“It’s been quite a while; it seems like your fortune has increased a bit.”
“Is it just the Crown Prince Your Highness? It seems you’ve already heard the news.”
Kaitel’s expression looked pretty good.
Maybe he had already heard that I had secured the relic, but he couldn’t hide his welcoming mood since the moment I walked in.
It’s only natural because I could be considered competent at the point of securing a relic.
And it’s even the relic of a dead dragon.
Having moved together with the Order and secured the relic, Kaitel’s eyes looking at me were softer than before.
However, he didn’t let his guard down. The masked man who was with Teresa must be one of Kaitel’s subordinates.
As I approached, seated Kaitel smiled and offered me a seat.
Being friendly isn’t a bad thing. Still, I need to consider what he’s thinking by acting like this.
Once I hand over the relic to him, it will be over. What I need to gain is tacit approval for the upcoming head of the family struggle.
That alone could be considered support from the Imperial Family.
After sitting down, I took out the relic I had hidden in my pocket.
When the round relic emitting a brilliant light appeared, Kaitel cautiously reached out his hand.
“…Is this the relic?”
“To be precise, it’s called the Eye of the Moon. Is this what you were looking for?”
“I do have a way to verify it. Just so happens I was planning to show you, so this works out.”
Saying that, Kaitel brought out a small vial.
As the lid of the pink liquid-filled vial opened, I realized that strange magic power was flowing out from within.
That magic power felt quite familiar, responding to the Moon Stone within me.
A relic that resonates with another relic, I wondered why this Moon Stone still had energy left.
In the midst of such questions, Kaitel carefully dropped the potion onto the relic.
Sizzle—
Seeing the flames reignite on the relic like when Arwen infused her magic power, Kaitel smiled faintly.
Is that potion similar to the Moon’s magic power?
That flame was likely a rejection reaction to it, and as the flame eventually faded away, Kaitel, now holding the relic, looked at me.
“I never thought you would manage to secure it. You’ve really worked hard.”
“It wasn’t that difficult. If you ask me again next time, I could probably do it again.”
“Don’t you think that confidence is a bit too much? Well, I’m not complaining.”
Right now, anything I do would probably be seen in a good light.
It was said that securing the residual thoughts of the dead dragon was essential, and among some predictions from Arwen, there must be a definite way to utilize the residual thoughts.
He flashed a satisfied smile at my words and then quietly spoke up.
“Thanks to you bringing the relic, things seem to go much more smoothly. I imagine the King will think positively about the southern expedition, and we might be able to set out right away.”
“Isn’t that why the non-human races are moving? I know they’ve already made some moves.”
“Hmm, you’re quite perceptive, aren’t you?”
The reason for the early end of the journey to the south was that the movements of the non-human races had become suspicious.
Isn’t it true that we quickly escaped from the depths because of that? There was only one reason for the non-human races to be moving at this time.
Normally, it would have been quiet, but since I successfully secured the relic, the Crown Prince must have moved the army in advance after hearing about it.
In fact, news that the Imperial Army was stationed near the outskirts of the south was written in the newspapers.
Even if it was reported that they were stationed due to the movements of the non-human races, they likely had been stationed there well before the races started moving.
Kaitel, who chuckled at my words, didn’t really deny it.
Instead, he looked at me with a slightly interesting gaze.
The more positive impression I could instill about myself, the better.
Though he must be cautious, at least without me, it should be uncomfortable enough for them to try something.
To become a close aide was originally such a meaning.
If I wasn’t there, they would become uncomfortable enough that they would inevitably seek me out when a situation arose; only then could we truly begin.
“So, are you planning to set out this year?”
“I should probably give it a little leeway. You’ll be quite busy until this summer, won’t you?”
It didn’t take long for me to realize the intent behind those words.
What’s happening this summer is determining the position of Head of House Taylor.
As my gaze settled, Kaitel quietly moved his lips.
“Bringing back this relic ultimately means you have something you want to gain, right? Wasn’t it a transaction from the start?”
“…That’s true.”
“I’m not someone who changes what I’ve said once. Last time, I was a bit vague, but now we need to make it clear. What is it you want from me?”
Having thought about what answer to give in response to such a question multiple times already, I opened my mouth without hesitation.
“I want your acquiescence.”
A strange light flickered in Kaitel’s eyes. I knew that his single word in this situation would be beneficial to me.
However, the competition for the position of head of the family with Yuria was not just a fight over the position itself.
If someone intervened in clearing the grudges we had built up over time, it wouldn’t be a clean resolution at all.
Bringing in other forces was simply to keep the balance.
When I became the head of the family, there should be at least a faction worthy of the position, so that no one with impure intentions would arise.
In that sense, direct support wasn’t particularly necessary.
Just ensuring that no noise arose, regardless of the situation, would be sufficient.
For the Crown Prince to acquiesce to the struggle over the Duke’s title means that no one in this country could say anything about it.
There was no way the Emperor would interfere in the Crown Princess and Crown Prince saying nothing.
Kaitel briefly smiled, as if he understood the meaning of my words, and then spoke.
“Is that enough?”
“It’s enough. If no word comes out from the Imperial Family, then next time, we’ll meet as Duke Taylor.”
“That’s quite a pleasing statement. I hope it really turns out that way.”
“Wouldn’t it be great if it really happened?”
It might sound like a pipe dream.
At least, given my lack of footing in the noble society,
the idea of me becoming the head of the family seems like a gamble no one would bet on.
I might be the only one thinking I have a chance in this fight.
But still, I hold on to my confidence. Since I’ve decided to become the head of the family, I didn’t entertain thoughts of failure.
Having gone through countless reincarnations, surely I can handle becoming the head of the family just once.
Even though it’s my first attempt, I still picture myself becoming the head of the family in the future.
Because I’ve committed to it.
There’s no room for failure.
#
“…Right, I heard Robert went to the Imperial Palace.”
Yuria, quietly reviewing documents, let out a small sigh.
After making the rounds in the North, then South, and finally returning to the center, he’s holed up somewhere before heading back to the Imperial Palace.
I thought he’d explode with something as soon as he returned, yet his actions were quieter than expected, raising my suspicions.
I didn’t expect him to be so quiet.
That’s why I hadn’t gathered the nobles to discuss Robert first.
If I become the head of the family, they would also gain significant benefits.
Dozens of noble families united under the name Taylor, and if those nobles cooperate with me, dealing with someone like Robert would be a piece of cake.
So why on earth did he go to the Imperial Palace in this situation?
I know the objective is either the princess or the crown prince, but Yuria suspects it’s the princess.
Wasn’t it the princess who had helped Robert last time?
It seems he helped the precarious princess and brought her into his fold, but that doesn’t exactly change the situation.
“Is there still no reaction from the Imperial Family?”
“Yes… I’ve heard there’s still no clear reaction.”
I frowned at the attendant’s words, but it didn’t clarify anything.
Rumors circulating among the nobles must have already branded Robert’s actions as dubious.
I had confirmed the rumors had spread to the Imperial Palace, yet why was there still no response?
Lately, things have been tangled up here and there.
The problem with the poison I was trying to slowly administer to Father vanished,
and since then, I failed to secure the head of the family position before Robert arrived.
Father may not know yet, but I knew he wouldn’t just hand over the head position to me right away.
What methods should I use to seize power in a short time?
In Yuria’s mind, Father was no longer of great importance.
The position of head of the family felt more and more like her own, so whenever she desired it… she believed Father should relinquish it to her.
She had learned that from Father, so perhaps it was only natural.
I didn’t know.
As I tilted my wine glass, the aroma of wine filled the air, narrowing Yuria’s eyes.
There was a time of ease. But not anymore.
Surely, I held the upper hand, but Robert’s actions felt like they were gradually tightening around me.
Why?
If I returned directly to the Ducal Residence, I intended to hire someone to lock up somewhere in the basement.
I wanted to rethink the greed I displayed for the position of Head of the Family, yet, how did he know, to avoid me so skillfully?
I was the one hunting.
Robert was merely a rat. Yuria, trying hard to erase the anxiety bubbling up, wiped her face.
“So, what is Duke doing right now?”
“I heard he has gone out.”
Out, huh? That means he’s away.
I knew that my father had been going out often lately.
How to use this would be my business.
As Yuria fiddled with the wine bottle, she chuckled softly and quietly got up from her seat.
“Is there a servant lately who hasn’t been doing well?”
“Huh? Why are you suddenly looking for a servant…?”
“Oh, it doesn’t matter. There’s one incompetent servant here.”
Clash.
The wine glass that hit the table lightly shattered.
With just the handle and part of the glass remaining, Yuria strode towards the servant, holding the sharp piece of glass.
To become the Head of the Family, the current Head had to disappear.
Thirty years would be a long enough time. No matter how much he was my father, wasn’t it time for him to step aside?
“Lady of the House? Lady of the House—”
Thud.
As the shard dug into the fragile neck, crimson blood began to flow from the servant who had no idea what was happening.
It was indeed a soft neck.
Tearing the blood vessels, the spilling blood stained the servant’s white clothes red.
“It seems the Duke has gone senile. Forgetting that he killed a servant like this. Isn’t that right?”
As Robert moved, the things I had in mind were not going as I planned.
It was an ominous sign. An unexpected rival trying to take my place.
Since I received the title of Lady of the House in my childhood, wasn’t the position originally mine?
Crossing the line by far. Why didn’t he realize that I hadn’t killed him until now because he was my younger sibling?
Yuria’s lips twisted as she gazed at the servant sprawled on the ground, bleeding.
I had heard someone call it a battle for the Head of the Family once. But it was a wrong statement.
Because, in the beginning, the position was mine.
Even if it was my father, if he became a nuisance, he had to be removed.
If the senile Head didn’t even know about killing his servant, he would likely have to take his leave soon.
Calmly wiping away the blood, Yuria looked at the cold body of the servant.
As if it were nothing, only his frozen eyes laid out a chilling light.
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