Chapter 117: A battle of sincerity
“I heard that Lady Heilon lived in the North before.” Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“That’s right.”
“Isn’t it hard?”
“It’s a place where people live, so it’s quite similar to other places.” I shrugged my shoulders.
“I’ve heard that there’s a very savage and cruel mage living there…”
Ugh, that rumor has spread all the way here!
“Well, I’ve never heard such a story…”
I let out a nervous laugh.
Eunice listened intently, her expression revealing her interest in the tale.
Ah, Lady Heroine… I’m an innocent and good mage!
Then, suddenly, Heather Arden spoke up. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“I’ve heard that Lady Heilon’s bloodline is a bit special?”
“….”
For a moment, the surroundings fell silent.
Eunice, who had been smiling softly, raised an eyebrow.
“I heard that you’re not originally from Heilon.”
It was all a very familiar jest.
I smiled. “That’s right. You know it well.”
Heather then smiled brightly. “It’s a famous story. I heard that you’re not from the Heilon family. As far as I know—”
I smirked. “Illegitimate child?”
“Yes, that’s what I heard.”
“You heard correctly.”
“Also, you’re from the family—”
“A family whose property was confiscated for drug dealing.”
Heather frowned when I interrupted her. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“Yeah, I heard that it was a case that Lady Heilon personally reported.”
Well, I didn’t know that this story had spread throughout high society. But honestly, it didn’t matter.
“That’s right too.”
At my affirmation, the other young ladies began to chatter excitedly.
“Oh my goodness, if it were me, I wouldn’t be able to do it.”
Heather, feeling bolstered by the reactions around her, raised her chin proudly.
“I agree. Betraying your family at your own hands for any reason—”
Heather continued with a confident smile.
“It’s something a beast would do.”
Eunice’s eyes widened. “Lady Arden!”
I signaled to Eunice that it was okay with a wink.
It seemed that Heather Arden had a grudge against me. The only reason I could think of was Sigren. She had tried to seduce him yesterday and failed. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
I sipped my tea. “What do you want to say?”
I didn’t need to show my anger to someone determined to provoke me.
As expected, my unexpected reaction ignited Heather’s rage.
“I’m telling you to do it in moderation!”
“What are you talking about?”
“Even if you’re lucky enough to become an adopted daughter, you still have to keep your manners as a noble lady!”
I wondered if Heather’s idea of a “noble lady’s manner” included secretly lying in someone else’s bed.
“….”
At that moment, I heard the greenhouse door open. It was such a small sound that only I, with senses more attuned than most, could hear it.
I glanced over to the entrance, sensing someone approaching.
It was Sigren.
Meanwhile, Heather’s words continued. “You shouldn’t do such things with His Highness the Prince while being taken care of in someone else’s mansion.”
Eunice couldn’t contain her anger. “Lady Arden! You should mind your own words!”
Heather gasped in indignation.
Distracted by Sigren, my reaction was a bit delayed, but Heather seemed to think she had been ignored.
“Stay still if you know nothing, Lady Arlyn. That’s what my maid told me. Last night—”
“Lady Arden.”
I winked at Sigren, signaling him not to intervene.
He stopped in his tracks, wearing a hardened expression. This was a problem that Sigren didn’t need to get involved in. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
After all, Heather Arden’s grudge stemmed from what happened yesterday. Her pride had been wounded. Growing up in this estate like a princess, she was beautiful, and those around her must have constantly praised her to no end.
I chuckled silently. It seemed the Viscount had been deceived by his own daughter. Yesterday, she had tried to impress Sigren, and there was a good chance her father didn’t know what she had done.
“Lady Arden’s words are correct. I’m an illegitimate child, and I destroyed the family I was born into. Now, I have become the adopted daughter of the Heilon family.”
I laughed softly. “But there’s one thing that the smart Lady Arden doesn’t understand.”
“What?” Heather asked, her expression puzzled by my calm demeanor. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“And because of what I did, I now hold both power and authority.”
I smiled softly.
“It means that if I wanted to burn your well-groomed hair right here and now, or cut off those beautiful fingers of yours, the only thing Viscount Arden could do is send a few complaints to my father.”
“W-What nonsense are you talking about!? Are you threatening me now?”
“Shall we test that theory?”
I summoned my mana, and a sharp wind swept through, cutting off a few strands of Heather’s hair.
“AHH!!”
Heather screamed as she watched her hair fall to the ground. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
It was only a few strands.
“I’ll tell my father about this!”
Well, there wasn’t much her father could do.
Heather hurriedly hid her hands behind her back.
“It doesn’t matter what you and your father say. Also, since you’re hiding your hands, let’s see… can I cut those fingers?”
In truth, this wasn’t a threat; I was genuinely curious whether I could do it.
However, judging by the shocked faces of the young ladies around us, it seemed my words had come off as a threat. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
This was annoying. How long did I have to deal with these immature girls?
“Haah… Lady Arden, I’ll give you some advice: you should know who your opponent is before acting like a crazy colt, or you might just end up with your throat cut.”
Heather’s face paled.
Ah, I really shouldn’t have said that, should I? Had I become a bit harsher because I was used to dealing with mercenaries? Ugh, it seemed so. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
At that moment, I discreetly wiggled my finger, giving a subtle signal to Sigren, who was still at the entrance. At first, I had thought I could handle this alone, but now I felt like he needed to step in as well.
The other young ladies seemed to have noticed Sigren’s presence just then.
“Y-Your Highness the Prince….”
“Since when…?”
Heather Arden’s face turned red as she seemed to remember being properly rejected last night.
Good, let’s clear this up first.
“Ah, Lady Heather Arden.”
As Sigren stood next to me, I grabbed his shirt collar.
“…!”
I kissed his lips lightly.
“Don’t covet other people’s man.”
Now, this guy is mine. Do you understand?
In an instant, Heather Arden’s face turned red, and she quickly left the greenhouse with a loud thump. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“W-Wait! Lady Heather!”
“Wait!”
The other young ladies, who had only been watching from the sidelines, quickly rushed after Heather Arden.
Sigren was frozen by my kiss. What the…?
“Get ahold of yourself. You did even worse yesterday.”
“What you did and what I did are different….”
“Still—” I grunted and looked straight ahead. “Ah.”
My eyes met the one who remained at the table. I thought everyone had left, but that wasn’t the case.
Our dear saintess, Eunice, had been watching this love war unfold the entire time. Her purple eyes were trembling.
“…Shall I move out of the way?”
I suddenly felt embarrassed by her naive reaction. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“Ah, no…”
I felt like an aunt caught dating in front of her little niece.
I grabbed Sigren’s shirt and said as calmly as I could, “We’ll go out.”
My image in front of Eunice must be ruined.
***
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