Chapter 177……………………………………..
“Have you heard that the Inferna Count family is about to stage a rebellion?”
I flinched at Zeros’ cynical tone and set down my teacup.
I had thought I’d managed to handle the major events in the story so far…
“…….”
“So, it seems you’ve heard about it too, Sister.”
“Well, it’s something that comes up wherever you go. Not really surprising.”
“That’s strange. The rumor I heard started a few days ago, saying the movements of the Inferna Count seemed suspicious.”
According to the story, Zeros should have been training in swordsmanship in the forest by now, rolling around and learning to avenge the murderers of his family.
But the revenge had already been completed long ago. Swordsmanship, etiquette, whatever it was—he had become the head of the family, trained in everything to an elite level.
“My father did try to threaten me, saying he didn’t like my engagement to the Duke.”
I shrugged as if that was all there was to it, but Zeros still looked at me with suspicion.
“If your goal is the throne, I’m ready to serve loyally right now.”
“Huh, what?”
“If the Inferna Count family moves, naturally you should become the emperor. The Count nor Youngsik isn’t fit to be emperor. Isn’t that right, Sister?”
As expected, he had come with some wild imagination. Unless it was about Roelin becoming emperor…
The thought of me daring to aim for the imperial throne did not appeal to me at all.
Yet, seeing Zeros’ eyes light up with such absurd imagination was incredibly cute, and I found it endearing.
“A loyal subject should have learned by now not to speak like that.”
“If the Hellin family had been loyal, they wouldn’t have left such a secret enterprise to me as an inheritance.”
Zeros gave off an aura that suggested he still didn’t fully understand my family.
The Hellin dukes had many sides that were completely opposite from what I remembered.
‘Outwardly, they were the perfect neutral grand nobles, but in reality, they secretly laundered money while managing intelligence…’
Even now, it was a family suitable for a scheming male lead. Of course, Zeros was far too cute and puppy-like to feel scheming, which was the irony.
“Even so, no. If any information about a rebellion comes in, tell me first. I will stop it no matter what.”
“You, you’ll stop it yourself? Why would you do such a thing?”
“Huh?”
“There’s no one as great as you, Sister. If the empire’s history is to change, you must be at its center.”
If Zeros had been born in South Korea, he might have been an even bigger fan of mine.
I shook my head, dismissing the thought. After all, I was the “ultimate fan” protecting Roelin at his side.
“Rumors aside, I don’t want to live in the palace.”
“If you dislike the palace, then you’d rather return to the Count’s family?”
I paused, trying to guess the implication of Zeros’ question.
Returning to the Count’s family meant essentially not marrying the Duke, so it was a tricky topic.
“Then I’m relieved that nothing is decided yet.”
“Well, it’s not like it’s urgent to decide right away.”
My answer to Zeros’ sharp question was to postpone it.
“If that’s what Sister wants, then that’s what it will be. I’m always on your side.”
He simply nodded along, laughing, without pressing for my answer.
Not long after, a frowning Elforten came to the palace.
“How are you behaving in the palace to let such rumors spread?”
Should I have taken Zeros’ question about rebellion more seriously?
“What rumors?”
“The damn rumor that our family is preparing a rebellion.”
Even Elforten, usually loud, couldn’t bring himself to shout this, his voice dropping like it broke mid-air.
“What kind of horrible thing is that? A rebellion? I serve Her Highness the Princess. That can’t happen.”
“Then where do you think this ridiculous rumor started?”
Seeing Elforten lose his temper, I began to understand the situation.
It seemed his position among the proud nobles had become even narrower.
Already struggling to secure his standing as heir, this rumor had surely rubbed him the wrong way even more.
‘Should’ve been nicer to people around you.’
Elforten, always trampling the weak to rise, had probably made no friends to help him even in this difficult situation.
“It must be your brother or father.”
“What did you just say to me?”
Elforten leaned back lazily in his chair, crossing his legs, glaring down at me as if scolding a subordinate.
His careless swinging of his foot in the air reminded me of the hooligans I’d seen in my past life.
“I’m saying it because it seems your brother suspects me. I’m not the culprit. If it’s not either of them, then there’s only one culprit left.”
If a non-head of the family prepared a rebellion, it would be annihilation.
In an empire like that, if the head of a noble house were implicated, the vassals connected to that family would be wiped out too.
“Are you crazy? Who are you even trying to target?”
“I said it as it is.”
I shook my head as if to say I wasn’t serious, but still looked at Elforten firmly.
“Do you think this is a joke?”
“Then why drag such a dull, uninteresting rumor to the palace? Surely it didn’t start with me.”
“How can you be so sure? Your foolish actions are the most likely thing to damage our family.”
“Look at it this way: thanks to me, your brother is being treated as a proper guest in the palace reception room.”
‘If you have eyes, you’d realize I gain nothing from betraying the palace.’
Elforten’s face turned red at my words, and he snorted in frustration.
“So you think you can underestimate a family you can’t have? Wake up. The Inferna Count family will never fall because of some stupid rumor.”
Of course. He thought I was underestimating the Inferna family.
After all, I had come to the palace alone, leaving Elforten eager to enter behind…
Once back at the Count’s residence, Elforten ground his teeth in anger.
He was furious, blaming his father for everything.
The thought that a woman who should have been sold off to a rich old man, forced to look up at him, was now sitting in the palace, occupying a reception room he couldn’t even borrow, irritated him.
‘If my father had only firmly secured my position as heir, I wouldn’t be humiliated like this.’
While others strutted about taking heir lessons, he felt left behind, anxious.
And now, this absurd rumor of a rebellion clogged his already limited connections.
“Master, you’re here. The Lord has been waiting for you.”
Since he had failed to manifest black magic, his father had treated him like air. Now knowing his father awaited him, Elforten’s heart pounded.
“The Count is looking for me? Ha! Such a foolish person. Should’ve sent a letter in a hurry and come straight away.”
Ridiculous. Gambling-loving Elforten was always anxious to keep tabs on the butler controlling his position.
No butler could know the palace’s internal movements, even today.
“Thank you for your wise counsel, Master.”
The butler, not wanting trouble, bowed deeply and kept his eyes down.
Elforten felt light on his feet at moments like these.
He wished everyone would lower themselves in fear like this.
Even Elufe Inferna in the palace was no exception.
‘It seems my father is finally going to start my heir lessons. Hahaha.’
Opening the door, Elforten frowned at Count Inferna inhaling pungent smoke.
Judging by the wine bottles strewn around the bedroom, there was no chance the heir lessons would be discussed today.
“We will decide on the heir tomorrow.”
“What?”
Although he had long awaited this, his heart wasn’t ready.
Broken wine glasses, carpets soaked in liquor…
He didn’t want to enjoy that awaited moment in this mess of a room.
“We will declare Elufe Inferna as the head of the family.”
At that moment, Elforten collapsed to the floor.
His palm hit the carpet full of glass shards, and dark red blood began to flow.
Seeing the blood, he thought of that woman again—the illegitimate child who used blood for black magic.
‘I’m sorry, Mother. I’ll forget your last will today.’
He no longer wanted to yield for that wretched woman.
