“So, shall we get engaged or something?”
That was Eliya’s response to Balak’s insistence to kick the outsider, Judah, out.
-Clank!
Ria dropped the teacup she was bringing.
No one paid attention to the blunder.
Well, they couldn’t afford to.
Eliya’s declaration was not something to be taken lightly.
…..
A moment of breath-stopping silence.
Everyone was dumbfounded when Judah suddenly jumped up a beat late.
“…What?!”
Eliya looked up at him with an indifferent gaze.
Calmly pulling his hand, she said, “Sit down.”
“Yes…”
He sat down obediently, but his head was spinning.
‘W-What is this?! There was no talk about this! Well, even if you talked about it, what would change…? Or would it…?’
Even if she had mentioned it beforehand, it would still be an issue.
It didn’t make sense to turn down the engagement proposal from a high noble like Eliya, and accepting it immediately wasn’t easy for him either.
‘What is this, what should I do, is it already decided…?! Then how old will we be when we get married? If we’re 13 now, that’s 5 years until we’re adults… No, that’s not the point…!’
Eliya shot a half-lidded glare at the confused Judah.
She had questions she wanted to ask, but the timing wasn’t right.
Eliya sighed lightly.
Addressing the rigidly frozen people, she said, “If you keep interfering in my affairs, this is what I mean by that.”
Balak’s children looked completely drained by her brazen attitude.
On the other hand, Balak finally let out a sigh of relief.
Eliya glared sideways.
Judah was also looking relieved like Balak.
Their eyes met, and they both flinched, stiffening up and awkwardly avoiding each other’s gaze.
Eliya held back a pout and changed the subject.
“Anyway, this child must stay by my side. I cannot let him go, no matter what.”
“Hoo….”
“Please tell me what you came for.”
Eliya asked directly.
She didn’t want to waste time beating around the bush.
In place of his children, Balak spoke on behalf of them.
“Eliya, I heard the news that you captured a wife.”
“There were circumstances.”
“What is it that you desire?”
“A desire? Isn’t it you all who came with a request? I don’t particularly want anything.”
Sarah felt a surge of emotion at her calm demeanor but couldn’t speak up.
It was because Judah was sitting beside her, holding Eliya’s hand tightly.
The notion of tearing apart two paths would be a shocking memory for a lifetime.
Just seeing it made her shudder.
The horrifying feeling compared to a natural disaster made it impossible to even inform Balak about it.
While Eliya and Balak engaged in a war of nerves, Judah scanned their faces.
The one sitting furthest to the right was Sarah from last time.
He mentally noted the names from left to right.
Aghan, Jezebel, Levi, and Cain.
All of them glared at Eliya with fierce and uncomfortable eyes.
Judah realized why Eliya had brought him along.
In this situation, he alone could stand by her without being intimidated.
Thinking this, he looked over at the man named Cain.
He had been bothering him since earlier.
With short, soldier-like blonde hair and a sharp gaze.
He had seen him during Eliya’s birthday banquet.
Unlike then, when he had only caught a glimpse, now he could clearly recognize his features.
‘…Where have I seen him before?’
Strangely, his face felt familiar.
Not the face itself, but perhaps the look in his eyes, or the vibe he gave off.
It wasn’t a pleasant familiarity.
It stirred up an unsettling feeling as if it was grating on his nerves.
While he was deep in thought, the conversation between Eliya and Balak quickly reached its conclusion.
“Are you really not going to back down? Whatever you desire….”
“Your Grace, asking someone who desires nothing for their desire is no different from extortion or robbery, is it?”
“…….”
“I truly do not want anything.”
At that moment, Jezebel coldly spoke up.
“Do you think only your desires matter? We should also hear the opinion of our mother, who is being held against her will.”
Balak held back a sigh internally.
He had intentionally avoided asking.
Eliya was so transparently confident that he assumed she must have already taken some action.
Jezebel took that bait right away.
Eliya smiled brightly as if she had been waiting for this.
“That’s a valid point, Sister Jezebel. So, why don’t we confirm it directly?”
“Alright!”
Aghan jumped up abruptly.
“Let’s do as you say! Father, let’s go right now!”
“…….”
Balak reluctantly started walking.
*
The state of Narcissi that Balak and his children confirmed was shocking.
It wasn’t her appearance; it was what she said.
“Eliya has been very good to me. She’s a very kind child.”
“Uh, Mom…?”
“There are indeed parts where you misunderstand. Above all, I was the one who first tried to harm Eliya. I’ve been reflecting on my past a bit….”
Narcissi instead defended Eliya.
Currently, she felt no pain whatsoever in her body.
Thanks to Eliya completely dispelling her fear.
In this moment, Narcissi could have prayed to Eliya.
“So don’t worry about me….”
“Mom—!”
Sarah cried out as she clung to the bars, and Aghan held his forehead.
Cain frowned slightly, while Levi wore a complicated expression.
Jezebel shot Eliya a piercing glare.
“You…! What have you done?!”
Eliya didn’t respond.
She merely frowned.
The scene before her made her feel nauseous.
Eliya remembered the past all too clearly.
She could recite all the abuse she suffered since the moment she was dragged to her family home.
Balak and Narcissi’s children had looked down on her, ignored her, mocked her, and hit her like she was a bug.
They had mocked even her mother’s name.
Eliya had endured it all.
She was weak back then.
The oppression of being surrounded by many was terrifying.
Moreover, Narcissi concealed the death of her mother.
She claimed that if Eliya behaved well while receiving a proper education at the family home, she would return one day.
That her absence now was all because Eliya didn’t listen properly.
It wasn’t until much later that Eliya realized that was a lie.
Narcissi killed her mother and pretended to be alive, fooling her.
Unaware, Eliya faithfully complied with her demands.
Even signing up for actions that would kill people.
She believed her mother would return quickly and rescue her from that hell.
Discovering the truth took a considerable amount of time.
Upon learning of Maria’s death, those children mocked even her mother’s demise.
To them, she was not even regarded as a fellow human.
Treated worse than livestock.
They were monsters to Eliya.
The very thought of these monsters genuinely treasuring and loving their own family made her sick.
Not killing them all right now was solely due to Judah’s influence.
The cold energy flowing from their hands kept her steady.
She barely maintained her rationality.
She was certainly strong.
Yet, she wasn’t sure of her ability to handle Balak just yet.
“…….”
Confronted with Jezebel’s gaze filled with contempt, she unconsciously shut her mouth.
Judah tightened his grip on Eliya’s hand.
For some reason, the dead Eliya’s biological mother.
And the direct descendants of the Bevel family, who were mourning their own mother before her eyes.
The situation was complicated, but in the end, he was on Eliya’s side.
Eliya sensed that strength and looked up at Judah.
Judah smiled at her without saying a word.
A reassuring, steadfast smile.
Eliya reaffirmed that as long as this child stayed by her side, she…
Maintained her rationality and coldly said, “I believe you’ve received your answer.”
The Duke said nothing and silently stared at Narcissi.
The consequences of neglecting his family.
Before the sight of the first domino falling, he felt utterly powerless.
Disillusioned.
And on one hand, shocked.
He realized that Eliya had implanted some kind of magic in Narcissi.
But the realm and depth of that magic were beyond his grasp.
Even he, declared the mightiest wizard on the continent, found it difficult to touch.
He tried to interpret it, hoping to unravel it, but it was challenging even to gauge the size and depth of the magic, let alone interpret it.
A new magic created by combining existing spells.
There were traces of a beginner’s clumsiness, yet it was refined and meticulous.
He had always known about her potential.
However, this was beyond expectations and degree.
Can a single individual possess such power?
“Duke?”
“…Yes. It’s done.”
Balak weakly rose his body.
“I have no choice but to formally bring you before the family tribunal.”
Balak preferred a resolution through an amicable settlement, avoiding escalation.
However, Eliya’s attitude was the complete opposite.
“Go ahead.”
It would be a lengthy struggle for both sides.
During that time, Narcissi would suffer, the direct descendants would grow more hostile towards Eliya, and Eliya would also begin a cycle of vengeance.
The domino had already fallen.
Or perhaps it had started falling long before he even realized.
As Balak and his direct line left, Eliya embraced Judah.
“Thank you.”
Judah was taken aback but cautiously embraced her back.
“Don’t mention it.”
In his arms, Eliya found the stability she thought had vanished from this world.
Having rediscovered it, now far more precious.
Her only ally.
Color in a monochrome world.
He was in her embrace, and she was in his.
That was enough for Eliya to endure the long and exhausting fight.
…However, the earlier look of dread over their engagement made her feel inexplicably angry.
“Ow!”
Eliya lightly pinched Judah’s side.
It wasn’t exactly painful, but it was surprising.
“Uh, Lady? Why all of a sudden…?”
“I don’t know.”
It wasn’t a sincere statement anyway.
It was impossible for that to happen.
But she didn’t like his reaction from before.
What was lacking in her for him to refuse?
She should be more than enough for him.
Even bowing in thanks would be insufficient.
Receiving it that readily was a bit strange, but one way or another…
Instead of voicing her true thoughts, Eliya pressed her forehead gently against his chest and embraced him.
From a short distance away, Ria watched the two with a sympathetic yet guilty expression.
*
Before leaving, Balak had someone he needed to speak with briefly.
After confirming that no one was watching, he stealthily approached that target.
That target.
Ria cautiously lifted her gaze.
It was the familiar sight of those black eyes after a long time.
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