CHAPTER 53………………………………..
I was in a very unpleasant mood.
In the original story, the three Kereis brothers were terrifying.
As children, they had growled at each other as if ready to kill, all for the sake of inheriting the family.
As adults, they lived like rivals worse than strangers.
And now, suddenly, one of the three brothers was barging in.
Of all times, it had to be when the Duke, the head of the household, was away.
‘They must be targeting me.’
I had heard that many people coveted the golden land I had recently received through the Duke.
We had tried to keep the land transfer a secret, but since it had been family property, the three brothers inevitably found out.
‘So they’ve come to take my land.’
Without the Duke or the knights, why else would they come to a house full of just children?
But I was no longer just little Maryanne!
I clenched my small fists tightly.
Technically, I didn’t have to receive guests while the Duke was away, but I did.
I could see exactly why they had come.
With the effort it took for them to come here, they were clearly planning to use every trick to steal the land.
Better to confront them head-on.
I would flatten them completely.
I needed to show them that I wasn’t the soft, squishy tofu they thought I was.
Gritting my teeth, I prepared to greet the guests.
“Pleased to meet you. I am Maryanne Delve.”
I held my dress and bowed politely.
“You weren’t here before, I see.”
“I wasn’t feeling well at the time.”
He was referring to when I had rescued Shevard from the slave market and was injured in his place.
I had been lying down for treatment for a while and could not attend the gathering at the Duke’s villa.
So today was my first time seeing him.
‘But now I remember… he looks familiar.’
I recalled a painting with the three brothers and Grandfather Veil and noticed how similar the brothers looked.
Of course, my father was far more handsome.
Still, this Rynes guy was staring at me so intently—
With eyes that seemed to silently say, “You’re dead today.”
I needed to assess them more, so I guided them in a fairly mature tone.
“Dinner is ready. Let’s move to the dining room.”
The clinking of cutlery echoed through the dining room.
I observed the two men sitting in front of me while eating my soup.
Rynes and his son, Terceurus.
They were… handsome.
I hated to admit it in this situation, but they were.
Terceurus, with his slight dark circles and nervous expression, had a delicate charm, almost tragic in nature.
‘Same Kereis bloodline, but such a different feel.’
Meeting handsome men in various forms was… quite enjoyable.
“Hyuh, tasty hyuh.”
Crimu’s babbling drew my gaze.
Come to think of it, Crimu had been smiling at Terceurus non-stop since earlier.
It was the first time Crimu had actively shown such affection toward anyone but me.
Naturally, it caught my attention.
Well, maybe they were close as cousins since childhood.
Terceurus even lost his gloomy expression when looking at Crimu.
Someone might think Terceurus was Shevard’s older brother.
By the way… why was his name so long?
I had mispronounced “Terceurus” several times.
“Ter-seu-ruus…”
Rynes rolled his tongue to pronounce his son’s long name smoothly.
“Yes, Father.”
“You should speak, shouldn’t you?”
“…Yes.”
Terceurus, looking gloomy again, glanced at me.
He sighed deeply several times, hesitating.
“Do you… have something to say to me?”
“Well… hmm…”
Watching Terceurus take a shaky breath, I exhaled with him.
At this rate, he might faint before speaking.
Rynes, unable to contain his impatience, spoke first.
“I’ll say it instead.”
Yet, he didn’t state his purpose clearly, only circling around while shooting barbed comments at me.
“I’ve heard rumors that Getrega favors the girl who is to become Shevard’s fiancée.”
“I didn’t know such rumors existed.”
“Even Shevard defended you. And Crimu too. Hmph.”
Rynes looked displeased as if everything irritated him.
“How did you manage to mesmerize them all? Wait, are you a magician charming them?”
“….”
My fork froze mid-air.
Did he think everything could be explained by magic?
I concealed my anger and narrowed my eyes.
“You wouldn’t assume that the Duke, Shevard, and Crimu—all members of the strongest Kereis bloodline—could be swayed by my unawakened magic, would you?”
“Wh-what?”
Apparently, he hadn’t expected me to retort. His expression instantly turned embarrassed.
“All the people here, including the Duke and Crimu, are proud members of the strongest Kereis lineage. How could magic possibly manipulate them?”
In other words: Even though you’re Kereis, don’t talk smack about Kereis.
Rynes fumbled and sweat poured down his face.
“No, I mean—what I’m trying to say is—!”
“If the Duke were here, just thinking about what he’d say scares me.”
I quickly cut him off and put on a sad expression.
Lowering my eyelids and exhaling softly, I even hunched my small shoulders—looking like a truly frightened child.
Finally, Rynes lowered his posture and spoke.
“The Duke isn’t here, so this is just between us. If I told him, that’d be different. Hmm, I suppose I misunderstood.”
Frowning, he raised his hand and called for a servant.
His cup was filled not with water but with alcohol.
Ah, so he was going to lean on alcohol now?
I stayed alert and sat upright.
By the time his cup was refilled a second time, he seemed to have forgotten his earlier embarrassment and raised his voice at me again.
“Even if you’re pretty, giving Zarc Street No. 12?! That land has belonged to the Kereis family for centuries!”
“I am grateful that such a precious heritage was given to me. The best I can do is utilize the land diligently.”
Reading my calm expression, Rynes’ lips trembled.
“I heard monsters appeared in the forest and many knights were called away?”
“Yes. It seems to be a high-class monster, so many were needed to handle it.”
“Then I’ll leave some of my men there for a few weeks.”
“…?”
“The knights who came with me are highly skilled. Don’t refuse them.”
My mind went blank.
So he was offering me escort knights?
At that moment, Butler Dubuier came closer and whispered.
“If it is difficult for you to refuse, I will speak on your behalf.”
“Hmm.”
While I considered, Rynes alternated between glancing at Dubuier and me, speaking hurriedly.
“Do you intend to refuse my kindness? I speak as a family member wishing to help. Since you’re Shevard’s fiancée, you are family. Think of this as a gift—accept the knights.”
Rynes clenched his cup tightly while waiting for my answer.
“Sir Rynes, that will not do. We cannot allow outsiders in recklessly.”
At Dubuier’s words, he slammed the table.
Fortunately, nothing broke.
But Rynes looked as if he could throw every dish in the room.
“Dubuier, step aside!”
“Y-Yes, Father.”
Terceurus tried to stop him in surprise.
Crimu’s eyes filled with tears.
It could have turned into a full-blown cry.
I handed Crimu my chocolate cake to calm him.
Then I spoke to Rynes.
“I’m fine. Assign the knights to me.”
Hehe, I smiled, drawing everyone’s attention.
Even five-year-old Crimu, with chocolate smeared around his mouth, looked at me expectantly.
“Miss Maryanne!”
Dubuier hurriedly tried to stop me, but I gave him a cheerful smile.
It was really fine.
After all, they started by mentioning my magic, then the land, and now they were offering escorts.
‘Phew, I wanted to stretch my wings anyway. Perfect.’
I clenched my hidden hands under the table with force.
Crack.
Ever since acquiring the magic stone, my confidence had soared.
This was easy.
Terceurus was extremely nervous.
He had taken countless deep breaths.
Though his body and mind had grown enough for his coming adulthood, a part of him remained a delicate boy.
‘Weakling! Useless!’
That was why being the only son of such a father was so difficult for him.
Ever since he could understand words as a child, his father always tried to mold him as the future head of the Kereis family.
‘Father, Kereis already has Shevard…’
‘Then seize the opportunity and become the head yourself!’
‘…Yes.’
But Terceurus knew the truth.
His father didn’t want him to lead the family.
‘It’s all about money.’
The father had squandered the family wealth.
Naturally, there was nothing left for Terceurus to inherit.
His father had already used it all while coaxing him.
‘…Father, I’ll earn it myself, no matter what.’
Terceurus had pleaded, but his father only scolded him.
Having obediently followed his father’s words while growing up, Terceurus had no choice.
‘I at least need to take the land Maryanne, Shevard’s fiancée, owns. I can’t kill her as father ordered. Just take the land. Sigh.’
Maryanne was still a little girl.
He could not harm such an innocent child.
So, taking advantage of his father’s drunken sleep, he quietly slipped out of the guest room.
