I greeted everyone and then left the room.
Han Jihyeok followed behind me.
“Grimier is currently in the imperial capital.”
“Confirm his location.”
“Understood. What about Kainrod and the Marquess Madilo’s wife?”
“Prepare a place for them to stay here. Also, bring Uncle’s belongings.”
Han Jihyeok nodded.
I took out the blessing stone for teleportation hanging around my neck and said,
“I’ll be changing clothes at the mansion, so contact me as soon as you confirm their location.”
After seeing Han Jihyeok nod, I manipulated the blessing stone.
A pale light enveloped my whole body.
When I opened my eyes again, I was in the courtyard of the mansion.
Heidi and Betty hurried up to me as they saw me return.
“You’re back, young lady.”
“Yes. Nothing happened, right? Has Father returned?”
“Yes, he returned but...”
Heidi and Betty exchanged subtle looks and trailed off.
I looked at them with a questioning “Hmm?”
“What is it—”
At a familiar voice, I paused and turned my head.
A man clad in a white robe was smiling kindly at me.
Fixing my gaze on him, I told the maids,
“Heidi.”
“Yes, young lady...”
“Tell Han to stop checking.”
That man was here.
Grimier was at the Second Marquis estate along with some retainers.
After washing and changing clothes, I headed to the parlor.
When I opened the door, Grimier’s group, Father, and Joshua were there.
Richmond and Balzac had also arrived upon hearing the news.
I bowed to Grimier.
“Long time no see, uncle.”
“Yes, I’ve heard what’s happened. You’ve become a Wonhwa and gained great fame. Well done, Erilot.”
He laughed heartily with a friendly face.
“You flatter me.”
I smiled faintly and sat beside Father, opposite Grimier.
The retainers sitting near Grimier chuckled and said,
“You are overly modest. The Duke was very pleased. Truly the treasure of the Astra family.”
[Nathan Kitri, Baron (51 years old, Senate member)
‘Is that the woman perched atop stupid Daymond’s head? A foolish girl who believes she can control adults with her hands.’]
I let out a bitter laugh.
Then the retainer—or rather Baron Kitri—awkwardly asked,
“Did my words make you uncomfortable?”
“I was embarrassed and didn’t know how to respond. ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) Where would I be uncomfortable by praise from adults? I’m just shy.”
I said casually, and Baron Kitri burst into laughter.
The other retainers smiled repeatedly as well.
“It’s been a while since your return, and it’s an honor to meet Astra’s treasure. Welcome, young lady.”
[Adalo Duguay, Viscount (33 years old, Senate member)]
They were not alone.
Two other retainers were also labeled as “Senate members.”
Even those whose Senate membership was not widely known.
‘Grimier has gained control of the Senate.’
Father asked Grimier,
“What brings you to my estate?”
Grimier smiled sheepishly and said,
“I have a favor to ask. Haha, it’s embarrassing to ask my younger brother, but...”
“A favor?”
At Father’s words, Baron Kitri spoke with a smile,
“There will be a vote on access to the Central Tower. Please subtly ask Lord Daymond to cast his vote in favor of Grimier.”
Joshua frowned.
“The Central Tower already has grandfather and father inside.”
“That’s right.”
“It’s unprecedented for one family to have three members in the Central Tower.”
“I know. That’s why I plan to establish a branch family.”
At Baron Kitri’s words, my older brothers’ expressions stiffened.
“A branch family?”
“Yes, I will establish a branch and be appointed a grand noble. There is precedent for multiple family members entering the Central Tower that way.”
“Have you obtained grandfather’s consent?”
“Of course, and the emperor has also been consulted, so don’t worry.”
Even if a branch family is established, one can still be head of the main house.
There have been cases where branch family members became dukes.
‘The fourth Duke Astra was also from a branch family.’
Father stared at Grimier.
“You must have made a deal with the emperor.”
“Yes. He asked for a very difficult favor.”
Grimier rubbed his neck with an embarrassed expression.
“But all the younger siblings are working hard for the family, so the eldest son can’t just do nothing.”
“...”
“I have to try.”
“What kind of deal?”
Before Father could finish asking, Baron Kitri cut in.
“We will do our best with the deal, so please handle the voting well.”
“...”
“The Duke has high expectations, haha!”
Baron Kitri spoke with a bright smile, then glanced at the wall clock and exclaimed, “Ah!” as he looked at Grimier.
“It’s almost time for your appointment with His Majesty the Emperor. You must hurry.”
“Ah, yes.”
The retainers and Grimier stood.
Grimier greeted me, my brothers, and Father.
“Stay healthy until we meet again. Well then—”
“Have you decided on a name for the branch family?”
I asked, holding my teacup.
For a moment, the parlor grew silent.
I felt Grimier’s gaze rest on the back of my head.
After a heavy silence, Grimier’s voice was heard.
“Palosto.”
“...”
“Palosto, Erilot.”
Suddenly, a memory from my first life surfaced.
“The Astra no longer exist. The only flag planted on this land bears the Palosto family crest—!”
Our stiffened family members all looked at me at once.
I toyed with my teacup and answered,
“The spear used when the deity purged evil from this land was named Palosto, wasn’t it?”
“It’s not such a grand meaning, but haha...”
“But, uncle.”
I turned to look at him.
“Do you know? That spear was also broken by humans in the end.”
I smiled, and he raised his eyebrows.
Baron Kitri frowned.
“Is that curse before even founding the family, young lady?”
“I didn’t mean it like that. Sorry if I was rude.”
Just as the retainers, who had hardened their faces, began to open their mouths to say something, Grimier raised a hand to stop them.
“Take this advice seriously. So that such misfortune never happens... deeply.”
“Do you want to be the head of the family?”
The parlor froze.
“...!”
“...!!”
“...!”
Not only the retainers but also my family stared at me.
I stood up and approached Grimier.
“Do you want to be?”
“Young lady, how can you mention succession!”
Baron Kitri shouted angrily.
I looked at him impassively.
“I didn’t ask you. How dare you interfere in the main family’s conversation?”
“...!”
Baron Kitri was flustered, opening and closing his mouth.
The retainers dared not speak, swallowing dryly.
Only Father chuckled softly.
Grimier smiled faintly.
“Well, it’s too far ahead.”
“If you do, do you want to bring down the family and plant Palosto’s flag on the Astra estate?”
“Yo-young lady—!!”
“Enough!”
“Erilot...”
The retainers and family were flustered, but Grimier only stared at me.
“Why would the niece say such dangerous things? Has the eldest brother upset you?”
“Of course not. Uncle is a good person.”
“I’m grateful for your kind words...”
“He’s such a good person that he probably wouldn’t realize if he was wronged.”
At last, Grimier’s annoying mask slipped.
The friendly expression disappeared, and his eyes grew cold.
“That’s enough—”
“Don’t be greedy, uncle.”
“...Greedy.”
“All tragedies stem from greed.”
Grimier bowed his head and chuckled lowly.
“That won’t happen. It won’t... but if it does.”
“...”
“If I am greedy, what will you do?”
I smiled once again.
“What can I do? It was just advice from someone who hopes you avoid tragedy.”
“...”
“Are you offended? I thought you, being a kind man, would accept advice from a child.”
I feigned innocence and clasped my hands.
Grimier looked at me coldly.
“So you are offended? What to do... Shall I apologize?”
“No need. How could I be offended by my niece’s advice?”
“That’s a relief! You really are my uncle...”
Though I said that, I smirked.
“See you again, Erilot.”
“Yes, until next time. Ah! But you said succession was too far ahead to consider.”
“That’s right.”
“I’ve thought about it.”
I folded my hands behind my back and lightly walked over to Father.
I hugged Father’s neck and looked at Grimier.
“I want Father to be the head of the family.”
“...”
The retainers swallowed hard as they looked at Grimier.
His expression was completely cold.
That must have been a face they had never seen before.
I rested my face on Father’s shoulder and stared intently at Grimier.
Father patted my back and said,
“Since my cute daughter says that, I might try, brother.”
“...”
“Will you help me?”
“...I’ll support you.”
Saying that, Grimier turned sharply and headed to the door.
The retainers hurried after him.
I shouted after them,
“Anyone who wants to join this side, come anytime!”
Balzac burst out laughing, followed by Joshua and Richmond chuckling.
Balzac grinned and said to me,
“You’re a genius at stirring things up. Ah, though I support you going to the Central Tower!”
Meaning ‘I won’t help you though.’
The retainers’ faces turned bright red, and Grimier’s demeanor remained cold.
From behind them, I stuck out my tongue.
‘You never said you’d help either.’
Grimier and the retainers left, and the door slammed shut.
Joshua chuckled softly and said to me,
“Why do you tease so much?”
“They pretend to be nice and tease me, so I can tease back.”
Balzac crossed his arms and nodded.
“That’s right. But did you read their thoughts?”
“Read their thoughts?”
Joshua asked.
I sat back down and whispered.
The parlor was thoroughly sealed by a barrier to prevent sound from leaking out, but just in case.
“I opened the root of the true land of blessings, so my got stronger. I can read all information... even their inner thoughts.”
Joshua and Father looked surprised.
Joshua said,
“That’s amazing... What about Grimier’s thoughts?”
“They’re hard to read. It’s like the letters are blurry with noise.”
I sighed deeply.
“Seems like people with a high blessing rank can’t be read. Father’s thoughts look similar to Grimier’s.”
“Means it’s hard to read above level 4.”
“But!”
I raised my index finger sharply.
“When excited, I can read a little.”
“So you deliberately provoked them.”
Said Richmond.
‘I did want to piss them off a little.’
I cleared my throat and said,
“I figured out the deal with the emperor.”
The moment I said “I want Father to be head of the family,” I saw:
[────────Definitely────Hurry────Find the relic of the former emperor────]
It said.
“The relic of the former emperor. The emperor told Grimier to find it.”
“The relic of the former emperor... insane!”
Balzac jumped up.
It was understandable.
‘The relic is kept in the lair of the sea dragon Jörmungandr.’
The former emperor was said to have stolen treasures from the imperial palace when he was crown prince.
He killed the emperor and his brothers with it and ascended the throne.
He then hid those treasures in the lair of Jörmungandr, untouchable by anyone.
He feared his own children would kill him the same way...
Joshua said,
“It’s impossible.”
Richmond nodded.
“Not even a million ancient soldiers could defeat Jörmungandr. How can we get it?”
Balzac smirked.
“Well, that’s good, isn’t it? Then the branch family won’t be established.”
I nodded.
Balzac shouted excitedly,
“I heard Jörmungandr has become more aggressive since your Lagon appeared!”
“...There is a way.”
“What?”
I crossed my arms with an annoyed expression.
“In my first life, Dahlia found the former emperor’s relic.”
“What?! How...!”
“So Dahlia is a monster. She could do anything.”
My older brothers quieted down.
“That much?”
“There’s even a rumor that Jörmungandr called her ‘my beloved child.’”
Balzac swallowed dryly.
“What would happen if Jörmungandr and your Lagon fought?”
“Compared to other dragons, Lagon is still a baby dragon, right? It would lose. No, before losing...”
I muttered, and Joshua continued,
“The continent would be destroyed first.”
“Yeah...”
Balzac asked with a serious face,
“Then what do we do?”
“But there’s a lucky thing.”
“What?”
“First, Dahlia isn’t with Grimier yet.”
“That’s right.”
“Second... we don’t have to find the relic. We just have to interfere.”
I smirked.