The Strongest Daughter-In-Law Of The Black Lion Family [EN]: Chapter 53

#53.

Victor smiled affably, even though Jerarkiel didn’t show much reaction.

Unless something unexpected happened, Victor was slated to be the next chief physician.

Among his brothers, he showed exceptional talent in medicine, so Duke had marked him as his successor early on.

Since he had been in charge of Jerarkiel since he was young, it was as good as confirmed. Besides, he was long used to Jerarkiel’s cold reaction. From the start, Jerarkiel was reluctant to even encounter Orban.

Not ignoring him was already a surprising development. Then Jerarkiel opened his mouth, drawing a line.

“Don’t bother coming. I don’t need you yet anyway.”

“Ah, haha. I see.”

Victor chuckled awkwardly. That meant that Orban wouldn’t need to be faced because the madness hadn’t broken out yet.

Orban was from a collateral branch family that focused on dealing with Zavisie’s madness. Meeting him often meant that the direct line was dying.

Then Zakari muttered with a displeased face. His gaze was fixed on the direction Jerarkiel had come from.

“He must have gone to Cherchia’s room again. At this late hour.”

“It’s all thanks to Father. It’s all thanks to Father’s consideration.”

“Anyone would think you’re already going mad. If you’re so obsessed, she’ll get tired of you and run away.”

“I’ve heard your experience well, Father.”

“…….”

Zakari opened and closed his mouth, speechless. The sight of them exchanging friendly insults was typical of the Zavisie father and son.

Zakari cleared his throat and said.

“I was on my way to find you anyway.”

“At this hour?”

“Yes. Victor has finally found a way to cultivate it. An antidote herb that can suppress madness.”

Jerarkiel’s eyes widened at the word ‘antidote herb’. From the start, Victor was dispatched to the border to find this antidote herb.

It was an herb that suppressed pheromones, and it was essential for Zavisie, who was going crazy because of strong pheromones. Originally, it was something that could be easily obtained, but it was welcome news that the seeds had dried up at some point and were experiencing difficulties.

“If we succeed in cultivating it this time, we will be able to safely manufacture life-prolonging drugs when you become the head of the family. If we’re lucky, a cure might be developed.”

Zakari said hopefully, as if talking about a disease that had nothing to do with him.

Jerarkiel retorted sharply, displeased with that.

“Couldn’t you succeed in Father’s generation?”

“It’s already too late for me.”

At that, Zakari cut off and drew a line. It was already too late for him.

“I’m already in stage 3. The life-prolonging agent was only effective up to stage 2.”

As Zakari said, life-prolonging treatment was impossible for him since he already had amnesia.

Usually, the time could be extended in stage 2.

Zakari’s predecessor also extended the period through this antidote herb. However, the problem was that the stage 2 obsession worsened as a side effect.

The late Zavisie head of the family’s obsession grew day by day, and Zakari’s mother, who was mentally driven by this, died of an unknown debilitating illness.

The late head of the family, who lost his partner in that way, took his own life even though there was still plenty of time left.

It was a miserable and unhappy death like the previous Zavisie leaders.

“I will do my best to find it before I step down from this position.”

“It’s a waste of time. If it was a disease that could be solved so easily, we wouldn’t have come this far.”

“Jerarkiel.”

“I mean, don’t bother.”

With those words, Jerarkiel bowed and left the place. It was because he resented his father, who naturally presupposed his death.

Zakari sighed deeply as he watched his son walk away.

He was burdened by his position, having to say harsh things even though he knew his son was hurt.

“Hurry. We have to find it before that child becomes an adult.”

“Yes, Master.”

Duke and Victor received the order with heavy faces.

* * *

The next day, Zakari, who had returned from an external schedule, stopped walking at the sound of cheerful voices coming from somewhere.

As he stared silently in the direction of the sound, Herman, who was standing next to him, said.

“It seems that Rachel and Cherchia are enjoying tea time. I heard that the two of them are often together these days preparing for the wedding.”

“Hmm.”

“They look like they’re having a lot of fun. Why don’t you go and see them?”

“Do I have to?”

“You’re done with your external schedule anyway. You have time for a cup of tea.”

At Herman’s suggestion, Zakari nodded as if he couldn’t help it. In fact, he was quick to accept it because he had been waiting for those words.

It was when he got closer to the direction of the sound.

“So, Mother, is there anyone you like among these?”

“Well, I like sleek males. I want them to be big, about this big?”

The content of the conversation was strangely strange. There was seriousness in the whispering voices.

“What about the Black Mamba clan here for that?”

“Have you ever seen someone remarrying their natural enemy? I can’t do it because my mouth waters when they’re around.”

“Then what about the hyena clan here? They’re from a collateral line, but they’re perfect for taking in as a son-in-law, right?”

“Ah, no way. I almost cut off the line of that house before, so he freaks out when he sees me. Even if I remarry, he’ll lie down and say he can never be a son-in-law.”

“……What kind of life have you lived, Mother?”

And soon, Zakari’s face hardened as he understood the story the two were sharing.

What is this all about?

Who’s doing what?

Zakari could only move his lips, unable to believe it. Herman, who felt the shock, also opened his mouth and watched Zakari’s every move.

It was when he was standing like a statue for a long time.

“Oh, Zakari? When did you get here?”

Cherchia recognized him and greeted him. She smiled brightly and called Rachel ‘Mother’, but she still used a stiff title for me.

Of course, Zakari, who didn’t care about that right now, stared at Rachel, who had her back to him.

After a while, Rachel reluctantly turned around and stared at Zakari with a sulky face.

“Why are you eavesdropping on other people’s stories?”

“I heard it out loud, though?”

Zakari instinctively retorted and then shut his mouth. Rachel didn’t seem embarrassed at all.

How could she be so calm when she was caught plotting remarriage in front of her ex-husband? That scratched Zakari’s insides even more.

But Rachel didn’t seem to care about Zakari’s position.

“Well, whatever. Now that you’re here, you can pick one too. Who’s good among these?”

She gestured casually and made Zakari sit down. Zakari, who sat down in a daze, couldn’t help but frown.

“What is all this?”

On the table, the refreshments were pushed aside, and there were portraits of males spread out.

Zakari squeezed his eyes shut, feeling like he had been confirmed with both eyes.

“Can’t you tell just by looking at it? These are the men I’m going to have a matchmaking with.”

“Matchmaking……?”

Zakari’s eyes became even sharper. The more he did, the more Rachel’s face filled with a smile.

“I have to remarry this year, so I’m in a hurry.”

“What…….”

“You said you were done talking to Father. Why are you pretending you don’t know anything?”

Zakari moved his lips as Rachel scoffed. Only then did he remember the conversation he had with Wilhelm.

He had emphasized three times that he would not take his daughter away in the end.

He expected something to happen after that, but he never dreamed it would be Rachel’s remarriage.

Zakari asked back with a stiff face.

“Are you telling me to pick your remarriage partner now?”

He looked as if he had heard something he couldn’t hear, and he was very agitated. He didn’t even know that that was the reaction they wanted.