The Strongest Daughter-In-Law Of The Black Lion Family [EN]: Chapter 119

#119.

Devvon’s interpretation, that he at least spared the white ferrets by abandoning them, could be seen as a benevolent act.

Survival would likely have been easier for them in the warmer southern lands compared to the cold, snowy mountains.

However, abandoning them in the south wouldn’t have been solely for Chersea’s sake. There were likely other political considerations.

In any case, the chances of a newborn white ferret surviving in the unfamiliar southern lands were slim.

‘If only they had been abandoned in the north, I would have saved them…’

Thinking that way made Heathcliff feel depressed.

It had been three years since Chersea had left Javisi’s territory.

Seeing that she appeared in the Ilangbore region a few weeks ago, it was clear that she had been confined to Javisi’s territory all along.

So, naturally, he hadn’t expected her to accompany them to the negotiation table.

Surprisingly, Javisi agreed, which took him by surprise.

He didn’t know what prompted Javisi to allow Chersea to go out, but thanks to that, he would be able to see her soon.

The thought of seeing Chersea again naturally lifted Heathcliff’s spirits.

At the same time, the pink rabbit beastkin he had encountered in the north a few days ago flashed through his mind.

Hearthcliff had met Ella again in the northern territory bordering the south. He had accidentally discovered her trying to return south.

The suspicious rabbit beastkin he had encountered by chance at Chersea’s wedding.

He had learned three years ago that she had followed Chersea into Javisi Castle.

Also, when he heard the news a year ago that she had betrayed Isaac, Hebel’s disciple and adoptive father, and become a member of Javisi’s inner circle, he felt uneasy.

Was it simply because she, who had particularly caught his eye, ended up staying by Chersea’s side?

He still vividly remembered her calling him by a friendly nickname when she first saw him.

He wondered if she had intentionally approached Chersea, but looking at her recent actions, that didn’t seem to be the case.

She seemed genuinely worried about Chersea.

Perhaps she had been moved by Chersea’s kindness and decided to stay in Javisi Castle.

Indeed, Chersea Javisi had a knack for making others feel comfortable. Even Heathcliff was often surprised by her straightforward and honest manner.

In any case, as a member of Javisi’s household, she was looking for something, even venturing into the north, which was difficult to access.

Was it fortunate that he had caught her?

‘I don’t intend to say anything, so please just kill me.’

Seeing Ella asking to be killed as soon as she was caught, Heathcliff was overcome with a strange feeling.

In the first place, it didn’t make sense to simply let go of an enemy spy who had infiltrated secretly, so killing her would have been justified.

Even if that wasn’t the case, he should have taken her to prison and interrogated her, but Heathcliff didn’t.

If his father knew that Ella was close to Chersea Javisi, he wouldn’t let her live.

Hearthcliff strangely wanted Ella to live. So, uncharacteristically, he let her go.

‘Go. I’ll pretend I didn’t see you.’

‘Really?’

‘Yes. But there won’t be a next time.’

As Heathcliff turned away after saying that, Ella spoke up behind him.

‘Is she doing well?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean Chersea. Is she doing well?’

‘Why are you asking me that…’

‘Your expression looked like you wanted to ask how she was.’

‘No, I didn’t…’

‘Then I guess it was just my meddling.’

Hearthcliff frowned and looked at Ella. He didn’t like that she acted like she knew him well, even though she didn’t.

To be exact, he was embarrassed because she saw through him too well. In fact, he had wanted to ask about Chersea’s well-being as soon as he saw Ella.

At the time, Chersea wasn’t going outside Javisi Castle, so the urge was even stronger.

He was amazed that she keenly recognized his expression, which even his father couldn’t recognize.

Besides, Ella’s attitude towards him had changed a lot in the meantime.

She seemed quite warm three years ago.

Now she was just cold, and he even wondered if he had done something wrong.

Nevertheless, could it be because of that inexplicable, affectionate look in her eyes that he couldn’t bring himself to say anything?

Hearthcliff still vividly remembered Ella’s back as she ran away from him at Chersea’s wedding.

He couldn’t understand himself for feeling this way towards a rabbit beastkin he had only met a couple of times.

It was as if he had known her for a long time, and he couldn’t gauge the depth of his emotions. That only confused Heathcliff even more.

Meanwhile, Ella said.

‘Now that you’ve decided to let me go, please keep it a secret from everyone that you met me in the north.’

‘Why should I do that?’

‘Because you don’t want Chersea to be in trouble either.’

‘If others know you’re coming and going here, will that child be in trouble?’

‘…Maybe.’

With those words, the rabbit beastkin moved away from him. And Heathcliff couldn’t take his eyes off her until she disappeared.

She was clearly looking for something. The fact that she asked him to keep it a secret that she was coming and going to the north meant that the thing was in the north.

It must be something she was doing secretly, even from Javisi.

‘She could have just asked me for help.’

Of course, she wouldn’t ask him for help, as he was already considered an enemy. It was a shame that the relationship between the North and South had deteriorated in recent years.

While Heathcliff was lost in thought, Devvon put out the half-smoked cigar in the ashtray.

“Fortunately, the situation is helping us. The matter has already been settled with that family, so be aware of that and prepare accordingly.”

In the end, his father intended to use Chersea to control the political situation.

“Yes.”

“Go now.”

Hearthcliff got up from his seat as if he had been waiting and bowed his head.

Perhaps because he was particularly nervous during his private meeting with his father, he was already tired. Heathcliff stroked his heavy shoulders and walked alone down the cold hallway.

For some reason, the castle felt particularly cold.

* * *

“How is it? My perfect plan?”

Ella clapped her hands enthusiastically at my words, even puffing out air.

“It’s perfect!”

Then, Tebi manifested as a fish and interjected.

― Perfect, my ass. It’s a complete mess.

“Tebi, be quiet.”

― You’re always picking on me.

Tebi pouted and wandered around. I grinned, not caring.

“Fortunately, the village is adjacent to the place where we’re supposed to negotiate. If we quietly go there during the time the negotiations start, wouldn’t it be perfect?”

― That’s beside the point. How are you going to leave that black lion [referring to Javisi] behind?

“That’s…”

I winked as if asking why she was asking such a thing.

“Figure it out?”

― What’s that? Are you deliberately using words I don’t understand? I hate you, really!

Tebi protested, hitting her tail in the air, as if she knew I was teasing her.

But I couldn’t say anything other than that.

I couldn’t make a complete plan in a situation where I had to go to the North, which I had never been to before.

Shouldn’t I at least go and see the situation before I concretize the plan?

Either way, the only free time I have is just once.

The day the negotiations start is the perfect time to act alone.

I muttered nonchalantly.

“Well, I’ll have to go and see the situation first, what else can I do?”

― I don’t trust you at all. Wouldn’t it be better to send her alone? She knows the location well, and the risk of getting caught is low.

“Send Ella alone?”

When I asked back in bewilderment, Ella readily answered.

“That’s right. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll just go alone.”

Ella smiled brightly and clenched her fists. She was answering based on my words, guessing because she couldn’t hear the Guardian’s voice.

If she knew that Tebi was trying to use her instead of me, she wouldn’t have answered so cheerfully.

― Look at that. She says it’s good.

I felt Tebi’s wickedness contrasting with Ella’s innocence and muttered quietly.

“Hmm, no. It’s too dangerous to send her alone. I’ll go with her.”

Yeah. It’s too much to send Ella alone.

Ella was a herbivore beastkin, and a small rabbit beastkin at that. I was a carnivore beastkin, even if I looked like this.

If both are small, wouldn’t it be better for the carnivore beastkin to go with her?

“I can’t send our Ella alone to a den of dangerous beasts, no way.”