Chapter 57 

With a heavy thud, the doors of the grand hall swung open.

Kainton quickly turned his head.

Sharon Abner was walking in from the distance.

As always, she walked with unshakable composure and sat down at the head seat reserved for the family head.

Her sharp violet eyes swept across the gathered crowd.

“So many of you came again today.”

Her tone was flat, emotionless.

“What is it this time?”

Kainton barely managed to suppress a laugh.

Then he immediately looked toward the chairman.

Today’s review meeting had only one purpose:

Expose Sharon Abner’s wrongdoings and demand accountability.

All preparations had been completed.

“The reason we have convened this review meeting today…”

Chairman Herrmann began reading the opening statement he had prepared beforehand.

What followed was a long list of Sharon Abner’s “mistakes.”

Kainton nodded along, satisfied.

Even the tiniest, most trivial matters sounded serious when read aloud formally.

The branch family members sighed and groaned with every accusation.

“And so, it is out of concern for the family head’s capability that we have gathered for this review meeting.”

As soon as the opening statement ended, the branch family lords pointed fingers at Sharon.

Kainton hid his growing smile.

Now then… Let’s see you try to defend yourself.

But Sharon simply stared straight ahead with her lips tightly shut.

Already speechless? There’s still a lot to go.

He still hadn’t even used the biggest weapon he had received from Jaden:

The information that the Imperial Palace intended to cancel their weapons contract.

I’d love to bring that up right now, but… no. I’ll save it for the perfect moment.

Even if they had countless things to accuse her of, Sharon Abner was still Sharon Abner.

A woman like a witch.

She sat through every review meeting all these years, clinging to that seat without ever backing down.

It wasn’t the first time the elders had called for this kind of gathering.

Ever since the moment she became family head, they had summoned the branch families at least once a year.

Every time, after taking their seats, they used every possible pretext to attack Sharon.

Of course, at first, we hesitated.

No matter how little recognition she had, a family head was still a family head.

She could summon soldiers and drag them out by force.
She could slice off the branch family heads with a single command.

If she had chosen to do so, they would have been powerless.

But Sharon Abner never did.

Everyone now knew this.

For some reason, she had never used violence or force against the elders and branch families.

Instead, she endured.

She simply took every attack head-on, quietly and stubbornly.

Enduring in her own strange way.

Was it two winters ago?

Kainton found himself remembering a past review meeting.

It had been almost identical.

The branch families and elders nitpicked through the opening statement, demanded explanations, and urged her to step down.

But Sharon’s answer had been blunt and simple:

***

“I do not accept your reasoning. But if you wish, I will give you a chance to convince me.”

Then she locked the doors of the hall.

It meant they had to persuade her.

If they succeeded, she would step down.

At first, we thought it was a great opportunity.

But after two whole days trapped inside, everyone began to realize something was seriously wrong.

That venomous woman…

Kainton clenched his fists, remembering the humiliation.

Sharon Abner had survived four days inside that hall.

Without drinking a drop of water or eating a single piece of bread.

She didn’t even bat an eye while the branch family members collapsed one by one.

In the end, the branch families were the ones who broke.

They begged her to open the doors.

Their persuasion failed, the meeting ended, and Sharon remained family head.

But this time is different.

Even if she tried to pull that same trick again, Kainton still had one final, devastating card left.

“Family head, please respond.”

Herrmann urged her.

“We ask that you explain the matters listed in the opening statement so that the elders and branch families may be satisfied.”

A trace of fatigue flickered in Sharon’s eyes.

Herrmann placed another prepared document in front of him.

“If you have nothing to say, then I will continue.”

He calmly scanned the document.

“In accordance with the family rules, the Elder Council has reviewed the seriousness of these issues.”

“……”

“First, Article 46, Section 5 of the Elder Council Rights states that all major family decisions must go through the council.”

“……”

“And Article 23, Section 9 clarifies that appointing a ward is considered a major family decision. The very decision you made unilaterally.”

Herrmann waved the paper.

“And that is not the end. In the same vein, your subsequent actions also pose a serious problem. According to our family laws, all matters you have undertaken…”

“……”

“…are grounds for disqualification, including the removal of the family head.”

“Family head, please answer!”

A man from the branch families shouted from behind.

He was one of the prominent nobles from the Abner territory.

“How long do you intend to disgrace the Abner name? You’re clearly failing at your role—you should admit it and step down!”

Lady Larien Mehwen also joined in.

“Since you remain silent, does that mean you admit to all your faults?”

Kainton watched Sharon calmly.

She still said nothing.

Beside her, Jaden Abner watched his mother with interest, like he was observing something amusing.

I think this is the right moment.

Kainton smirked inwardly and slowly raised his hand.

For some reason, Sharon seemed weaker today.

If things continued like this, his long-held wish might come true more easily than expected.

“I, Kainton, also agree!”

His loud voice rang through the hall.

“The current head no longer has the capacity to lead the family! It’s not like Abner lacks heirs! We have Young Lord Jaden!”

The elders nodded eagerly.

“Therefore, we request that the current family head step down—and that the new head be the family’s only rightful heir, Jaden Abner—ACK!”

His triumphant speech abruptly ended.

Everyone looked at him.

Kainton stared down at the floor in shock.

More precisely—
at his shoes.

“What… what is this?!”

His shoes and ankles were soaked in something warm and gooey.

It was… milk.

And it smelled awful.

“Ack-oh…”

A tiny, fluffy head popped out from under the desk.

A pale, round face with huge eyes blinked up at them.

A child, still marked with the imprint of a book on her cheek.

“I’m sorry… Grandpa, your voice was just too loud and it scared me…”

“Wh-what the…!”

Before Kainton could finish, the child stood up.

Then she bowed deeply toward him.

“Ria’s sorry!”

Wait—Ria?

Why did that name sound so familiar?

Before he could piece it together, the child skipped past him.

She dodged between the seats and then—

“Hello, Duchess!”

“…Annelia.”

She peeked her head out from in front of Sharon Abner’s seat.

For the first time today, a flicker of shock crossed Sharon’s otherwise blank face.

“What are you doing here—”

But the child just beamed.

“I was studying here and fell asleep! But what are you all doing?”

“……”

Sharon frantically looked around the hall.

She seemed desperate to find someone who could quietly take the child away.

Kainton froze for a moment.

Then realization hit him —

This situation is… incredible.

He had panicked at first, but there was no need.

Sharon Abner’s biggest mistake… the stain on her record… has walked right into the hall on her own!

He had demanded earlier that the child be brought in, but Sharon protected her fiercely.

Yet here she was.

His lips curled with excitement.

Then the child spoke again, brightly:

“Are you studying the family laws? Ria can study too! Can I join?”

Her innocent question was instantly drowned out by a loud, shrill laugh.

“Aha—ahaHAHAHAHA!”

It was Lady Larien Mehwen, cackling with delight.