The Strongest Daughter-In-Law Of The Black Lion Family [EN]: Chapter 100

#100.

At that moment, Ella stared at me blankly, her expression conveying a desperate longing, as if only I possessed what she needed.

Overwhelmed by her gaze, I found myself speechless, returning her stare.

After a moment, Ella asked softly, her eyes brimming with tears.

“Really, is it really okay? Someone like me…”

As she spoke, a crystal-like tear traced a path down Ella’s cheek. Her clear eyes caught the light, sparkling brilliantly, making me squint.

Ugh, so dazzling.

Caught off guard by her beauty, I felt a wave of dizziness, as if standing directly in the sun.

How could anyone hurt such a kind and beautiful child?

Once again, Isaac’s deplorable behavior flashed through my mind, and I shot him a mental glare. Then, I firmly grasped Ella’s hand and said with conviction,

“It’s okay. Please stop crying! Everyone will think I’m the one who made you cry if you keep this up.”

“Ah.”

Only then did Ella seem to realize she was crying, and she frantically began wiping away her tears with her small hand.

“Yes. I won’t cry.”

“Oh, dear.”

“I really won’t.”

“Okay. Good girl.”

I gently stroked Ella’s head as I reassured her, though she still struggled to stop the flow of tears.

In response, Ella snuggled into my arms like a child seeking comfort. Then, her small back trembling, she said something surprisingly resolute.

“I will protect you.”

“Well, looking at you now, it seems like I should be the one protecting you.”

It felt a little odd to be hugged by someone who was offering to protect me.

At my nonchalant reaction, Ella puffed out her cheeks in protest.

“No! Even if it costs my insignificant life…!”

“Uh-uh, no self-deprecation.”

“Ouch!”

I gently flicked Ella’s forehead again for her self-deprecating remark.

“I’m sorry. But I’m serious.”

“Yeah, I didn’t say I didn’t believe you.”

“Hehe.”

Ella giggled, touching her reddened forehead.

Her demeanor was both endearing and strangely dependable, a truly odd combination.

* * *

Ella stared blankly at Chelsia, who was a head shorter than her.

A person who had shown her unexpected kindness from the moment they met.

“So, don’t be stubborn and stay by my side.”

Seeing Chelsia offer to protect her, Ella felt a pang in her heart.

‘It’s all because of me…’

Ella’s heart grew heavier with each act of kindness from Chelsia, who was unaware of the truth.

Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to reject Chelsia’s hand because it offered a warmth she had never known.

Until now, Ella had never experienced selfless kindness. People were nice to her because they wanted something, and then they became attached due to her abilities.

But Chelsia was different. She hadn’t asked anything of her, yet she treated her as if she deserved to be loved simply for existing.

Faced with such genuine kindness, it was only natural that Ella’s carefully constructed walls would begin to crumble.

“I will protect you.”

With all my heart.

Ella vowed silently, smiling brightly.

Even if Chelsia learns the truth in the future and distances herself from her.

No, even if she ends up hating her.

Even so, she would protect Chelsia.

Holding a burning resolve that Chelsia couldn’t possibly know, Ella snuggled into her comfortable embrace, like a young child seeking solace in their mother’s arms, unable to forget the feeling of safety.

Chelsia hadn’t been there during the hardships she faced before her regression, so her very existence was a comfort.

Ella felt a sense of peace for the first time since her regression, and it was all thanks to this small girl.

* * *

After the party, we headed straight for Zabisi Castle. But as expected, Hebell tried to delay my departure, this time by claiming he couldn’t organize a knight order in time.

However, since I no longer had any obligations to Hebell, I saw no reason to put up with his stalling.

‘Then I’ll take only Ella first. Send the rest of the personnel separately later.’

Perhaps sensing my firm resolve, Naman and Isaac had no choice but to concede.

Thanks to that, I was able to set off for Zabisi Castle without further delay, accompanied by only a small number of guards.

Originally, Rachel and Keira were supposed to accompany me until I arrived in Zabisi Territory, but their plans were thwarted by a sudden intervention from a family member.

I heard that Wilhelm, the head of their family, had sent messengers multiple times, urging them to return to the territory because of Erhaden’s situation.

Having ignored these summons, a direct aide to the family head had personally arrived to escort them back.

Just thinking about Rachel cheerfully shouting “See you soon!” while wearing handcuffs made me shudder.

Keira, standing beside her, humbly wore handcuffs as if she had anticipated this outcome, as if she was accustomed to such situations.

Moreover, judging by the terrifying expression on the aide’s face, it seemed unlikely that they would be allowed to set foot in Zabisi Territory anytime soon.

‘I wonder what Grandpa is like.’

Based on his appearance at the wedding, he seemed to be a man of few words.

I hadn’t had a proper conversation with him, so I had no idea what he was really like.

He wasn’t a prominent figure in the original story either. It seemed that Zakari’s influence was the main reason he particularly disliked Zabisi.

‘I want to talk to him if I get the chance.’

Just knowing that he was the same age as Grandma made me feel strangely sentimental and eager to connect with him.

We were traveling in the carriage when I noticed the outside world seemed to be growing darker.

I pointed out the window and asked Ella,

“Where are we? The streets look so grim.”

“It’s because we’ve left Hebell’s protected area. This is a lawless area, so you have to be especially careful of looting. Abandoned beastmen often become bandits and attack in groups.”

“Really? Then why did we come this way?”

I thought it would be better to take a detour, even if it meant arriving later, if the road was so dangerous, but Ella smiled brightly.

“Because this is the optimal route to Zabisi Territory.”

“Even if it’s optimal, dangerous places are…”

“Zabisi has always traveled this way.”

“Ah.”

If that was the case, then my worries were unfounded. If it was a route they always used, there was no way it would be a problem now.

It seemed to be the optimal route precisely because it was Zabisi.

Ordinary families would prioritize safety and choose a less risky route, but such common sense didn’t apply to Zabisi.

Rather, they had probably already wiped out the bandit gangs several times over because they found them annoying.

The reason they hadn’t completely eradicated the bandit gangs was probably because they were too lazy to bother.

I was relieved by the thought that I was now part of a family that operated above the law in many ways.

“Since the Zabisi insignia is engraved on the carriage, no one in their right mind would try to hijack this carriage…”

Before Ella could finish her sentence, the carriage suddenly lurched violently and came to an abrupt halt.

Thud!

Startled, Ella instinctively transformed into her rabbit beastman form and snuggled into my arms. Her human form was released when her emotions were greatly agitated.

“Kking?”

Ella looked up at me with wide, surprised rabbit eyes, as if asking what was happening. Holding a pink rabbit nestled in my arms, my heart skipped a beat.

‘So, so cute!’

Even Ella’s beastman form was utterly adorable. When her long rabbit ears twitched, I almost couldn’t resist the urge to shower her with affection.

As I held Ella and barely suppressed my uncontrollable cooing, I suddenly heard the sound of metal clashing outside.

Just as I was about to peek out the window to see what was going on, a boisterous voice echoed loudly.

“If you want to live, hand over everything you have. From now on, that carriage is mine.”

It seems there were some stragglers left.

Crazy bastards who dared to stop the carriage even after seeing the Zabisi insignia.

Did they have a death wish?