Even though I had said only that much, Rastan made a startled expression, as if he already knew what I was about to ask. Just from that look alone, I could guess the answer.
“I knew it. You used your ability to control my father.”
“…”
Avoiding my gaze with an awkward expression, Rastan reluctantly nodded once.
“Does my father remember that he agreed to it himself?”
“…I implanted the memory that he agreed and signed the consent form of his own will.”
“You are quite thorough.”
“I will take that as a compliment.”
“And very positive as well.”
Was he stiff or shameless? The thought made me let out a small laugh.
“Then please quietly send someone to my father and deliver a message. Tell him that if he hands over the position of Head of House Krone to me, I will compensate him generously.”
Since my personal wealth had grown considerably, I intended to use it to silence him. In other words, ‘take this and disappear.’
If left like this, my father would likely be driven by his ever-growing debts and eventually sell his title, just like House Lansval had.
Even if he passed the position of Head of the House to Huan, the outcome would be similar.
In any case, they had ruined themselves through drinking and gambling, so I intended to inherit House Krone and continue it myself.
“And use your power to make him agree to that willingly as well.”
Only then did Rastan raise one corner of his lips in satisfaction.
“Of course. I am pleased that you are finally making good use of me.”
That was right. From now on, I intended to make full use of his power, as long as it didn’t cause him to accumulate evil deeds.
‘From now on, I will live without lifting a finger. Hehe.’
A few days later, as I had asked, Rastan obtained the document of succession from my father.
Once I submitted this to the Emperor and received approval, I would officially inherit the position of Head of House Krone.
That would make me the Duchess of House Blake, while also holding the title of Count Krone.
‘Since the Emperor knows Rastan’s true identity, there is no need to worry about approval.’
Instead of giving my father a large sum all at once, I decided to pay him a small monthly amount in the form of a pension. Just enough for him to barely survive, as long as he didn’t spend it on gambling.
‘Now he can either come to his senses or starve to death as he is.’
It was the final chance I would give to my father — who had been my family, a Count of the Empire, and someone who had once shown me affection, even if only out of shallow expectations.
‘As for Huan, he will either cling to our father and live off him, or since he is still young, he can work and support himself.’
Then Rastan handed me one more document, following the succession paper.
“Please take it.”
“What? What is this?”
The document he handed me was none other than the ownership deed to the Krone estate.
“Oh! How did you…?”
Rastan looked at my wide eyes, filled with delight, and spoke with a pleased expression.
“It is a wedding gift. I purchased it through the acting Head of House Pavel.”
I had heard that House Pavel was currently being temporarily managed by a distant collateral relative acting as head in Ifrit’s place.
They seemed to believe that Ifrit had merely collapsed temporarily due to health issues, but… well.
“Even though you had difficult times in that place, I still thought it was right for you to have it.”
As he said, because of the memories of abuse, my memories of that place weren’t entirely happy. But it was also the mansion where I had happy memories with my mother as a child.
And now that I was officially the Head of the House, I didn’t want to leave the ancestral main mansion, passed down through generations, in the hands of just anyone.
‘To think he even understood this feeling in advance.’
I couldn’t help but love this man who cared for me so thoughtfully.
“Thank you, truly.”
When I suddenly wrapped my arms around his neck, he embraced me tightly in return with a pleased smile.
***
After his mental world was destroyed, Ifrit remained unconscious and hadn’t opened his eyes since.
It was only natural. His soul, having lost all its memories and been reset, was trapped inside a collapsed mental world.
He was, in effect, no different from a vegetative patient.
Right now, he was lying in the bedroom of the Head of House Pavel, receiving attentive care.
‘But if this state continues for a long time, House Pavel will gradually pass into the hands of the acting Head, and Ifrit’s body will likely be moved to a room more and more out of sight.’
Thinking about how I had once considered him my friend and a good person, it felt regrettable.
From my perspective, it had been something I had no choice but to do in order to survive, but even so, my heart wasn’t completely at ease.
‘I never imagined that while wearing such a kind face, saying he liked me, and offering small kindnesses, he had been doing such terrible things behind the scenes.’
However, when I recalled the evil deeds he had committed, it seemed best to keep him bound inside his mind like this, so that no more victims would appear.
After all, even if he woke up, he would have no memories and would be unable to live properly as an adult noble.
‘Unfortunately, Ifrit has no parents or siblings who would lovingly care for him and teach him everything again if he awakened in a childlike state.’
In that mindless state, it was obvious that he would be swept up in the power struggle over House Pavel and eventually be cast aside and disappear.
What would have happened if I hadn’t done this, and instead somehow brought him to court to face punishment?
‘Much of what he had done had already been thoroughly stripped of physical evidence.’
So it was highly likely that he wouldn’t even have been indicted due to lack of evidence.
And even if some of his crimes had been proven, he would surely have used his money, connections, and power to secure the lightest possible punishment.
Considering that he lacked any sense of empathy, no matter how clearly the victims’ suffering was explained, he would never have felt remorse.
‘If he would have continued committing such evil acts without remorse anyway, then perhaps this is for the best.’
I offered a final farewell to the soul that would spend a very long time trapped in that young body.
‘Rest well. You will go to hell someday, so our souls will never meet again.’
***
As I dealt with various matters, two hectic months passed, and at last, the wedding day arrived.
The sky was clear, and a pleasant gentle breeze was blowing.
We stood outside the doors of the grand sanctuary where the wedding ceremony would be held, waiting to enter.
“How do you feel today?”
Rastan, who asked beside me, looked more splendid than ever today.
It wasn’t only because he wore a perfectly fitted tuxedo that accentuated his fine physique and had swept all his black hair back.
‘His already handsome face was now free of the shadows that had always lingered over it, and was lit with a happy smile.’
I rose slightly on my toes and whispered softly into his ear.
“It feels strange. For two demons to be holding a wedding in a temple, of all places.”
At my half-joking, half-serious words, Rastan let out a soft laugh.
“I suppose I will have to apologize to God someday when I go to heaven. How is your body today?”
With the hand that wasn’t holding the bouquet, I gently stroked my still-flat lower abdomen.
“I am fine. I hardly had any morning sickness today.”
Rastan wrapped his arm around my shoulders and lightly pressed his lips to my forehead.
“Do not push yourself. If you feel tired, you do not have to attend the reception. Your health and the baby’s health come first.”
At that moment, the sound of the organ began to play inside the grand sanctuary, signaling the start of the wedding ceremony.
“Bride and groom, please enter.”
Rastan released the hand that had been holding me and bent his arm, extending it beside me.
I placed my hand on his offered arm and looked at the long white carpet laid out before us.
At the end of that long path stood a massive statue of Legnin, and before it stood the High Priest in white ceremonial robes, waiting for us.
Rastan turned toward me and smiled softly.
“Let us go.”
I returned his smile brightly.
In the guest seats, the Emperor, the Imperial Family, and the high nobles had all risen and were waiting for us, but right now, I could see only Rastan.
We held hands and took our first step together.
My previous life, which had ended in tears amid unbearable suffering, flashed before my eyes, and with each step I took, it gradually scattered and disappeared like dust.
That life, where I had a husband and family, yet they were never truly on my side.
And in the second chance at life given to me, I had finally found those who would stand on my side.
A husband who loved me without expecting anything in return, and even a child who was the fruit of that love.
With my heart swollen full of happiness, I stepped forward and prayed.
That this path we walked would be a path toward heaven.
And that throughout that long journey, we would always remain together, just as we were then.
