Chapter 100
I deliberately made myself look increasingly pitiful.
The room was empty, no servants came in or out.
The housekeeper even brought snacks directly to my room, out of concern.
I had also issued strict orders forbidding Arwin from approaching, so I had no peers or friends around.
“I’ll have to hear Hermann’s investigation to know for sure…”
I raised my gaze and looked at Theo.
“Is there any way to manipulate a paternity test? I thought you might know, since you’re the Tower Lord…”
“Manipulate it?”
I nodded.
No matter how I look at it, Seniana seems fake.
Yet, unlike most fakes hiding their identity, Seniana showed no trace of anxiety or worry—not even when rumors of a paternity test began circulating within the family.
Normally, anyone about to be tested would be nervous, right?
The fact that she was so confident suggested that someone had already taken steps to ensure she wouldn’t be exposed.
And there was only one person who could be behind Seniana.
The one who had brought her here and stood to gain from this.
The new name added to the list of estate managers.
Jaden Abner.
I pondered seriously.
He must be planning to manipulate the paternity test.
He had to be confident that even if a test were done, it wouldn’t reveal Seniana as a fake.
But how exactly he could do it—I had no clue.
And knowing that was crucial to formulating a countermeasure.
Finally, Theo spoke.
“The magical instrument for paternity tests is accurate. There’s no way to manipulate it. I made it myself, so it’s precise.”
I fell silent.
“However… if you manipulate the person, the result will be manipulated too.”
I widened my eyes at his next words.
“Manipulate… what?”
“The person.”
Theo’s voice was low and serious.
“If you manipulate a person using forbidden magic—black magic—the paternity test will show a match.”
I swallowed hard.
“If you have a strand of hair or a small amount of blood, you can alter physical traits to match that person.”
“You mean… change a person’s body?”
“Yes. Beyond blood and flesh, you can even adjust hair color and facial features to resemble someone else.”
“But… black magic is forbidden. If it’s black magic…”
“Black magic is forbidden, yes, but still usable. It requires a large amount of corrupted mana, so practically it’s difficult… but if you have an object imbued with corrupted mana, it’s not impossible.”
I paced anxiously around the room.
Through the window, I occasionally heard Seniana playing with Arwin.
When is Hermann coming…?
Hermann had been diligently continuing the investigation I assigned him.
And today was the day he said he would report the new information he had discovered.
I had been impatient to hear it since yesterday.
Suddenly, I recalled what Theo had told me:
“If you manipulate a person using forbidden magic—black magic—the paternity test will show a match.”
…So that’s how it was possible with black magic.
To create a fake human that would inevitably show a matching paternity test—it was chilling just to imagine.
But if that was the case, everything made sense.
Seniana focusing for over three hours on books the children wouldn’t look at.
Selecting profitable toys with uncanny precision.
The way she acted as if she were imitating a child rather than being one herself—all of it.
…So Jaden really did bring a fake here.
Whether he used black magic himself or hired a black mage, he had created a body that would pass the test against Isabel Abner.
How did such a terrible son come from my grandmother…?
Currently, my grandmother and I were planning to move residences.
So the family had been busy selecting someone to manage the estate in our stead.
Previously, Jaden had been dismissed from consideration due to his reckless behavior.
But the situation changed when he brought Seniana here.
Gradually, opinions in the family shifted, believing Jaden had “come to his senses.”
Soon, he would have his name added to the list of estate managers.
Even my grandmother seemed to be seeing him in a new light.
Yes. Thinking about it, there’s no better opportunity for Jaden than this.
I paced the room, anxiety written on my face.
At first, I kept doubting…
Until I asked Hermann to investigate, I couldn’t shake my guilt toward Seniana.
Suspecting the girl, who might be my grandmother’s real granddaughter, felt like an enormous wrongdoing.
So part of me desperately hoped…
That Seniana was not fake.
That she was truly my grandmother’s long-lost granddaughter.
But that hope quickly faded as Seniana’s behavior grew stranger.
Unlike the rest of the family, who seemed certain she was Isabel’s child, I felt something was off.
And soon I understood.
Of course… I only realized when I saw her myself. She really does resemble Isabel.
A few days ago, I deliberately went to the rarely-used top floor of the manor.
Because I knew there was a portrait of Isabel Abner there.
Only after seeing that portrait did I understand everything.
Why the retainers and my grandmother had been flustered when they saw Seniana.
She really did look a lot like Isabel Abner.
So much so that, based on appearance alone, one could believe they were mother and daughter.
My palms grew sweaty from anxiety.
Black magic… now I know it’s black magic.
I needed to know exactly how Jaden had done this.
Also, the investigation I had ordered Hermann to conduct remained unfinished.
It was to trace Philomena Longton, who had brought Hyana in a previous life.
The reason Philomena’s words about Hyana matched exactly what Jaden said about Seniana…
It wasn’t just similar words. It was as if someone had written a script for them.
I pondered.
Were Jaden and Philomena connected?
Or was there someone both of them knew?
Was that person behind both Jaden and Philomena?
If so… then Hyana might also… might also…
I was trying to steady my anxiety when I heard a voice.
“Your Highness. It’s me, Hermann.”
A brief knock, and Hermann’s voice came.
The moment he entered my room, he glanced around in surprise.
“Your Highness, the room…”
It was understandable. Only the bed, a nightstand, and a table remained.
“Could it be that Seniana…”
Hermann frowned, clearly incredulous.
“You’ve been moving around in your attire, so I didn’t expect…”
I shook my head, signaling it was fine, and gestured for him to sit.
Hermann took a seat and laid a stack of documents neatly on the table.
“I’ve organized the material for you. It’s extensive, but this should make it easier to follow.”
He began his explanation.
“Philomena Longton is basically a woman without any significant attachment to the Longton family.”
I nodded. I had known this from my previous life.
“You know that the youngest daughter of the Longtons, who recently returned, was brought to us by Philomena, right?”
“Yes.”
“She seems to have grown quite close to the girl. She still has little contact with the Duke or the princes. She rarely leaves the house, staying almost entirely in her room. However…”
Hermann lowered his voice.
“Once a month, very late at night, she leaves through the back door. This has been happening for quite some time.”
I swallowed hard.
“Two days ago, she went out in the same manner, so I sent someone to follow her.”
“Followed her…?”
“To the Imperial Palace. More precisely, to the Empress Karin Hunt’s residence.”
