A Desirable Attitude to Live as an Heiress of a Chaebol Family

Episode 25: What Fate Is (XI)

Aicila tapped the carriage’s window sill with her finger.

The tip of the knife of bankruptcy will surely point at the Countess and their son. If the Count had lived, his wife could have gotten a divorce and escaped, but he passed away before she could.

The temple killed him.

The Count who made the greatest mistake is dead…

“Right, they will go bankrupt this winter. Within a month at the earliest.”

It’s the bankruptcy of a prestigious family. As it is the bankruptcy of a house that shared history with the Ederka Empire, it will surely leave a shocking impact.

Aicila frowned when she thought of the bereaved families who had to bear the burden.

“Let’s wait and see. That idiot Lyseltine, and maybe even Bertrand, we’re convinced that Saintess Wirea is behind Artes.”

“Yes.”

“If the temple isn’t involved, we’re in trouble. No doubt they’ll flock to us in a state of giddy anticipation, just to slam our delusions.”

That benevolent and noble Saintess will smile and sue them for blasphemy.

Sue us—she can say that, but the problem is that the mere thought of looking at that woman’s face all day and night causes her appetite to plummet.

“We must not take any hasty measures against the temple.”

This has been a long and ferocious fight. It’s a nail-biting war between the two sides, where any misstep might result in instantaneous annihilation for the losing side.

People would think that the greatest feud in the Edeka Empire was between the bourgeoisie and the nobility.

But no.

The nobility is already dying out. The conflict had long since ended implicitly with the bourgeoisie’s triumph.

The real conflict is—

“After Artes goes bankrupt.”

—the battle between the ‘temple,’ which claims to be opposed to the secular world, and the ‘powerful ones,’ who seize control of the world.

Aicila did not underestimate their abilities, and she was aware of the insanity and ferocity of the Saintess who recited that damn mercy.

Wirea had no limits. Any misstep on their part and she’ll go completely insane and wipe them out.

A person fighting to protect the correctness had to be extra cautious in the face of a crazed enemy who didn’t know the extent.

“If the temple tries to eat up the bankrupted Artes, it will be clear who’s behind it.”

“…Are you going to intervene in the auction?”

In the event of a family’s bankruptcy, it is customary to hold an auction to liquidate their possessions. Inevitably, the temple will consume all of Artes.

This includes the capital-based Top, as well as the fertile southern granary…

“Of course.”

“I’ll buy an auction ticket.”

“Let’s see if they can flaunt their wealth in front of Duncan.”

Aicila smiled coldly and assured her.

“If temperance is a God-given virtue, then money(gold) is a human-given virtue, and Duncan never falls behind in the realm of greed.”

The temple will not simply take whatever is available at the auction house. Aicila shrugged it off and vowed revenge.

F*cking Wirea. You dare to take someone else’s revenge? It wasn’t even enough to derail my splendid retaliation against the Count.

…She was the one who used Artes to kidnap Ronell. The main culprit who put the child who deserved to be loved in the most terrible abyss and sat on the sidelines of her tragedy.

Aicila’s red eyes flashed with a white spark. Fury quickly heated the atmosphere, and intense hatred for the family’s adversaries melted the surrounding area.

A short time later, Aicila sighed heavily. She swept away her emotions that exploded instantly as she held her anger.

Mitchell rounded off the report by capturing the precise moment when her employer’s mood improved.

“And His Highness the Crown Prince has requested that you visit the Imperial Palace without delay. He said we should discuss the countermeasures because we will not be able to conceal Count Artes’s suicide forever.”

“I’ll be there tomorrow or the day after.”

“I’ll adjust the schedule.”

Thanks, Aicila gave a brief reply and looked out of the window. While she was pledging revenge, the hard-rolled carriage was now entering Duncan Mansion.

Somewhere in the mansion, Ronell was running around with Ruby in her arms. Her golden locks fluttering and swaying before her eyes. Her arms that were cradling the cat warmly, her expression that would make her smile. I wish you could wear that adorable yellow-green ribbon today.

Aicila unconsciously smiled lightly, as if she had never been angry before. A smile as soft as the evening mist that covers the world.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

Unlike the Ederka Empire, which was built through the temple, magic existed in the three countries surrounding the Ederka.

The land of phantoms, Fernburg Kingdom.

The land of shapeshifters, Siena Duchy.

The land of the dragon and divine beasts, Setlain.

According to the ‘Rosetta Agreement’, they gathered all of their wizards and sent them to the Magic Tower, where they stayed for three years in each country.

The Magic Tower was relocated to the Fernburg Kingdom not long ago.

「Welcome to the Magic Tower, Sir Reinhardt Duncan.」

A shapeless voice rang out as soon as he entered the Magic Tower’s drawing room.

In the waning sunlight, the chandelier that housed thousands of magical lamps glistened. The lamp, which had been shedding gloomy radiance, suddenly lit up in a blinding flash of green.

「What is your business here?」

Light green.

…The lovely and pretty color that resembles the color of a green bud that blooms in spring.

Reinhardt bit his lower lip at the sight of the familiar color. He couldn’t stand the growing sense of guilt.

A family member they didn’t even know existed. For that alone, he felt terrible; their ignorance had led to the child’s unjust treatment. When he thought back on the figure rolling her yellow-green pupils while dazedly staring about, his anger, hidden beneath the guilt, rose.

“I need to speak to you for a while.”

「Please wait a moment.」

Reinhardt nodded and leaned back on the chair. His fingers began to tap the hard handle repeatedly.

If he requests a blood test and receives a ‘blood relationship’ certificate.

If he shows it to Ronell, the child will recognize them as a ‘family’ and will open up her heart.

Or maybe I’m just too impatient. Even if I show the proof, the child might not readily accept us…

He was well aware that her affection and bright smiles were a desperate act of not wanting to be abandoned.

He hoped she would realize she didn’t need to pretend any longer. The fact that her family is the only one who can always hug her even if the rest of the world is throwing stones at her.

“Sir Duncan, would you like a drink?”

Just then, a servant appeared beside him, holding out a glass. A clear sound was made by a red liquid with an enticing scent. One could be tempted to take a taste due to the aroma and color, however…

Instead of responding, Reinhardt turned away and gazed at the ground.

As expected, there’s no shadow.

The shadowless ones are phantoms, whereas the shadowed ones are humans. If you eat the food provided by a phantom, you will be robbed off your physical form for a day, so one had to be careful.

“Who made you do this?”

Reinhardt kept a calm face and questioned him. Sure enough. The servant began to laugh stiffly, revealing the dead’s original bluish face.

When he was about to ask again.

“Long time no see.”

“……”

“Reinhardt Duncan.”

Reinhardt slowly turned around to face the person who had called his name. His old eyes reflected her flaming red hair.

A red color that magnifies madness. Crimson blood, a proof that that person is alive. His vision was obscured by the torch-like color that blazed as it burned life.

A woman with venomous red hair and eyes stood with an elegant smile. When Reinhardt saw the very familiar face, his lips quivered slightly.

A face that looked just like his granddaughter in Ederka.

The servant opened his mouth and began to shout.

“The guide of all phantoms, the head of every exorcist and Fernburg’s supreme—”

“That’s enough. Stand down.”

The woman cut the servant off mid-sentence, and the latter respectfully bid farewell before melting into thin air. Only two people remained in the Magic Tower’s drawing room, spreading an awkward atmosphere.

Reinhardt raised his head, while the woman lowered her gaze.

They engaged in an intense, penetrating stare with their eyes. With dogged determination and unyielding rage, as though seeking answers to long-standing problems.

It had been a long time since the calm-appearing mask had been taken off.

“Long time no see.”

Sighing, Reinhardt got up from his seat. He showed his respect for the woman by kissing the back of her extended hand.

He didn’t have much of a choice.

Dressed up in a black off-shoulder dress, the woman who entered the Magic Tower without a trace—

“Your Majesty.”

—was Gertrude Ianlesia Lucia de Fernburg, the Fernburg Kingdom’s sole ruler.

A cold smile settled on Gertrude’s eyes.

Those eyes were so familiar. And her familiar smile. The serenity he had laboriously attained was jarred by her eyes and smile. Reinhardt asked quietly.

“What brings you to the Magic Tower?”

“Ah.”

Gertrude nodded in reply.

“I heard you came here to request a blood test for Teriot Duncan.”

“……”

“Why should you care?”

Because I have the qualifications. Gertrude smiled at Reinhardt, who seemed to be asking so.

“That my child’s father has another child.”