Chapter 90

Raon finished tidying up the garden and returned to the room after taking care of Sylvia, Helen, and the maids.

Knock knock.

After changing out of her dirty clothes, she heard a low knock at the door.

"Come in."

Judeal opened the door and bowed.

"Please explain the situation."

"Yes. While I was tending the garden with my lady, Merkin, the butler of Reiden Zighart, came. He said he had sent a letter saying he would come today and asked us to prepare…."

She reported everything she had seen, from Merkin to Reiden, without omitting a single word.

"... When Reiden tried to step on Lady Helen, you came, Lady Raon."

Judeal finished speaking and bowed her head.

"Indeed, that's what I thought."

Raon nodded. Listening to her, the situation was almost as she had expected.

"But, Lady Raon."

Judeal raised her head and called Raon's name.

"What is it?"

"I know it sounds a bit ridiculous, but you shouldn't have come out today. Reiden and his father, Valder Zighart, are people who don't think about the consequences."

Her expression hardened like tree bark.

"Surely they will attack the annex and you in various ways. Even if Reiden started the trouble, they are the main line and we are the collateral line. It's obvious which side the family will take."

"..."

Raon watched in silence until Judeal finished speaking.

"If you think I overstepped my bounds…."

"No."

She shook her head.

"I appreciate your efforts."

"Me?"

"You were ready to take the hit for Sylvia and Helen when Reiden raised his foot."

Judeal subtly positioned herself next to Sylvia and Helen, ready to take the blow for them when Reiden raised his foot. She was surprised by her own actions.

"That was without me realizing…."

Judeal blushed and bowed her head. Even she found it amusing to be so emotionally involved.

'But…'

The only people who treated her like a human were the people in this annex, the smallest and most secluded part of the Zighart family. It was inevitable that she would develop some affection for them, even though she was still afraid of Raon.

"You're right. It would have been best not to fall for their provocation, but since it has already happened, there are ways to prepare, so there's no need to worry."

"...I understand."

Hearing Raon say there was no need to worry, the tightness in her chest eased as if it had been stirred by a fork.

His voice gave her a strong sense of trust. However, there was still something bothering her.

'This is a big deal.'

It seemed she had developed more affection for the people in the annex than she had thought.

"Is there anything else I can do?"

"Find information on Reiden and Valder. Their personalities and past actions."

"I understand."

She bowed her head and left the room.

"Hmm."

Raon looked at the closed door and smacked her lips.

'Unexpected.'

Judeal was in a state of fear and confusion towards her, but she had developed a liking for the people in the annex. These mixed emotions made it difficult for her to understand her own feelings.

If she continued to be treated well in the annex, it wouldn't be long before she revealed her true feelings.

Actually, when she saw Raon protecting Sylvia and Helen, she felt a bit guilty about lying to her.

"But the important thing now isn't that."

Raon raised her clenched fist. She had never intended to attack Reiden from the beginning.

She had anticipated that this would happen and planned to control the situation with words.

But when Sylvia and Helen were about to be hit, her mind went blank, and all she could see was that damn face.

'Anger…'

That's right.

Uncontrollable anger boiled up, making it impossible to control her emotions.

Ironically, in that state, her combat mindset was more composed than ever. It was a strange emotion.

"An emotion where anger and reason blend together."

That was the most fitting description of her state.

-You know it well.

Lass burst out of the bracelet with an excited voice.

"Is this your doing?"

-What are you talking about?

"When I couldn't control my anger."

-No, no. That's your fault.

Lass grinned in the cold flames.

"What?"

-It's the emotion of the king you accepted that moved.

"But usually…."

-Do you always lose control to anger?

"Of course not."

-It's the same with the king's emotions. They are usually quiet but will try to manipulate your emotions when you are angry.

"Damn…."

Raon bit her lip. The deal with the self-proclaimed king was more dangerous than she thought. She resolved not to accept his emotions again.

-Do you think that will work?

Lass smiled, as if he had read her thoughts.

-Humans are weak in many ways. Even you, whom the king considers special, are no exception.

"What are you trying to say?"

-There's a god who grants wishes right next to you. You won't ask the god for help? That's ridiculous. You will end up proposing a deal to the king, whether for yourself or for others. And in the end….

He didn't finish his sentence but laughed, and it was clear what he meant.

"I won't hand over my body to you."

-The king already sees it. Your future where you offer your body to him. It's too late.

"Huh…."

Raon exhaled and manipulated the Ring of Fire. It felt like cool water flowing through her veins, clearing her mind.

It was more dangerous to let Lass provoke her into anger than to let her emotions run wild. She needed to maintain her composure in any situation.

-Hmph.

Lass grumbled and went back into the bracelet after she calmed her emotions with the Ring of Fire.

'The Ring of Fire is the most important.'

The only thing that could stop him was the Ring of Fire, not a sword or spear. She needed to achieve it as soon as possible.

While she was practicing the Ring of Fire all night, there was another knock at the door.

"The information on Valder and Reiden you asked for."

She opened the door, and Judeal handed her a thin document. The ink was still wet, suggesting she had made it herself.

"Thank you."

"Yes. Then…."

Judeal bowed and left.

Raon sat down and carefully read through the document Judeal had given her.

'This is better than I thought…'

She was impressed.

Judeal's document, despite being made on the spot, was well-structured. It contained all the necessary information about Reiden and Valder, including their tendencies and personalities.

"This could be useful."

Judeal could be a valuable source of information, not just a double agent.

Raon manipulated the Ring of Fire and read the document Judeal had given her over and over again.

As night fell and the sun rose again, there was a third knock at the door.

She opened it to find Sylvia, who looked flustered, and Loen, the butler of Glen, standing there.

"R, Raon."

"Master. I apologize for the early visit."

Loen bowed with a cold expression, unlike his usual demeanor.

"The head of the family has summoned you."

* * *

Raon left Sylvia behind, who tried to follow her, and headed to the main hall.

"Master."

When she stood at the steps of the main hall, Loen turned around and looked at her with a questioning gaze.

"You know why the head of the family called you, don't you? Aren't you worried?"

"Of course, I know the reason. But I'm not particularly worried."

Raon shook her head with a calm expression.

"Is that so."

Loen smiled faintly and entered the main hall. It seemed he was satisfied with her answer, though it might have been just a feeling.

The atmosphere in the main hall was heavier than usual. It felt as if the gravity in this space had doubled.

Raon breathed slowly, as if meditating, and the weight on her shoulders eased slightly.

The knights and servants looked at her with an indescribable gaze. She stood in front of the audience chamber, calmly meeting their eyes.

"Inside, not only the head of the family but also they are present. Are you prepared?"

She nodded calmly in response to Loen's question.

"I will open the door."

He glanced at the guard, and the doors of the audience chamber began to open.

Under the brilliant lighting of the audience chamber, three people were present.

Glen Zighart, sitting on the throne on the dais, exuded an overwhelming presence. Below him stood two men: Reiden Zighart and his father, Valder Zighart.

Valder, unlike Reiden, had a bear-like build with broad shoulders. If it weren't for their names, one wouldn't have guessed they were father and son. However, their eyes had the same sharpness.

Reiden glared at her as if he wanted to kill her, and Valder scowled as if he had seen a bug.

"I greet the head of the family."

Raon ignored their gazes, walked to the center, and knelt.

"Rise."

"Yes."

Her legs almost gave out at the icy tone, but she clenched her teeth and stood up.

She took a step back and stood in line with Valder and Reiden, looking up at Glen.

"I hear there was an unpleasant incident yesterday."

He removed his right arm from the armrest and looked down at everyone with a detached gaze.

"Head of the family! I will explain!"

Reiden stepped forward and knelt.

"Speak."

"Yes!"

With Glen's permission, Reiden turned to look at Raon and smiled slyly.

"Upon returning to the family, I heard rumors about Raon. We met a few times, but we never had a proper conversation, so I sent a letter to the annex in advance. When I arrived on the scheduled day, there was no preparation. Instead, the garden was in disarray, as if they were evicting guests."

Reiden frowned deeply, as if he had suffered a great injustice.

"Feeling disappointed, I raised my voice a bit, and the maids of the annex started to argue with me. As the voices grew louder, Raon appeared and, without a word, swung a sword at me. It wasn't a warning or a threat but a deadly strike. I continued to defend myself, controlling my strength, but he kept aiming for my neck."

His voice was so realistic that anyone who didn't know the truth might have believed him.

"Raon Zighart."

Glen's expression didn't change as he listened to Reiden's emotional account. He called Raon with the same cold tone as before.

"Yes."

"Is what he said true?"

"No."

Raon shook her head with a calm gaze.

"None of it is true. Especially the part about controlling his strength. I still see the red-faced, shouting figure clearly."

"Ugh! You little brat!"

Reiden grabbed her shoulder, but she didn't turn around.

"Master Reiden."

Loen, who had been standing to the left, glared at him with a cold, blade-like gaze.

"Have you forgotten who you are in front of?"

"Grgh!"

Reiden swallowed hard and released her shoulder.

"If your accounts differ, we need to call the witness who saw everything."

Glen looked at Reiden and Raon and snapped his fingers. A black doll descended in front of Raon's eyes.

"Rakeil of the Thousand Sword Corps. I greet the head of the family!"

"Report what happened yesterday."

"Yes!"

Rakeil, the Thousand Sword Corps member who had blocked her sword yesterday, nodded and stood up, beginning to speak.

"Reiden said he sent a letter, but no such letter ever arrived at the annex. Lady Sylvia and the maids were tending the garden as usual…."

Raon narrowed her eyes. To her surprise, Rakeil revealed the facts without any lies.

"Reiden Zighart."

Glen frowned after listening to Rakeil's account.

"Y-Yes, yes!"

Reiden trembled and bowed his head to the ground.

"What you said is quite different from what Rakeil reported."

"T-That's…."

"Father."

When Reiden couldn't speak, Valder