The Villain’S Daughter-In-Law Is Inherently Powerful [EN]: Chapter 171

Saying ‘goodbye’ was a very bitter thing, but it also signaled the beginning of a new life for Dante. It was a greeting tinged with sadness and hope.

“As I said back then, I’m going to become a Paladin, Florin. They’ve been waiting for me.”

“Someday… you’ll come back, right?”

“When I’ve sorted things out. I’ll have to get older, but… someday, when I can sincerely celebrate your happiness, then.”

Dante answered quietly, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

I offered Dante the only comfort I could.

“I’ll take care of the children you looked after until the end.”

“…Thank you. I trust you.”

A dark night, the sky adorned with a slender crescent moon.

The cool breeze and the scent of grass from the garden filled the air, a bittersweet reminder of our shared moments.

Dante seemed to want to hug me one last time, but he suppressed the urge.

Instead, he remained silent for a moment, then looked up and stared directly at me.

“Let’s meet again when we can be true friends to each other.”

With that, Dante left.

Wearing a blue cloak, he embarked on his path to becoming the youngest Paladin.

He left the painful farewell behind and moved towards his future.

He must be doing something somewhere in the world right now.

I just hoped he was safe and well.

“Speaking of which, Princess. We haven’t heard from that… eccentric Crown Prince since then, have we?”

“Ah, are you talking about Yuri?”

“Yes. That guy.”

Realizing that my mood had darkened as I thought about Dante, Hwairan tried to change the subject, but it was no use.

Because… I truly didn’t know.

Where Yuri was that day, what he did, where he went, etc.

I knew absolutely nothing.

He hasn’t come to see me since then.

“My father said… Yuri took some kind of medicine. A medicine to sever emotional attachments. And he’s been quite confused since.”

That’s all I knew.

He must have taken the medicine, and his feelings for me changed, which is why he no longer seeks me out.

If Yuri no longer has any attachment to me… there’s no reason for him to come.

That’s what I told myself.

“Oh my, Princess! It looks like a letter has arrived!”

Just then, a rowboat with a green flag was approaching from across the sea. These were liaison ships connecting the islands, also used to deliver letters.

“Ah, it’s from the priests!”

There were two letters in total.

I opened the first letter.

It was from the priests who had come to the Magic Empire with me from the Holy Empire. They had all decided not to return and instead chose to follow me, who was recognized as a true saint.

I had decided to build a grand temple in the Magic Empire to honor the Celestial God, and they would reside there once it was completed.

Should I call them the first generation of priests of the Magic Empire?

* * *

Saintess, are you doing well?

I am still busy supervising the construction today.

The God forbade idolatry, but frankly, I’m so happy that we’re building a big temple that I can’t stop smiling.

That was Sandy, of course, who spearheaded the project.

Retina is studying hard, and we are also learning about the culture of the Magic Empire.

I want to visit Arkhalik [the capital city] someday!

But it will probably be faster for you to come here than for me to go.

Anyway, we are all eating well and doing well, so please come back soon.

From all the priests.

* * *

It was a very Sandy-like letter.

There was nothing particularly important, but that only made the sentiment of ‘I miss you’ even more poignant.

Sandy often sent these kinds of letters, checking on my well-being.

“About that temple, are you still against covering the dome with gold?”

“Absolutely against it.”

“Tsk.”

Hwairan clicked her tongue in disappointment.

The first thing Hwairan said when I first mentioned building a temple was, ‘That’s right! We’re going to idolize the Princess!’

Then she suggested nonsense like covering the outer walls of the temple with gold or erecting a thousand statues of me in a ten million-pyeong [approximately 826 acres] garden.

I told her that all of that was impossible, but she still couldn’t let go of the idea of gilding the temple’s dome.

“Who sent the next letter?”

“Ah, this was written by my adoptive mother. It’s precious, so I’ll read it alone.”

When I lost my position, my mother was one of the first to realize that Raheen was an imposter.

As expected, her experience is invaluable.

I was simply grateful that she was watching over me so carefully.

“Ugh, let’s get back to work soon. There are many agendas to be approved.”

“Then just stretch for a bit. You’ll get stiff.”

“You’re such a nag.”

“Hey, this is all out of concern.”

I called it nagging, but in truth, I was very grateful to Hwairan.

She knew I was running low on energy these days, worrying about my father and managing the country, so she was trying to lift my spirits.

As Hwairan suggested, I rotated my shoulders and waist before returning to my office.

After finishing all of today’s work, I should drink a warm cup of tea and write replies to the letters.

‘Ah, I miss Ian.’

I glanced at the sea over my shoulder and hurried back to the palace.

The more documents I review, the more time I can carve out to meet my beloved lover.

Ian is currently assisting my father and learning the ropes to become the next head of the family.

He must be incredibly busy, especially since he also has to manage the Joker’s operations [referring to his role in the information guild].

I’m occupied with my duties as acting ruler, and Arkhalik is quite far from the capital of the Magic Empire.

Even with the convenience of magic, it’s only natural that we can’t meet every day, given how exhausted we both are from work.

Above all, I want to present my best self to him, not show him how worn out I am.

“I will never pursue being a queen. Never.”

As I reaffirmed that resolution and sat down at my desk, Hwairan quietly came and massaged my shoulders.

Soon after, I refocused on my work.

What is Ian doing right now?

* * *

Meanwhile, at that very moment.

Ian was agonizing over several types of flowers laid out before him.

In truth, he rarely worried this much about anything.

Most of Ian’s life was governed by rationality.

To put it simply, the taste or appearance of food was irrelevant. Only its nutritional value and caloric content mattered.

He had lived by that principle until now, so he couldn’t easily choose flowers that had no function or purpose other than being pretty.

“I think pink would be better.”

When he finally spoke after a long silence, his subordinates quickly moved to gather only the pink flowers on one side.

“What if we added some white around it?”

“I think that would look good.”

“Isn’t the color scheme a bit too monotonous?”

“She might appreciate a simple bouquet with two colors harmoniously combined.”

“Still, I think the color combination is too plain. Should I add some light purple flowers?”

When he said that in a very serious tone, his subordinates swiftly moved again.

Only then did Ian nod with a satisfied expression. His cheeks were even slightly flushed.

Ian’s closest aide, the jester, stared at Ian’s behavior with utter bewilderment.

In fact, who would believe that the ruthless leader of the empire’s largest assassination organization was personally making a bouquet for his lover?

“Now that I’ve chosen the flowers, what should I do next?”

Ian asked the woman trembling before him with a gentle smile.

Jaina was the most renowned florist in the capital of the Magic Empire, and she couldn’t refuse the exorbitant fee offered, suspecting it was a silencing payment.

‘S, scary! I was a little suspicious because they paid me so much, but it was a silencing fee after all!’

But the money was too good to pass up.

Florist Jaina glanced around at the imposing men surrounding her and nervously demonstrated how to make a bouquet.

“Like this, like this… ta-da! It becomes like this.”

“…Again.”

“Ah, yes. It may be difficult at first. But if you do it like this… like this…!”

Crack.

One of the flowers was bent and crumpled in Ian’s hand.

That’s right.

The best assassin. A genius marksman. The man destined to become the 20th head of Driblyane.

And Florin’s lover.

In reality, Ian Driblyane possessed terrible manual dexterity.

Compared to his delicate appearance, his clumsiness was shockingly contrasting.

“My eyes follow… but why can’t I do it myself?”

“W, would you like to relax your hands a little…?”

Jaina swallowed hard.

About two hours had passed since the lesson began.

Around Ian, pitifully broken flowers were scattered haphazardly.

“W, would the person next to you like to try?”

When it became clear that Ian was struggling, Jaina finally suggested that the large man standing beside him give it a try.

“Especially when tying the ribbon, you shouldn’t do it so fiercely as if you’re strangling someone’s neck. You have to handle the flowers very gently… Oh my, you’re quite good at it?”

A beautiful bouquet was quickly assembled by the jester’s hands.

Ian frowned as he watched.

“I’m good at cooking, though.”

“Cooking and making bouquets are a little different…”

“Let’s try again.”

Ian wanted to give Florin a bouquet.

Made directly by him, with his own hands.

And he wanted to do that for the rest of his life.

It’s the sentiment of giving something handmade, not something bought.

But the reason he kept failing was all because of the ribbon.

The flowers couldn’t withstand his grip because he unconsciously pulled too hard as soon as he grabbed the string.

‘How am I going to make a bouquet like this?’