The Strongest Daughter-In-Law Of The Black Lion Family [EN]: Chapter 125

#125.

“Is that so?”

Yanou brought the teacup to his lips, his expression still relaxed. Ella said,

“I heard that, unlike Hebel, you can freely read the Bible here. Is that true?”

“Well, it’s a known fact, so there’s no reason to hide it. But what a pity. The Bible cannot be taken outside the village…”

Yanou trailed off with a troubled look. Ella, already aware of this through prior investigation, said brightly,

“That’s alright. They said they would come in person…”

Just then, a maid knocked from outside and said,

“We have a guest, Village Chief.”

At those words, Ella’s face lit up as she said,

“Ah, they must be here.”

Then, she jumped up and happily flung the door open. But contrary to her expectations, it was not Chersea but an unexpected beastkin standing there.

Ella’s expression hardened.

“You are…”

* * *

“Ahga… Is that really you?”

At that call, I trembled. The woman seemed to recognize me immediately and hesitated.

I didn’t know how to react, so I just stood there blankly, staring at the woman.

Last night, I read the letter Heathcliff gave me alone.

And I found out the real reason I was abandoned.

My mother’s name is Eve Sarbahn.

The Sarbahn family was one of the families that sided with Page and opposed Javissh in the original story.

A family that tried to form an alliance marriage with Heathcliff by adopting the saint Ella as their adopted daughter.

When Zerachiel kidnapped Ella, they were indecisive between Javissh and Page, causing frustration to the readers. I can’t believe that villainous family was my family.

In particular, the head of Sarbahn was a stubborn and greedy chauvinist. Heathcliff suffered so much because of that.

I was dumbfounded by the unexpected secret of my birth, and I was just bewildered by the situation of meeting my biological mother.

The Sarbahn family, the most historic family among the white ferret beastkins, only married within their own clan.

In particular, an extreme right-wing pureblood family that does not even allow marriage unless they are direct or collateral relatives.

In a family where inbreeding is essential, my mother fell in love with someone from another tribe and had me.

As a result, I was abandoned in the South. Now that they abandoned a young life that hadn’t even been humanized, there was only one reason they were looking for me now.

[Recently, a genetic disease has resurfaced in the Sarbahn family, and all the potential heirs have died.

This is a common problem for families that maintain inbreeding. The more you try to maintain pure pheromones, the greater the reaction to even small changes.

As Sarbahn, who is short of hands, and the succession structure became precarious, complaints from collateral relatives increased.

If things continue like this, there is a risk of the lineage being cut off and the direct line being handed over to the collateral line, so they are looking for you belatedly.

I don’t know what the other person will say, but just know that they are trying to use you.]

It was strange. In the original story, Ella was adopted as an adopted daughter at the suggestion of the Page family head, but there was no succession problem.

I never dreamed that I would be that house’s illegitimate child.

I was curious about the audacity of my biological mother, who came to find me now after she abandoned me.

But it didn’t have to be like this.

I glanced at Eve’s small and delicate body. Her eyes, which resembled mine, were somehow gaunt, and her thin face and skinny limbs looked completely ill.

It seemed that the woman in front of me had not avoided the genetic disease either.

Seeing that, I couldn’t bear to be cold-hearted. Then the woman spoke first.

“Um… I was on my way to see you.”

“Me?”

Wary of what she was up to, the woman said,

“Yes. There was something I wanted to tell you separately.”

Then, she rummaged through her arms and took something out and handed it to me. I accepted it without knowing why, and then I was stunned.

“This is…”

What she handed me was a picture. The meaning of the picture of my mother with a strange man was clear.

It’s my father.

Hearthcliff’s letter did not mention my father. It only mentioned that he was a beastkin from the North, and I didn’t even know if he was alive or dead.

The woman said.

“That’s your dad.”

“…Why this.”

“I wanted to give it to you in case you were curious, because I don’t think I’ll be able to give it to you later.”

Eve muttered pitifully, holding her trembling hands tightly.

Looking at her expression, it seemed like she had sneaked out of the group.

She kept looking around, which was exactly right.

What is the intention of suddenly appearing and giving me a picture taken with my father?

If she was trying to win me over with emotional appeal, I would be angry.

I returned the photo to the woman’s arms and said coldly.

“I don’t need it.”

“Ahga.”

“I’m not your ahga. I’m Chersea Javissh.”

The woman flinched the moment she heard my name. After a while, she said.

“That’s right, you did [take the Javissh name]. It’s a pretty name. I’ve been worried about it all along, because I couldn’t give you a name.”

“Why are you doing this now, when you abandoned me?”

“There was a reason.”

“I already know the reason. It’s because the other person wasn’t from a noble family, right? Why didn’t you elope instead?”

At the scathing criticism, Eve only pursed her lips. After a while, she said.

“I was going to.”

“What?”

“If he hadn’t been caught by my father on the way, I wouldn’t have abandoned you.”

“!”

“He died that day. At the hands of my father.”

Eve smiled weakly and clutched the photo in her hand.

* * *

As Ella staggered back, Heathcliff pushed his way into the room.

Ella’s head was spinning from the sudden appearance.

‘Was I being followed?’

If not, there was no reason for him to be here. Originally, he should have been sitting at the negotiating table as well.

Then Yanou recognized Heathcliff.

“Ah, it’s Heathcliff.”

“It’s been a while, Elder.”

“Why did you come here without even contacting us? The head of the family didn’t say anything either.”

It seemed to be a village that the Page family frequented. Well, this was a village under Page’s jurisdiction, so there was no reason not to come.

Of course, it was unexpected that Page was secretly helping a village branded as heretical.

Since it was close to the negotiating site, I was cautious because it could have been a coincidence.

Ella glanced at the two, trying to suppress her pounding heart. Then Heathcliff’s eyes met hers.

The silver eyes were calm as usual. Seeing that he wasn’t surprised that she was here, it was clear that she was being followed.

‘What should I do?’

If Chersea came here, the problem would get bigger. There was a high risk of our numbers being exposed.

Ella became anxious because it was also a matter related to Chersea’s safety.

Then Heathcliff took a step closer and lowered his head. It was the moment when Ella, startled, flinched.

He whispered in her ear.

“You don’t have to be so wary. I have no intention of telling Father.”

“Ah!”

At that moment, Ella made a small exclamation, covered her ears, and stepped back. Heathcliff stared blankly at the empty seat next to her at the swift reaction.

“You don’t have to distance yourself as if you’re looking at a bug.”

“I-I’m sorry. I was too surprised.”

Ella muttered, shaking her ears as if washing them. She had no idea that the reaction was stimulating Heathcliff’s mood.

Before she knew it, Ella’s face was flushed with embarrassment, and her blue eyes were shaking violently.

Then Yanou said.

“Ah, was that person you were serving Heathcliff?”

“No!”

“No.”

Ella and Heathcliff denied at the same time and then looked at each other awkwardly. Yanou, sensing a strange atmosphere, smiled contentedly.

“Anyway, you know each other, right?”

“Well, I’ll come back next time. Thank you for the hospitality despite my sudden visit today.”

It was the moment when Ella got up from her seat, unable to overcome the uncomfortable atmosphere. Heathcliff grabbed her arm and said.

“If it’s because of me, I’ll leave.”

“…”

“You’re not saying no.”

Hearthcliff let out a hollow laugh and sat Ella back down. And it was when he was about to leave alone.

Yanou said to Ella.

“That’s a pity. If you were with Heathcliff, the story would have been different.”