The Villain’S Daughter-In-Law Is Inherently Powerful [EN]: Chapter 88

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to tell you an old story.”

Caw, caw.

A bird, either a crow or a magpie, called out loudly from somewhere.

A crow was considered a bad omen, while a magpie, a good one.

I was caught between disbelief and a desperate hope that I might actually have family. That’s why I couldn’t dismiss it as nonsense.

“About ten years ago, His Majesty lost both the Queen and the baby she was carrying. Unlike the Queen, whose body was recovered, the baby couldn’t be found anywhere in Arcalik.”

“……Okay.”

“We assumed the baby had passed away, but recently, a surge of alchemic energy occurred. The powerful wave that shook the three islands made us wonder if the baby might still be alive.”

*If* it was alchemy from recently, could it be the flower I first created for Dante?

Hesitating, I picked up a stone from the ground and transmuted it into a flower.

Flash-

Where the bright light had been, a tulip now stood.

“……Flower alchemy. I’ve never seen such a beautiful flower.”

Hwairan, who was gazing at the tulip I made, seemed choked with emotion.

“How pleased His Majesty will be! After losing the Queen due to the betrayal of his vassals, the King’s sorrow has been immeasurable. To know that his daughter is alive… he will be overjoyed.”

“Do I really look like the Queen?”

“Yes. You look exactly like her.”

“……Everyone with albinism has the same hair and eye color. How can you be so sure? Why should I believe you?”

No matter how plausible and touching the story was, I wasn’t naive enough to believe it so easily.

The story is too perfect. It feels like it’s been carefully crafted to appeal to me.

“If I show you my alchemy, would you believe that I am the master of Fire Island?”

“No, well… I don’t even know what Fire Island is. I know nothing about Arcalik.”

How much time has passed? It feels like Dante will find me soon.

I glanced through the darkening alleyways.

“Ah……! I didn’t think of that. Arcalik is a country made up of seven celestial islands, with Sun Island, where the King resides, as the central island. The masters of Moon Island, Fire Island, Water Island, Wood Island, Metal Island, and Earth Island serve the King as his closest vassals.”

“So… a high-ranking person?”

“That’s right!”

Too frivolous for someone like that.

I glared sullenly at Hwairan.

“Since it’s getting dark, I’ll perform some alchemy.”

“……Let’s see you do it.”

The reason I said this was out of curiosity.

If what Hwairan said is true, is Arcalik a place where only albinos live?

Then albinos would be ordinary there. Here, they are ostracized and looked down upon.

Besides, judging by how casually he talks about alchemy, Hwairan was clearly an alchemist.

‘But Grandfather said that not all albinos are alchemists.’

I bit the inside of my cheek and watched Hwairan pick up pebbles from the ground.

“I’ll show you something pretty.”

Whistle!

Hwairan whistled and tossed the pebbles into the air.

The pebbles, flying high in an arc… turned into sparkling light and burst like fireworks.

“I primarily alchemize flames. The accompanying explosions and light are also my specialty.”

“You can’t do more than one thing?”

“Yes. Since you conjure flowers, Princess, you may also be involved in the growth of plants.”

“!”

I can learn more about my power. Not only turning a single substance into a flower, but also growing plants.

Then… then that power.

‘It’s exactly what the people of this country need right now!’

“If I had even a trace of hostility or murderous intent, I would have been burned to a crisp the moment I touched you, Princess. You have very powerful protective magic on you.”

“That’s the first time I’ve heard that.”

“Your current guardian cherishes you very much, Princess. In addition, if anyone touches you against your will, they will also burn to death… but I’m fine.”

“That’s true. Why are you okay? I sincerely told you to let me go.”

When I glared at him, Hwairan clutched his chest, making a pathetic sound.

“It hurts, it hurts when you say that, Hwairan. Anyway, the fact that I didn’t burn to death is proof that I am the master of Fire Island. No fire in this world can kill me.”

“!”

“Reaching the pinnacle of alchemy is like that. If you study under the best teacher in the place where you originally belonged, Princess, you will soon reach the pinnacle.”

“So, let’s go together?”

“Yes. I would be grateful if you would…”

“I’m not going.”

I heard everything I needed to hear.

I said firmly and took a step back.

“You could just take my blood to confirm whether I’m a real princess or not, but the fact that you can’t means there must be a condition, like it has to be freshly drawn blood?”

“T-that’s right. It has to be clean blood that is no more than 3 seconds old from the body.”

I didn’t know how to react to such an unexpected situation, but my mind was working quickly.

Click, click, click.

Ding!

Calculation complete.

“I’m not going, I’m not going, I’m not going!”

I shouted, struggling with all my might.

“I’m not going! Kyaaaa! Kidnapper!!!”

At that, Hwairan’s face turned ashen. He didn’t expect me to react like this.

“W-we made a deal. You unconditionally agreed to my invitation.”

“No! Think about it. The promise I made was to a common acrobat, not to someone from the Fire *something* of the Arcalik Principality. So, you’re the one who committed fraud. Do you understand?”

I never forgot my goal at any time.

‘What I want to solve right now is getting Yuri out of the tank.’

The one who imprisoned Yuri was the Empress. The one who can beat the Empress is the Emperor. To negotiate with the Emperor, I have to give him what he wants, and what that Emperor wants is-

‘Just now, he clearly said that his dead lover might actually be not dead but in the Principality… that’s what he said.’

If the dead lover the Emperor is looking for is here, it can only be Lady Ariadne.

‘The Emperor thought that Lady Ariadne might have gone to the Arcalik Principality!’

And the Emperor knows Hwairan and tried to negotiate.

Why? Because he wants to go to Arcalik himself.

‘But Hwairan called me a princess. My dad is the king, and the king wants to see me so badly.’

Then isn’t the answer obvious?

I have finally obtained the key to unlock the lock.

“And you said that I could bring an adult to that invitation, right?”

“Y-yes.”

“Then I’m going to take the Emperor. If not, I’m not going.”

If the Emperor wants to go to Arcalik, he will have to take Yuri out of the tank immediately and treat her with the dignity befitting her status. Whatever happens to the political structure as a result, I, a child, don’t care.

‘Perfect! The Emperor will never be able to refuse this offer. And if these people want to take me, they have no choice but to listen to my demands.’

What diplomatic problems will arise, what impact this will have on the world in the future… Similarly, I, a child, don’t care.

I just need to rescue Yuri.

‘There’s a good excuse for times like these.’

I recalled what my father had told me once again.

“If you ever want to save someone… you can. Leave the aftermath to me, and you do what you believe is right.”

In the direction I believe is right. Because Father will take care of everything.

‘This means that even if I’m not a princess, it doesn’t matter at all! I’m achieving my goal of rescuing Yuri!’

I have nothing to lose.

“Krrrrrrrr.”

Just in time, I heard the roar of a beast that had gone mad above my head.

The black panther, which fell like lightning in front of me in an instant, rushed at Hwairan in the blink of an eye.

“Ouch!”

At that, Hwairan kicked off the wall and soared upwards, but unfortunately, Dante is not a canine but a feline.

“Little Mistress!!!”

“It’s our fault. Punish us!”

“Are you safeeeeee!”

Following him, the escort knights rushed in madly with pale faces.

I waved my hand at them and leisurely watched the brawl between Dante and Hwairan.

‘He’s so excited that he won’t listen even if I try to stop him.’

I should leave him alone. Hmph.

With my hands behind my back, I shouted at Hwairan.

“If you put even one scratch on Dante! I won’t see your face for the rest of my life, whether you’re a king or a dad!”

“Ugh! I’m dying! I’m dying!”

“Cheer up! You bad child kidnapper!”

Kuh-uh-uh-ung!

Dante let out a cry full of anger and swung his huge forepaw at Hwairan.

There was a sound like a skull cracking for real, and Hwairan was buried in the ground as it was.

“Ugh! I understand! I’ll do everything you want, so please stop. Heu-heu.”

“No, can’t do. You need to be punished more so you don’t do the same thing again. Even if I’m not a princess and you find another kid, you can’t kidnap them like this.”

“Kkeuaaaak!”

30 minutes later.

My adoptive mother, who appeared on the scene after receiving a late call, drew her sword with the momentum of a blizzard and rushed at Hwairan.

“No questions asked.”

“Ack! Ack! Ack!”

Well, he was quite brave to be able to withstand my adoptive mother and Dante without dying. I could finally believe that he held a high position in the mysterious country of Arcalik.

‘All the pieces of the puzzle have come together.’

Just wait a little longer, Yuri.

The place for you is not a narrow tank.

‘Let’s meet soon.’

I quietly gathered my hands together like that. And in the very depths of my heart, hidden so that no one could see… there was a hope that had just sprouted.

The hope of meeting my real dad.