banquet.”

“‘That person’?”

“Yes. I mean His Grace Duke Kreundel’s younger sister.”

“Ah…”

I had completely forgotten about Belissa Kreundel while trying to wake up my real dad.

When I contacted Leon through the communication magic tool, I asked about her well-being and heard that she was in the process of adapting.

After that, I also heard news that she had made an enormous impression in social circles as soon as she showed her face at social events.

‘Well, since she’s a direct descendant of one of the four great families, everyone must be going crazy trying to look good to her.’

I was the unusual case who had beaten up the young nobles who had pestered me with their extraordinary tempers.

Anyway, it’s good that she’s doing well, but there was actually something that bothered me.

It was because the person Belissa was said to be getting along with was none other than Dorothea Angellus.

Gretel, who had been looking around, discovered something and whispered to me.

“Lady Kreundel and Lady Dorothea are together over there.”

“They were together at other tea parties too, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

As I turned my gaze to where Gretel was gesturing, I saw Belissa and Dorothea chatting closely together.

It was the first time I was seeing Belissa in person, not through Gretel’s clairvoyance.

‘She does look a lot like Leon.’

Just as anyone would recognize Dad and me as father and daughter if we stood together, I was immediately reminded of Leon when I saw Belissa.

Navy blue hair, black eyes. Belissa was a beautiful woman with a cute and youthful impression like a puppy.

It wasn’t my business who Belissa Kreundel associated with, but if it was Dorothea, the situation changed.

‘I heard the Empress has been calling those two quite often recently.’

The Empress. Angellus. And Belissa.

I knew that Duke Angellus supported the Second Prince. In that situation, was his daughter Dorothea approaching and befriending Belissa to win over Duke Kreundel?

In any case, it wasn’t a good sign for Belissa to be associated with the Angellus family.

But I couldn’t interfere in other people’s relationships, so there was nothing I could do.

Even if not right away, I’d probably have a chance to talk to her someday. The social world is small, after all.

Thinking that, I was about to turn my head when it happened.

A pair of black eyes that seemed to draw me in caught my gaze. But it was only for a moment; Belissa turned her head away.

“…Huh?”

Just now, I thought our eyes met, but was it my imagination?

***

Dorothea, attending the imperial banquet held after a long time, did her best to get along with Belissa to help her adapt better.

For Dorothea, who was used to being revered, it wasn’t easy to cater to others, but she had no choice.

“Become friends with Belissa Kreundel. Can you do that?”

It was because Duke Angellus had earnestly requested this of Dorothea.

Since it was a request from her beloved father and not a particularly difficult task, Dorothea always stayed close to Belissa.

Belissa, who innocently smiled without knowing anything, was quite an easy companion to have around.

They also matched in status, both being direct descendants of the four great families.

As she was telling Belissa various interesting stories she knew, the other girl wasn’t focusing.

‘What is she looking at?’

At the end of Dorothea’s gaze, as she turned her head in annoyance, was someone she knew well.

Elodie Perdia.

Dorothea frowned.

While Dorothea was cooped up in the mansion, she had indirectly heard about Elodie’s ever-rising reputation.

Every time, she felt unbearably upset, as if her own place had been stolen.

‘My reputation has fallen as low as it can go, yet she alone is praised as some sort of savior.’

Dorothea was also displeased that Belissa was showing interest in Elodie. Intending to briefly explain who she was and be done with it, she told her name.

“That lady is Miss Elodie. She’s an illegitimate child of the Perdia family.”

“She’s a very lovely person.”

At Belissa’s words, Dorothea forcibly pulled up the corners of her mouth.

“Lovely… indeed.”

She didn’t want to say it even as a lie, but given the atmosphere, she had no choice but to agree.

Hiding her irritated feelings, Dorothea asked Belissa.

“You were looking at Miss Elodie, are you perhaps interested in her?”

After a brief pause, Belissa murmured, barely audibly.

“…Just, seeing her like this, it’s fascinating.”

Seeing her smile as she said that, Dorothea thought for a fleeting moment.

That Belissa’s smile was like sunshine.

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***

It was still the early part of the banquet.

I had entered the hall early, not wanting to get caught up in the quarrel between the two dukes, and was starting to feel a bit tired.

While waiting for Gretel, who had gone to the dance floor after receiving an invitation, I eavesdropped on conversations of people gathered here and there.

“Did you hear? There was a volunteer for the Black Ravine subjugation team this time.”

“A volunteer? If they wanted to commit suicide, there are plenty of other ways… did they have to do that?”

“There are all sorts of people in this world. By the way, I heard the number of magical beasts in the Black Ravine has increased again. It’s really scary.”

“I’m worried about how many more casualties the subjugation team will suffer.”

It seemed they were talking about the Black Ravine subjugation team.

I knew about this because Isis was in charge of supplying magical tools to the subjugation team this time.

‘I wonder if more rifts have opened in the Black Ravine?’

I should look into it.

Other conversation topics made me start.

“By the way, I was surprised. To think that Duke Severes, His Grace, had a hidden daughter!”

“I heard quite a few ladies fainted from shock when they heard the news.”

“What a disgrace, when they’re already married!”

“Hoho. Back in the day, everyone dreamed of a romance with Duke Severes, at least once.”

From the ladies’ conversation, I could feel firsthand how popular Dad had been in his prime.

‘Setting fire to married women’s hearts, Dad is a sinful man.’

At that moment, another lady joined the conversation.

“I heard they’re going to announce the Severes heir today, but Duke Severes, hasn’t entered yet, right?”

“Hmm, I don’t see any unfamiliar faces in the hall…”

At that moment, I made eye contact with a lady who was looking around.