Chapter 48

“…!”

A sudden realization flashed across everyone’s faces.

Their mouths, frozen like statues, began to move hesitantly.

“…R-right.”

“Y-yes, that’s right.”

“Wasn’t his fiancée the young lady of the Valenstein Duchy?”

As the siblings’ tones grew brighter, the noblewoman’s smile deepened.

“Then where should we go?”

“…!”

Their faces lit up at once.

Knock, knock.

When they rapped on the ceiling of the carriage to stop it, the coachman approached the window.

The members of House Arke shouted together,

“To the Valenstein Duchy!”

The journey from here to the capital where House Valenstein resided was long, but it was well worth the trip.

If they played their cards right, they could achieve two things.

Their smiles sharpened with ambition as two thoughts filled their minds.

The first was the birth of a new host to replace the Grand Ducal House.

And the second was revenge on the family that had cast them out.

* * *

That look, that look.

‘He’s lost his mind.’

Natalianne narrowed her eyes as she watched Demius’s back.

Everyone seemed to overlook one simple truth.

People said her temper was bad, but there was one man far worse, and that was none other than her brother Demius.

And that man brought Melissa home as his wife?

‘He must have hidden that black heart well.’

From her precious little squirrel.

Natalianne glanced sideways at the small woman walking beside her.

She had to save this sweet, gentle creature from that monster as soon as possible.

Remembering the look in her brother’s eyes when he gazed at Melissa, Natalianne frowned with disgust.

‘Of course.’

It was probably one-sided.

Natalianne felt a tiny bit of pity for him. About one over nine quadrillion parts of an ant’s toenail. She asked bluntly,

“How did you end up marrying him?”

“Excuse me?”

Melissa blinked her round eyes, and Natalianne asked again, sounding impatient.

“Why did you marry him of all people?”

“Ah.”

Melissa smiled sheepishly.

“I’m sorry, but that’s a secret.”

“Why?”

Natalianne’s lips jutted forward suspiciously.

“Don’t tell me he forced you or something?”

“He was very kind to me.”

Kind?

Him?

Natalianne looked doubtful but then sighed.

Fine.

Maybe he was capable of treating someone he liked decently.

‘At least that’s something.’

Pouting slightly, she asked another question.

“Then what will you do a year from now?”

“I’ll go home.”

“Come with me.”

“Sorry?”

Melissa’s eyes widened again.

Natalianne scratched her cheek awkwardly, her tone still rough.

“I’m serious. Come with me to the Magic Tower. I’ll take care of you.”

Oh my.

Melissa was touched.

To think she had such a caring sister-in-law.

‘They really are good people.’

Feeling grateful for her marriage once again, Melissa smiled warmly.

“I appreciate the offer, but I’ll return to my hometown.”

“Why?”

Natalianne stopped walking and turned sharply toward her.

“You don’t think I’d treat you well?”

Before Melissa could answer, flashes of the past few days ran through Natalianne’s mind.

She rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly and muttered,

“Ah, I know. I might have been, well, a little rough at first. Maybe a lot. I’m sorry, alright? But…”

“Apologize? No, please don’t.”

Melissa waved her hands frantically.

“You’ve always treated me kindly.”

“…Ugh.”

My poor little squirrel.

Natalianne clutched her chest, feeling something sharp pierce her heart.

At that moment, someone came running toward them at full speed.

“Lady Lily!”

A man leapt off his horse and rushed over.

Demius looked flustered as he checked Melissa’s condition.

“Are you hurt? Did that fool Natalianne do anything to you?”

“What, fool?”

Natalianne snapped, but Demius’s gaze never left Melissa.

Melissa blinked in confusion before smiling gently.

“We were just having a pleasant chat.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

He exhaled softly in relief, then stepped between them and pulled something from his coat.

“The people we escorted earlier asked me to deliver this letter to you.”

“A letter?”

Melissa unrolled the paper curiously.

The shaky handwriting looked like it had been written by trembling hands.

It was a lengthy apology letter, begging for forgiveness and swearing never to repeat their mistakes.

“Oh my.”

Melissa read it with pity.

Perhaps they suffered from hand tremors.

Such symptoms usually came from poor nutrition and lack of rest.

“How touching.”

Rolling the letter back up, Melissa’s eyes shone with emotion.

Even with poor health, they had insisted on writing and entrusting her with this. They must be such good people.

She looked up at Demius.

“There must’ve been a misunderstanding, but I didn’t expect such a heartfelt apology. Did they return home safely?”

“Yes.”

To the side of the Great Spirit, that is.

Hiding his regret behind a soft smile, Demius answered smoothly.

“They returned safely.”

That was fine.

There would be another chance.

A faint, cold smile flickered behind his gentle eyes.

As the members of House Arke trembled from an unexplained chill on their way to the capital, Natalianne scoffed.

“How ridiculous.”

Maybe they had already been sent to the Great Spirit’s side.

Still, seeing no fresh blood on her brother’s clothes, she figured not yet.

Watching Demius put on a tender act before Melissa, Natalianne made a gagging motion.

Then, as if struck by an idea, she slid closer and hooked her arm around Melissa’s.

“Sis.”

Sis?

Demius’s face twisted instantly. Natalianne smiled slyly and whispered,

“Later, in my room, we’ll study and…”

She met her brother’s hardening gaze and curved her red lips in amusement.

“Shall we sleep together?”

“…!”

Demius’s face went rigid.

There it was.

Natalianne barely stopped herself from laughing out loud and continued sweetly.

“After a monster subjugation, there’s always a mountain of follow-up work. We probably won’t get back tonight anyway. Why don’t we stay in my room, study, and relax together?”

“That’s not…”

“I’d love to!”

Demius bit his tongue, but Melissa’s eyes sparkled as she exclaimed,

“I’m so happy you called me sis. I’ve always wanted a sister since I’m an only child.”

“Oh my, what a coincidence.”

Natalianne burst into a triumphant laugh.

“Me too. I’ve always wanted a sister instead of a brother.”

Demius gritted his teeth. The nerve of her to say that.

She clung to Melissa’s arm even tighter and chirped,

“Let’s have a girls’ night tonight. With sweet desserts and your favorite fried snacks.”

“That sounds wonderful.”

A girls’ night. Melissa’s heart fluttered.

It was something she had only ever read about in books.

“I’ll join…”

Demius tried to cut in, but Natalianne stopped him.

“Girls’ nights are for girls only.”

Damn it.

He widened his eyes and quickly tried again.

“Then how about tea with me…”

“And after our girls’ night, we’ll have tea together. Just the two of us.”

“What?”

“As you know, I’m terribly shy.”

While Demius stared in horror, Natalianne fluttered her lashes delicately.

“I can’t drink tea properly when someone else is around.”