The Villainous Family is Against Independence - i_

Gretel Sangpan’s ex-fiancé gaped.

It was because someone who was usually an unattainable presence was suddenly so close.

“Ca-Carlot Perdia…!”

As the man exclaimed in a shrill voice, Carlot tilted his head slightly.

“What? I don’t know you, but you know me?”

Could there be a more meaningless question?

How could there be a noble living in Wallentian who didn’t know the Perdia family?

Among them, Carlot Perdia, the one with the power of ‘Ground Collapse’.

The very Carlot Perdia who had led monster subjugation teams and achieved numerous military exploits even before coming of age!

He was instantly overwhelmed by Carlot’s presence, despite being much older.

‘Don’t, don’t be intimidated. Stay strong.’

Encouraging himself, the man lifted his head stiffly.

“This is not a matter for Young Master Carlot to intervene. It’s a private conversation between Gretel and me.”

As Carlot intervened, many eyes around were watching.

As people were eavesdropping on their conversation, wondering what was happening, there was a need to maintain appearances.

No matter if it was Perdia, what could he do in the crowded imperial hall?

If he used his power impulsively, it would instantly become a chaotic grave.

As soon as he realized that Carlot couldn’t use his power recklessly, the man became triumphant.

Ignoring Carlot, he grabbed Gretel’s wrist again.

“Gretel. Let’s go outside and talk quietly. There are too many eyes here, right?”

“I told you I have nothing to say. Let go of this!”

“Oh, come on.”

As Gretel, who would have obediently followed his words in the past, resisted, the man’s patience began to wear thin.

‘She should just come quietly when told, why is she resisting unnecessarily like this?’

He roughly pulled Gretel’s arm, trying to get away from Carlot as quickly as possible.

Watching this scene intently, Carlot smirked.

The man was startled by the relaxed attitude.

Why did it feel like Carlot had read all of his intentions?

“Hey.”

“Yes?”

Carlot stepped closer and grabbed the wrist of the man holding Gretel’s wrist.

“You seem to be misunderstanding something, I don’t just have powers, you know?”

Crunch.

With a beaming smile, Carlot applied force to his hand. A little stronger than before.

Unable to bear the pain of his body being crushed, the man let go of Gretel’s wrist and screamed.

“Agh! Aagh! It, it hurts! Aaaagh!!”

“You’re exaggerating.”

Besides his power, Carlot also possessed inhuman physical abilities. Enough to easily subdue a fairly strong adult male.

Breaking an arm with grip strength was nothing to him.

“Don’t grab wrists so carelessly. You don’t like being grabbed by me either, right?”

Crunch.

“Please, please! Spare me! Aaaagh!”

Now it was no longer a commotion that could be peeked at from the corner of one’s eye.

A situation where one man was screaming and another was subduing him by force, with a lady between them.

Moreover, the fact that one of the men was the second son of Perdia made it a top-notch topic.

Turning his gaze from the struggling man, Carlot glanced at Gretel.

He thought she might be displeased by his arbitrary intervention.

But Gretel didn’t stop Carlot. Rather…

‘I wish he’d just break it completely!’

She was cheering for Carlot.

Seeing Gretel’s true feelings so clearly displayed, Carlot’s eyes sparkled.

‘Wow. As expected, sister Lili’s chosen friend is different in every way.’

Anyway, this much humiliation should be enough. Carlot removed his hand from the man’s arm, which was squirming like an insect.

“Eek!”

As the man fell backward from the recoil, nearby people screamed.

Taking advantage of the moment, Carlot extended his hand to Gretel.

“Come with me for now.”

“What?”

Hesitating for a moment at Carlot’s urging, Gretel grabbed his hand.

The two passed through the crowd of confused people and left the hall. However, despite the confusion, there were certainly people who saw the two of them go outside.

Gretel was also aware of this, of course.

Heading to the garden alone with a young nobleman while everyone was watching was an event ripe for rumor-mongering.

It would probably be one of two outcomes.

Either marriage talks would completely cease, or she would become a topic of conversation and receive more marriage proposals than before.

‘Well, I don’t care either way.’

The engagement was something she had done for her family and father when she was young, and now Gretel didn’t particularly have any illusions about marriage.

It meant she didn’t care if all marriage talks were cut off due to being swayed by this immature young master of Perdia.

She didn’t dare think of being associated with Perdia, and she wasn’t interested in younger men either…

Above all, Gretel’s mind was filled only with Elodie.

‘Miss Elodie is the best…’

Finally, Carlot stopped at the fountain in the garden. Gretel, who had followed, spoke first.

“Thank you for helping me.”

Although it ended up causing more of a commotion, she was grateful for the help itself.

After all, her ex-fiancé who still saw her as the obedient former fiancée from the past was really annoying.

But Carlot’s response was unexpected.

“Right? You’re grateful, aren’t you?!”

What was he so happy about? Carlot’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

Elodie had once said that her younger brother was like a ‘puppy’, and now she could understand what that meant. Rather than a puppy, indeed-

‘He’s definitely like a dog. A big red dog.’

For a moment, Gretel almost fell for his innocent and handsome face that seemed to be wagging its tail, but she quickly came to her senses.

“But I won’t give you any information about Miss Elodie.”

Gretel naturally thought that the reason Carlot had helped her was to ask for ‘surveillance on Elodie’.

So she needed to draw a clear line.

Especially when it came to Elodie, Gretel had no intention of compromising at all.

But to her surprise, Carlot looked as if he had been hit.

“Huh? What?”

“If you’re curious about Miss Elodie’s true feelings, you should ask her directly.”

Suddenly, what was this woman talking about? Carlot opened his mouth, feeling puzzled.

“Why is sister Lili suddenly being mentioned? That’s not why I helped you, you know?”

“Then why did you help me?”

“Huh?”

Carlot was taken aback.

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‘Why did I help?’

For some reason, the answer didn’t come immediately.

I was just secretly disappointed that sister Lili had been declared the heir to Duke Severes, and I didn’t want to see the father-daughter dance.

So, I was heading to the edge of the hall when I saw people arguing, and it was a familiar face.

But seeing sister’s friend, who had coldly rejected my request, being pestered by some other guy was irritating.

Explaining these inner thoughts in detail felt somehow strange.

After pondering what to say, Carlot finally looked straight at Gretel.

“It’s my feelings!”

“What?”

“I said it’s my feelings. I just wanted to, got a problem with that?”

Gretel looked at Carlot as if in disbelief.

Why does this young master help and then speak loudly to embarrass the other person?

Not content with that, Carlot made threats disguised as requests.

“Well, if you’re really grateful, grant me one favor!”

After shouting that, Carlot left abruptly without saying what the favor was.

“What the…?”

Left alone in the garden, Gretel stared incredulously at the retreating back.

The hand that had been holding hers until just now still retained a faint warmth.

***

The party was over.

As soon as I returned to my room in the Severes mansion, Martha bombarded me with questions.

“Miss! How did people react? Everyone was shocked, right?”

“They were all surprised. They probably never thought I was Duke Severes’ daughter.”

“I wish I could have seen those expressions. Now if anyone dares to talk nonsense about you being illegitimate or whatever, I’ll smack their faces! How dare they say anything to our Miss, the heir of Severes?”

I think Martha is responsible for about 80% of my personality breakdown.

As I removed the cumbersome party accessories one by one, I asked about Martha’s well-being.

“How’s Severes? Is anyone giving you trouble?”

“Well… As long as you don’t cause trouble, Miss, no one bothers me.”

Martha answered with a bright smile. I was glad she seemed to be adapting well at Severes.

Still, just in case, I didn’t forget to remind her.

“If anyone bothers you, tell me. I’ll scold them. I have that much power now!”

“That’s very reassuring. I’ve got one good thing in you, Miss.”

After finishing the bath preparations and getting into the tub, I looked at the communication magic tool I had brought into the bathroom.

“No contact…”

No letters, no communication via the magic tool. It had been days since I’d heard from Raeyan.

Of course, no news is good news, but I couldn’t help but worry about Raeyan, who had left after saying something meaningful.

‘Should I ask Gretel to check what he’s up to?’

As soon as that thought crossed my mind, I quickly shook my head.

“No, I can’t.”

It might be okay with Gabe Jenade, but not with Raeyan. That would be an invasion of privacy.

But…

“When I come back, just hug me without saying anything.”

To say something like that and then not contact at all is too much, isn’t it?

While their master Elodie was bathing, the two Sins were sitting side by side on the carpet, having a serious conversation.

[You’ve changed, Greed…..]

[What do you mean I’ve changed?]

[You like that human…..]

[W-who says I like them!]

Greed flailed its front paws in panic. Sloth looked at Greed even more suspiciously.

[You followed them well…..]

[That’s because the sealing stone is in that human’s hands!]

[…..Though I’m scared they might smash it to pieces.]

[That’s right! That’s it!]

Silence fell between the two Sins after Greed’s overly excited exclamation.

After a brief moment, Greed spoke up.

[I really did my best for Lady Irkala.]

[…..]

[I destroyed the surface world and brought humans to ruin. I did everything Lady Irkala commanded.]

[…..]

[Then I was sealed. I thought Lady Irkala would come to get me soon.]

[…..]

[But no matter how long I waited, Lady Irkala never came.]

Greed still remembered the loneliness of being trapped in the collapsed temple, existing alone.

Paradoxically, what liberated him from that loneliness was a human woman.

Sloth, who had been listening silently to Greed’s words, asked with apparent displeasure.

[Greed… Are you thinking of betraying Lady Irkala…?]

[That’s not it! But… I’m not sure.]

[That’s betrayal…]

This time, an uncomfortable air settled between the two Sins.

Just then, Elodie, who had finished her bath, came out drying her wet hair. She looked at the two Sins sitting side by side and asked.

“What’s wrong? Are you hungry?”

Elodie rummaged through a drawer and took out a cookie jar, placing it in front of the two Sins.

“These were my special stash, but I’m giving them to you as a treat. Share them without fighting, okay?”

Greed stared at the cookie jar filled with sweet cookies.

Raising his head again, Greed fixed his gaze on Elodie’s back.

A kind human.

Sometimes wicked, but inherently good human.

And…

A human who doesn’t make me feel lonely.

“Don’t you know how much I love you?”

It used to be Lady Irkala’s voice that felt sweeter than anything in the world, but now he wasn’t sure anymore.

Was it because he had come to know an even sweeter taste?