“What were you planning to do if I hadn’t responded?”
I pondered briefly at the Count’s words, but truthfully, I hadn’t paid much attention to the possibility of failure from the start.
Failing to persuade them? That could happen.
I had deemed it quite difficult to even think of swaying those who initially sided with Yuria.
Still, I had achieved quite a successful outcome, and above all, my family, Yugress, which belonged to my mother, had responded positively.
What if Yugress hadn’t responded?
Not much would have changed anyway.
It might be a slightly annoying part, but it wouldn’t have caused significant disruption to the plan.
As I smiled without saying a word, the Count seemed to realize the meaning and slowly nodded his head.
In fact, it didn’t mean much that he supported me.
It was merely significant in that he was my maternal grandfather’s supporter.
Even if I were to gain something, it would just be a small justification for receiving recognition from my mother’s faction.
Perhaps it would hold some weight with other noble families, but for Taylor, it was not of great significance.
However, it was quite important to me.
After all, my maternal grandfather was Count Yugress, so I couldn’t say it was entirely meaningless.
Now, what remained was either to converse with Yuria or to head to the Ducal Residence directly to secure the position of Head of the Family.
It was highly likely that by the time they figured out my movements, it would be too late.
Currently, the one reporting to Yuria was Arwen, who had transformed into an attendant, and to grasp the precise truth, I would need at least a few more days.
“I plan to move quickly. I’ve set the timeline until summer, but I should think of it as the period to stabilize after becoming the Head. I will become the Head within a few days.”
“It sounds like things will move quite hastily. Is there a reason for your rush?”
To be precise, it was to approach the Crown Prince after becoming the Head, but I had no intention of sharing that with anyone else.
The surface reason was that this unstable state shouldn’t last long.
As I needed to use Taylor’s reputation to suppress the nobles, at the very least, the Crown Prince must see my faction as a help.
For that reason, stabilization had to be achieved quickly, and that was why I planned to move in a concentrated manner.
Of course, the hidden reason was ultimately because of Adele. Originally, she would have been charged with treason this fall.
Given that this had been the future that had repeated itself, there was always the possibility it would happen again, and even if it didn’t, it was a fact that precaution was necessary.
Once the family was stabilized, I planned to leave operations to Arwen and Renold and head to the North.
The Taylor family was ultimately no different from a consumable to me, so after hearing the surface reason, the Count nodded as if he somewhat understood.
“I said you resembled Serena, but in reality, I think you only share half the resemblance. My daughter was quite lazy, do you remember?”
“I don’t remember much. I only have a few memories from when I was little.”
The issue was that those few memories remained too intensely vivid, but I wasn’t being swept away by life as I had in the past.
It’s a problem that this has remained so strongly, but at least I am not being swept away by life like before.
I cannot deny that those things are precious. It’s also true that I will carry them with me forever, and when the time comes for me to die, I will remember them.
However, this time, I had no intention of following Mother’s words.
If she is watching from somewhere, she might be sad, but it’s a fact that Yuria won’t change, isn’t it?
I cannot back down. At least, the end of this matter must be impeccably clear above all else.
After taking a deep breath, I looked at Count Yugress.
There was a lot to say, but the talk about Mother could wait for another time.
After I become the head of the family… whenever I have the time. There would be enough time then.
“Then, I will take my leave.”
Since there was nothing to ask for right now, I stood up and bowed my head.
For now, I faced him as a grandson, but I didn’t know what status I would come back with next time.
I just hoped things would go as I thought.
#
Three days after meeting Count Yugress, Arwen informed me that Yuria had figured everything out.
It must have been thanks to the information provided by an attendant other than Arwen.
Arwen managed to escape quite well, and what remained was just Yuria, filled with anger.
The nobles she had been holding dear had turned their backs on me.
She might be pondering how to respond to this shocking situation, akin to being caught off guard.
It seemed that while I was away, they had attempted to gather forces, but my speed had become a problem.
Honestly, I had no idea if Adele or Adrian would regain their memories.
Since those memories approached me as clear benefits, it allowed either her or me to unexpectedly gather forces at unforeseen times.
And there was no denying that Mira-zen’s assistance played a part in why the nobles came to me.
Even though I said I didn’t need help, I never expected someone to bring out an artifact similar to mine at an official event.
Several nobles had definitively grasped the connection between the princess and me.
Now, the scales had tipped towards me, and it was clear that Yuria was at a distinct disadvantage.
It wouldn’t take long for all the nobles to find out.
“Still, I guess it’s time to start moving. They must be eager to catch me in action.”
“Do you plan to head to the Ducal Residence?”
“There’s no reason to stay at the Moon Tower anymore. I don’t foresee any problems in moving.”
The reason I hadn’t gone to the Ducal Residence was that the majority of nobles there would remain silent regardless of what happened to me within its walls.
In the outer regions, there might be talk of my movements, but would that truly carry the same weight as near the center?
Thus, I had held back. I didn’t intend to simply let Yuria’s actions dictate mine, but such differences made a significant impact on heading toward the position of the head of the family.
He remained unmoved. Although I had no intention of simply succumbing to Yuria’s actions, the difference that came with heading towards the position of the Head of the Family made a significant impact.
Now, even if I were to go empty-handed, it should pose no problem.
If I were to be touched, there would undoubtedly be nobles ready to act.
Among them, the presence of Yugress was particularly important; remembering the flourishing past, there were hardly any noble families that could compare to Yugress.
Moreover, Yuria’s mother was essentially the same type of person as me. There was a moral dilemma at play.
No matter how Yuria may be, it was a problem that couldn’t be dismissed so easily. Since I no longer needed to be cautious about heading to the Ducal Residence, there was no reason to linger here.
And it would be a nuisance for Adrian as well.
If an outsider continued to stay at the Moon Tower, it could become an unnecessary burden for her,
Once a decision was made, I began to move a little quicker.
There was probably no need for a farewell.
In a few days, we would meet again anyway, so there was no need to waste time.
As I exited the Moon Tower, I felt Arwen’s magic.
Had she been waiting for me to come out? She, appearing as a Paladin, soon returned to her original girl form and spoke.
“Everything is completely ready now. Yuria Taylor has instructed me to investigate your every move at the Ducal Residence, and some attendants are scattered around me and the Moon Tower. However, other than that, there’s almost nothing we can attempt at the moment. If we try anything, the nobles will intervene.”
“The range of action for the temporary Head of the Family is currently limited to the vicinity of the Ducal Residence. I’ve taken measures to ensure that any movement will be detected immediately.”
“So, there’s no chance of escaping?”
“Rather, we are the ones waiting. If we don’t make a move, nothing can be done on our side, so if anyone’s targeting us, now is the time we should be heading to the Ducal Residence.”
That was probably the case.
With the foundation I had built through the nobles practically lost, and the position I gained through my father being nothing but a pitiful temporary head, the fact that Yuria’s official position as Head of the Family was still undecided complicated matters in her favor.
Throughout the ride to the Ducal Residence, my expression remained rather cold.
It was to clear my mind for what was about to happen.
It was different from when I killed Teresa.
Back then, my feelings were complicated, but now, astonishingly, I was becoming calm.
…I had a prepared gift.
I was curious about the expression Yuria would have upon receiving this, so I smiled slightly as I gazed at the Ducal Residence gradually coming into view.
“What about the escort?”
As Renold, unaware of my strength, asked that, Arwen made a peculiar expression, as though it was a trivial inquiry.
I knew better than anyone what kind of schemes Yuria might pull.
And I also knew that she wouldn’t resort to such antics in this situation.
I also knew that I wouldn’t do it.
I wouldn’t make a fool of myself in a situation where everyone was focused on me.
If I were to face danger, it would be when I came face to face with Yuria.
I wasn’t lacking in confidence.
If that were to happen, the situation would flow more favorably for me, and Yuria would surely act accordingly.
Clack-
When the horse, which had been running hard, stopped, Renold’s face turned pale.
After talking so much, did he finally realize what kind of deed was unfolding as he looked at the Ducal Residence? Having come this far, there was no turning back.
This was something I was attempting for the first time in my 101st life, and even I had never seen the outcome.
Clack-
Arwen remained in the carriage to hide her presence, and only Renold and I proceeded toward the Ducal Residence.
I recognized the garden where I had once seen Teresia off.
After walking for a moment on the muddied gray earth instead of the fresh greenery after winter, a maid approached, braving the chilly wind, and cautiously lowered her head.
“You’ve arrived, Young Master. The Head of the Family is waiting inside.”
The maid, who conveyed that the Head of the Family was waiting inside, turned her back, but I merely stared at her without following.
The maid looked at me in confusion, then frowned slightly and opened her mouth again.
“Aren’t you going in? The Head of the Family is waiting for you.”
“It’s about time you recognized that the roles have reversed. Are you being stubborn, or do you still think of me as your subordinate?”
The situation had turned upside down. Everything Yuria had accumulated was now coming under me in just a few months.
The connections, power, status, and reputation she had built as Lady of the House.
The nobles no longer wanted to follow a woman plagued by madness, but instead sought someone who had turned their life around.
The North, the Order, and even the Imperial Family were supporting me.
There were things that couldn’t be hidden even if I tried to cover them with my palm. And that included the current situation between Yuria and me. I eventually smiled slightly and parted my lips.
“Tell her to come out herself. I will be waiting here.”
Up until now, one might think I was close to becoming the Head of the Family, but now it would all be useless chatter.
It was time for Yuria’s childhood fantasies to shatter.
All that she had built would collapse, and it was time for what should have been hers to return to my hands.
The maid, looking momentarily flustered, hesitated, but upon Renold’s scolding, she quickly fled somewhere.
I became curious about Yuria’s expression when she would come out to this garden. However, that was just the beginning.
After today, and again tomorrow,
Yuria’s time would crumble.
It was time for you to disappear, for the 101st time.
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