Chapter 67

“I’ll help Sister with your plans.”

“Then?”

“Sister, please kill my father.”

Why did it become so messy? Originally, Valery’s real lover and I weren’t meant to be connected like this. We were supposed to have a bad relationship.

“Isn’t that something you can ask someone else to do? Why did you have to wait for more than two years just to ask me to do it?”

“Because I didn’t have the courage to kill him by myself. If I order someone else, I don’t think that will be the end.”

“…”

“I just endured it silently, but one day, I started to hear what Sister said. I can hear your conversation and when you talk to yourself. Then I thought that Sister was similar to me. So, if I asked Sister to do it, it would be the same as if I killed him by myself.”

I listened quietly and laughed. “You’re selfish.”

“I can’t deny it.”

“You have no conscience trying to ask for such a favor with only a few mana stones, right?”

“That’s not wrong.”

“Go back if you know.”

Blake Ariandel rose from her seat. She quickly put on her clothes, unlike when she took them off. Instead of going out, she stood in front of me.

“But Sister will search for me again.”

“Because I will need mana stones?”

“No. I can tell Sister things about the Rudbihi family that you even didn’t know.”

And she turned back.

“If you need me, hold the bright red mana stone inside it and call me. Then I will know that the deal is established.”

“…”

I stood up and paused to catch her without realizing it.

“It was nice to meet Sister. Apart from what I asked, I was really curious. What kind of person are you? I’m glad it wasn’t different from what I expected.”

With those words, Blake Ariandel opened the door and went out. I didn’t follow her.

“Fyu.”

As soon as I pulled the rope, Lisa came in.

“Yes, Lady. Did you call for me?”

“Tell Ian to take the guest who left now to the carriage.”

“Yes, Lady.”

After a long time, I came to my senses and went down to the first floor. Ian came in just in time.

“I already dropped her off.”

“Where did you drop her off?”

“I dropped her off in front of the fountain in the capital square.”

“…I see.”

“Shall we track her down?”

It was the same as saying that he had attached someone to her while dropping off Blake Ariandel.

“No. She has already left her contract information. It’s just in case I need to contact her. Can you bring me a cup of warm tea?” I called a passing maid and sat on the sofa to ask for a favor.

I was supposed to see Shale tonight, but I lost my motivation.

What bothered me was that she knew Rudbihi’s family secrets. How could she know what I don’t know? If it was a secret of the Rudbihi family that I didn’t know, it was obviously the ones my mother hadn’t told me. It might have been hidden from me on purpose. I wondered how she found out about it.

But it didn’t seem like she would open her mouth easily. It was an open bait to bite, but the moment I accepted Blake Ariandel’s proposal, I thought many complicated things would come along.

“What have you done…”

It was clear that she had deliberately shown her wounds. Why was there so much garbage in this world?

My head was throbbing, so I leaned my elbow on the sofa and pressed my temples.

* * *

“Report.”

The man opened his mouth nervously at his heavy low tone, “After a day at Coral Beach with Prince Valery Ahibara Kasinev, she returned home a little later. Nothing special has been confirmed, but there was a small accident on the way home.”

“Accident?”

Shubart raised his eyebrows. The movement of the pen that had been tapping on the desk stopped.

“Yes. There was a simple contact accident.” The man briefly explained the accident.

At that, Shubart’s eyes narrowed.

“Who is it?”

“Presumed to be Blake Ariandel herself.”

“…to make an appearance by herself. They didn’t keep their promise. Is she sent from Count Ariandel?”

“We’re checking it right now, but I don’t think the Count was involved in today’s accident because it was confirmed that he is currently overseas.”

“How about Bella?”

“She hasn’t hurt anywhere. This is also confirmed by Ian Fidelike.”

Shubart leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. Perhaps tired, he rubbed his eyes and forehead with his thumbs and let out a low sigh.

“That means Bella is not hurt.”

“Yes, I have confirmed it.”

“Except for Bella, everyone does as the plan for the time being.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“She’s a quick-witted kid, so make excuses if she asks a question. Make it the most plausible excuse.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Shubart pressed down on his tiredness and leaned back up to his neck.

“I’d like to ask if you’re seriously considering the second prince.”

“The second prince? That’s ridiculous.”

“I’m just asking out of curiosity.”

“Eii, do I look like a child who can’t tell between what I have to do and what I can’t do?”

“Are you sure about it?”

“Of course.”

“I asked you a useless question.”

It wasn’t that he couldn’t see through Bella’s lies. He tolerated it as long as it wasn’t a big deal. It was just a relaxing space for her, who had been kept in a tight place. It was the only thing he could do.

Bella had changed a lot before he knew it. It wasn’t bad. In the past, she was like an obedient doll that would only listen to Lucellai’s words and even die for her. He pretended not to know when he knew that child sought affection from Lucellai.

However, Bella seemed to grow slowly and change little by little, and at some point, he felt that she had definitely changed. Coincidentally, the plans were starting to go awry little by little in time.

“I wish it wasn’t like that…”

He was hoping that the truth wouldn’t point to Bella, although he still had doubts. Moreover, he felt like Bella had a heart for the prince, which bothered him. According to the original plan, they should get rid of the second prince first. However, even though he knew Lu wanted it, he wasn’t able to give that order.

That won’t change anything, though.

“We will start with the first price and Perza.”

His subordinates paused for a sudden change in the plan. They had already prepared everything, but it was like he ordered them to start again from the first. Still, it was his destiny to get rid of them.

“Yes, I understand.”

“And keep an eye on Bella for the time being.”

“Yes.”

* * *

Eventually, I came to Iskar at night.

Ian must have belatedly reported that Blake Ariandel came to the mansion. I thought Sir Shuabrt wouldn’t know, so I expected him to come in the evening, but he didn’t. I intended to wait until night and then go to sleep, but I rose up after changing my mind.

If Shale wasn’t there, I would only ask about the progress and leave right away. But as soon as I went there, I could meet Shale.

“Here comes the busy lady.”

“How is the progress?”

“Say greeting first and ask later.”

“Hi. How is the progress?”

Then Shale shook his head with a sour look.

“There’s no need to ask for it. Our side already has it.”

“Really?”

“Oh, don’t tell me that you’re going to use that to sort out your relationship with that woman.”

I couldn’t readily answer his words and shrugged. “I’m still thinking about it. So can I get it now?”

“I can give it to you. Will it be okay?”

“What?”

“Wouldn’t you rather just be a stepdaughter like now?” He stared at me with a grave expression, whether he was genuinely worried.

I stared at him, distraught, and let out a big smile. “Are you afraid I will be shocked and drink water like a child later?”

“Wouldn’t it be better if it was alcohol? I mean, you can check it out later.”

I let my red hair loose every time, but today I neatly tied them up for some reason. I knew my face supported me quite a bit, but I looked very sharp with my hair tied.

“I thought about it too, but I think it would be better to find out. Someone who knows Rudbihi’s family secrets has appeared.”

“Who?”

“Blake Ariandel.”

Shale, who was drinking tea gracefully, spat out the tea. This time I looked at him grimly.

“Did you meet her?”

“Uh, she came to me.”

“She has no fear.”

“I think so.”

He would be freaked out if he knew what she did in my room. Even I, who was there, thought that she was going crazy.

“Therefore.”

“Let’s find out about it. Don’t you think it’s better if I can stop my mother?”

“I’m a little worried somehow.”

“Actually, I’m a little worried, too. I’m afraid she will get revenge on my mother.”

I drank tea, facing each other.

I already tried to solve it as lightly as possible. Still, like a tangled thread, a corner of my heart was complicated, and my head felt like it was going to break. Still, it was something I needed to know and figure out.

Shale looked at me quietly and called his subordinate.