Chapter 15

Currently, the Albert family is said to have power second only to the royal family. However, in reality, even those of lower rank within the royal family flatter the Albert family and seek to benefit from their favor. The Albert family is not just outpacing other nobles; they are aiming to be on par with the core of the royal family.

Mary has seen this from a young age, watching even the lowest-ranking members of the royal family curry favor with the Albert family. This led her to think:

The Albert family has grown too large. Their power needs to be reduced before it's too late.

"If this continues, the Albert family might rival... no, surpass the royal family in authority. If that happens..."

Do you understand what will happen? Mary asked with a look, and naturally, a frown appeared on Adi's forehead.

He couldn't say exactly what would happen, but he knew it wouldn't be good. Especially Adi, who has been involved in the noble society as a servant, has experienced the arrogance of those who use their status and birth to act rudely, and has been treated unjustly more than once. Fortunately, his master is generous—though he wonders if the word "generous" is enough—and has never been treated unfairly. However, his friends who work for other families have lamented, "Even carriage horses are treated better."

The nobles stand at the top of the country, wielding power. Even now, with the royal family reigning at the top, the situation is like this. If the Albert family surpasses the royal family and becomes the "noble state," the situation would be unimaginable.

"It seems that the patriarchs have no intention, but they are being used by the nobility supremacists. If this continues, the Albert family will surpass the royal family as the representative of the nobility."

"...What? But why are you trying to stop it? If the Albert family prospers even more, we can live a better life."

"Maybe it's satisfying for the croquette supremacists," Adi muttered, and Mary cleared her throat.

"We won't be criticized by other students, and we can have croquettes for every meal."

"No, we can have croquettes for every meal even now. We just choose not to. Putting croquettes aside, if we were at the top of the nobility, our lives would change. ...At first."

"At first?"

Mary took a sip of tea. It tasted different from the usual tea. To Mary, who has tasted expensive things as the daughter of the Albert family, it was clear that this was cheap. She took another sip of what could be called "commoner's tea" and sighed. She wondered if her taste buds were off.

"Now, the nobility supremacists are only flattering the Albert family to surpass the royal family. If the Albert family becomes a hindrance to them, they will turn on them in an instant."

"...That's..."

"Father is talented and has the drive to expand his business even beyond the sea if necessary. In terms of making the family large, there is no one who can surpass Father. But just making it large..."

"Just making it large?"

"Yes, Father basically accepts anyone unconditionally. He seems to take it back each time, but he has been deceived many times."

"Master is generous, magnanimous, and full of compassion, believing in people without expecting anything in return."

"You're still blind. That's not just believing in people; it's believing too much."

"Yes, he lets the eccentric daughter do as she pleases without correcting her."

"Yes, and he overlooks the impolite servants to his daughter."

They exchanged harsh words and took a breath. One sipped the tea, and the other reached for a pastry, and Mary began to speak again.

"Still, if it's just a quarrel among nobles, Father and the others can handle it. What I truly fear is... incurring the wrath of the royal family."

"The wrath of the royal family, by the Albert family?"

"There is a rogue family trying to surpass us and stand at the top of the country. They won't let it go. If the top of the royal family decides to crush them, the Albert family, being just a noble family, has no way to resist."

Even those who now admire the head of the Albert family may not support them in a crisis. According to Mary's view, nearly half would defect at the first sign of trouble, and the other half would pretend to be neutral. Those who would stand by the Albert family, even in the face of decline, would be a handful at best.

"That's why you want to bring about the decline now?"

"Yes. In the game's ending, the Albert family declines, but it's not a complete collapse. By sending the cause, Mary, to a distant family and returning most of the authority to the royal family, the situation can be defused. Then Father and the others can recover."

Being used and then discarded as the representative of the nobility is worse than incurring the wrath of the royal family and facing their iron fist. The decline caused by the villainous daughter Mary still has a future. In the fan disk, which is a continuation of the game, there is a scene where Mary's parents, the Albert couple, apologize to Alicia and pledge loyalty to the royal family.

The Albert family, with connections to other countries and even beyond the sea, has escape routes and trump cards. While a decline might put them on the brink, they are still on the cliff. There is a way back.

What is truly terrifying is being thrown off the cliff without even standing on the edge. If the Albert family incurs the wrath of the royal family and falls, they will never rise again.

"So, you...?"

"Yes, that's right. The actions of the villainous daughter Mary are indeed disrespectful, but it's just a squabble over a man, and the verdict is in favor of Alicia. In that case, there is room for leniency... something like that."

"But, why should you... go to a distant place... a distant place!?"

Adi raised his voice as if he had just remembered, and Mary, surprised, widened her eyes.

"What do you mean by a distant place!?"

"What do you mean... It's in the game's epilogue."

The villainous daughter Mary, judged by Alicia, is abandoned by her family and sent to live with distant relatives in the far north. The epilogue states that no one, not even her followers, bid her farewell, as if she is paying for her past whims.

As she explained, Adi's eyes darted back and forth, muttering, "How can this be?" and "Why you?"

After a while, he seemed to grasp the situation, though he still looked dazed. He drank the tea in one gulp to regain his composure.

"By 'the far north,' do you mean the relatives of the lady?"

"I'm not sure, but probably. It's not a bad place. It's less convenient than here, but it's a popular tourist destination during the migratory bird season."

"But, to be sent to such a place... isn't that too cruel?"

"Maybe not. It's actually a pretty good place. The scenery is beautiful, and the migratory birds are a sight to see. The boarding school there is probably not bad either. ...And..."

"And?"

Mary, perhaps thinking about the far north, looked into the distance, and Adi tilted his head, waiting for her to continue. Perhaps she has already planned her return from the far north.

"I'll open a migratory bird bowl restaurant in the far north and make a fortune!"

Mary clenched her fist with determination, and Adi sighed deeply, his shoulders drooping. He was completely deflated, but it was understandable. Instead of planning a comeback, she was planning to settle down.

"Why are you so...?" Adi muttered, and Mary puffed her cheeks in dissatisfaction.

"What's wrong? Do you have a complaint?"

"It's not just a complaint..."

"It's fine. I'll do as I please wherever I am. Besides, I think I have a talent for business and foresight, like Father!"

"Sure, sure, that's true. But while Alicia is playing the fan disk here, we'll be running a migratory bird bowl restaurant in the far north. It's a bit pitiful, even if it's because I'm the villain."

"...Huh?"

Mary's eyes widened as she looked at Adi. Her voice was slightly strained as she pressed her forehead. Her face looked a bit pale, and Adi, concerned, leaned in to look at her.

What a serious and intense conversation, but in one corner of the room, there was a pile of something clearly inappropriate, and something was hidden under the cushion Mary was sitting on. This completely ruins the atmosphere!