Chapter 66

Inside the carriage, Marievel was reluctant to talk about what had happened.

"Marie, if you don't tell me what happened, your mother won't know how to help you."

"......"

"Sophie?"

"Well, Lili played with a doll, and Marie took it from her. She was swinging it around."

When I asked, it still didn't make much sense.

"Um... so you had a fight over playing with dolls?"

"There's no way. We don't play with dolls."

"Then why did you fight?"

"......"

Marievel fell silent again.

"Marie was a good big sister today."

Sophia calls Marievel a good big sister when she plays with her, and a bad big sister when she is cold to her. Even though they fight a lot, they still spend time together and play sometimes.

It seems difficult to get the full story from Sophia.

The carriage arrived at the mansion in heavy silence.

Sophia was left with Daria, and Cynthia went to Marievel's room.

They both sat down, but Marievel remained silent for a while.

"—You did hit Lili, didn't you?"

"......"

"If so, we need to go and apologize."

Cynthia spoke as if to herself, but made sure Marievel could hear.

"No way!"

Marievel finally spoke.

She looked at Cynthia with determined eyes.

"If you say no, then you did hit her."

Marievel looked angry.

Cynthia exhaled quietly.

"Violence is never acceptable, no matter the reason."

Even though Cynthia said this, Marievel's expression remained stern.

"Can you understand that?"

Marievel's fists tightened.

Cynthia was prepared to wait.

She believed Marievel would eventually say something. After a while, Marievel spoke softly.

"I was looking forward to today. Lili ruined it."

Since she no longer goes to the academy, her meetings with Bella have been reduced to letter exchanges. They had both been looking forward to it.

"Did something happen to ruin it?"

"She said something that made me angry."

"What did she say?"

"I forgot. I don't remember everything."

Marievel doesn't usually talk about what happens, so I didn't expect much. But without some details, I can't understand what happened.

"Anyway... you were insulted, right?"

"She was swinging the doll over Sophie. Oh, I remember. She said Penchilia is barbaric. So, I showed her how barbaric it can be."

"......Marie"

Cynthia held her head.

"But when you left the academy, you said it was fine to do that. You said you didn't have to hold back."

"Penchilia isn't barbaric. Why would you act in a way that affirms the insult?"

"I didn't mean to, at first... but then I got so angry. I thought about the worst way to make Lili feel—"

Cynthia was slightly surprised by Marievel's words.

"You hit her knowing she couldn't fight back, didn't you?"

Marievel didn't answer.

From that, I think I understand what happened.

"Marie... hitting someone who can't fight back is going too far. It's different from when you left the academy."

"Why? I'm not wrong. What's wrong with making her realize it's wrong to mock Marievel Penchilia? She doesn't know her place—"

"That's enough."

Cynthia held her head again. It felt heavy and painful.

She must have been insulted in some way. Sophia might have been involved too. I can understand why she found the insult unbearable.

But to say she wanted to teach someone their place and then use power to hit them...

Marievel must understand the power of Penchilia. She used it to the fullest.

How do I explain this to a girl who believes she is always right?

"—It seems you misunderstood, Marievel."

Marievel looked confused.

"I am a princess of Penchilia, am I not?"

Cynthia gently touched her raised, strong eyebrows and stroked her forehead. This used to calm her, but it no longer worked.

"You are not yet in a position to use Penchilia's power. You haven't fulfilled any duties yet."

"Then, should I just endure anything said to me?"

"You should have taken a different approach than using your power from a high place."

"That was the best way!"

Marievel was too excited to listen. She couldn't accept that she was wrong.

"I will absolutely not apologize!"

—That's enough for today.

Cynthia stood up.

"First, think about what you should have done. You are under house arrest."

Marievel's attitude suggested she didn't care. Indeed, being under house arrest wasn't new to her.

"Without Allo's help. You will be relieved of your duties as his attendant during this time."

"Such...!"

Marievel was not convinced but was not willing to back down.

She needs to cool off first.

Thinking this, Cynthia left the room.

When Rias returned home, Cynthia briefly explained what had happened.

Since he came home late, he had already finished eating and was in the bedroom.

Cynthia rested her elbows on the desk and held her head.

"I don't know what happened... but Marievel did hit her, and it was quite swollen."

"She must have been insulted in a very disrespectful way."

"Yes, but... to hit her unilaterally. —And knowing that Lili couldn't fight back, she said she wanted to teach her a lesson."

Cynthia sighed.

"I was surprised. To use power in such a way."

"Penchilia has that much power, and if she was insulted, she wasn't wrong."

While he couldn't say for sure without seeing the situation, Rias defended Marievel.

Cynthia was slightly surprised by his easy acceptance but quickly reconsidered.

Right. This is a world where such things are accepted in the noble society.

The higher-ups are the righteous ones.

Then, was putting Marievel under house arrest too much?

No— but if this continues, Marievel might end up on a path like the villainous lady in the original story.

After all, the original Cynthia, who continued to use the power of the royal family, ended up being killed by her son as a villainous mother.

Just because you can get away with it doesn't mean you should. Resentment builds up, and somewhere, it will cause problems.

I can't overlook a child's fight.

"There were other ways. I want Marie to learn that."

"Children will use all the weapons they have to win."

That might be from Rias's experience. His childhood was in a world where losing was not allowed.

"Winning is important, but... losing, forgiving... I want her to learn these things too... Is it too difficult?"

Especially for Marievel. She has always been strong-willed. Her competitiveness is being exacerbated by this environment. As a parent, she is a lovely daughter with many good qualities. But... I can't help but think about what will happen when she enters society.

I want her to make mistakes and learn while she is still under our care, rather than as an adult.

Rias thought for a while and looked at Cynthia intently.

"Yes. As someone who has been forgiven, I feel that forgiving others is very important."

He gently placed his hand on hers.

"Rias... don't say it like that. 'Forgiven'... it sounds so..."

Rias took Cynthia's hand and kissed it gently.

His respectful gesture made her face heat up a little.

"I am allowed to be by your side, a wonderful person."

His warm gaze made her look back at him.

As their faces slowly drew closer—

"Cyn—thia—"

Cynthia pushed his face away.

"Let's get back to the topic."

Despite his slight dissatisfaction, she ignored it.

"Still, before forgiveness, we need to apologize to Lili. But I don't understand what happened."

Cynthia hesitated.

"Will you make Marievel apologize?"

Forced apologies are meaningless.

She might be able to say sorry if told to, but it would take a lot of effort to make the stubborn Marievel apologize. And it would just be a superficial apology, leaving a bad memory.

Rias moved behind Cynthia and started to massage her shoulders.

His warm, large hands felt good.

"I have a long-standing relationship with Marquis Marca. It won't be a problem. I'll talk to him and try to find out what happened."

"Thank you."

While nothing was resolved, she felt a bit lighter.