Chapter 45

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Immediately after Luria was led by a maid to Sara's room, Amalia smiled at the baron.

"Well, let's have an important talk, shall we?"

"Important... What do you mean by that... exactly?"

"It's about Sara."

"!"

The baron, tense, held his breath, wondering what he would be told.

"If things go smoothly... Sara will become the heir to the baron's family, won't she?"

"Yes, that's correct."

Sara is the only daughter of the baron and his legitimate wife, Marion.

Sara had an older brother who was ten years older, but he died in an accident before Sara was born.

"If things continue as they are, you will have to bring in a son-in-law for Sara, won't you?"

In the Kingdom of Olvinis, it is generally the men who inherit titles.

Women inheriting titles are rare exceptions.

If things go smoothly, just as Marion's son-in-law inherited the barony, Sara's husband will become the next baron.

"What do you think about that, Baron?"

"What... do I think...?"

"Oh, I hate beating around the bush."

"Even if you say that, I..."

Amalia frowned at the confused baron.

"What do you think about the fact that the heir of a baron's family, which is part of the Crebuck Dukedom, has an ear in such a shape?"

"!"

At that moment, the baron seemed to finally understand what Amalia meant.

"I... I also think it's a problem."

"Of course. It seems that the baron has prepared another heir."

"That... that's not true..."

"Do not underestimate the information-gathering capabilities of the Grand Ducal Family."

The Grand Ducal Family had hurriedly gathered information on the baron's family after Luria said she wanted to visit him, for Luria's safety.

They do not usually gather information on other friendly families without a reason.

The resources for information gathering are limited, and it would be impolite.

Therefore, neither Graf nor Amalia knew that the baron had a pregnant mistress and that he and his mistress were mistreating Sara.

"The baron wants his future child to inherit the barony. That's why Sara is in the way, isn't it?"

"Be... be in the way...?"

"Let's not beat around the bush."

"! That's right. A lowly beastman inheriting the noble Crebuck Dukedom is unthinkable!"

"The baron thinks so, does he?"

Amalia smiled.

The baron, looking pleased as if he had given the right answer to a teacher, continued.

"Yes! Of course! That's why I—"

"That's enough. Do you understand that it would be a bad reputation?"

"Even worse than a beastman inheriting the barony?"

"Of course. Marion is the one who carries the blood of the baron's family. You do not. It would be seen as a takeover, wouldn't it?"

"That... is..."

The baron was speechless.

Amalia's point was too valid.

There are few but some beastman nobles, and legally there is no problem.

Disinheriting the legitimate heir and making the child of a mistress the heir would be a terrible reputation, especially since the baron himself does not carry the blood of the baron's family.

"Then, let's make Sara a ward of the Grand Ducal Family."

"What? A ward?"

The baron was surprised and opened his eyes wide.

A ward is like an adopted child without inheritance rights.

"Wouldn't that be more convenient for the baron?"

Even if Sara becomes a ward, her right to inherit the barony does not disappear.

However, if Sara becomes a member of the Grand Ducal Family, making the baron's child with his mistress the heir would not attract much attention.

Sara would be a child of another family.

Moreover, that family is the Grand Ducal Family, which is far superior to the baron's family.

Since no one would think the baron's family could go against the Grand Ducal Family, they would assume that making Sara a ward is the Grand Ducal Family's decision.

No one would think the baron made Sara a ward for his own desires and made his mistress's child the heir.

"Perhaps. But is it fine with the Grand Duke?"

"The Grand Duke... loves Luria. But Luria...?"

"Y-Yes."

"Has some circumstances that make it difficult for her to make friends? In that case, Sara is perfect."

"I see. In that case, I would be happy to."

The baron misunderstood that Luria could not go out in society because of her red eyes and hair.

Amalia chose her words to make the baron misunderstand.

"Let's not waste time. Please."

"Understood."

The attendant quickly prepared the documents to make Sara a ward.

"Will you sign it?"

"Y-Yes."

The baron readily signed the document to make Sara a ward of the Grand Ducal Family.

"That's perfect. I'll take Sara with me right away."

Saying that, Amalia stood up.

"Your Highness."

"Yes?"

"Please take care of my 'child.'"

The "child" refers to the child the baron's mistress is about to give birth to.

To make the child of the mistress the heir, the approval of the main family, Amalia's family, is needed.

"Of course. Leave it to me."

"Thank you."

Amalia left the room and walked to Sara's room.

As she walked, she thought to herself, "It was easier than I expected."

Amalia was angry.

It was already infuriating that he had an affair while Marion was sick, but he also abused Sara.

That's why she asked Graf to make Sara a ward of the Grand Ducal Family and to directly inherit the barony.

(I thought it would be more complicated.)

The baron was a man chosen by Amalia's father, the late duke, to be Marion's husband.

She thought he would be more capable.

Was my father senile? Or did he become a scoundrel after marriage?

"Well, it doesn't matter."

Her plan succeeded easily.

All because the baron did not read between the lines of Amalia's words.

Amalia did not lie at all.

She just said things that could be easily misunderstood.

The baron misunderstood that Amalia was uncomfortable with a beastman inheriting the barony.

She just asked what he thought.

He also misunderstood that making Sara a ward would remove her from the line of succession.

On the contrary, by making her a ward, Sara would have the backing of the Grand Ducal Family.

With the backing of the Grand Ducal Family, it would not be difficult for a woman to exceptionally inherit the barony.

In noble conversations, what is said and what is not said must be clearly distinguished.

If the baron really wanted his future child to inherit the barony, he should have been more cautious.

He should have gathered information when the Grand Duchess suddenly said she would visit.

Of course, the Grand Ducal Family had prepared false information to counter that, but it was unnecessary.

They had also gathered information to use against the baron if he resisted, but that was also unnecessary.

It was too easy.

If things continued as they were, the baron's family would eventually be taken advantage of.

(... Ah, that's right.)

He was being taken advantage of by his mistress right now.

As Amalia walked, she saw a servant standing in front of the room.

Beyond him, Caro was standing with her back to them.

From this arrangement, Amalia realized that Luria had posted Caro as a lookout.

Luria must be doing something she doesn't want the servants to see.

As she approached quietly,

"Kyukkyuk!" Caro, as expected, made a warning sound in a hurry.

Inside the room were Luria, Sara, and beyond the window, Daru.

"Oh? Daru is here."

It seems Luria was trying to hide Daru.

Thankfully, it wasn't something related to insects.

Amalia sighed in relief, picked up Caro, and walked to Luria.

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